Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves Essay Example

Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves Essay Extraction of Caffeine from Tealeaves Perez, Albert Solomon K. *; Quiambao, Marie Angela C;. Pascua, Hanna Harriette R. ; Patricio, Maria Roxanne DC. ; 2-Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science University of Santo Tomas Espana St. , 1015, Manila Abstract Caffeine is soluble in both water and organic solvents, solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction were used in the experimentation process. Caffeine was extracted using hot water, however, due to its medium polarity; it was further separated from water soluble compounds using a polar non-protic solvent, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). Sublimation was then used for the purification of the targeted compound. Based from the data collected, 5. 758g of tea leaves contains 3. 96% caffeine. After the purification process, 0. 2279g of caffeine was obtained from 0. 4948g crude extract with 46. 06% yield. Melting point determination was used to characterize the caffeine yielded. However, the melting point range of the caffeine collected (190Â °C -215 Â °C) was lower than the melting point of the accepted value (238 Â °C) which may be due to experimental errors committed in the extraction and washing process. Introduction Tea has been consumed as a beverage for almost 2,000 years starting in China. It is the most widely consumed beverage after water [1]. Their active participation in trade resulted in its introduction to Europe. The active component in tea is caffeine (C8H10N4O2). Caffeine belongs to an extensive class of compounds known as the alkaloids. Alkaloids are a diverse group of compounds that are found primarily in plants and contain basic nitrogen atom(s). The basic nature of these compounds makes them exists mostly as salts. We will write a custom essay sample on Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Many alkaloids have profound effects on the nervous system and acts as a mild stimulant examples are other well-known alkaloids such as morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine. Aside from being a mild stimulant, caffeine is one of the most promising organic compounds in medicine, in a study by Miura, T. et al. , green tea extracts showed lowering in blood pressure of a mice with diabetes type 2 and thus a plausible treatment for diabetes[2]. However, caffeine may be associated with serious ventricular arrhythmias in susceptible people. Caffeine may increase beat-to-beat heart rate variability and also QT interval variability during rapid eye movement sleep[3]. Caffeine cannot be obtained directly; every pot of coffee or cup of tea involves solid/liquid extraction, the extraction of organic compounds from solid ground beans or leaves using hot water as the liquid. The lower molecular weight polar molecules such as caffeine dissolve in the hot water and are removed from the high molecular weight water-insoluble cellulose, protein, and lipid materials. Over 200compounds, some in only trace quantities are extracted from the solid into a cup of coffee or tea. Figure 1 shows the chemical structure of caffeine. [pic] Figure1. Caffeine While solid-liquid extraction is the most common technique used to brew beverages and isolate natural products, liquid/liquid extraction is a very common method used in the organic laboratory. Organic reactions often yield a number of by-products, some inorganic, some organic. Also, since they do not go to 100% completion, some starting material is also often present at the end of an organic reaction. Liquid-liquid extraction is often used as the initial step in the work-up of a reaction, before final purification of the product by recrystallization, distillation or sublimation. Varying extracts from various plants have been used as teas, potions, medicines and poisons. However, these extracts can contain a mixture of many different chemicals, often only one or few are responsible for the activity of the extract. The objective of this experiment is to isolate, purify and characterize caffeine from tea leaves. Moreover, to calculate the percent yield of caffeine. Results and Discussion Extraction of caffeine from tea leaves through solid-liquid extraction using water bath would cause the tea leaves to swell and release caffeine and other compounds such as tannins. To further separate caffeine from other soluble compounds, an organic solvent, Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) was used. Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) selectively extract caffeine from the tea extract by separating it from the other organic compounds and leaving them suspended in water. Table1. Relative Weights of Products Yield of Products | |Brand of tea leaves |Nature’s Pride | | | | |Extraction | |Weight of beaker |28. 6880g | |Weight of beaker |34. 4460g | |+ tea leaves | | |Weight of tea leaves |5. 58g | |Weight of evaporating dish |115. 7196g | |Weight of evaporating dish |116. 2144g | |+ crude caffeine | | |Weight of crude caffeine |0. 4948g | | | | |Purification | |Weight of empty vial |32. 2127g | |Weight of empty vial |32. 406g | |+ caffeine crystal | | |Weight of caffeine c rystal |0. 2279 | Extraction uses the solubility differences of these molecules to selectively draw the product into the organic layer. Liquid-liquid extractions using 20mL dichloromethane was done three times to ensure the highest percentage of caffeine separation. All portions of dichloromethane was mixed and was washed with 20mL 6M NaOH in the separatory funnel, to remove acidic content from the solution that may have remained after the extraction with dichloromethane. The ‘washed’ dichloromethane solution was filtered through a filter paper containing anhydrous Na2SO4 to further dehydrate the solution, hydrating the Na2SO4 into its hydrated form Na2SO4Â ·H2O. Table 1 shows the different weights of the sample obtained through extraction and purification before its characterization. Crude caffeine, about 0. 4948g was obtained through recrystallization, and was purified. Purification was facilitated by sublimation with an air bath to gather the pure crystalline caffeine. The crystalline caffeine was found to be 0. 276g in weight. The percent recovery and percent caffeine can now be computed through: % recovery = [pic] % caffeine = [pic] % recovery = [pic]% caffeine = [pic] % recovery =46. 06%% caffeine = 3. 96% To characterize the sample, determination of the melting point was used. Table 2 summarizes the results of melting point determination of the sample and standard caffeine subjected to an oil bath consisting of cooking oil at 150 degrees celsius. Table2. Melting Point Determination |Melting Points (? C) | |Sample caffeine |Standard caffeine | | | | |T1 | |190 degrees |225 degrees | | | | |T2 | |215 degrees |228 degrees | | | | |190-215 degrees |225-228 degrees | The accepted value for the melting point of caffeine is 238? C [4]. The experimentally determined temperature for the sample caffeine was very low in comparison to the standard and the accepted value. The standard caffeine had close values and a smaller melting point range. Errors could lie in between the melting process, as the standard underwent some thermal decomposition evident in the slight change in the color of the sample while melting. The temperature obtained explicitly shows the presence of impurities on the sample caffeine, as the presence of non-volatile solutes owers the temperature and increases the melting point range of a sample. Imprecise reading and observations could have been one of the reasons for the slightly lower melting point temperature readings for the standard caffeine. Experimental For the extraction of caffeine, commercialized tea bags (3) were used as a source of tea leaves. Tea leaves were removed from the bags and were weighed. After weighing the tealeaves, solid-liquid extraction was done using 100-mL water and was allowed to boil for 5 minutes. The sides of the flask were then cooled in a running tap water for 2 minutes. An ice cube was mixed in the tea extract to facilitate cooling to room temperature. The tea extract was transferred in a separatory funnel containing 20-mL of dichloromethane to facilitate liquid-liquid extraction of caffeine. The CH2Cl2 was found to be in the lower layer and was drained into a clean flask. The remaining solution in the separatory funnel was again treated with 20-mL CH2Cl2 twice to further extract the remaining caffeine. All CH2Cl2 fractions were combined. All of the CH2Cl2 was returned to the separatory funnel and that was washed with 20-mL 6M NaOH solution. After washing, The CH2Cl2 layer was drained into a flask through a funnel with a fluted filter paper containing half spatula of anhydrous sodium sulphate to remove the remaining water content. The CH2Cl2 was subjected in a water bath to further concentrate the extract. The crude caffeine was weighed and the numerical value was recorded. For the purification process, the crude caffeine was transferred into a filter tube with a fitted inner test tube which served as the ‘cold finger’ and was placed in a hot air bath. The crude caffeine was allowed to sublime to gather crystalline caffeine at the bottom of cold finger tube. The cold finger was constantly refilled with ice water to facilitate sublimation. The crystalline caffeine was scraped off the cold finger tube and was placed into a vial. For the characterization of crystalline caffeine, the caffeine crystals were grinded into a very fine powder. A micro capillary tube was sealed at one end which acted as a micro test tube. The open end of the micro test tube was dipped into the vial containing pulverized caffeine crystal and was dropped inside a long glass tube until the sample reached a height of 0. 5-1cm. The same procedure was done on the standard caffeine sample. For the melting point determination, the two samples were secured in both sides of a thermometer. The thermometer was dipped into a beaker containing cooking oil heated at 150 degrees (oil bath). The temperature range between the first appearance of liquid within the sample until the disappearance of the last traces of solid was recorded. Conclusion The extraction of caffeine is a critical experiment, as it uses different chemistry principles such as solubility rules and a substance’s physical properties. The percent yield of 3. 96% is a reasonable finding since green teas are found to contain only 3-5% of its dry weight. Impurities which caused the melting point lowering of the sample could have resulted from experimental errors and could have occurred during the extraction and washing processes. In addition to experimental errors, the presence of soluble tannins in tea leaves complicates the isolation of caffeine, this could have been fixed in the solid-liquid extraction state through the addition of CaCO3 to separate tannins and keep them suspended in the water. References [1]Alan M Iris M (2004). The Empire of Tea. The overlook press. ISBN 1 – 58567 – 493- 1, p. 32. [2] Miura, T. , Koike, T. , Ishida, T. (2005). Antidiabetic activity of green tea (Theasinensis L. ) in genetically type 2 diabetic mice. Journal of Health Science, 51(6), 708-710. [3]Yeragani, V. K. , et al. (2009). Caffeine and Cardiovascular Health:What Do We Know? Caffeine and Health Research. New York, NY: Nova Science. [4]Lide, D. , ed. (2007) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics,Internet Version 2007, (87th Edition), , Taylor and Francis, BocaRaton, FL: CRC press LLC. [5]Spiller, G. (1998). Caffeine. Boca Raton. FL: CRC press LLC.

Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria Project

Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria Project Free Online Research Papers To survive in this highly competitive business market, companies have to be alert, constantly on watch and come up with new business plans. Development of a project implementation plan is crucial to the success of any business venture and Friar Tucker International (FTI) is no exception. Companies not only have to be selective in the projects they acquire but they have to ensure the projects are in line with the strategic plans of the company. Since no strategy is perfect and without risk, companies need to be aware of risks and constantly on watch. The ability to manage risks allows companies to remain competitive, retain and acquire new customers. Outlining the requirements prior to starting a project can eliminate confusion. Ensuring that time, resources, and issues are all taken into account, planned for, and addressed is a significant part of making sure that the project will meet the measurement of success. Friar Tucker International (FTI) is a growing company in the hospitality business whose core business revolves around fine cuisine and entertainment. Over the years Friar Tucker has entered into agreements to manage several fine food restaurants, sports bars, hotel chains and other family and corporate entertainment establishments. As the business has increased the number of projects that have come to the doors of Friar Tucker has increased significantly. Therefore, the company needed to have a strategy in order to decide which projects the company should accept and which one’s the company should let go. In order to achieve that the Chief Executive Officer of Friar Tucker, Ricardo Bellini formed a Project Selection Committee consisting of several upper management members and a consultant. These members were assigned to research all the potential projects and align them with overall strategy and experiences of Friar Tucker. This paper covers Friar Tucker’s current organizational strategy, the unique implementation plan developed for completing the Galleria project, the implementation planning process at FTI, and conclusion. Friar Tucker’s Strategy FTI is hospitality services chain with1200 employees, who live the vision of being among the top 10 providers in their industry by offering innovative marketing and superior service levels (Anonymous, 2008). FTI also has a secondary vision to attract more visitors and customers through their food and entertainment establishments and to ensure an enjoyable family experience. FTI wants to establish their presence in the entertainment hospitality segment, consolidate their presence in the cuisine business by expanding into specialty cuisine establishments, and to expand into the corporate entertainment segment. The Galleria project fits into these key focus areas while strengthening the corporate primary and secondary visions. Although not ideal, Friar Tucker will have to outsource most of the operations to a construction vendor on its Galleria project since FTI does not currently possess the experience needed to handle such projects. Further, this new project will enhance the brand image of FTI. The Galleria project will enable FTI to drive growth and thus coincide with its vision of becoming a top 10 hospitality services provider. What makes this project even more lucrative and attractive at this time is that it will produce multiple revenue streams because of the diverse scope of the project. No strategy is perfect and without risk. However, with Friar Tucker being in the hospitality industry without any major competitors, the risk of building Galleria with Atoll Solutions is minor. In order to minimize risk, Atoll Solutions has created an implementation plan and presented the plan to Fr iar Tucker. The Galleria project strategically aligns itself with the core values, visions and focus areas that FTI has developed. The Galleria is a proposed entertainment center that houses a multiple screen theater, indoor gaming, restaurant, two bistro cafà ©s and a shopping mall that offers several thousand square feet of retail space. This enterprise is expected to attract a variety of customers considering it is designed to be a complete entertainment center. Since the Galleria is a new project, it is expected to build new core competencies that will allow FTI to achieve their vision of becoming one of the top ten hospitality providers in the industry. The Galleria will also establish a presence into the corporate entertainment segment and strengthen their presence in the entertainment segment (Anonymous, 2008). Friar Tucker also hopes to strengthen their brand image through the projects they implement. The Galleria project has the potential to impact the vision and objectives of Friar Tucker International. Each person associated with the implementation of this project must successfully complete their tasks on time to avoid delays or failure of the project. The project team also needs to identify any shortfalls, risk factors and consequences associated with the Galleria project. Based on the selection process, Friar Tucker International made a decision to invest in the Galleria project to gain entry into the entertainment and hospitality market where it considered it to be the next strategic stronghold for the company. The Galleria project demonstrated a more favorable outcome. Unique Implementation Plan for Completing the Galleria Project The thoughts and ideas for the Galleria Project are humongous, and if accomplished successfully will put Friar Tucker International at the forefront of the hospitality service industry (Anonymous, 2008). There are many deliverables planned for Project Galleria, as well as timelines and those ultimately responsible for the deliverable. The implementation plan for the Galleria project will begin with selection of the specific design and construction process for the facility. Together with Friar Tucker’s Project Selection Committee, Atoll Solutions’ design team will create a concept that suits the diverse needs of a hospitality services provider while attempting to appeal to a broad customer base. The project team, at this point, becomes accountable for the successful completion of the Galleria project. The first order of business for the project team is to develop an estimate for the project time and cost. The project team must understand the importance of the project ti me and cost estimate. â€Å"Cost, time, and budget estimates are the lifeline for control; they serve as the standard for comparison of actual and plan throughout the life of the project† (Gray Larson, 2006). Atoll Solutions has presented an impeccable implementation plan. The plan includes an entertainment hub, indoor gaming facilities, a restaurant, cafes and a shopping mall called the Galleria to be completed within one year of the projects start date. The actual building will be created within one year as well as the amenities. Atoll Solutions will present Friar Tucker with several different designs for Galleria. The Galleria Project is a new opportunity for Friar Tucker International to expand in new area, strengthen their presence in the market and attract new kind of customers. The rationale should extend beyond meeting any requirements; rather, the motivation should come from an intimate awareness of the near- and long-term outcomes derived by the project. The uniqueness of this plan will require an implementation of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) which will define all the elements of the project in a hierarchical framework and establishes their relationships to the project en d item (Gray Larson, 2006, P. 106). This will also define the communication channels and assist in understanding and coordinating many parts of the project (Gray Larson, 2006, P. 107). On the other hand as a company, Friar Tucker International needs to take into consideration the types of project constrains such as technical, physical and resources constrain that will affect the project (Gray Larson, 2006, P.242). This will simultaneously run side by side with the implementation of the WBS, and paint a perfect picture of how the project will run and be monitored. After the design has been finalized, Alan Tanaka, FTI Business Development Manager, and the Atoll Solutions Project Supervisor will work together to construct a project network and a time-phased budget. The project network and a time-phased budget are needed to control schedule and costs as the project is being implemented (Gray Lawson, 2006). Together they must take into account necessary actions, tasks, financial issues and success factors when developing the implementation plan. The planning horizon and project duration play a major factor estimate due to the uncertainty of future events. â€Å"The people factor can also introduce errors in estimating times and cost. For example, accuracy of estimates depends on the skills of the people making the estimates† (GrayLarson, 2006). Gray and Larson (2005) states that â€Å"Project estimating is a complex process†. The quality of time and cost estimates can be improved when these variables are considered in making the estimates and that managers recognize time, cost, and resource estimates must be accurate if project planning, scheduling, and controlling are to be effective.† FTI’s project team must decide which estimating method will best provide an accurate time and cost forecast for the Galleria project. Breaking down the budget into time-phases and further breaking down the time-phased budget into specific costs, allow FTI’s project manager to effectively control the costs associated with the project. Managing the costs of the project and delivering the project on time are two of the CEO’s highest measurable for project success. The project team must have an accurate project budget developed before moving onto resource scheduling. These â€Å"pre-implementation† processes are a necessity before beginning the actual work on the project. These processes will allow the Galleria project team to map a guide that will lead them into the implementation process and to the eventual conclusion of a successful project. Implementation Planning Process The critical success values include keeping the investment under the allotted budget, breaking even at the earliest, multiple revenue streams, develops new competencies, strengthens the corporate brand image and attracting new customers. These values have been determined to instrumental in the success of a project. Project selection is just part of the process that FTI has developed to strengthen their project management system. Vendor selection has also become a structured process to ensure the right vendor is chosen for the project. Ricardo has changed the seemingly random nature that projects had previously been selected by establishing a Project Selection Committee (PSC), (Anonymous, 2008). Their purpose is to identify the type of projects the company should consider. Additionally, they will play a pivotal role in the implementation plan of the Galleria project. Timely completion is important because the sooner the project is finished, the sooner it can begin generating revenue. Subcontracting will form a significant portion of the cost for the total project so the Project Selection Committee has weighed several factors that have led them to choose Atoll Solutions as its contractor. FTI has not worked with Atoll Solutions on projects in the past but they do have a good reputation, their costs are reasonable, and they are known for quick turnaround times all which should serve to mitigate Friar Tucker’s risk in the project and has led to their selection. The Friar Tucker International-Atoll Solutions partnership should prove to if adheres to the implementation plan that has been established through budget and time controls and risk mitigation. The CEO developed a vendor selection matrix that provides the project selection committee with a valuable resource to select the vendor that will provide the best service to the project. The values include meeting the proposed time line, coming in at or under cost, experience, financial stability, process maturity, quality of resources and their track record with FTI. The higher the score that the vendor receives, the more likely the vendor is to provide services that are in alignment with the scope and values of the project. Implementation planning ensures that the detailed planning, resources, and performance expectations are aligned to support the achievement of the company. The building of Galleria involves more than just drafts and designs. A planning process must exist and all involved in the process must understand their role. Each responsible party must know when and what action to take when necessary, which is why Atoll Solutions picked a unique implementation team. The ch osen team is dedicated only to work with Friar Tucker and ensuring quality and customer satisfaction. If Friar Tucker is not pleased with one activity, the team is responsible for correcting the activity and making sure Friar Tucker is pleased with the results. Atoll Solutions has agreed not to make any major decisions without speaking to Friar Tucker. Even though Friar Tucker has a contingency fund in place, the ideal project would not touch the contingency fund. Atoll Solutions do not want to make any waves. Atoll has issued a sample implementation plan to Friar Tucker when the company asked for bids. The implementation plan identified those responsible for doing the assigned activity, estimated costs, and issues relating to permits. Atoll used a unique strategy by researching companies Friar Tucker have used in the past. The company was looking for any risks or issues Friar Tucker experienced with other contractors. After gathering the list, Atoll decided to present Friar Tucker with a solution. Conclusion FTI is poised to enhance its position in the hospitality services industry with its Galleria project which has a proposed commitment completion date of 12 months at a cost of $1.85 million. With a mission â€Å"to attract more visitors and customers through food and entertainment industries, and provide a great family experience† (Anonymous, 2008) the project also promises to boost Friar Tucker into the top 10 hospitality services providers within just a few short years. Moreover, this project is aligned with the organization’s overall strategy because it maps well with FTI’s focus on the entertainment hospitality segment and makes the logical choice of projects to pursue at this time. The dynamic hospitality services environment creates many unique challenges for many companies just as it does for Friar Tucker. There are a number of factors that can vary widely including managed work environments, employee knowledge and skills, customer expectations, technology, business standards, and competition. The key factors to implementing a successful project plan is to plan early, re-evaluate often, and to keep the lines of communication open among company leadership, project vendors and suppliers, and project workers. A detailed implementation plan will emphasize the need for control, involvement of people, research, constant reporting, occasion auditing, and will be supported throughout by management until it is implemented satisfactorily. Friar Tucker has been successful implementing project in the past. The CEO has decided that in order to continue the growth of FTI, the projects Friar Tucker decides to pursue must completely align with the strategic objectives of the company. This led to the creation of a project selection committee and the development of the project and vendor selection matrices. In conclusion, Friar Tucker International will implement and construct the Galleria Project successfully using the tools available to them. This will make them strategizing for success and planning a series of tactical moves to direct the company to their ultimate goal. The attention given to a project network, implementing the WBS and the components of a risk management process, will increasingly be fundamental and help Friar Tucker International to manage the risk and control the project which will result in a successful implementation and greater outcomes. Friar Trucker needs to concentrate on delivery of their business strategy, â€Å"How do you close the gap between business strategy and results? It’s about delivery, and the assurance that you can deliver† (Project Management Institute, 2004 p. 391). The ability of any organization to survive and evolve rests in its ability to adapt, change and deliver what the customer wants or needs ‘Now’. â€Å"In the modern evolving organization, project managers will be focused on business aspects, and their role will expand from getting the job done to achieving the business results and winning in the market place† (Gray Larson, 2006, p. 22). A key activity is ensuring that the portfolio strategy is always aligned with corporate and business strategy, â€Å"Corporate Strategy is created as means of considering and articulating how an organization’s corporate goals and objectives will be pursued and achieved† (Morris Jamieson, 2004, p. 1). References Anonymous. (2008). Selecting and Initiating Projects Simulation. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.secure/resource/resource.asp. Gray, C., Larson, E. (2006). Project Management: The Managerial Process. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from University of Phoenix, eBook Collection Morris, P., Jamieson, A. (2004). Translating Corporate Strategy Into Project Strategy. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Managment Institute, Inc. Project Management Institute (2004). A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (3rd ed.). Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Management Institute, Inc. Table 1 Optimal Solution Implementation Plan Action Item Deliverable Timeline Who is Responsible Develop specific design and construction process 15 days PSC Committee Select major project oversight manager/contractor administrator 15 days Ricardo Bellini, CEO Project network/time-phased budget 30 days Tanaka/AS Project Supervisor Review and approval of project deliverables and costs 40 days PSC Committee Implement project management plan 60 days AS Contractor Team assigned to Galleria Project Monthly progress reports to Project Selection Committee First week of every month AS Project Supervisor Project turnover/acceptance 1 year Ricardo Bellini, Dennis McGee, Alan Tanaka Research Papers on Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria ProjectThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductOpen Architechture a white paperIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalPETSTEL analysis of IndiaResearch Process Part OneRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PROBLEM BY MOUSTAFA BAYOUMI Essay

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PROBLEM BY MOUSTAFA BAYOUMI - Essay Example 9/11 is an incident the changed not only the course of history but uncountable lives. It gave the world a reason and a new direction to be vigilant. But most of all, 9/11 also became a crusade, a holy war, a war to purge the world of the evil that changed the way Americans looked at things. Everything has been tinged in the shade of suspicion since them. The world has been torn asunder in two, Us or Them which can be taken as a euphemism for the World or the USA. The US war on terror that started out as the war against those who caused the country the mighty suffering of 9/11 has been spilled from the battlefields and war zones into the houses of ordinary people. It has been seeped into the lives of ordinary people, people who had nothing to do with the atrocities committed on the fateful day of 9/11. aside from taking the war on terror to the arid lands of Tora Bora and or the fertile banks of Tigris and Euphrates, United States have initiated a war on its on ground and in the heart of one of the greatest cities in the world; Brooklyn, New York. Moustafa Bayoumi's How Does It Feel To Be A Problem, is an endeavor to delve deep into a war United State has waged against some of its own citizens and how the mounting paranoia at Pentagon has shattered the lives of some of the innocent bystanders that got caught in the crossfire. Bayoumi has utilized copious amounts of ethnographic data using the lives of some of the collateral damage the war on terror has caused. Using the first hand account of the lives of seven young Arab-Americans, Bayoumi explores the dark crevices of this new war, whose victims are indicted and trialed only because of their ethnicity and religion, hence coining the new term Islamophobia. Using a very simple and heartwarming dialect, Bayoumi tells us of the struggles these seven innocent people whose crime was to be from the same creed and ethnicity that was at war with the United States. Their lives are the testament of this new breed of hate crimes and racial segregation that has swept not only all across America but also has taken the whole world into its ugly clutches. After painstakingly interviewing and observation, Bayoumi draws a very intimate narrative of the lives of seven young Arab-Americans who may have Arab blood in their veins but are American by all aspects and narrates of how their worlds turned upside down after 9/11 when their ethnicity became the reason for them being ostracized and profiled not only by the populace but the state itself. How Does It Feel To Be A Problem, tells of the paranoia that gripped United States after 9/11 and the how it gave birth to a new breed of racial profiling and hate crimes, where everything that has anything to do with the East has been eyed with fear and suspicion. How Does It Feel To Be A Problem, introduce us to Rasha, Sami, Lina, Akram, Yasmin, Omar, and Rami, all young, all American-Arabs who either spent their entire lives in United States or moved here for the prospect of a better future. All of them belongs to Brooklyn, NYC, home to the largest number of Arab Americans in the United States and also termed as "Mecca of Arab America" (Brooklyn

Elasticity And The Law Of Supply And Demand Essay

Elasticity And The Law Of Supply And Demand - Essay Example The USDA established prices control whenever prices rise to unreasonable levels due to a smaller supply of goods. The rules of supply and demand apply to both eggs and beef products. The United States is one of the biggest exporters of meat in the world. The elasticity of beef is of affected by the income of the person because beef can be eliminated during dinner for other food products or a pizza night with the family. The vegetarian population would be an anomaly in a statistical study of for testing how much meet a person consumes on a daily basis due to their personal belief that beef consumption is not good for the body. Most Americans love to go out and eat a good steakhouse. If the favorite restaurant of a person gives them a 10% coupon for their next purchase the chances of that person coming back are higher than normal. If the price of Coca-Cola double it would create panic in the consumer markets. Customer would begin to boycott Coca-Cola because their soft drink has become a necessity to provide fluids to entire global population of 6.96 billion people. The sales of the company would go down a lot and the company would not be able to generate breakeven sales due to its high overhead and fixed which are common among industry leaders in any market. A 30% decrease would affect the sales of Coca-Cola but not at the same level because the relationship is not linear. The Coca-Coca sales might go down a few percentage points, but by lowering prices the company can minimize the damage. The primary reason Coca-Cola sales are not going to diminish by a factor equal to the loss in income is because sodas are a basic food necessity product. The brand value of Coca-Cola is very strong and is going to continue to become a social icon as the company is spending over $2 billion yearly to advertise its products an d improve its corporate image and brand value. DQ3 Five determinants of demand are: income, consumer preferences, number of buyers, substitutes & complement products, and future expectations. The income variable is very important. Companies should expand to countries that have a high gross domestic product per capita such as develop economies whose population is above $9000 per capita. The customer preferences are another factor. For instance sell meat in India is a hard proposition to accept for the local population since the cow is considered a sacred animal. A large number of buyers is good in a concentrated areas because the company can be more effective at implementing mass media company’s at a lower cost due to the its great locations. Substitute products are product that can interchange the consumption of another good. For example soft drinks can be substituted by water which is worth a fraction per 10 ounces that a Coca Cola can. 4. I agree with your definition of ela sticity of demand. When I go shopping for clothing I am persuaded to purchase clothes that are on special at retail stores. The same behavior affects most of my buying decisions. You mentioned that certain products or services have a demand that is more sensitive which is true. The income of the population also affects a lot whether the customers suffer from consumerism. The majority of U.S. citizens suffer from this syndrome due to high gross domest

The Social Class Structures Sociology Essay

The Social Class Structures Sociology Essay The Sumerian civilization was one of the earliest in Mesopotamia. The Sumerians existed around 3500-1750 B.C. The Sumerian civilization was not discovered until the 19th century. The following manuscript will cover three key topics the Sumerian Creation Story, the compared social class system to the contemporary United States, and how the hierarchical structure set forth by the Sumerian Empire compares with our current criminal justice system. Lastly, the educational material will show the similarities and differences between the ancient Sumerian Empire and todays contemporary United States. This research will help individuals understand early civilizations and how they compare to todays society. The information discovered will also show how early civilizations built their societies. The Social Class Structures and Criminal Justice Systems of Sumerian and the United States Sumer was a collection of city states around the Lower Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now southern Iraq. It was a collection of farming villages. Each of these cities had individual rulers; although the leader of the dominant city could have been considered the king of the region. The Sumerians formed the earliest written language. Their religious beliefs also are found to have some similarities with the Bible, especially the book of Genesis. This essay will compare and contrast the Sumerian Empire and the United States. To compare and contrast the two the Sumerian Creation, social classes, and criminal justice system will be assessed. First, I will evaluate the story of the Sumerian Creation. Next, I will compare the different social classes between the Sumerian civilization and the United States. Lastly, I will discuss the hierarchical structure set forth by the Sumerian Empire compared to our current criminal justice system. Literature Review This literature review focuses on literature regarding Sumer and the Sumerian Creation Story, particularly focusing on the Sumerian social class hierarchy. Additionally, this literature review examines the contemporary social structure in the United States and the current criminal justice system. Discussion Sumerian Creation Story The Sumerians Creation Story begins with the earth and the heavens being created in the sea. The Sumerian myths have been pieced together due to the age of the remains found. After the earth and the heavens were created the gods created cities and each city had its own god. The male god, An, and the female god, Ki, gave birth to Enlil, the chief god of the pantheon. Enlil impregnated Ninlil, the goddess of wind, which created the moon. When the moon was created then it was time to create humans. The Sumerian gods created some humans out of silt or clay. From the evaluation of the Sumerians Creation Story similarities to the Bible can be found. As in Genesis, the Sumerians world is formed the heavens and earth are separated from one another by a solid dome. The second chapter of Genesis introduces the paradise Eden, a place which is similar to the Sumerian Dilmun. (Gen. 2:9-10) In the second version of the creation of man The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. The Sumerian gods used a similar method in creating man (Kramer Maier p. 33). Sumerian and United States: Social Class The Sumerian social class is split into three social groups. These social groups consist of upper class, in-between class or middle class, and lowest class. At the top of the Sumerian upper class is the king and priests. The upper class also included landowners, government officials, and merchants. Something that stood out in the Sumerian social class was that women had more rights in early Sumer than in later Mesopotamia. Upper class women were priestesses. The Sumerian women were landowners, merchants, artisans, and most raised children. Slaves made up the lowest class along with prisoners, orphans, poor children, and debtors. The Sumerians used slaves as cheap labor. Sumerians allowed slaves the right to do business, borrow money, and buy freedom. In the United States the economists and sociologists have not devised exact guidelines for the social classes. Instead there are two set classes including the three-class model that consist of the rich, middle class, and the poor. In the three-class model the rich of course have the wealth, middle class consist of those who work white collar jobs, and the poor are the blue collar workers or those who are unemployed. The other model that is most commonly used is the five-class model including upper class, upper-middle, middle-middle, lower-middle, and lower class. In the five-class model it is broke down a little more. The upper class term is applied to the blue bloods who are the families who are multi-generational wealth. These families also have leadership in high society. The rest of the upper class is followed by those who have made significant investment off of capital and stock options as well as the corporate elite who have high salary jobs such as being a Chief Executive Offi cers (CEO). The upper middle class consists of highly-educated salaried professional: physicians, lawyers, scientists, and professors. The upper middle class tends to have a great influence over society. The middle class and the lower middle class seem to overlap. The middle class consists of semi-professionals, craftsmen, office staff, and sales employees. These people often have college degrees. The lower middle class often includes the same professions except for those in the lower middle class do not have a college degree. Those without the college degree are often on the entry level in those careers. The low class is the blue collar workers. These blue collar workers are considered the working poor. Most of the population in the United States is considered the working class or the working poor. Sumerian and United States: Criminal Justice System The Sumerian legal system, one of the earliest known criminal justice systems, focused on a citizens compliance with the social norms and religious beliefs of the day. Regardless of social class, strict compliance with orders and instructions was rewarded, while failure to comply was punished (Sterba, 1976, p. 25). Such punishment was commensurate with the injury (Sterba, 1976). The Sumerians established a system of laws to deal with personal injuries, slave issues, sexual offenses, marital problems, and agricultural disputes ´ (Milosavljevic, 2007, p. 7). Regulating the behavior of its citizens helped keep the social order. From its earliest days, the criminal justice system in America has served to protect the interests of the rich, property-owning classes. Crime is often associated with the working poor and the underclass (Jargowsky Park, 2009). Because of this, crime is often a problem in urban areas with low income levels. Elevated crime levels have been attributed to neighborhood social disorganization stemming from urban structural changes, residential instability, and racial/ethnic transitions (Jargowsky Park, 2009, p.30). The contemporary criminal justice system has been viewed as a means of regulating class interests by insuring that enforcement efforts are directed toward the regulation of the poor. (Weiner, 1975, p. 436). Conclusion There are several differences between Sumer and contemporary American society. For instance, the position of women is markedly different in the two social structures. Additionally, slavery no longer exists in the United States, eliminating this lowest of social classes. The communal lifestyle of Sumer stands in sharp contrast to the capitalist society of the United States. Finally, the criminal justice systems of these two societies have different goals and objectives. Among the differences between Sumer and the United States is the position of women in society. In Sumer, it was the male citizens who comprised the assembly of elders and who controlled the power and wealth of the community. Unlike in Sumer, the United States is no longer controlled exclusively by men. In the United States, the proclamation that  ³all men are created equal ´ has been interpreted to include women as well as people from all social classes. The Fourteenth Amendments Equal Protection clause guarantees that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws (U.S. Const. Amend. XIV). Thus, people of all classes, as well as women, are protected equally by the laws of the United States. Another difference between Sumer and the United States is slavery. Until 1863, slavery was legal in the United States (Harr Hess, 2002).The Emancipation Proclamation officially freed the slaves and outlawed slavery (Harr Hess, 2002). Those in the slave states did not immediately comply with the Emancipation Proclamation (Harr Hess, 2002). The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery in America (U.S. Const. Amend. XIII). In contrast, slaves made up the lowest social class in Sumer. Unlike in the United States, the people of Sumer had a communal lifestyle. People did not work for money, nor did they compete to get rich at the expense of other individuals. The great majority safely depended on the head of their estate to fill their needs, and he, in turn, depended on them to increase and protect his wealth and position (Ellison, 1964, p. 22). Further, each city was conceived to be the special concern of one of the gods in Mesopotamia, and in a sense the equalitarianism of government placed each man in the position of being a guardian of that gods interests (Ellison, 1964, p. 24). In contrast, the United States has both urban and rural communities in which people work for money and attempt to better their social situation. Additionally, under capitalism people work for their own self-interests and have an opportunity to change their social class by getting an education and accumulating greater wealth. The objective of the criminal justice system in these two societies differed as well. In Sumer, punishment for crime attempted to make the victim whole again or was retribution commensurate with the type of harm inflicted. The Sumerian code of Ur-Nammu focused on restitution as the primary approach to criminal justice (Van Ness, 1991). In the United States, crime is defined as an offense against the State instead of against a specific individual (Van Ness, 1991). Because of this, the offender is not held personally responsible for restoring the victim. However, restitution is sometimes made part of sentencing and victims rights are becoming more important within the criminal justice system. The cultures, social class hierarchies, and legal systems of Sumer and the United States are significantly different; yet, the class structure and criminal justice system of Sumer offers unique insights into our own society. The similarities and differences highlight the importance of understanding where civilization began and where we intend to go from here. Because of the complexity of the relationship between social class and crime, it is vital to remain aware of the goals of the criminal justice system.

Sensual Meditation in the world today. :: essays research papers

Happiness is our natural state Humans were designed to be happy, creative and in harmony with the universe at all times. Just like a flower which automatically thrives and blossoms given the right conditions, so does human happiness and consciousness. If the conditions are right, everyone would be in a permanent state of natural ecstasy, living in the here-and-now. Fear switches off higher consciousness and turns us into obedient malleable citizens But we are not quite in such a paradise yet, unfortunately the world is only just emerging from millennia's of bigotry, state brutality, religious and paramilitary intolerance, famine, disease and pain, where our fragile existence could at any moment be destroyed by the ravages of invading hoards, or the sadistic whims of greedy landlords, ignoble dictators and corrupt governments. All this pain numbs our senses, generation after generation, and forces our mind and body to remain in a sort of biological emergency mode just for survival. In order to escape from possible danger, the brain has to mobilise all its forces to fight or flee, which for the sake of energy management, switches off the higher centers of consciousness, and leaves us in a state of anxious numbness. If the state of fear is prolonged, this turns to despair or frustration, which lead to increased aggression, be it directed towards oneself as in suicide, or towards others as in public violence. This does not justify terrorism, but it does illustrate that the solution for such desperate acts of violence is not to respond with knee-jerk declarations of war and bully people into submission through organised brutality, but rather to remove the root causes of suffering by providing love and hope. Don't be fooled by the jingoistic calls to fight by anyone, not only because fighting is part of the problem, but also because this call to arms is always a cynical means for a corrupt authority to maintain its dominance. By carefully cultivating an atmosphere of fear, they are maintaining your brain in a constant state of mental emergency, which very conveniently switches off your higher brain centers and makes you more malleable to their suggestions. Wake up! Don't let yourself be taken in. Governments and religious institutions don't have your interest at heart, they are just fronts to make money and maintain power, the puppets of economic giants acting behind the scenes. They lie behind their smiles and benedictions before the elections but behind your back they are laughing all the way to the bank.

Bankruptcy Court in Richmond

In the Eastern Edition of Wall Street Journal, an article was published on April 14, 2009 with reports that Circuit City sought the permission of U. S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Virginia to sell the â€Å"Circuit City† and â€Å"The City† brand names and related Web sites, phone numbers, and trademarks to Systemax Inc. , the same company who bought the CompUSA brand name in 2008. This kind of scenario in the business world is an example of acquisition.As defined by the Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms, the term â€Å"acquisition† refers to a process where: â€Å"†¦one company taking over controlling interest in another company. Investors are always looking out for companies that are likely to be acquired, because those who want to acquire such companies are often willing to pay more than the market price for the shares they need to complete the acquisition† (2006). In this project, the acquiring company is Systemax Inc while the target c ompany for acquisition is the Circuit City. Systemax Inc.(NYSE: SYX) is a Fortune 1000 company and leading retailer of brand name like TigerDirect, CompUSA, MISCO and Global Industrial Equipment, and of private label products including personal computers, notebook computers, consumer electronics, computer-related accessories, technology supplies and industrial products. Systemax sells these products through Integrated Marketing mix such as: branded e-commerce websites, direct mail catalogs, relationship marketers and retail stores. The company also manufactures and sells personal computers under the Systemax logo and computer components under the Ultra Products brand.The company reach extends to a wide range of customers from individual consumers, to small-to-medium sized businesses, to major corporations, to government organizations and to the educational market. On the other hand, Circuit City Stores, Inc. (Pink Sheets: CCTYQ) used to be the second largest U. S. electronics retail er, after Best Buy in brand-name consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software, and large appliances. At the time of liquidation, there were 567 Circuit City Superstores nationwide with store size ranging from 15,000 to 45,000 square feet (1400 to 4000 m?), when the company announced total liquidation. When the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2008, an additional 155 stores were closed with the intent of continuing business operations. However, as a consequence of global economic recession during the late 2000s, the lack of consumer spending and overall economic downturn resulted to the demise of the company. When the company shut operation, a small staff remains active at corporate headquarters to complete the company's business such as the termination of its many leases, and the sale of its company-owned real estate and Canadian subsidiary.From the acquisition and take over that happened between Systemax Inc. and Circuit City, we can now see h ow the managers of these two companies strategically implemented their business plans and goals. As for the Systemax Inc, the bankruptcy of Circuit City is a blessing not only because a giant competitor has closed operations, it can now enjoy the existing infrastructures and other stakeholders of the said company. With 14 million dollars cash plus a share of future revenue generated from those assets over a 30-month period, the managers of Circuit City can now address its internal concerns with the employees and customers.The employees can now receive separation payments as deemed by the Labor laws and the customers can now ask for refunds for the defective products sold at Circuit City. References ACQUISITION. (2006). In Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. Retrieved May 18, 2009, from http://www. credoreference. com. ezproxy. stedwards. edu:5000/entry/barronsfin/acquisition Morath, E. (2009, April 14). Circuit city aims to sell br and name to systemax. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. B. 6. Retrieved May 18, 2009, from Wall Street Journal database. (Document ID: 1678320131).