Saturday, May 16, 2020

Analysing the various financial risks to companies - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2832 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Derivatives It is a kind of financial Security whose price is derived from or dependent upon one or more underlying assets.  The derivative itself is simply a contract between two or more parties. Its  value is determined  by variations  in the underlying asset.  Some common underlying assets include  stocks, bonds,  commodities,  currencies and interest rates. Derivatives are mostly characterized by high leverage.  Forward contracts, Future contracts, swaps and options  are the most common types of derivatives. Derivatives are generally used as a mechanism to hedge  risk, but can also be used for  speculative purposes. For example, an American investor buying shares of a European company  of a European exchange (using Euros to do so) would be exposed to exchange-rate risk while holding that stock. To hedge this risk, the investor could buy currency futures to lock in a specified exchange rate for  the future stock sale and currency conversion back into US Dollars. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Analysing the various financial risks to companies" essay for you Create order Hedging is the process of taking a short-term position in the futures market that is equal to, yet opposite, ones position in the cash market in order to prevent that cash position against loss due to adverse price fluctuations. This form of risk management can be achieved through various types of futures and options contracts traded on a several exchanges, and are usually used by corporations, money managers the ability to hedge means that industry can decide on the amount of risk it is prepared to accept. It may wish to eliminate the risk entirely and can generally do so quickly and easily using the Mismanaging price risk means achieving greater control of either the cost of inputs, or revenues from sales, or both; planning for the future based on assured costs and revenues; and eliminating concerns that a sharply adverse move in a metals price could turn an otherwise flourishing and efficient business into a loss maker. Hedging is the opposite of speculation and is basically under taken in order to reduce an existing physical price risk, by taking a compensating position in the futures market. Speculators come to the futures market with no initial risk. They assume risk by taking futures positions. Hedgers reduce or eliminate the chance of further losses or profits, while the speculators risk losses in order to make profits. Speculation Speculation  is an action that does not promise safety of the initial investment along with the return on the principal sum. Speculation typically involves the purchase of  equity or lending of money,  assets  or  debt  but in a way that has not been given thorough analysis or is thought to have low  margin of safety  or a significant risk of the loss of the principal investment. Speculators may rely on an asset appreciating in price because of number of factors that cannot be well enough understood by the speculator to make an investment-quality decision. Some such factors are shifting consumer tastes, buyers changing perceptions of the worth of a stock  security, fluctuating economic conditions, economic factors associated with  market timing, the factors associated with solely chart-based analysis, and the many influences over the short-term movement of securities. There are also some financial vehicles that can be classified as speculation. For example, trading  commodity futures contracts, such as for oil and gold, is, by definition, speculation. Short selling is also, by definition, speculative. Financial speculation can involve the  buying, selling, holding, and  short-selling  of  stocks, commodities,  bonds,  currencies,  collectibles,  real estate, derivatives, or any valuable  financial instrument  to profit from fluctuations in its price, irrespective of its underlying value. Arbitrage An  arbitrage  is a type of transaction or portfolio. Actually, the term is used in two different ways, so it refers to either of two very different types of transactions or portfolios. People also speak of arbitrage as an activity the activity of seeking out and implementing either of the two types of arbitrage transactions or portfolios. An  arbitrageur  is an individual or institution who engages in such arbitrage. An arbitrage is a portfolio or transaction that makes a profit without any  risk. For example if a  futures contract trades on two different exchanges. If, at one point in time, the contract is bid at  USD  45.02 on one exchange and offered at USD 45.00 on the other, a trader could buy the contract at one price and sell it at the other to make a risk-free profit of a USD 0.02. Such arbitrage opportunities reflect minor pricing differences between markets or related instruments. Profits per transaction tend to be small, and they can be consumed entirely by  transaction costs. Accordingly, most arbitrage is done by institutions that have very low transaction costs and can make up for small profit margins by doing a large volume of transactions. Option Strategies   Option strategy  is the buying and/or selling of one or range of  option positions and possibly an  underlying  position. Options strategies can support movements in the underlying that are bullish, bearish or neutral. In the case of neutral strategies, they can be further divided into those that are bullish on volatility and those that are bearish on volatility. The option positions taken can be  long  and/or short  positions in  calls  and/or  puts  at various strikes. Before you purchase or sell options you need a strategy, and before you choose an options strategy, you need to be aware of how you want options to work in your portfolio. A particular strategy is victorious only if it performs in a way that helps you meet your investment goals. If you expect to increase the income you receive from your stocks, for example, youll choose a diverse strategy from an investor who wants to lock in a purchase price for a stock shed like to own. One of the advantages of options is the flexibility they offer; they can complement portfolios in many different ways. So its worth taking the time to recognize a goal that suits you and your financial plan. Forwards A forward  is a non-standardized contract between two parties to purchase or sell an asset at a specified future time at a price agreed today.   It costs nothing to enter a forward contract. The party agreeing to purchase the underlying asset in the future assumes a  long position, and the party agreeing to sell the asset in the future assumes a  short position. The price which is agreed upon at the inception of the contract is called the  delivery price, which is equal to the  forward price  at the time the contract is entered into. The price pertaining to underlying instrument, in whatever form, is paid before control of the instrument changes. This is one of the many forms of purchase/sell orders where the time of trade is not the time where the  securities themselves are exchanged. Futures A standardized exchange-traded contract that requires delivery of a commodity, currency, bond or stock index, at a specified price, on a specified future date. Unlike options, futures require an obligation to buy. The risk to the holder is infinite, and because the pay off pattern is symmetrical, the risk to the seller is unlimited as well. Money lost and gained by each party are equal and opposite in a future contract. In other words, futures trading is a zero-sum game. Futures contracts are forward contracts, meaning they represent a promise to fulfill a certain transaction at a future date. The exchange of assets occurs on the date mentioned in the contract. Futures are different from generic forward contracts in that they contain standardized terms, trade on a formal exchange, are regulated by overseeing agencies, and are guaranteed by clearinghouses. In order to make sure that payment will occur, futures have a margin requirement that must be settled daily. Currency Risk Many Corporations use derivatives for hedging foreign-currency risk, or foreign-exchange risk, which is the risk that a change in currency exchange rates will  adversely impact business results.   Lets consider an example of foreign-currency risk with XYZ Corporation, a hypothetical U.S.-based company that sells widgets in Germany. During the year, XYZ Corp sells 100 widgets, each priced at 10 euros. Therefore, our constant assumption is that XYZ sells 1,000 euros worth of widgets:   When the dollar-per-euro exchange rate increases from $1.33 to $1.50 to $1.75, it takes more dollars to purchase one euro, or one euro translates into more dollars, meaning the dollar is weakening or depreciating. As the dollar weakens, the same number of widgets sold translates into greater sales in  dollar terms. This shows how a weakening dollar is not all bad: it can boost export sales of U.S. companies.    The above example shows the good news event that can occur when the dollar depreciates, but a bad news event happens if the dollar appreciates and export sales end up being less. In the above example, we made two very important simplifying assumptions that affect whether the dollar depreciation is a good or bad event:   (1) we assumed that XYZ Corp. manufactures its product in the U.S. and therefore its inventory or production costs is in  dollars. If instead XYZ manufactured its German widgets in Germany, production costs would be incurred in euros. So even if  dollar sales increase due to weakening of the dollar, production costs will go up too! This effect on both sales and costs is called a  natural hedge: the economics of the business provide their own hedge mechanism. In such a case, the higher export sales are likely to be mitigated by higher production costs.   (2)  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   We also assumed that all other things are identical, and often they are not. For example, we ignored any secondary effects like whether XYZ can adjust its prices and effects of inflation. Most multinational corporations are faced with some form of foreign-currency risk even after natural hedges and secondary effects.   Now lets illustrate a simple hedge that a company like XYZ might use. To minimize the effects of any USD/EUR exchange rates, XYZ purchases 800 foreign-exchange futures contracts against the USD/EUR exchange rate. The gain in each futures contract has a value equal to above the $1.33 USD/EUR rate. (Only because XYZ took this side of the futures position, somebody   the counter-party will take the opposite position):   If the dollar were to depreciate instead, then the increased export sales are mitigated (partially offset) by losses on the futures contracts. Hedging Interest-Rate Risk   Companies can hedge  interest-rate risk  in various ways. Consider a company that wants to sell a division in one year and at that time to receive a cash windfall that it wants to park in a good risk-free investment. If the company believes that interest rates will drop between now and then, it could buy (take a long position on) a  Treasury  futures contract. The company is effectively locking in the future interest rate.  Here is an example of a perfect interest-rate hedge used by XYZ Corporation. The Company had two interest rate swaps outstanding at September 30, 2004,  designated as a hedge of the fair value of a portion of fixed-rate bond. The change in fair value of the swaps exactly offsets the change in fair value of the hedged debt, with no net impact on earnings.   Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   XYZ is using an  interest rate swap. Before it entered into the swap,  the company was  paying a  floating interest rate  on some of  its bonds. For example, a common scenario would be to pay  LIBOR  plus something and to reset the rate every six months. We can illustrate these floating rate payments with a down-bar chart:  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Now lets look at the impact of the swap, illustrated below. While receiving floating-rate payments the swap arrangement requires XYZ to pay fixed rate of interest. The received floating-rate payments as shown in the upper half of the chart below are used to pay the pre-existing floating-rate debt.   XYZ is then left only with the floating-rate debt, and has therefore managed to convert a variable-rate obligation into a fixed-rate obligation with the addition of a derivative. The variable-rate coupons that XYZ received exactly compensates for the companys variable-rate obligations. Commodity or Product Input Hedge   Companies that depend on raw-material inputs or commodities are sensitive, sometimes significantly, to the price change of the inputs. Airlines, for example, consume lots of jet fuel. In the past, most airlines have given a great deal of consideration to hedging against crude-oil price increases. For example XYZ ltd produces agricultural products, herbicides and biotech-related products.  It uses futures contracts to hedge against the price increase of olive and corn inventory. XYZ ltd uses futures contracts to prevent itself against commodity price increases; these contracts hedge the committed or future purchases of, and the carrying value of payables to growers for  olive and corn inventories. Pension funds Many pension funds are starting to like the idea of derivatives. As funds and their sponsors search for more effective ways to manage risk, they are realizing that derivatives can alter the nature of that risk in ways that are not possible in the cash markets. Pension funds are exposed to many risks, some of which they take actively while others they may be taking passively. Funds actively take equity and credit risk, for example, because they feel they are being adequately rewarded. Passive risks include movements in the present value of their liabilities due to changes in interest and inflation rates. Many funds do not believe they are being adequately compensated for these risks. The importance of derivatives is that they can be used to improve the return profile of their active risks, and to neutralize unwanted passive risks. These passive risks are usually created by a mismatch between a funds assets and its liabilities. A pension fund can use interest rate swaps, for example, to remove the risk that a change in interest rates will have an impact on its funding level. Or it can enter into an inflation-linked swap so that it is no longer exposed to changes in the experienced rate of inflation. The up-front costs of neutralizing these risks can be low. But as with any investment strategy, there is a downside as well as an upside. A pension fund that enters into an interest rate swap is no longer vulnerable to a fall in interest rates but neither will it benefit from a rise. Similarly, if a fund uses inflation swaps to protect itself against a rise in inflation it will no longer benefit from a fall. Another passive risk pension funds face is that of corporate sponsor default. An interesting possibility for some funds would be to neutralize this risk by buying protection for any funding deficit in the credit default swap (CDS) market. This strategy would entail paying an annual premium to counterparty, and receiving a pre-agreed sum of money that would cover the deficit if the sponsor defaulted. The size of the premium would depend on the credit quality of the sponsor. Hedge funds A  hedge fund  is not highly regulated  investment fund  that is typically open to a limited range of investors who pay a  performance fee  to the funds  investment manager. Every hedge fund has its own investment strategy that basically determines the type of investments it undertakes and these strategies are highly individual. As a class, hedge funds embark on a wider range of investment and trading activities than traditional  long-only investment funds, and invest in a broader range of assets including  long  and  short  positions in  shares,  bonds  and  commodities. Hedge funds often try to  hedge  some of the risks inherent in their investments using a variety of methods, notably  short selling  and  derivatives. Hedge funds dominate certain specialty markets such as distressed debt and trading within derivatives with high-yield ratings. Modern portfolio theory segregates the return on an investment portfolio into market related component multiplied by beta, a measure of volatility, and alpha, the specific return associated with portfolio that is independent of the market. Alpha measures a Hedge fund managers skill in creating excess return over the market benchmark. Alpha does involve leverage, but the risk can be mitigated with the cash freed up by the use of derivatives is invested in assets that have no correlation with the passive part of the alpha. A market neutral hedge fund, for example, should offer an Alpha return with no correlation to the stock market. Advantages of Hedge Fund Investing Mostly hedge funds bank on the prosperity of only one investment and are not overly diversified investments. Aggressive investment strategies such as short-selling or borrowing money to purchase more assets (leverage buying) can legally be utilized Extremely huge gains in the millions are the potential reward for investing in hedge funds Disadvantages of Hedge Fund Investing Hedge funds are extremely risky and huge sums of money can be lost in the blink of an eye The performance fee for the hedge fund manager may encourage them to take bigger risks with investors money which may result in large losses There are very few government regulations regulating hedge fund investments

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Amish Culture - Essay 2 - 1549 Words

Rebels of society are often times considered deviate and choose not to adhere to society’s customs and norms. However, would one consider the Amish communities as rebellious? The Amish are a unique subculture of the United States that do not adopt customs, norms, and lifestyles of the broader society (Sternheimer, 2012). Just because they set themselves apart from social norms, does not make them deviate. The Amish is an old religious group that originated in Europe. In the sixteenth century, Jakob Ammann and other devoted followers broke away from the Anabaptists and establish themselves as the Amish. Due to a disagreement with the laws and order set by the Anabaptist, the Amish felt the need to set themselves apart. Largely, order of†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, the husbands are known as the financial provider. Just as other cultures, these generalizations do not apply to all. Some cases, wives own business and is considered the bread winner and the husba nd works at home (Kraybill, Nolt, and Johnson-Weiner, 2012). The roles of women can be very complex. Some women manage at home stores, but they almost never obtain a full time job—especially those with young children. Single women and women with adult children; however, may have a career in entrepreneurship. Mothers are active in nurturing the spiritual life of children and make decisions in child discipline. Whereas the father is responsible for religious matters related to church and the world outside of the Amish community. Just as many other communities, men and women participate in different leisure. In main stream society, boys typically play football or baseball for fun, and girls typically play with doll and other domestic toys. Amish communities are very similar. The men tend to participate in hunting, fishing, archery, and mountain climbing. The women tend to enjoy singing and attending social events (Kraybill, Nolt, and Johnson-Weiner, 2012). In regards to the Amish beliefs and customs, they live faithfully by the Bible. Evident from the previous information given, their religion conducts every act of their life. â€Å"A strong sense of community regulates the rhythms of Amish life. One of the tenets of Amish faith is care andShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Does Education Liberate People Within The Social Classes2662 Words   |  11 PagesThis essay will discuss to what extent does education liberate people within the social classes. It will also discuss how Paulo Freire’s theory on how education can liberate people, furthermore considering how the Amish community may fail to be liberated through education. The definition of education is ‘the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life’. AlsoRead MoreA Brief Note On Multiculturalism And Culture And The Different Variations Of How Cultural Categories Are Separated And Defined984 Words   |  4 Pages1. Describe the meaning of multiculturalism in your own words. In this essay the emphasis is to be on culture and the different variations of how cultural categories are separated and defined. The primary focus is that of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism, as defined by Merriam-Webster is â€Å"relating to or including many different cultures†. It is multicultural in adjective form. I find this interesting because an adjective is something that doesn’t stand alone, it needs a helper to make it becomeRead MoreThe Connotations Of Life And Culture979 Words   |  4 PagesThe connotation of â€Å"life† and â€Å"culture† as Americans know it The way of life and culture in the Americas is very distinctive from others. Around the world, American life and culture is perceived as something more than ordinary. â€Å"American culture [is] the creation of many groups of immagrants.† (Ravitch) In this discussion we are going to examine some of the aspects and qualities that define what is known as American life and American culture by the rest of the world. A few of those things are TraditionsRead MoreEssay about Do We Learn Our Gender2201 Words   |  9 PagesThis essay will look at the question of whether we learn our gender. It will begin by looking at the sociological meaning and interpretations of gender and how this is important. Following the discussion of how socialization plays a vital role in the argument of if we do learn our gender or not. Further to this it shall look at how gender roles have changed, comparing in particular pre-1960 to the modern day and also what key factors played crucial roles in this c hange. Throughout this essay theRead MoreDefinition Argument Outline On Marriage1900 Words   |  8 Pages3, 2016 Definition Argument Outline Marriage Thesis: Marriage can be defined as 1. Background A. B. 2. Point 1 A. B. 3. Point 2 A. B. 4. Point 3 A. B. 5. Opposing Argument 1 A. B. 6. Refute 1 A. B. 7. Opposing Argument 2 A. B. 8. Refute 2 A. B. Claudia Campbell Professor Jacobs English 112-62B April 3, 2016 Definition Argument Essay Marriage Was anyone aware that forty to fifty percent or more of marriages will end in divorce (â€Å"Marriage andRead MoreEssay about Tolerance, Liberalism, and Community3324 Words   |  14 Pagesjustification in critical morality for coercion and its attendant misery, since there is no one to be protected, and the attribution of value to mere conforming behaviour, in abstraction from both motive and consequences, belongs not to morality but to taboo.(2) This is itself an argument within critical morality about the kinds of consideration morally justifying coercion. In addition to a utilitarian concern for minimizing misery, I see Harts argument as incorporating an extension into the private moralRead MoreDistinguish Between Crime as a Social and a Sociological Problem, to What Extent Should Sociologists Attempt to Combat â€Å"the Social Problem of Crime†1943 Words   |  8 PagesIn this essay we shall look at what crime is, what social problems are, and what sociological problems are , how they overlap and we will also look into what sociologists do and look into Robert Merton’s strain theory, and also other sociologists views like William Chambliss’s ‘roughnecks and saints’. A crime is the breaking of certain rules laid out by a society i.e. the Government. Crime is said to be ‘activities that break the law and are subject to official punishment (Holborn and HaralambosRead MoreDeath Penalty Synthesis Essay with Documents5074 Words   |  21 PagesDirections: The following prompt is based on the accompanying ten sources. This question requires you to integrate a variety of sources into a coherent, well-written essay. Refer to the sources to support your position; avoid mere paraphrase or summary. Your argument should be central; the sources should support this argument. Remember to attribute both direct and indirect citations. Introduction: The death penalty has been implemented since ancient times and punishes criminals. Some peopleRead More PARADISE FLUBBED: Pynchon the New World Essay4618 Words   |  19 PagesPARADISE FLUBBED: Pynchon the New World When, in Gravitys Rainbow, A screaming comes across the sky, it is the sound of a V-2 rocket arcing up and over the English Channel.But the rockets vapor trail (which Pirate Prentice sees from kneedeep in the primordial mulch of his bananararium) points further on: over the Atlantic, on toward America, the New World, Tyrone Slothrops yearned-for, perhaps illusory home. The rockets path ends a fraction of an inch above the readers head, theRead MoreMarketing Channel44625 Words   |  179 Pagesraw materials supplier Answer: D Diff: 1 Page Ref: 337 Skill: Concept Objective: 12-1 2) ________ the manufacturer or service provider is the set of firms that supply the raw materials, components, parts, information, finances, and expertise needed to create a product or service. A) Downstream from B) Upstream from C) Separated from D) Congruous to E) Parallel with Answer: B Diff: 2 Page Ref: 337 Skill: Concept Objective: 12-1 3) Another term for the supply chain that suggests

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Isolation And Characterization Of DNA From Onion Biology Essay Example For Students

Isolation And Characterization Of DNA From Onion Biology Essay The experiment was about the isolation and word picture of DNA. The Deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from the onion. The mass of the stray DNA was 15.11 g. The pureness of stray DNA was estimated by ciphering the ratio based from the optical density at 260nm and 280nm resulted to 0.671 intending more protein was absorbed. Meanwhile in denaturation of DNA, the initial optical density at 260 nanometer was 1.304 higher than the optical density at 260 nanometers after heating which was 1.095. Outline1 Introduction2 MATERIALS AND METHODS3 Isolation of Deoxyribonucleic acid from Onion4 Word picture of DNA.5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS6 Calculation 1. Solution for Percentage Yield Determination7 Figure 1. Optical density at 700 nanometers Introduction Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA ) is the familial stuff in worlds and all other beings. DNA isolation is the remotion of Deoxyribonucleic acid from the cell which it usually resides. Isolation is the remotion of Deoxyribonucleic acid from the cell in which it usually inhabits. ( 1 ) Onions are used since it contains small sum of amylum which allows the Deoxyribonucleic acid to be more seeable. The filtrate is made up of onions treated with salt, distilled H2O and detergent jointly called as lysis solution. DNA purification is done by enzymatic debasement of polluting proteins with ethyl alcohol. A spectrophotometer is used in finding the concentration and pureness of the proteins. ( 2 ) MATERIALS AND METHODS Isolation of Deoxyribonucleic acid from Onion The bare-assed onion bulb was chopped and measured homogenized. The sample was placed in a liquidizer added with an ice-cold lysis solution so for 45 seconds at low velocity. Meanwhile, the lysis solution used was prepared beforehand by blending 5.00 milliliter of liquid detergent, 5.00 milliliter of 0.500M EDTA, 10.0 milliliter of 50 % Na Cl solution, and 80 milliliter of distilled H2O and placed in an ice bath. After homogenising, the sample was filtered through the cheesecloth and the gathered filtrate was placed in a 250-ml beaker. A 10.0 milliliter of 5 % pepsin solution was added to the filtrate and placed on an ice bath for 10 proceedingss with occasional stirring. Ice cold 30.0 milliliter of 95 % ethyl alcohol was pipette to the side of the beaker incorporating the sample and base for 10 proceedingss on ice bath. Once the Deoxyribonucleic acid precipitates appeared at the interface of the solution, the Deoxyribonucleic acid was already ready for isolation. The spooled Deoxyri bonucleic acid was transferred instantly to a pre-weighed 100-ml beaker to find the mass and percent output of the sample. The stray DNA was added with 10.0 milliliters of 95 % ethyl alcohol so covered with aluminium foil and refrigerated in readying for the following research lab process. Word picture of DNA. Small sum of DNA sample was placed in a trial tubing added with 1.00 milliliters of 20 % TCA followed by heating the sample for 10 proceedingss in H2O bath with 1.00 milliliters distilled H2O. A 2.00 milliliter of diphenylamine solution was added so heat once more in a H2O bath for 10 proceedingss. The colour alteration was observed and the optical density of the sample from 400 nanometers to 700 nanometer was scanned to find the wavelength of maximal soaking up. Mean while, small sum of the DNA sample was placed in a separate trial tubing filled with 5.00 milliliters distilled H2O and scanned to read the optical density at 260 nm so at 280 nanometer. After finding the A260/A280 value, the sample was heated to boil for 5 proceedingss and read the optical density adain at 260 nanometers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The mass of the natural sample gathered from onion is 30.4 g. After homogenisation and adding of pepsin solution and ethyl alcohol, DNA precipitates were became seeable and transferred to another beaker. The stray DNA measures 23 g. .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b , .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .postImageUrl , .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b , .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:hover , .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:visited , .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:active { border:0!important; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:active , .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucb6bd25696e569409fa7fd76553b308b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Thomas Edison , A Great Inventor In 20Th Century EssayPercentage Recovery Mass or natural sample: 30.4 g Mass of stray Deoxyribonucleic acid: 15. 11 g Percent Output: 49.70 % Word picture of Deoxyribonucleic acid Chemical reaction with Diphenylamine Color of formed solution: green Experimental A ; Ucirc ; ?max: Theoretical A ; Ucirc ; ? soap: Percentage mistake: Purity Determination Optical density at 250 nanometers: 1.304 Optical density at 280 nanometers: 1.942 A260/ A280 value: 0.671 Denaturation of Deoxyribonucleic acid Initial optical density at 260 nanometers: 1.304 Optical density at 260 nanometers after warming: 1.095 Percent addition in optical density: 8 % Calculation 1. Solution for Percentage Yield Determination The deliberate per centum output was rather high. However, still some beginnings of mistake was done while carry oning the experiment, the sample with DNA precipitates was disturbed while reassigning the Deoxyribonucleic acid. The accrued DNA precipitates is adequate for the following process which is word picture. Figure 1. Optical density at 700 nanometers Heat denaturation of DNA, causes the dual spiral construction to wind off and organize individual stranded Deoxyribonucleic acid. Therefore, the bases unstacked and can absorb more light doing an addition after denaturation. But based on the consequences gathered, the initial optical density at 260 nanometer was 1.304 so was decreased after heating which was 1.095. The deliberate per centum addition in optical density was 8 % . This mistake is possibly, due to the warming procedure. The Deoxyribonucleic acid acquired was rather greater and was non wholly het afterwards doing dual spiral construction non to wind off and organize a individual isolated Deoxyribonucleic acid. The filtrate gathered from this experiment was made of onions and lysis solution. Onion was used in this survey due to low amylum content, leting the Deoxyribonucleic acid to be more seeable sing the onion as one of the best beginning of DNA. ( 4 ) The used of lysis solution was to divide the Deoxyribonucleic acid from excess cell constituents and to maintain the location in which the Deoxyribonucleic acid will non be tainted. The NaCL provides NA+ ions that will blockade the negative charge as of phosphate terminals of DNA. Permiting these terminals to come nigher so they can precipitate out of a cold solution. The detergent causes the interrupting down of the cell membrane by emulsifying the cell proteins and lipoids. Besides, interrupting the polar connexions that jointly holds the cell membrane. The composites formed with these lipoids and proteins causes the precipitate out of solution. Meanwhile, the intent of EDTA is to chelates metal ions. ( 5 ) A Pepsin solution was used for purification via enzymatic debasement. Deoxyribonucleic acid is polar due to its highly charged phosphate anchor which makes it soluble in H2O. Thus DNA is indissoluble in ice cold ethyl alcohol, as a consequence when the cold ethyl alcohol was added, it causes stable ionic bonds to organize and precipitate the Deoxyribonucleic acid. Heating the sample is the 1 responsible for the formation of the ascertained colour of Deoxyribonucleic acid with diphenylamine. When the Deoxyribonucleic acid is heated with acid, the 2-deoxyribose is converted to w-hydroxylaevulinic aldehyde, which reacts with the compound diphenylamine. Through this, a blue-colored compound supposed to bring forth. In our sample the colour observed was green perchance because of the DNA concentration. The ratio of soaking ups at 260 nm V 280 nanometer is often used to measure DNA taint of protein solutions. The nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, absorbs at 260 nanometers and proteins absorb at 280 nanometer. Based on the consequences, the rate ratio of soaking ups at 260 nm V 280 nanometer is 0.671. Since proteins absorb visible radiation at 280 nanometer, the ratio is low intending there is a batch of protein absorbed at 280nm.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The Culture of Fear and Its Effects on Society free essay sample

The Culture of Fear and its Effects on Society Min Kim Fear and the marketing of paranoia and uncertainty have become daily staples in today’s culture. Every day there arise new threats to national security manufactured by politicians and fuelled by the public’s demand to be protected from these imaginary bogeymen. With the vast increases in technology our society has experienced in the past forty years the news media have become an especially effective orator of impending doom, the daily exposes about the â€Å"silent killer† that lurks in your kitchen cabinet; bombard our society daily with dozens of urgent reminders of the real and imagined dangers that lurk in and outside our homes. The consumption of fear has become a diet our society will soon choke on if something isn’t done to introduce common sense back into our collective psyches. History has shown that living in a culture dominated by fear and ignorance can have catastrophic consequences if it is leveraged by the right people, the Holocaust and World War II was only allowed to occur due to Hitler exploiting the fears of everyday Germans that their country was slowly being dismantled from within by the Jews and without by the international community. We will write a custom essay sample on The Culture of Fear and Its Effects on Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Paul McCarthy and his manufactured Red Scare would never have gained enough traction to destroy the lives and reputations of countless people without a society frightened enough to allow him free reign in the name of national security, the passing of the Patriot Act, Gun Control Act of 1968 and even Executive Order 9066 which paved the way for Japanese American internment during World War II were all the products of media hysteria and public ignorance and each one subsequently led to further legislation being enacted that somehow reigned in the rights of the people. Little by little the society we live in has gone from one that lived in relative ignorant bliss to a â€Å"risk society†, which is described by Ericsson and Haggerty as â€Å"A society organized around communication oriented to policing, control and prevention of risks. † (Policing the Risk Society, 1997). An increase in the public’s perception of danger invariably increases the power governing bodies have in further regulating and controlling a population. In conjunction with the media, fear mongering is quickly warping our society into one that only harbors fear and paranoia towards each other (Perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour: Findings from the 2008/09 British Crime Survey). As instances of violent crime decline the media has ramped up reporting instances of violent or disturbing crimes, according to a recent Gallup poll they approximated that about half of Americans are now more concerned about crime since 2004 (Perceptions of Crime Problem Remain Curiously Negative, 2007) even though crime has been shown to be in decline since 1993(Reflections on the Crime Decline? Lessons for the Future? , 2002) during this time media reporting on crime nearly quadrupled (Do You Believe What Newspeople Tell you? Arlington, VA: Newseum and The Roper Group 1997). The hysteria in the aftermath of the Columbine shootings and Michael Moore’s exploitative documentary there was an uproar across the entire nation about the prevalence of easily accessible firearms, the effects of violent entertainment on youth and security in schools. The response to these fear fuelled flames was to enact draconian zero tolerance policies in public schools across the country that have forced teachers and administrators to suspend or even expel students outright when before they were allowed greater discretion instead of indiscriminately punishing students for seemingly minor infractions (American Psychologist, 2008), the transformation of schools to institutions that are run more like prisons than places of learning and has sparked renewed movements by lobbyists to further restrict the purchase of firearms and violent video games. Time and time again history has shown that culturally and possibly on an even deeper level Americans are prone to knee jerk reactions to fear that are seldom rational or effective. This media saturation of violent crime stories and their strict adherence the age old adage of â€Å"If it bleeds, it leads† has led to greater social paranoia of the people around us in our communities and neighborhoods and has weakened the cohesion many societies had as a result of being able to openly and comfortably communicate with one another.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

The History and Domestication of Bananas

The History and Domestication of Bananas Bananas (Musa spp) are a tropical crop, and a staple in the wet tropic areas of Africa, the Americas, mainland and island Southeast Asia, South Asia, Melanesia and the Pacific islands. Perhaps 87% of the total bananas consumed worldwide today are locally consumed; the rest is distributed outside of the wet tropical regions in which they are grown. Today there are hundreds of fully domesticated banana varieties, and an uncertain number are still in various stages of domestication: that is to say, they still are inter-fertile with wild populations. Bananas are basically giant herbs, rather than trees, and there are approximately 50 species in the Musa genus, which includes the edible forms of bananas and plantains. The genus is split into four or five sections, based on the number of chromosomes in the plant, and the region where they are found. Furthermore, over a thousand different types of cultivars of bananas and plantains are recognized today. The different varieties are characterized by wide differences in peel color and thickness, flavor, fruit size, and resistance to disease. The bright yellow one found most frequently in western markets is called the Cavendish. Cultivating Bananas Bananas produce vegetative suckers at the base of the plant which can be removed and planted separately. Bananas are planted at a typical density of between 1500-2500 plants per square hectare. Between 9-14 months after planting, each plant produces some 20-40 kilograms of fruit. After the harvest, the plant is cut down, and one sucker is allowed to grow up to produce the next crop. Banana Phytoliths The evolution of bananas are difficult to study archaeologically, and so the domestication history was unknowable until recently. Banana pollen, seeds, and pseudostem impressions are quite rare or absent at archaeological sites, and much of the recent research has been focused on the relatively new technologies associated with opal phytoliths- basically silicon copies of cells created by the plant itself. Banana phytoliths are uniquely shaped: they are volcaniform, shaped like little volcanoes with a flat crater at the top. There are differences in the phytoliths between varieties of bananas, but variations between wild and domesticated versions are not as yet definitive, so additional forms of research need to be used to fully understand banana domestication. Genetics and Linguistics Genetics and linguistic studies also help in understanding banana history. Diploid and triploid forms of bananas have been identified, and their distribution throughout the world is a key piece of evidence. In addition, linguistic studies of local terms for bananas support the notion of the spread of the banana away from its point of origin: island southeast Asia. Exploitation of early wild forms of bananas has been noted at the Beli-Lena site of Sri Lanka by c 11,500-13,500 BP, Gua Chwawas in Malaysia by 10,700 BP, and Poyang Lake, China by 11,500 BP. Kuk Swamp, in Papua New Guinea, so far the earliest unequivocal evidence for banana cultivation, had wild bananas there throughout the Holocene, and banana phytoliths are associated with the earliest human occupations at Kuk Swamp, between ~10,220-9910 cal BP. Todays Hybridized Bananas Bananas have been cultivated and hybridized a number of times over several thousand years, so well concentrate on the original domestication, and leave the hybridization to botanists. All edible bananas today are hybridized from  Musa acuminata  (diploid) or  M. acuminata  crossed with  M. balbisiana  (triploid). Today,  M. acuminata  is found throughout mainland and island southeast Asia including the eastern half of the Indian subcontinent;  M. balbisiana  is mostly found in mainland Southeast Asia. Genetic changes from  M. acuminata  created by the domestication process include the suppression of seeds and the development of parthenocarpy: the ability of humans to create a new crop without the need for fertilization. Bananas Across the World Archaeological evidence from the  Kuk Swamp  of the highlands of New Guinea indicates that bananas were deliberately planted by at least as long ago as 5000-4490 BC (6950-6440 cal BP). Additional evidence indicates that  Musa acuminata  ssp  banksii  F. Muell was dispersed out of New Guinea and introduced into eastern Africa by ~3000 BC (Munsa and Nkang), and into South Asia (the Harappan site of Kot Diji) by 2500 cal BC, and probably earlier. The earliest banana evidence found in Africa is from  Munsa, a site in Uganda dated to 3220 cal BC, although there are problems with the stratigraphy and chronology. The earliest well-supported evidence is at Nkang, a site located in southern Cameroon, which contained banana phytoliths dated between 2,750 to 2,100 BP. Like  coconuts, bananas were most widely spread as a result of the sea exploration of the Pacific by Lapita peoples ca 3000 BP, of extensive trade voyages throughout the Indian Ocean by Arab traders, and of exploration of the Americas by Europeans. Sources Ball T, Vrydaghs L, Van Den Hauwe I, Manwaring J, and De Langhe E. 2006.  Differentiating banana phytoliths: wild and edible Musa acuminata and Musa Journal of Archaeological Science 33(9):1228-1236.balbisiana.   De Langhe E, Vrydaghs L, de Maret P, Perrier X, and Denham T. 2009. Why Bananas Matter: An introduction to the history of banana domestication.  Ethnobotany Research Applications  7:165-177. Open Access Denham T, Fullagar R, and Head L. 2009.  Plant exploitation on Sahul: From   Quaternary International  202(1-2):29-40.colonisation to the emergence of regional specialisation during the Holocene. Denham TP, Harberle SG, Lentfer C, Fullagar R, Field J, Therin M, Porch N, and Winsborough B. 2003.  Origins of Agriculture at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of New Guinea.  Science  301(5630):189-193. Donohue M, and Denham T. 2009.  Banana (Musa spp.) Domestication in the Asia-Pacific Region: Linguistic and archaeobotanical perspectives.  Ethnobotany Research Applications  7:293-332. Open Access Heslop-Harrison JS, and Schwarzacher T. 2007.  Domestication, Genomics and the Future for Banana.  Annals of Botany  100(5):1073-1084. Lejju BJ, Robertshaw P, and Taylor D. 2006.  Africas earliest bananas?  Journal of Archaeological Science  33(1):102-113. Pearsall DM. 2008.  Plant . In: Pearsall DM, editor.  Encyclopedia of Archaeology. London: Elsevier Inc. p 1822-1842.domestication Perrier X, De Langhe E, Donohue M, Lentfer C, Vrydaghs L, Bakry F, Carreel F, Hippolyte I, Horry J-P, Jenny C et al. 2011.  Multidisciplinary perspectives on banana (Musa spp.) domestication.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  Early Edition.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Catalan Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Catalan Literature - Essay Example Roig’s identification of the female as both carrier and purveyor of Catalonian language, traditions, myths, history and nationalism was circumstantially predetermined by the experiences of this quasi-national community during the Franco years. To understand Roig’s works as something other than a feminist treatise and to fully appreciate their complexity, an understanding of the politically history which informed and incited them, is necessary. In brief, throughout the four decades of General Franco’s dictatorship, the Catalan community, as were the Andalusia, Basque and Castilian, was oppressed through the government’s determined efforts to forcibly impose the Spanish culture and language upon all. The Catalan language and culture were outlawed, with the hope being that their de-legitimisation would, over the generations and years, lead to their obliteration. Both, however, were kept alive within the private and feminine space of the home and, both were ke pt alive through the efforts of Catalan’s women. It was, thus, that Catalonian women played a fundamental role, not only in the rescuing of the national culture and historical memory but, in the survival of Catalonia herself. Within the socio-political history which informs Montserrat Roig’s works lays the key to the understanding of her literary productions. Binary oppositions assume political significance, with the private representing the national space and the public symbolising the oppressive dominance of Franco’s Spain; with the private and the feminine representing oppressed and the public and the male symbolising the oppressor. Indeed, as one who lived during Catalonia’s traumatic linguistic and cultural experiences under Franco, Roig’s works can only be fully understood from this perspective and can only be fully appreciated as a product of a literary mind which, itself, had

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Risk Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Risk Management - Research Paper Example Having seen the danger posed by this kind of storing cash within a business, strategists came up with a number of ways to prevent cash theft by employees (Fennelly 39). One of the most fundamental ways of preventing employee theft while operating a cash drawer is to employ honest and trustworthy personnel. Another crucial method of preventing employee theft while operating a cash drawer is to always be aware of the cash in the inventory, store, security, and staff behaviors at all times. In this way, an employer is able to prevent any sort of losses through employee theft since security is intensive (Fennelly 50). Thirdly, an employer can prevent employee theft by monitoring their access. Generally, managers should find it necessary to always be informed of what is happening in the business’ cash drawer. In this way, the managers are able to know which employees have codes and keys to the cash drawer; therefore, in case of any loss they know who is accountable. Fourthly, havin g cash handling processes that does not give room for mistakes can aid in preventing employee theft cases (Ramsey and Ramsey 57). Fifthly, being always present and available for the team is very substantial in preventing employee theft. ... Apart from that, maintaining employee monitoring after undergoing an intensive training is very important when it comes to preventing shoplifting when using a cash drawer. Immediately after the newly employed staff concludes its training, setting up measures that will see proper monitoring of the staff is a sure way of preventing any sort of shoplifting, especially at times when the store is using a cash drawer system. There is also the method of establishing single or simply individual cash drawers for every employee, which have similar balancing procedure at the end of every single day (Wallace and Larry 55). Moreover, initiating a management sign offs in each refund, void, and refund deposit in a store that employs the cash drawer system of storing money is relevant and can help prevent shoplifting. Such strategies are suitable for preventing large-scale losses that may result from possible â€Å"pay outs† (Fennelly 77). In addition to that, a manager can help prevent shopl ifting in a store that uses a cash drawer by putting into place a regular inspection program that goes through register journal tapes and finds out if there are any irregularities. Piecing together a system that allows advent and regular inspection of largely what goes around the store facilitates security and prevents shoplifting in places where they use cash drawers (Ramsey and Ramsey 68). Disaster and recovery plan Commonly, a disaster and recovery plan is planning of a business that seeks to ensure its continuity even after the occurrence of disruptive event that may be in the form of a hurricane, snow, and/or even a simple power outage that may occur anywhere next or close to the business. In a disaster and