What are the implications of multiple roles for women and men

Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical widely used in common plastic products, such as baby bottles, children’s toys, and the linings of most food and beverage cans. Many scientific studies- including the largest study of BPA ever conducted on humans- have found links between BPA and serious health problems, from heart disease, diabetes, and liver abnormalities in adults to developmental problems in the brains and hormonal systems of children. Recent studies have documented negative health consequences, while others find no ill effects. Endocrine disruptors are notoriously difficult to study, as they may be more dangerous at very low doses than at higher doses. Depending on your tolerance for risk, you might want to minimize your exposure to BPA. Given the wide use of BPA in so many products we encounter every day, it is probably impossible to completely eliminate your exposure to this potentially harmful chemical. Still, you can lower your exposure- and your risk of possible health problems associated with BPA- by taking a few simple precautions. In 2007, the Environmental Working Group hired an independent laboratory to conduct an analysis of BPA in many different canned foods and beverages. The study found that the amount of BPA in canned food varies widely. Chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had the highest concentrations of BPA, for example, while condensed milk, soda, and canned fruit contained much less of the chemical. Here are a few tips to help you lower your exposure to BPA. Eat Fewer Canned Foods The easiest way to lower your intake of BPA is to stop eating so many foods that come into contact with the chemical. Eat fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, which usually have more nutrients and fewer preservatives than canned foods, and taste better, too. Choose Cardboard and Glass Containers Over Cans Highly acidic foods, such as tomato sauce and canned pasta, leach more BPA from the lining of cans, so it’s best to choose brands that come in glass containers. Soups, juices, and other foods packaged in cardboard cartons made of layers of aluminum and polyethylene plastic (labeled with a number 2 recycling code) are safer than cans with plastic linings containing BPA. Do Not Microwave Polycarbonate Plastic Food Containers Polycarbonate plastic, which is used in packaging for many microwaveable foods, may break down at high temperatures and release BPA. Although manufacturers are not required to say whether a product contains BPA, polycarbonate containers that do are usually marked with a number 7 recycling code on the bottom of the package. Choose Plastic or Glass Bottles for Beverages Canned juice and soda often contain some BPA, especially if they come in cans lined with BPA-laden plastic. Glass or plastic bottles are safer choices. For portable water bottles, glass and stainless steel are best, but most recyclable plastic water bottles do not contain BPA. Plastic bottles with BPA are usually marked with a number 7 recycling code. Turn Down the Heat To avoid BPA in your hot foods and liquids, switch to glass or porcelain containers, or stainless steel containers without plastic liners. Use Baby Bottles That Are BPA-Free As a general rule, hard, clear plastic contains BPA while soft or cloudy plastic does not. Most major manufacturers now offer baby bottles made without BPA. However, a recent study published in the journal Endocrinology evaluated an alternative plastic compound (BPS) used in products labeled as BPA-free, and unfortunately, it also was found to create significant hormonal disruptions in a fish species. Further studies are needed to determine how concerned we should be for the effects on human health. Use Powdered Infant Formula Instead of Pre-mixed Liquid A study by the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered versions. Practice Moderation The fewer canned foods and beverages you consume, the less your exposure to BPA, but you don’t have to cut out canned foods altogether to reduce your exposure and lower your potential health risks. In addition to eating less canned food overall, limit your intake of canned foods that are high in BPA.

Business Financing and the Capital Structure Essay - 1

Business Financing and the Capital Structure - Essay Example Working capital is expressed as the difference between the short term assets and the short term liabilities. Inventory turnover, accounts payable, accounts receivables are considered for working capital management by companies. Financial instruments used as marketable securities to park excess cash The financial instruments used to park excess cash by corporations are bonds and debentures. These are marketable securities as it is possible to convert these securities into cash at any point of time due to large number of buyers available in the market. Raising business capital using both debt and equity options in today’s economy Raising business capital is a crucial aspect of decision making by the companies in today’s economy in the context of global economic slowdown. The options for raising business funds are debt financing and equity financing. A corporation may choose to adopt debt financing by acquiring loans from the market. In debt financing, the corporation woul d need to pay regular interests till repayment. However, the corporation has the opportunity to reduce interest payment by available tax shields. Debt financing may be adopted as it does not dilute the ownership structure and decision making of companies. Another option of equity financing by corporations may be used to raise capital by share issues. The cost of equity financing is the payment of dividends to the shareholders (Glen and  Pinto, 1994, p.28). Although the ownership structure is diluted, the corporation also has the opportunity to the share the risk of investments. The profits earned from the investments are also shared among the shareholders of the corporation. Seeking capital from a foreign investor: risk and rewards Business may seek to raise capital from a foreign investor by entering into strategic alliance and joint venture with the foreign investor. In order to gain competitive advantage in the market that would not have been possible through the use of individ ual resources and capabilities, corporations decide to share the technologies and expertise of the foreign investor through strategic alliance. The risk of the business is also shared apart from the rewards and profits of the joint business. The risk attached to the raising of capital from foreign investors includes losses due to mismatch of mutual interests in long term prospects. Due to unexpected changes in the international economy, foreign investors may realize losses and loose interest in the local markets. An example of changes in world markets may be due to fluctuation of the currency conversion rates. This would lead to liquidity crunch for which the consumption level in the economy would fall. Due to this risk factor, the productivity of the corporations would fall leading to fall in profitability of the corporations. Common stocks versus bonds: Historical relationship between risk and return, diversification through portfolio formation The historical relationship between risk and return of an investment could be explained by the theory of risk-return trade off. Higher the amount of risk incurred in an investment, higher would be the expected return. On the other hand, a risk-averse investor would like to incur low risk for which the return would also be moderate.

How to Achieve New Heights for Industrial Jones Essay

How to Achieve New Heights for Industrial Jones - Essay Example The resources of the organization such as the land and the finance arranged through the overdraft facility can be utilized only through careful budgeting. The targets set in the budget will guide the business operations and help in overcoming problems and analyzing the future. The budget shown here will be very useful for coordination of the various activities such as the production, sales and purchases. The sales budget shown here is the guidance for formulating departmental plans. Estimates have to be done for departmental requirements to achieve the targets. After the budgets for the various activities are formulated and agreed upon , the amounts specified in the budget become the desirable limits of spending. The materials usage, labour utilized, purchases made and the overheads realized will all have to be done with the budgeted figures as the basis. After the budgeted period, the actual expenditures and the budgeted figures will be compared. This comparison will be the basis for judging the performances and fixing the responsibility for deviations. Hence, to make this budget a success the organization has to ensure that the objectives and policies are designed properly. What is going to be the Vision, long term objectives and short term goals of the organization has to be decided. Based on these objectives and goals the policies for the general operations have to be formulated. The budgeted estimates have to communicated to the other members of the organization so that if there is any changes or modifications to be made, the suggestions are incorporated. The other members of the organizations have to acknowledge that the budget is the authority/ target for the activities concerned. For example the usage of labor for the production should be within the limits specified in the budget and likewise for other activities. When an employee has to decide on an issue which in voles flow of money then the budget will be the main guide for his decisions. The employees should understand clearly the importance of the budget in the development of the organization and their job evaluation.

Consumer buyer behavior about ego-expressive way in the decision Case Study

Consumer buyer behavior about ego-expressive way in the decision making of rolex costumer - Case Study Example The owners of the Rolex Watch product rely on their understanding of the consumer behavior extensively as many other successful businesses. The consumers of the watch as a product are diverse and they present various factors that lead them towards purchasing the product readily. The Rolex Watch brand is the leading and most expensive Watch in the market currently. There are several types of the Watch. Moreover, Rolex manufactures watches designated for each of the genders, ages and uses. These are essential factors of consideration in the pricing aspect of the product. For instance, according to information gathered through the interactions with the Rolex professionals, the female gender used to constitute a large share of their customers. However, with the current developments in the market, the company is also manufacturing watches for men in large volumes, meaning that the male population is also a considerable consumer volume of the watches. The aspects of use, it depends on the reasons why the consumer purchases the watch. The latest development in the company is the establishment of the Rolex diving watch. Thus, with such watches, resistant to water, offering quality and accurate time measurement initiates the desire in the consumers to own a watch. The larger base of the consumer of the Rolex Watch includes the rich people, collectors of antiques and retail business people. The aspect that the Rolex Watch has a high pricing means that the consumers with low income are unable to afford the product. In manufacturing the product, Rolex focus on people with an interest in brand and aesthetic value of products. The watch established itself as a virtually dominant brand in the market, due to its association with class and high social status. The watch enjoys an ego-expressive status in its customers, as they seek the product for various reasons, all related

How Are Pistons Made Engineering Essay

How Are Pistons Made Engineering Essay There are different ways of doing the pistons and they all aims to achieve the lighter piston with least friction. Some of these are explained as follows: Cast piston is used for light-duty. The cast surface tells us this piston wont stand up to extremes of temperature and rpm because the molecular structure isnt as tight as it is with hypereutectic and forged pistons. Die-cast pistons are made by pouring molten aluminium into a mould. Then, the piston is machined into a finished product. Hypereutectic pistons are little more than a die-cast slug with a high silicone content. This makes the surfaces harder and shinier. It also changes the expansion properties, allowing you to run tighter piston-to-cylinder-wall clearances. You can run a hypereutectic piston a lot harder than you can a cast unit. The high-silicone content gives the hypereutectic a forged appearance. Note the huge valve relief for those Cleveland intake valves. Forged pistons are more involved, and, certainly, more expensive to make. Instead of a simple mould, we need a giant press, which rams the aluminium into a complex mould under high pressure. Machining forged pistons is no small feat. It is both time consuming and expensive. The forged piston advantage is greater strength, harder surfaces, more predictable expansion properties, and virtually no porosity. Another advantage to forged pistons is the ability to make them lighter and with less skirt. We can do this because forged pistons are stronger. We can machine more meat out of them without suffering structural losses. Forged pistons have a distinctive look, with an extra-hard surface and machining marks. These are what you go with when high rpm and high heat are expected. If youre running nitrous or supercharging, theyre mandatory. Piston technology has come a long way. Computer-aided design and CNC machining technology has made it possible to make custom pistons for just about any application you can think of. With this technology has come lighter pistons with less skirt that offer less friction. Piston Design: Piston design and shape greatly effect how an engine performs. When pistons are too heavy, we lose power. Design in too much skirt, and we lose power through excessive friction. Too little skirt, and the piston becomes unstable. Shoehorn in too much displacement, push the wrist pin into the ring grooves, and you have a formula for piston failure because this exerts too much heat on the pin and boss. In the dreamy world of piston science, we dream of the perfect pistonthe piston that creates very little friction (drag), weighs very little, carries just the right amount of oil up the cylinder walls, and provides a perfect cylinder seal. In the real world, it is nearly impossible to achieve all of these elements at once. http://www.mustangandfords.com/techarticles/mufp_0505_piston_fundamentals/piston_selection.html Piston Engine: A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common features of all types. The main types are: The internal combustion engine, used extensively in motor vehicles, The steam engine, the mainstay of the Industrial Revolution, The niche application Stirling engine. Piston Make: The current problem is that there are two pistons with failure; the author here is doing analysis and investigation on the tow pistons trying to find the root causes for this problem and how to avoid this to happen again next time. Those tow pistons are parts in a marine diesel engine made by a German company called MAN Diesel Turbo. MAN Diesel Turbo is one of the worlds leading suppliers in its various fields. From pleasure yacht engines to four-stroke engines for giant container ships, from emergency power units  to turnkey diesel power plants, from single compressors and turbines to complete machine trains for various industrial applications. The engine for the piston is a marine engine with product number L20/27. In theory, diesel engines are internal combus ­tion engines designed to convert the chemical energy available in fuel into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy moves pistons up and down inside cylinders. The pistons are connected to a crankshaft, and the up-and-down motion of the pistons, known as linear motion, creates the rotary motion needed to turn the wheels of a car forward. Diesel engines covert fuel into energy through a series of small explosions or combustions. explosions happen In a diesel engine; the air is compressed first, and then the fuel is injected. Because air heats up when its compressed, the fuel ignites. The diesel engine uses a four-stroke combustion cycle . The four strokes are: Stroke 1 of 4 Suck: Intake stroke On the intake or induction stroke of the piston , the piston descends from the top of the cylinder to the bottom of the cylinder, reducing the pressure inside the cylinder. A mixture of fuel and air is forced by atmospheric (or greater) pressure into the cylinder through the intake port. The intake valve(s) then close. The intake valve opens up, letting in air and moving the piston down.  ­ Stroke 2 of 4 Squeeze Compression stroke: With both intake and exhaust valves closed, the piston returns to the top of the cylinder compressing the fuel-air mixture. This is known as the compression stroke. The piston moves back up and compresses the air. Stroke 3 of 4 Bang Combustion stroke: While the piston is at or close to Top Dead Center, the compressed airà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬fuel mixture is ignited, usually by a spark plug (for a gasoline or Otto cycle engine) or by the heat and pressure of compression (for a diesel cycle or compression ignition engine). The resulting massive pressure from the combustion of the compressed fuel-air mixture drives the piston back down toward bottom dead center with tremendous force. This is known as the power stroke, which is the main source of the engines torque and power. As the piston reaches the top, fuel is injected at just the right moment and ignited, forcing the piston back down. Stroke 4 of 4 Blow Exhaust stroke: During the exhaust stroke, the piston once again returns to top dead center while the exhaust valve is open. This action evacuates the products of combustion from the cylinder by pushing the spent fuel-air mixture through the exhaust valve(s). The piston moves back to the top, pushing out the exhaust created from the combustion out of the exhaust valve. Remember that the diesel engine has no spark plug, that it intakes air and compresses it, and that it then injects the fuel directly into the combustion chamber (direct injection). It is the heat of the compressed air that lights the fuel in a diesel engine. In the next section, well examine the diesel injection process. Lubrication cooling Medium-alkaline lube oils have proven to be suitable for lubricating the power train, the cylinders, the turbocharger and, if the facility is provided, for the cooling of the pistons. Such medium-alkaline lube oils contain additives which, amongst other things, provide them with a higher neutralization capability than is the case with blended (HD) oils. Basic oil The basic oil (medium-alkaline lube oil = basic oil + additives) must be a narrow distillation cut and must be refined according to modern methods. Bright stocks, if contained, must neither adversely affect the thermal nor the oxidation stability of the basic oil Medium-alkaline lube oil The basic oil with additives have been mixed (medium-alkaline lube oil) must demonstrate the following characteristics: The additives must be dissolved in the oil and must be of such a composition tat an absolute minimum of ash remains as residue after combustion, even if temporary operated on distillate fuel. That ash must be soft. If this prerequisite id not complied with, increased deposits are to be expected in the combustion chamber especially at the outlet valves and in the inlet housing of the turbochargers. Hard additive ash promotes pitting on the valve seats, as well as burnt-out valves and increased mechanical wear. Additives must not cause clogging of the filter elements, neither in their active nor in their exhausted state. The cleaning capacity must be so high that coke and tar-like residues occurring when fuel is combusted must not build-up. The dispersing capacity must selected such that commercially available lube oil cleaning equipment can remove the combustion deposits from the used oil, i.e. the used oil must possess good separation and filtration properties. The neutralization capacity (ASTM-D2896) must be so high that the acidic products which emanate during combustion are neutralized by the lube oil consumption of the engine. The reaction time of the additives must be matched to the process in the combustion chamber. The tendency to evaporate must be as low as possible, otherwise the oil consumption is adversely affected. The lube oil must not form a stable emulsion with water. The lube oil must not contain agents to improve viscosity index. The fresh oil must be free from water and other contaminants.

Intelligence Essays -- essays research papers

Intelligence (what it is, and what it is not)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today more then ever one can sit back and look out upon the world around them. One can look in the homes and see the children busy with homework. One can see the computers sorting through mass amounts of information. One can also see nature exist as it has for countless years. Over history as the Human race has developed it has taken a fascination in the world around it. It’s main query is what separates it from the rest of what can be found on this small blue green planet called Earth? One of the commonly held answers to this is intelligence; but what is intelligence? What has it and what dose not? This is what shall be covered through the duration of this paper. Intelligence- The ability to process the information found in one’s surroundings and use it to make a logical decision based on more then just environmental stimuli. The ability to store that information until it is further needed. The ability to build upon the previously known information to help to improve the conditions of that beings existence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This definition covers all the main points in which an intelligent being should have. This said there may result some confusion as to what certain words imply, because of this the next few sentences shall be devoted to clearing such confusion. The first word is surroundings; Surroundings are the habitat or environment in which that being can be found. Logic is the...