Asbestos exposure from the World Trade Center disaster Research Paper

Asbestos exposure from the World Trade Center disaster - Research Paper Example f the World Trade Towers (WTC) following the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, which was one of the most catastrophic kind of political, economic, and the social disaster to have ever occurred in America. Working as a consultant at the Acme Industrial Consultants, the task involved was to conducting air samples to find out on the toxins found on the air after this attack. Since 2001, many people exposed to this debris and the dust from the events of the collapse of towers are still suffering from various health complications, ranging from the difficulty in breathing and extending into different forms of cancer. In response to these effects, our research team sampled asbestos products that are responsible for causing deadly toxins, including mercury and barium (Landrigan et al., 2004). The events of the 9-11 attack caused the building and debris to burn for nearly four months, leading to the release of carcinogens into the air that made it inevitable for the citizens who ended up getting infections with the deadly diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Meosthelioma, even though a rare disease, occurs through the exposure to asbestos (Herdt-Losavio et al., 2008). This prompted the Acme Industrial Hygiene Consultants into studying the air samples from the World Trade Centre that have been subject to expose to the burning of asbestos. In order to sample results of the study, we chose to use the World Trade Centre data, instead of using an AIHA Statistical Spreadsheet for assessing health risk of asbestos in the air samples obtained from the World Trade Centre. The sampling was subject to accomplish through modeling, characterization and communication. The test then enhanced EPA asbestos health risk assessment by the aid of non-linear and asbestos fiber type specific protocols. The study was to follow by evaluating on the epidemiological data as to be forming the basis of risk assessment model. The following are results from using the World Trade Centre

Proposition 39 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proposition 39 - Essay Example The organizations against this proposition are the California Manufacturers & Technology Association and Friends for Saving California Jobs. As a supporter of Proposition Number 39, the â€Å"Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses. Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Funding. Initiative Statute,† this proposition is good for the State of California because it will result to significant tax revenues that will fund a sustainable approach to development, a development that will provide additional employment and extra funds for education. Numerous firms, organizations, business people, and individuals are in support of Proposition 39 because they know that its contribution to the increase in tax revenues is fair and will benefit the state in general. At present, California requires additional funds to finance its increasing public costs. Lawrence reports that California’s tax revenues primarily go to the â€Å"Big Three,† specifically education, human rights, and cor rections (235). With a high number of school-age population, California needs more funds, without necessarily burdening ordinary taxpayers. This proposition taxes the rich, where the money will benefit the entire state, including the taxed large businesses. State law presently allows the majority of multistate businesses to choose one of two methods to determine the amount of their income associated with California and taxable by the state: â€Å"1) Three-Factor Method and 2) Single-Sales Method† (â€Å"Analysis by the Legislative Analyst† 68-69). Multistate businesses are normally allowed to select the method that is most beneficial to them for tax purposes. Proposition 39 decrees that multistate businesses would no longer choose the method for determining their state taxable income that is most beneficial for them (â€Å"Analysis† 69). Instead, many multistate businesses would have to establish their California taxable income using the single sales factor meth od. Businesses that operate only in California would not be affected (â€Å"Analysis† 69). According to â€Å"Analysis by the Legislative Analyst,† this policy measure would raise $1 billion of additional tax revenues from 2013 (70). Around fifty percent of the revenues would then fund clean and energy efficiency programs: â€Å"For a five-year period (2013–14 through 2017–18), about half of the additional revenues—$500 million to $550 million annually—would be transferred to the Clean Energy Job Creation Fund to support energy efficiency and alternative energy projects† (â€Å"Analysis† 71). With significant funds for clean and green energy, the state will experience a cleaner atmosphere and more efficient public facilities. Aside from funding clean and green projects, the tax revenues will go to education budget increases. As the analyst of the proposition said: â€Å"For 2018–19 and beyond, the guarantee likely would be higher by at least $500 million†¦The exact portion of the revenue raised that would go to schools in any particular year would depend upon various factors† (â€Å"Analysis† 71). Lawrence reminds Californians that the state needs to build more schools and hire more teachers, while improving the curriculum (235). It cannot do so without an injection of additional funds that will not hurt common taxpayers. Proposition 39 will tax the rich companies, but these taxes will not go to waste because they will fund the long-term educational needs of Californians. While education is important,

The chunnel project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The chunnel project - Essay Example The Chunnel Project case study has been structured in such a way that it is possible for one to carry out an evaluation of the project management methods as well as the various process that have been used in the project. This study actually makes an inclusive coverage of the various project management areas as catered for by the four project phases of inception, development, implementation and closeout (Anbari et al 12). So as to guarantee better management control- characterized by appropriate links to the performing organization’s ongoing operations, the institution (organization) or even the project managers can split the project into various phases. En masse, these phases are what are commonly referred to as the project life cycle (Anbari et al 15). Notably, it is the project lifecycle which is obliged with the definition of the phases connecting the commencement of a project to its completion. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that phases are ordinarily sequential and are at the same time defined by certain precise forms of technical information transfer. Alternatively, the phases may be so defined by technical component handoff. Despite the fact that majority of life cycles have shared phase names with like deliverables, only countable of the life cycles are identical. While some of them have four-if not five- phases, there are those having over nine phases (Anbari et al 19). As mentioned in an earlier paragraph, the Chunnel Project case study avails a discussion of the four project phases as will be discussed and evaluated in the preceding paragraphs. Inception phase The initial scope of the Chunnel, in the Inception phase, was constructing a fixed transportation link between the two countries; England and France. Through this transport link, it was expected that economic development will be spurred, European trade boosted as well as avail an alternative high-speed mode of transportation to the existing ones, including ferries, boats and planes. Th e Channel Tunnel Group/France Manche (which later re-branded to Eurotunnel) was the company that worn the 1986 project to create a 51.5 KM double-rail tunnel between England and France. This tunnel was to accommodate not only through-trains, but also special car-and-truck-carrying shuttle trains. The project had been cost at USD 5.5 billion (Anbari et al 3). Problems Viewed from a project management angle, both the high-level design and the corresponding rough-order-of-magnitude approximations may have been apposite. Nonetheless, there was no ample time provided for the completion of the detailed design studies that would have pinpointed the necessity of air conditioning within the tunnel thus bracketing in a USD 200 million increments not included in the very initial scope (Anbari et al 4).

Compensation and Benefits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Compensation and Benefits - Essay Example In this case, in order for an organization to appeal to such employees, and keep them after hiring them, it is essential for them to provide them with competitive compensation packages, including benefits (Ulrich, 2011). Nonetheless, provision of benefits cost money. For instance, health insurance in the United States is quite expensive. As such, it is true that benefits may result to increased costs, making a firm to incur higher costs and hurt its competitiveness. In this case, it is appropriate for firms to calibrate in a careful manner based on the number of benefits it wishes to offer its employees. An enterprise should be generous enough for it to attract qualified and competitive labor force. However, it should refrain from overpaying employees who are less productive and not worth additional money (Ulrich, 2011). In a firm, it is true that higher pay and benefits play a major role in attracting and keeping quality employees. Nonetheless, I do not belief that pay is the primary motivating factor for existing employees and job applicants. They look for those firms that are capable of providing them with benefits, such as health insurance, which are some of the most challenging areas for employees to

IIndividual Projec Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IIndividual Projec - Assignment Example Today Hip-Hop is a way of life among many youths, a new culture that is deeply woven in all aspects of our daily life. Faced with myriads of challenges that range from unemployment, inequality, marginalization, lack of access to quality healthcare and many others, urban youth have been heavily impacted by these effects of industrialization and globalization. Most youth now identify with the Hip-Hop culture; it informs our understanding everything in our surrounding. For most youths, Hip-Hop is a way of life and a method through they understand the world. This is reflected in their choices of media to consume, books to read music, movies and games purchased. A lot of empirical data is available to show how Hip-Hop culture influences youths when it comes to learning (Carl and Virgil, 2014). Music is recognised significantly among the youth and as such is a very essential element of their culture. Many of us youth enjoy listening to and expressing our feelings through music. Research has shown Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Pop and Punk as the most preferred genres of music among the youth. Many youth and students will therefore spend their time listening to either of these genres of music at least every day. The lack of understanding of Hip-Hop by parents and other figures of authoring them admonish the youth for identifying with it and this in turn has compelled forced youth to deeply immerse in the culture (Sealey and Greene, 2010). Another very important element of the youth culture is their intimacy with video gaming. This is particularly influenced by the availability of internet with which youths can easily download or even play video games online. There is also the rapid increasing in the uptake of mobile phones, with lots of youth having access to mobile phones it is very easy to access the internet and play online video games from anywhere any time. This aids in advancing their embrace when it comes to video gamingm. In conclusion

Corporate background Essay Example for Free

Corporate background Essay The Body Shop International plc is a well-known brand in beauty care or cosmetics industry since the company stick to their string commitment or philosophy of developing and producing the natural and ethical beauty care and cosmetics product. The Body Shop was established in 1976 in UK by Dame Anita Roddick although some analysts see that the copy of The Body Shop brands from local entrepreneur in California, USA (The Body Shop International plc, 2008a). Currently, after the 30-year journey as well-known cosmetic product, The Body Shop already expands their services and retail shops in more than 55 countries with over 2,100 stores. Currently, while keep developing products continuously, the Body Shop already has more than 1,200 kind of natural-ingredient products (The Body Shop International plc, 2008a; Pirkayastha and Fernando, 2008). One competitive advantage that the Body Shop has is the awards that the company receives for their commitment of developing cosmetic products without conducting test on animals. The company becomes the first company that awarded the Humane Cosmetics Standard for our Against Animal Testing policy. Furthermore, The Body Shop’s philosophy also underlying their action to conduct a Community Trade, their fair trade program, resulting in the company’s complete strategy to trade fairly. To date, The Body Shop already conducts community trade programs with 31 suppliers that spanned in 24 countries, which represent more than 15,000 people across the globe (The Body Shop International plc, 2008a; Pirkayastha and Fernando, 2008). Figure 1 the Body Shop Source: http://images. businessweek. com/ss/05/10/index_awards/image/bodyshop-2. jpg 1. Marketing Strategy of Body Shop 1. 1 Issues in Cosmetic Industry In developing marketing strategy, a company should analyze their competitive position in the respective market by analyzing the potential market of products and the moves and actions of competitors. One aspect in determining the competitive position is the capability of a company to deal with issues in respective industry in appropriate manner. In attracting the consumers, especially women, a cosmetic and beauty care-producing company usually develops many kinds of product since there are many skin types, each has to be treated in different manner and thus need particular mix of ingredients as well. Since the development may involve the testing, branding/campaign, and regulation compliance; therefore the three components become three issues in the cosmetic industry.   Internet marketing The use of internet as media for product campaign is rising significantly within the last decade. According to a few reports, internet is considered to increase efficiency and product sales for cosmetic companies since the media offer the ability to develop new channel alternative, complementing the existence of retail shops that located in several locations. Amazon. com, for instances, firstly grows from selling book, but turns out today to sell various kinds of cosmetics in their online stores. Interestingly, it is found that the growing internet users have award several cosmetic with raising number of online purchase. In compliance with the internet marketing, The Body Shop also offers special price for customers who bought via their online stores (http://www. thebodyshop-usa. com/bodyshop/). Figure 2 shows the home page of the Body Shop official online store. Figure 2 Online Store of the Body Shop Source: http://www. thebodyshop-usa. com/bodyshop/ †¢ Corporate Responsibility Issues (CSR) Another issue that influences the marketing of cosmetic products is about the propaganda in which many companies involve in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) that found to produce real influence on the cosmetic industry. In addition, such CSR initiative is also driven by government control over the distribution of cosmetic product to comply with specific country’s requirement. In the U. S. , FDA (Food and Drug Administration) become the regulator that monitor the safety standards of cosmetics products in the market (Health Reports Co. UK, 2005). †¢ Animal testing Animal testing also considered as vital issues in cosmetic industry since the rising concerns of public about the humanity has brought significant influence towards the use of animal testing in the development of cosmetic products. F or example, in European Union, where the Body Shop located, announces its decision to ban animal testing on cosmetics products, which immediately raise pros and contras. This regional policy follows the previous policy made in several European countries including the Austria, Netherlands, and Britain in which they have already banned animal testing which means that several cosmetic products are receiving tight supervision on their research and production facilities (The Humane Society, 2005) 1. 2 Branding. The branding factor also highlights The Body Shop strategy in strengthen their awareness by incorporating their philosophy of natural ingredient products. The company’s brand of becoming the cosmetics manufacturer that only use natural ingredients products is strong since it provides customers with an image that The Body Shop develops and sells safe cosmetics, which in line with customers’ concerns of having safety. This is inline with the customers’ preferences, especially women that wants a secure feeling when using cosmetics. The demands are translated into The Body Shop program to use the highest quality natural ingredients. In addition, the company sticks to five values; they are Protect the Planet, Support Community Trade, Against Animal Testing, Defend Human Rights, and Activate Self Esteem (The Body Shop International plc, 2008). Figure 3 The Body Shop Morinaga Products Source: http://www. shinygloss. tv/Moringa%203. jpg Reference: Health Reports Co. UK. (2005). Cosmetic Industry on Notice. (2005). Retrieved March 5, 2009 form http://www.health-reports. co. uk/content/view/52/2 Perner, Lars. n. d. â€Å"Consumer Behavior and Marketing†. Consumer Psychologist Newsletter. San Diego University. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from http://www. consumerpsychologist. com/#Strategy Pirkayastha, Debaprati and Fernando, Rajiv. (2008). Body Shop Brand: Repositioning to Target the ‘Masstige’ Segment and Impacts of its Acquisition by L’Oreal. Icfai Center for Management Research The Body Shop International plc. (2008a). About Us. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from http://www.thebodyshop. com/bodyshop/company/index. jsp;jsessionid=ERFaLulEQWzSEOutEFWERw**. bsbwilapp03-bsprd-app-102? cm_re=themeB-_-Footer-_-About_Us . (2008b). Support Community Trade. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from http://www. thebodyshop. com/bodyshop/values/support_community_trade. jsp The Humane Society. (2005). French Government Challenges EU Cosmetic Directive. Retrieved March 5, 2009 from http://www. hsus. org/animals_in_research/animals_in_research_news/french_government_challenges_eu_cosmetics_directive. html.

Industry Analysis of Furniture Market

Industry Analysis of Furniture Market Nidhi (ABM 11032), Abhishek Ranjan Besra (PGP 29368), Nikhil Madan (PGP 30323), Poem Kabra (PGP 30329), Anurag Kumar (PGP 30302), Nivaak Shah (PGP 30325), Ruchi Shah (PGP 30341) FURNITURE IMPORTS IN INDIA The furniture imports in India has maintained a significant growth in past years. The key factors leading to increase in imports in India are increasing housing and commercial construction, increase in income level and influence of global lifestyle on urban population of India which tempts them to move towards the imported furniture. Earlier the European furniture was the major contributor in furniture import in India but from past few years a major portion of furniture is imported from China alone. During July 28, 2014 to August 28, 2014, India imported wooden furniture worth USD 1,626,772 followed by Italy and United States which exported furniture wood worth USD 348,207 and USD 254,712 respectively. The import data for this one month can be shown in pie chart as below: Wooden Furniture- Major Supplier Countries by Value (in USD) during July’14- August’14 (Source:www.infodriveindia.com/furniture-wood-import-data.aspx) The furniture imports in India have increased upto 64% over the period of five years from 2001 to 2005. The increase in the furniture imports is shown in the graph below: Furniture Imports in India during 2001-2006 Source: http://www.ibef.org/download/Furniture_170708.pdf) LABOUR VS OUTPUT According to law of Diminishing Marginal Returns, the increase in one input beyond a certain limit keeping others fixed will lead to decrease in productivity. In furniture industry, the analysis of diminishing marginal returns was done by considering the labour involved in the manufacturing of table. A normal table in a dealer’s shop in Delhi, Godrej Dealers, costs Rs. 2000. The production of a table requires 2 labours. If 5 carpenters are allotted to produce one table, the productivity increases but if the labour input goes beyond 5, there is a fall in productivity of table furniture. The analysis can be shown in the graph below: (Source: Survey, Godrej Dealers) DEMAND ESTIMATION (Organized sector) To estimate the demand we have taken demand as a dependent variable and other factors like price of products, substitutes and income level as independent variable. Two hypothesis were taken; Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between independent and dependent variable and Alternative hypothesis: There is a relationship between independent and dependent variable. If one of the hypothesis is rejected other will be automatically accepted. For organized sector the demand function which is developed has Price of the wooden furniture (P), Income levels of consumers (I), Price of the metal/fibre furniture (P1) as independent variable and Expenditure of wood (Q) as dependent variable. Demand function Q= (P, I, P1). The primary data of price has been collected from Godrej dealers of the Godrej Company. Income levels were collected from CMIE reports. All the primary data are constrained to Delhi. To develop Goodness of fit, the function has been assumed to be liner and regression analysis has been done to estimate the demand. After regression analysis, following model is obtained: Q= 6773.461317- 0.3281P+ 0.02705 I + 11.7609 P1 R2= 0.699, Adjusted R2= 0.548 Coefficient of P- Price of the wooden furniture is –ve Coefficient of me-Income level of consumers is + ve Coefficient of P1- Price of substitutes (metal/fibre) is +ve The above results shows a bit more than a moderate relationship between dependent and independent variable. According to the value of R2, 69% of the demand variation is explained by the variation of the price of the products, income level and price of the substitutes. Others factors which are not taken into account into above model should be government policies regarding cutting and selling tress and woods, import of woods etc. The above coefficient of independent variable gives us the result which is related to microeconomic theory. It clearly states that the demand (Q) falls with rising prices of main product and rises with rising income levels and prices of substitutes. Fig no. †¦.: Organized sector Regression fit quantity Price of product keeping ceteris paribus Fig no. †¦.: Organized sector Regression fit quantity income keeping ceteris paribus Hypothesis testing: By using the value of obtained value of t-stat and P-values the above mentioned hypothesis will be tested. Table no. :†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Here, we have considered level of significance to be 5% i.e ÃŽ ±= 0.05 and degree of freedom to be n-k-1, where n: no. of observations = 10 and k: no. of independent variable= 3 Hence, we get t (ÃŽ ±, n-k-1) which is t (0.05, 6). From statistical table (t distribution) the calculated t- value is 1.943. Findings: Table no:†¦.. According to the data independent variables like P and I doesn’t show any significant impact on Quantity demanded (Q) apart from variable P1 which is significant. This kind of result is obtained mainly because of less number of data. FUTURE OUTLOOK RECOMMENDATIONS As the furniture industry in India is largely unorganized and fragmented, it provides immense opportunities to domestic and global players. The main reason for increase in demand for furniture is on account of increasing purchasing power of the consumers, change in the lifestyle, increasing urbanization and availability in tier II and III cities. For increasing the product availability, organized furniture manufacturers are also getting into tie-ups with E-commerce retailers. The furniture retail chains are also focusing on increasing their presence in tier II III cities. â€Å"India Furniture Market Forecast Opportunities, 2019†, estimates the country’s furniture market will grow at a CAGR of around 26% during 2014-19.Western region is likely to be the highest revenue contributor in the furniture segment, followed by southern region as there are a large number of industrial hubs and upcoming infrastructure developments in these regions. Over the next few years, the Indian furniture market is expected to witness increasing consolidation due to growing entry of international companies as a result of the government’s 100% FDI approval into the country’s furniture industry. As a result, the share of small and mid-sized furniture players largely forming the unorganized sector is expected to fall over the coming years. The present market size of online sales in India is at Rs. 200 crore at present and is expected to grow five times to Rs. 1,000 crore by 2016. Certain categories such as coffee tables, bookshelves and shelves in general could be the bestsellers in the near future. This comes with its own limitations as certain items required to be seen and touched, like sofas. It is also believed that it will emerge as the most profitable segment in the e-commerce market.