John Deere and Complex Parts Inc Essay

Deere & Company headquarter in Moline, Illinois was founded in 1837.In 2007, they conducted business in over 110 countries and employed approximately 47,000 people worldwide. Their employment rate grew to over 67,000 individuals as shown in the Statistics, 2014. They are the world’s leading manufacturer of farm and forestry equipments and also produce construction, commercial and consumer equipments. Other products and services produced by Deere included; equipment financing, power system, special technologies and healthcare. In 2006 members of John Deere’s supplier evaluation team were discussing issues on a long time supplier, Complex Parts, performance. Over the past year, their service had declined resulting in an unfavorable and less profitable relationship between John Deere and Complex Parts and the supplier evaluation team was tasked with providing a recommended course of action to their project manager. Deere’s achieving excellence program (AEP), a supplier evaluation process that promotes communication, trust, cooperation, and continuous improvement, has served as a grading base for their suppliers. The AEP evaluates on a yearly bases, key parts on how a supplier is performing. It focuses on five key areas; quality, delivery, cost management, wavelength and technical support. The program classifies each supplier, from best to worst as either partner, key, approved or conditional. AEP effectively assesses the supplier’s commitment to its relationship with Deere in such areas as; enhancing communication, lowering cost and improving design. Complex Parts had been a supplier for John Deere for over ten years with annual sales to their Moline unit of approximately $ 3.5 million. Complex Parts’ responsibility was to manufacture a key part that required significant engineering input and testing and had remained John Deere’s only supplier of this part, even thou gh two other suppliers can also supply it. Complex Parts was a supplier who was actively involved and interested in increasing their sales with John Deere. They have always taken proactive measures in their dealings with John Deere, by participating in cost reduction strategies and staying up with Deere’s design changes and most importantly giving in to Deere’s Product Quality Plan. However, their delivery rating was extremely high at 155,000 and their Quality rating was 666. This was as a result of their failure to implement the Product Quality Plan at their newly opened facility. Lastly, for as willing as they were  about employing cost reduction strategies, they failed to do so over the past year, resulting in untimely deliveries and delays. For Complex Parts to go forward to the project manager there are four courses of actions to be presented to Complex Parts. 1) Contract a new external supplier and hope that the research and analysis conducted would benefit John Deere with a good rating, 2) Utilize Complex Parts in combination with a second supplier, either external or internal, 3) Utilize an internal supplier alre ady on contract with John Deere, and 4) Continue to move forward with Complex Parts as their main supplier. Our team recommendation should be the fourth option, of keeping Complex Parts as a main supplier. However identifying a path forward that is more engaged on John Deere’s part. Identifying a team or a direct contact of upper management that will be responsible at John Deere as a liaison between the two parties. Creating a dashboard interface, or a decision support system, that ranks each aspect of their relationship on a green, yellow, and red scale could also help them identify risks before they become realized and give monthly feedback to both companies on their overall health. Some short-term and long-term implications of the recommendations are; The decade long relationship between Complex Parts and John Deere is a good indicator of past performance. Because the AEP fails to solicit and incorporate supplier feedback to their analysis, it’s difficult to assess what could be the driver of the recent downturn in performance and deliveries. It could be an issue that is short term and due to rectify its self in the coming quarter. Choosing to keep Complex Parts on contract, as a supplier for John Deere will offset any of the initial costs associated with looking for external suppliers or contracting even those internally. Long-term relationships will have lows and highs and its ideal that John Deere rides this low out. Due to the lack of communication between both parties, keeping up with Deere’s required specification changes, but was very concerned with their frequent inability to return phone calls to Complex Parts’ customer service group. An increasing number of deliveries had to be expedited over the past year, costing Deere in the process it’s difficult to predict the results of keeping Complex Parts on contract. Had the two retained a healthy level of communication John Deere could be made aware of any recent issues that Complex Parts is experiencing and perhaps due to their vast experience offer solutions that would increase the turn  around of the imposed decline. There is a risk that communication alone will not prevent a future decrease in performance by Complex Parts and John Deere will ultimately lose additional profits. To both their benefit though, Complex Parts reputation and historical performance is a good indicator of future performance, instilling confidence for John Deere to press forward with their buyer and supplier relationship with Complex Part. Focus only on scoring a high rating on the AEP scale but not necessarily doing what is best for the supplier is not a good indicator for John Deere and Company. It is not only Complex Parts responsibility to make adjustments for John Deere. Deere and Company should also exploit what they could be doing to help the supplier. The AEP is an ideal way to analyze how a supplier is functioning but it would be beneficial to include an assessment of how or what Deere and Company could do to help suppliers, provide training to conditional suppliers in order for them to improve their process which will be beneficial to both Deere and this suppliers , and to avoid danger of losing business relationship for both parties. References Accounting Tools (2014) Accounting Tools. The Weighted Average Method. Retrieved on October 4, 2014 from: http://www.accountingtools.com/weighted-average-method The Statistics Portal (2014) Statistical. John Deere’s Workforce 2002-2013. Retrieved on October 4, 2014 from: http://www.statista.com/statistics/278010/john-deere-number-of-employees-since-2002/ Wisner, J. D., Tan, K., & Leong, G. K. (2012). Principles of Supply Chain Management (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western.

Parents Are Too Permissive with Their Children Nowadays Essay

Few people would defend the Victorian attitude to children, but if you were a parent in those days, at least you know where you stood: children were to be seen and not heard. Freud and company did away with all that and parents have been bewildered ever seen. The child’s happiness is all important, the psychologists say, but what about the parent’s happiness? Parents suffer constantly from fear and guilt while their children gaily romp about pulling the place part. A good old-rearing manual would permit such barbarity. The trouble is you are not allowed even to shout. Who knows what deep psychological wounds you might inflict? The poor child may never recover from the dreadful traumatic experience. So too is that parents bend over backwards to avoid giving their children, complexes which a hundred years ago hadn’t even heard of. Certainly a child needs love, and a lot of it. But the excessive permissiveness of modern parents is surely doing more harm than good. Psychologists have succeeded in undermining parent’s confidence in their own authority. And it hasn’t taken children long to get wind of the fact. In addition to the great modern classics on children care, there are countless articles in magazines and newspapers. With so much unsolicited advice flying about, mum and dad just don’t know that to do anymore. In the end, they do nothing at all. So, from early childhood, the kids are in changes and parents lives are regulated according to the needs of their offspring. When the little dears develop into teenagers, they take complete control. Lax authority over the years makes adolescent rebellion against parents the entire move violent. If the young people are going to have a party for instance, parents are asked to leave the house. Their presence merely spoils the fun. What else can the poor parents do but obey? Children are hardly creatures (far harder than the psychologists would have us believe) and most of them survive the harmful in influence of extreme permissiveness which is the normal condition in the modern household. Bit a great many do not. The spread of juvenile delinquency in our own age is largely due to parental laxity. Mother, believing that little Johnny can look after himself, is not at home when he returns from school, so little Johnny roams the streets. The diving ‘line between permissiveness and sheer negligence is very fine indeed. The psychologists have much to answer for. They should keep their mouths shut and let parents get on with the job. And if children are knocked about a little bit in the process, it may not really matter too much. At least this will help them to develop vigorous views of their own and give them something positive to react against. Perhaps there’s some truth in the idea that children who’re had a surfeit of happiness in their childhood emerge like stodgy puddings and fail to make a success of life.

Prosthetic Devices

Prosthetic Devices A prosthetic is an artificial body part that replaces a missing or non-functioning body part such as an arm, heart or breast. Humans have been making prosthetic limbs since the Ancient Egyptians to replace limbs lost during battle, work or just by mistake. Evidence has been found of Egyptians trying to replicate toes with copper ones. Although these were very impractical as they were solid and so were mostly for aesthetic purposes. In the 1400s, prosthetics arms made out of iron were available to wealthy Knights and lords.These arms had a relatively useful function as they were made to hold shields, allow them to open their purse and/or sign their name. As well as for function, prosthetic limbs are also developed for aesthetic purposes as people want to look normal and not attract stares or whispers. Prosthetic Arms Modern prosthetic devices have advanced a great deal since ancient times. Now, some very complicated robotic limbs are available that can detect the el ectrical impulse that would normally move your arm and replicate this movement robotically.Robotics in prosthetic devices is seen mostly in robotic arms because of the nature of the movement of fingers and the thumb. Advancements in the processors used in myoelectric (robotic) arms has allowed for artificial limbs to make fine-tuned movements with the prosthetic. This is extremely significant as previously robotic arms had only one or two movements such as closing the thumb to the hand to hold things. Modern fine-tuned arms can have up to 7 movements and it is likely that they will advance to have even more movements than a human hand.A future advancement that is being researched and developed is the addition of a sense of touch that would be able to detect, and then relay to the brain the amount of pressure being applied. It is currently being experimented to add small pods filled with a highly compressible liquid at the end of each finger. Inside each of these pods would be a pres sure sensor that would compress as force is added with the robotic finger. The pressure sensor would then sense the amount of force being applied and relay this to the central processor which would translate this to an impulse to send to the brain.An alternative to relaying it to the brain is to have a small display or other indicator that shows the amount of force being applied by each finger. Although this is easier to develop, most people wouldn’t like the indicator over each finger or on the wrist as it wouldn’t look at all natural. Although there have been many advancements in robotic arms, they are still very much a crude replacement to a real arm. They have to be replaced every 3-4 years, there function is still much slower than real arms and fingers, and the intricacy and delicacy possible by real fingers is currently far superior than the robotic replica.Bionic Eye The Bionic Eye was developed to restore the vision of people that lived in total blindness, or v ery low vision. The first prototypes are now developed but they are researching ways to improve them as although they are functional and can convey an image to the brain of blind patients they only send an extremely low quality image in greyscale to the brain that is only useful to avoid walking into large objects such as buildings, cars and tables. The reason for this low quality image is because there are 98 electrodes in the chip that connects to the optic nerve.This is a very small amount when you compare it to over 120 million photo-receptor cells. The chip developed has about 1 000 000 wires connecting it and is one of the most complicated neuro-stimulation chips ever designed. Although it seems as though good vision will not be possible with the bionic eye for a long time to come you can have far less receptors than that to have adequate vision to love independently. Researchers are hoping to include about 1000 electrodes in the next generation of the bionic eye and believe t hat this is enough to allow people to recognise faces and read large print.

Branch of Buddishm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Branch of Buddishm - Essay Example Through the meditation a person becomes one with himself, with his body and with the subconscious. Zen developed in China in 6th century and became a main Buddhism school during the reign of Song dynasty, with many monks travelling from Japan to China to study. Then, these monks established Zen in Japan, where it had a great impact on Japanese culture. It is believed that Zen is originated from the disciples of Buddha, the patriarchs, with Indian monk Bodhidharma, the â€Å"wall-gazing Brahmin† and Huineng, an illiterate peasant from China being responsible for establishing founding principles of Zen. The Indian monk is a legendary personality; there are not so many historic accounts of him documented. A century after his death his biography was written where it was stated that he was original follower of Mahayana Buddhism, who traveled to China to get converts. However, he did not have much success, but instead received much persecution. Finally, he got two disciples, one of which furthered Zen Buddhism. Bodhidharma became knows in Japan as Daruma. Legends tell us about Daruma’s long hours of meditation, sometime having his back to the rest of the world and facing the wall. He was training his disciples in the art of meditation as well. There is a very popular toy in Japan – the Daruma doll. It is believed to bring good luck, safety and wealth. The doll has no legs and its base is round, which helps it to always maintain upright position, after being tipped. Unlike other branches of Buddhism, Zen does not promote reincarnation, rather, when meditating, it suggests basing the meditation on individual life’s experience. In Zen anyone can reach Nirvana, the state of enlightment: those who adhere to Buddhism wholeheartedly as well as common people. What needed is to practice meditation, and follow personal spiritual experience and intuition; one should also be calm and not to be affected by such strong emotions as hatred, passion or van ity. It is believed that enlightment can be passed on directly from one person to another. Nature is considered divine. Holy Sutras are put in the back burner in this branch, with the main writings being the story of Huineng, an illiterate young man who became a disciple of Bodhidharma (Daruma), and the later – the 6th patriarch of Zen. One of the central terms of Buddhism is atman. This is the name for â€Å"ego†, â€Å"self†, â€Å"soul†. Atman is a philosophical term, meaning a Higher Self. In Buddhism it is similar to Buddha-nature, of which everyone has a part. There are several aspects of it. Atman is infinite, eternal, non-born and timeless. We are only witnesses to the existence. Everything that is happening in the world around us is happening in the Atman as well. There is completeness, nothing is lacking. Atman means becoming one with the Divine. In Zen, Atman means merging with the nature, the world that surrounds us. Zen Buddhism has its centr al element in awareness and mindfulness. Being mindful and aware of one’s actions and feelings adds meaning to all the activities, helps to concentrate better and to find insight. Zen’s philosophy gives freedom, which comes from connection between personal experience of uniting with the universe, as well as seeing connections with the world around. It teaches its followers to experience all things in life anew each time, to rid one’s mind of the stereotypes about oneself, to make one’s mind â€Å"empty†. It suggest to live â€Å"

According to Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz, how did Auschwitz Essay

According to Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz, how did Auschwitz systematically dehumanize the prisoners - Essay Example Men, women and children were dumped in the concentration camps not for the purpose of reformation and rehabilitation. Their spirits were totally subdued before their bodies were disposed of through heinous procedures. Primo Levi writes, â€Å"Then for the first time we became aware that our language lacks words to express this offence, the demolition of a man. In a moment, with almost prophetic intuition, the reality was revealed to us; we had reached the bottom. It is not possible to sink lower than this; no human condition is more miserable than this, nor could it conceivably be so.†(16) Even the garbage that is being lodged in the dumpers commands some sort of discipline and procedure for disposal. But the human beings in the concentration camps were stripped of all their possessions, their self-respect included. Levi’s only apprehension was what he was going to lose next? Was there anything more for being robbed at all! Dehumanization is the psychological process; o ne’s feelings and emotions are attacked. It is more vicious than the physical violence. In the psychological torture of an individual he is made to feel not worthy, he is the lesser category of a human being. ... SS was the German force who generally handled the affairs of concentration camps. These camps were spread across the occupied Europe and Jews were going to be the main group of prisoners here. As the account of those dark days begins, Levi vividly describes a scene of deportation where before a group of isolated Jews waiting in some station, a notorious transport train came and halted. Levi was one of these unfortunate people, and he writes that the â€Å"goods wagons closed from the outside, with men, women and children pressed together without pity, like cheap merchandise, for a journey towards nothingness, a journey down there, towards the bottom.† (12-13) So what did this bottom mean? Was it a seemingly endless see of grief, wherein the unfortunate Jews were being thrown to explore the so called bottom? To reach this bottom, each and every prisoner was to be transcended through a definite process of systematic torture. This was the avenue of Nazi torture and related contor tion tactics to humiliate the otherwise cultured and generally well-to-do people †¦ Europe’s Jewish people. Nazi concentration camp administrators divided the captured and/or deported Jews in different groups mainly as per their working capabilities. Levi was put in the group of mostly young adult males, who could be used as forced labor under conditions of strict bondage. This bondage extended from mere enslavement to continuous subhuman living. The prisoners were kept on minimal food. They were subjected to terrible cold. They were forced to denude before each other and bath together in a crowded manner. They were to stand in ankle deep ice cold water. Being a forced laborer, Levi was asked to do various sorts of works by the Officers at

Exemplary of the kinds of arguments made by realist, liberal and Essay

Exemplary of the kinds of arguments made by realist, liberal and critical theorists of International Politics - Essay Example The liberal theorists believe that there should be equality for all, while critical theorists critically analyze the mechanisms determining international politics. The liberal theorists believe that the facilities and entertainment offered in the Olympic Games should be available and accessible to all the sections of the interested community. They believe that the fact that the organizing committee has reserved some features exclusively for the athletes and sponsors’ representatives only is unjust and should be available to local community as well. (Boykoff & Tomlinson, 2012) The liberals have argued the fact that since the inception of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the 1890’s (known as some other association at that time) was formed as a body consisting of elites only which included lords and princes, and these were the people who would vote and decide the fate of the Olympics. This process then started to include more stakeholders in this decision makin g body but still only a select few that is the big businessmen who would control the commercial aspect of the games. Even today, the voting process is not completely impartial and the votes have been allegedly to be biased with the help of bribery and other benefits to nations who involve in such corruption. Other than this, the security measures taken to protect the Olympic Games involves huge costs which will have huge economic costs as well as psychological ones. The army soldiers deployed in London in areas near the Olympic venue even exceeds the number of British soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. This highlights the fact that the locals have not been treated as equals because the majority of these soldiers are deployed for the security of athletes and organizers’ representatives and not the locals. The realist theorists can present an argument to this according to their beliefs. The realists argue that the security of the nation and in this case, the security of London i s much more important for the good of the nation than sending out more troops to Afghanistan. Sending more troops to Afghanistan will benefit the world overall by fighting the terrorists and keeping them at their home rather than letting them enter into their countries for terrorist attacks. On the other hand, the soldiers deployed in London for the security of the Olympic games is much more important to the nation as it has higher stakes attached to the credibility of England and London to host such a major and prestigious event. Since the reputation, injection of finances and tourists, and credibility of the nation and British government was attached to these games, it is only fitting that the security measures are taken for the good of the country itself. Since the realist theory believes that self-interest has to be the first priority, in this case the security of the nation is more important as self-interest has to take priority. (Dowling, 2012) The realists also argue that in case of an aerial strike with the help of a ground-to-air missile, there may be some damage caused to the residents living in the locality where the incident occurs. However, the damage caused by this will be collateral damage and one that cannot be avoided or rather should not be given the fact that this collateral damage will be much less compared

Liberal and Realists view on NAFTA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Liberal and Realists view on NAFTA - Essay Example The following paper compares and contrasts liberal and realist views on NAFTA. Liberals argue that free trade is advantageous only when the margin is not at risk of economic manipulation by the central player in the agreement, which is the United States in NAFTA’s case (Chan 7). This argument comes from advocates who believe in the protection of individual freedoms and civil rights, including uncompromising interests like natural surroundings. In contrast, realist advocates emphasize the core significance of power and economic interests. These emphases revolve around the principles of intergovernmentalism, least-common denominator negotiating, and stern limits on future handovers of independence (Chan 12). This realist view suits the most recent events in North America in the course of its regional presence despite originating from the EU. Liberals are against government involvement in top economic projects or activities through projectionist regulations like duties, grants, and quotas (Chan 9). Realists’ logic on government involvement is that a country’s welfare is the main concern over international objectives (Chan 16). Liberals’ focus is on general economic development as proven by rises in GDP. This basis means liberals expected NAFTA to generate a rise in exports of products and services, raise employment rates, raise overseas investments, and trigger general economic growth. In comparison, realists believe a nation should accumulate wealth and power through self-adequacy. As a result, realists were directly against a free trade convention such as NAFTA during its formation in the early 1990s since it endangered the local manufacturing industry through competition and forms trade shortfalls. Liberalism relates to the Dependency theory, which contends that central and marginal economic affairs are concerns for a specific type of fundamental economist (Chan 11).

Survey Paper of open-source software and it's use in enterprise and Essay

Survey Paper of open-source software and it's use in enterprise and government - Essay Example Open source software enables businesses and government institutions to access and offer certain services that otherwise would have cost lots money to install and use. This survey paper aims to conduct an in depth analysis of past research literatures on the use of open source servers by enterprises and government organizations. Further, the paper analyzes how these organizations use the open source servers to efficiently perform their activities. Objectively, this survey paper seeks to relate elementary analysis of open source servers in business and government institutions as studied by other researchers in the past. Finally, the paper puts into context all the exclusion as well as inclusion results of the analyzed literature reviews about open source usage in businesses.   As a result of the widely and broad technological improvement and innovations, businesses and government organizations all over the world are in the rash to cope with these changes. It should be noted that the basic aim of any business is to maximize profit while minimizing cost. However, a successful business should also consider long term growth plans through installing an effective business operations system. On the other hand, government institutions may also want to put into place effective service delivery systems to its citizens (Bitzer & Schroder, 2006). The later considerations bring about the importance of integrating computing system into these organizations. There are different types of computer systems and some of them are more sophisticated than others. In addition, some of them have strong variance in their functionalities while others are more or less related. While business and government institutions may afford to use premium computing systems, there has been a growing demand and usage of open source servers. This reality could be attributed to the fact that some of these computing systems are free or cost effective as

Investment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Investment Law - Essay Example In some countries including United Kingdom, money laundering would be treated as a severe crime and persons indulged in money laundering would be punished strictly. It is not necessary that money laundering is restricted to only organized crime, it may be employed to create new assets or to increase the present assets illegally so that it would hamper the national economic growth rate of any nation in terms of gross domestic product3. The measures which lead to tax manipulations and faulty http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:WDGICRzCIJoJ:www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1988_en.pdf+vienna+convention+against+illicit+traffic+innarcotic+Drugs+and+psychotropic+substances(1988)&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in As discussed earlier, money laundering may be operated by different agencies or persons ranging from private individuals to terrorists at both national and global levels. The main concern of the society now a days is the role of money laundering played in strengthening the organization and financial health of terrorist outfits which is highly dangerous for establishing world peace4. There are sympathisers operated at various levels from the society who support terrorists by financing them through illegal means which also come under money laundering. Hence there is a strong connecting link between money laundering and terrorist financing. The alarming thing before us at this moment is the increasing magnitude of the problem of money laundering. Various types of processes are involved in terrorist financing terrorists and money laundering is most important means out of these processes. People from regular streams like employees, scientists and artists may be involved in online transactions which finance the terrorist outfits. Hawala is one of the most important means through which money is laundered. Terrorist organizations like Alkhaida got tremendous benefit through hawala transactions in building their

Sustainability supply chain management Research Paper

Sustainability supply chain management - Research Paper Example Generally, such pressures tend to reverberate alongside an organizations supply chain, especially the big multinationals preferably dealing consumer based products (Carter & Easton, 2011). As of today, public scrutiny is on the rise as consumers are currently aware of the fact that not only the final product that needs close observation, but also the supply chain used by an organization requires close monitoring. This paper will seek to research on sustainability, supply chain management, and bring out factors affecting the functioning of a supply chain. Many supply chains among different industries tend to absorb various external pressures, which traditionally act as a reactive stance to industries’ supply chains. However, several examples exist whereby a number of supply chains used by numerous organizations introduce instruments suitable for rolling out suitable and sustainable supply chains (Elsevier, 2008). Reliable evidence from approved sources maintain that sustainable supply chain management is that which seeks to put into place socially responsible and green proactive products into the identified market. Additionally, such supply chain management introduces performing, competitive, and environmentally acceptable processes into organization’s supply chain. ... anages and cooperate the flow of information and materials of a company effectively, it is true to say that, sustainable supply chain management revolves along three dimensions namely stakeholder, economic, and social requirements. This shows that, sustainable supply chain management takes into account the requirements of a stakeholder, economy, environment, and society (Carter & Easton, 2011). Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that for the social and environmental criteria to remain active in an organization’s supply chain, supply chain members must fulfill the aspect of competitiveness via meeting the needs of customers and related economic criteria. Attributively, as theories and principles of management linked closely with sustainable supply chains continue to advance, requirement for extra or rather additional critical analysis and investigation arises to comprehend further the field. As part of looking for ways to understand better the field of sustainable and supply c hain management, this research sought to identify a number of opportunities that needed investigation. Some of them include reviews of particular lines of development concerning the intersection of supply chain management and sustainability. Furthermore, case studies or empirical fields of companies as well as other initiatives of chain actors whose aim is to enhance aspects of sustainability issues needed a closer outlook (Elsevier, 2008). Cases and concepts considered during integration of particularly relevant sustainability issues within the supply chain management also proved to require research as this field is maturing rapidly. Particularly, contributions brought about by the three dimensions of sustainability and supply chain management sounded imperative to carry out a research on them

Falconi removals business Essay Example for Free

Falconi removals business Essay Falconi removals business I will choose for them location in my area Harehills road because is good busy place. Is good connection to big local stores as continental, electrical superstores. Falconi business is depending now much works them received from customers. I think Harehills area will give those lots local customers who moving the houses or being stuff from shop. Falconi can find unemployed people and give them job. Harrehills area is more cheap then for example city centre and they can safe more money from renting office or buy cheaper place for business in this area. The most important point to make Falconis business is not more removal company there. They will not have concurrency in business. Economies of scale- are the cost advantages that a firm obtains due to expansion. Diseconomies of scale are the opposite. Economies of scale may be utilized by any size firm expanding its scale of operation. The common ones are purchasing managerial, financial and marketing. Each of these factors reduces the long average cost (LRAC) of production by shifting the short-run average total cost curve down and to the right. The local labour force- The labor force is the number of people employed and unemployed. Participation rate is the ratio between the labor force and the overall size of their cohort. In the West during the latter half of the 20th century, the labor force participation rate increased significantly, largely due to the increasing number of women entering the workplace. Local employment levels- local unemployment rate may play a part in the decision where to locate. Uk currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. However, unemployment is not evenly spread and some parts of the country have high levels of unemployment like Northern Ireland, parts of west Cornwell and the north-east of England. Wage and salary levels- for some firms wages account for a significant proportion of their total cost so a business may decide to locate in an area of relatively low wages, Wage in south-east of England tend to be higher then in south Wales. These areas tend also to be areas of above average unemployment as workers are keen to find work and are prepared to accept lower wages. Nearness to customers- There are a limit to how far customers will travel to buy fish and chips even if they are excellent quality. Fish and chip shops will need to be situated in area where plenty of local customers are. Debenhams will only consider locating a new store in an area of relatively high population. Nearness to suppliers- for some businesses near suppliers of key raw materials and components may be the main factory where to locate. Over the years a wide range of suppliers have grown up in area such as companies supplying electrical fittings and other important components. Up until 1979 the uk imported all of its crude oil. Historical reasons for location- In an area a business may be reluctant to reluctant to relocate, with all the expense and upheaval that this involves. During the 18th and 19th centuries a large number of pottery and earthenware business set up in the area because of the availability of suitable fireclay. Demographic change- Over the thirty years some parts of the country have experienced increases in population as people move into the area in search of work. These demographic changes will have a significant impact on local the business.

External Environment Analysis Essay Example for Free

External Environment Analysis Essay The Coca-Cola Company owes the success of its internal operations to its principles of corporate responsibility. The firm has incorporated an apt ethics program; this will guide their employees, and ensure them growth, achievement, and satisfaction for their jobs. In order to make this possible, The ideology of corporate responsibility is moderated and promulgated by the Public Policy and Corporate Reputation Council. The Council is comprised by a group of senior managers from each beverage and bottling company in the industry. It ascertains the risks and opportunities that each company in the industry encounters. The PPCR Council advises beverage companies in their employee management and operations. Feasible business strategies are generated in order to achieve growth and progress for beverage companies like the Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company,2008). The firm believes there is no Coke without the presence of its prolific employees, which is the major force behind more than satisfactory results for the growth and progress of the company. Its operations are bolstered by innovative thinking, unique perspectives, and operational excellence of the workforce, which sustains profit margins of the firm as well as its image. With this in mind, the company recognizes the crucial role of its workforce plays in its worldwide operations. The Coca-Cola Company puts a premium on job satisfaction. The firm ensures that the Coca-Cola workplace is an environment where people can generate excellent input and augment their performance while enjoying what they do (The Coca-Cola Company,2008). Porter’s Five Forces Analysis Supplier Power Coca-Cola’s suppliers have been clamoring for increased prices for raw materials used in manufacturing their products. Usually, these suppliers are responsible for the prices of raw materials to increase. Suppliers have gained the notoriety of manipulating the cost of raw materials, which generates a deliberate effect on the firms part. Suppliers are more manipulative whenever the number of suppliers is low. This gives the handful of suppliers to raise the price of raw materials, which in turn leaves firms line Coca-Cola’s no further options to purchase commodities of lower cost. An international brand like Coca-Cola’s is usually responsible for improving the working conditions within their factories (Foust, 2006). The firm provides the much-needed technical assistance, which help augment the performance of both factory workers and shop floor employees. Buyer Power Buyer power is also considered the spending capacity of the consumer. In the athletic shoe industry, the buyer power is strong. This aspect simply states that the buyer or the consumer has always has a â€Å"say† on the price of particular good. Furthermore, buyer power is considered crucial due to the fact that it has a deliberate impact on the industry. However, softdrink companies like Coca-Cola’s has a discreet mutual arrangement regarding the aspect of buyer power. These intangible mutual contracts between the firm and its consumers have been apparent for quite some time now (Foust, 2006). Firms have been empowering consumers to augment their buyer power. Buyer power has a relationship with supplier power as well. A firm like Coca-Cola’s opines for the cost of raw materials it acquires from its suppliers. Buyer power is quite a delicate matter to elaborate on. The asymmetry between the buyer and the industry generates a bevy of discrepancies, which contributes to an inconsistent market condition and prevents forward integration. Barriers and Threats of Entry Perennial rival companies like PepsiCo and RC Cola are not the only ones who pose a threat for the company. Neophyte softdrink companies both domestic and international are always attempting penetrate the industry will also have a deliberate effect in the industry. The outcome will be a fluctuation in percentage of the market share of softdrink companies. Coca-Cola’s does its part through studying potential market segments to entice. Firms that tend to enter and exit a market are subjected to nominal profits (Foust, 2006). Competitive Rivalry Coca-Cola’s always strives to survive in a competitive industry through the aid of its competitive advantage. For the plethora of softdrink companies, competition always matters in order to bolster profitability. Coca-Cola’s augments their advertising and marketing strategy by its charismatic approach to its advertising. The global softdrink industry is highly competitive (Foust, 2006). The company has to compete with national and domestic retailers such as discount store chains, department stores, independent retail stores, and internet retailers that cater to a particular market segment of similar merchandise. The company has encountered stiff competition in Asian markets, which range from regional to national chains. Threat of Alternative Products Substitutes The apparent threat of alternative or substitute products is a common adversity for Coca-Cola’s. A number of softdrink companies have always attempted to overwhelm Coca-Cola’s s market share through attempts in cheaper price movements in order for consumers to consider other brands aside from Coca-Cola’s. The subject of price elasticity surfaces whenever the price change of an alternative product affects as the demand for such product. The industry where Coca-Cola’s thrives is saturated by a bevy of substitute products, which to tend to constrained the ability of these companies to make an increase in prices. The softdrink industry is always sporadic and innovative in terms of manufacturing products, which can draw consumers to purchase their products. The outcome is a letdown in sales for the Coca-Cola Company (Foust, 2006). Reference The Coca-Cola Company. (2008). Governance Ethics. Retrieved June 29, 2008, from http://www. thecoca-colacompany. com/citizenship/governance_ethics. html The Coca-Cola Company. (2008). Engagement. Retrieved June 29, 2008, from http://www. thecoca- colacompany. com/citizenship/engagement. html Foust, D. (2006). Queen of Pop. Business Week. New York: Aug 7, 2006. , Iss. 3996; pg. 44 Foust, D. Byrnes, N. Gone Flat. (2004). Business Week. New York: December 20, 2004, Issue 3913: page 76

Carbon Membranes from Polyamideimide and Polyetherimide

Carbon Membranes from Polyamideimide and Polyetherimide CARBON MEMBRANES FROM POLYAMIDEIMIDE AND POLYETHERIMIDE FOR NITROGEN AND METHANE SEPARATION AND ITS PARAMETER STUDY ABSTRACT Carbon membranes prepared from polyamideimide and polyetherimide were studied to find out the effects of different parameters on membrane characteristics. Their properties were analyzed to understand its scope in methane purification. Different compositions were tried to find out the optimum polymer composition as well as the optimum blend composition. They were pyrolyzed at various temperatures to study the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the morphology of the membrane. Efforts have been made for obtaining a narrow pore distribution as nitrogen and methane have comparable sizes. Analysis of the microstructure of membranes using XRD confirms the variations in chain packing density and d-spacing of polymer chains as a result of a change in pyrolysis temperature. CHN analysis revealed the percentage composition of different elements in the membrane as it was important to control amount of oxygen in the membrane. Glass transition temperature is found using DSC to confirm perfect blen ding of polymers. TGA has been done to find out how the polymer composition affects degradation temperature and to study the chemical changes occurring during pyrolysis. SEM images, both cross section, and surface have been taken to analyze pore structure of the membrane. Keywords: Polyetherimide, Polyamideimide, Pyrolysis, XRD, SEM, CHN. INTRODUCTION Membranes have been widely received as a promising technology in gas separation processes. This is due to its high reliability, low capital investment and low energy usage which overshadow conventional gas separation techniques such as cryogenic distillation, liquid absorption, pressure swing adsorption etc. These established conventional techniques are known for their complexity in processes and high energy intensity. For this reason, researchers are making efforts for an alternative way that promises to give high-cost effectiveness and easy handling (1). Polymer membranes have been widely studied for their application in gas separating units, but they always faced drawbacks like low thermal and chemical stability. Henceforth studies have been focused on carbon membranes, which are the novel and advanced type of membranes. They have been giving promising results ever since and marked a new benchmark for the selectivity of gasses. Excellent ability to withstand high temperature and chemicals made carbon membranes a new branch of study for the researchers to follow. (2) Carbon membranes are prepared by pyrolysing polymer membranes. Pyrolysis is the most significant step in the preparation of carbon membrane. There are different pyrolysis factors that affect membrane properties. During pyrolysis the parameters like pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, atmospheric condition, soaking time etc. can influence the transport properties of the membrane. These factors are chosen wisely based on the application of the membrane. (3) Material selection is the prime factor concerning in preparation of carbon membrane. There are wide varieties of precursor polymers available for preparation of carbon membrane (4). Selection of polymer is the important factor as pyrolysis of different polymer gives carbon membrane with entirely different properties. The precursor polymer should satisfy minimum criteria such as it should not soften nor liquefies during pyrolysis. It should be able to withstand high temperature (5). Polyamidimides and polyetherimides are being recently studied and are found to be giving satisfactory results due to its high melting point and thermal stability (6). Fuertes and Centeno used polyetherimide to prepare supported carbon membrane for gas separation (7). They conducted gas permeability studies for individual gasses as well as for many mixtures of gasses. They also used phenolic resins for their studies (8). Different polymers are always blended to effectively combine the desirable properties of the blending polymers. Gas separation properties of carbon membranes are enhanced while combining different materials. New studies are going on investigating the blending techniques for an optimized result (9). Pore size control is one of the most challenging factors in carbon membrane preparation. Nitrogen and methane is having a kinetic diameter of 3.6 °A and 3.8 °A respectively (10). So in order to separate them by molecular sieving very narrow pore distribution has to be obtained. To get very specific pore size, pyrolysis temperature was changed accordingly. Two types of polymers were chosen so as to understand the effect of individual polymer on membrane properties. Membrane parameters such as polymer concentration, pyrolysis temperature were varied to understand the morphological as well as chemical changes taking place in the membrane. Comparison of carbon membrane with polymer membrane was carried out, which showed interesting results that can be further used to study gas permeation properties of the membranes. Results revealed that these membranes can be used for the separation process of nitrogen from methane. EXPERIMENTAL Material Polyamideimide (PAI) polymer and Polyetherimide (PEI) polymer which are required for the preparation of polymer membrane were purchased from UTM, Malaysia. N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was the solvent used and it was purchased from Merck Life Science Private Limited, Mumbai, India. Methanol used for washing was bought from Titan Biotech Limited, Rajasthan, India.   Acetone was purchased from Merck Specialities Private Limited, Mumbai, India. All reagents were used without any further purification. Polymer Membrane Preparation Polymers that were chosen for preparation were polyamideimide and polyetherimide. The solvent used was N-Methyl-2- pyrolidone. The polymer concentration in NMP was varied from 2- 20 wt.% as shown in the Table 1. Different batches of polymer solution were prepared by dissolving the corresponding amount of polymer in 25ml NMP. Polyamideimide-polyetherimide ratio in the solution was varied as 25/75%, 50/50%, 75/25%, 0/100% and prepared different batches accordingly. For complete dissolution, the solution was kept for magnetic stirring for 3 hrs. The temperature was increased up to 80oC occasionally for 10 minutes, to avoid undissolved particles in the solution. Later the solution was sonicated in a sonication bath. The solution was then casted on a glass plate using a casting rod. The casting rode that was used has a dimension of 450ÃŽ ¼m. The glass plate was kept in the atmosphere for two days for evaporation of the solvent. Later it was kept inside a vacuum oven at 60oC for complete r emoval of NMP. Table 1: Polymer Batches Sample Code Total Polymer (%) PAI/PEI wt percentage (%) PM-01 2 25/75 PM-02 9 25/75 PM-03 12 25/75 PM-04 15 25/75 PM-05 18 25/75 PM-06 20 25/75 Carbon Membrane Preparation Polymer membrane was cut into a rectangular piece and transferred into an alumina crucible. It was then kept inside a tubular furnace by VBCC   for pyrolysis. It was a horizontal furnace with alumina tube. Nitrogen environment was chosen for pyrolysis. The flow rate of nitrogen was kept at 25ml/min. Polymer membranes with PAI/PEI composition of 25/75% was only further used for making carbon membrane as they showed good structural stability compared to other batches. For pyrolysis different protocols were followed. The protocols are as shown below, 1) 50 to 250 oC at a ramp rate of 13.3 Co/min.(2) 250 oC to (Tmax-15) oC at a ramp rate of 3.85 Co/min.(3) (Tmax-15) oC to Tmax oC at a ramp rate of 0.25 Co/min.(4) Soak at Tmax for 2 h. (11)   After pyrolysis, it was kept for natural cooling before taking out. The different batches of carbon membranes based on different pyrolysis protocol were prepared as given in the Table 2. Polymer membrane with 9% polymer concentration was the membrane used for studying different pyrolysis protocols. Table 2: Carbon Membrane Batches Sample Code Total Polymer (%) Pyrolysis Temperature(oC) CM-01 2 600 CM-600 9 600 CM-450 9 450 CM-800 9 800 CM-03 12 600 CM-04 15 600 CM-05 18 600 CM-06 20 600 Characterization of Synthesized Membranes Various techniques were employed for the characterization of polymer as well as their derivative carbon membranes. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to find out glass transition temperature of polymer membranes and to study the blending of polymers. Under nitrogen atmosphere, scans from 50 to 450oC at the heating rate of 10oC/min were performed on a DSC Perkin Elmer model 6000. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the thermal degradation of the polymer membranes. Degradation temperature of the membrane, as well as the weight loss during the process, is analyzed. It was carried out on a TGA Perkin Elmer 4000 model, in nitrogen atmosphere at a flow rate of 30 mL min-1. The temperature range was from 50 up to 750 oC. X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) was used to study the structural changes in membrane due to variation in pyrolysis temperature. Perkin Elmer 1621 wide-angle X-ray diffractometer was the instrument used to study the microstructural changes in membrane. Using Braggs law the average d-spacing of the membrane was evaluated. It is as shown below, nÃŽ » = 2d sin ÃŽ ¸, where n is an integral number, ÃŽ » is the X-ray wavelength, d is for the inter-layer spacing between the polymer chains and ÃŽ ¸ is   the diffraction angle. CHN analysis was conducted to study the variation in the elemental composition with pyrolysis temperature. Elementar Vario EL was the equipment used here for analysis. Compostion of oxygen was found using separate apparatus. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to get pore size of the membrane as well as get a closer image of the membrane. JEOL Model JSM 6390LV is the model used for the analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Physical properties Both PAI and PEI met the requirements for preparing carbon membrane with promising results. While contents of PAI in membrane made the membrane more brittle, which is due to its aromatic rings, (10) PEI gave structural support to the membrane. So PAI/PEI content was fixed at 25/75% for all the batches later on. As two polymers are used, the miscibility of the precursors has to be tested and glass transition temperature of the membrane was taken as the criteria for the evaluation. For the polymer blends, Tg was found to be in between of that of individual polymers. Tg of PEI and PAI are 217 °C and 280 °C respectively. And from the Table 3 it is clear that both the polymers are completely miscible and was perfectly blended together. Table 3: Glass Transition Temperature Sample Code PAI/PEI wt Percentage (%) Glass Transition Temperature (oC) PM-25 25/75 233 PM-50 50/50 249 PM-75 75/25 265 PM-100 0/100 219 Effect of polymer concentration on thermal characteristics   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Unlike polymer membrane, carbon membrane was thermally and chemically stable. Thermal stability is analyzed by TGA. TGA analysis of all polymer membranes is shown in Figure 1. It shows that concentration does not have much effect on degradation temperature of membranes. But it gives an insight into chose the pyrolysis protocol that has to be followed. There are different pyrolysis protocols for preparation of carbon membranes, based on type of precursors used, one protocol is fixed. Figure 1: Thermal analysis of Polymer Membranes Figure 1 illustrates the weight variation of polymer membranes during the heating process up to 800 °C. According to the TGA thermo-diagram, the degradation temperature (Td) is 550 °C and was defined as the temperature corresponding to 15% weight loss. This indicates the high thermal resistance of the membrane. The total weight loss at 800 °C, with 10 °/min heating rate, was approximately 60%. The enhanced thermal stability of the membrane highlights its quality as a precursor for the preparation of carbon molecular sieve membranes. Effect of polymer concentration on structure of membrane Figure 2: XRD of Carbon Membrane of different concentrations Effect of polymer concentration on structure of carbon membrane is shown in Figure 2. As the concentration of polymer was increased from 2% to 20%, peak intensification took place, resulting in a more compact structure. Pore size was reduced and membrane with higher packing density is formed. Effect of pyrolysis temperature on microstructure of membrane Structural analysis on carbon membranes was done by obtaining XRD spectra as a function of pyrolysis temperature. As shown in Figure 3, the XRD spectrum for membrane prepared at 450oC is a merger of two peaks at 22.7o and 18.8o. With increase in pyrolysis temperature, the peaks joined into a single but intensified peak with a shift toward the smaller pore sizes; indicating a decrement in average d-spacing. Figure 3: XRD of Carbon Membrane prepared at different temperatures d-spacing in carbon membrane refers to interlayer distances, with increase in temperature more compact structures are formed. 800  °C was found to be the optimum pyrolysis temperature as membrane having high density and packing efficiency are formed at this temperature. (1) Effect of pyrolysis temperature on membrane composition In order to study how pyrolysis temperature changed the chemical composition of the membrane, elemental analysis has been conducted for both polymers as well as carbon membrane. In Figure 4, the point zero in x-axis corresponds to precursor membrane and it has the lowest carbon content and they started to increase with increase in pyrolysis temperature. However other elemental contents like oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen was reduced with increase in temperature. Presence of oxygen compounds in the carbon membrane surface can make the membrane more hydrophilic and can cause swelling of membranes (11). For the better performance of carbon membrane oxygen content has to be less than 4% (12).When pyrolysis temperature in increased, oxygen content is reduced. Membrane prepared at 800oC has oxygen content less than 4%. So the effect of pyrolysis temperature on hydrophilictiy of the carbon membrane was tested to study the influence of oxygen in the membrane. From the Table 4 it is clear that as pyrolysis temperature is increased, amount of water absorbed is decreased, thus increasing the hydrophobic nature of carbon membranes. This can be explained by the reduction in oxygen containing group in membrane with pyrolysis temperature. Figure 4: Elemental analysis of membranes Table 4: Hydrophilicity of carbon membranes Sample-Code Pyrolysis Temperature ( °C) Wet weight of the membrane (g) Dry weight of the membrane (g) Amount of water absorbed (g) CM-450 450 0.0588 0.0553 0.0035 CM-600 600 0.0523 0.0503 0.0020 CM-800 800 0.0687 0.0607 0.0008 Morphology of Membranes The surface and cross-section morphologies of carbon membranes as well as polymer membranes were investigated by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) techniques. Surface image of polymer membrane is shown in Figure 6. It shows a smooth and defect free surface without any deformation. Cross section of the polymer membrane is also shown below. Compared to carbon membrane it does not have uniform pore distribution. All the pores are elongated pores and the membrane formed is very dense. Thickness of polymer membrane was found to be 250ÃŽ ¼m. The honey-comb structure of carbon membrane shows the pore structure in the membrane (Figure 5). It is clear from the image that the membrane is rich in pores and has quite a uniform pore distribution. The membrane was having a sponge-like matrix unlike polymer membrane. This uniform pore distribution allows carbon membrane to have high selectivity over polymer membrane.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (b) Figure 5: SEM images: (a) Top surface and (b) Cross section of Carbon Membrane   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (b) Figure 6: SEM images: (a) Top surface and (b) Cross section of PolymerMembrane CONCLUSION Different polymer blends were tried for the preparation of polymer membrane and membranes derived from Polyamideimde/Polyetherimide (25/75wt.%) exhibited more attractive performance than the other blends. Polymer concentration was varied from 2-20% and at 9%   it was found to be exhibiting best results. Polymer membranes prepared from PAI/PEI were transparent hydrophilic membranes. Polymer membranes were thermally unstable compared to carbon membrane and were found to have degradation temperature around 450oC. Complete miscibility of both the polymers was confirmed and the glass transition temperature of the polymer membrane was also found. For the preparation of carbon membrane different protocols were followed for pyrolysis, and 800oC was found to be the optimum temperature for pyrolysis. Thermal analysis of membrane had conducted, which proved the higher thermal stability of the carbon membrane. Morphological studies shows that carbon membrane prepared at 800oC have desirable pore size compared to other membranes prepared at lower temperatures. XRD studies of the carbon membrane showed that as temperature increases, more compact membranes are obtained, which decreases the permeability of the membrane. All the membranes have shown promising results that can be further investigated for gas separation studies. References 1. Carbon membranes from blends of PBI and polyimides for N2/CH4 and CO2/CH4. Seyed Saeid Hosseini, Tai Shung Chung. s.l. : Journal of Membrane Science, 2009, Vol. 328. 174-185. 2. A review on the latest development of carbon membranes for gas separation. A.F. Ismail, L.I.B. David. s.l. : J. Membr. Sci., 2001, Vol. 193. 1. 3. Fabrication of carbon membranes for gas separationa review. S.M. Saufi, A.F. Ismail. s.l. : Carbon, 2004, Vol. 42. 241-259. 4. Gas permeation through micropores of carbon molecular sieve membranes derived from kapton polyimide. Suda H, Haraya K. s.l. : Chem B, 1997, Vol. 101. 3988-94. 5. DH, Morthon-Jones. Polymer processing. London : Chapman and Hal, 1984. Chapter 2. 6. Relationship between chemical structure of aromatic polyimides and gas permeation properties of their carbon molecular sieve membranes. H.B. Park, Y.K. Kim, J.M. Lee, S.Y. Lee, Y.M. Lee. s.l. : J. Membr. Sci., 2004, Vol. 229. 117. 7. Carbon molecular sieve membranes from polyetherimide. Fuertes AB, Centeno TA. s.l. : Microporous Mesoporous Mater, 1998, Vol. 26. 23-6. 8. Supported carbon molecular sieve membranes based on phenolic resin. Centeno TA, Fuertes AB. s.l. : J Membr Sci, 1999, Vol. 160. 201-211. 9. Gas separation properties of carbon molecular sieve membranes derived from polyimide/polyvinylpyrrolidone blends: effect of the molecular weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Y.K. Kim, H.B. Park, Y.M. Lee. s.l. : of the molecular weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone, 2005, Vol. 251. 159. 10. Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Dipak Rana, Takeshi Matsuura ,Henry C. Foley. Carbon-based Membranes for Separation Processes. London : Springer, 2011. 11. Carbon molecular sieve membranes derived from Matrimid polyimide for nitrogen/methane separation. Xue Ning, William J. Koros. s.l. : Carbon, 2014, Vol. 66. 5 1 1 5 2 2. 12. Interaction, miscibility and phase. E. Fà ¶ldes, E. Fekete, F.E. Karasz, B. Pukà ¡nszky. s.l. : Polymer, 2000, Vol. 41. 975. 13. Gas permeation and micropore structure of carbon molecular sieving membranes modified by oxidation. Kusakabe K, Yamamoto M, Morooka S. s.l. : J Membr Sci , 1998, Vol. 149. 59-67. 14. Characterization of ultramicroporous carbon membranes with. Jones CW, Koros WJ. s.l. : Ind Eng Chem Res, 1995, Vol. 34. 158-163.

9-1-1: An American Emergency :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

9-1-1: An American Emergency When hijackers coordinated the take-over of four passenger planes on September 11, they sent out a 9-1-1. It was truly an emergency call. Emergency comes from emerge and emergence, from the Latin word for to plunge out--it means to rise from, to come out into view. We have listened to stories of rescue and sacrifice. We have watched First Responders, the Fire and Emergency Medical teams that are first on the scene of a disaster. We have recognized so many people as the heroes they are. But it's not over. There is plenty of emergency response work still to be done, over a long period of time, and this gives us all a chance to be heroes in our own way. It was an airport security emergency and an air traffic control emergency. It was a national security emergency. It was a crisis management emergency. It was a belief and reality emergency--days later, I heard people repeating "It's not real, it's not real" and "I can't believe it." It was a shock and grief emergency, and experts say the trauma will go on for months and years. Some people are already discussing rebuilding on the site in lower Manhattan, but who will want to have an office to do business on a mass grave? It was a political emergency, and the government mobilized. It was an intelligence emergency--why didn't we know enough to prevent it? It was a religious and spiritual emergency--how can we understand the purpose of death and destruction on this scale? It was a patriotic emergency-- how do we respond to an "Attack on America?" It was a peace and justice emergency--do we have a repertoire of response that does not take the form of violent retaliation and retribution? It was a democracy emergency--how do we preserve our principles in adversity? It was a tolerance and understanding emergency--how do we keep from turning against people from other religious and cultural groups, ethnic groups and nationalities that we identify with the criminals, the enemy?

Star Wars and Religion Essay -- Star Wars Film Movies Religious Essays

Star Wars and Religion Methodology In conducting my research on Star Wars, I wanted to make sure that I kind of found a variety of sources. I decided to do my field report on Star Wars originally because I was aware that I needed to include an interview component in this report. I immediately thought of my R.A., who just happens to be an incredibly huge Star Wars fan. I knew that I would have to investigate some element of the movies and religion has always been a very controversial topic within the Star Wars "universe". To research the topic I went through the IU Libraries Database and retrieved articles about Lucas and his beliefs about religion and about pop culture spirituality and the movies in general. I also held an interview with my R.A., Veronica Lloyd on the subject. She proved to be a very good source of knowledge on both sides of the issue at hand because she is a religious studies major as well as a Star Wars fanatic. Description I found that though the movies are a pop culture phenomena, there are still unanswered questions. Even the biggest of fans are not certain about what the relationship between religion and Star Wars is. In the interview with Veronica, she mentioned that "it's kind of a mixture of things" (Lloyd, 161), maybe it's really something that will never be decided upon, but that hasn't stopped anyone from exploring the issue from all angles. I discovered a very interesting interview done by Bill Moyer with George Lucas, where he asks some of the questions that we all want answers to, but even Lucas doesn't know everything. It's interesting to me that the author and film maker does not know the answers to questions about his own work, but I understand the reasons why he doesn't. Lucas ... ...port. I think a more detailed form would serve to cover more angles, but also that there are so many angles to this topic that maybe too many would just be too much. I was interested in the topic and I think that helped to make the research and interview process easier to accomplish. I also think that I have a little more respect for the work of George Lucas and for those that know they are the true fans, they deserve the title. Works Cited Baker, Barbara J. "The Star Wars Trilogy". Magill's Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature. 1996. (*for general plot summaries) Johnson, Brian D. 1999. "The Second Coming". Maclean's. 24 May. Vol 112. Issue 21. p 14. Lloyd, Veronica. 2001. Interview by Jenny Hettenbach, 30 November, Bloomington, Indiana. Tape recording. SW1. Moyers, Bill. 1999. "Of Myth and Men." Time. 26 Apr. Vol 153. Issue 16. p 90.

Pericles Funeral Speech :: essays research papers

Pericles’ Funeral Speech   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Athens democracy has some evident differences of its own system compared to Sparta’s. They do not copy anyone else form of government, but run theirs in a unique way. In Athens everyone seems to receive fair treatment and poverty is not a struggle they encounter. Pericle informs that the people are friendlier and more respectful neighbors that Athens neighbors. Their individual system is like no others. Athens provides many activities such as regular games and sacrifices. Therefore, he says because of their own success they can enjoy the wonders of other countries. The Athenian system is very successful and operates smoothly because of the determination and effort the people of Athens put forth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are some factors that made Athens and Sparta different that need to be addressed. First, Athens controls an â€Å"open city† where visitors can influence and share there knowledge about the â€Å"Athenian way.† In Sparta children are dealt with in a very strict and upright manner. The women of Sparta seemed to have more freedom and power in the household because they were separated from their husbands for large amounts of time and became accustomed to this way of living. They are highly educated to the point where they are smarter than the average person their age. In Athens things are a little more laid back. They learn and mature at their own pace and still end up highly knowledgeable. When in battle Athens brings just themselves while Sparta brings their whole confederacy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that Athens had an advantage over Sparta. Even though both had their own individual strengths and came together to become one I believe Athens methods were stronger. The Athenians worked well together and seemed to be extremely spiritually motivated to overcome any obstacle. I also feel this way because the way they were brought up as children.

Socio-Cultural Influences on Sexuality

â€Å"Sexuality is an important part of our lives†(King, 2012, p.1), and a reoccurring theme throughout our development. The role that sexuality plays in each of our lives is so important that we see its influence through multiple sources in life, including media and social culture. No matter where you look in society some sort of sexuality is present; whether walking in the mall, observing the family life, or watching teens socialize. What is it though that makes a sexually relationship healthy? Is it attraction, intimacy, love, or interactions with each other? Through this paper we will discuss all the aspects of socio-cultural influences on sexuality, as well as the healthy relationship. It was Rathus (1993) who told us â€Å"human sexuality is the way in which we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings.† It only makes sense that through our environment we learn what is appropriate or inappropriate behavior, even when talking about sex. History is flourished with studies on the affects of sexual experiences, and cultural influences. It was Freud who taught us that we begin our exploration of sex at an early age through psuedosexual stages (Rana, 1977). His second essay on Infantile Sexuality discussed the early childhood stages and perversions that affect all.(Rana, 1977) During this controversial time it is the parents who show young children how to act. Therefore, in a family that hugs and touches each other lovingly we should expect to see the children to do so as well. Children are known for mimicking or â€Å"parroting † behavior in which they attempt to learn the societal norms. With this as the basis of a child's development as a sexual being they should be off to a good start. Media Motivators and Sexual Education Unfortunately, parents are not the only influence on a child's development in sexuality. From magazine articles to movies we are surrounded by relationships, some are healthy and some are not. Sex†¦it sells! Or so the media likes to tell us. They post beautiful women half naked on every magazine add, television show, or movie; but it is not just the men who are targeted by such adds. Young girls want to be these women, because they are popular and what society tells us is beautiful. The headlines associated with these beautiful photos read â€Å"How to Make Him Want More Sex†Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å"How to Make Him Orgasm†Ã¢â‚¬ , and lets not forget â€Å"A Newer, Sexier You for the New Year†.† Is this really how we want our children to learn about sex? Unfortunately, within American culture we see girls younger and younger having children, indicating sexual behavior before marriage. From these indications it is clear that media has the primary influence of sexual culture. Schools offer sexual education often at the young age of middle school in order to assist parents with this large task to right media's wrongs. Although schools focus their education on abstinence rather the safe sex and sexual diseases, some education is better then none or so they tell us. Smith et al.(2003, para 4) results showed that children's knowledge of sexual risks was low, especially in areas of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. A sexual risk that controversially has received no attention is the psychological risk that sex can have on one. Without a healthy relationship a person often is left with guilty feelings, regret, and low self worth. This is definitely not the message portrayed through magazine articles. According to Okazaki (Feb. 2002, para 1), the Asian American population is not influenced highly by media motivators. Through her study of this ethnic group she found that because the Asian American population is characterized primarily through their cultural characteristics based on family, collective goals of individual wishes, emphasis on propriety and social codes; sex is reserved for marriage. Through their influences based on modesty there is an exceptional difference in premarital sex. However, her results also show that the more the Asian American culture comes acclimated to our society the more sexual behavior they exhibit. Sexual Gender Theories and Gender Roles Many of the sexual influenced are biased toward gender roles, a set of culturally specific norms concerning expected behaviors and attitudes based on sexual identity of male or female (King, 2012, p. 198). As Okazaki pointed out, in Asian American culture it is still viewed as acceptable for those of the male gender to experiment sexually before marriage, but females are considered delicate flowers not allowed to completely bloomed until matched in a marital pair (2002, para 2). Within the American culture our roles have relaxed some to allow females to experiment, but not until they are a ripe legal age. We allow our men to experiment early through touch (masturbation) and view it as acceptable, yet when little girls play with their bodies it nearly devastates us. Through our harsh reactions we teach the young to feel guilty and wrong about sexual explorations. Many gender roles of our time allow women to work and seek education before or during their motherhood years; changes from our earlier history of the American women. Although a woman may take on these â€Å"extracurricular activities† they are still expected to carry on the traditional chores of housework and child rearing. Men have less responsibility to be the primary breadwinner, yet this is traditionally still their main societal focus. Smith et al. (2003, para 4) research transcripts also put light to the different sexual roles for males and females. It showed females should be more culturally restrained, and males as less abstinent. Both sexes adolescents had strong views towards family importance in the influence of sexual behavior, something congruent across cultural barriers. Part of these gender roles associated with sex pertains to the two gender theories. The first gender theory is that of the sociocultural theory in which the differences are based on the culture in which they are raised; something that we discussed throughout the previous paragraphs. The evolutionary role puts the behavioral difference based on the pressures each sex deals with daily. For women it is that sex is for reproduction, so they seek out the optimal mate in which to love and settle down with. For men it is the attraction, risk taking, and competitiveness that draw them towards multiple mates. In this theory we see more of a discussion on the relationship view of sex, in which we discuss love, attraction, and intimacy. Young women are given pretty pictures of love associated with sex and happy ever after; however, as adults through experience we learn this is not the truth. Healthy relationships are those in which we can say at the end of the day that all experiences including sexual ones are positive (King, 2012, p. 298), this should be the thought we teach our adolescents. Sexual Dysfunction and Commercialized Sex Wilhelm Reich (Demeo, 1998, para 2) believed and proved that emotions and sexuality were directly related, and that there was energy in the libido. His work proved not only that the energy existed but also that sexual dysfunction was a product of emotional detachment due to traumatic event in ones life. Essentially Reich was able to correlate how emotions could play into ones sexual disorder and relate that to sexual crimes. He brought the study of sexual humanity to light, and sought to assist in curing those with sexual ailments. These were important advancements in the study of socio-cultural influences on sexuality as they began to show how our upbringing could negatively affect our sexual views and society. Over time our society has set to life rules and laws against sexually lude behavior, in which we could negatively influence the young. Some of these laws involved diminishing prostitution, limiting access to pornographic materials, and eliminate sex trafficking. From what we do, so shall our children do (author unknown). It is evident that adolescents seek to mimic the actions they see as popular. Movies, television, and magazines teach us to go forth into sexual exploration, and not to worry. The truth is a different story, and so our society must realize the need for change. We must foster education, modesty, and healthy sexual relationships in order to teach younger generations the impact of sexual interactions. We have the option as a society full of culture to choose whether we want generations of sexual dysfunction and violence, or love and sex.

Love Is Not Bliss (Romeo & Juliet + Othello) A Thesis Essay

One of the reasons that the works of Shakespeare are so renowned is simply for the fact that he can beautifully create moments of happiness, sadness, glory, agony, misery, love, betrayal – and anything else which may fall in between (Krakauer 09). There are numerous situations in real life in which one person may fall deeply in love with another, but it will eventually turn out that it was never to occur in the first place. When it comes to Shakespeare, love is never meant to blossom in the plays Romeo and Juliet, and Othello. In the very first act of Romeo and Juliet, for example, we learn that there is a feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene) From Ancient grudge break into new mutiny (Act I Sc I). Romeo and Juliet fall instantly in love with each other. But, because of their families hatred, their happiness and youth are wasted. Juliet receives a marriage proposal from Paris, and agrees that she will consider marrying him if she likes him. After falling in love with Romeo however – at first sight, she learns as he leaves that he is a Montague. She is struck with as much horror as he is after he finds out that she is a Capulet. It is just a little while later that Juliet delivers her famous speech: â€Å"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? †¦O, be some other name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.† (Act II Sc II). Passion it is of course, but that contaminated term has in our day become helpless to express it. Purity would be the perfect word for it if the world had not forgotten that purity is simply Greek for fire (Krakauer 17). Juliet later discovers that her father has arranged for her to marry Paris in three days. She refuses to do so, and her father is furious over the fact that his daughter is so proud and ungrateful. She then turns to her mother – but her mother refuses to listen to what she has to say. In desperation, she turns to the nurse for advice, and even the Nurse believes that Juliet should marry Paris, because Romeo was banished from Verona and is not likely to return. Juliet realized that everyone is against her, so she turned to  Friar Laurence for help. The Friar knows of a sleeping potion that Juliet would be able to use that would fool her family to believe that Juliet is dead. Juliet decided to use that potion on the very night that she is to wed Paris. When the family finds Juliet â€Å"dead’, the Friar says that they must arrange for a burial and carry Juliets body to the church. After Romeo (then in Mantua) learns that Juliet is dead, he buys some poison and intends to kill himself in the vault where Juliet lies. Paris is in the vault when Romeo arrives, and he assumes that Romeo is there for evil purposes. The two men then fight a duel, and Romeo realizes that he has killed Paris as he falls. He then gazes at Juliet in her tomb, and swallows the poison after giving her a last kiss. He instantly dies, and Juliet wakes up shortly thereafter. After she realizes that Romeo is dead, she takes his dagger and stabs herself with it. It is then that the families reconcile – when it is too late. Statues were to be made in honor of the lovers. Cynics are fond of saying that if Romeo and Juliet had lived, their love would not have lasted (Krakauer 24).There is also numerous instances in Othello in which it is evident that love was never meant to blossom between Othello, and his wife Desdemona. Brabantio is the father of Desdemona. He regrets the fact that he allowed Desdemona to marry Othello, who just happens to be a Moor. He realized that he would have rather let a unestablished man named Roderigo take Desdemonas hand in marriage. Othello is accused of using witchcraft on his wife, and it is said that he is probably abusing her as well. However, when Desdemona is questioned, she admits that she has fallen in love with Othello and married him on her own will. Brabantio is furious when he hears his daughters confessions, and he practically disowns her. He then turns to Othello, and says â€Å"Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee† (Act I Sc III). Then there is the notorious villain, Iago. He came up with a plan to make it seem like Desdemona was cheating on Othello with his friend, Michael Cassio. Iago feels hatred towards Othello because he passed him over, and promoted Cassio for a position. Iago also had suspicions that Othello may have been having an affair with Emilia (Iagos wife), and for that he wants get revenge on  Othello. Shakespeare gives Iago an outward appearance of honest virtue and has Othello consistently call him â€Å"Honest Iago.† (Krakauer 56). Iago has the tendency to be very convincing and manipulative. He manages to make money off of Roderigo by offering foolish advice followed by a great deal of logic. After much talk, Roderigo is even convinced to sell off his land, so he can have a lot of money in his hands to get the attention of Desdemona. It is safe to say that Iago is very much like the devil himself (Krakauer 62). This is evident in his soliloquy at the very end of Act I. He reveals to the audience that he wishes to abuse Othellos ear, and blacken Cassios name as well. Iago also tends to compare people to animals, such as when he says, â€Å"The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are.† (Act I Sc III). Iago does indeed poison Othellos ears by convincing him to view the friendship between Desdemona and Cassio under a negative perspective. At a party, he gets Cassio to drink an excessive amount of liquor, which makes him drunk. At one point as Cassio gets in a fight with another person, Othello walks in, and Iago makes him take Cassios position away from him. Iago then goes over to Cassio and acts as if he is a friend to him. He tells Cassio to request Desdemona to convince Othello to give Cassio his position back. Desdemona agrees to do so, but all in a very innocent manner. Since Iago has plagued Othellos mind with false thoughts, Othello gets furious everytime that Desdemona mentions Cassios name. He begins to suffer mentally, and has trouble sleeping, and begins to snap at Desdemona over the slightest things. Eventually, Othello smothers Desdemona, and kills her. Emilia discovers what has happened, and cries out till Iago arrives. She then reveals the fact that Iago is a villain, and Iago kills her. Othello realizes that he has made a mistake, and kills himself, and Iago gets executed. The love stories in Romeo and Juliet, and Othello start off very nicely, but unfortunately end with tragic deaths.

What is Valium?

Valium, also known as diazepam, belongs to a group of prescription drugs called benzodiazaines. Valium is used to control agitation due to withdrawals for people suffering from alcoholism. It is also used to relieve muscle spasms, anxiety, and seizures. Diazepam comes in a tablet, a capsule, and liquid to take by mouth. It may be taken with or without food, 1-4 times a day and you must follow the prescription directions carefully. The Diazepam concentrate comes with a dropper, and it must be diluted with water, juice, or carbonated beverages. Some people mix it in applesauce or pudding before taking it. Diazepam may be addicting so doctors recommend that you do not take bigger doses than prescribed, and that you do not stop the medication all of a sudden because it may lead to withdrawals such as anxiousness, irritability, and sleeplessness. Before taking Valium you should tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to diazepam, alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Librax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serax), prazepam (Centrax), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), or any other drugs. People who have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, a severe breathing problem, asthma, epilepsy, a history of mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction, suicidal thoughts or behavior, should not take Valium. FDA recommends that a pregnant woman should not take Valium because it may harm the unborn baby. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking Valium, she must tell her doctor because Valium may cause low blood pressure, breathing problems, or addiction and withdrawal symptoms in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Diazepam can pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby while breastfeeding. Sedative effects of Valium may last longer in older adults, and accidental falls occur more in elderly patients who take it. Any one on this medication should not drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of Valium. This medicine is not to be given to a child younger than 6 months old because it affects the chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. Taking alcohol while on Valium can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug, and cigarettes may decrease its effectiveness. Side effects are common and sometimes obvious. They may include drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy, gait problems, mental confusion, vertigo, and impaired vision. If restlessness, constipation, difficult or frequent urination, or blurred vision are severe and don’t go away, you should contact your doctor immediately. If you experience seizures, shuffling walk, fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should call your doctor and let him know. In case of an overdose you should call your local poison control center. If the victim is passed out or has stopped breathing, call 911. Do not let anyone else take your medications, and keep it stored out of reach of children. References Gerada C, Ashworth M.. ( 2003 August). Addiction Search. In Valium addiction, treatment, and withdrawal. Retrieved 4/20/2012, from http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/valium-addiction-treatment-and-withdrawal_19.html. Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD . (1996-2012). MedicineNet.com. In diazepam, Valium. Retrieved April 30, 2012, from http://www.medicinenet.com/diazepam/article.htm.

The Koran

It is said that the Koran (or Quran) was delivered by Allah to Muhammad. Much like the Bible is to Christians; the Koran delivers to Muslims guidance on how to live a virtuous life, as well as being a historical text of events in the area, and those which occurred around the Prophet Muhammad. It is said that to understand the differences between the Muslim sects, it is relevant to delve into Islamic history. â€Å"Some basic issues within Islam today, such as the strife between Sunni and Shia Muslims began at this time and better understanding of how the disputes began is needed.† (Biedzynski, 2005). Theological scholars will often discuss the correlation of different religions within texts and history, but it is evident within the Suras of the Koran, that not only were Jews and Christians recognized, but many biblical names are also mentioned, including Jesus, Moses and Mary. In fact, the Koran recognizes many similar figures for the same reasons Christianity and Judaism does , which perhaps serves as a further example on the connection all three religions have in recounting historical events.The fundamentals of Islam are perhaps best explored through the principles governed by the Five Pillars of Islam. Essentially these are: a profession of faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and charity. In order for a Muslim to be considered for heaven, and their place with Allah, it is vital for them to adhere to the Five Pillars. The first, Shahadah, or tenet of Islam, is often recited in prayer, and is an affirmation made that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah, and there is only Allah. Arguably, this is an important pillar, and fundamentally the foundation of all Islamic practices.The second pillar, or Salat, is not only the act of praying five times a day, but is also regarded in death, and an act of purification of the spirit, as mentioned in Sura 87, â€Å"prosperous indeed is he who purifies himself recollects the name of his Lord and performs prayers† (l ines 14-15). There is no division in prayer, only unity:â€Å"The words of the prayer are, essentially, those of Surat Al-Fatihah and other parts of the Quran chosen by the devotee. Thus our prayers become Allah’s words. The prayers in the form of the Friday prayer are also a weekly lesson in human equality and community solidarity† (Ayoub, 116).Zakat, or almsgiving is the Third Pillar of Islam. It is the form of charity that is practiced not only during Ramadan, but annually. The concept is to ease economic stress on the less fortunate, and is considered as an act of the virtuous who â€Å"have faith in the unseen, observe regular worship, and give alms of that which we have bestowed upon them† (2:3). The concept begins with the notion that everything belongs to Allah, and people are merely looking after it – from this earth to financial success. As is often said of charity beginning at home, the concept of zakat also starts at home, and closest friends and relations, before branching out into the community, or as stated in the Koran, â€Å"they thus give food for love of Him to the destitute, orphan, and captive† (76:8).Whilst zakat and charity is made during Ramadan, the holy month is best observed through fasting. It is the forth Pillar of Islam, and is a similar notion in remembering those less fortunate around us. It is also a significant month, historically:â€Å"Fasting, however, has a crucial significance for Muslims. It was during the month of Ramadan that Allah granted victory to Muslims over the Makkan associators in the Battle of Badr† (p125).It was also during Ramadan, that the Koran was given to Muhammad, as noted in Sura 2. During Ramadan, it is significant that Muslims remain pure, and abstain from sexual intercourse, ill tempers or bad language. They also fast from sunrise to dusk, and offer charity to their community and family.The final Pillar of Islam is the Hajj, a pilgrimage which should be made at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim. The journey involves a pilgrimage to Mecca, and the Ka’ba built there. Historically, the pilgrimage reminds Muslims of Ibrahim, and retracing of the steps he made. Rituals within the Hajj also retrace Hajar’s search for water in the barren mountains. Sura 3 speaks of how it is an ‘obligation’ for people to perform the pilgrimage, and also details how Muhammad made his first Hajj. Pilgrims who complete the annual Hajj are considered to be ‘reborn’, and able to start anew. It is considered a cleansing, but is also historically poignant:â€Å"During the Hajj important religious and political movements were born, momentous decisions and ideas were taken and exchanged, and crucial calls to jihad in the way of Allah and against oppression, tyranny and wrong were proclaimed. The Hajj is our teacher, our social and political guide, and a source of blessing in our lives† (p129).There are many things w ithin Islam that are considered taboo, the consumption of pork and the act of suicide are two of them. Such things are called â€Å"haram†, and are labeled as forbidden acts that detract from the fundamentals of Islam. Pork is forbidden, quite simply because it is considered unclean. The Koran matter-of-factly states, â€Å"He has forbidden for you only carrion and blood and swine-flesh and that which has been immolated in the name of any other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing† (16:114-115).As for suicide, Muhammad speaks of an eternity in what can be considered Hell. People, who committed suicide, would spend their days reliving the experience. â€Å"He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire† (Sahih Bukhari 2.446). It is with this in mind, that the concept of Jihad should be explored.Jihad in itself is war (and defense) on the behalf of Islam. It is something that was often declared against those who cause ill towards a community, or as subtle as protecting a community against non-Muslims, or cleansing the soul of ill-thought and sin. In recent times, it has been extorted and abused by violence. The main aim of jihad in society is to eradicate wrongdoing and oppression (Ayoub, 191). Jihad is therefore an affirmation through action to Allah and Islam, as considered in Sura 47, â€Å"if you lend support to Allah, he shall grant you support and firmly strengthen your steps† (47:7). Jihads could involve absolving sin through study of the Koran, or sacred texts; and even through the act of the Hajj, to cleanse through action. Jihad, as it is portrayed today, is only one form, and often times not fully considered under Islamic Law.Islamic Law is what governs Muslim society, and understandably, it adheres to what appears in the Koran. Suras 4 and 5 outline measures that should be undertaken through accidental death, murder and stealing. Concepts such as compensation or blood-money, for example, are paid out to the family of one accidentally killed. Stealing, was dealt as a stark punishment, however, with a thief losing the hand they used to steal with: â€Å"And the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hand as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise† (5:38).The Koran, and specifically Islam’s relationship with Christianity and Judaism, outlines the historical relevance to the connections the religion has with them. It does not dispute their existence, or indeed significant people within both religious texts, rather it is almost reliant on them:â€Å"The Qu’ran sees itself not only as depending on the Torah and Gospel for its own claim to authenticity, but also as ‘confirming’ the truth which they cont ain while at the same time superceding them. [..] We need to interpret our scriptures in ways that promote a meaningful dialogue which will lead to a true fellowship of faith† (98-99)Many Muslims today acknowledge resemblances in religious practices, or are often comforted to find similarities. The same can be said vice-versa, though as more people from Judaic and Muslim background learn that not only do their scriptures acknowledge each other, but have similarities in prayer: â€Å"Men and women sit separately. Services can be led by any male member of the community. In mosques, as in synagogues, Orthodox or not, there are no human symbols of God† (Hirschfield, 2006).It should also be considered, that many within Judaism and Islam need only look within their own verses to see the similarities- or as noted by a filmmaker keen to see open-dialogue, â€Å"educated by Muslims about the 99 names for God and the stories of Muhammad, Ms. Broyde-Sharone tries, in turn, to edu cate Jews about Islam. It is not a hateful monolith, she emphasizes. It is diverse just as Judaism is diverse† (Hirschfield, 2006).The same can be argued for the appearance of Jesus within the Koran, and the religious ‘divide’ between the Bible and the Koran. Many Suras speak of not only him, but of Mary as well. â€Å"A verse in the Quran says, â€Å"Behold! The angels said, ‘O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those nearest to God.'†Ã¢â‚¬ (Oakland Tribune, 2003).The foundation of Islam not only lies within the text of the Koran, but also within each individual Muslim and their interpretations of the text. Whilst Muslim countries and communities seem to have differing opinions on the taboo of suicide, or the overwhelming support of a ‘jihad’, the Pillars of Islam remain intact as a guiding frame of th e religion. Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam and practitioners are influenced by their own communities, history and political leaders, so it is perhaps no surprise that all three monolithic religions look to each other for validation.ReferencesMuslim musings on Jesus, Bible(s) and Dan BrownOakland Tribune. Jun 23, 2006. FindArticles.com. 25 Sep. 2007. (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060623/ai_n16507597 )Ayoub, M. M., Islam: Faith and PracticeThe Open Press, Islamic Book Trust 2001.Biedzynski, J. Historical Atlas of Islam.Journal of Third World Studies. Fall 2005.Hirschfield, R. God and Allah need to talk: L.A. filmmaker spearheads Jewish-Muslim dialogue.National Catholic Reporter. Oct 6, 2006. FindArticles.com. 25 Sep. 2007. (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_43_42/ai_n17093198 )