Celebrate Your Cultural Differences in a Personal Statement

It is often difficult for international students to know what to write for their personal statement for US universities. My advice is to write about what you know best: Â  your dreams and goals. Cultural diversity is a major factor in the composition of many university classrooms, so celebrate your differences while you tell the reader in your personal statement why you want to learn about your similarities by studying abroad.There are many ways to approach the personal statement, including the most popular: begin with a detailed description of your background, from childhood to now. Where did you grow up? In a small town on a remote mountainside in China, perhaps? In a large family in a bustling city? Describe the location so the reader will be able to ‘see’ it. Give context to your essay’s introduction to capture the reader’s interest.Write about what you know best – not what you think the reader will want to read. Â  Be yourself – analyti cal, brave, adventurous, compassionate, driven, quiet, tenacious. Describe your family and cultural background, hardships, and education. Offer a specific single story to create an image in the reader’s mind so strong they will not be able to forget it – for all the right reasons. The story should illustrate your motivation to study in the United States.If there are people important to your story, tell the reader about them with such care and detail that the admissions representative will be able to see their eye color and work-roughened hands. What are your dreams that motivate you to travel far away from home to study at a foreign university? Everyone’s story is unique. Â  Share the reasons behind your educational goals with the reader. Do you want to teach children in remote villages? Or do you want to start a company or an NGO to fund improvements to the water supply or infrastructure of the country of your childhood? Do you want to study marketing or accou nting to be able to take over the family business? Â  If you grew up in a village with no doctor, do you hope to study nursing or medicine to return to help others? Or do you want to create films that will tell the story for you in pictures? Your dreams belong to you.Be personal, honest, concise, and clear while writing your personal statement. Â  Your own voice should shine through your words, allowing the reader to understand why you want to study in an unknown environment in a different culture. Â  Write as you would talk to someone in a face-to-face meeting and avoid using too many words discovered through the thesaurus. Communicate your motivation, such as studying with outstanding teachers and using cutting-edge technology, having access to advances in laboratory research, and enjoying the opportunity to learn more about the world so that you can have a greater impact on your corner of it.Near the conclusion of your personal statement, tell the reader what special talents y ou offer the university, such as leadership abilities, strong communication skills, musical talent, or expertise in mathematics or computer science. What will be your special value to the university? Perhaps you will engage in thought-provoking classroom discussions, sharing a perspective on politics or philosophy or science that the other students had not considered. Or you may introduce your friends to the literature and music of your culture. Write about what you will ‘bring to the table’ of the campus community – not just what you will learn from the experience.In your conclusion, tell the reader what you plan to do with the degree that you earn from their institution. Will you stay in the US for further education or to work in your field or will you return home to use the degree there?If you are not sure yet what your long-term plans are, you can offer a few options that you are considering so the reader will know that you are a serious student with dreams a nd goals. Share your enthusiasm for the adventure of being an international student and feel free to dream big.As always, I look forward to your comments and questions.

Economics of Walnuts in California

Economics of Walnuts in California Introduction Walnuts accounts for a greater percentage of fruits and nut crops in California (Ramos 2). Nearly all walnuts produced on a commercial basis in the United States come from California, thus makes a great contribution not only to the economy of the state but also to the nation at large.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economics of Walnuts in California specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first variety of walnuts grown was the hards of varieties grown in California include: franquette, Payne, Eureka and Hartley. Walnut orchards mostly do well where the soils are very deep and the climate is favorable (Ramos 3). Over the last decade, the production of walnuts has tremendously increased. This is occasioned by awareness of various means of production and health benefits derived from consumption and increased demand in foreign markets (California Walnuts.org 5). The Walnut Marketing Board has been controlling much of the California walnut production, while Independent processors and buyers have been playing a crucial role in marketing and to some extent production. This makes them key to the industry’s development (Hasey 3). According to a report released by California Agricultural Statistics (CASS) in the late May 2007, acreage under walnuts in the early 1920s was about 34,138 and this has grown in leaps and bounds to about 243,000 acres. The high demand especially from Europe, Asia and Middle East has provided impetus for quality improvement of the crop. This has been enhanced by technological development by way of research and improvements in marketing efforts in the industry. In addition, the walnut industry has been profitable in present years. As a result, farmers have increased planting acreage (Diamond foods 1). This essay will explore the economics of walnut establishment and production in California. In particular, the paper will be narrowed down to issues, trends and ch allenges facing the walnut industry in California. Walnut Industry in California Walnuts are among the top agricultural produce in California. Nearly all the walnuts produced in the U.S. come from this state. Therefore, walnuts contribute significantly to the economy of California and to the country’s trade balance of trade (Hasey 4). The competitiveness of the California’s walnut industry is attributed to its ability to steadily produce and market high quality products. The industry’s capacity has been enhanced through technological advancement by means of research and harmonization of marketing activities. Nonetheless, the industry like other agribusiness sectors is being challenged by the rapid and unpredictable demands of the current society, for example, increased urbanization, environmental degradation and global market volatility (Karen5).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Walnuts have been grown in California for over three centuries since the Spanish invasion in mid 1860s. The first commercial nurseries were established in Santa Barbra and Nevada by Sexton and Gillet respectively. Sexton produced soft shell walnuts which were well acclimatized to the southern conditions. On the other hand, Gillet produced frosty hardy variety imported from France and were well adapted to Northern conditions. Even at the moment, the walnut varieties grown in California are from the above two early varieties (Hasey 7). Initially, farmers grew walnut orchards with plantlets. As a result, yields and quality were compromised by non-uniformity of trees. Rigorous scientific research and development saw the introduction of vegetative propagation which resulted in more consistent and uniform orchards. This was embraced by the whole industry (Hasey 8). In the state of California, walnuts did very well in areas where there were suitable clima te and deep soils. In the early 1920s, the overall walnut acreage was estimated to about 34000 acres, mostly in the southern region. The industry continued to grow and by the late 20s the total acreage had expanded to over 100000 acres, still mostly in the southern region. Over three quarters of this acreage consisted of young trees, signifying increased output in the future. In overall, California accounted for more than half of the U.S. production (Klonsky 3). However, the walnut acreage in the Southern region started to decline in the 1940s and almost disappeared in the 1960s. This was attributed to numerous reasons, especially 2nd world war and growth in urbanization. In addition, citrus was more marketable and lucrative during this period than walnut. Thus, many farmers replaced walnut with citrus. Nonetheless, the acreage began to increase immediately after the 60s, largely in the rivers of the central valley. The industries’ marketing trend In the earlier days, the gro wth of new and disorganized walnut industry was hindered by fluctuations in price and marketing challenges. Farmers reacted by forming local cooperatives. The first cooperative was formed in the late 1880s. Several years later, other cooperatives were created, and a central union was established to regulate prices. Nevertheless, rivalry among the local cooperatives persisted. For this reason, the California Walnut Association was set up in the early 1990s to assume the marketing role for its members (Hasey 8). Up till then, the industry faced stiff rivalry from French importers in the local market. However, by early 1920s the industry had captured more than 50 percent of the U.S. market. California’s walnut industry continued to grow to capture a larger share of the U.S. market. The U.S. Walnut Marketing Board was formed in 1962 to regulate product quality and market. The board moved its base from Los Angeles to Stockton and changed its name to Sun-Diamond Growers after a ser ies of merger with other cooperatives (Hasey 9).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economics of Walnuts in California specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The growth of the industry is also attributed to independent buyers and handlers who provide an alternative economic option to numerous farmers. Initially, cooperatives controlled over 90 percent of the market. However, things have significantly changed. Nearly half of the market is currently controlled by the independent sectors. The cooperation between the two groups has also contributed to the success of the industry (Klonsky 3). California’s walnuts are traded in a vibrant market. Even though U.S. remains its main market, large quantities are exported. Currently, nearly 40 percent of the products are sold in the global market. As a result, the industry is increasingly becoming exposed to global competition. The industry mainly attributes their success in the global market to promotion funds provided by the federal government (Farm express 4). However, Karen Klonsky attributes this success to a number of factors(4). The first factor is strict adherence to quality measures put in place and followed to the letter by farmers. This is observed throughout the production and processing stages. Second, farmers have incorporated various forms of technologies in the production and processing of walnuts in order to ensure high quality (Karen 5). Third, farmers have put in so much investment in storage facilities in order to maintain the requisite quality of nuts after processing. The accepted moisture content of the nuts is a maximum of 8%, which is highly recommended by experts (Karen 6). The presence of Californian walnuts in various foreign markets across Asia and Europe has increased the demand for the product. The industry is recording more exports than it did ten years ago (Farm express 6). Paradoxically, much of the exports go to Asia, whic h is the leading world producer of walnuts. The California Walnut Commission is culpable for the outstanding performance in the global market. The group was launched in the year 1987 through a California state law. This commission has developed a number of strategies and programs such as the Market Access Program, which focuses on introducing various products into the international market. The strategies also focus on the need to expand existing markets for various products by increasing awareness and quality of products (Farm express 7). The European market has been a huge export zone for both in-shell and shelled nuts. However, market forces such as diverse consumer preferences led to higher demand for shelled walnuts compared to demand for in-shell walnuts. This resulted to increased export of shelled walnuts to the European market, which boosted the growth of the local industry in California. The German market is expanding and has developed into a leading destination for Califor nian walnuts (Farm express 7).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The strategies applied by the commission were also very successful in opening up the Asian market. The Market Access Program has facilitated the penetration of the walnuts into the South Korean market. South Korea is one of the largest importers of the California walnuts in Asia. The future of California walnuts in the South Korean market received a huge boost in the year 2007, when the United States of America and South Korean governments signed an agreement that would lower the cost of trading between the two countries (Farm express 8). Additionally, Californian walnuts are a huge international brand that has helped to promote the culture of people in the state, as well as attracting foreign investors (Farm express 9). Conclusion Growing walnuts contribute significantly to the California’s economy and to the country’s balance of payment account. The walnut industry in California has grown in leaps and bounds over the last one decade. The main contributing factors to the speedy growth include better awareness on various methods of production and increased demand for walnuts. Commercial growing of walnuts is a widespread activity in California because of the low cost of production. Farmers in the state have made great contributions to the history of walnuts. Walnut growing is characterized by the cultivation of gardens that consist of walnut trees and absence of vegetation. The California Walnut Commission is culpable for the outstanding performance in the global market. This commission has developed a number of strategies and programs such as The Market Access Program, which focuses on introducing various products into the international market. The efforts by the commission have been very successful, as California walnuts managed to penetrate foreign markets in Germany. The strategies applied by the commission were also very successful in opening up the Asian market, which had partly blocked the trading of Californian walnuts. The United States and South Korean Free Trade Agreement has played a crucial role in the growth and development of the walnut industry in California over the last couple of years. California Walnuts.org. California Walnuts: Sizes and Colours. Web. Diamond foods. California walnut acreage trending upwards.PDF file. Web. Farm express. California Walnut Industry Surges With Record Exports. Web. Hasey, Janine. The Walnut Industry in California: Trends, Issues and Challenges. California: Agricultural Issue Centre, 1994. Print. Klonsky, Karen. Economics of walnut establishment and production, California: California university Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2006. Print. Ramos, David. Walnut Production Manual, California: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.

CBS examination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

CBS examination - Essay Example For instance, governments use trade associations in ensuring the production is meeting the demand. Therefore, the trade associations have to generate ways of stabilising production to reflect the demand levels. Similarly, governments could use cooperatives in increasing production of goods and services. These cooperatives could be private organisations that specialise in different types of production or service lines. In addition to this, a government can use multi-level production methods that increase production. A perfect example of the different business models that are used is the induction of People’s Bank of China (Luo, Xue and Han, 2010:71). This was an institution that was used to boost the outward foreign direct investment in the country. In ensuring the participation of PBC was successful, the government had to use monetary and the foreign exchange policy. As such, it motivated the Chinese firms which increased their production and extended the OFDI abroad. Therefor e, it is openly displayed that some activities are deemed to increase the production of goods and services, which could also be exported to earn foreign exchange and boost local currency’s strength globally. According to historical developments, countries have used capitalism as a way of improving on their production capacities. Countries that have a strong muscle seem to increase their production by investing in a variety of businesses (McDonald, Burton and Dowling, 2002:13). As such, countries with massive investments end up benefitting more thereby increasing their economic growth. Historically, countries that relied on capitalism are more developed than those that were allied to socialism. In capitalism, different levels of production accrued different levels of profit, which made a difference in the whole economy. However, in socialism, all production levels that recorded gains were directed to the whole economy. Therefore, there was a difference in the production levels in countries that supported socialism from those that supported capitalism. In this line, capitalism has complex methods that ensure all the factors of production are fully utilised. In recent times, countries have been trying to structure better ways of production and service provision. These structures are aimed to ensure the economy is growing at increasingly fast rate. However, it all depends on the roadmaps that are used in structuring the process. As such, many countries are directed towards economic liberalisation, increasing free trade and opening new markets for their products. Similarly, some countries are enhancing the private sector production, decreasing regulations in doing business and privatising some of the public corporations (Luo, Xue and Han, 2010:73). With such strategies, the economy gains by producing more as the different parts of the economy work towards a common goal. In making this a success, many of the regulations put in place are directed towards stren gthening the private sector. They deregulate the concentration of other production phases and ensure the private sector is booming and producing more. For instance, China banked on privatisation of many industries that produced more as compared to the current state; this culminated to a remarkable economic growth. Capitalism and neo-liberalism have their differences and convergent points which are dependent on the way the

The positive and harmful effects of using a birth control Research Paper

The positive and harmful effects of using a birth control - Research Paper Example The positive and harmful effects of using a birth control can be best gauged by understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods of preventing pregnancy. Barrier methods of birth control or contraception are methods that work by physically obstructing the vaginal canal, preventing the sperms from entering the woman’s uterus, thereby inhibiting fertilization. Gordon (2004) avers that the common forms of barrier methods of birth control are male and female condoms, spermicide and diaphragm. A male condom is a thin, flexible sheath made from latex, polyurethane or lambskin. Worn over an erect penis before intercourse, a male condom is equipped with a small reservoir at the tip which collects the sperms during ejaculation and prevents them from entering the vagina. It is the most easy to use, inexpensive and widely available form of contraceptive with no side effects unless one is allergic to latex. When used correctly and consistently, a male condom has an efficacy rate of 85- 86 percent. Gordon (2004) avers that the male condom reduces the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. On the flip side, a male condom is often accused of dulling sexual sensations and intruding intimate foreplay. A female condom is about a seven-inch long pouch with two flexible rings at each end. Inserted into the vagina prior to the intercourse, the female condom prevents the cervix, vaginal canal, and the surrounding vaginal skin from coming in contact with the penis or the secretions from the penis. The use of female condom entails the absence of any side effects except to the women who are allergic to latex. Ease of availability without prescription and potency to mitigate the risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases are the advantages of using female condoms. Female condoms are however

Biometrics - Careers, Technology and Contribution to Business Competit Research Paper

Biometrics - Careers, Technology and Contribution to Business Competitive Advantage - Research Paper Example The acquisition device extracts a feature from the provided sample to produce a reference template which would undergo matching with a match- template to generate a score (Barcode.ro, 2014). There is always a predetermined threshold based on which the score of the biometric score gets measured to reach a decision; conclusion on the degree of match. Majors in the field of biometrics stand a chance of securing jobs in organizations such as police forces, government agencies and intelligence services, corporate investigation companies and forensic computing firms. Biometric specialists can be employed in these organizations for a range of job titles including cryptographers, who work towards hiding the kind of information that should be kept secret, for example, bank account PINs (Kent.ac.uk, 2014). Another job title in this profession is a software developer whose job description is to encrypt software and offer data compression services. Network software developers play the role of designing software for media companies. Biometrics as a technology is applied for different reasons that vary depending on the type of organization. The employability is however limited to verification of identification for either enterprise or document security (detection of fraud). Identification is essential to addressing loyalty and theft in a business environment (Opara, Rob & Etnyre, 2006). It is also widely applied in forensics, for instance, prison security and criminal identification. Many businesses are sluggish in the adoption of Biometric technologies into their operations. Reports show that the slow adoption is mainly attributed to the high financial costs associated with the installation and maintenance of biometric equipment. However, Biometrics is the most reliable option that any business will ever resolve. Its adoption is associated with plenty of competitive advantages in an increasingly competitive market.  Ã‚  

The Design of Molecular Magnets

The Design of Molecular Magnets Ashlea Hughes 1. Polyoxometalates Polyoxometalates (POMs) are clusters consisting of linked metal oxide polyhedral. They are commonly anionic, although some cationic species have been reported.1 Due to this charge, counter ions are often associated with POMs. The metal ions which form the POMs often belong to group 5 or group 6 in the periodic table and possess a high oxidation state causing an electron configuration of either d0 or d1. The nuclearity of POMs differs widely from single monomeric species to high nuclearity (i.e. over 100 metal ions) species. The three major transition metals that form POMs are: vanadium, molybdenum and tungsten. 1.1 Structures The building blocks of polyoxometalates often correspond to tetrahedral, tetragonal pyramids, and octahedra, sharing corners and edges which results in a variety of caged, ribboned, wheel or basket like structures e.g. [P6Mo18O73]11-.2 It is this variety in potential structures of POMs that causes a number of complex molecular spin arrays to be available. Figure 1: Five Baker-Figgis isomers adapted from Zhou et al. 3 The keggin structure, named after J. J. Keggin who determined its structure, is a very common structure found in POMs.4 It consists of a central tetrahedrally coordinated atom, caged by 12 octahedrally coordinated atoms. Five rotational isomers, known as Baker-Figgis isomers, of the keggin structure exist, and are shown in Figure 1, as do defect structures known as lacunary structures.3 Due to the conformation of these structures they have high stability and so aid in the exchange coupling between other keggin molecules. The POMs comprising of the transition metal, tungsten, all favour this structure and larger tungsten POMs can be considered to be made up of keggin subunits. The Dawson structure and Anderson structure are similar structures that have also been reported many times within literature. The wheel structure is yet again another commonly found structure and is desired for POM formation. The cavity/cavities the wheel contains are accessible and allow the coordination of other clusters, and form chains in a step by step growth, forming very large POMs. 1.2 Traditional synthesis POM based clusters are traditionally made via a one-pot synthesis. The aggregation and condensation of the reagents is controlled via experimental variables.5 These variables can include: concentration, pH, temperature, ligand effects, counter ions and various other experimental variables. The synthesis usually begins with the acidification of the metal salt, sequentially followed by condensation of the molecules forming a variety of architectural structures. 1.3 Uses Polyoxometalates possess a wide variety of properties. Their diversity means that they are used for many applications. They are used as catalysts in a range of organic reactions. The acidity and solubility of POMs make them ideal candidates to use as homogeneous catalysts, as well as their redox abilities. They have many uses in biological systems, in particular the POM ferritin, which is the protein responsible for iron storage and is a cofactor in the photosynthesis process within plants. This property in particular has inspired research into many energy and photosensitive related devices using POMs. In addition there is also research being done into medicinal applications as potential uses in antiretroviral drugs for diseases such as AIDS. 6 Aside from all these applications, and many others, certain POMs also bear magnetic properties that I shall discuss herein.5 2. Magnetism Magnetic properties arise from the spin and orbital angular momentum of unpaired electrons. Paramagnetism is a property of compounds which contain unpaired electrons. These compounds have a relative permeability greater than one and consequently attract magnetic fields. When a field is applied the spins of electrons start to align parallel to each other. The magnetisation of paramagnetic materials is directly proportional to the magnetic field that is applied; this, however, does vary with temperature. This relationship between temperature and magnetization is described by Curies Law: Where M is the resulting magnetisation, B is the applied magnetic field, T is the temperature and C is the Curie constant which is specific for each individual material. Figure 2: Hysteresis Curve 7 Hysteresis is a property of paramagnetic materials. If a magnetic material is magnetised in regard to a direction and the material does not relax back to zero magnetisation then the material is exhibiting hysteresis. If an alternating field is applied a hysteresis loop is formed as shown in Figure 2. Bulk magnets exhibit hysteresis, as do some polyoxometalates.8 This provides many advances into information storage as exhibiting hysteresis means the material has magnetic bistability, meaning the material can present two stable phases and can change between the two with response to an external stimulus, a vital property for memory elements. 2.1 Magnetic POMs POMs commonly contain transition metal centres, some of which are paramagnetic with respect to their spin states. The paramagnetic transition metal centres therefore correspond to the d1 electron configuration mentioned above, e.g. polyoxovanadates (IV). When the paramagnetic metal ions are brought together they interact and can give rise to a wide variety of magnetic properties. The magnetic interaction between the ions is defined by the Heisenburg Hamiltonian. These POMs which possess magnetic properties are known as single molecule magnets. Polyoxovanadates are the most common magnetic POM. [VIV15As6O42(H2O)]6- is a relatively large oxovanadium (IV) POM whose magnetic properties have been widely investigated.7 2.2 Quantum or classical behaviour? POMs are relatively large, organically bridged, molecular magnets, and are thought to potentially be the bridge between the quantum properties of the smallest atoms and the classical properties possessed by larger magnets that we know in our day-to-day lives. Events in classical physics are either allowed or forbidden in contrast to the events in quantum physics which all have a various probability of occurring. It has been thought that the mesoscopic size of the POMs would cause the classical properties seen in bulk magnets to also be observed in these intermediate sized magnets. Some magnetic POMs are thought to behave quasi-classically as they can exhibit both quantum as well as classical magnetic properties.8 This 15 vanadium centred POM was however, found not to behave in a classical way. Though, it has been reported that the quantum/classical behaviour is not just based on the size of the magnet, but also the individual spins of the metal ions. If the individual ions within the POM have a small spin (S= 1/2) then quantum models approximate properties of the material the best, however when reaching relatively high spins similar results to the quantum models are shown by using classical models. This has been confirmed in smaller clusters which contain larger spins.7 It is interesting that smaller clusters with higher spins possess more classical magnetic properties, opposed to larger clusters which possess small spin ions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is a technique used to study materials with unpaired electrons, i.e. paramagnets. Line widths present in EPR spectra can dictate whether a material is expressing quantum or classical behaviour. 9 2.3 Spin frustration Figure 3. Spin fustrastion within [VIV15As6O42(H2O)]6- 7 To achieve a large spin ground state is a difficult challenge for scientists. However, spin frustration effects can lead to isolated systems that contain this property. The layered structure of [VIV15As6O42(H2O)]6- comprising of three layers, with the central layer only having three interacting centres, then the spin cannot be resolved by Hund’s rule and is said to be frustrated, as shown in Figure 3. Much research has been done into the use of large POMs as magnets, however with current technology allowing the miniaturisation of most devices, the question posed is who can make the smallest POM in which both quantum and classical effects coexist? For this to be answered the synthesis of POMs needs to be carefully controlled and fine-tuned. 2.4 Mixed valence clusters The magnetic properties of mixed valence clusters are often more difficult to interpret due to their electrons which are delocalised over the structure as opposed to the simpler localised valence species, described above. The mixed valence cluster [Mn12O12(O2CCH3)16(H2O)4].2CH3COOH.4H2O, comprising of Mn4IV and Mn8III has been found to exhibit both quantum and classical properties. It has been established that this cluster behaves like a small bulk magnet when subjected to low temperatures. 2.5 Single molecule magnets Single molecule magnets (SMMs) are usually based on first row transition metals. They require a high spin ground state along with a negative uniaxial anisotropy. A relatively high blocking temperature (the temperature at which relaxation of magnetisation is slow) is also desirable.9 Flexibility in the structure of SMMs provides difficulties in the regulation of intermolecular exchange coupling, however, due to their rigid conformation, POMs have an environment which is ideal for magnetic structures. To produce SMMs the intermolecular magnetic interactions between molecules must be negligible. 2.6 POMs as ligands Although POMs themselves can have magnetic properties, due to their variety of shapes if they possess defects, as in the lacunary structure, and the cavities the wheel structure often has, they can also be used as multidentate ligands.10 They can bind to paramagnetic coordination clusters, causing encapsulation of small clusters of magnetic ions.11 By doing this the POM ligand effectively dilutes the smaller, encapsulated molecule and therefore reduces the dipolar interactions that are undesirable for SMMs. The magnetic molecule encapsulated could possess both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic properties; however, which property is expressed could potentially be determined by the POM surrounding it. The wheel structure, due to the nature of its shape also possesses a cavity, which could also be used to bind smaller clusters, increasing the distance between the magnetic molecules and in doing so reducing the interactions between them. 12 3. Designing POMs The design of molecular clusters with magnetic properties, or as ligands for small clusters, that possess magnetic properties is challenging. The traditional one-pot synthesis controlled by numerous variables does not give the desired purity of species or the fine tuning abilities required to design SMMs. The degree of functionality required for these systems relies upon directed assembly of the building blocks into disciplined architectures.13 3.1 Solvothermal and ionothermal synthesis Solvothermal synthesis reduces the limitations of the experimental variable of temperature used in the regular synthesis. Water and common organic solvents used in the regular synthesis limit the temperature the system can reach; however, autoclaves used in the solvothermal process reduce this limitation and create the opportunity for higher temperatures and pressures of the reaction mixture. Reproducibility of these reactions is very difficult as it requires tight control of experimental conditions. Ionothermal synthesis adapts this solvothermal synthesis by using an ionic liquid as a solvent. These ionic liquids influence the assembly of the POMs by functioning as templates and can potentially create selective architectures.14 3.2 Linking clusters Lacunary structures have been used as precursor molecules with other metal ions as linkers to produce high nuclearity POMs.11,15 This is often known as the ‘building block strategy’.{16} It opens up opportunities to expand the POM size beyond what has currently been synthesised. However, difficulties have been found due to the architecture of the potential building blocks rearranging and reorganizing due to not being stable enough in solution. Due to the stability of tungsten POMs this methodology is widely used within tungsten chemistry; however, these limitations cause problems for other complexes such as molybdenum. Stabilising the initial building blocks is currently a task being researched widely by several research groups.11,16 3.3 Counter ion effect As previously mentioned, POMs are charged species, generally anionic, and so must possess a counter ion. Anionic POMs possess cationic counter ions and vice versa. The properties of the counter ion i.e. size, charge etc, can affect the reactivity of the POM. The larger the counter ions, the more stable the POM is against aggregation. Amines are a common example of bulky counter ions which provide this stability. Organic amines have also been found to be capable of directing the self-assembly of small building blocks, enabling the creation of the desired structure.17 3.4 Top down A novel â€Å"top down† synthesis has been reported.18 Opposed to all previously mention syntheses this is a truly unique and novel idea. It suggests the idea of a pH controlled decomposition of a very large POM into smaller fragments. The large POM; [P4W52O178]24- , has confirmed this approach to be successful with the controlled fragmentation of [P3W39O134]19-, the scheme is shown in Figure 4.5 Not only could this technique potentially enable the formation of new architectures, but it could also help to identify the building blocks that made the POM in the first place, revealing new insights into the mechanism of formation. 4. Conclusion Polyoxometalates are a very versatile class of compounds. Their potential has been subdued in the past due to a lack of understanding and the traditional one-pot synthesis. With the discovery of the importance of POMs in their various applications, and in particular as molecular magnets, there have been many developments within the past decade with regard to their careful and controlled synthesis. However, the mechanism of formation of POMs is still not fully understood. The controlled design of the structure and function of POMs is still being investigated and there is little doubt it will lead to the engineered functionality required for many capabilities POMs are already showing to have. The debate between quantum and classical mechanics has been going on for centuries. Quantum properties describe those with discrete levels, whereas classical properties have a continuous scale. The idea that POMs can be used as a â€Å"stepping stone† between the quantum and classical magnetic behaviour has started to unite both the theories and has started collaborative research between both physicists and chemists. This breakthrough enables the development and use of POMs in quantum computing and miniaturisation of devices, paving the way for new and exciting technologies. 5. Reference List G. Johansson, Acta Chem. Scand., 1960, 14, 771-773. W. G. Klemperer, T. A. Marquart, and O. M. Yaghi, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 1992, 31, 49-51. B. Zhou, B. L. Sherriff, F. Taulelle, and G. Wu, Can. Mineral., 2003, 41, 891-903. J. F. Keggin, Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 1934, 144, 75-100. H. N. Miras, J. Yan, D. L. Long, and L. Cronin, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2012, 41, 7403-7430. W. Rozenbaum, D. Dormont, B. Spire, E. Vilmer, M. Gentilini, C. Griscelli, L. Montagnier, F. Barre-Sinoussi, and J. C. Chermann, Lancet, 1985, 1, 450-451. M. T. Pope, A. Muller, and Editors., Polyoxometalates: From Platonic Solids to Anti-Retroviral Activity. Kluwer, 1994, 411. D. Gatteschi, A. Caneschi, L. Pardi, and R. Sessoli, Science, 1994, 265, 1054-1058. E. C. Yang, C. Kirman, J. Lawrence, L. N. Zakharov, A. L. Rheingold, S. Hill, and D. N. Hendrickson, Inorg. Chem., 2005, 44, 3827-3836. J. Liu, J. Guo, B. Zhao, G. Xu, and M. Li, Transition Met. Chem., 1993, 18, 205-208. H. Abbas, A. L. Pickering, D. L. Long, P. Kogerler, and L. Cronin, Chem. Eur. J., 2005, 11, 1071-1078. J. Lehmann, A. Gaita-Arino, E. Coronado, and D. Loss, Nat. Nanotechnol., 2007, 2, 312-317. A. Muller, F. Peters, M. T. Pope, and D. Gatteschi, Chem. Rev., 1998, 98, 239-271. A. S. Pakhomova and S. V. Krivovichev, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2010, 13, 1463-1465. D. L. Long, H. Abbas, P. Kogerler, and L. Cronin, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 13880-13881. J. M. Cameron, J. Gao, L. Vilà ¡-Nadal, D. L. Long, and L. Cronin, Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 2155-2157. Y. Jun, L. De-Liang, N. M. Haralampos, and L. Cronin, Inorg. Chem., 2010, 49, 1819-1825. C. P. Pradeep, D. L. Long, C. Streb, and L. Cronin, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130, 14946-14947.

International Relation Essay

The writing of Nicholas Kristof offers an objective and practical insight into one of the lease understood and one of the most ignored regions in world-Africa. Unlike many arm chair theorists, Kristof has personally made a number of detours of Africa, especially its violence torn regions, notably Darfur in Sudan, Congo, Somalia and Liberia, seen the devastation wrecked by years of conflict, met the victims, listened their tales, and took their stories to international audience. However, unlike many reporters, Kristof’s stories do not end with the tales of the victims, but they involve readers by raising the question of individual actions on readers’ part. The images and narrations that subtly form the watermark of Kristof’s canvas continue to remind readers that while governments across the world would try to approach the problem from political consideration, the human crisis and tragedy unfolding in African regions also necessitates participation by international citizens. In several of this blogs Kristof makes it clear that participation doesn’t imply people taking the first flight to Africa-it’s about creating a sense of solidarity and unity about the cause, creating a notion of identification, and inspiring people with the idea that something should be done. Action, Kristof maintains, comes quite later; and even when it comes, it may not be the direct action. However, once people reach a collective level of thought and idea, they are better positioned to create the platform for the action. Kristof brings out the daily landscape of war ravished African towns, uprooted people, and broken societies and culture simply, but very realistically and powerfully. His writing is not about convincing people of what he has seen or experienced, but rather of allowing them to experience his experiences. Gradually, building a continuous series of small insights, events, narrations, stories, Kristof takes readers to the depth of his observation, and the Africa, which most of his readers have only seen in images, movies and news, assumes a living shape, speaking to the readers through its people whom Kristof meets and interviews. The vagueness lifts and we see real people living through some of the most difficult situations imaginable, and yet maintaining the semblance of life, order, and ordinary hope in their endeavor to construct as stable a future as the circumstances allow them. Through Kristof work we also get a taste of what developed nations are doing or pretending to do in Sudan, Congo, Somalia, Chad, and various other countries that are locked in vicious conflict. As it appears the network and coordination among global organizations, particularly UN and individuals appears to be more effectual that aid programs and campaigns run by European and American governments. The amount of aid and help, although promised in hundreds of millions of dollars and Euros, hardly make to the people who would need it most. And yet, life moves on in Africa. And it is this depiction of movement, constant change, and readiness to accept even the most challenging circumstances, upheavals and uncertainties and assimilate them as a daily part of life and move ahead, that makes Kristof’s work on Africa significant and vital from every social and political aspect. Africa For a very considerable time Africa had been called the ‘Dark Continent’. This term, if analyzed closely, is not a reflection upon Africa, but upon the rest of the world, who could not, or rather did not peer into a whole and huge continent. Thus when the world called Africa as Dark continent, it was admittance of their own ignorance and lack of knowledge about the place, that in all probability was the origin of humankind. Africa consist of 53 independent countries today, and numerous tribes, ethnic communities and cultures, which are spread from the extent of Sahara desert to the deep recess of equatorial rain forests. By western standards, Africa is not developed and advanced, which is surprising considering the fact that for a larger part of previous couple of centuries, a considerable portion of Africa was colonized by various European powers. Today our understanding of Africa has widened considerably, thanks to dedicated explorers, researchers, aid and charity workers, and of course media. However, if we try to put this understanding in different compartments of knowledge, the images and visions making up the almost the entire picture constitute of a poverty-stricken, war ravished, famished, diseased, illiterate, and generally suffering population which is looking towards rest of the world for help and aid. Indeed these images are not doctored and they do represent the reality that they want to convey; however, it is vital to understand that real as they are, the images, videos and clips that we see on news channels, books and books form only a part of the vast reality of Africa. The northern provinces of Africa exhibit cultural influence of both Asia and Europe, with their geographical proximity to both these continents. Countries situated near the equator have a rich blend of tribal and semi urban cultural influence. Within previous 50 years, many of the countries have made remarkable progress, such as Cameroon, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Egypt, South Africa, and Uganda among many others. However, there is a the bitter reality of intense regional conflict, tribal clashes and war that has deeply afflicted several major countries of Africa, the notable among them being Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Liberia, and Chad. Decades of conflict in these regions have claimed millions of lives, and created an international humanitarian crisis of a magnitude that is often compared to the crisis of Jews during the Second World War. Unfortunately the international knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Africa and its people is extremely limited and dependent upon only the eye catching events that occur there. In the recent decades, much of the Africa has been projected from suffering through political stability, collapse of the law and order, war, famine, and tribal conflict. These images and stories persuade people to drop Africa from their travel itinerary; Africa is never considered in the same way as Europe, Australia or Asia Pacific countries are considered.

Northern Renaissance Art

The epoch of Renaissance in general was an age of humanism characterized by a new spirit of freedom, a new sense of the individual, a new realism in visualizing nature and the emergence of the artist as an individual creator. The Renaissance art traditions developed in Italy and then traveled to the north of the Alps and there became known as â€Å"Northern Renaissance†. Though the Northern Renaissance displays some differences from that of the South, it shares with the Italians in the three essential Renaissance qualities, namely, â€Å"a new interest in the world of fact, a new acceptance of that world as having independent value for artistic creation irrespective of any super sensuous presuppositions, and the separation of the several arts†. (Rowley, Sarton, Schevill and Thompson, 111) However, these qualities exhibited themselves in the north and south in quite different appearances because of the fundamental differences between the Gothic and the Classic traditions. Italy's climate, customs, and racial tendencies would never permit to assimilate the Gothic tradition, and the northern countries could never forget it. For example, in northern tradition we cannot find the mathematically exact perspective to reveal the space and volume, as well as the interplay of light and shadow is replaced by the scrupulous work with light and colors. North Renaissance portraits became living entities through the new realism which could render the detailed peculiarities of the individual and courtly approach and this trait derives from Gothic style. For example, Jan van Eyck's realism led to an examination of the details of actuality, so that he painted portraits that are convincing likenesses. To illustrate how the concept of Art Nova was reflected in the works of northern artists it would be appropriate to discuss some of them. In general the realism of the north as Rowley and his colleagues put it â€Å"was more discursive and more minute than that of the south†. (114) Jan van Eyck's painting of Arnolfini and his wife is packed with incidentals, the dog, slippers, pillows, fruit, fly whisk, chandelier, and the mirror which repeats them all again, inscription on the wall of the richly furnished room recording that Jan ‘was here’. The new element of light, which seems diffused through the room, is regarded as illumination for each separate object. Jan van Eyck gives us a realism that is more than real. In Eyck's Virgin and Child with Chancellor Rolin realism showed itself in a microscopic examination of objects. Each hair and each pore of the skin was scrutinized so carefully that the visual unity of the whole was lost in the focus upon small detail. The study of surfaces results in the qualities of things, the masterful use of light and color hues affected by light which makes the work different from Italian Renaissance. The most surprising characteristic of northern realism is the absence of movement. After the dramatic gesticulation of Giotto’s compositions and the Internationalists, the figures of Van Eyck, seem to be absolutely frozen. Perhaps much of the â€Å"sanctified mood† (Rowley, Sarton, Schevill, and Thompson, 116) of Van Eyck's paintings is created by the fact that his people never look at anything, which gives them a curiously removed quality. Another artist of the period, Robert Campin, was one of the earliest and greatest masters of Flemish painting. Characterized by a naturalistic conception of form and representation of the objects of daily life, Campin's work marks the break with the prevailing International Gothic style and prefigures the achievements of Jan van Eyck and the painters of the Northern Renaissance. One of his masterpieces is the Mà ©rode Altarpiece, a triptych of the Annunciation with the donors and St. Joseph on the wings. The Virgin is portrayed in a setting of bourgeois realism in which interior furnishings are rendered with the frank and loving attention to detail traditional to the Art Nova of Flemish art. Campin's passion for the natural and domestic world dominates his picturing of the sacred story. This feature to depict sacred motives within mundane context also testifies to the difference between South and North as regards Renaissance. Campin meticulously depicts even the tiniest trifle in a technique which combines semi-transparent oil overlay on water-based opaque pigments that results in the creation of space. Yet Campin’s work includes several symbolic elements like the brass laver or lily flower, both referring to Mary's purity. The innovations of the Northern Renaissance were apparent not only in painting but also in sculpture art. Thus Claus Sluter was the influential master of early Netherlandish sculpture, established highly individual monumental, naturalistic forms. The grandeur of Sluter's forms can only be paralleled in Flemish painting by the van Eycks and Robert Campin discussed above. The works of Claus Sluter infuse realism with spirituality and monumental grandeur. Sluter was an innovator in art, and thus it would be just to apply the concept of Art Nova to his works too. He moved beyond the prevailing French taste for graceful figures, delicate and elegant movement, and fluid falls of drapery. His sculptures are weighty, massive, dominantly large and balanced forms. The six-sided Well of Moses, presents six life-sized prophets holding books and scrolls. The head and torso fragment of Christ from the Calvary reveal a power and intensity of restrained expression that conveys overwhelming grandeur. Suffering and resignation are mingled, a result of the way the brow is knitted, though the lower part of the face, narrow and exhausted, is calm and without muscular stress. The figures of the composition dominate the architectural framework but also reinforce the feeling of support that the structure provides through their largeness of movement. Sluter's latest preserved work is the tomb of Philip the Bold consisting of forty figures, each about 16 inches high and made up the mourning procession. Sluter conceived of the figures as weepers, of whom no two are alike; some are openly expressing their sorrow, others are containing their grief, but all are robed in heavy wool, draping garments that occasionally veil a bowed head and face to convey a hidden mourning. Sluter epitomized in sculpture the growing awareness of an individualized nature with an enduring grandeur. Reference List: Harbison, Craig. The Mirror of the Artist: Northern Renaissance Art in its Historical Context, New York: Abrams, 1995. Rowley, George et al. The Civilization of the Renaissance. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1929.      

Free Essays on Financial Analysis

Anthony Osu Jr. Financial Statement Analysis Project The two companies that I will be comparing in this project are McDonalds and Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s. Both of these companies are competitors in the same industry. I ¡Ã‚ ¦m using the information from their 2001 Financial Statements. Debt-to-Assets Ratio When comparing the debt-to-assets ratio of McDonalds and Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s, you have to divide the firm ¡Ã‚ ¦s total liabilities by their total assets. Essentially, the debt-to-assets ratio is the primary indicator of the firm ¡Ã‚ ¦s debt management. As the ratio increases or decreases, it indicates the firm ¡Ã‚ ¦s changing reliance on borrowed resources. The lower the ratio the more efficient the firm will be able to liquidate its assets if operations were discontinued, and debts needed to be collected. In 2001 Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s had $2,076,043 worth in total assets and $846,264 in total liabilities. When divided, Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s has the lower ratio of the two competitors at 40%. This means that they would take losses of 40% if operations were shut down, and the cash received from valuable assets would still be sufficient to pay off the entire debt. It also means that 40% of Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s assets are made through debt. McDonalds in 2001 had $12,545.3 (in millions) of total li abilities and $22,534.5 (in millions) of total assets. After doing the math, McDonalds ends up with a ratio of 56% which is higher than Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s by sixteen percent. This means that there is more default on McDonald ¡Ã‚ ¦s liabilities, which can be a costly event from lender ¡Ã‚ ¦s perspective. McDonalds makes 56% of all its assets through debt. In reality, it ¡Ã‚ ¦s not good to have a debt-to-assets ratio over 50%. It ¡Ã‚ ¦s also not good to have a debt-to-assets ratio that is too low because that shows that you have money that isn ¡Ã‚ ¦t being used to gain future economic profit. So a stable percentage closest to 50% is wanted. When looking at both of the financial statements, eve... Free Essays on Financial Analysis Free Essays on Financial Analysis Anthony Osu Jr. Financial Statement Analysis Project The two companies that I will be comparing in this project are McDonalds and Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s. Both of these companies are competitors in the same industry. I ¡Ã‚ ¦m using the information from their 2001 Financial Statements. Debt-to-Assets Ratio When comparing the debt-to-assets ratio of McDonalds and Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s, you have to divide the firm ¡Ã‚ ¦s total liabilities by their total assets. Essentially, the debt-to-assets ratio is the primary indicator of the firm ¡Ã‚ ¦s debt management. As the ratio increases or decreases, it indicates the firm ¡Ã‚ ¦s changing reliance on borrowed resources. The lower the ratio the more efficient the firm will be able to liquidate its assets if operations were discontinued, and debts needed to be collected. In 2001 Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s had $2,076,043 worth in total assets and $846,264 in total liabilities. When divided, Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s has the lower ratio of the two competitors at 40%. This means that they would take losses of 40% if operations were shut down, and the cash received from valuable assets would still be sufficient to pay off the entire debt. It also means that 40% of Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s assets are made through debt. McDonalds in 2001 had $12,545.3 (in millions) of total li abilities and $22,534.5 (in millions) of total assets. After doing the math, McDonalds ends up with a ratio of 56% which is higher than Wendy ¡Ã‚ ¦s by sixteen percent. This means that there is more default on McDonald ¡Ã‚ ¦s liabilities, which can be a costly event from lender ¡Ã‚ ¦s perspective. McDonalds makes 56% of all its assets through debt. In reality, it ¡Ã‚ ¦s not good to have a debt-to-assets ratio over 50%. It ¡Ã‚ ¦s also not good to have a debt-to-assets ratio that is too low because that shows that you have money that isn ¡Ã‚ ¦t being used to gain future economic profit. So a stable percentage closest to 50% is wanted. When looking at both of the financial statements, eve...

Summary on Draft of the Declaration of Independence (1776) essays

Summary on Draft of the Declaration of Independence (1776) essays The declaration of independence, draft, is an article written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. It proclaimed the right to independence for the American colonies to separate from Great Britain. The declaration starts by describing reasons why its so important and required to claim their independence. It describes why the colonies have decided to remove, their ruler, from power and become their own nation separated from Great Britain. In Jeffersons draft, of the document, phrases have been deleted and rephrased by congress. All men are created equal, what does that mean? All Human beings must have equal opportunities, and there are specified rights that should never be taken, or given away. These rights contain the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. According to the colonies when a government fails to care for these rights, it is not only the right thing to do, but also the obligation of the people to overthrow that government. Being independent and becoming there own ruler, the colonies would create a government that abides by this rules. Getting rid of a ruler is a very unusual situation, and if by any chance it is overthrown it must be for some important reasons. The colonies and Great Britain have had some conflict, and thats plenty of reason for them to come to the conclusion of removing from power their government. The king of Great Britain, George III is the one blamed for most of the mistreatment and abuses the colonies have had to endure. The king interfered with the colonists right to independence. The King would pass laws that affected the colonies without informing or asking for their permission. This laws charged taxes on the colonists. It also obliged them to house British soldiers, removed their right to trial by jury, and prevented them from trading freely. Additionally, the King and its ruling house are in fact to blame for the colonies ruined way of life and propert...

Organic Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organic Food - Essay Example Almost all food stores now carry organic food. The popularity of organic food stores has increased because of its rapid demand all around the world. â€Å"The Annual sales of organic products in the United States are topping anywhere from $16.3 billion to $29.7 billion†. (Selvon, 2012) The demand has increased due to its several benefits. Grocery retailers who consider the consumer interest and reasons of rise in organic food consumption can eventually become market leaders. They are considered to be more nutritious, protect from harmful diseases, promotes well being and protects the environment. The National organic program was developed on 21st October 2002 and is a program for developing organic standards. It comprises of representatives from several categories such as farmer, retailer, processor, scientist, environmentalist and certifying agent. The USDA organic logo is an easy way to recognize organic products for the consumers and feel con?dent that they are purchasing a product that is pure and meets standards. The foods covered under current organic standards are fruits, meat and poultry, legumes, livestock feed, nuts, seeds and so on. Organic certification systems mostly have elements such as: 1. Standards: Standards must be clearly formulated and communicated among all parties. 2. Contracts and legal framework: Contracts and Legal framework should be bound by a legal system and written agreement. 3. Inspection: It is better that the inspection covers transactions, processing, production, labeling, storage and certification. 4. Certification: The three types of certification, direct certification, Co?certification and Local certification. Consumers needs and wants change with time. The consumers nowadays have started preferring organic food products over conventional foods. There are several reasons behind it. The main reason is that there is a rise in various diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, obesity etc. Consumers have become very healt h conscious. This health consciousness has risen because of increase in education attainment and media. (Minton, 2009) Various harmful chemicals such as heavy metals, synthetic pesticides and solvents such as benzene and toluene are found in non-organic foods. As Organic foods are chemical and toxin free so they protect individuals from several diseases and other harmful infections. (Nytimes, 2009) The study sponsored by the European Union confirmed that organic fruits and vegetables have more vitamins and minerals and up to  50% more antioxidants which are beneficial for humans. (Kidsorganics, n.d.) In addition people who are allergic to foods, chemicals or preservatives by switching to organic foods can gain relief. Children and fetuses less developed immune system is most vulnerable to pesticide and can cause behavioral disorders and developmental delays. Furthermore pregnant women should also avoid non-organic foods as these effects of harmful chemicals can be passed from them to their baby. (Medical news today, 2004) The fruits and vegetables with high pesticides in production are pears, peaches, spinach, celery, apple, grapes, bell peppers, potatoes and red raspberries. (Vitamin retailer, n.d.) Organic foods are fresh, natural, have better taste, color and flavor. Chefs nowadays mostly prefer to choose organic foods for their kitchens because of its superior taste. (Greenopolis, n.d.) Moreover, organic farming is better for other living things such as birds and small animals as pesticides can make it difficult for creatures to reproduce and can even kill them. Another reason is that consumers want to protect the environment from these harmful chemicals as they are the main cause of climatic change. Organic food produc

Business management course work Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business management course work - Term Paper Example A lack of coordination takes place when teams working on the same project do not coordinate and this lack of coordination is represented both vertically and horizontally. Unclear accountability mechanism further adds fuel to the fire of depleting aggregate performance of the organization. Centralization cannot be termed as an effective way to manage organization like RIM. There is no clear marketing strategy. Section II: Statements of the Problem Research In Motion (RIM) has failed to develop and maintain a sustainable motivation, accountability and effective marketing strategy (Castaldo, 2012). The organization has grown unorganized and unmanageable; where a lack of clear-cut direction and conflicting opinions have compounded the aggregate management of the company (Castaldo, 2012). Section III Causes of the Problem Demotivation Motivation is the degree to which an employee wants and selects to carry out specific behavior (Mullins, 2009, p. 471). This specific behavior is nurtured t o obtain intended departmental and organizational goals and objectives. As motivation has both aspects in the form of intrinsic and extrinsic manifestations, the employees of RIM were not given sustainable workplace environment in which they could convert their potential into the desired results. For instance, according to a former employee, the new operational staff members were never fully empowered to carry out their jobs (Castaldo, 2012). This means the staff did not receive authority, sense of work ownership and a clear cut direction to attain a particular set of objectives. As a result, the sustainable motivation did not continue instead demotivation replaced motivation. Lack of Coordination â€Å"It was common for a few teams working on the same project to realize they were unlikely to make the date, but no one spoke up, under the belief that another team was even farther behind†(Castaldo, 2012). This statement mentions that there was no active and consistent coordinat ion between teams working even on the same project. They were on their own and they did not feel necessity to obtain information and see their progress on the project. Additionally, there was no strong check from the senior management whether the teams assigned to work and complete the same project were working in the suggested direction or the teams were facing issues related to the same project. There was a complete absence of vertical and horizontal coordination in the organization. In the absence of coordination, there would be no way to entertain department and organizational objectives. Unclear Accountability Mechanism Accountability can also be defined as the systematic inclusion of critical elements of program planning, implementation and evaluation with an aim of achieving desired results (Wandersman et al., 2000, p. 389). At RIM, nobody was accountable when a proposal or project failed to meet the expected level of performance. In the absence of any accountability mechanis m, it would be very difficult to learn from mistakes and derive certain result-oriented lessons from such steps. When accountability mechanism is not present and nobody is ready and willing to take and accept responsibility, strategic loss and strategic decline is unavoidable and it is what that is happening