Health Care Disparities in the United States Research Paper

Health Care Disparities in the United States - Research Paper Example Yes, it is possible to eliminate health disparities in the United States. Eliminating the disparities that exist in healthcare is politically sensitive and rather challenging because they are somehow intertwined with a controversial record of race relationships in the US. Â  Some of the approaches that can be applied in eliminating health care disparities include increasing the competence and number of healthcare practitioners in areas which are underserved, expanding health insurance coverage, increasing the awareness base on root and arbitration to decrease the occurrence of health care disparities and raising community and health care practitioners understanding of racial or ethnic health care disparities. These strategies combined with others by the government are bound to be successful in eliminating health care disparities in the US. Â  The similar theme is that exists in the assigned articles is that eliminating health care disparities is key to improving the general quality of health care provided in the US. Most Americans do not often receive the quality health care that they deserve or on other occasions, the health care they get causes them harm (Williams, 2007). It is such incidences that have resulted in health care disparities in America.

Should central banks be independent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Should central banks be independent - Essay Example They all have different origins hence the difference in the roles and functions that they are expected to play. While some of them were established as a special purpose upon which the government banks were brought up to bring about order in the way that bank notes are issued, others were developed to act as sources of funding for the governments (Downes & Vaez-Zadeh 92). There are other central banks that started off as large commercial banks that dominated and subsequently were able to boost the economy by offering the monopoly rights to provide bank notes. Most of the central banks started their operation during the 20th century as central banks that held the public policy agencies to conduct the functions related to central banking. However, the bundles of functions associated with the central bank have always differed in a substantial way from one country to the other. In this paper the main functions and roles of the central banks will be analyzed and an evaluation performed o w hether the central banks should be made independent (Touffut 52). The key functions of the central bank revolve around the fact that the central bank is an agency that is expected to perform the conducts of monetary policy and provide the means through which it can be settled. In the past, they functioned as the government’s bankers, the monopoly of issuing notes, the banker’s bank, the last resort lender, controller and regulator of credit and the maintenance of external stability (Goodhart xiii). The most important function of the central bank has been linked to the role of financial stability. However, it is considered as the objective that extends or goes beyond the objectives of functions, which contribute towards financial stability. Nonetheless, it is still applicable in many countries where for example in China, it is the role of the People’s bank to ensure that financial risks are mitigated with the effort to provide financial stability

Laboratory Report on Properties of Carboxylic acids

Laboratory Report on Properties of Carboxylic acids Ramona Mae S. Rajaratnam Abstract: This report presents the different properties of carboxylic acids including solubility, acidity of some carboxylic acids, difference in strength of carboxylic acids compared to phenols, action of oxidizing agent on the carboxylic group and the neutralization equivalent of carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acids like acetic acid, butyric acid, oleic acid, succinic acid, stearic acid and benzoic acid were each mixed with water to test their solubility. The same acids were each mixed with 10% sodium bicarbonate to test their acid strength. The typical pKa values of carboxylic acids, phenols, HCO3 and CO32- were used to compare the acid strength of carboxylic acids with phenols and to judge whether both Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 can be used to successfully separate phenols from carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acids like acetic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid and oxalic acid were each mixed with 0.5% KMnO4 to look at the action of KMnO4, an oxidizing agent, on the carboxylic acid group. Thi s report also focuses on the finding the neutralization equivalent to determine the unknown molar mass of a carboxylic acid. An accurately weighed sample of an unknown carboxylic acid was dissolved, heated and titrated with a previously standardized NaOH solution to find the neutralization equivalent and ultimately, the molar mass of the unknown carboxylic acid. Introduction: This experiment focuses on the different properties of carboxylic acids. The experiment aims to compare the solubility of acetic acid and stearic acid in water and to describe the relationship between molecular weight and solubility of carboxylic acids in water. The experiment also intends to infer the relative acidities of carboxylic acids and phenols based on the relative differences of their reaction with NaHCO3 and explain how NaHCO3 can be used to separate a mixture containing a water-insoluble carboxylic acid and a water insoluble phenol. The experiment also aims to identify reducing acids and the functional groups responsible for their reduction potential. The experiment also intends to describe a physical property such as physical state, color, odor or solubility that can differentiate succinic acid and oxalic acid, acetic acid and lactic acid, acetic acid and formic acid, benzoic acid and stearic acid and acetic acid and butyric acid. And lastly, the experiment looks into th e determination of the neutralization equivalent and molar mass of an unknown mono- and dicarboxylic acid. Experimental Details: The following apparatus were used in the experiment: Vials Vial rack Micro spatula Dropper Test Tubes Test Tube Rack Weighing boat 50 mL Buret Iron stand Buret clamp Erlen Meyer flasks Funnel Corks Graduated Cylinder Bunsen burner Wire gauze Test tube brush Vial brush Safety goggles The following materials were used in the experiment: Distilled water Acetic acid Butyric acid Oleic acid Stearic acid Succinic acid Benzoic acid Formic acid Lactic acid Oxalic acid 10% NaHCO3 0.5% KMnO4 0.09413 M NaOH Bromthymol blue indicator unknown carboxylic acid (at least 0.2 g) The following procedures were carried out in the experiment: a. Solubility in Water. The solubility of carboxylic acids in water was tested by mixing water with the following acids: acetic, butyric, oleic, stearic, succinic and benzoic. Three drops of the liquid or one micro spatula of the solid acid were added to 2 mL of water. The qualitative results obtained with the solubilities listed for the compounds were checked in a chemical handbook. The data were tabulated. b. Reaction with 10% Sodium Bicarbonate. The solubility test of the same acids was repeated with 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. Three drops of the liquid or one micro spatula of the solid acid were added with 2 mL of 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. The evidence for reaction when water soluble acetic acid and succinic acid when added to reagent was noted. The typical pKa values of carboxylic acids, phenols, HCO3 and CO32- were compared. c. Action of an Oxidizing Agent on the Carboxylic Acid Group. Five drops of acetic acid were added to three to five drops of 0.5 KMnO4 in a vial. The test was repeated with the following acids: formic, lactic, oxalic and succinic. d. Neutralization Equivalent of Carboxylic Acids. A 0.2 g sample of unknown carboxylic acid was weighed accurately to four significant figures. The acid was dissolved in 50 mL water or ethanol. The mixture was heated to dissolve completely the compound. The solution was titrated with a previously standardized NaOH solution. A bromthymol blue indicator was used. The neutralization equivalent and molar mass of the unknown carboxylic acid were calculated. Results and Discussion: Carboxylic acids are organic compounds containing a carboxy group (COOH). The carbon atom of a carboxy group is surrounded by three groups, making it sp2 hybridized and trigonal planar, with bond angles of approximately 120Ã ¢-Â ¦. Figure 1: Carboxylic Acid structure Carboxylic acids exhibit dipole-dipole interactions because of their polar C-O bond and O-H bond. They also exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding because they possess a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative oxygen atom. Carboxylic acids are one of the most polar organic compounds. Most carboxylic acids exist as cyclic dimmers, held together by two hydrogen bonds. Figure 2: Carboxylic acid dimer Acetic acid is soluble in water. Carboxylic acids with less than 5 carbons in their alkyl group are soluble in water. The carbon skeleton is not too large for the OH group to solubilize by hydrogen bonding. The hydrophilic nature of the carboxylic group dominates than the hydrophobic nature. This is the reason why acetic acid and butyric acid are soluble in water. Figure 3: Acetic acid and butyric acid On the other hand, oleic acid and stearic acid are insoluble in water. Both have long, bulky carbon chains exceeding the five carbon limit. The OH group cannot solubilize the carbon skeleton via hydrogen bonding. Its hydrophobic character dominates than its hydrophilic nature. Figure 4: Oleic acid Figure 5: Stearic acid A good solvent for stearic acid would be organic solvents like ether, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Figure 6: Solvents for stearic acid Benzoic acid is insoluble in water because the benzene ring is too bulky and large, and because of its stability, the OH group cannot solubilize it using hydrogen bonding. Figure 7: Benzoic acid Succinic acid contains two COOH groups because it is a dicarboxylic acid. This tells us that there is an increase in the hydrogen bonding capacity which makes it slightly soluble only because the carbon chain exceeds the five carbon chain limit and its hydrophobic character also shows. Figure 8: Succinic acid Carboxylic acids readily react with Bronsted Lowry bases to form carboxylate ions which are done through deprotonation. Figure 9: Carboxylic acids react with sodium carbonate In the experiment, sodium bicarbonate was used to deprotonate the carboxylic acid. This was a simple neutralization reaction forming a carboxylate salt, carbon dioxide and water. Acetic acid, butyric acid, succinic acid and benzoic acid react with the sodium bicarbonate. Succinic acid undergoes two deprotonation steps because it contains two COOH groups. An acid can be deprotonated by a base that has a conjugate acid with a higher pKa. The pKa values of acetic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid and succinic acid are all ~5, thus bases that have conjugate acids with pKa values higher than 5 are strong enough to deprotonate them. Oleic acid and stearic acid have pKa values of 9.85 and 10.15 respectively. These pKa values are higher than the conjugate acid of the base (NaOH) which is H2CO3. This tells us that sodium bicarbonate is not strong enough to deprotonate both carboxylic acids. Stronger bases are needed to deprotonate them such as NaOH which has a conjugate acid with a pKa of 15.7. Figure 10: Dissociation and pKa values of carboxylic acids When comparing the pKa values of carboxylic acids and phenols, phenols always have a higher pKa value which tells us that phenols are weaker acids than carboxylic acids. Figure 11: pKa values of phenol and carboxylic acid Carboxylic acids and phenols are both acidic. Looking into the Arrhenius definition of an acid, both when dissolved in water, increases the H+ concentration. Also looking at the Bronsted-Lowry definition of an acid, acids are proton donors. Figure 12: Bronsted Lowry definition of an acid Aside from these two famous definitions of an acid, we must also look into the stability of the conjugate base. A rule states that anything that stabilizes a conjugate base makes the starting reagent acidic. When we talk about phenols, its conjugate base which is the phenoxide is resonance stabilized. It has five resonance structures which disperse the negative charge to three carbons and one oxygen atom. This makes phenols more acidic than alcohols which cannot stabilize its conjugate base via resonance. When we compare phenols with carboxylic acids, carboxylic acids are stronger compared to phenols. For carboxylic acids, their conjugate base which is the carboxylate ion is a lot more stable because they contain two oxygen atoms that delocalize the negative charge. As an effect, carboxylic acids are stronger acids than phenols which is evident in their pKa values. Looking at the pKa values of phenols and carboxylic acids, we could conclude that NaHCO3 can be used to separate a water insoluble carboxylic acid and a water insoluble phenol considering that this insoluble carboxylic acid does not exceed the pKa value of HCO3 (when protonated H2CO3 which is the conjugate acid) which is 6.4. Sodium bicarbonate can successfully separate a water insoluble phenol and a water insoluble carboxylic acid because typical pKa values for phenol which is 10 exceeds 6.4. The NaHCO3, therefore, is not strong enough to deprotonate the phenol but is strong enough to deprotonate the carboxylic acid. It will most likely form two layers: an organic layer with the phenol and an aqueous layer with the water and carboxylate ion which are products of the reaction of the carboxylic acid with the base. Sodium carbonate is not effective in separating a mixture containing a water insoluble carboxylic acid and a water insoluble phenol. The pKa of CO32- (when protonated becomes HCO3) is close to 10. This tells us that Na2CO3 reacts with some of the phenol and ofcourse with the carboxylic acid. Thus, no complete separation between the two occurs. Figure 13: Sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate Some carboxylic acids undergo oxidation. These are called reducing acids. In the experiment, lactic acid, formic acid and oxalic acid are all oxidized to carbon dioxide and water with the presence of a brown precipitate which is the reduced KMnO4. Acetic acid and Succinic acid are both non-reducing acids because they do not oxidize in the presence of a strong oxidizing agent, KMnO4. Lactic acid is oxidized into pyruvic acid because it contains an oxidizable group which is OH. Figure 14: Oxidation of lactic acid Formic acid is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Figure 15: Oxidation of formic acid Oxalic acid also oxidizes into carbon dioxide and water. Figure 16: Oxidation of oxalic acid The neutralization equivalent of an acid is mathematically defined as: Neutralization equivalent (NE) = To determine the molar mass: Molar mass = (X) x neutralization equivalent *Where X is the number of COOH groups The molar mass of an unknown carboxylic sample could be determined by computing its neutralization equivalent. Finding the neutralization equivalent requires titrating the solution of unknown carboxylic acid with a previously standardized solution of NaOH. The exact molarity of the NaOH was found to be 0.09413 M. Two trials were carried out in this section of the experiment. The solid form of the unknown carboxylic acid was water soluble. Weighing of sample: Titration: Computations: Trial 1: Volume of NaOH used = Final buret reading – Initial buret reading = 33.80 mL – 0.50 mL = 33.30 mL Neutralization equivalent (NE) = = = 66.36 g/mol Molar mass = 2 x (66.36 g/mol) = 132.72 g/mol Trial 2: Volume of NaOH used = Final buret reading – Initial buret reading = 32.50 mL -0.30 mL = 32.20 mL Neutralization equivalent (NE) = = = 66.35 mL Molar mass = 2 x (66.35 g/mol) = 132.70 g/mol Average molar mass = = 132.71 g/mol This molar mass was determined to be 95% near the true molar mass of the unknown carboxylic acid. Calculations for determining identity of unknown: = 139. 69 139.69 – 132.71 = 6.98 (error) For MM1 = 132.71 +6.98 = 139.69 MM2 = 132.71 – 6.98 = 125.73 For the 1st probable molar mass: 139.69 – 90.02 (2 X molar mass of COOH) = 49.67 CnH2n = 49.67 (12.01)n + (1.00)2n = 49.67 14.01 n = 49.67 n= 3.5/4 For the 2nd probable molar mass: 125.73 – 90.02 (2 X molar mass of COOH) = 35.71 CnH2n = 35.71 (12.01)n + (1.00)2n = 35.71 14.01n = 35.71 n= 2.5/3 Possible identities for the carboxylic acid include Glutaric acid, Glutaconic acid and Adipic acid. Conclusion: Therefore, the solubility of different carboxylic acids can be rationalized from the structure of the carboxylic acid itself. Acetic acid and butyric acid are soluble since their OH groups are able to solubilize their alkyl chain which does not exceed five carbons. Oleic acid and stearic acid are insoluble in water because their alkyl chain exceeds 5 carbons and the OH group cannot solubilize the long, bulky alkyl chain. A good solvent for stearic acid would be organic solvents like ether, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Benzoic acid is insoluble in water because the benzene ring, due to its stability, cannot be solubilized by the OH group. Succinic acid on the other hand, is soluble in water due to greater capacity of hydrogen bonding because it has two OH groups. Carboxylic acids also react with sodium carbonate through deprotonation. Only acetic acid, succinic acid, benzoic acid and butyric acid give a reaction because these acids have a lower pKa value than the conjugate aci d of the base which is NaHCO3. Oleic acid and Stearic acid do not react with NaHCO3 because they have higher pKa values than the conjugate acid of the base. This tells us that sodium bicarbonate is not strong enough to deprotonate both carboxylic acids. The rule here is: an acid can be deprotonated by a base that has a conjugate acid with a higher pKa. By looking at the pKa values, phenols are weaker acids than carboxylic acids. Phenols are resonance stabilized by carboxylic acids is more stable because they have conjugate bases with two oxygen atoms which delocalize the negative charge. NaHCO3 can be used to separate a mixture containing a water insoluble carboxylic acid and a water insoluble phenol because phenols do not react with this because it has a higher pKa than its conjugate acid. Na2CO3 is not effective because both phenols and carboxylic acids react, therefore, no separation occurs. Some carboxylic acids react with KMnO4 and are oxidized. Examples are lactic acid which i s oxidized to pyruvic acid and formic acid and oxalic acids which are oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Non-reducing acids include acetic acid and succinic acid. And for the last part of the experiment, the molar mass of an unknown carboxylic acid may be determined by identifying how many COOH groups are present and by computing its neutralization equivalent. Neutralization equivalent (NE) = Molar mass = (X) x neutralization equivalent Supporting information: In determining the molar mass or formula for an unknown carboxylic acid, it may be possible to have an unsaturated compound. If the molecular formula is given, plug in the numbers into this formula: DoU= C= number of carbons N= number of nitrogens X= number of halogens (F, Cl, Br, I) H= number of hydrogens References: Organic Chemistry by John McMurry Organic Chemistry by Janice Smith http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Organic_Chemistry/Hydrocarbons/Alkenes/Properties_of_Alkenes/Degree_of_Unsaturation Wikiperdia.org www.studymode.com

The Law of God and the Laws of the Cities in Philo of Alexandria :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

The Law of God and the Laws of the Cities in Philo of Alexandria ABSTRACT: I evaluate the position of philosophy within Philo’s theory of education as well as its relation to encyclical studies and to the highest forms of knowledge. According to Philo, true knowledge is knowledge of the law of God. Such is the role of philosophy. There exists a strong relation among the various fields of study reflecting the order that exists in all spheres of reality. Order and harmony are the same in an individual, in a state, and in the cosmos. Order and harmony reflects the law set down by God, who is both creator and foundation of such an order. The study of higher truth and the attempt to reach wisdom enlightens secular knowledge and behavior as well. The question is not merely one of maintaining political order; it is, rather, one of adhering to the order established by God. Such order is not open to discussion or alteration. My aim is to study the position of philosophy within Philo's theory of education, its relation to encyclical studies and to the highest forms of knowledge. As true knowledge is the knowing of the law of God and all the studies should aim to transmit and explain it, philosophy gets its role within this view point. There is a strong relation among the various fields of study, as one and the same the order is in all the different spheres of reality. Order and harmony in an individual and in a state are the same as in the cosmos; they are the order and the harmony of the law set down by God, who is both creator and foundation of such order. So, one and the same the law is for an individual, for a state, for the cosmos.(1) Thus the study of higher truths and the attempt to reach wisdom enlightens also secular knowledge and behaviours. There is no difference between unbalance within a city and within a soul; the first relies on the second and the transgression of the Law consists in abandoning the observance of divine word. It isn't only a question of knowing how to maintain a situation established by rulers or by individuals ethically engaged, but also of following an order and a law which come from God, which, as such, are not discussable and alterable. However, many peoples in the world don't relate to divine law.

Norman Foster

Norman Foster  Ã‚  Norman Foster is a major contributor to twentieth century architecture both in the westernworld and further afield. After starting his studies in architecture over 50 years ago he has designeda range of buildings (and bridges) and continues to produce outstanding designs today. Aswell asexploring Foster's career this essay will focus primarily on two of Foster's buildings, Creek VeanHouse in Cornwall and the Willis Building in Ipswich (originally the Willis Faber and DumasHeadquarters).Born in Manchester on 1 June 1935 to working class parents, Foster was a bright studentwho after attending a private school and a grammar school was pressurised to leave early in order toearn a living. It wasn't until 1956 after working in a bakery, a city treasurer's office, a factory,selling furniture, spending time in the Royal Air Force on national service and studying commerciallaw that he finally started his studies in architecture.Graduating from Manchester university school of architecture and city planning in 1961, Foster won the Henry fellowship to study at Yaleuniversity where he obtained his master's degree and also met Richard Rogers, another Britisharchitect whom he became good friends with. In 1963 Rogers and Foster along with their  respective wives Su and Wendy formed ‘Team 4', a practice known for its high-tech designs and thegroup behind Creek Vean House. In 1967 Team 4 ended and Foster and Wendy set up Foster  Associates (now Foster and Partners).Between 1968 and 1983 Foster collaborated on a number of  Ã‚  projects including the Samuel Beckett Theatre project with Richard Buckminster Fuller whohappened to be one of his idols. Foster called him a â€Å"lone voice,† whose work with geodesicsdemonstrated how building form could be both economical and ecological. Orientation and  building form became, for Foster, touchstones in his design of ecological architecture. – Michael J. Crosbie, ArchitectureWeek.Foster Asso ciates has produced many well known works such as theSainsbury Centre in Norwich, the Hongkong and Shanghai bank, the Millau Viaduct in France, theBritish Museum Great Court in London and the Swiss Re tower in London to name but a few. Over  History and Theory of Architecture the years Foster Associates has achieved more than 190 awards and won over 50 competitions for  its work, in 1990 Foster was Knighted and in 1999 he was honoured with a life peerage giving himthe title Lord Foster Of Thames Bank, in the same year he became the 21 st Pritzker ArchitecturePrize laureate.Creak Vean house was the first work of group Team 4, built in 1964, it was commissioned  by Marcus Brumwell as a home for himself and his wife who were the parents of Su Rogers. Although Foster has concentrated more on buildings for the workplace, houses which showsimilarities to Creek Vean are the Jaffe house and Murray Mews which were also designed by Team4, these buildings are orientated to make the most of their views and have large slanting glass walls,similar to the glass walk way and large glass walls in Creek Vean. The Willis Faber ; Dumas Headquarters in Ipswich was built from 1971-1975 as aworkplace for around 1300 employees.Foster has mostly designed buildings for the workplaceand is very good at designing space for employees to enjoy their surroundings. The three storey  building is surrounded by a glass facade, similar to that in some of his later buildings such as HearstTower in New York City, the Swiss Re Headquarters in London, the HSBC UK Headquarters inLondon and City Hall in London. The facade also has a curved appearance, with no hard edges or  corners, similar to the Swiss Re and City Hall buildings, the American Air Museum and the newWillis Headquarters in London.Inside the Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters escalators lead upthrough the central atrium, in Foster's Hongkong and Shanghai bank he uses a similar approach buton a larger scale with a ten storey at rium and the escalators leading up to the main banking hall. The  Ipswich building established a couple of themes that Foster returned to in project after project: howthe building meets the ground in an accommodating way; how light, views, and the interior  environment can be adjusted and modified; and how to introduce green space into an urbanenvironment such as an office building. ArchitectureWeek Creek Vean House is positioned overlooking the Fal estuary in Cornwall on a steepriverbank. The house is made up of two separate blocks at different angles to each other linkedtogether by a long glass-roofed corridor which was used as a gallery. One of the blocks is one storeyhigh and contains the bedrooms and studio and the other block is two storeys high and contains theliving room and dining room, the ground floor ooms are cut back into the hillside and the onestorey block's roof is covered in vegetation, this gives the impression the house is carved into thelandscape. All the mai n rooms have large sliding doors off the main corridor and are angled so thatthey have the best views possible out over the estuary, this results in the rooms being fan shapedwith very angular corners. The house is constructed of exposed concrete blocks and reinforcedconcrete slabs, the floors are slate. Outside the building, winding steps lead down the slope fromthe access road above the house.They step down through the building over the corridor that linksthe two blocks (the corridor has a solid roof at this point), emphasising the split in the two parts of  the building and continue down through the garden to a boat house on the shore below. The Willis Faber ; Dumas Headquarters is situated in Ipswich. unlike many office buildingsit is only three storeys high and is spread out to fit in with the shape of the surrounding streets, withthe curved glass facade showing reflections of the surrounding buildings. On entering the buildingthere is a central atrium with escalators leading right up to the rooftop restaurant.Overlooking theatrium are the different storeys with open plan office space, the layout of the office space and factthat it is so open plan gives the workplace a very communal feel. †¦ orientation is direct:you alwaysknow where you are, one can move freely, the sun penetrates everywhere and there are only a fewvisual barriers. – Norman Foster. The building was also built with a rooftop garden and aswimming pool for the employees to use in their lunch breaks but the swimming pool has since  been covered with a glass floor.Around the time Creek Vean was built (1964) James Sterling had just built the Leicester  University engineering building (1963). There are similarities between their work, both use a lot of  History and Theory of Architecture glass and non standard geometry for walls however where Foster's house tries to blend in with thesurrounding area the University building is very bold and brutal. Another house built around thesame period is Hanselmann House in Indiana, 1967 by Michael Graves. This house is verymodernist with lots of open spaces and like Creek Vean it uses steps as a link to the house.VannaVenturi House was built between 1962-1964 by Robert Venturi. Unlike Creek Vean which blends inwith its environment Venturi's house really tries to make a statement. Around the time the Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters was built (1971-1975),The Creek Vean House shows similarities to Frank Lloyd Wright's building's, particularlyFallingwater built from 1935-1937. Wright designed the house around the surroundings, similar toFoster and so it appears that the house is almost growing out of the rock beneath it. In both housessteps are used as a passageway from the house down to the water. History and Theory of Architecture

Vietnam Challenges in Development

â€Å"What are the major obstacles in your country’s development to achieve long-term and sustainable growth and in addressing such obstacles what public policies need to be put in place, particularly in relation to national technology and innovation capability? † Vietnam’s reform process named Doi Moi (Renovation) since 1986 witnessed success of market-oriented changes. Not only has Vietnam been one of the world’s fastest growing economies (averaging over 7 per cent p. a. GDP growth), it has made great strides towards eliminating poverty, achieved national food security and become a major exporter of agricultural commodities.However, the process of shifting from agricultural dominance to industrial dominance has also created number of negatives effects for the country that public policies should be put in place to address. Three main obstacles, which Vietnam has to face up with, are those issues of growth, society and environment: Firstly, the countryâ₠¬â„¢s economic growth primarily is factor-based and quantity-based while knowledge-based development accounts for minimal proportion. The growth made by input capitals (foreign investment, natural resources) makes the results do not deserve with investment.IMF experts make a comparison of Vietnam case with Thailand and Philippine in the past 2 decades, when two country experienced same position as Vietnam currently, 30-40% total revenue of the nation created 12% growth rate, while Vietnam’s investment up to 60% of total revenue but growth rate is only 6-7%/year. It’s the time to pay attention on economic effectiveness rather than just targets setting. Secondly, economic growth in short time has lead to series of social issues.Inequality and the gap between rich and poor, rural and urban, plains and mountainous areas has been widened not only in terms of income but also living standards and chances. The rapid growth of urban economy and industry has not been linked harm oniously with rural economy and society. While many new jobs continue to withdraw young labors from the rural, they also worsen the unbalance of rural family life, gender and age. More jobs are created but unsecured, life in industrial zone or city suburban with rental house, low-income and manual job can not secure a future.The rest of people stay with agriculture, however, the growth of and is being contracted, constraining the application of hi-technologies; farming syste agricultural production (so far mainly relying on in labor and natural resources – intensive investment) has no longer enjoyed favorable conditions. Agricultural land is scattered m is still based on habitant and qualitative; products are low competitiveness. Thirdly, environment is damaged seriously. Pollution is increasing, urban and industry waste is poured to the rural. Some natural resources are over exploited for exports purpose without planning.Fossil fuel is the main source for the economy, techno logy to create alternative energy is slowly applied. In addition, the happening of epidemic, climate changes is becoming complex. Long term policy to adapt with climate change is still in the beginning stage of formulation while the country have to struggle with day to day disasters. In order to addressing those obstacles, new strategic orientation should be identified; main approaches of public policy in the new period are as follows: Distribute equally the growth results.Remove all barriers and create favorable conditions for the development of resource markets in the rural (labor, land, capital and science and technology) so that the market mechanism and internal capacity of rural people can be mobilized to regulate effectively all available resources; mobilize abundant rural labor resource, urban savings, and international capital to upgrade rural infrastructure and develop rural services and crafts (including industry and non-agriculture activities in the rural); move the urban and industry to rural areas, export and take rural labors to the urban.Focus investment on education to improve the human resource capability through appropriate vocational training policy; develop health care system in the rural, especially in difficult and poor areas; stimulate economic sectors to provide services in the urban and favorable areas; gradually, narrow the gaps of service quality between the rural and the urban. Stimulate all economic sectors to participate in the development and application of science and technology to create higher quality products.The State should concentrate its investment in science and technology applied for public services in agriculture, extension, in difficult and poor areas Identify clearly necessary criteria and areas for economic-environment balance; ensure the sustainable social and environmental development; actively make harmoniously economic, social and environmental planningIn conclusion, entering new development phase, Vietnamâ€⠄¢s development course requires new policy solutions to change investment direction into knowledge-base, mobilize hidden resources, create motivation for a large number of people to achieve a long-term and sustainable growth in which national technology and innovation capability enhancement play an crucial role.

Free Essays on WalMart Stores Inc

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the world’s largest retailer, with $256.3 billion in sales in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2004, 1.6 million associates worldwide, and more than 3,600 facilities in the U.S. and 1,570 units elsewhere. It is estimated that more than 138 million customers per week visit Wal-Mart stores worldwide. Wal-Mart has four retail divisions – Wal-Mart Supercenters, Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets, and SAM’S CLUB warehouses. Each of these is guided by a passion for customer satisfaction and â€Å"Every Day Low Prices.† Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, opened his first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962. In recent years, Wal-Mart has been named â€Å"Retailer of the Century† by Discount Store News and has topped the FORTUNE 500 list. (www.walmartfacts.com) Sam Walton’s basic beliefs were simple: â€Å"Give people high value, low prices and a warm welcome.† Walton built a culture based on one principle: make the customer number one and four basic beliefs: excellence in the workplace, respect for the individual, customer service, and â€Å"everyday low pricing.† Wal-Mart built its own warehouses so it could buy in bulk and have room to store the merchandise, then built stores in areas around the distribution points which cut the company’s costs and gave it more control over operations. Wal-mart lead the way with the development of their â€Å"hub-and-spoke† distribution system as more and more stores were opened. This allowed Wal-Mart to re-stock its stores quickly and kept the amount of unproductive store space to an absolute minimum which in turn resulted in higher sales per square foot and rapid inventory turnover (www.walmartstores.com). As 2003 came to a close, Wal-mart faced some major challenges; some of them being, an unstable business environment, weak economic growth, and nervous consumers. All of which lead to minimal growth opportunities. European retailers wer... Free Essays on WalMart Stores Inc Free Essays on WalMart Stores Inc Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the world’s largest retailer, with $256.3 billion in sales in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2004, 1.6 million associates worldwide, and more than 3,600 facilities in the U.S. and 1,570 units elsewhere. It is estimated that more than 138 million customers per week visit Wal-Mart stores worldwide. Wal-Mart has four retail divisions – Wal-Mart Supercenters, Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets, and SAM’S CLUB warehouses. Each of these is guided by a passion for customer satisfaction and â€Å"Every Day Low Prices.† Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, opened his first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962. In recent years, Wal-Mart has been named â€Å"Retailer of the Century† by Discount Store News and has topped the FORTUNE 500 list. (www.walmartfacts.com) Sam Walton’s basic beliefs were simple: â€Å"Give people high value, low prices and a warm welcome.† Walton built a culture based on one principle: make the customer number one and four basic beliefs: excellence in the workplace, respect for the individual, customer service, and â€Å"everyday low pricing.† Wal-Mart built its own warehouses so it could buy in bulk and have room to store the merchandise, then built stores in areas around the distribution points which cut the company’s costs and gave it more control over operations. Wal-mart lead the way with the development of their â€Å"hub-and-spoke† distribution system as more and more stores were opened. This allowed Wal-Mart to re-stock its stores quickly and kept the amount of unproductive store space to an absolute minimum which in turn resulted in higher sales per square foot and rapid inventory turnover (www.walmartstores.com). As 2003 came to a close, Wal-mart faced some major challenges; some of them being, an unstable business environment, weak economic growth, and nervous consumers. All of which lead to minimal growth opportunities. European retailers wer...