A Growing Epidemic of Alcohol Problems

Previous studies have shown that the combination of biological markers and CAGE questionnaires is an efficient tool in determining alcohol abuse.Among the laboratory tests used to determine biological markers of alcohol abuse, it has been found that the most sensitive marker is the level of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) (Viitala, 1998; Yersin et al., 1995). CDT is a protein which is found out to be a sensitive marker of disease of the liver caused by excessive alcohol intake.Among the commonly used biological markers are detection of the level of ethanol and acetate, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c) (Hoeksema & Bock, 1993). The CAGE questionnaire was made by Dr. John Ewing to identify alcoholics. It is consist of four questions scored as 0 or 1 and alcoholism is considered to be significant if the individual in question scores two or greater.In a certain study conducted to compare the sensitivity and speci fity of CAGE questionnaire, plasma levels of ethanol and acetate, mean corpuscular volume, gamma glutamyl transferase and glycosylated hemoglobin, it was found that the it is through the use of CAGE questionnaire that the alcoholic patients are most accurately distinguished against nonalcoholic and patients with non-alcoholic hepatic disease with 90%sensititvity and 99% specificity (Girela, Villanueva, Hernandez-Cueto, & Luna, 1994).Socio-demographic factors are also commonly included in studies conducted to ascertain alcoholic problems for it has been shown in some studies that it is related to alcoholic abuse.Age, sex, educational attainment and economic status are among the factors commonly observed. In a study conducted by Bataille (2003) to identify heavy drinkers in a large population, he included the use of socio-demographic factors as one way of identification.Results of his study show that there is no significant difference in age, sex, arterial hypertension but educational level and smoking habits proves to have significant differences in the population observed. Those with lower educational background and frequent smoking habits relates to greater alcohol consumption (Bataille et al., 2003).Although there have been lots of studies that used biological markers, CAGE questionnaires and evaluation of socio-demographic factors but there is a lack of substantial findings that elucidate the interrelationships of these indicators in identifying alcohol problems. Thus, there is need to conduct a study regarding this matterIII. Conceptual FrameworkA.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nominal Definition/Meaning of ConceptsAccording to Viitala (1998) â€Å"alcohol abuse refers to heavy drinking that results into health consequences, social problem or both and patients of this kind suffer from mental or physical complications brought on by alcohol even though the criteria for alcoholism may not have been fulfilled while alcoholism is the most severe problem related to alcohol consu mption and it is a disease where severe dependence and increased tolerance has been developed.†According to Peterson (2004), â€Å"a biological marker or biomarker is a compound or series of compounds that can be used to measure the progress of a disease or the effects of treatment.† Among the currently used biomarkers for detecting alcohol intake are serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) which are all liver enzymes.N-acetyl-ÃŽ ²-hexosaminidase (beta-Hex) which indicates break down of carbohydrates in liver cells and other cells of the body is also used as a biomarker.Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) which is a measure of red blood cell volume is also used as a biomarker (Peterson, 2004). In this study the biomarker that will be used is CDT. CDT is a form of glycoprotein transferrin which carries iron in the bloodstream but without carbohydrate sialic acid. Norma lly different forms of transferrin are available in the body but the one that is most abundant among heavy drinkers of alcohol is CDT.

Coffee Industry Essay

From the discovery of small, brightly colored red berries on trees in Ethiopia came the largest imported commodity in the world, second only to oil. The coffee bean provides a livelihood for over 20 million people worldwide with an estimated worldwide retail sales expected to grow by a compounded rate of 6. 9% from 2005-2010, reaching $48. 2 billion by 2010, according to The U. S. Market for Coffee and Ready-to-Drink Coffee. [1] The two main species of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is a high-quality coffee typically grown at higher elevations where the optimal climatic conditions necessary to grow this specialty grade of coffee are found. Arabica coffee is traded in two ways: ? On the highly volatile New York â€Å"C† market where the â€Å"C† price is affected by the global supply as it rises and falls. The average â€Å"C† price for a pound of coffee during fiscal 2005 was $1. 04. ? Higher-quality Arabica beans are used in specialty coffee. Specialty coffee represents 10 percent of the total worldwide coffee market. Prices for specialty coffee are higher than the â€Å"C† offers in order to provide better rates payable to producing farmers for quality. [2] According to the National Coffee Association in Volume 2005. 4 of Coffee Trax, as of December 2005, forecasts for the world coffee production for 2005-2006 will be 113. 1 million bags. Production is down 5. 5% over the actual 2004-2005 yields of 119. 8 million bags. Domestic consumption in producing countries in 2005-2006 is forecast to increase to 31. 2 million bags, indicating domestic use should be 9. 9% higher in 2005/06 than in 2004/05. Using the most current data, world coffee consumption for 2003/04 was 96. 5 million bags, up by 1. 8% over 2002/03’s production. â€Å"In 1999 there were 108,000,000 coffee consumers in the United States spending an approximated 9. 2 billion dollars in the retail sector and 8. 7 billion dollars in the foodservice sector every year (SCAA 1999 Market Report). It can be inferred, therefore, that coffee drinkers spend on average $164. 71 per year on coffee. The National Coffee Association found in 2000 that 54% of the adult population of the United States drinks coffee daily (NCA Coffee Drinking Trends Survey, 2000). They also reported that 18. 12% of the coffee drinkers in the United States drink gourmet coffee beverages daily (NCA). In addition to the 54% who drink coffee everyday, 25% of Americans drink coffee occasionally (NCA). The average consumption per capita in the United States is around 4. 4 Kg. Among coffee drinkers (i. e. not per capita) the average consumption in the United States is 3. 1 cups of coffee per day (NCA). Per capita men drink approximately 1. 9 cups per day, whereas women drink an average of 1. 4 cups of coffee a day (NCA). The USDA’s 2005/2006 December estimate for world exportable production is 82.0 million bags which is 10. 2% lower than 2004/05. Total U. S. imports were down 15% for the second to third quarter of 2005. Estimated roastings for the third quarter of 2005 were up to 4. 7 million bags compared to the second quarter but down by 5. 8% for the year-ago quarter. [3] Retail prices were up from $3. 33 to $3. 40 for the average quarterly retail price of a pound of roast-and-ground coffee or 2. 1% after comparing the third-quarter 2005 to the second quarter. Compared to the year-ago quarter, average retail prices were up by 18. 1%, moving to $3. 40 from $2. 88. The average monthly retail price continues to be 20. 8% below its seven-year high of $4. 67 in August 1997. [1] Fair Trade coffee is beginning to affect the economics of the coffee industry. Coffee retailers to help maintain a sustainable supply of coffee are increasingly adopting the Fair Trade movement. Over the years a coffee crisis has developed as supply has greatly exceeded demand. This paradox of continued growth of retail pricing at the expense of the small coffee farmers has driven retailers like Starbucks to create their own methods of providing higher profits to producing farms so that supply can be maintained. Under a Fair Trade agreement producers are guaranteed a fair price consisting of a floor price of $1. 26 per pound and $1. 41 for certified organic coffee. [2] From 2002 to 2004, USAID invested over $57 million on coffee projects in over 18 countries in Latin America, East Africa and Asia in an effort to create sustainable supplies of coffee. Other movements such as Organic and Shade Tree coffee have had similar goals to help with environmental and quality concerns on the producing farms. [4] Coffee consumers are continuing to show a preference for premium coffees. While most brands have declined in sales during the past year, premium coffees have managed growth, according to data from Information Resources Inc. , which measures sales through supermarkets; drug stores and mass merchandise outlets. Ground coffees lost 1. 8 percent of sales for a category total of $1. 6 billion, but whole bean coffees were up 2. 2 percent. Starbucks grew in both segments, with a 13. 2 percent increase in ground coffee sales and 6. 4 percent in whole bean sales. [5] Retailers such as Starbucks in the specialty coffees use the highest-quality Arabica. Specialty coffee is a broad category of coffee positioned as the highest quality and/or roasted with the ideal techniques or even coffee from particular plantations. â€Å"Even though the overall U. S. coffee market has been sluggish lately, the specialty component has seen significant growth, with retail dollar sales approaching $9 billion in 2003. The segment’s sales in 2003 represented growth of 6. 7 percent over 2002’s $8. 4 billion. In 2003, coffee cafes – the approximately 11,240 retail locations including seating, such as most Starbuck’s outlets – generated $6. 1 billion in retail sales, or 68. 3 percent of the segment’s total. Coffee bean roasters and retailers – the 1,350 sites with on-premise roasting – accounted for 14 percent of sales with $1. 3 billion. Coffee retailers without seating, also known as kiosks, had sales of $810 million, which represented 9. 0 percent of the total. There were approximately 2,700 coffee kiosks operating in 2003. Mobile retailers (i. e. , carts) accounted for an additional 3. 2 percent of sales, with all other channels responsible for the rest. † [6] Driving Forces in the Coffee Industry Competitive and industry conditions experience change due to the forces that are pressuring industry participants to alter their actions. Competitors, customers, or suppliers are enticed to change their ways. Those with the biggest influence on industry structure and the competitive industry environment are driving forces. The coffee industry has four driving forces that originate in the industrial and competitive environment. A change in who buys the product and how they use it is one of the four driving forces in the coffee industry. Shifts in buyer demographics and the way consumers use the product have altered the competition for this industry. The variation has prompted producers to broaden the product line and try different sales and promotion approaches. Changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles is the other driving force that ties in with the customer base and usage. Society is changing, with the new generations being a huge influence. Parents, a huge factor in the lifestyle, attitudes, and opinions of their children, drink coffee and are, thus, promoting coffee to the offspring. These young persons are looking for caffeine to keep them going through their increasingly busy days. At age 13, who knew that coffee was needed to add to their ever-so hyper lives? Coffee is established as a drink older people consume. Young people are always aspiring to be older than they are, so coffee is marketed in a different way to the younger generations as specialty coffee and gourmet beverages. Marketing these drinks as â€Å"cool† and â€Å"hip† is also a successful method of attraction. Establishing loyalty early while coffee drinkers are young will ensure a prospective future for this industry. In addition, the use of coffee has changed over the years. Coffee was first marketed as a breakfast drink for the working parent to get a boost of energy for the day. As more women started joining the workforce, the coffee consumption increased. Throughout the years, an increasing amount of people started drinking coffee more frequently throughout the day. Today, it is not uncommon to see a person drinking a gourmet coffee drink at 10:00 p. m. , as well as anytime throughout the day. Whenever you need that caffeine-boosted beverage or just want that coffee bean taste most love, consumers now can look for multiple types of coffee drinks to satisfy the craving. Growing buyer preferences for differentiated products instead of standardized is the driving force that allows the product innovation to take lead in this industry. Due to consumers demand for something different, companies in this industry needed to expand current products to fit customer needs and wants. The success of product innovation of introducing coffee drinks and coffee flavors, made the choices for consumers grow. Consumers wanted more flavor and excitement, instead of the regular or decaffeinated options. During the hot summer months, many coffee lovers wanted the taste of coffee but were not fond of drinking a hot drink. Iced coffee drinks helped to solve that problem. Now, people can drink coffee anytime of the year. Many consumers do not just drink coffee in the morning, like the generations before; meetings, study sessions, hanging out, talking amongst old friends and other events are all done through coffee drinking. Due to the buyer influences, the coffee industry has grown in all directions and continues to see a future with innovation and other driving forces helping it along the way. Lastly, product innovation is a driving force that has allowed the coffee industry to grow. The competitive environment is fierce and product innovation is one of the key driving forces to stay on top of the industry’s market share. Coffee drinks were developed as an anytime coffee drink. Such drinks are Espressos, Cappuccinos, Frappaccinos, Lattes, and Mochas. Whether a consumer likes it hot or cold is no difference now; iced coffee is for those that do not feel like a hot cup. Black, White, Irish, Turkish and Americano are also other types of coffee to choose from. Flavored coffee is a pillar innovation to this product category allowing different consumers’ taste buds to run wild. Chocolate covered coffee beans are another innovation that expands the use of coffee in a nontraditional way, a snack. This industry growth has also allowed companies the opportunity to promote to different consumer markets. Young and old purchasers, people that like hot or cold coffee, and those that like a coffee drink in the morning or evening are all targeted now that the product lines have broadened the scope of the industry. Product innovation has helped consumers’ differentiation issues, along with allowing them to drink it anytime of day they need an extra tasty boost of energy. In order to stay on top of the competitive environment in this industry, a company has to accept the driving forces and make each one positive for the company in the long run. The following driving forces are influencing the coffee industry: change in who buys the product and how they use it; changing societal concerns, attitudes, and lifestyles; growing buyer preferences for differentiated products instead of standardized ones; and product innovation. Each of these driving forces increases the competition in the industry. The increased demand for products, especially the new innovated ones, is an opportunity for profitability as well. Because of the innovation, many people are expecting choices for the long run; the companies that offer the products consumers want will prosper. Competitive Analysis of the Coffee Industry Although there are many substitutes for coffee when it is regarded as nothing more than a liquid to drink, most people would agree that there are relatively few that would be considered viable substitutes to dedicated coffee drinkers. Historically, teas have been the greatest rival substitute for coffee, and just as there are specialty coffees, there are specialty teas as well. The key to coffee substitutes being successful in luring coffee drinkers over to their products is differentiation. While tea alone may be substantially differentiated from coffee, a dedicated coffee drinker will need some sort of hook, or angle, to get them to try something different. Often this angle comes in the form of a doctor telling them to cut back on caffeine or to stay away from coffee altogether. According to About. com the top five coffee substitutes are: 1. )Roastaroma ? a tea â€Å"blend of roasted barley, roasted chicory root, and roasted carob, with spices cinnamon, allspice, and star anise. † 2. )Genmaicha ? a â€Å"green tea with roasted brown rice. † 3. )Teechino ? â€Å"made from roasted carob, roasted barley, and roasted chicory† containing â€Å"figs, almonds, and dates. † 4. )Cafix ? â€Å"a freeze-dried grain drink made from barley and chicory. † This drink is non-acidic and does not contain caffeine. 5. )Pero ? â€Å"made from malted barley, chicory, and rye. † Although coffee substitutes are readily available and reasonably priced, traditional coffee drinkers are usually dedicated to coffee in general, if not one particular brand. Therefore, buyers tend to view substitutes as not adequately comparable alternatives. One of the coffee industry’s greatest attributes is the loyalty of their customers. Buyers of coffee can be broken down into two groups; individuals and businesses. An individual coffee drinker will have little or no real power to influence the industry or a particular seller beyond switching brands. The switching costs of individuals are virtually nothing; therefore they can move between brands whenever they are dissatisfied with quality or price. Business buyers such as restaurant chains, hotel chains, convenience stores, and supermarket chains have considerably more power than an individual buyer. This is simply due to economies of scale where a restaurant chain purchasing several thousand pounds a week will have more influence on a supplier than an individual buying one or two pounds per month. Supermarket chains are in a strong position as well, as they can offer as much or as little shelf space as they want. They can also switch brands on shelf space, virtually without cost, to replace poor selling brands with other brands, which may have a higher sales rate. Therefore buyer power depends upon the quantity bought, as with many industries. The power of buyers may range from weak to strong or even fierce. The threat of new entrants into the coffee industry is somewhat strong. While entrants into large markets may not be many, the entry of small shops in local markets offering specialty coffees has grown rapidly in the last several years. Entrants into the specialty coffee arena have been lured in by rising demand of such coffee and attractive profit margins. While these local shops will not be able to compete with large corporations such as Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, or Starbuck’s on an international basis, they can account for some competition in local, concentrated markets by offering a niche; an alternative to corporate retailers with a less personable and hospitable atmosphere. Retailers such as these tend to do well in more rural areas where major corporations may not wish to enter, or in areas where collegiate or more naturalistic atmospheres prevail. These areas may be less inclined to cater to large corporations. New entrants into the coffee industry are also faced with the obstacle of overcoming name brand loyalties. Although in some small specialty coffee markets a new brand with a unique name or style may do well, in most arenas coffee drinkers are extremely loyal to their brands when they are purchasing for home consumption. These buyers are not likely to switch brands for superficial reasons. The competitive pressure from suppliers is relatively weak in the coffee industry. The individual coffee bean farmers have little control over the price of the coffee they sell. The worldwide market has little fluctuations and any that may occur have little effect on any one particular farm. Recently world coffee supply has been exceeding demand, which has taken even more power away from the suppliers who must compete with growers from around the world. The futures market provides security to firms purchasing beans from governments. By buying these futures contracts the company is promising to buy a certain amount of coffee at a stated price no matter what the overall market price may be at the time. The government selling the contracts is promising to provide the amount of coffee stated to the buyer at the stated price regardless of the current market price. Governments also have a role in determining supply as they can set regulations governing the number of trees that are planted, provide price subsidizing for farmers, and impose tariffs. Furthermore, the price of coffee beans has not been increasing at the same rate as the price of your average cup at a specialty shop, or as fast as inflation. In January of 1996 the price of coffee beans was $1. 02 per pound [7]. Ten years later in January of 2006 the price has only increased to $1. 17 per pound, an increase of 14. 12% [7]. In the same period inflation had risen approximately 25. 3% [8]. Rivalry in the coffee industry among competing sellers is vigorous. Although the overall market for coffee grew fast in the late 1990’s, especially regarding the specialty coffee markets, it has leveled off some in the last few years and the overall demand is growing slowly. Another reason for the high level of competitiveness within the industry is due to the relatively low differentiation ability of coffee. While specialty coffees derive some level of differentiation from region of growth or roasting methods, the overall product is fairly standardized. This leads to increase jockeying for position among existing firms, as they cannot lure customers in with a variety of unique products. Some firms however are attempting to lure customers in with new products such as Folgers’ Home Cafe system, which is a one-cup pressure-brewing system. These devices use â€Å"pods,† or individually packaged coffee for single serve applications. Other companies have also been marketing individually packaged coffee so that consumers can make a â€Å"perfect cup† every time. The switching costs of buyers are also very low, if not non-existent. Buyers only have to purchase a different brand in order to switch. While some businesses may have to replace equipment if they switch brands, a business of large purchasing capacity will likely have equipment provided for them by their coffee bean supplier. The recent surge in specialty coffee brands has increased rivalry among existing firms. As companies such as Starbuck’s have grown and acquired market share, companies such as Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, and Nestle have had to increase advertising and create new specialty coffees of their own in order to compete. â€Å"Sales of specialty coffee were $10 Billion in October of 2005 and expected to rise at a rate of 7% annually, while sales of traditional brands have been falling. † [9] Over the past two years Maxwell House has seen a decline of $75 Million in supermarket sales alone. † [9] Furthermore, companies like Starbuck’s have been acquiring smaller companies and thereby growing in market share and sales. This has been done to such an extent to make them comparable to big firms such as Kraft and Proctor & Gamble who compete in various markets with multiple products. This has increased rivalry among these firms as they struggle to maintain their market share. Key Success Factors in the Coffee Industry Coffee drinkers are becoming interested in the type of coffee they drink, people who want specialty chocolates and wines want specialty coffee. Specialty coffee is label â€Å"gourmet† or â€Å"premium† coffee. The specialty coffee bean comes form rare locations and is 100% from that origin; that means no mixing with another bean. People want to know the beans country of origin and if the bean is a blend or a single-origin. Coffee originates from a variety of places like South America, Africa, Middle and Far East, and Jamaica. The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) said people want specialty coffee because of its superior coffee, â€Å"People want things to taste good and clean and no longer want cheap coffee. † The SCAA reported that 15% of American adults drink specialty coffee an increase from 6% points over 2000. According to Mintel International Group, saw producers who specialize in coffee rise, Procter and Gamble’s Millstone premium brand increased 37. 5% and Starbucks rose 23% between 2001 and 2003 (Chater, 2005). Along with specialty coffee is flavored coffee, which is increasing popular. Flavored coffee ranges from Cherry Vanilla with Pecans and Cashews, Orange Cappuccino, or even Hazelnut. The SCAA claims flavor coffee will continue to grow in the total market share. The Motley Fool Stock exchange reported that the 7-Eleven saw 5% of sales come from coffee products like the Slurpee with flavors Cherry Creme and Vanilla Nut. The Black Mountain Gold Coffee (BMG) offers its flavor coffee through Amazon. com and it is their number one flavor; Cinnamon Crumb Cake-flavor coffee became so popular that Albertsons in Texas included the brand inside the store (Friedman, 2004). The United States is the largest base of coffee drinkers and the second largest importer of coffee (Packed Facts, 2003). Therefore, it is evident that coffee is popular drink. Coffee is sold in airplanes, office buildings, hotel rooms, train terminals, schools, and grocery stores. Some grocery stores even offer coffee to drink while shopping. It is good having these locations offer coffee because it stimulates more coffee being drunk and later more purchases. It is also a good way to get non-coffee drinkers to try coffee and turn them into coffee drinkers. Coffee is sold in most stores, and even on the Internet. Having coffee sold in a variety of places ensures the consumers have easy access to purchase the product. Locations benefit by selling coffee because usually when coffee is being bought customers have a tendency to buy other products such as, milk, cream, sugar, or a mug. Numerous studies are indicting coffee can offer health benefits. It would be beneficial for the coffee industry to further these studies and use as a selling tool. The coffee bean is a plant base food, therefore offers rich antioxidants more so than broccoli and blueberries. These antioxidants can help prevent cancers, Parkinson disease, gallstones, and used for an antidepressant. Other nutrients inside coffee like potassium, niacin, magnesium, and chlorogenic acids can possibility help reduce diabetes (McAuliffe, 2005). Cautious coffee drinkers are concerned with how coffee effects the environment and farmers. Sun-grown coffee, uses fertilizers and pesticides, and contributes to deforestation; shade-grown is grown beneath a canopy of trees while preserving the forest. Organic coffee has increased 54% in 2005 through Nov 6, while non-organic coffee increased 8. 5%. Coffee drinkers want to be reassured that producers of coffee are treated fairly. Are farmers compensated fairly, no abuse, or child labor? Companies should be very weary of this issue because, if the source of coffee is not on good terms, if the farms are not healthy or unhappy employees than it could affect the industry in a negative way. Starbucks is a perfect example showing support to farmers by offering decent wages, and ways to help protect their asset (farms). Starbucks as teamed with the Fair Trade Certified Coffee by offering â€Å"Coffee of the Week† to bring awareness for the Fair Trade Certified Coffee. Other companies should take notice of the Fair Trade Certified Coffee, the Fair Trade Certified Coffee ensures farmers are properly compensated, health care, and economic stability of farms (Gimbl, 2005 & Chater, 2005). Overall Industry Attractiveness In order to decide if the coffee industry presents an attractive opportunity for earning good profits, it is important to base a conclusion on several factors. By drawing upon previous analysis of the intensity of competition, whether the impacts of the driving forces are positive or negative, the market positions of industry members as shown on the strategic group map, and also close examination of the industry’s key success factors an educated answer can be deduced. First, by examining the market size and growth potential the coffee industry presents a livelihood for over 20 million people worldwide with an estimated worldwide retail sales expected to grow by a compounded rate of 6. 9% from 2005-2010, reaching $48. 2 billion by 2010, according to The U. S. Market for Coffee and Ready-to-Drink Coffee [1]. Competitive forces in the industry point to growth through the development of product innovation and specializing in gourmet coffee and specialty drinks. â€Å"Sales of specialty coffee were $10 Billion in October of 2005 and expected to rise at a rate of 7% annually, while sales of traditional brands have been falling. † [9] This has increased rivalry among these firms as they struggle to maintain their market share. Competitive forces are conducive to rising industry profitability as long as companies continue to offer product innovation and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the driving forces in the industry Degree of risk and uncertainty in industry’s future encompasses many issues. Coffee drinkers are many and are seemingly very loyal to their drink. Proof being that recently the coffee supply has been exceeding its demand, which has taken even more power away from the suppliers who must compete with growers from around the world. In addition several tentative studies show positive health benefits to coffee drinkers. With a trend in the United States to be more health conscious, the coffee industry has opportunity to capitalize on these finds. In contrast when examining the severity of problems facing the industry it is evident that although demand is growing the trend is that it is steadying off. Due to little differentiation and small increase in the price of coffee since 1996, companies have been forced to focus on increased product differentiation in areas such as specialty coffees; however, that too is steadying off in growth over the past couple of years. Possible strategic issues include customers increasingly loyal to certain brands, which possibly make it more difficult for smaller coffee companies to edge into large consumer base. Also coffee companies need to consider the growing demand of consumers in the ethical treatment of coffee workers and focus their attention to a coffee drinker who looks to drink it for its benefits and special offering in taste. Ultimately when drawing conclusions about the attractiveness of an industry, the perspective is important. It depends on the scope and breadth of a particular company. The attractiveness of the opportunities an industry presents depends heavily on whether a company has the resources and the competitive capabilities to secure them. A standard judgment of if an industry is profitable is if the industry’s overall profit prospects are above average, the industry environment is basically attractive; if industry profit prospects are below average, conditions are unattractive (Strickland III et al, 2004). However this analysis of the industry shows that the coffee industry has a strong future and to the right players offers an attractive business opportunity. Works Cited [1] 6 Mar. 2006 . [2] â€Å"Starbucks. † Starbucks, Inc.. 3 Mar. 2006 . [3] 1 Mar. 2006 . [4] 2 Mar. 2006 . [5] http://www. stagnito. com/fbr_beverage. asp [6] â€Å"Slow Roast†, John G. Rodwan Jr. NPN, National Petroleum News. Chicago: Mar 2005. Vol 97, Iss. 3; pg. 14, 1 pgs. [7] http://www. econstats. com/fut/xnyb_ew2. htm [8] Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www. bls. gov/cpi/cpi_dr. htm; Table Containing History of CPI-U U. S. All Items Indexes and Annual Percent Changes From 1913 to Present. [9] Coffee Drinkers and Their Habit, Business Week Online October 10, 2005 Marketing/Online Extra http://www.businessweek. com/magazine/content/05_41/b3954201. htm 12 Mar. 2006 Packaged Facts. â€Å"The U. S. Market for Coffee and Ready-to-Drink Coffee, 4th Edition. † (Nov 1, 2003). Packaged facts. 8 Feb 2006. < http://www. packagedfacts. com/pub/895867. html> Chater, Amanda. â€Å"SPECIALPERKS; THE BUZZ ABOUT SPECIALTY COFFEE IS ENLIVENING SALES IN AN OTHERWISE DECLINING CATEGORY. † (coffee markets). † Supermarket News (Dec 19, 2005): 41. InfoTrac OneFile. Thomson Gale. Middle Tennessee State University. 2 Feb 2006 http://find. galegroup. com/itx/infomark. do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=ITOF&docId=A140760166&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&version=1. 0. McAuliffe, Kathleen. â€Å"Enjoy!. † U. S. News &World Report 139. 23 (Dec 19, 2005):67-68. InfoTrac Online. Thomson Gale. Middle Tennessee State University. 2 Feb 2006 http://find. galegroup. com/itx/infomark. do? &contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodid=ITOF&docId=A139695515&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&version=1. 0 Friedman, Susan. â€Å"Beyond cream & sugar: savvy Retailers recognize the value of flavored coffee. † Tea & Coffee Trade Journal 176. 3 (March 2004): 30(3). InfoTrac One File. Thomson Gale. Middle Tennessee State University. 2 Feb 2006 http://find. galegroup. com/itx/infomark. do? &contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID+T002&prodId=ITOF&docId=A114819506&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=tel_middleten&verson=1. 0 Introducing Starbucks Cafe Estima Blend(TM). Fair Trade Certified(TM) Coffe. Business Wire. LOAD DATE: Oct 10, 2005. 23 Feb 20006. http://www. businesswire. com/cnn/sbux. shtml Strickland III, A. J. , Arthur A. Thompson Jr. , and John E. Gamble . Strategy Core Concepts, Analytical Tools, Readings. 2nd ed. Boston: Mc-Graw-Hill Irwin, 2004.

Media Bias in the Election of 2008

Connie Zhang Media Bias Against Hilary Clinton in the Election of 2008 The election of 2008 was monumental in many respects, the most significant being the fact that there was a chance that the first woman or African American would become president of the United States. After Obama won the nomination, claims that the media had been negative and unfair to Clinton were examined. In earlier studies conducted by D’Alessio and Allen, it was concluded there were no significant biases in most forms of media. However, from the focus of her marriage to the questioning of her social conduct, Clinton was definitely treated differently than Obama was.It is very evident that there was, in fact, negative bias towards Clinton, although it was not as numerous and severe as it seemed to be due to historical, situational, and personal matters. Using meta-analysis, a method that allows for the combination of many studies from relatively few media outlets, D’Alessio and Allen revealed no s ignificant net amount of gatekeeping bias and no significant coverage bias. However, statement bias found in newsmagazines was pro-republican, and those found on TV were pro-democrat. The key here is that the â€Å"net† amount of gatekeeping bias was equal to zero.What this meant was that the number of conservatively biased forms of media was equal to the number of liberally biased forms of media. If someone only read a republican-favoring newspaper, then individually, he would be experiencing media biases which would impact his voting choices despite the fact that â€Å"net† amount of gatekeeping biases was equal to zero. Another important fact demonstrated in this study is that Americans are increasingly relying on TV for campaign information, so they are increasingly exposed to liberal biases, further affecting their political choices.Although D’Alessio and Mike Allen are certainly correct in their claim that the identities of the presidential candidates chan ged many times, biases most definitely existed in the election of 2008. Using a positive versus negative coverage analysis, Moldovan found substantial evidence that Clinton received less coverage than Obama did. Historically, this trend has been recorded, and in 2008, it held true even when the female candidate, Clinton, was a front runner.Six top newspapers ran 59 stories with Obama being mentioned in the headline, while only 36 mentioned Clinton. Between January 2007 and June 2008, 343 articles were written about Obama, while only 293 were focused on Clinton. In Time magazine, 2 covers featured Clinton, 2 covers featured both Clinton and Obama, and a whopping 25 covers featured Obama only. Clearly, there is a bias favoring Obama in the case of agenda setting. Additionally, Moldovan found that coverage of Clinton was more negatively framed than Obama’s was, in both specific cases and in general.When Clinton cried after winning the New Hampshire primaries, there was plenty of coverage deeming her a phony trying to rally emotional support as a woman, whereas her victory was extremely likely due to her administration’s superior organization in that state. In contrast, Obama’s condescending â€Å"You’re likeable enough, Hillary†, remark, received substantially less time and focus. Another example where treatment of Obama was not was not as harsh or prolonged as it could have been was in regards to Michelle Obama’s remark about being proud of her country â€Å"for the first time in her life†.Furthermore, the treatment towards Obama’s connections to anti-American individuals, such as his former reverend Jeremiah Wright, was softer in comparison to criticism of Clinton’s fashion, lack of womanly characteristics, and marriage. Overall, Clinton’s coverage was more negative than Obama’s, from the amount the media covered her weaknesses to the way it framed them. But all the biases claimed to h ave existed may not really have been actual biases, as Moldovan further explains. Some may have only been believed to been there as a result of historical, situational, and personal situations.The year 2008 was a crucial time. The country was in the worst recession since the Great Depression, with foreign tensions only aggravating the situation. Despite Clinton’s political prowess, her marriage to Bill Clinton and its scandalous complications gave her a very â€Å"yesterday† feeling that Americans did not need in such a dire time. Additionally, her refusal to disclose her tax returns increased the feelings of secrecy that retrogressively reminded people of the Nixon and Bush administration. Furthermore, coming out of George W.Bush’s rule, the fact that she was a Clinton added to the feeling of the persistence of a family dynasty that Americans did not want again. Finally, Clinton’s approach to the campaign itself was not only perceived negatively, but was in fact negative. Clinton’s method to winning focused on questioning Obama’s foreign policy experience, military capabilities, and economic policies. Her offensive remarks about Obama’s kindergarten essay and her red phone call ad were things that didn’t need the media’s framing or bias for people to recognize that they were disrespectful and unappealing.Although the press unnecessarily focused on these negative aspects, it cannot be denied that most of Clinton’s campaign was, in fact negative in itself due to the fact that it had been an attack on Obama’s flaws as a person, rather than a logical and fair assessment of his abilities and potential as a leader (Moldovan, 2009). When coupled with the fact that Obama revealed his maturity and professionalism by focusing on substance rather than resorting to mud-slinging, the situation worsened for Clinton.Additionally, the most negative coverage about Obama may have emphasized a trait th at would have been unattractive in other times, but in this situation, served to help him. The media revealed Obama’s â€Å"elitism†, from his food choices, to his education, to his up-scale Chicago neighborhood. Normally, this would have harmed a candidate’s campaign, but in 2008 when Americans really needed a talented and intelligent president, it seemed to make sense to want more than just an average American candidate.Despite his race and lack of professional experience, in contrast to Clinton’s feelings of backwardness and her attack tactics, Obama’s youthful charisma and focus on hope were simply more appealing to the American people, and although the media did give him an unfair amount of attention in his positive traits and was biased in focusing on his image rather than his experience, Obama didn’t need the media’s framing for it to be known that the way he approached the campaign was much more mature and professional then Cl inton.Because people tend to react much stronger to emotional appeals rather than dense, political facts, the fact that Obama handled the campaign better as a person really assisted him to victory (Moldovan, 2009). Clinton’s circumstances may have been further exacerbated not by the media’s bias, but by the fact that in general, people are just harsher when judging a woman. In a representative national sample, 51 percent of the surveyed believed that Americans were not â€Å"ready to elect a woman into high office† (Lawless 74).In general, women are more likely to receive media coverage based on their appearance, feminine traits, and ability to handle women’s issues. The situation was worsened by fact that Clinton was not the average female candidate. From the perceived lack of affection towards her pets to her hard, tough demeanor, Clinton lacked many of the stereotypical womanly characteristics people expected from her. But as soon as she cried after he r New Hampshire victory, the press had an unnecessarily generous and negative focus on these womanly qualities.Although there is a general and accepted consensus that Clinton did not lose the race because she was a woman, she was forced to operate in a sexist environment and deal with different expectations and standards. Thus, her campaign in general was more difficult as voters relied on stereotypical ideas of women and men’s attributes, affecting the way people judged and viewed her differently from Obama. In this case, the media may not have been biased against Clinton, but simply reinforcing these sexist norms (Lawless 2009).A further reason why these biases may not be as strong as they are claimed is demonstrated by Watts, Domoke, Shah, and Fan. After examining shifts in public perception of media bias, press coverage of media bias, and coverage in presidential campaigns, they concluded that the rise in the belief of media bias is a result of increasing news self-covera ge focusing on the topic of news content bias itself. These authors discovered that a lot of people’s evaluation of media credibility is misinformed, especially when comes to political news and campaign coverage.In presidential campaigns, candidates may merely be attempting to generate support for themselves and opposition for their opponents, not intentionally wanting to create bias. With the increase in these patterns, allegations of biases may now be a part of the presidential campaign rhetoric, and journalists feel increasing pressure to make these claims of the existence of biases to prove that they are not biased themselves.The rise in media sources has further contributed to the pressure traditional media sources have felt to reinforce their reliability by supporting claims of biases. Doing so not only generates credibility from their audience, but their peers as well. In consequence, a cyclic effect has taken place in which news media find their attention as sources o f information in political campaigns to be of increasing importance.In these ways, biases that are claimed to exist may not be as severe—or even existent—as people believe them to be. Due to these historical, situational, and personal matters, the negative biases against Clinton may not have been as frequent and harsh as they seemed, although biases against her existed for sure. In both agenda setting and framing, the media seemed to be against her as she received less coverage overall, and the coverage she did received tended to be harsher than the coverage on Obama.Other biases that were claimed to exist, however, such as emphasis on her marriage to Bill Clinton, however, may not really have been biases, but true, negative facts that just didn’t help her campaign. In addition, she was operating under a sexist environment, so it cannot be said that the media was being biased against her gender since everyone else was too. Finally, assertions of biases may not h ave actually arisen from real biases, but could have been a result from increasing news self-coverage focusing on the topic of news content bias.Overall, as Moldovan points out, the press’ true biases lay in conflict, because conflict generates both viewers and revenue. It just happened to be that out of the two candidates, Hilary Clinton had more problems to talk about. Works Cited Lawless, Jennifer L. â€Å"Sexism and Gender Bias in Election 2008: A More Complex Path for Women in Politics. † Politics & Gender (2009): 70-80. Print. â€Å"Media Bias in Presidential Elections: A Meta Analysis. † Journal of Communication 50. 4 (2000): 133-56. Print. Miller, Melissa K. , Jeffrey S. Peake, and Brittany Anne Boulton. Testing the Saturday Night Live Hypothesis: Fairness and Bias in Newspaper Coverage of Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign. † Politics & Gender (2010): 169-98. Print. Raluca, Moldovan. â€Å"A TALE OF TWO CLINTONS: MEDIA BIAS IN THE COVERAGE O F HILLARY CLINTON'S 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN1. † Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai. Studia Europaea (2009): 41-59. Print. Watts, Mark D. , et al. â€Å"Elite Cues and Media Bias in Presidential Campaigns – Explaining Public Perceptions of a Liberal Press. † Communication Research 26. 2 (1999): 144-75. Print.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 153

Summary - Essay Example It is noted that by going to the public too frequently causes people to pay less attention to the president. Different assumptions were reviewed as the president was not to go to the public unless the public supported his view otherwise the Congress would vote against him. Also the president had to gain influence on the policy issues he had chosen to promote the public appeals. The president’s likelihood to appeal to the public over issues that would increase if the A president’s public opinion apparatus was designed to provide the administration with a comprehensive view of the public’s preferences. Who as a voracious consumer of the public opinion, President Johnson had sought to assess the state of it from a various sources, including both polls and mail addressed to him by the ordinary citizens.   At white House two types of opinion provided different stories as to the direction the salience of the public sentiment regarding the Vietnam War. Difference in opinion between the public and the opinion polls and the mail opinion may have been given bby the Johnson administration as a good reason to think that they could lead a loyal opinion on Vietnam, which was more hawkish than those registered by the polls of the masses rallying for the war protesters. These findings helped them to resolve interpretations of President Johnson’s strangeness with the public opinion during the Vietnam War, since he was clearer as to give the kind of opinion the president was following. They clearly demonstrated the importance of including mail opinion in the studies of the public support toward the presidential policies, and the response of the administration to it. This were the most publicized and controversial battles that had occurred at Khesanh which happened both on the ground and air in January 20. There was a final which was known as the Tet Offensive which

Individual report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual report - Essay Example For team works to be successful, each member needs to contribute to the group’s cause and the individual differences and diversities of the participants can bring about various perspectives on the work assigned; therefore, students are better equipped to chose the best alternative derived out of their discussion. No doubt, our team’s group work of designing and implementing a job interview has convinced me how group dynamics is at work and the task has provided me with fresh insights regarding the concepts of group performance, individual performance and new skills development. The process of designing and implementing the job interview in groups was interesting and each one put his best efforts to prepare a flawless and competent pre interview check list. In the preparation of the pre-interview check list, the ideas of each member in the group were significant and special care was employed by the group to select competent panel members for the interview; the date, time and venue of the interview was fixed, the job specifications were studied in detail and a comprehensive questionnaire was prepared, and an environment where the interviewee is completely comfortable was carefully set. The next step was to identify the necessary skills and qualities that are required of each participant in the interview. It was really useful for me to listen to the ideas of others in the group and I noticed with astonishment how each one had his own unique ideas and outlooks. The most essential requirements were finalized by the group that included the candidates’ edu cational qualification (honours Degree), teaching experience, ability to supervise, subject competency, ability to be tolerant and open-minded, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, dedication, time management and aptitude towards team work. Keeping in mind the required skills of the desirable candidates, our group formulated questions by which responses from the candidates could be elicited

Allowing the Use of Discarded IVF Embryos for Stem Cell Research Is Essay

Allowing the Use of Discarded IVF Embryos for Stem Cell Research Is Ethical - Essay Example There are several sources of stem cells. Adult stem cells can be taken from an individual, coaxed into becoming something useful in therapy, and transplanted back into the body. However, the usefulness of adult stem cells is limited, because not all types of cells have been isolated, and they are difficult to isolate because they occur in minute quantities in adults (NIH 11). Embryonic stem cells are the most flexible and can be obtained from in vitro fertilization patients, thus avoiding the moral quagmire of the abortion debate entirely. While visions of Nazi-level experimentation dance in our heads, it’s hard to come to a moral and logical conclusion regarding stem cell research. The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity comments, â€Å"If anything is to be gained from the cruel atrocities committed against human beings in the last century and a half, it is the lesson that the utilitarian devaluation of one group of human begins for the alleged benefit of others is a price we simply cannot afford to pay† (CBHD 53). By demonizing stem cell researchers as cold-blooded, immoral baby killers, this argument avoids actually defining the boundaries of human life and descends into rhetoric. A medical professional must put aside rhetoric and stick to the facts. The â€Å"if-then† scenarios put forth by the religious right are especially rhetorical. If they argue, we determine that a blastocyst or embryo isn’t viable because it can’t survive on its own (separate from major medical intervention or a mother’s womb), then we are only one small step away from using comatose patients in medical experiments (Sullivan 59). Again, the argument is not a scientific one; it is simply a drawing room discussion with no boundaries. Leftover embryos from IVF patients are no longer useful to those who would donate them, and their potentiality is limited.

Carriage of Goods by Sea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Carriage of Goods by Sea - Essay Example The general principle regarding the application of the Hague Rules is that they apply by their own force (ex proprio rigore) to contract of carriage covered by a bill of lading or any similar document of title. Art. 2 and the definition of â€Å"contract of carriage† art. 1 (b) makes this clear.1 .Art.2 – Subject to the provisions of Article 6, under every contract of carriage of goods by sea the carrier, in relation to the loading, handling, stowage, carriage, custody, care and discharge of such goods, shall be subject to the responsibilities and liabilities, and entitled to the rights and immunities hereafter set forth†2 â€Å"Article 1 (b) – ‘Contract of Carriage’ applies only to contracts of carriage covered by a bill of lading or a similar document of title, in so far as the document relates to the carriage of goods by sea, including any bill of lading or a similar document as aforesaid issued under or pursuant to a charterparty from the moment at which such bill of lading or similar document of title regulates the relations between a carrier and a holder of the same.3 O chartered his ship to T, who in turn sub-chartered it on a voyage charter to Charlie for the carriage of a consignment of bananas from Jamaica to London. The voyage charter contained inter alia, a clause incorporating the Hague/Visby Rules. The voyage charter also contained a clause stating that the carrier should not deviate under any circumstances whatsoever except to save life.

The incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS in Australia Essay

The incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS in Australia - Essay Example (NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, 1997) Babies die from SIDS at all times of the day and night, in cots, prams, car seats, and bassinettes and even in their parent's arms. "With the better education about the risks of SIDS, the number of deaths has been reduced by more than 50 per cent over the last six years." (Horgan, 1995 pp.22-24) "Although the cause of SIDS is still a mystery, research in Australia and other parts of the world suggests it's possible for parents, grandparents and other carers to lower the risk in these simple ways". (Jones Michael Dr, 2006) Since parents in Australia and across the rest of the world have changed how babies are put down for sleep, fewer babies have died from SIDS. However, SIDS can still occur even when all the known risk factors have been ruled out. (SIDS and Kids, 2005a) In Australia, SIDS accounts for the deaths of more babies between the ages of one month and one year than all who die of cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. In the United States SIDS is responsible for more deaths than any other cause in childhood for babies one month to one year of age, claiming 150,000 victims in this generation alone 7,000 babies each year, nearly one baby every hour of every day. (BHC, 2006c) SIDS occurs at any time of the day or night and most babies die quietly in their sleep. (Better Health Channel, 2006a) "Although it is more common in babies between the ages of two to four months it happens to younger and older babies also, this syndrome occurs in both bottle-fed and breastfed babies. There is a 60 to 40 percent male to female ratio. 60 per cent babies are boys who die. It occurs in families of all races, ethnic and socioeconomic origins without warning. SIDS occurrence is quite sudden, neither parent nor physician can predict that something is wrong. Most SIDS victims appear healthy prior to death." (AAP American academy of Pediatrics, 2005 pp.1245-1255) Researchers believe that babies who die of SIDS are born with one or more conditions that make them especially vulnerable to stresses that occur in the normal life of an infant, including both internal and external influences. "SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion. A death is diagnosed as SIDS only after all other alte rnatives have been eliminated." (Mage & Donner, 2004 pp.1210-1215) SIDS is very rare syndrome. The number of SIDS deaths remained constant despite fluctuations in the overall number of infant deaths. The National Center for Health Statistics NCHS reported that, in 1988 in the United States, 5,476 infants under 1 year of age died from SIDS in 1989, the number of SIDS deaths was 5,634 (NCHS,1990 p. 33). "However, other sources estimate that the number of SIDS deaths may actually be closer to 7,000". (Goyco, Beckerman, 1990 pp. 299-346) The larger estimate represents additional cases that are unreported or underreported the cases that were not reported as SIDS. More than 4999 out of every 5000 babies in South Australia do not die from SIDS. Although SIDS is the most common cause in Australia of death for babies between 1 month and 12 months old, but it is still rare. (NCHS, 1992 p. 44) Causes of SIDS: While there are still no adequate medical explanations for SIDS deaths, current theories include: (1) Stress in a normal baby caused by infection or other factors (2) A birth defect (3)

WILL THE NEW ARCHITECTURAL ICONS CARRY THE SAME INTRINSIC ROLE IN Essay

WILL THE NEW ARCHITECTURAL ICONS CARRY THE SAME INTRINSIC ROLE IN DEFINING CITIES - Essay Example 11-12, 2007) Moreover, since antiquity until present, humans have advanced significantly in every sector, and so, humans have achieved pinnacle by the advancement in architectural designs, which can be noted by observing existing modern architectural icons, as well as, designs and plans of future architectural icons that are being built in different parts of the globe. It is observed that technology has become an important tool of humans, which is being used intellectually and imaginatively by ingenious and inspiring architects around the globe. As time is passing by, more and more improvement is being made in technological sector, as well as, in the architectural sector. On the other hand, environmental resources are reducing rapidly due to excessive utilization of humans for their personal purposes. (Ford, pp. 34-37, 2004) In this regard, it is a debatable topic whether new architectural icons will be able to carry the same intrinsic and natural role that was carried by historical architecture in the absence of technological tools and tactics. Studies have indicated that a number of factors are affecting the architectural discourse, such as technology, economy, and especially, culture. All these factors are shaping the contemporary modes and designs of architectural outcomes, and this paper will discuss whether new architectural icons that will be outcome of these factors will be able to acquire an intrinsic value, or natural relation will eliminate in few years. Experts have indicated that culture plays a significant role in the creation of any architectural icon, as it facilitates the specific place in expressing its cultural identity to other parts of the globe. In this regard, it is very essential for an architect to relate with the historical architectural icons, in order to continue the relation according to some experts. On the other hand, some other experts argue that it is not essential to relate with historical architectural icons, and a new

Qatar Science and Technology Park Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Qatar Science and Technology Park - Outline Example It has recently amended the investment law to draw greater foreign investment into non-energy areas of the economy, including the financial sector, petrochemicals and tourism, and to target foreign acquisition opportunities that could assist this diversification strategy. In early 2010, the new investment law was implemented, opening up a range of new sectors to majority foreign participation. Investment in small and medium-sized enterprises is particularly encouraged. Part of the Qatar’s policy for the next 3 years, the government is expected to maintain high levels of capital spending on education, health and transport. Growth will benefit from high levels of investment in the hydrocarbons sector, but will be dampened by imports needed to develop Qatar’s energy facilities and upgrade its infrastructure. The transition of the country from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy (Qatar Foundation, 2011) has been permanently promoted and encouraged by Qatar Foundation, an organization founded in 1995 by the Ruler of Qatar (HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani), with the purpose to unlock the human capital (Qatar Foundation, 2011), combine the country’s natural resources with the ability to use them at their best by creating knowledgeable and progressive people. For this purpose and in order to follow its vision and mission, Qatar Foundation gives a special attention to the Education and Science & Research areas. It is a purpose to encourage knowledge and study to materialize into new ideas, creating development, growth and recognition. Qatar Science and Technology Park is part of this Science & Research ambitious plan. Located in Qatar Foundation’s Education City, it is operational since 2004 and it is meant to be a world hub for applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship (Qatar Science and Technology Park,