Monday, September 30, 2019

Apple Online Store Strategy

GROUP B _Choose three core competencies of Apple Inc. How did these competencies allow Apple to make sense out of the recorded music industry in the early 200’s? How did they set the company up for robust first user advantage? How stable do those advantage seem now? (See Jay Barney’s Looking Inside for Competitive Advantage; Zook’s Finding Your Next Core Business). As the Internet based recorded music segment continues to evolve into other devices, will Apple’s competencies continue to generate advantage versus suc competitors as Research in Motion and Dell Inc.? Apple today is the leading player in the internet music industry with over 6 billion songs downloaded since the launch of its iTunes online music store, which today contains more than 10 million songs. Apple introduced iTunes and its online music store in 2001 when there were several major players, such as Amazon and Napster, competing for the market. However, Apple was able to outperform these co mpetitors with its three main core competencies, software, retailing and branding. In 2003, Apple introduced the iTunes online music store that allowed customers to purchase and download songs directly from the store to their computer through iTunes, and then transfer them directly to their iPods. By that time, most of Apple’s competitors offered their customers songs through subscriptions, however they did not provide customers full control of the songs they purchased, i. e. , songs purchased would be lost once customer no longer subscribed. Apple was able to offer customer a whole new way of selling songs to customers. They allowed customers to buy songs like CDs, cassettes in store and never had their songs lost since there were no subscriptions required. In addition, Apple also allowed the customer to preview the songs they intended to purchase in order to avoid downloading the wrong songs. In order to be able to allow customers to purchase songs for a low cost, Apple managed to negotiate a landmark deal with biggest five music companies in the world, Warner, Universal, BMG, Sony and EMI. Songs offered by Apple were using DRM (Digital Right Management) technology to prevent the songs to be unlimited shared. However, the songs could be used to burn unlimited CDS and transferred to unlimited iPod. Since 2001, Apple had gained tremendous branding reputation for its iPod MP3 players. Since then, it has become the most popular MP3 player in the world. When iTunes online music store was introduced in 2003, Apple had provided an extremely convenient way for legally purchasing songs and transferring them directly to customers’ iPods. Therefore, Apple’s iTunes online music store was widely welcomed and accepted by a large number of customers. Apple was a pioneer in combining online music store and music management in one software that allow customers to conveniently purchase and manage their music. Since iTunes was introduced along with the first iPods, it has been well known for simplicity and user-friendly interface. Therefore, iTunes had largely contributed to the success of Apple’s online music store and the elimination of its competitors. As the internet based recorded music segment continues to evolve into other devices, Apple has taken another new strategies in selling music to customers. In June 2009, Apple has more than 10 million songs in its online music store, and since 2006, Apple started to take DRM off their songs and offer customers DRM-free songs. Eight million songs was DRM-free since June 2009 and Apple has been making effort to offer all of their songs free of DRM. Today, Apple does not have only iPod as their MP3 players, but they also have other devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, that can all utilize the iTunes online music store. The introduction of iPhone and iPod Touch has provided Apple an opportunity to expand its iTunes store beyond a simple online music store to become an online entertainment store, which offers numerous varieties of movies, music, TV episodes, games, applications and books. This has made Apple become the leading brand in innovative technology and its brand ranking has been going up in recent years. ITunes itself also has gone through remarkably improvement in order to offer customers a simpler, more interesting and interactive way of browsing the online store. In general, despite intense competitions from other player such as Research in Motion and Dell Inc. , Apple has been able to outperform them and offer customers the most unique and efficient way of purchasing music and other online entertainment contents. This has been proved by growing stock prices, and increasing profit figures since Apple iTunes online music store was introduced in 2003.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Cost Club Week Essay

The issues against discharging an employee with any reason can be very harmful to any business. This opens the door for a lawsuit to any organization because, an ex-employee could file a lawsuit against the employer for alleging that they had been discharged wrongfully. The civil right law act in 1964 provides protection to the employees against wrongfully discharge. This describe that companies cannot terminate their employees basis of race, gender, skin, religion, color etc, (Employment law for business, 2007)†.) For example, if their at-will relationship exists between the employee and employer this does not mean that employer may terminate the employee, in a discriminatory manner. This mean the organization has to follow the legal principles before discharging their employee. There are so many laws that protect the individuals even though we are an, at- will state. The Federal anti-discrimination law prevents employees from wrongful discharge by the employer (Lawson, 1998)†. This scenario does not say that the employees were not let go due to the basis of any reason. This lawsuit against the organization for wrongful discharge could be very risky for the Cost Club since there were no reasons for terminating their employees. Reduction in Employee Costs There are many ways to reduce company cost. One thing a company can do is to outsource their HR. This will help reduce the cost of the employee benefits  program by bring in an outside company like GNA Partners. The GNA Partners have many ways to save the company money but, may bring cost to the workers. The GNA Partners provide negotiation insurance rates, which the plan cost are determined by what age group the employees fall into. Next the company can choose higher deductible plans, which this reduces, the cost of benefits plan. †¢ The business can offer robust benefits package by making their employees contribute. †¢ Using different types of workers like temporary workers, contract employee, part-time employees, employees and, non-employees work hours. These job types can be helpful to accomplish the seasonal demand of the organizations plus can cause the increase within the organizational performance. The organization knows all different categories of workers who can hire to save money for definite and indefinite period. Organization understands that temporary workers directly reports to the employer and receive their reimbursement from the company. When a company hires a contract employee, temporary and, part-time employee they know that they do not have to pay this employee benefits or high rates. Like vacation, sick, and part-time workers are usually define a workers, who have shorter working hours other fulltime workers. The rules, policies and, procedures for the part-time employee are not the same as the regular employees but quite different from the temporary workers† (Part Time and Temporary Employees, 2009). According to â€Å"Bennett-Alexander, & Hartman, â€Å"by hiring independent contractors, the cost of overtime is eliminated (the federal wage and hour laws do not apply to independent contractors) and the employer is able to avoid any work-related expenses, s uch as tools, training, or traveling. The employer is also guaranteed satisfactory performance of the job for which the contractor was hired because it is the contractor’s contractual obligation to adequately perform the contract with the employer, while the employee is generally able to quit without incurring liability (Employment law for business, 2007)†. For example, the company manage is an employees work who sets an employee’s schedule, along with deciding the method the employee uses to perform their work. An independent contractor is a person who provides particular services to an organization. Whether it be a short or long-term assignment. This is very effective low cost and saving the companying money because; temporary, contract or part-time employment arrangements provides several benefits to any business. Injury and Damages According to Tort Law, the Cost Club will be liable for the misconduct of employees with the customers. Tort laws are laws that offer remedies to individuals harmed by the unreasonable actions of others. Tort claims usually involve state law and are based on the legal premise that individuals are liable for the consequences of their conduct if it results in injury to others (McCarthy & Cambron-McCabe, 1992). Tort laws involve civil suits, which are actions brought to protect an individual’s private rights. The second situation, the employee is liable for physical harm to the customers’ property. Therefore, the company who hires the employee will be held liable for their employees negligent. The last situation, the business will not be liable for the acts of a real estate agent, because, the real estate agent is not controlled by the business. Therefore, the Cost Club should let their customers know they, are not responsible or that the real estate agent is an independent and organization contractors and that they have no control on his or her activities so, Cost Club will not be liable for the tort of him or her (Tort Liability Basics: Strict, Vicarious, and Joint Liability, 1999). Resolving Disagreement Processes Resolving disagreement between company and its employees, the can †¢ Set up a subject box  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Have a meeting once a week with the manager, and employees to discuss the problem that may arise between co-workers and managers. †¢ Includes third party as the mediator between employees and company. †¢ Grievance procedure, corporate due process, mediation etc., †¢ Clear as the formal complaint by the employees that they are behaved wrongly by the management decisions (Open door policy) These steps can be very effective to resolve between most companies’ problem. Which, if not settled could cause a big problem like violation of law, and just a perception of unfair treatment by the employees and managers. This method has to be effective in order to achieve long-term success and to facilitate and to accommodate between the employees and the company. Employment Law Concepts for Selection Employment law concepts for selection would include several legal implications. According to Bennett-Alexander, & Hartman, â€Å"the Civil Rights  Act 1964 prohibits the employers from discrimination among the potential employees on the basis of race, gender, color, region etc. in its recruitment and selection process. The next step is once the employee is hired, the company should make sure they follow steps are, training, appraising, compensating, and implementing employment decisions that determine such things as promotions, transfers, and layoffs† The selection procedure should also be job related and concern with the business necessity. The company should always follow the State HR Laws, and all the employees should be treated fairly and equally (Employment Tests and Selection Procedures, 2008). The Age Discrimination in Employment Act should also be considered in the selection procedure by the management. Reference: Beatty, J.F. & Samuelson, S.S. (2009). Introduction to Business Law (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning. Bennett-Alexander, D. D. & Hartman, P. L. (2007). Employment law for business (5th ed.). New York: McGraw–Hill. Retrieved October 29, 2012 from University of Phoenix, rEsource. Part Time and Temporary Employees. (2009). Retrieved October 29, 2012 from http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-overview/employment-

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Everyday Hero Essay

When I think of the word hero, I think of the countless Spiderman figures lying at the bottom of my brother’s toy chest, or even Prince Charming rescuing Sleeping Beauty from her seemingly endless slumber. However, what usually does not come to mind, are the true real life heroes that I believe posses higher superpowers than the Incredibles ever could. Though they do not have the ability to fly or read minds, one way or another, these people have helped someone in a tough situation. A true hero can be anyone from the firefighters at the station to your older sister living in the room next door. They may have helped to save your life, or merely helped you get through your math homework last night. Whatever the case, one quality that all true heroes must possess is the ability to be an example of goodwill in the world. A hero will help someone because they want to, not because they have to. Though they are not perfect, no one is, a hero will continue to put others first when the y know that it is most important to do so. Three years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The news came as an utter shock to everyone, considering the fact that she was one of the healthiest and most active members of my family. She played tennis and practiced yoga at least four times a week; always ate healthy and organic foods, and on top of all this, there was barely any history of breast cancer on our family tree! Though her case was not as bad as others, it still required her to undergo weeks of arduous chemotherapy and radiation. Through her darker days, she herself would be the one to calm me down and reassure me that everything would be okay. The night before my mother’s surgery, I started to cry, scared and frustrated with what was happening around me. Though she was also frightened and anxious, my mother was the one to comfort me and explain that a plastic surgeon did not actually turn people into plastic, as I had imagined. Even during her most bleak and miserable moments, she put everything aside and reached out to help me deal with her pain. For this, she is my hero. No, she is not Superwoman, or a firefighter,  or even your everyday do-gooder; but she’s my mom, and that is good enough for me. This just goes to show that a seemingly ordinary woman can be a hero to someone in her own way. Heroes are everyday characters, and if you look hard enough you will find the hero in your own life. This I believe.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Business and enterprise coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business and enterprise coursework - Essay Example 45-50). In fact, cross-cultural management seeks to inform business mangers about cultural diversity and its effects on the business (Bhattacharyya 2010, pp. 92-95). Cultural differences influence interpersonal interactions, business management, and intergroup interactions (Tagreed 2012, pp. 105-109). Notably, in the global market environment, managers encounter different cultures and hence the need to understand the differences in these cultures and their effects on management. More so, when two or more companies merge, there must be different cultures in application and hence the need to adopt the best characteristics of the existing cultures (Ghosn 2013, pp. 1). In merging the different cultures, managers must make sure that they do not destroy the best cultural values. In addition, to implement a business strategy in a foreign country, one must consider all the cultural characteristics of the targeted society (Kozenkow 2013, pp. 1). Worth noting is that to increase the cultural k nowledge of an individual or an organization is very challenging. In this context, cross- cultural management addresses various cultural challenges in the global market thus making cross-cultural operations work much more successfully. Indeed, an understanding of the cultural factors that affect a business is very fundamental for any manager. As such, the issue of cross-cultural management is very fundamental in the modern business environment. This paper addresses the main cultural challenges facing the managers of British Multinational; Enterprises in the early 21st century and discusses the main management skills that are required for Cross-cultural Management to be effective. In doing this, the paper will refer to relevant academic literature and draw appropriate examples to support my analysis. Growth in information technologies, advanced communication, globalization (Dong & Liu 2010, pp. 223-228), deregulation, and privatization have led to increased growth in cross-border bus iness in the modern times. As the modern businesses become more global, people with different cultures have learnt to the need of working together by respecting cultural diversity. However, the growth in cross-border business attract cultural challenges which hider the success of such business (Tagreed 2012, pp. 105-109). As a result, managers adopt cross-cultural management strategies to enhance effectiveness in cross-cultural interactions. Nevertheless, managers of British Multinational; Enterprises in the early 21st century face numerous cultural challenges in the business world. One of the challenges that managers face is the difference in response to organizational practices, such as attitude and behaviors between different cultures. For example, people from individualistic and collectivistic national cultures respond differently to organizational practices where collectivistic cultures worked better in a group as individualistic cultures performed better in a specific manager (Johann 2008, pp. 10). The differences in response to organizational practices pose a great challenge to managers of British Multinational; Enterprises in the early 21st century since they may fail to offer harmonized performance in case of a merger. Another challenge relates to the cultural differences that a foreign manager or a company may face in a foreign nation that has a different culture. This inhibits the management since the employees and the managers adopt distinct

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Freedom of Assembly in Hong Kong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Freedom of Assembly in Hong Kong - Essay Example This research study examines the restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly in Hong Kong with particular emphasis on the ruling in Leung Kwok Hung and its importance to the rationale for restricting freedom of assembly. A comparative analysis is conducted with reference to Hong Kong’s case law and international jurisprudence relative to freedom of assembly. This study is therefore divided into two main parts. The first part of the paper will examine Hong Kong’s freedom of assembly regime and the second part of the paper will examine the international jurisprudence on freedom of assembly. Hong Kong’s Freedom of Assembly Law Overview The Sino-UK Joint Declaration of 1984 which provided for the transfer of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) contained an undertaking to maintain the pre-existing fundamental human rights including freedom of assembly. China implemented the Basic Law 1997 which reflected its undertaking under the Joint Declaration of 1984 to maintain a one country, two system framework with respect to its sovereignty over Hong Kong. This meant that Hong Kong could continue to adhere to the laws in place at the time of the handover. Shortly after the handover of Hong Kong however, China reneged on some of its key guarantees under the Joint Declaration and among its broken promises, announced that there would be restrictions on a number of freedoms including freedom of assembly.... uding freedom of assembly.5 With the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.6 The SAR government amended and repealed parts of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance (BORO) 1997, the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance, laws that were previously introduced by the British government prior to the handover to China, in 1992 and 1995. The amended law provides that demonstrations comprised of at least 30 persons must first obtain police approval. Secondly the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance stipulate that associations are required to register under the approval of the SAR government in order to obtain legal status. Moreover, national security is the broad basis upon which the police may refuse to permit an association or a demonstration.7 B. Current Law on Freedom of Assembly Essentially, the Basic Law 1997 as promulgated on behalf of the SAR retains for Hong Kong, the fundamental freedoms and rights existing in Hong Kong at the time of the handover to China. As a result the Basic Law and BORO provide the primary methods by which the executive and the legislature exercise their respective authorities. Likewise the two instruments also guarantee Hong Kong residents civil rights protection such as the freedom of association, of assemble, of procession, free speech, free press and freedom of demonstration.8 Freedom of Assembly is provided for in Article 17 of BORO and is characterized as Freedom of Peaceful Assembly. Article 17 provides that: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security

Currency Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Currency Management - Essay Example The foreign currency in the dollarization context serves as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value (Honohan, 2007). Dollarization operates and functions within the geographical boundaries of the specific country that adopts it. Different countries can engage in dollarization and use the same foreign currency, but their decisions are independent and unrelated. On the other hand, monetary union defines a scenario where two or more countries come together and agree to share a common currency. This means that all countries bound to the union uses the agreed upon currency to carry out economic transactions. Dollarization and monetary unions exhibit both advantages and disadvantages. For a small country, dollarization may be used to enhance the economic performance. However, the success of dollarization in the country that adopts the foreign currency may result in disregarded domestic currency by having the foreign currency replace it. In the context of the global financial system, the strongest and most used foreign currency may dominate and outperform other currencies through overvaluation. The policy is, however, vital in nurturing economic relationships across the globe. On the other hand, monetary union improves the value of the chosen currency, making the countries bound to the union influential in terms of domestic and international economic transactions (Gerber, 2010). However, countries with poor economic performance can be dominated and â€Å"enslaved† by stronger countries in the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Capital Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Capital Punishment - Essay Example The other strong reason to oppose capital punishment is that it infringes the most basic human right: the right to life. Critiques of capital punishment have always questioned the morality in correcting a wrong with a wrong. Even though the supporters of the death penalty argue that it deters people from committing serious offenses, this claim is far from the truth. The death penalty is indeed a perpetuation of murder in the society. How right is it to appeal to a person not to killing by killing? Capital punishment has no moral dimension as serves to inculcate the most vicious vice in the society: murder. The death penalty violates people’s right to life.Apart from the deterrent factor, many people in support of capital punishment argue that it is a majority view so capital punishment must continue. It is correct that majority of the population supports capital punishment as is evident in the poll survey done by Pew Research Center. The survey was conducted between November 9 and November 14 in 2011 and 2001 adults responded to this survey and 62% supported the death penalty for homicides. In 1996, 78% respondents favored the death penalty and for last 4 decades, the public opinion has consistently remained in favor of capital punishment. Based on these results, one can argue that capital punishment is essential in fostering a moral society. Perhaps, in the mind of people, capital punishment acts as a deterrent for people not to commit the crime; otherwise, criminals will become fearless and commit more crimes.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Article Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Article Analysis - Assignment Example Constructing Conceptions of Central Banking Historically Central Banks acted as both bankers and government’s bank. As a government banker, the Central Banks helped in debt management, development programs, currency evaluation and public finances. As a private bank, it facilitated in maintaining banking stability and payment robustness etc. The role of the central banks as a government banker shows its historical links with fiscal policies. Over time, the primary role of the central bank has been confined in framing monetary policies. Previously, Keynes considered Central Banks as organs of state and instrument of government policy. Central banks role was to maintain economic and financial stability, check states control over currency and manage public finances. Prices of goods and services were fixed under the Keynesian regime. Friedman and Hayek claimed that the central banks should only try to check the powers of governments by controlling the money supply of the economy an d framing monetary policies (Marsh, 1992). ... All the nations in the EMU under this regime decided to use Euro as their common currency. The ECB was supposed to formulate the monetary policies for all these nations. The central bank of Germany, Bundesbank has seemed to highly influence the policies set by the ECB. Germany’s strong authorities in the EMU have made other nations suspect the virtues of ECB’s policies towards the economic progress of the EMU. Under this regime the governments of all these nationals had no power to control the monetary supremacies of ECB (Kolb, 2005). Both Super Strong and Extraordinarily Weak The ECB did not make direct public debts purchases and imposed high constraints in public debt financing. The member states in the EMU were instructed to maintain their budgets in balance or in surplus. If the budget deficit of a nation increased by 3% of its GDP then that nation was penalized under the regime of Excessive Deficit Procedure. Rather no implicit bail outs were offered on the failed government projects. ECB started to act as inflation tighter, while the supreme powers of the Bundesbank made other nations of the EMU hostile. Rather lack of funds started to imbibe economic crisis in the EMU. ‘The same dress does not fit everyone’, the German policies and norms introduced by ECB were highly unsuitable for many nations in EMU. The price stability and structural changes made in the labour market made income distributions inequitable between the European nations and also reduced the domestic demands (Szapary, 2000). ECB Anti-growth Bias and Pre-crisis Performance The ECB’s antigrowth biased monetary policies following the Stability and Growth Policy is actually responsible

Monday, September 23, 2019

Informal Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Informal Proposal - Essay Example There is a dearth of consultancy service providers against an ever increasing demand (Remenyi, 2012). As a result, most clients fail to obtain the required services because there are few players in the market that specialize in consultancy. Basically, consultancy involves the offering of knowledge and counsel services upon demand. Additionally, consultancy services can be offered along with other professional and business services. The consultancy field is wide enough and involves a multitude of disciplines which implies that any business corporation offering professional or educational services can successfully venture into consultancy. In fact, already established business organizations are in a better position to offer consultancy services because of a number of factors. First is experience, organizations that offer professional or educational services have enormous experience in their particular arenas which could be exploited in consultancy. Offering consultancy services only re quire mastery, expertise, and experience in a relevant field through which firm can offer advice to clients. Therefore, the organization can successfully incorporate consultancy in its product and service range. Consultancy services will be offered along with the regular educational services in the sense that the schedule of the organization will be made more flexible to permit the new service. As a result, a new desk will be opened at the reception labeled consultancy and potential clients can inquire and book appointments with the consultancy department which will be created specifically to offer this service. Since consultancy services are offered on demand, once an appointment is booked the department will arrange and schedule the consultancy session without hindering other organizational processes. Consultancy is a professional field that would require the hiring of individuals with the necessary qualifications to

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Soldiers War Essay Example for Free

The Soldiers War Essay Alexander Hamilton once said, â€Å"When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.† The American Civil War came into being due to these â€Å"passions of men†, and the average men, who went into the war with such gusto, got slapped into the harsh reality of war. The Civil War ushered in a new era of fighting, with new tactics, new weapons, and new strategies. However, as the first of major changes, the transition took time, and that time cost the lives of thousands of men through no fault of their own. This war was one of change, and the soldiers that fought it changed the most. Civilians strode into the war in garish â€Å"uniforms,† soldiers clashed with their former countrymen, killers dealt with the aftermath, and war veterans went home to lives that would never be the same; all due to the unbounded â€Å"passions of men.† The brave men who fought in the American Civil War were untrained and undisciplined, and the number of volunteers that flooded recruiting stations was too vast for either government to accept them all. Enthused with patriotic sentiments, civilians who chose fighting for the preservation of the Union, or perhaps to punish the rebellious South, craved the â€Å"glory† of battle. Even as the numerous state militias proudly wore gaudy, impractical uniforms and excitedly waited for the fighting, the few seasoned generals they had, attempted to whip them into a functioning army. This was not an easy task, seeing as the would-be soldiers consistently undermined any and every authority figure by ignoring orders, asking for reasons to obey, and breaking rank whenever the felt the urge. Not to mention that the number of commanders who knew how to turn civilians into warriors was dreadfully low. None of these men had a clue what was in store for them, in what would be a much longer and bloodier war than they expected. Through the excited eyes of young volunteers, the war looked to them like a â€Å"great adventure,† and those who were not be accepted went home with hanging heads.1 Men saw the Civil War as a chance to defend â€Å"The land of my childhood my love and my tears; the land of my birth and my early sunny years.†2 The sword had been drawn, and the men of the Union army gave off an aura of â€Å"passion† for the war. Going into the war, absolutely none of the excited soldiers anticipated the mass slaughter; nonetheless, it would soon seem commonplace. It was the killing that changed the soldiers the most. One Union soldier wrote, â€Å"I am aposed to one man killing another,† but â€Å"when we are attacked and our lives are in danger by a gang of men aposed to the best government on earth I shall fight.† Most of the army shared this aversion to killing, except when the â€Å"passions† of the patriotic man called for it. Soldiers rationalized the bloodbath by looking at it as duty and self-defense rather than killing. Another factor that helped to keep soldiers’ consciences clean was the anonymity of working as a single unit. Even as this helped men make sense of the killing that took place in structured battle, the modern war tactics made it harder because of the new level of intimacy. This war was unique in that the new weapons and strategies allowed commanders to give soldiers more freedom within the structure of the army. Fighting in wooded areas and trench warfare constantly â€Å"undermined† the traditional patterns of war, and gave soldiers the freedom to shoot when they chose and who they chose. The drills and automatic movements caused the individual soldier to react without thinking about the unspeakable act of killing another human while in an orderly formation. The individual worried about making sure that he and his comrades survived the battle by whatever means necessary. However, when working in smaller groups, in more intimate settings, the decision to pull the trigger was more difficult. Regardless of how difficult it was in the beginning of a soldier’s Civil War experience, by the end of the war, there were those who enjoyed the killing, the revenge. Men worked as a single unit in the fray of battle, but it was in the aftermath that they had the time to process the carnage their unit had wrought. Men spoke of a â€Å"hardening,† of becoming desensitized to seeing  mounds of lifeless human bodies. A Union Colonel said that during the battle â€Å"You are engrossed with the struggle,† therefore â€Å"Your losses and dangers don’t oppress you ‘til afterwards when you sit down quietly to look over the result or go out with details to bury the dead.† The shock of seeing that many men dead disturbed the â€Å"green† Union troops. Soldiers wrote home speaking of the â€Å"rank† smell and grotesque remains that littered the ground the day after a battle. One Union soldier could not bring himself to describe the monstrous site of a day old battle field; he merely told his parents â€Å"Tell Mrs. Diggins not to let her boy enlist.† The soldiers found this the hardest to face, so naturally they pushed it aside. A southern newspaper plainly said, â€Å"The feelings of a soldier walking over his first battle-field and over his second are widely different.† Eventually seasoned soldiers were able to eat, sleep, walk, and talk among the piles of dead bodies without a second thought. In the same fashion, this forced disregard for human life, risking â€Å"dehumanizing† those left alive. Soldiers treated the bodies left over with no more compassion than a slaughtered pig. When the â€Å"passions of men† are worn, the men are left with what they wrought. After the soldiers had done their part and effectively won the war, they made the transition from trained killer to civilian. The first step was gathering all of the troops from their scattered locations across the country and getting them to their respective homes.5 When they finally arrived home, the changes the war had caused became painfully obvious to the veterans loved ones. One soldier’s mother, Henrietta Maria Benson said, â€Å"He came home so changed that his best friends did not know him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Men returning  home cast aside their weapons and returned to the â€Å"real world,† but the transition varied from man to man.6 For a lucky few it was as simple as â€Å"picking up the pieces† and â€Å"moving on.† The rest of the men battled mental problems, most likely what is now known to be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In regards to a Civil War veteran, an unknown person said, â€Å"His rambling letters show someone who was confused and a little paranoid. But they also show flashes of clarity and awareness and give crucial clues about his background to help fill in some of the large blank spots in his history.† The tremendous stress and trauma of the bloodiest war in American history changed the men who fought it almost beyond recognition. The â€Å"passions† were long gone, and the lasting effect was extremely prominent in the men who marched home. Along with coping with returning from war, soldiers as well as civilians had to come to terms with all of the lives lost. The most lasting effect of the Civil War was the loss. Mary Todd Lincoln lived the remainder of her life in mourning clothes; A soldier’s mother spent years after the Surrender at Appomattox hoping her missing son would return home; a man named Henry Struble honored a grave that mistakenly bore his name by laying flowers yearly. Men who had once been fathers, brothers, cousins, uncles, and husbands laid unadorned and unknown in unidentified graves. The death that surrounded the Civil War was often shrouded in mystery, which made it all the more difficult for loved ones back home. The lack of information regarding a majority of the deaths in the war made it more difficult for civilians to accept those deaths. Change was the primary theme of the Civil War, and that change presented itself the most in the brave men who fought in the war. A soldier’s mentality and ability to cope with what he had wrought evolved dramatically throughout the war. The men who walked into the war were not the same as those who walked out when it was over. Soldiers had to face tragic losses and deal with the deaths that they personally caused. Upon returning to civilian life, most men were unrecognizable to the people who had been closest to them. After all, â€Å"When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation,† and those passions wreaked a permanent havoc on the country.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Romantic Love And Consumer Culture

Romantic Love And Consumer Culture A consumerist society is one whose economy is defined by the purchasing and spending power of consumers. Even as it is similar to capitalism, it differs in that it is not as focused on monetary power as it on happiness realized through the ownership of personal property. The initiation of a mass consumerist policy, a product of the Industrial revolution, is therefore often viewed as an effective political alternative to sustain a healthy, well balanced economy (Horowitz, 2004). Ancient Rome and Egypt are examples of early consumerist societies, even as the United States of America is representative of a contemporary successful consumer economy (Horowitz, 2004). Romantic Love is often perceived to be the final repository of the genuineness and warmth lost in a progressively technocratic and legalistic age (Stearns Knapp, 1993). Whilst to some it is symptomatic of ideologies that enslave, to others it is merely a flight from social responsibility (Stearns Knapp, 1993). Romantic love, an intimate and important part of the democratic model of American affluence has concomitantly emerged with the establishment of a mass market. It has also simultaneously adopted as it were, mechanisms of economic and symbolic denominations at work in American society (Stearns Knapp, 1993). Ideologically, capitalism is notoriously Janus like with regard to the degree that it encourages the inclusion of all social classes into the market (Teo, 2009). Whilst it has ensured a common symbolic sphere wherein the twin sets of mass media and consumption are unified, it has also intensified class conflicts and divided social classes into even smaller lifestyle groups (Teo, 2009). Even as capitalism encourages the involvement of everyone in the monetary and symbolic field of consumption, it replicates and sustains itself through the division of wealth and validity of social divisions (Teo, 2009). Capitalism, as an economic system, involve(s) the production and exchange of commodities with the aim of accumulating a surplus value, that is, profit, with some part of this profit being re-invested to maintain the conditions of future accumulation. Capitalism however is also characterized by a cultural mindset whereby exchange in relationships, that of buying and selling, have permeated most of society (Illouz, 1997, p7). Capitalism ascertains the meeting of two parties primarily on the basis of economic benefit and mutual self interest, whereby transactions are justified by analyzing their benefits on the bottom-line of the balance sheet (Illouz, 1997). Romantic love, on the other hand defines relationships between two individuals who are bound together by their capacity to realize spontaneity and empathy in an emotional relationship (Illouz, 1997). In comparing romantic love and capitalism, the former is irrational rather than rational, gratuitous rather than profit oriented, organic rather that utilitarian, private rather than public (Illouz, 1997, p 11). Romantic love therefore seems to elude the regular category, wherein capitalism has been envisaged. This essay intends to understand and analyze the manner in which romantic emotions meet the economy, culture and social organization of advanced capitalism. Discussion and Analysis Sociology, anthropology and history, until the early twentieth century, categorically believed that certain emotions were derivative of subjective, physiological and psychological experiences and not to essentially be associated with study pertaining to symbolic and collective life (Illouz, 1997). Romantic love was relegated to the sociologically awkward part of social life and not discussed in terms of class conflicts, public rituals and social relationships. Recent statistics however indicate that emotions are often influenced by the norms, language, stereotype, metaphors, symbols of culture (Illouz, 1997). Even as sociologists today are keen to establish specific relationships between culture and emotion, they seem hesitant to support the concept of distinct linkages between love and economy. It is generally believed that love, like art and religion is the site par excellence of the social world, whereas culture offers artifacts, stories, symbols and images, wherein romantic ciphers can be recapitulated and exchanged (Illouz, 1997). Many sociologists have in recent years however come to recognize that culture and economy reciprocally constitute each other. Therefore, in order to discuss the relationship between romantic love and consumer culture, it is first imperative to understand the manner in which romance, culture, and economy intersect with each other (Illouz, 1997). Romantic love became a prominent cultural phenomenon in America in the early eighteenth century. Americans, more than other citizens of Western societies, began to determine their marital choices more on the basis of emotional thought than on social or economic considerations (Robbins, 2008). The choice of a life partner was left to be decided by individuals as love was considered to be of prime importance for conjugal bliss (Robbins, 2008). Couple autonomy grew over the years with increasing college attendance resulting in relaxation of family and societal control. The appearance of an alternate social sphere of youth culture validated intimacy with the opposite sex as an important characteristic of socialization into adulthood. The modification of sexual mores alternatively affected the ways in which the youth spent their leisure time, as many of the young began to engage in novel leisure practices of the hetero-social world (Robbins, 2008). The nineteenth century saw the development of dance halls, amusement parks and movie theatres (Robbins, 2008). However, it was only after 1910 that leisure industries began to strengthen their economic power and began implementing monopolistic practices. The cultural landscape was eventually significantly restructured in the early twentieth century as inventions like the high speed printing press, telephone, phonograph, radio and photography expanded access of members of the public to mass culture. The social, cultural and economic changes altered the meaning of love, even as it became an important part of mass media and culture (Robbins, 2008). The nascent national advertising system related romance to a host of attendant values, in addition to leisure, physical attractiveness and consumption (Teo, 2009). This can be observed by the evolution of the image of the couple in the already developed industry of advertising before World War II. An assessment of advertisements depicting couples exhibits how the values associated with love have changed over time (Teo, 2009). Advertising initially depicted the image of the couple, first, with domestic products associated with the comfort of the home and second with ego expressive products associated with self enhancement and expression (Teo, 2009). Additionally, almost invariably and irrespective of the product being advertised, be it soap, shampoo, clothes, or perfume, advertisements carried illustrations of couples in close embrace and in stylish apparel. Opulence and soft eroticism were part of the new model of hot romance exploited by advertisements in their efforts to promote ma ss produced consumer goods( Teo, 2009, p 4). The commoditization of romance during this period therefore began to ambiguously incorporate romantic love into the culture of consumer capitalism. Sternberg, (1998) suggests that our lives consist in battling for legitimacy to purchase commodities. We live in an excessively commodified world with requirements that are created in the interests of the market and that can be met primarily through the market (Robbins, 2008). Illouz (1997), proposes that although the market does not control the entire spectrum of romantic relationships, most romantic practices depend on consumption, directly or indirectly, and consumerist activities have thoroughly permeated our romantic imagination(Robbins, 2008). Today, it is important to spend money to be loveable, to sport the right apparel, perfumes and hairstyles (Robbins, 2008). It is also important to have money to define romantic moments. Romantic moments are in effect similar to religious rituals, processes wherein we reiterate that the world exists essentially in the way in which we perceive it. In commodifying romance, most of these moments have come to be governed by food, drink and travel. Eva Illouz, (1997), observed that even children, who have had no prior romantic experience, mention restaurants when asked to define their concept of the constitution of romantic moments. The commodification of romance has transformed it into a ritualistic process, wherein time and space are self contained. For one to act in love, one should be able to finance and implement the rituals of love; those activities that convey the appropriate meaning to the actors, activities often labeled as romantic moments. At restaurants, The meal, unlike eating at home or at a fast food establishment, is separate from the schedules and constraints of the outside world. An intimate dinner at home becomes special only if it is aided by ritualistic attributes of a restaurant dinner, like candlelight and wine (Teo, 2009, p 4). Another commodity often associated with romantic moments is travel (Teo, 2009). Travel, akin to restaurants, requires freedom and separation from a world guided by effort, work, profit and self interest (Robbins, 2008). Travel entails travel expenses, accommodation expenses and significant contribution to the tourist trade, with the pursuit of the romantic moment thus being elaborated and defined by consumer culture. Travel, in numerous ways involves the commodification of landscape to generate ritual settings to enact the creation and development of romantic relationships (Robbins, 2008). Illouz (1997, p 34), states that Capitalist society has appropriated and destroyed both the natural landscape uncontaminated by the visible hand of capital common to tourist resorts. Travel advertising, with its consistent portrayal of pristine landscapes ironically depicts what has been ruined and made more expensive, all the while denying the presence of money and other commodities. Romantic land scapes are typically the most luxurious and pricey, primarily wild, uncontaminated, isolated and far removed from the industrial world and middle class vacationers. When people recall romantic moments, they however fail to recognize them for what they actually were, namely the commoditization of romance (Robbins, 2008) The culture of Romantic love in Australia, in the early nineteenth century, was similar to that of the United States, Britain and Canada (Teo, 2009). Love was a moral, emotional and spiritual attraction that was deemed to be an important prerequisite to courtship, with companionship and marriage as its ideal goal (Teo, 2009). Romantic Love was believed to have a morally, spiritually and ennobling uplifting effect, especially on men. It was bound up in class consciousness and the demonstration of gentlemanly or ladylike behavior. (Teo, 2009) This was a result of the wider spiritualization of love in addition to partaking in the nineteenth-century belief in evolution and idealism in all aspects of society, most importantly love and morality. Whilst physical attraction was crucial and lovers wrote of their desire for contact, the heart of courtship rested on the exclusive and mutual disclosure of the self (Teo, 2009). In sharing their essence with each other, it was expected that romantic love might produce great unhappiness, bitterness and despair, as well as ecstasy and a feeling of empathy and completeness. (Spurlock, 1998, p 2) Since marriage was often taken for granted and often considered the chief aim and accomplishment of romantic love, almost everything that was a part of married life could probably be understood as a characteristic of romantic love(Spurlock, 1998, ). Some lovers therefore felt that they did not essentially expect love to produce consistent happiness after getting married as they differentiated between the emotional fulfillment and physical thrill of infatuation while courting, and the steadier, more mundane serenity of married love in which bouts of boredom or apathy might well be expected in the cycles of domestic life (Teo, 2009) Whilst certain features in the conventional idea of romantic love still exist, most nations have begun to develop an increasingly American and ritualistic understanding of romantic consumerism as an important expression of love (Robbins, 2008). As exhibited in the article, Money Can Buy You Love, in the Sydney Morning Herald on 14 February 2005, Con Stavros observed that Valentines Day has become less about intimacy than the grand, expensive gesture: the jewelry, the mink coat, the impromptu hot air balloon ride Marketing has transformed Valentines Day into a festive enterprise, If you go back even a decade, people used to just exchange private cards and have some kind of romantic [dinner]. These days the gift has to be public, conspicuous people [at work] ask each other: What did you get? (Robbins, 2008, p 61) Although the process of romantic consumerism may have become more excessive in prominent ways at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the development of this occurred in unequally gendered ways in the first half of twentieth century as consumer culture across the world became Americanized (Robbins, 2008). Whilst evaluating the consumerist quotient of romantic love in the twenty first century, it is important to observe its role in the functioning of society (Zax, 2009). Romantic love, in addition to establishing basis for marriage and reproduction, contributes to feelings of solidarity and social order. Since it involves the use of commodities, Romantic love encourages people to acquire an income. It is however important to realize the commodification of romantic love has aided in debasing or trivializing the romantic bond (Zax, 2009). The need for money has reduced spontaneity and naturalness in love and inhibited those with without money to act in love. (Zax, 2009) Whilst people do feel empowered with the experience of romance, it is important to realize that commodities primarily serve as potent aids for merely the dramatization of expression and should therefore be regarded as such. Conclusions This essay aims to discuss the relationship between romantic love and consumer culture. A consumerist society is defined by the purchasing and spending power of consumers, but differs from capitalism in that it is not as focused on monetary power as it on happiness that can be achieved through ownership of personal property. Romantic Love, perceived to be a repository of genuineness, is an intimate component of modern American affluence. It has now become inextricably linked to the mass market and adopted the economic mechanisms of American society. Sociology previously advanced the theory that that certain emotions were derivative of subjective experiences and not to be associated with study of symbolic and collective life. Romantic love was thus not discussed in terms of class conflicts, public rituals and social relationships. It however became an important cultural phenomenon in the early eighteenth century, with people, especially Americans determining their marital choices on the basis of emotions than on social or economic considerations. The advertising systems also started relating romance to numerous values, in addition to leisure, physical attractiveness and consumption. Advertisement, irrespective of advertised products, started carrying illustrations of couples in close embrace. The commoditization of romance has incorporated romantic love into the culture of consumer capitalism. Romantic moments are now strongly associated with food, drink and travel and have become intensely commoditized. Whilst certain features of conventional romantic love still exist, most nations have developed an American and ritualistic understanding of romantic consumerism as an expression of love. The need for money has reduced naturalness in love and inhibited those without it to act in love. Whilst the experience of romance does empower people, it is important to understand that commodities serve mainly as aids for dramatization of expression and should be regarded as such. Romantic love certainly contributes to feelings of solidarity, involves the use of commodities, and encourages people to acquire incomes. It is however also important to realize that commoditization of romantic love debases and trivializes romantic bonding and be able to sift genuine emotion from its consumeri st manifestation.

Friday, September 20, 2019

donepezil hydrochloride

donepezil hydrochloride Abstract- This article describes the discovery processes of donepezil hydrochloride which is inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Cholinergic hypothesis and other studies proved that deterioration in cognitive functions in Alzheimer disease is due to deficit in cholinergic neurotransmission and target to treat Alzheimer disease is to inhibit acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Position emission tomography (PET) study has shown that donepezil distributes in all acetylcholineterase rich brain regions and binds to it. Structure activity relationship (SAR) and quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) has also revealed that donepezil hydrochloride is gives optimum actylcholinesterase inhibition activity than its other analogues. Many methods are available for synthesis of donepezil hydrochloride with their merits and demerits. Keywords- Donepezil hydrochloride, Aricept, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, PET study, indanone derivatives. Abbrevations AD(Alzheimer disease), PET(position emission tomography), QSAR(quantitative structure activity relationship), Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor(AchEI), Aim To study different processes involved in drug discovery of Donepezil hydrochloride. Objectives- The main Objectives of this project are given below To study overall literature review of donepezil hydrochloride . To discuss discovery process involved in discovery of donepezil hydrochloride such as target identification, target validation and lead optimization Introduction- Donepezil hydrochloride is the reversible acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitor having N-benzylpiperidine and indanone moiety in it (Sugimoto Hachiro et al, 2008). It is referred as E2020 in most of the pharmaceutical literatures. This is the second drug approved by U.S FDA for treatement mild and moderate Alzheimer disease (Stahl Stephen M et al, 2006). It is Patented and marketed in United states of America, some European and Asian countries under the trade name Aricept by Eisai.co.,Ltd (Stahl Stephen M et al, 2006) (Tripathi KD , 2006) (Dale Rang H et al, 2006). Drug Discovery of donepezil- The drug discovery process of donepezil involves various phases as follows Target identification Target validation Lead recognition Lead optimization Target identification Target identification of drug means molecular recognition of site to which it will bind. For many drugs target is protein molecules. Target identification needs information about pathophysiology of disease and identification of particular biochemical steps that leads to therapeutic intervention. Conventional stratergies of target identification are mainly based on pathphysiology of disease. But newer stratergies of target of identification are based on proteonomics and genomics (Rang H PB et al, 2006). About 50-60% of Alzheimer disease patient are of over 65 year age (Sugimoto Hachiro et al, 2006). It is the neurodegenerative disorder with mean duration of 8.5 years between onset of action and death of patient (Sugimoto Hachiro et al, 2006). Symtoms of this disease includes gross and progressive impairement of cognitive functions. The most affected areas in the alzheimers disease are hippocampus and neocortex which are important for mental functions. Pathophysiology of disease consis ts of external deposits of amyloid precursors and intracellular formation of neurofibrillary tangles leads to neuronal synapses loss (Francis Paul T et al, 1999) Beta amyloid is the main component of sensile plaque formed by proteolysis of amyloid precursor proteins. Tangles are abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and regulated by balance between multiple kinases and phosphates. Hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins carry out sequestration of normal tau and other microtubule associated protein leads to impairment of axonal transport. This tau becomes prone to aggregation into insoluble fibril in tangles (Bartonili Manuala et al, 2003) (Andrisano Vincenza et al, 2003) According to cholinergic hypothesis, deterioration in cognitive functions in Alzheimer disease is due to degeneration of cholinergic neuron into forebrain and consequently decreased cholinergic neurotransmission in cerebral cortex and hippocampus (Francis Paul T et al 1999). Cholinergic neuron synthesizes acetylcholine, which is the acetic acid ester of choline. Acetylcholine is synthesized from the acetic acid and choline with the help of cholineacetylase. After stimuli vesicles discharge acetylcholine at the nerve ending and binds to postsynaptic receptors. Acetylcholine is stored into the synaptic vesicles which are accumulated at the nerve endings, also prevents its hydrolysis. Acetylcholine is hydrolises by acetylcholinesterase into acetic acid and choline(Tripathi KD 2006). Thus in Alzheimer disease cholinergic neurotransmission can be enhanced by inhibiting preventing the hydrolysis of acetylcholine, choline precursor,acetylcholine release facilitators ,M1 and M3 agonists ,Nicotinic agonistics but all these drugs were not effective to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer disease except cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase drugs have shown significant improvement in cognitive functions of Alzheimer disease. This has proved that cholinestera se inhibition is the main target to improve cognitive functions in Alzheimer disease (Sabbagha Marwan N et al, 2008) (Fisher Abraham et al, 2008). Target validation of donepezil- Target validation is the investigational approach by which potential drug target can be tested and given further reliability. Target validation is pharmaceutical approach in which influence of drug is observed. (Rang H PB et al, 2006). According to cholinergic and other studies acetylcholinesterase inhibition is the main target to improve imrove cogntitive functions in alzheimer disease patient. Okamaru Nobuyuki et al studied invivo binding of donepezil in the brain of alzheimer disease patient. They radiolabled donepezil as [11c-methoxy]-donepezil for position emission tomography imaging. Evaluation of binding and distribution of donepezil performed on mild and moderate Alzheimer disease patients. Normal control group volunteers had neither cognitive function impairements nor cerebrovascular lesions on magnetic resonance. PET study carried out after three months of neuropsychological medical examination. Region of interest analysis was carried for validation of regional distrubution of donepezil. PET images demonstrated that high volume of [11C]-donepezil distributed in all regions of brain like striatum, thalamus, striatum, and neocortex which are rich in acetylcholinesterase. Tissue time curves of [c11] -donipezil shown initial rapid uptake of donepezil in brain followed by gradual clearance in both elderly normal and alzheimer disease patients. Specific distribution volume was calculated from region of interest by metabolite corrected plasma time activity curve. Donezpezil shown linear regression on logan plot analysis in all brain region as shown in figure -1. (Okamura Nobuyuki et al, 2008) (Yanai Kazuhiko et al, 2003) Lead generation A lead compound is a new chemical entity that could potentialy developed into new drug by optimizing its valuable and minimizing side effect. High throught screening is mainly used for lead generation(Rang H P et al, 2006). Many drugs were trialed to improve the cognitive functions in Alzheimer disease like cholinergic agonist such as oxetremorine, choline precursor phosphatidylcholine but that were inffective. Numerous clinical trials carried out on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as physostigmine, this trial shown that this class of drug resulted in improvement of cognitive functions in Alzheimer disease patients. However these clinical trials also proved that physostigmine has poor brain Penetration and thus less active (Muramoto,M et al, 1979). In 1981 summers et.al gave intravenous injection of tacrine to Alzheimer disease patients which were until that time used as antiseptic. These doses of tacrine shown measurable improvement in alzheimer symtoms but tacrine had shown ma ny side effects such as hepatotoxicity( Farlow SI et al, 1992). Later then scientist focused on development of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Research and development of donepezil started in 1983 in Eisai .co .Ltd. Kawakami et al started to develop nontoxic tacrine derivatives but they failed to develop such tacrine derivative. While random screening scientists observed that N-benzylpiperazine (compound-A) has moderate anticholinesterase activity which was previously being synthesized for antiarterial sclerosis(Kawakami Yoshiyuki et al 2000)). During subsequent screening Kawakami et al used benzylpiperazine as seed compound and synthesized around 700 derivatives. Succeeding this experiment, it was observed that increase in acetylcholinesterase activity by replacing n-benzylpiperazine with N-benzylpiperidine moiety(compound-B). It was also found that slightly increase in activity by replacing ether group with amide group(compound-C) and removal of nitro group from benzamide moeity (compound-D) decreases activity. ((Kawakami Yoshiyuki et al 2 000). From these results Kawakami et al synthesized benzsulfonyl derivative and found that it is a most potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor than benzpiperazine derivative. Benzsulfonyl derivarive showed very selective activity towards acetylcholinesterase but very poor bioavaibility. On the basis of this result they used benzoylsulfonyl derivative as lead compound. In next screening they replaced amide moiety with ketone moiety and maintained activity. Then Kawakami et al synthesized various indanone derivatives among them he found that donepezil has good acetylcholinesterase activity and bioavaibility(Sugimoto Hachiro et al, 1992). STRUCTURE ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP OF DONEPEZIL Indananone derivatives were tested on rat for acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity according to method of Ellman et al. donepezil structure is divided into four rings as follows. Part 1- Indanone ring Part 2 -linkage moeity Part 3- piperidine moeity Part4 -benzyl moiety Modification at Indanone moeity If indanone moeity is replaced with ÃŽ ±-tetralone ,1-benzene suberone , 5,6 dimethoxy indene greately decreased activity ,while 25 fold increased activity by introducing methxy group at 5,6 position of indanone moeity .Carbonyl group is important for activity.Introduction of methoxy group at R3 position increase in activity by 20 fold .A methoxy group at R4 position increases activityby 10 fold . also slightly increase in activity on substitution to of methoxy group at para position in the benzoyl group moeity enhanced binding to the active site of acetylcholinesterase enzyme(Camps Pelayo et al, 2008). 2) Modification at linkage moiety- Various bridging group between indanone and piperidine moeity were tested for cholinesterase activity. If both indanone and piperidine rings joined directly then it dicreases activity .Increase in acivity with different bridging group in the following order prophylene >methylene>penthylene> ethylene >butylenes. (Sugimoto Hachiro et al , 1990). (3)Modification at piperidine moeity- Activity is depend on location and no of nitrogen atom .Nitrogen atom at 1-position of benzpiperidine is important for activity since N atom at 4-position of benzpiperidine decreases activity .If piperidine ring is replaced with piperazine moeity .then it dicreases activity(Sugimoto Hachiro et al, 2008). 4)Modification at benzyl moeity- 3-position substituted benzyl derivative showed greater activity among -2,-3,-4, substituted reioisomers .If benzene ring is substituted with electron withdrawing nitrogen group and electron donating methyl group shows similar activity .Replacement of benzyl group with phenylethyl group and 2-napthyl group decreased activity(.Kawakami Yoshiyuki et al, 2000)( Sugimoto Hachiro et al, 1990). Lead development of donepezil Once lead compound is identified then it is optimized and characterized for different aspects such as QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship), SAR(structure activity relationship),synthesis method . Synthesis of donepezil If any compound shows optimum activity in above lead optimization processes then that compounds enter in further stage of lead optimization process. For physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic, pharmacokidynamic study of lead compound highly purified and large amount of drug is required. Therefore synthesis method for lead compound is important. Sugimoto and co-workers discovered method for synthesis of donezepil with an overall yield of 27.4%. This process involves synthesis of ÃŽ ±, ÃŽ ² substituted ketones(compound 11) from 1-indanone by aldol condensation. This unsaturation product is catalytically reduced by Palladium to compound (13) but this method needs subzero temperature (-78%) and very toxic chemicals, such as n- butyl litium.( Tsuchiya Yutaka, 1992). Also many other method have been reported, which are too time consuming or not suitable for large scale production. Stephen discovered efficient synthesis method for donepezil and its analogue. This method involves hydrogenation of pyridine analogues ( compound 7) by using platinum oxide [scheme 2, path A] which is very expensive .If platinum oxide replace with less expensive 5% palladium carbon then it synthesizes compound (8) and compound (11).(US patent 6252081). Chandrashekhar R et al developed economical and efficient method for donepezil synthesis (scheme 2, path ÃŽ ²). In first step they condensed 5,6 dimethoxy -1-indan 1-one [ compound 2] with isonicotinaldehyde compound(3) by modification in standard procedure .By this condensation they formed intermediate compound (6) with 95.8% yield. Afterward he carried out hydrogenation of pyridine ring by using palladium carbon then he observed two main impurities compound (9) and compound (10) due to competitive side reaction of carb onyl ring. In this method they not only maintained different reaction conditions like reaction time, hydrogen pressure, and different solvent but also hydrogenated compound (6) in methanol under hydrogen pressure with 90% yield and 98.5% purity. Final step of donepezil involves benzylation of compound (8). In benzylation nature of solvent and quality benzylbromide plays important role in controlling dibenzyl product ( Elati Chandrashekar R et al, 2006). If acetone, dichloromethane, acetonitril, isopropylether and dichloromethane gives very poor yield. Conclusion- In conclusion donepezil hydrochloride is the novel and efficacious cholinesterase inhibitor than other acetylchlinesterase inhibitors. Cholinergic hypothesis shown that cholinergic degradation is the main reason for Alzheimer isease. By target validation it is also proved that donepezil bind to the acetyl cholinesterase and inhibits it. By the target validation it is also proved that donepezil inhibits cholinesterase mainly into the cortical and other areas where high concentration of cholinesterase is situated Is Donepezil has strongly proved cholinergic hypothesis and Also shown that cholineterse inhibition is the main target for treatement of alzimer disease than acetylcholine agonists and acetylcholine precursor. After different structure replacement and attachment to the lead compound of donepezil it is also proved that donepezil has good specificity and activity than other analogues .QSAR study of donepezil and its analogues also shown that donepezil is strongly binds to cholin esterase than other indanone derivatives. Sugimoto and their co workers also synthesized different pyridine and indanone derivatives they also got good efficacy of the results . For donepezil synthesis different methods have been developed all have some disadvantages and problems regarding hydrogenation step. But chandrashekhar elati et al method has overcome this problems by modifying synthesis methods. Acknowledgement- I thanks to Dr Kevine Devine, Dr Annie Bligh, Dr Dhaya Perumal for their guidance to study drug discovery technology module and prepare project(Dissitation) on donepezil discovery processes.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

A Wrinkle In Time :: Wrinkle in Time Essays

A Wrinkle In Time A Wrinkle In Time is an example of great American literature. It is a plot-based novel with something always happening while an obstacle is standing in the way. Most of the conflict occurring in this book is person versus self and person versus supernatural. A certain aspect that is very prevalent in this book is love. This love takes the characters on the trip of a lifetime, for the sole purpose of finding her father. This love in the background is not known by the reader until the last few pages, and ends up encompassing and explaining the whole novel. Meg Murray, the protagonist and the person from whom the reader gets their point of view, is the main character. She has a little brother, Charles Wallace, and two twin brothers, Sandy and Denny. Her mother is a guiding figure within the story, and serves as her daughter Meg's source of ambition. We learn from reading the story that Meg's father disappears from an extremely secret scientific project, and is expected to return, but hasn't for several years. Meg can see the pain that her mother feels and the rest of the family also about the loss of their father, and wants to help find him. All the while, feelings are mutual that their father is living, but nobody knows for sure. Characters begin to develop, and we learn that Charles Wallace and Meg Murray are very close siblings, and Charles seems to have the ability to know whenever Meg or her mother is upset. He can also answer questions directed at him by his sister, but were not actually spoken, almost as if he can read their minds. None other than little Charles Wallace demonstrates the first example of love being expressed in this novel. During the dark and stormy night that starts the book, Meg becomes afraid of the wind and the thunder, and decides to go downstairs for a cup of cocoa. Charles Wallace is already awake and has warmed the milk for the chocolate. However, this is not the only thing done by little Charles Wallace. ""You put in more than twice enough milk." Meg peered into the saucepan. Charles Wallace nodded serenely. "I thought Mother might like some"" (L'Engle 8). He even makes sandwiches for both Mrs. Murray and Meg. Charles Wallace is only five years old, yet he knows when his sister is in need of companionship, and is happy to do things for Mrs.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Climate Change Essay -- Essays Papers

â€Å"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that, if unchecked, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations by 2100 will range from 650 to 970 parts per million. As a result, the panel estimates, average global temperature would probably rise by 2.7 to 10.4 degrees between 1990 and 2100 †. Climate change Earth changing climate is attracting more serious attention of environmentalists and politicians in last the years due to heavy concern over the future of our earth. Human heavy dependence on the use of fossil fuels, 90% of commercial energy, is responsible for the 22 % of industrial emissions of gases. According to Michael Toman, â€Å"humans are greatly adding the presence of the gases, commonly referred to as greenhouse gases (GHG’s), by burning fossil fuels and through other industrial activities as well as various kinds of land use, such as deforestation. Such activities are significantly changing the level of gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere which in return can â€Å"work against us when they trap too much sunlight and block outward radiation †. In order to avoid global catastrophe associated with threat of global warming we need to act by reducing global emissions of greenhouse gas concentrations into atmosphere. Global climate change will affect everybody in the world. The negative impacts of global arming will include severe weather change, hobbled ecosystems, with less diversity, with less safe drinking water; inundation of coastal areas from rising sea levels; and greater spread of deceases. As an illustration author, have depicted the growing issue of cancer which can be the leading diseased caused by the erosion of ozone layer that protects people from ultraviolet radiation from the su... ...ler cumulative contribution to the problem and their need for economic growth. Notwithstanding this reality , these nations must be bound by some commitment in the future. 3. A mechanism to encourage transnational investment in technologies that reduce emissions- the creation of a market in emissions reductions will spur the development of the necessary technology and allow reductions to be achieved in the cheapest way possible with allocation of costs consistent with responsibility. In order to protect the earth’s climate we would need to find proper economically suitable and ecologically efficient method that will stop accelerating excess of GHGs. Thus, international cooperation with a organized method should be found for prevention of further damage to our eco system with little economic damage.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Probation Officers Essay

Probation officers work with criminal offenders, some of whom may be dangerous. They also monitor offenders to prevent them from committing new crimes. Workers in this occupation must meet many court-imposed deadlines and also travel, especially if they work in rural areas. Probation officers usually have to have a bachelor’s degree, but the requirement varies by agency. Officers who work in the probation system have various duties that keep their job busy. They evaluate offenders to determine the best course of treatment. They provide offenders with resources to aid in rehabilitation. Probation officers discuss treatment options and arrange those treatment programs for offenders. One of the main duties for a probation officer is to supervise offenders and monitor their progress. They conduct meetings with offenders as well as their family and friends. Then the most boring part of their job is to write reports on the progress of offenders. Probation officers are also associated with correctional treatment specialists since they both are relatively the same occupation. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists work with offenders who are given probation instead of jail time, who are still in prison, or who have been released from prison. There are several types of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists. Probation officers, who are called community supervision officers in some states, supervise people who have been placed on probation. They work to ensure that the offender is not a danger to the community and to help in their rehabilitation. Probation officers write reports that detail each offender’s treatment plans and their progress since they were put on probation. Most probation officers work with either adults or juveniles. Only in small, mostly rural, jurisdictions do probation officers counsel both adults and juveniles. Pretrial services officers investigate an offender’s background to determine if that offender can be safely allowed back into the community before his or her trial date. They must assess the risk and make a recommendation to a judge who decides on the appropriate sentencing or bond amount. When offenders are allowed back into the community, pretrial officers supervise them to make sure that they stay with the terms of their release and appear at their trials. Parole officers work with people who have been released from jail and are serving parole to help them re-enter society. Parole officers monitor post-release offenders and provide them with various resources, such as substance abuse counseling or job training, to aid in their rehabilitation. By doing so, the officers try to change the offenders’ behavior and thus to reduce the risk of that person committing another crime and having to return to jail or prison. Both probation and parole officers supervise offenders though personal contact with the offenders and their families. Probation and parole officers require regularly scheduled contact with offenders by telephone or through office visits, and they may also check on offenders at their homes or places of work. Probation and parole officers also oversee drug testing and electronic monitoring of offenders. In some states, officers do the jobs of both probation and parole officers. Correctional treatment specialists, who also may be known as case managers or correctional counselors, counsel offenders and develop rehabilitation plans for them to follow when they are no longer in prison or on parole. They may evaluate inmates using questionnaires and psychological tests. They also work with inmates, probation officers, and staff of other agencies to develop parole and release plans. For example, they may plan education and training programs to improve offenders’ job skills. Correctional treatment specialists write case reports that cover the inmate’s history and the likelihood that he or she will commit another crime. When their clients are eligible for release, the case reports are given to the appropriate parole board. The specialist may help set up counseling for the offenders and their families, find substance-abuse or mental health treatment options, aid in job placement, and find housing. Correctional treatment specialists also explain the terms and conditions of the prisoner’s release, write reports, and keep detailed written accounts of each offender’s progress. Specialists who work in parole and probation agencies have many of the same duties as their counterparts in correctional institutions. The number of cases a probation officer or correctional treatment specialist handles at one time depends on the need of offenders and the risks associated with each individual. Higher risk offenders usually command more of the officer’s time and resources. The caseload size also varies by agency. Technological advancements, such as, improved tests for screening drug use, electronic devices to monitor clients, and kiosks that allow clients to check in remotely, help probation officers and correctional treatment specialists supervise and counsel offenders. Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must meet many court-imposed deadlines, which contribute to heavy workloads and extensive paperwork. Many officers travel to do home and employment checks and property searches, especially in rural areas. Because of the hostile environments probation officers may encounter, some must carry a firearm or other weapon for protection. All of these factors, as well as the frustration some officers and specialists feel in dealing with offenders who violate the terms of their release, contribute to a stressful work environment. Although the high stress levels make the job difficult at times, this work also can be rewarding. Many officers and specialists receive personal satisfaction from counseling members of their community and helping them become productive citizens. Although many officers and specialists work full time, the demands of the job often lead to their working much longer hours. For example, many agencies rotate an on-call officer position. When these workers are on-call, they must respond to any issues with offenders of law enforcement 24 hours a day. Extensive travel and paperwork can also contribute to their having to work longer hours. A bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, or a related field is usually required. Some employers require a master’s degree in a related field for candidates who do not have previous related work experience. Although job requirements may vary, related work may include work in probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, substance abuse treatment, social work, or counseling. Work in any of these fields is typically considered a plus in the hiring process. Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must complete a training program sponsored by their state government or the federal government, after which they may have to pass a certification test. In addition, they may be required to work as trainees or on a probationary period for up to one year before being offered a permanent position. Some probation officers go on to specialize in a certain type of casework. For example, an officer may work only with domestic violence offenders or deal only with substance-abuse cases. Officers receive training specific to the group that they are working with so that they are better prepared to help that type of offender. Most agencies require applicants to be at least 21 years old and, for federal employment, not older than 37 years of age. In addition, most departments require candidates to have a record free of felony convictions and to submit to drug testing and a valid driver’s license is often required. Being a probation officer or a correctional treatment specialist is a very important job for the justice department because some of the offenders who are returning to civilian life need help adjusting back from the prison life that they had been accustomed to for so long. Also, a probation officer is needed for the offenders who are not quite bad enough to be put in jail or prison. They just need to have an eye kept on them to prevent them from committing another violation or commit a more serious crime. Even though probation officers have offenders to monitor, they also have a ton of paperwork to record and keep for the offenders file. The officers have to be perceptive in noticing minor details in the offender’s behavior and overall attitude toward the situation they are in. Probation officers are a key asset for the courts to use and without them the justice system would not be able to function because the judges would have no other option than to send the offenders to jail or prison and that would overpopulate the already overpopulated jail and prisons. Bibliography http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/occguide/PROBOFF.HTM http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm#tab-4

Monday, September 16, 2019

Restructuring the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC): Philippine Prospects for Regional Collective Defense and Stronger Military Relations Essay

Economic development through greater regional cooperation was the primary aim of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when it was formed on August 8, 1967 by the founding countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Although one of the motivations at that time of forming the association was the common fear of communist expansion (especially in Vietnam) and insurgency within their respective borders, the ASEAN has not ventured into creating a military alliance to promote â€Å"regional peace and stability†. Hence, the ASEAN is formally recognized as an economic organization with no military obligations tying member nations. But with the recent rise of security tensions, primarily caused by the aggressive actions taken by China against the Philippines and co-claimant ASEAN nations over territories located at the South China Sea; the prospect of creating an ASEAN military alliance to solve the â€Å"Chinese security problem†, has become very tempting. The researcher believes that indeed, stronger military relations between ASEAN nations will not only help address the security threat posed by China but also assist in resolving the territorial disputes between co-member  nations. Thus, this paper proposes a restructuring of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) such that it will allow the establishment and creation of the following: (1) A regional military alliance that will promote collective defense (2) the ASEAN peacekeeping force and (3) the ASEAN Security Council. The paper also examines the imperative role of the United States and Japan in the resolution of the security issues in the region; the feasibility of the proposal in the context of the status quo, and the possible problems that will face the military alliance once it is forged. 1. INTRODUCTION During the 1970s until the 1990s, security issues began assailing the stability of the Southeast Asian (SEA) region as territorial disputes erupted between fellow ASEAN nations and China. The said disputes were mainly about the disagreement on maritime boundaries and territorial claims made on islands on the South China Sea (or the West Philippine Sea). The situation did not improve upon entering the 21st century as the conflicts seemed to worsen. In 2005, Chinese ships allegedly fired upon two Vietnamese fishing boats from Thanh Hoa province which killed 9 people.1 If there was something common with all the incidents of skirmishes and standoffs in the much contested area since the 1980s, it was the constant involvement of the Chinese navy. China was dubbed as the rising bully of the South China Sea. With a formidable military strength and an aggressive foreign policy in dealing with territorial disputes, China was becoming a great security menace to not only the Philippines and the SEA region but to the rest of the world. The stability of the SEA region is a paramount concern of Philippine national security, one of the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy. 2 Moreover, Philippine defense officials and security experts view Chinese expansionist aspirations in the South China Sea as the main longterm security threat to the Philippines. 3 The renewed tensions between the Philippines and China last April 8, 2012 at the Scarborough Shoal has led to speculations of a Philippine-China war and its implications to the Philippine-US mutual  defense treaty. International relations experts though, doubt the commitment of the US to come in the Philippines defense once it is attacked by China as it has not confirmed whether the scope of the treaty covers contested territories in the South China Sea.4 1 â€Å"Chinese ships ‘shot to kill’ Vietnamese fishermen; survivor†. Vietnam Seaports Association. 17 January 2005. â€Å"Philippine Foreign Policy†. The Official Website of the Republic of the Philippines – Department of Foreign Affairs. 11 August 2009. 3 Sokolsky, R., Rabasa A., & Neu, C. R. 2001, p. 33 4 â€Å"Stirring up the South China Sea (II): Regional Responses†. Inernational Crisis Group. 24 July 2012. 2 With that in mind, it is apparent then that relying on the US for military assistance in the event of a Chinese attack is useless. What the Philippines need is a military alliance of committed nations who have more or less the same stake in the South China Sea territorial dispute. That being said, the most logical choice would be creating an alliance with our fellow ASEAN claimant nations. 2. REGIONAL COLLECTIVE DEFENSE: ATTEMPT AND FAILURE The idea of creating an international organization for collective defense in the SEA region to offset growing Chinese influence is not new to international politics. In fact it was once tried with the signing of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty or Manila Pact, in Manila, Philippines which created the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). The organization was then formally established on February 19, 1955 at a meeting of treaty partners in Bangkok, Thailand.5 One of the rationales for the creation of SEATO was to counteract communist influence in Southeast Asia, especially that of Communist China, through an anti-communist collective defense alliance.6 The organization though is generally considered a failure because internal conflict and dispute hindered general use of the SEATO military. Also, SEATO was inefficient in promoting regional stability (failing to prevent the escalation of the Vietnam War) as only two SEA nations joined the organization, namely the Philippines and Thailand. Majority of the members were located outside the region. After a final exercise on 20 February 1976, SEATO was formally dissolved on June 30, 1977.7 3. RESTRUCTURING THE ASEAN POLITICAL-SECURITY COMMUNITY (APSC) Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in response to the growing threat of terrorism in the region, called for a collective security system within the ASEAN in 2004.8 But 5 Leifer 2005 Franklin 2006, p. 1 7 Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) 2000, p. 60 6 under the original ASEAN charter, a multilateral approach on military and security issues is disallowed. Furthermore, the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) in its blueprint has vowed to rely exclusively on peaceful processes in resolving intra-regional and extra-regional differences. Since the status quo hinders any step towards regional collective defense, a major overhaul would be required for the proposal to push through.9 This paper proposes a revision on the original ASEAN charter in a way that will allow the transformation of the APSC into an authoritative military body. Such transition will be facilitated by the creation of the ASEAN Security Council which will serve as the overseeing organ of the APSC and will assist  in the forging of a collective defense alliance and a peacekeeping force under the ASEAN. The fundamental concept of each proposal is discussed briefly below. 3.1 ASEAN Security Council The proposed body will serve as the highest authoritative body of the APSC and will be composed by the member states of the ASEAN and represented by a delegate from each nation. Its tasks will include (but will not be limited to) supervision, policy formulation and implementation, and decision-making regarding regional security issues under the APSC. 3.2 ASEAN Collective Defense Alliance The forging of this alliance must be legitimized under the ASEAN charter through the necessary amendments and should not in any way violate existing international laws. Under the proposed framework, every ASEAN nations must pledge to defend each other in the event of an extra-regional attack. In dealing with intra-regional disputes though, collective defense cannot be invoked. Any incidence of intra-regional conflicts will be subject to investigation of the ASEAN Security Council and will be decided on accordingly. 8 9 â€Å"ASEAN and collective security system†. The Jakarta Post. 7 December 2004 See The ASEAN Charter, pp. 23-28 and ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint, pp. 8-14 3.3 ASEAN Peacekeeping Force During times of regional unrest caused by military conflict between member nations, the formation of a peacekeeping force maybe ordered by the ASEAN Security Council. The peacekeeping force will be composed of military personnel contributed by the non-involved states and will serve a specific term or until the conflict is resolved. Duties of the ASEAN peacekeeping force will include protecting civilians, assisting in post-war disarmament, escorting of important diplomats and peace negotiators, demobilization and  reintegration of former combatants. 4. POLITICAL-SECURITY IMPACT ANALYSIS The evocations of an ASEAN military pact will have a strong bearing on China’s future foreign policy. Perhaps a positive effect (if the recommendation is pursued) will be the taming down of the aggressiveness of China in dealing with the South China Sea issue. With a population of over 600 million people, a steady and growing economy, and tightening diplomatic relations with the U.S. and Japan; the military potential of the ASEAN cannot be simply overlooked. Both the U.S. and Japan, with their political and economic stakes in Southeast Asia and shared apprehension of the growing Chinese power, are likely to support a militarily united ASEAN to secure their interests in the region. Furthermore, a militarily integrated ASEAN eases the burden of the U.S. in playing the role of regional balancer and provides both countries with a strong political leverage in dealing with Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea. That being said, it is only logical to count on both technical and moral support from the two extraregional powers should the ASEAN decide to pursue the endeavor. Another possible positive outcome will be the proficient resolution of intra-regional conflicts. Under the proposed APSC framework, existing and future intra-regional disputes will be settled through the ASEAN Security Council instead of state-to-state negotiations. A collective defense alliance also serves as deterrence to any thought of aggression towards a comember and strengthens solidarity through a common sense of military identity. But other considerations like the reactions of Chinese allies or even those of neutral observers to the region will also matter. A negative feedback by the international community can have a bad implication to the future of the proposed collective defense organization. China’s reaction itself is also an important consideration. Although it is more likely that China will become more restrained in dealing with a militarily united ASEAN in the South China Sea, one cannot absolutely ascertain such outcome. An opposite course of what is expected, however unlikely, is still possible. Another point to ponder upon is the role the Philippines will play in the pursuance of an ASEAN military pact. Do we play the regional leader role and take on the initiative? Or become a regional-subsystem collaborator and let another ASEAN nation assume the central role? Whatever it may be, it is a necessity for the Philippines to pick an active role if it is to protect its interest in the matter. 5. CONLUSION Establishing a collective defense system within the ASEAN will not be an easy job. There will be many obstacles towards the path: socio-cultural divisions, lingering tensions over unresolved territorial feuds, and differing levels of threat perceptions dims the prospects of turning the organization into a formal military pact.10 But as highlighted earlier, the pressing need of military cooperation in the light of the Chinese threat can override the said obstacles. The support of extra-regional powers like Japan and the US will be vital to the success of the proposal. The U.S. who is trying to preserve its hegemony and Japan who is currently involved in a territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku islands, will likely support the advancement of the ASEAN into a collective defense organization considering the political advantage they will be able to reap from it. International feedback will also play a significant role in the success or failure of proposal. The approval (or disapproval) of the international community will greatly affect the progress and future of an ASEAN collective defense system. But what matters most is the 10 Sokolsky, R., Rabasa A., & Neu, C. R. 2001, pp. 45-47 reaction of China and its allies. A strong negative response from the aforementioned can easily plunge the region into a state of cold war— a possible outcome that is extremely contrary to the aims of the proposal. (Word count: 1679) Bilbliography: Books: ï‚ · Franklin, John K. (2006). The Hollow Pact: Pacific Security and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. ProQuest. ISBN 978-0-542-91563-5. ï‚ · Leifer, Michael (2005). Chin Kin Wah, Leo Suryadinata. ed. Michael Leifer: Selected Works on Southeast Asia. ISBN 978-981-230-270-0. ï‚ · Sokolsky, R., Rabasa A. & Neu, C. R. (2001) The Role of Southeast Asia in U.S. Strategy Toward China. ISBN/EAN 0-8330-2893-6. Encylopedias: ï‚ · Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) (2000). Students’ Britannica India, Volume Five. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-0-85229-760-5. Journals: ï‚ · Holsti, K. J. (1970). National Role Conceptions in the Study of Foreign Policy. International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Sep., 1970), pp. 233-309 Websites: ï‚ · Inernational Crisis Group (July 24, 2012). Stirring up the South China Sea (II): Regional Responses. Retrieved February 16, 2013, from: http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/north-east-asia/china/229-stirring-up-thesouth-china-sea-ii-regional-responses.aspx ï‚ · The Official Website of the Republic of the Philippines – Department of Foreign Affairs. Philippine Foreign Policy. 11 August 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2013, from: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/about-the-dfa/philippine-foreign-policy