Social and Physical Benefits of Parks and Recreation Literature Review Essay - 1

Social and Physical Benefits of Parks and Recreation Literature Review Paper - Essay Example n areas in cities in the form of parks and recreation spaces are essential because of their social, physical and psychological benefits, besides preserving the natural resources of the locale. There is increasing evidence from research studies that indicates that â€Å"the presence of natural areas contributes to increased quality of life in many ways† (Chiesura, 2004, p.129) of city residents. Urban nature in the form of parks, forests, and green belts, and its components such as trees and water, positively impacts the environment and ecology of a region. It accomplishes â€Å"important environmental services such as air and water purification, wind and noise filtering, and microclimate stablilization† (Chiesura, 2004, p.130). Thus, parks promote physical health by providing green spaces and fresh air for exercising and walking, and increase social well-being through opportunities for interacting with neighbors at a shared, common location. The social and psychological services of parks and recreation are vital for the livability of modern cities (Chiesura, 2004). This is reiterated by Gidlof-Gunnarsson and Ohrstrom, 2007) who emphasize on the importance of providing easy access to nearby ‘noise-free’ green areas offering relief from environmental stress such as traffic sounds, and opportunities for rest and relaxation. Chiesura (2004) examined the significance of parks for citizens’ well being, and for urban sustainability. The author conducted a survey among visitors of an urban park in Amsterdam, to investigate people’s â€Å"motives for urban nature, the emotional dimension involved in the experience of nature and its importance for people’s general well being† (Chiesura, 2004, p.129). The results demonstrate that parks and recreation spaces are beneficial services fulfilling human needs of an immaterial and nonconsumptive nature. The positive functions of green areas also extends to reduced fear, fewer incivilities, and lower levels of

Analysis of Kri Kri Milk Company

Analysis of Kri Kri Milk Company KRI KRI S.A. company was created in 1950 from George Tsinavo and is activated in the milk industry. The company initially dealt with ice cream that was first sold by hawkers using ice and salt for cooling and sold in every neighborhood in the city of Serres, Greece. In 1963 when the first electric freezers where introduced KRI KRI expanded and developed a market opportunity. Few years later, in 1968, the company developed further and transferred the companys facilities to new privately owned premises. The company established there its first automatic production line for milk and other products based on milk such as yogurt and ice cream. That was the first sign of the beginning of a new era of the companys lifecycle. In 1997, the company expanded by participating in a three year investment programme arising about six million Euros and modernized throughout the equipment and the factory facilities. The investing programme increase and improved the production and set the foundation stone for future development. Nowadays, KRI KRI has a well expanded network all over Greece and aims to strengthen its activities and development prospects in Greece as well as Balkan. KRI KRIs factory located 5km from the center of Serres and occupies about 50 square meters plot. The premises are composed by two different factories, one for ice cream and one for producing dairy products such as milk, which encloses modern mechanical equipment with new ecological technology. The company has been certified according to ISO 9001:200 for its producing processes on all product range. Furthermore, the company has established and applied the HACCP system according to Hellenic Organization for Standardisation under the supervision of the Minister of Development in Greece for all of the products in order to thoroughly safeguard consumers health and safety. For this purpose KRI KRI has established a quality control laboratory equipped with technological tool and staffed with scientific personnel properly trained. The Industry The milk industry consisted in its major component by large industrial companies which have the largest market share. These companies have developed a distinguished brand names and trade marks, new technological equipment and facilities. The industry does not offer many entrance opportunities to new companies and has high barriers to entry. The Demand The demand of the milk products is basic in peoples diet and irreplaceable. The milk products is one of the principal source of food and the demand does not affected much from price variations so the demand can be characterised by low volatility in price. Furthermore, the income in consumers wallet does not affect the quantity that is needed to cover the consumers basket and is unrelated with the desired quantity, so the demand can be characterised by low volatility in quantity. In addition, the substitutes product of milk has low substitutability to affect the milk industry. The milk industry had established an oligopoly and the milk prices are determined by large companies with low intervention by the Greek government. In the last decade, the only threat that the milk industry has encounter was the unexpected deceases that affect the animals and the raw material, which shocked the consumers confidence for milk products and have as a result the decrease in the consuming. The Supply The main distribution channel of the milk products are the supermarkets and the mini markets. Large companies have established a well synchronised and efficiency distribution channels throughout Greece while the few small companies in the industry have a locally limited target group to provide their products. Both categories of companies even if their activities are locally limited or national ensured that such a susceptible product as milk delivered in very good conditions and on time. Financial Indicators of the Market Financial indicators of the companies in milk industry should be taken into consideration in order to analyse and comprehend the financial position of the industry. On the 15 largest companies of the milk industry the average gross margin of the last 5 years was 26,12%, the net profit margin was 2,99% and the EBITDA index was 12,16%. The return on equity index was 6,26% and the return on capital employed was 2,50%. The general liquidity index was 1,71 while the cash flows ratio was 0,35. The average operation capital of the 15 largest companies the last 5 years was 4.543.754 euros. Competitive analysis: Porters five-forces model Porters five forces In order for a new company to enter, remain and expand a market it would be useful to analyse the industry and especially concentrate on the five basic points that are proposed by the Porter and show the attractiveness of the industry under consideration. Entrance of new competitors According to industry analysis, the milk industry seems to offer more opportunities to the already existed companies while it is quite difficult for a new company to enter the industry. The industry analysis indicates that there are high barriers to the market. Specifically, this sector does not offer many entrance opportunities to new companies due to the fact that it requires great investing amount to technology while the existent products are trade in from large well-developed companies that are high competitive. Moreover, the susceptible products of milk demands high coordination treatment throughout the life-cycle of production from the raw material to the final distribution. Additionally, the existing distribution channels that have been established from the companies are the results of investment through a long time period. So, a new company that intent to enter the milk market has to face the already well-established names in order to achieve high market share. Substitute products Another factor that should be analysed is the degree of products substitutability. The milk products are essentials in peoples diet and irreplaceable. In this industry there are few substitutes such as the soya milk, powdered milk, juices or other beverages but the substitutability is very low to affect the milk industry. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The bargaining power of suppliers of raw materials is complex but it is considered as low. The majority of milk companies sign contracts between farmers in order to absorb their milk while the companies control the production process through established production requirements in farming lifecycle such as the raw material required to feeding procedure, the existence conditions of living and the reproduction of the animals. So, the bargaining power of suppliers is limited in the milk industry and the large companies that purchase large quantities of raw material has a competitive advantage in terms of trading commodity prices and offset suppliers.. The bargaining power of the suppliers is unconcernedly and does not affect the milk industry, so can be characterised as low. Bargaining power of Customers The main customers of the milk industry are the super markets and the mini retail markets which both have high bargaining power. Both markets have a strong bargaining power especially the super markets through the large turnout that the premises offer, the mass final consumer that covers their needs has as a result to made large volume of sales through them. Mini markets have quite big supplier power due to the fact that are larger in number, almost in every neighborhood, they serve the final consumers in a more extensive market hours and the milk products are their primary trading consumer attraction. Furthermore, in order to attract more final customers through super markets and mini markets, companies have to be competitive and attractive. So, the main objective is to advertise their products in order to gain customers acceptance. This can be confirmed from the large amounts of investment in advertising and promotion campaigns that the majority of the milk companies spend. The competition The last but not least factor according to Porter that affects the entrance in the milk industry is the competition. The Greek milk market is highly controlled by few large milk production companies. This has as a result the creation of an oligopoly among the companies while they try to retain or expand their share in the market by enhancing their brands through advertising, various discounts offers and by exploiting the benefits from exclusive distribution in mini retail markets. The created oligopoly is the main characteristic of milk industry and this point out that the competition is considered as low. SWOT Analysis KRI-KRI S.A. S STRENGTHS Very strong financial position Strong contracts with suppliers and associates Technological industrial and manufacturing facilities Organized distribution network channels Products with Popular Trademarks and strong preference of Greeks for domestic products Tight quality control, awards and certifications, brand name, recognizable firm (ISO, HACCP certifications) W WEAKNESSES No use of options to outweigh the potential risk of interest rates Insufficient money spent for marketing and advertisement. O- OPPORTUNITIES Balkan countries growth Living standards growth The gradual acceptance of biologic products by consumers. T- THREATS Unexpected deceases that affect the animals and have as a result the decrease in the consuming Greek crisis Competition from imports SO STRATEGY Expansion of the distribution network to Romania, where there are greater growth opportunities (S4+O1). WO STRATEGY Increase advertisement to attract more customers in refined products through the growth of living standards (W2+O2, 3). ST STRATEGY Restructure of the company to become total quality producer through tight control and cooperation with certificated farms (S6 + T1). WT STRATEGY Advertisement to commend on the origin and quality of its products instead of the imported ones (W2+T3).Combined Strategies Proposed scenarios Four scenarios were established from the above swot analysis matrix and the situation of the milk industry has been considered. SCENARIO 1 SCENARIO 2 SCENARIO 3 SCENARIO 4 CURRENT GROWTH ADVERTISEMENT EXPANSION FINANCIAL CRISIS SALES GROWTH RATE 1,33% 3,00% 7,00% -2,00% FIXED ASSETS (AT COST) GROWTH RATE 13,79% 4,50% 7,00% -2,00% TOTAL DEPRECIATION/FIXED ASSETS AT COST 5,79% 5,79% 5,79% 5,79% COST OF GOODS SOLD/SALES 54,27% 55,00% 40,00% 63,00% ADMINISTRATIVE SELLIG EXPENSES/SALES 28,82% 30,00% 15,00% 18,00% Table 1: Proposed scenarios First scenario. Basic Case: Current growth rates In this scenario would be examined how the companys equity value would be affected if will continued its activities with same sales growth as the average of past 5 years, the fixed assets growth rate, cost of goods sold/sales and administrative and selling expenses. Second scenario. Increase of advertisement Advertisement and promotion campaign in milk industry plays a significant role that determines the sales ratio growth. In this scenario we suppose that the company emphasises to increase its advertisement expenses that would lead to increase the sales growth up to 3%. We assume that the administrating and selling expenses rise up to 32% while the cost of goods sold per sales remain in 55%. Also, we decrease the fixed assets at cost growth rate at 4,50% in order to balance the past years expansion of fixed assets growth rate. Third scenario. Expansion to Balkan Balkan countries have been demonstrated high gross domestic product rate such as Bulgaria with 6,2% in contrast with Greece that the International Monetary Fund forecasted that would slightly increase from negative ratio to 0,80% gross domestic product. Considering the development in the past and forthcoming years in Balkan the third scenario supposes that the company expands in Balkan markets. Moreover, KRI KRI S.A. has already made the first expansion step in Balkan and has already begun to organise distribution network among Balkan region. Finally, KRI KRI S.A. has access to Balkan because its facilities located no more than 100 kilometres from Balkan borders such as with Bulgaria, Serbia and Yugoslavia. This scenario is realistic and feasible considering that the short distance from Balkan countries satisfied the demanded requirements in order to ensure the initial quality of the products. So we suppose that the sales growth rate would be increase up to 7% and similarly the fixed assets at cost growth rate would be up to 7%. Due to the mass production and the optimum production capacity we suppose that the cost of goods per sales and the administrating/selling expenses per sales would be decreased down to 40% and 20% respectively. Fourth scenario. Financial Crisis In the last scenario we consider the current financial crisis in Greece that already had occurred. The milk industry does not affected so much from the income of the consumers but in the current condition we supposed that the sales growth rate would be decreased down to -2%. The fixed assets growth would be decreased as well as the financial crisis would affect negatively the investing expansion to new fixed assets or even worse may forced a necessary liquidation of fixed assets. So, we suppose that the fixed assets at cost growth would be down to -2%. Finally, the decreasing in sales growth and the low volume of production would have as a result an increasing to cost of goods sold and administrative/selling expenses per sales ration up to 62% and 40% respectively.

Mysteries of the Virus :: essays research papers

Introduction to viruses: For centuries submicroscopic organisms, also known as viruses, that grow and multiply at different rates inside of a cell, have been circulating our planet.1 The cell produces the various, essential components of the virus. These components are: 1) DNA or RNA nucleic acids, which are the genes of the virus. Viral particles posses either DNA strands or RNA strands, but never both in contrast bacterial infections contain both. The amount of DNA/RNA in a virus changes depending on the type of virus. 2) A protein which is extremely important in a hazardous virus because is provides a strong, protective barrier as the virus passes from cell to cell.2 Viruses do not contain the enzymes and metabolic pressures needed for self-duplication. The missing components are taken from the host cells they infect. Replication begins when the virus enters the cell. The enzymes remove the coat of the virus, and the RNA or DNA particles come in contact with the ribosomes in the cell. The virus then finds the protein by using the nucleic acid. Several new RNA or DNA strands are made. Once the cell has exceeded the maximum number of strands, it then bursts open and the new particles find new host cells. The process is then repeated.3 The following is a list of the many ways viruses can be classified: 1.) Whether viral particles contain RNA or DNA strands. In some cases there are retroviruses. That is when a RNA virus enters the cell, then converts to a DNA virus. 2.) Whether the genome is single stranded or double stranded 3.) For single stranded RNA viruses, the code for a protein could be positive stranded or negative stranded. 4.) The genome may be linear or circular and may be in a single segment or multiple segments. 5.) The size and overall shape of the virus. 6.) The effects of the viruses.4 Viruses can directly cause damage to the cells by seizing the cells metabolic resources and/or by producing toxic components which interfere with their normal functions. These viruses will generally make what is known as a cytopathic effect (CPE) in tissue culture cells. Viruses can also cause cells to alter their components making them targets for anti-cellular viruses such as AIDS.5 II. An In-Depth view â€Å"Infectious diseases are the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause worldwide...† but, â€Å"we only spend 1% of our health-care budget on prevention,† claims Dr. David Satcher.6 For years scientists have been complaining about the amount of government money spent on virus prevention. Within the past twenty years, more than 30 new virulent types have been discovered, like Lyme Disease, Legionnaire’s disease, AIDS, and Ebola.7 For the past couple of years, scientists

I have a dream Speech Analysis Essay

In his speech Dr king says that â€Å"we have come to our nations capital to cash a check† king refers to a bad check as blacks not getting their full rights. they don’t get what was promised to them in the declaration of independence. king states how 100 years later the negro is still not free and still experiences â€Å" the flames of withering injustice.† he refers to the 100 years as the 100 anniversary of the signing of the emancipation proclamation signed by lincoln in 1963 which freed the slaves. king claims the bad check as having â€Å"insufficient funds† promised rights and justice. in his opening statements, king addresses thats they have come to cash a bad check. what he is referring to is the promised right in the declaration of independence. blacks were supposed to be promised rights which were guaranteed in the declaration of independence. â€Å"all men yes all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness† blacks were promised rights in the DOFI but these have yet to be realized . he states that america has defaulted on a promissory note. america has yet to acknowledge this fact and probably are reluctant to do it. king also addresses the bad check as having â€Å"insufficient funds â€Å" king refers to the insufficient funds as the lack of freedom and equality for blacks all across america. â€Å" so we’ve come to cash this check check, a check that will give up upon the demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice† King feels that the insufficient funds is a problem and results in great social unbalance between whites and blacks throughout america. he feels that blacks should be given the same opportunities as their white counterparts. he also states that blacks refuse to believe the insufficient funds. â€Å" we refuse to that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation† king goes further by stating how he feels justice needs to be served in order  to correct this bad check. â€Å" now is the time to make justice a reality for all of god’s children, now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice† king feels that there is a â€Å"sweltering heat of injustice† in america, full of racial segregation and inequality. he states NOW is the time because blacks have waited to long to be acknowledged by whites and have the same things they can do. in conclusion, king wants this bad check to be cashed so that whites and blacks can be one with each other and â€Å"dine together at the table of brotherhood† blacks will be have their rights that were promised to all men in the declaration of independence, get rid of the insufficient funds of the bad check and solve the injustice that has plaqued america for years. now is the time for equality, now is the time for equal opportunity and freedom. king has a dream for the future and wants to see his dream come to fruition.

Complicated Attitudes Towards Female Characters Essay

I agree with this statement, as the female characters are revealed to the reader as being powerful over men, seductive, suspicious, mysterious, bewitching and in the end, cause destruction. However, in the poems, males claim some possessiveness over the females. For example; in the poem ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ a beautiful woman tempts men/ knights with her ‘faery’ beauty. The knight in the poem, falls in love with her through her seductive actions, but then she abandons him. ‘ I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful – a faery’s child’ This quote shows how mysterious the female is by describing her as a ‘faery’s child’ which basically means a mystical fairy in human form, who is playful and has magical powers. In ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ the reader only gets one interpretation of the female through the knights direct speech, this reflects a complicated attitude to the reader as we have a biased opinion of the female. Also, not having direct speech from ‘La Belle’ adds to the mysterious-ness of female characters in Keats’ poetry. A male contrast in this poem is quite important, as in many of Keats’ poetry. The knight claims possession over the female. He creates garlands and bracelets for which could be used to enclose and trap her. ‘I made a garland for her head, And bracelets too, and fragrant zone’ ‘I set her on my pacing steed’ These quote shows his possessiveness over the beautiful woman. In the same way, ‘The Eve Of St Agnes’ portrays these attitudes towards females. The narrator focuses on a virgin named Madeline, describing her as pure, nieve, vague and blinded by superstition. This gives the reader the impression of her being easily led and expressing her as being quite innocent. In the poem Madeline is at a party and is oblivious to everything going on around her, she is only thinking of the legend St Agnes. St Agnes Eve is believed by virgins that on this night they will see their future husbands in the dreams. The poet describing Madeline as one of these believers, shows the theme of suspicion and witchcraft, as Madeline will perform the rites associated with St Agnes. Keats’ uses negative capability to contrast innocence with flirtatious, this happens when Madeline goes up to her bedchamber to undress for bed. ‘Of all its wreathed pearls her hair she frees; Unclasps her warmed jewels one by one; Loosens her fragrant boddice; by degrees Her rich attire creeps rustling to her knees:’ Describing the way she undresses makes her seem like shes doing a striptease. A male in the poem named Porphyro, affects the readers attitude towards Madeline, as he comes across as being the seductive one. As Madeline undresses he watches as he’s hiding in her closet. This could portray to the reader about the attitudes towards women, that Madeline purposely stipped like that, because she was thinking about and wishing to tease Porphyro. But as a coincidence, he was there watching every move, showing the powerfullness of women over men. Also, the quote: Sudden a thought came like a full blown rose flushing his brow, and in his pained heart’ Keats’s could be referring to how cunning Porphyro might be, as he was told by the old belle dame that it’s St Agnes Eve and Madeline had gone up to her bedchamber to dream of her future lover, giving him a seductive idea. To conclude, Keats uses many different methods, to have an impact on the reader about complicated attitudes towards females in his poetry. Using sympathy as a weapon for the males in his poetry. However, more indepth reading shows that there may be contrasts between men and women and that their roles can be switched over.