Philippines Online Gaming Industry Outlook Essay

Internet Netopia provides high speed (3-10mpbs) Internet access to achieve customers’ satisfaction and make them feel the uniqueness of the store as compared to other internet cafes. At this speed, downloading large images (pictures), playing music (wave files, mp3s) online and viewing videos (GIF files, flash, video clips) is a breeze. Online and Network Gaming Netopia carries popular Online Games which can be played either solo or via LAN with friends. With this high speed Internet connection, playing online will surely be fun to all the gamers. DIGITAL PRINTING Laser Color or Black and White Printing Netopia branches also have complete desktop publishing facilities and qualified technicians that can assist you in all your office and school requirments. You can print resumà ©, reports or research work from the Internet in either color or black and white. Photo Quality Printing High quality of photo printing is also available wherein pictures taken directly from your Digital Cameras or Cellular Phones can be printed in any quantity at affordable prices. Photo sizes available are as follow; 4R,A4,3R,1Ãâ€"1 ID ,2Ãâ€"2 for passport Angat Ka! Aside from printing and computer usage, Netopia also serves as a supplemental school that offer hundreds of online courses. With the help of the different content providers like Microsoft, CAL, Gapuz and Reviewcard, Netopia was able to promote and offer alternative online modules to those who would like to pursue their courses in Nursing, IT and even College Entrance Exams. Netopia Click Club Join the coolest membership club in the industry, the Netopia Click Club! Enjoy Member rates at Netopia and special discounts and privileges from various Click Club merchants. Visit your nearest Netopia to apply. Membership fee is reasonably priced at P250 inclusive of free eight (8) hours of computer use. Advertising As Netopia continue to strengthen its presence in the business and with the current technologies it possess, Netopia is now into invading the business of Online Advertising. We are now being aggressive in offering our Online Advertising spaces to different advertisers, with the seventy-six (76) branches nationwide and a total of 3,000 computer terminals all ads can be viewed by 500,000 to 1 million customers of different age monthly. Function Room Most of our branches has their own Function Rooms that is equipped with 10-12 workstations. The function room is ideal for any coporate activities such as job caravan, training, recruitment, online interview, testing, gaming tournament, product launch and mini press conference. For booking inquires and reservations, you may email the Corporate Sales Group at corpsales@netopia.ph or call 465-1100 local 2200 IP E-Games Signs Agreement with ePLDT for Digital Paradise Manila, Philippines; 13 December 2010 — IP E-Game Ventures, Inc. (IP E-Games; PSE: EG), the publicly listed online gaming subsidiary of listed technology conglomerate IPVG Corp. (PSE:IP), has signed a share purchase agreement with ePLDT to purchase the latter’s 75% stake in Digital Paradise Inc. (Digital Paradise). Digital Paradise operates the Netopia brand of Internet Cafes. The Internet Cafà © chain currently has a network of 105 cafes nationwide, 71 of which are company owned and 34 of which are franchise Under the agreement, E Games will purchase 97.6 million shares of Digital Paradise representing 75% of the company. Finalization of the purchase is subject to a 45 day due diligence period. E Games is one of the leading online game publishers in the country, offering a portfolio of online games consisting of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games or MMORPGs, and casual online games. E Games pioneered the free to play business model, wherein gamers are not required to pay a subscription fee to play online games. Gamers are given the option of purchasing â€Å"in game items† to enhance their gaming experience. The company sells virtual currency (e Points) that is used to purchase these in-game items. E Games publishes top MMORPGs such as Ran Online, Cabal Online, and recently launched, Dragonica. E Games also has a strategic partnership with GMA7 to publish its casual online games such as Bandmaster, Superstar, and Operation7. Netopia is the largest chain of Internet Cafes in the Philippines consisting of 71 company-owned and 34 franchised branches. Netopia serves over 1.5 million customers monthly, 80% of which are from ages 16 to 35, and uses high-speed Internet provided by PLDT. With Netopia’s broad network coverage, Netopia has attracted many large corporate customers for its training, recruitment and advertising needs. At the retail side, Netopia has become a popular destination, for both men and women for Internet surfing, Gaming, Digital Printing and Electronic Load needs. CEO of E Games, Enrique Y. Gonzalez, says, â€Å"The Internet Cafà © business is a strategic sector of our company, and with the signing of this agreement, we are one step closer to establishing a strong presence in that sector. Netopia is a leading chain in the Internet Cafà © industry and we plan on providing additional investment for expansion.† The purchase of Digital Paradise will give E Games access to a large network of Internet cafes where it can launch, market, and promote its games. One of E Games’ objectives is to increase utilization at Netopia by channeling more of its 12 million users to Netopia cafes. E Games also believes that it can increase ad spending at the cafes by providing advertising customers with an additional advertising medium. Advertising customers will be able to advertise on-line, in-game, and now through Netopia’s over 4,000 work stations. E Games recognizes the potential synergies in the transaction and is truly excited about the growth prospects of Digital Paradise. IP E-Game Ventures Inc. (IP e-Games) is a publicly listed company in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: EG) which operates the online gaming business of technology conglomerate IPVG Corp. (PSE: IP). IP e-Games is ranked as the leading online games publisher in the Philippines and holds top MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) titles such as RAN Online, CABAL Online, and Presidential Award recipient Korean game, Granado Espada. Other games include high-fantasy MMORPG Runes of Magic, and Korean adventure games such as Dragonica and Nostale Online. The casual games of IP E-Games are published under X-Play Online Games Inc. (X-Play), a joint venture company between IP E-Games and GMA New Media Inc. (GMA NMI), the digital arm of GMA Network Inc. (PSE: GMA7). X-Play publishes the no.1 online dance game Audition Dance Battle, MMO First person shooter OP7, online rhythm game Bandmaster, and online videoke game Superstar Online. IP E-Games strategic minority investors include the Philippine Star Group and E-Store Exchange (an affiliate of GMA7). For more information, visit www.e-games.com.ph.

Macbeth Servant Diary Entries Essay

Dear diary, as I am a servant in Thane Macbeth’s castle I have noticed a sudden change in his behaviour. I have always thought of Macbeth as a courageous, honest loyal man, however I have witnessed many events that have forced me to think otherwise. When Macbeth returned from battle, he was greeted by Lady Macbeth in the Castle. I was cleaning the floors in the room next door to ensure that everything was presentable for the arrival of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth seemed very excited to see him and Macbeth looked just as happy. They seemed to be having a pleasant short conservation. Nevertheless, whilst I was going out to fetch some clean water I overheard Lady Macbeth say something very strange to Macbeth. She said â€Å"Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t.† I replayed this over and over in my head yet I could not understand what it could have meant. Macbeth had always been loyal and truthful. What actions were he going to take that were so evil that they would reveal the serpent inside him? All these questions remained unanswered, well not for long anyway†¦ Dear diary, I went to the courtyard of the castle with Macbeth. There we met Banquo and Fleance. Banquo was feeling rather uneasy about going to sleep because he was fearing that he will dream of three, weird sisters. Macbeth persuaded Banquo to talk about the things he was seeing in his dreams with him sometime. After they had finished talking, everyone left leaving Macbeth alone in the courtyard. I decided to observe his actions therefore I hid in the shadow. Macbeth started talking to himself about how he can see a dagger before him. He seemed really confused about whether or not the dagger was really there or if it was just a vision in his mind. What was he going on about? I was standing right there as well and I could see everything in his view. There was nothing there; not a dagger in sight! What I could not understand was why he as acting so crazy all of a sudden? Normal people do not imagine seeing daggers before their eyes. Perhaps the fact that the object was a dagger may be related to something that was on his mind. I can just tell from the abnormalities in Macbeth’s behaviour that something is going on which is going to lead to tragedy. Dear diary, King Duncan has been murdered! I was startled to hear the ringing of the alarm bell this morning. I ran out of my bed and heard Macduff announce the murder. I could not believe it happened, right under our very noses. Through all the hustle bustle, I kept a close eye on Macbeth who had reacted very strangely in the situation. I would have expected him to be in deep grief as he had a great relationship with King Duncan and they were thought of as good friends. Instead he killed the servants that had supposedly murdered King Duncan and claimed he acted out of great fury and without thinking. Personally, I don’t think that the servants killed King Duncan as they had no motive whatsoever. Macbeth has become a changed man and he should be watched in everything he does. The thruth will always come out and whoever murdered King Duncan will pay the price for doing so.

The Chocolate War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Chocolate War - Essay Example Archie Costello heads The Vigils and the group is specialized in giving assignments that have to be completed by other students. Depending on the individuals, the assignments are different from one person to the other and are intended to inflict as much psychological torture as possible. For instance, when Goober, Jerry’s friend is given an assignment of unscrewing desks, chairs and hinges, he undergoes negative emotional consequences when the desks and chairs fall apart the moment the students come to class the following day. Apathy is indeed infectious. When Jerry refuses to sell the chocolates, he is considered a hero, since his fellow students also refuse to sell their chocolates 1st Student remarks that â€Å"I never thought of saying ‘no’ like you did. That was awesome† (Robinette 56). This clearly indicates that other students were infected by apathy. Jerry proves Archie right when he tells Obie that Jerry is emotionally strong since after loosing his mother, he has stood on his feet by joining school in such a short period of time. Archie claims â€Å"Don’t let him fool you. He is a tough one. Gets wiped out all day, then gets right back up on his feet† (Robinette 12). During certain instances, it is imperative that an individual violates the society around him/her, particularly when the society goes against his/her personal norms. Jerry decides to embrace the assertions of a poster in his locker that reads â€Å"Do I dare disturb the Universe?† (Robinette 39). This was wise of him since every individual has the right to choose what is consciously right for him/her. When Jerry remarks that refusing to sell chocolates is a kind of perversion, he is right, since perversion is an aspect that best describes the behavior of human beings that are considered to be deviating from what is regarded as being normal. At the Trinity school, it was evident that The

Intelligence Requirements - Graded Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intelligence Requirements - Graded - Essay Example However, the more indicators that link to PIR, the more branches will therefore exist between the PIRs and SIRs. This even will lead to PIR as something that is difficult to answer.3 However, even if there is a certain degree of difficulty in it, the presence of the indicators is an essential point that will lead to a justifiable outcome of providing answers for PIRs. Indicators should be predictive.4 If they are predictive, indicators are guaranteed to be of a high quality. Staffs should therefore evaluate if the chosen indicators are predictive enough which will qualify them to provide the opportunity to provide the remarkable answers for certain PIRs. Thus, prior to using their radars and other intelligence tools, the intelligence soldiers will have to engage into the identification of the appropriate indicators that will lead them to potential answers and as prior to the appropriate moves that they will have to take.5 The answer is evident from the fact that indicators must necessarily be predictive.6 The quality of a good indicator is that it is something measurable, and there is no relevant drawback to it.7 It must be something that is substantial or enough to provide evidences that will lead to the appropriate answer prior to doing the most crucial strategy as the next course of action. In other words, this argument simply illustrates the point that it will be impractical to rely on a substandard indicators, because in the end it will also result to substandard SIRs too. As a result, the PIRs will result a substandard answers. The accuracy and efficiency of the action plan will be compromised, leading to the failure operation and possible earning of substantial cost or damage along the way.8 It is therefore important to maintain a high level of practicality for any chosen indicators, because these are essential evidences to always lead to possible courses of

Diet for a new American Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Diet for a new American - Movie Review Example Cruel treatment of animals shocks the viewer raising a powerful question that should a man do all such heinous acts just to fill the belly? My personal opinion is, this is a great movie. I have always been for vegetarian diet and this movie by the scientific treatment of the subject, has further consolidated my stand for vegetarian diet. This is an eye opener for the animal loving people and the health conscious ones. I believe that America needs to do serious re-thinking about the diet of its people and explain to them the correct position through print and electronic media. Legislation needs to be enacted for the protection of the animals. Pigs, cattle and chicken are raised in awful conditions and the entire process of meat production in inhumane. More or less, it is now an admitted fact that meat eating causes coronary problems and harms the body and environment by eating animal protein in large quantities. I am a vegan and on the basis of facts and figures articulated in the movie I do hope that it will lead to transformation amongst the viewers and they will seriously consider switching over to vegan lifestyle. Yes, this movie is the victory for vegetarians and the time is not far off when vegetarian food will be the way of life for the entire humankind. That will be a great relief to the suffering of the birds and

Evidence course work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Evidence course work - Essay Example Legal principles aim at promoting the rights of children throughout the administration of justice. This means that the legal system needs to uphold the fact that children, including individuals aged 17 years, are people in their own right and thus possess obligations and rights. These rights and obligations must be taken into consideration and respected by judicial and administrative authorities. 17 year olds enjoy special rights at police stations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the array of legal rights endowed on 17 year olds while in police custody for interviewing. The paper will further make pertinent recommendations to enhance the level of protection offered to juveniles in the initial stages of the juvenile justice process. Background International, regional and national legal principles hold that children possess special interests, needs and rights, which must be appreciated in all stages of the criminal justice system. This means that the administration of justice, both criminal and otherwise should always be guided by principal principles of non-discrimination, which are aimed at upholding the best interests of the juvenile. The European Convention on Human Rights is one of the most relevant regional legal principles that countries in Europe seek to incorporate into their domestic legal systems in order to provide guidance on the treatment of juveniles within the justice system3. The Convention has influenced the creation and implementation of legal provisions such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the Human Rights Act 1998 with the view to enhance the protection of juveniles’ rights in all spheres of life. Notably, recent court cases have revealed that PACE is inadequate in its protection of juveniles since it promotes the treatment of 17 year olds as adults during interviews at the police station. In R. (on the application of HC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 982 (Admin) (QBD (Admin)) , the court ruled that the failure to revise PACE 1984 Code C in a manner that differentiates between adults and 17 year olds is a direct contravention of the government’s legal duty under the Human Rights Act 19984. PACE 1984 Code C allows police officers to treat 17 year olds as adults5. For instance, police officers are allowed to delay juveniles’ phone calls to their guardians on the pretext that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the exercise of the right to a phone call will impair the investigations. PACE Code C considers juveniles as all individuals who seem to be below the age of 17 years in the absence of evidence to the contrary6. Since the ratification of the Children Act in 1908, the criminal justice system has maintained that young offenders must be treated differently from adults in all stages of the justice process. Other legal principles such as remand and sentencing legislation, for instance, Criminal Justice Act 2003, Powers of Criminal Cou rts Sentencing Act 2000 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 also differentiate between those below and over the age of 18 years7. Additionally, the Prison Service Instruction 08/2012 describes children as all individuals under 18 years. Under Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) a child is essentially a person under 18 years, unless the law applicable to the child delineates that majority is attained at a

Why should students attend college to obtain a education Essay

Why should students attend college to obtain a education - Essay Example By exploring specific subjects, college education opens up the mind of the learners to gain more life changing skills that are essential to achieving better careers in life. Therefore, this paper determines the economic and social value of college education in contrast to what students learn in high school. Thompson (193) argues that most of the academic statistics in the United States indicates that the majority of students attend high school education to unlock their potential for better opportunities in life. It is cited that college education is an economical avenue for a better work and to earn more money. For instance, more people high school graduate would willing to attend a college education only to secure a well paying job as compared to their status of employment. Because high school job opportunities characterized by low, paying jobs such as janitors that do not require any professional experience to perform. In addition, some people attend college education to increase the knowledge skill, for people who envision educational objective go through college education just to gain sound education and get an open mind than those who may not have attained such qualifications. College education also empowers the life of an individual. The main reason being that, better-educated persons’ understand issues that improve daily lives of existence. Professional experience that enables a person to interpret financial statements and vital documents give a person more powers to govern his life. College education contributes immensely to the growing reward of investment decision. In essence, the firstborns in most families do find themselves automatically attending such education due to pressure from the family. The logic behind this is based on economic returns because a father who does not have college education will strive and ensure that his children excel beyond high school level (Thompson 193). According to Thompson

Current event summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current event summary - Assignment Example Although it is easy to say that he is a failed leader due to the current state of the world and the international developments that have taken place throughout the world since his election to the position of Secretariat of the United Nations, it is however unfair to tarnish his abilityto lead based upon the diverse and self interested actions of the partipants in the process. No matter thequality of the leader, it is doubtful if they could conceive of a better job than what Bahn Ki Moon is already performing. Camila Batmanghelidjh – although one of the most non-traditional people that this brief analysis will contend with, Camila Batmanghelidjh is one that has effected a massively positive difference in the lives of countless disenfranchised and underprivileged children in and around the London area. As a function of her dedication, the level to which shelter and food has been available to street children who would otherwise have little to no future has been drastically changed for the better. Whereas she may be somewhat non-traditional and non-conformist in her appearance or particular attitude to life, she has nonetheless made a profound influence on the lives of many as a result of her tireless activism and leadership abilities. Hugo Chavez – though a controversial leader that opposed the United States at nearly each and every turn, it is undeniable that Chavez demonstrated the qualities of an exceptional leader. When one researchers and understands the level of time and attention he paid to the plight of the poor and underprivileged classes within Venezuela, the activities of some of the â€Å"free world’s† most progressive politicians pale in comparison. Rather than analyzing Chavez from the perspective of his international relations and the odd alliances he made with Iran and the Russian Federation, it is much better to consider him from the standpoint of what he was able to do for his own people as well as

Business diversification of a confectionary food and beverage business Essay

Business diversification of a confectionary food and beverage business of United Kingdom - Essay Example This report assesses the trends and pattern of international trade between these two countries especially trades and investment in the beverage industry. Implication of the international institutions on its initial entry into Indian market will be analysed. Finally, this report will recommend whether and how the company can diversify its business into Indian market. Introduction Globalization has stimulated many successful firms in all many countries for diversification of their business into foreign market. It allows two different ways for international business expansion for these successful companies in their domestic countries. One is trade and another foreign direct investment. These factors have influenced one UK based Food and Beverage Company named Crazy Food Private Limited to decide start its international diversification. The company has decided to diversity into a developing country i.e. India. The company has successful portfolio that consist of processed food, ready to eat food, snacks foods as confectionary items and soft and energy drinks as beverage items. It has well developed two popular brands in UK market, Crazy Bite and Crazy Cola. The company wants to launch these two popular brands in India and it has noticed this confectionary market in India to be growing more in next five years. So, this report will provide a detailed investment analysis for this company to assess the viability of its international business diversification into Indian market. Answer a) National business system India is a developing country having a growing economy that is 12th largest economy in the world by nominal value of gross domestic product. The country has approximately more than 17% of world population among which more than 200 millions can be segmented as high consumption oriented urban people. This segment of people is having above average income level and higher purchasing power. This is one of the major strengths of the country for attracting foreign busi ness institutions to enter into Indian market. According an analysis by World Bank, India is 4rth largest country in the world in terms of overall consumption and purchasing power of the total population of the country. 40 percent of this 200 million people are youth (IFC, n.d.). Therefore, growing purchasing and consumption trend of this large segment of people is the key attraction of this company in terms of potential customer base as youth are usually the most potential target customer for any confectionary food and beverage producer. Apart from the huge customer base, next important key resources of the country has is sufficient youth labour and expertise. This is one of the most important recourses of the country which has become the main attraction of the foreign companies especially companies from developed countries like Crazy Food. The company can get sufficient labour in comparatively very low wage rate as compared to UK market rate due to the higher difference of currenc ies of these two countries. As a food and beverage company, Crazy Food needs huge work force for production and packaging, bottling etc. National political environment of India is stable as current government and only one major opponent do not have many conflicts that can affect any areas of business national

Supply chain strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Supply chain strategies - Essay Example Especially in the recession stricken economic situation of today, new innovative ways of managing supply chains have to be devised. What follows are five such prominent strategies. Strategy 1: Adopting a demand-driven approach to production based on inputs from real-time demand data. This strategy quite useful both when applied to pre-production and post-production supply chain processes. A key aspect of SCM is the ability to accurately predict likely future demands. But it is equally important to be able to fall back on contingency plans that could mitigate the effects of natural disasters, political instabilities and suppliers going out of business, etc. By planning for these, â€Å"companies then can adjust pricing and promotions strategies to shape demand, move additional product quickly, drive revenue growth, or further expand margins for a high-demand product with limited market supply. The key is to have the foresight to leverage opportunities and mitigate challenging events so that your business not only survives, but succeeds.† (Muzumdar, 2010) Strategy 2 is Optimization of product designs for supply, manufacturing and sustainability so that innovative processes could be applied. In the highly competitive business environment of today, innovation can make the difference between survival and bankruptcy.

Values of Public and Private Universities Essay Example for Free

Values of Public and Private Universities Essay In the economy we live in today education is of most importance because at some point in time when enhancing our education we will have to decide between public and private universities. In some cases, if they do not one may be unable to acquire a job or be promoted based of their lack of schooling. When a student attends a community college, knowing the next step in their educational career is relevant to secure a future position in a higher and more conventional university. I believe some students are unaware of the significant differences that divide public and private universities. However by understanding the variance between both public and private universities, this will help assist students. Making a more accurately stable conclusion as to which higher education will best benefit them in both the long and short term. If our economy is in majority powered by a standing of schooling, it is of great importance that we select the correct form of university to help achieve a more beneficiary education. It is significant to compare private and public university’s based on their tuition cost, areas of study, graduation accuracy, and campus magnitude to better apprehend the value of each. First, to comprehend the financial standings of schooling it is important to compare the tuition cost of both public and private universities. Additional areas to consider are the school’s annual tuition costs, scholarships, as well as room and bored. According to Christopher Cornwell, a former Exploration Manager, at Eaglewood Energy Inc. and David B. Mustard, an Associate Professor of Economics in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, illustrates that at Georgia’s average four year private university there is a total of 136,581 awards by which 101.91 millions of dollars were presented in total the year of 2002. However, Georgia’s private average annual tuition is near 8,606 dollars. Cost plays a large role in deciding which one out of the two, private and public higher level universities to select to attend; affordability is of main concern. Conversely, Cornwell and Mustard also explained that in the same year of  2002, Georgia’s four year public university has a total of 389,452 awards offered, out of 840.09 millions of dollars stand granted. One online cite, The College Board.com, highly recommended to all college applicants, states that Georgia’s public universities annual tuition nears 4,207 dollars. The contrast of cost fluctuates depending on attending ether public or private universities. Next, when debating between public and private universities it is essential to deliberate the schools areas of study. This includes majors offered, programs, and teaching. Under private universities, rendering Ronald G. Ehrenberg, the Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics at Cornell University, exemplifies that Cornell University consists of four out of ten colleges on its Ithaca campus, â€Å"the Collage of Agriculture and Life Science, Human Ecology, Veterinary Medicine, and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations†. The public university of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health specializes in public health programs. Attending a university that specializes in a specific area of study will benefit applicants by high appraisal when applying for jobs in the same area of work (The American Journal of Public Health). One needs to consider graduate accuracy between public and private universities in order to better understand the worth of each one. A graduate rate is a universities average percentage of the total number of students that graduate with a degree within the average time ratio. Contributions to the increase and decrease of any public of private university are based on graduate rates, graduate time period, and job placement. Swarthmore, a small private Philadelphia-based school, will graduate 91% of students within four years, conferring to, Jane Bennett Clark. The public University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a 31% admission rate. At 77%, Carolinas four-year graduation rate is 45 percentage points higher than the average rate for four-year public schools according to an article by Susannah Snider. Before selecting ether public or private universities it is important to reflect on each ones graduate rate. Lastly, it is significant to reflect on the campus size magnitude of both  public and private universities. This includes the student to teacher ratio, and the campus total population. According to a report by, Enrolments, Funding and Student Staff Ratios, Policy Note, the average private university withholds an estimate of 1,799,000 student’s total. The public University of Northern Carolina’s fall headcount enrollment in the year 2001reached a high of 3,293, though in the year 2004, 3,574 total enrollment It is projected that by the year 2012 the total fall enrollment will reach 3,717 students (Snider). It is important to take into consideration the total population of every college to decide which large or small learning environment will benefit ones learning progression. In conclusion, one will have the advantage when understanding the importance between public and private universities. Deciding between each one is a resolution that the grander majority of the nation will come to terms with. The importance of understanding the differences between public and private universities is a major area to consider when deciding which university ones believes will fit them best. Base the decision making off of each universities tuition cost, areas of study, magnitude, and graduate rates will help one in their own comparison for which they value most. It is vital to compare public and private universities in order to better recognize each ones distinct value to better determine which learning environment will have the greatest positive impact toward ones education. Citation Page Assessing Public Higher Education in Georgia at the Start of the Twenty-first Century. Whats Happening to Public Higher Education? By Ronald G. Ehrenberg. N.p.: Praeger, 2006. N. pag. Print. CLARK, JANE BENNETT. BEST VALUES IN PRIVATE COLLEGES. (Cover Story). Kiplingers Personal Finance 66.12 (2012): 43-46. Business Source Complete. Web. 23 Oct. 2013. Cornwell, Christopher, and David B. Mustard. Assessing Public Higher Education in Georgia at the Start of the Twenty-first Century. Whats Happening to Public Higher Education? By Ronald G. Ehrenberg. N.p.: Praeger, 2006. N. pag. Print Ehrenberg, Ronald G. Whats Happening to Public Higher Education? Ronald G. Ehrenberg ed. N.p.: Praeger, 2006. Print. Higher Education. Enrolments, Funding and Student Staff Ratios by Sector. Policy Note. Number 2 (2011): 2. Northewest Vista College library one search. Web. Dec. 2011. . SNIDER, SUSANNAH. BEST VALUES IN PUBLIC COLLEGES. (Cover Story). Kiplingers Personal Finance 67.2 (2013): 50. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. Tuition and Fees by Sector and State over Time. Collegebored.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. . US Schools Of Public Health And Graduate Public Health Programs Accredited By The Council On Education For Public Health. American Journal Of Public Health 87.3 (1997): 492-494. Business Source Complete. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.

Making and Managing Change at FedEx

Making and Managing Change at FedEx Managing change in todays organizations is not easy but doing it well is the new imperative. If companies want to survive and strive in todays highly competitive environment, they have change quickly and yet successfully. Managing changes is now a core competency where organizations fall short in the race to adopt it. The increasing pace of change coupled with accelerating uncertainty. An IBM study reveals the following rates in change program success, only 41% organizations implementing change fully met objectives, 44% missed at least one objective and 15% missed all objectives or aborted. Basically 59% change initiatives failed to meet their objectives. The study also discloses the key success factors such as, the highest rating has a top management sponsorship (92%), an employee involvement (72%), an honest and timely communication (70%), a corporate culture that motivates and promotes change, 55% change agents (pioneers of change), a change supported by culture (48%). The lower r ating but still important are the following factors, efficient training programs (38%), adjustment of performance measures (36%), an efficient organization structure (33%) and monetary and non-monetary activities (19%). The most considerable of all the above is the human factor because people matter the most in managing change in organization. Change is something that makes people upset and has the higher potential of failures, loss production or failing quality. On the other end, there is a positive side of change, where he effects of change are important to the survival of the organization. From the perspective of employees both definition and understanding is essence to successfully managing change. As mentioned before uncertainty, a fear of unknown or an expectation of loss make people resistant to change. To eliminate this discomfort we have to make sure that people perceive the change in the positive way and that they are well equipped to deal with the change they expect either though training programs or communication. People have to be aware of the impact of the change of them. To begin with, the change has to be defined to employees in detail and as early as possible. It is a leader responsibility to provide updates as things developed and become clearer. Management has to help people understand what is changing a nd why and recognize they reluctance. People would like to know answers for what the change will be and when it will happen and why it is happening. Maintaining channels of communication between employees and management will help employees to embrace to change when they become aware of what is coming and what it will mean to them. The employees will appreciate that and be more productive before and after the change. Implementing change poorly is worst than not implementing change at all because poor implementations contaminate peoples attitude toward change and creates problem in the future. Middle management has to be aware that change for change sakes is a recipe for failure. Change should be pursued in the context of clear goals. Making change work at FedEx Todays fast pace work environment is causing the organizations to change the traditional view of what normal is. FedEx is a perfect example of the organization that is reframing its traditional view in effects of globalization, technology advances, complex multinational organizations, frequent partnering across national borders and company boundaries. The company was transformed by its founder into the worlds leading overnight shipper and major force in ground shipping. Within forty years of being a leader in delivery service the FedEx Company went though chain of constant and successful changes. The company was founded in June 1971 by Fred Smith with only two small French-made airplanes handful of employees using their own cars or rental tracks for deliveries and its first customer, the Federal Reserve System. Fed was transporting checks and other documents between banks overnight. At that time Smith was already thinking to expand the service with an impact in air-cargo transport. The main focus was on high priority items such as computer parts and medical equipment where fast deliveries were crucial. With help of investors within not even a year FedEx had nine Falcons and was ready to expend it service in Midwest and South with the hub location in Memphis. On March 12, 1973 only six packages were sent in the first overnight flight to Memphis but next month there were 168 packages. There were also niepowodzenia, the company gained a negative attention when in 1975 Smith was accused of forging documents to obtain loans for the company. Fortunately, he was cleared of charges and resume control of its own company. FedEx situation significantly improved when government deregulated the air cargo industry what lets FedEx carry more cargo on large planes. FedEx quickly reacted on the new government regulations and replaced small Falcons with Boeing 727, 737 and DC-10s. This had a tremendous impact on FedEx hub and spoke system. Not only planes where replaced but Smith purchased all leased trucked and run a designation operation to promise delivery by noon the next day for FedEx premium service. In early 1980 FedEx was a winner in the express delivery industry, an industry it has established. Among competitors such United Parcel Services and Emery, FedEx stand out as the first company to tap the over-night delivery market. Today, in one day (twenty four hour period) FedEx plane travel 500,000 miles which is equal to circling the globe twenty times. Smith expanded the company business again in 1981, adding the overnight delivery of letter and documents and in 1984 started operating around the world after purchasing Gelco Express International, an international package shipper base in Minneapolis, Minnesota and several overseas delivery firms. In this year the company rolled out a PC based automated shipping system. In 1986 the company introduced hand held bar code scanners to track packages. Focused on the improvement of the service FedEx introduced Service Quality Indicator (SQI) in 1988 which allowed tracking lost packages, missed pick-ups, and late deliveries. The scanners were also used to read the barcodes n invoices as well as to track the location of the packages throughout their journey. The company grew again n 1989 when it purchased Flying Tigers, an air cargo delivery specializing in overseas market. This transaction, added to FedEx debt and foreign losses and by 1992 the company stopped shipping packages within Europe but continuing shipping goods to and from Europe. In 1994 Federal Express Corporation officially changed its name to FedEx, in and lunched website www.fedex.com to let customers track their packages on the internet. The website capability was extended in 1996 allowing customers to create shipping labels and order courier pickups. According to Chris Newton, a senior ana lyst of supply chain strategies for AMR Research in Boston, this emphasis on IT innovation has gained FedEx 30 percent share in the highly competitive business to consumer expense delivery market. Among three possible change models with IT innovations such as Technology Driven Change, Stakeholders Decision Making and Stair Change Model FedEx had chosen the last one. The Satir Change Model. The Satir Change model focuses not just on systems or technology but individual people. This model describes the major stages of a change, transition between stages, effects of each stage on feelings, thinking, performance and physiology. Stair Change Model also evaluate helpful and harmful intervention during each stage, making it a robust model which explains the success the number one service industry that uses technology to carter to customer needs (Gordon, 2001). Studying this model we will understand how individuals cope with unexpected or significant change as go through four stages: Late Status Quo, Chaos, Practice and Integration, and New Status Quo. We will notice how the performance changes as we move to the next stage in this model. In the Late Status Quo we see only small fluctuations in performance from time to time. In this stage people feel comfortable, bored, frustrated or anxious. The foreign element, something that comes from outside of your world, that shatters the familiarity experienced in the late Status. It normally happens when the company reorganizes and puts employee in a new role. Than we have another stage, which is Chaos, it is unfamiliar territory, where the life in unpredictable and individuals typical behavior dont work. People in this stage feel stressed, confused, afraid, hurt, and uncomfortable or have other strong yet not positive emotions. The performance usually drops. Employees can react to Chaos differently , some will be directing other people around and try to stay in control, some will be focusing on small part of problem totally ignoring the Chaos happening around them, and other will be doing everything to find information about what is going on. Some of this actions work some do not. Peoples bahaviors and performance are unpredictable, often varying from day to day or even from moment to moment. There is also a good thing about this stage, Chaos can be very creative time but experienced under urgency and stress. The Transforming Idea gives a new understanding of what to do. New ideas are created when being in Chaos. In Practice and Integration we try the new idea or behavior. People learn quickly even though make lots of mistakes but make progress. The performance improves, reaches higher level that before the Foreign Element. The last step in this model is The New Status Quo the performance starts to level off as people manage new skills. The excellent results continue with less concentration and attention. People feel comfortable about how rapidly they learned new skills and gained confidence. With time, the New Status Quo becomes a Late Status Quo. FedEx employees are familiar with the organizational team and understand that the company success and survival dependents on IT success. They know what is expected of them and are aware that if something fails so they might have to pick up the pace to fix it. FedEx stuff experience resistance to change which threatens power structure of the company. Resistance is natural reaction when change is to be implemented, However, overcoming resistance requires that peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ open up, become aware, and overcome the reaction, to deny, avoid or blame (Smith, 2009). It is a natural reaction that the employees resist and questions validity of any new devices but after being trained and educated on particular device they realize that the product is a good. FedEx put significant efforts on employees training programs as well as communication. As pictured is the graph above, following resistance is another stage called chaos, a lot of unknown which normally takes place upon accepting new device. This stage is required as a means of processing, problem solving, reframing and acceptance and buy-on for change initiatives. There is no place for old behaviors. Than is integration, the one of transforming elements that can show FedEx employees how the device can benefit them and increase value of the company in the market place. FedEx communicates the value of the change to their employees through their bottom line as the bottom line is affected by the consumer behavior, the company communicates that the initiator of change is (their) customer (Gordon, 2001, p.3). FedEx new status quo, which is the last step in the Satir Change Model, is to put company in a better place, stabilize performance at a higher level get more reliable information, anything to reduce change employees resistance, increase internal communication and to reduce customers change resistance. FedEx objective desire was to reduce the change resistance among employees who fear the lack of competence to change, feel overloaded and overwhelmed. Through the implementation of the new technological devices the company wanted to convince its employees that the risk of change is greater than the risk of standing still. This was helpful for people who feel connected to other people who were identifying with the old. Minimizing resistance to change was important for the company so its employees have a healthy skepticism and be sure that new ideas are sound. Without offering support, counseling and training people will feel that the propose change threaten their notions of themselves. According to Schuler people genuinely believe that any recommended change is a bad idea. FedEx experienced the most significant change which was a massive reorganization announced in January 19, 2001. The company consolidated four of its five operating subsidiaries under the FedEx brand name and moved most of its IT, sales and marketing stuff into a new company, FedEx Corporate. Simultaneously, FedEx realigned the relationships of these companies to one another, intending to provide customers with a single point of access to sale, customer service, billing and automation systems (CIO.com, 2001). FedEx has managed is own way to manage resistance to change mainly by communicating with the stuff. Implementing and use of FXTV which connected the members of the company trough live broadcast was the FedEx way to increase communication as well as to exploit the internal expertise of company employees worldwide. The close-circuit television network which enables broadcasting with employees at any time around the world is the one of the most valuable FedEx IT resources available when the company goes through a new change or undertakes a new project. Employees appreciate the way the company communicates the reorganization or the project even though it may not have a direct impact on them. They know in advance what will be happening in details that are provided clearly through email and FXTV. This indicate that the company values its employees Besides FXTV, the Smith company uses IP multicast technology to fuel programming through the company intranet into IP-TV viewer that employees have on their desktop. FedEx continually works to find a way to reduce change resistance of their employees as well as its customers. Customers value FedEx as a very responsive vendor and are encouraged to do more business with the company. For instance, General Motors Service Part Operation was working with FedEx to improve shipment of small automotive parts from GM facilities to dealers worldwide. FedEx willingly worked with GM to blend their systems expertise and successfully fulfilled GM needs. In todays fast paste environment, there is ongoing pressure to be responsive to customer needs and at the same time maintain the cost-effectiveness. According to FedEx customers, the company can translate expertise into IT solutions and create opportunity to serve customers better and eliminate waste from its system. From the very beginning the company had shown a potential of managing change without losing touch with its core mission. During the 40 year period of operation in delivery business, FedEx technology and competition have shifted enormously but the company was able to coordinate the following, introducing new services with avoiding fluctuations in growth, profitability and very important efficiency of employee morale. FedEx success was achieved with use of the Satir Change Model and through communication with employees. As mentioned by Gordon, FedEx has regularly managed change to its advantage by maintaining different task simultaneously, such as perpetuating the company essential mission, remaining innovative, exploiting competitive edge to achieve value-added services and seeing the end result of any change as a continual way to build value and utility through customers. For every prosperous business, it is fundamental to establish communication practices that enable employees to be informed, administer feedback, ask questions and develop a re-framing of the change situation so they become aware and understand overall benefit to the system in a company. The communication practices benefit FedEx employees as they develop the competency and expertise in using these systems so they can move through the frequent changes required to provide value-added products and services to customers.

Their Eyes Were Watching God | Analysis

Their Eyes Were Watching God | Analysis Hurstons â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God† presents several themes such as speech and silence, love and marriage, and finally gender roles. Zora Neale Hurston does an outstanding job of instituting what men such as Joe Starks believed were the standard roles for the African American female. Hurston pertinently described Janie through her relationship with Joe, the metaphoric value of the mule, and her dialogue as a woman of strength, not concerned with the ideals of her white female counterparts, sitting up on a high chair and overlooking the world. Janie desired a greater purpose. In Hurstons â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God†, men and women inhabit separate roles. Not only are the women portrayed as the more fragile sex, Hurston essentially defines them by their relationships to and with the men. Thus, marriage is paramount in this story. The message sent here is that women can and do only obtain power through marrying powerful or, at least, motivated men. By the use of tradition, women are limited to the confines of positions of piteousness, passiveness, domesticity, and of course as sexual objectivity. The men consistently silence the womens voices, limit their actions with proprietary notions and insult their appearance and sexuality. In contrasts, when the women exhibit any traditionally male characteristics such as authority, intelligence or ambition, men deem them as unattractive and masculine. The male characters set out to prove to their peers that they are masculine by showing their wives who is in charge. This was not always due to personal desire, but also by society and at large as well as environmental pressures. The author immediately introduces the female perspective. In â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God†, Hurston celebrates Janie as an artist that enriches Eatonville and details her self-discovery. Without delay, on first page of the book, Hurston substantiates the contrast between men and women by initiating Janies quest to reach fruition of her own dreams and presaging the female quest theme throughout the remainder of the novel. Now, women forget all those things they dont want to remember, and remember everything they dont want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly (Their Eyes Were Watching 1). As a Black woman, Janie asserts herself beyond expectation and the persistence that she consistently shows characterizes her unrelenting quest for true love—the kind she dreamed of as a child. She is aware of her status in society, but is unwavering in her determination to disregard it. Anyone or anything attempting to encumber Janie from her mission for happiness annoys her. â€Å"So de white man throw down de load and tell de nigger man tuh pick it up. He pick it up because he have to, but he dont tote it. He hand it to his womenfolks. De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see, opines Janies grandmother in an attempt to justify the marriage that she has arranged for her granddaughter† (Their Eyes Were Watching 14). The excerpt founds the presence of the substandard status of women in this culture, a status that Janie must reverse, in some way, in order to surface as a heroine. Despite this obstacle, Janie refuses deterrence from attaining her dream. In â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God†, Zora Neale Hurston reveals the importance of gender roles and their place in African American culture during the 1930s. In Chapter 6, Hurston displays the importance males exhibiting superiority their female partners and their attempts to force them into roles of subservience. In this chapter, Joe Starks attempts push Janie into a passive role by hushing her in conversations, physically abusing her in their home, and handling her as an item in his possession. The author establishes this early in the novel to serve as a catalyst for Janie to make the decision that her personal growth and development as a strong woman will only materialize when she escapes the mold into which Joe has forced her. Hurston exhibits that Janie should be allowed to have the right to do what white women do on a constant basis; perch on high stools on their porches while relaxing. â€Å"Everybody was having fun at the mule-baiting. All but Janie† (Their Eyes Were Watching 56) demonstrates the way Joe stresses that Janie give the impression that she is living the white womans dream of relaxing at home and being civilized, as that is the role dictated by her gender and because it promotes the his portrayal as a powerful leader of the town. Even when Janie pleads, â€Å"Taint nothin so important Ah got tuh do tuhday, Jody. How come Ah cant go long wid you tug de draggin-out?† (Their Eyes Were Watching 60) confirms her desire to abandon the preset, generalized roles of gender that women faced during this period. Janie wishes to forge her own path and do what brings her personal satisfaction as a woman and not what the perception of contentment is for all women. Janies idea of pleasure, ho wever, is not present in the old-fashioned roles that the women of the 1930s were expected to accept. Later in the chapter, we read, â€Å"Here he was just pouring honor all over her; building a high chair for her to sit in and overlook the world and she here pouting over it!† (Their Eyes Were Watching 62). Joe does not seem to grasp that satisfying Janie does not include giving her a life that mimics that of a white womans. Instead, Janie would rather immerse herself into her own culture, celebrating the essentials that are intrinsic to being a black woman. Unfortunately, Joe either cannot or will not fulfill this for her, thus she elects to entertain the company of Tea Cake, who seems to gain happiness from partaking in lifes simpler pleasures, such as singing, storytelling, dancing and fishing—including Janie in his activities. All the way through the novel, we continue to witness the outward display of the superiority that men feel over women. If their spouses do not obey or follow the strict roles of gender, it is commonplace for them to endure beatings, not unlike the mule in chapter six. Even something as small as an undesirable meal, could result in physical abuse. Many men believe that women are in need of guidance in every aspect of their lives, needing instructions for basic tasks on a consistent basis. This sentiment solidifies the belief of the male gender that their sex is greater and superior over women. Many men feel that women are completely ignorant and need men to tell them what to do all of the time; a sentiment that adds fuel to them feeling their gender is greater to their female counterpart. In chapter six Janie objects, â€Å"You sho loves to tell me whut to do, but Ah cant tell you nothin Ah see!† He responds, â€Å"Dats ‘cause you need tellin, It would be pitiful if Ah didnt. Somebody got to think for women and chillun and chickens and cows. I god, they sho dont think none theirselves† (Their Eyes Were Watching 71). Here, Joe alludes that women have brainpower akin to a chicken or clumsy cow and that they should embrace their roles as the lesser mate. Eventually, Janie escapes her traditional female mold of speaking only when spoken to and obeying mindlessly. She finally finds her voice at the end of chapter six when she says to Joe, â€Å"Sometimes God gits familiar wid us womenfolks to and talks His inside business. He told me how surprised He was†¦and how surprised yall is goin tuh be if you ever find out you dont know half as much ‘bout us as you think you do. Its so easy to make yoself out God Almighty when you aint got nothin tuh strain against but women and chickens† (Their Eyes Were Watching 75). Janie communicating with Joe in this fashion serves to inform Joe that she believes that God speaks to both sexes equally. She is standing up to the leader of the town. Janie wants Joe to understand that he is not the god of the town because she too can be in touch with God. In addition, she wants Joe to know that she is aware that his gender does not make him a supreme being over her or any woman. This marks a both an evolution and revolution for Janie as a character. We now begin to see her inner thoughts. She is now prepared to battle for her equality and liberation. By the chapters conclusion, we witness a woman refusing to allow men to continue to silence and demanding equal treatment. Janies metamorphosis from a passive woman to one wishing to take an active role in shaping the rights and duties of the female gender is established. â€Å"She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janies first dream was dead, so she became a woman† (Their Eyes Were Watching 24). No longer afraid to challenge her grandmothers staunch expectations, Janie realizes that her grandmothers archaic views of the role of women as pathetic and weak beings with the inability to survive without male protection—even with the absence of love in the relationship, represent boundaries on her full potential. She loathed her grandmother. â€Å"†¦ Nanny had taken the biggest thing God ever made, the horizon† (Their Eyes Were Watching 85-86). Still, Janie is undaunted and follows her to follow her instincts, including leaving her first husband and marrying her second one, in the absence of a divorce. â€Å"Janie hurried out of the front gate and turned south. Even if Joe was not there waiting for her, the change was bound to do her good† (Their Eyes Were Watching 31). The blather and gossip that permeates her small town when she takes a younger man and leaves with him, after being left a widow following the death of her second husband, does not hinder her path even slightly. The happiness she finds in her relationship with Tea Cake is that much sweeter as she has made the decision to go through it alone. Janies moment of personal triumph is â€Å"Discovering the two things everybodys got to do fuh theyselves,† (Their Eyes Were Watching 183). â€Å"They got tuh go tuh God, and they got to find out about livin fuh theyselves,† are the sentiments Janie shares at the end of her journey (Their Eyes 183). Hurston has depicted a female character as an evolving heroine, an architect of her own destiny, and one who has a full grasp on navigating the voyage to self-awareness. Says Mary Helen Washington in the Foreword of Their Eyes Were Watching God, â€Å"†¦for most Black women readers discovering Their Eyes for the first time, what was most compelling was the figure of Janie Crawford powerful, articulate, self-reliant, and radically different from any woman character they had ever before encountered in literature. Janie Crawford is defiant; she defies men, but most importantly, she defies our own preconceived notions of what the role of an African-American woman should be in modern literature.† The definitions and roles of gender for both male and female characters were clear in the 1930s. Janie is symbolic of many women today in her refusal to accept the preconceptions about her duties and abilities. In the 21st century, the majority of men have learned, though some reluctantly, to accept and appreciate the equal abilities and thoughts of modern women and Hurston had the foresight to give women a voice that had previously been silent in literature.

Robertson Davies Fifth Business Essay -- Robertson Davies Fifth Busin

Robertson Davies' Fifth Business In the novel 'Fifth Business', the author Robertson Davies is successfully able to relate both the themes of magic and religion throughout. He achieves this relationship between the themes primarily through the characters and their actions. Dunstan Ramsay, Paul Dempster, Mary Dempster and Liselotte Vitzliputzli all help to illustrate the close relationship between magic and religion. One of the characters that Davies uses to relate the theme of magic and religion is Dunstable Ramsay. Dunny was brought up in a Scottish Presbyterian family in Deptford, Ontario. While in the war, he kept himself busy by reading the New Testament and states 'Arabian Nights and the Bible were getting pretty close', referring to both magic and religion. After servicing in the war, Dunstable is renamed Dunstan by Diana after Saint Dunstan. Dunstan's study of saints becomes his passion and he later travels around the world in search of information about several living saints. During his search for saints, Dunstan coincidentally comes across Le grande Cirque forain de St. Vile and Illusions, a circus where Paul Dempster preformed magic. This clearly indicates how Dunstan is related to both magic and religion. Paul Dempster, another character in the novel illustrates the relationship between magic and religion. Paul is the son of Mary Dempster who Dunstan considered to be a saint. His father, Amasa Dempster is the Baptist parson of Deptford and is considered ...

Essay --

Gary Paolini CS333 Final Project 12/01/13 Privacy Preserving Location Tracking of Lost or Stolen Devices: Cryptographic Techniques and Replacing Trusted Third Parties with DHTs By (Thomas Ristenpart, Gabriel Maganis, Arvind Krishnamurthy and Tadayoshi Kohno) Introduction We tackle the problem of building privacy-preserving device-tracking systems—or private methods to assist in the recovery of lost or stolen Internet-connected mobile devices. This system is for the privacy of internet user and finding the location of the mobile device should it become lost or stolen. The main goals of such systems are seemingly contradictory: to hide the device’s legitimately-visited locations from third-party services and other parties (location privacy) while simultaneously using those same services to help recover the device’s location(s) after it goes missing (device-tracking). We propose a system, named Adeona, that nevertheless meets both goals. It provides strong guarantees of location privacy while preserving the ability to efficiently track missing devices. The system Adeona allows the user to have browsing privacy and also the ability to track a missing device. We build a version of Adeona that uses OpenDHT as the third party service, resulting in an immediately deployable system that does not rely on any single trusted third party. The system uses Open DHT which is a third party service which gives a immediately deployable system We describe numerous extensions for the basic design that increase Adeona’s suitability for particular deployment environments. With numerous extensions for the design to increase deployment environments †¢ Provide a 1-2 page summary for each of the papers. †¢ What is the ... ...y and privacy, but one can do so in practice for real systems. We implemented Adeona, a full privacy-preserving tracking system based on OpenDHT that allows for immediate, community-orientated deployment. Its core module, the cryptographic engine that renders location updates anonymous and unlinkable, can be easily used in further deployment settings. To evaluate Adeona, we ran a field trial to gain experience with a deployment on real user’s systems. Our conclusion is that our approach is sound and an immediately viable alternative to tracking systems that offer less (or no) privacy guarantees. Lastly, we also presented numerous extensions to Adeona that address a range of issues: disparate deployment settings, increased functionality, and improved security. The techniques involved, particularly our tamper-evident FSPRG, are likely of independent interest.

Free Candide Essays: Impossibility Of The Happy Life :: Candide essays

Candide: The Impossibility Of The Happy Life This paper's focus is Voltaire's view of human happiness. Specifically, it will argue that Voltaire, in Candide, says that human happiness is impossible. Voltaire believes this for three reasons. First, Voltaire presents mankind in the novel spending all its life worried about personal problems of the moment. When people in Candide have no problems, Voltaire indicates, they do not feel happy but become bored instead. Their emotional lives swing between worries and boredom with almost no periods of prolonged happiness. Secondly, Voltaire believes human happiness is impossible because the world as he presents it in Candide is full of selfish people whose actions spoil the well being of all their fellow human beings. Thirdly, Voltaire believes human happiness is impossible because governments are so violent and organized religion is so corrupt that they ruin the lives of millions through war and exploitation. These points may be amply demonstrated through an analysis of Candide itself and also through the views of important critics. To best appreciate this novel, however, some background concerning its origins and its relationship to the author's preoccupations should be mentioned. Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire lived from 1694-1778. He was an author and a philosopher whose philosophy stressed rationality, democracy and scientific inquiry. These interests can all be seen in Candide, for example, which has a philosopher for a main character and which satirizes the philosophy of Leibnitz throughout the text. The novel Candide was written in response to the earthquake of 1759 which hit Lisbon and resulted in the instantaneous and indiscriminate deaths of thousands. Appalled by the horrible deaths of so many innocent people, Voltaire was at this time also incensed by Leibnitz who wrote that given the worlds God might have created, by choosing to endow mankind with free will, "the world we live in is the best of all possible worlds." To Voltaire, this response to the earthquake amounted to an abominable moral complacency and indifference by philosophers such as Leibnitz, who Voltaire felt seemed to accept all the other normal suffering and injustice i n the world. Hence in Candide, Voltaire relentlessly satirizes Leibnitz's formulation by shifting the stress to "this is the best of all possible worlds" and bringing up the line every time a character encounters a horrible calamity or atrocity. However, it should be added that Voltaire's hatred of injustices perpetrated by the aristocracy, the church and the state--all of which he satirizes in Candide--also grew out of his personal experiences.

A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review Essay

Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) is a native flowering or weed that is endemic in the Philippines and other tropical countries. It is a popular herb especially for its healing properties including antidiarrhetic, antigastralgic, expectorant, stomachic, and antispasmodic, among others. Aside from these, sambong is also popular for being emmenagogues, or for stimulating menstruation or the blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. As cure for menstrual cramps, the sambong leaves are boiled to create a sambong tea, which is then consumed by the patient. Aside from easing the painful cramps by facilitating menstruation, sambong also helps in cleaning the kidneys. The plant is actually especially known as a natural cleansing herb. Since the plant is emmenagogues, drinking the sambong tea is not advisable to pregnant women as well as women who wanted to be pregnant. Moreover, drinking sambong should also be regulated because it also has hallucinogenic effects when excessively consumed Blumea b alsamifera (L.) DC. (Asteraceae), also known as sambong, has been used as medicine for thousands of years in Southeast Asia countries, such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines. Sambong is the most important member of the genus Blumea and is an indigenous herb oftropical and subtropical Asia, especially in China. This plant grows on forest edges, under forests, riverbeds, valleys and grasses [4,5]. In China, it is generally a common used herb in the areas south of theYangtze River, such as Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangdong provinces and Taiwan [6–8].B. balsamifera is commonly called â€Å"Ainaxiang† and â€Å"Dafeng’ai† in Chinese and used as incensebecause it has a high level of essential oils [9]. It was originally recorded in â€Å"Bei Ji Qian Jin YaoFang† in 652 by Sun Simiao. The whole plant or its leaves were used as a crude Chinese traditional medicinal material to treat eczema, dermatitis, beriberi, lumbago, menorrhagia, rheumatism, skininjury, and as an insecticide [10]. Bing Pian and Aipian are two important traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) extracted from plants and have been used as one in prescriptions for centuries in China. Both of them mainly contain borneol and are similar in efficacy [11]. They are synonymous in the Chinese  pharm aceutical industry nowadays. Before 2010, sambong was one of the most important plant sources for Bing Pian, but since 2010, the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China records B. balsamifera as the only plant source for Aipian [11], with a consistent efficacy with B.  balsamifera medicinal materials, which could induce resuscitation, clear heat, and relieve pain. Recently, extracts of its leaves have been verified do display various new physiological activities, such as antitumor , antifungal [13,15], radical-scavenging [16], and anti-obesity properties . The main active compound is L-borneol, which was characterized by a high volatility. Besides, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenoids with several different biological activities were also reported . These studies could explain why this plant has multiple pharmacological effects. In this review, botanical descriptions, herbal authentications, and phytochemical constituents of B. balsamifera are covered. In addition, the previous in vitro and in vivo studies conducted on its biological activities are reviewed, concentrating on antitumor, hepatoprotective, superoxide radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, antiplasmodial, antityrosinase, platelet aggregation, wound healing, anti-obesity, disease and insect resistant activities as well as enhancing percutaneous pen etration. Sambong is a half woody, strongly aromatic shrub, densely and softly hairy, 1 to 4 meters high. Stems grow up to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic- to oblong-lanceolate, 7 to 20 centimeters long, toothed at the margins, pointed or blunt at the tip, narrowing to a short petiole which are often auricled or appendaged. Flowering heads are stalked, yellow and numerous, 6 to 7 millimeters long, and borne on branches of a terminal, spreading or pyramidal leafy panicle. Discoid flowers are of two types: peripheral ones tiny, more numerous, with tubular corolla; central flowers few, large with campanulate corolla. Involucral bracts are green, narrow and hairy. Anther cells tailed at base. Fruits are achenes, dry, 1-seeded, 10-ribbed, hairy at top. – Considered anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, antigastralgic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, emmenagogue, expectorant, stomachic, and vulnerary.Leaves used a flavoring ingredient. Folkloric – Leaves as poultice for abscesses. – Decoction of roots and leaves for fevers, kidney stones, and cystitis. – Decoction of leaves used to induced diuresis for purpose of treating kidney stones. – Sitz-bath of boiled leaves, 500 gms to a gallon of water, for rheumatic pains of waist and back. – Used in upper and lower respiratory tract affections like sinusitis, asthmatic bronchitis, influenza. – Applied while hot over the sinuses. Used for wounds and cuts. Fresh juice of leaves to wounds and cuts. – Poultice of leaves applied to the forehead for relief of headaches. – Tea is used for colds and as an expectorant; likewise, has antispasmodic and antidiarrheal benefits. Postpartum baths. – In Vietnam, decoction of fresh leaves used for cough and influenza or as inhalation of vapour from boiling of leaves. Poultices of pounded leaves applied to hemorrhoids; an alcoholic maceration used as liniment for rheumatism. – 3% ethanol solution used to soothe itching. – In Thailand, dried leaves are chopped, made into cigarettes and smoked for treating sinusitis. – For fever, leaves boiled and when lukewarm used as sponge bath. – Decoction of roots used for fever. – Decoction of leaves, 50 gms to a pint of boiling water, 4 glasses daily, for stomach pains. – In SE Asia widely used for various women problems. Postpartum, leaves are used in hot fomentation over the uterus to induce rapid involution. Also used for menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, functional uterine bleeding and leucorrhea. – Roots used for menorrhagia. – Decoction of roots and leaves used for rheumatism and arthritis; also used for treatment of post-partum joint pains. – Poultice of fresh leaves applied to affected joint. – In Chinese and Thai medicine, leaves used for treatment of septic wounds and other infections. – A sitz-bath of boiled leaves used in the treatment of lumbago and sciatica. – In Chinese medicine, used as carminative, stimulant, vermifuge, expectorant, and sudorific. Preparations †¢ Fever: decoction of roots; boil 2 – 4 handfuls of the leaves. Use the lukewarm decoction as a sponge bath. †¢ Headaches: apply pounded leaves on the forehead and temples. Hold in place with a clean piece of cloth. †¢ Gas distention: boil 2 tsp of the chopped leaves in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Drink the decoction while warm. Also used for upset stomach. †¢ Postpartum, for mothers’ bath after childbirth. †¢ Boils: Apply pounded leaves as poultice daily. †¢ Diuretic: Boil 2 tbsp chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Take 1/2 of the decoction after every meal, 3 times a day. Reference: Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(2):411-24. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering . 2005. 3, 3: 195-202 3. Biological Activities 3.1. Antitumor Activity Hasegawa et al. extracted a dihydroflavonol from B. balsamifera as a result of screening among more than 150 plant materials [12]. The dihydroflavonol components showed the most significant synergism with tumor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). It enhanced the level of TRAIL-R2 promoter activity and promoted the expression of surface protein in a p53-independent manner. The ethanol extract of B. balsamifera leaves was tested on male mice to investigate its hepatoxicity. The results exhibited that the hepatic cells, sitplasm, nucleus, and sinusoid of the mice liver were damaged through some changes in the liver color and texture . The methanol extract of B. balsamifera inhibited the growth in rat and showed no cytotoxicity on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The methanol extract decreased the expression of cyclin-E and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein resulting in cell cycle arrest. Likewise, it decreased the level of the proliferation related ligand (APRIL) [60,61]. Moreover, the methanol extract of B. balsamifera was used to determine its cytotoxicity on a panel of human cancer cell lines by MTT assay. There was no regular or acute cytotoxicity on the cells of HepG2, HCT-116, T-47D, NCl-H23 and CCD-18Co [62]. Saewan et al. found six compounds out of nine isolated flavonoids to have cytotoxicity against KB, MCF-7, and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines [14]. These six compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against KB,  MCF-7, and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines. Three compounds were active against the KB cells with the IC50 values of 17.09, 47.72, and 17.83 ÃŽ ¼g/mL, respectively. Another three compounds exhibited a moderate activity against the NCI-H187 cells with the IC50 values of 16.29, 29.97, and 20.59 ÃŽ ¼g/mL. Luteolin-7-methyl ether showed a strong cytotoxicity against human lung cancer (NCI-H187) cell lines with an IC50 of 1.29 ÃŽ ¼g/mL and a moderate toxicity against oral cavity cancer (KB) cell lines with an IC50 of 17.83 ÃŽ ¼g/mL. Li et al. studied the antitumor activity determined by means of 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay [13]. The three endophytic streptomycetes strains of B. balsamifera, including: YIM 56092, YIM 56093, and YIM 56099 exhibited anticancer activity. Yet, different strains displayed different antitumor activities. The YIM 56092 strain displayed a cytotoxic activity on polyketide synthases I (PKS-I) nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and P388D1. The YIM 56093 strain displayed a cytotoxic activity on PKS-â… ¡, NRPS, and P388D1. The YIM 56099 was on the PKS-I, PKS-II, and NRPS. Fuijimoto et al., extracted blumealactone A, B, and C from sambong’s dried leaves and found them could inhibit the growth of Yoshida sarcoma at the concentration of 5–10 ÃŽ ¼g/ml [54]. Lee disclosed a medication combination including sambong (Ainaxiang) and found it could enhance the efficiency of curing hepatoma and pancreatic cancer treatments [63]. Molecules 201 4, 19 9462 3.5. Anti-Microbial and Anti-Inflammation Activity Ongsakul et al. claimed that the crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts of B. balsamifera displayed no significant antibacterial activity against the strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [73]. However, the stain of B. balsamifera, including YIM 56092 and YIM 56093, displayed a significant activity against S. epidermidis, such that YIM 56099 was active against E. coli. There seems to be no antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Candida albicans [13]. Chenisolated twelve new compounds [9], four of which displayed inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 with the IC50 values of 40.06, 46.35, 57.80, and 59.44 ÃŽ ¼g/mL, respectively. Sakee et al. reported the essential oil of B. balsamifera to have a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 150 ÃŽ ¼g/mL and 1.2 mg/mL against Bacillus cereus, S. aureus and Candida  albicans, respectively [74]. Furthermore, the hexane extract inhibited Enterobacter cloacae and S. aureus. These results suggested that the extracts of B. balsamifera possessed an activity against certain kinds of infectious and toxin-producing microorganisms. It could potentially be utilized to prevent and treat microbial diseases. 3.6. Antiplasmodial Activities According to the traditional efficacy of relieving fever, the methanol extract of B. balsamifera from Forest Research Institute Malaysia was investigated for any potential antiplasmodial activity. The extracts of roots and stems exhibited some activity against Plasmodium falciparum D10 strain (sensitive strain) with an IC50 value of (26.25  ± 2.47) ÃŽ ¼g/mL and (7.75  ± 0.35) ÃŽ ¼g/mL, respectively [75]. 3.8. Platelet Aggregation Activities The concentration of 1.26 ÃŽ ¼mol/L blumeatin displayed a significant promoting activity on the rat and human platelet aggregation caused by arachidonic acid, 5-hydotypamice, and epinephrine. However, concentrations of 0.315 and 2.52 ÃŽ ¼mol/L inhibited platelet aggregation. It suggested that the effects of blumeatin on the platelet aggregation were dependent upon the concentration used. The injection of B. balsamifera extracts decreased the blood pressure, expanded the blood vessels, and inhibited the sympathetic nervous system in order to address the high pressure and insomnia. The infusion of the plant also had the function of diuresis [67] Mayana (Coeus blumei Benth.) Coleus leaves are commonly known as ati-ati leaves in Malaysia. Previous study has shown that the Coleus leaves have high antioxidant activity and nutritional value. The present work is to investigate whether antioxidant, minerals and phenolic content can be extracted by boiling the leaves in water. The antioxidant was determined by mixing the extract solution with DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) solution using different ratios. Acid ascorbic acid was used as standard in measurement by Uv-Vis Spectrophotometer. Phenolic content was measured by Uv-Vis Spectrophotometer using Gallic acid as standard. There is about 40.77 wt % of antioxidant  activity, 6.256998 wt% of total phenolic content, and some minerals (magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc) existing in solution after the Coleus blumei leaves were removed. The wt% of the phenolic content is directly proportional to the wt% of antioxidant activity. The mineral concentration, antioxidant activity and phenolic content seemed to be highly correlated. As a conclusion, it is proven that the Coleus blumei leaves have high potential value for the nutritional purpose. 2.1 Definition of Coleus Coleus is a name which derives from an earlier classification under the genus name Coleus, species of which are currently included in either Solenostemon or another genus, Plectranthus. The word Coleus come from the Greek â€Å"koleus’, meaning sheath. It is believed that there are 150 species of Coleus .It is a genus of perennial plants, native to tropical Africa, Asia, Australia, the East Indies, the Malay Archipelago, and the Philippines. Many cultivars of the Southeast Asian species Coleus have been selected for their colorful variegated leaves, usually with sharp contrast between the colors where the leaves are green, pink, yellow, maroon, and red. Typically, in Malaysia this plant known as ati-ati. The plants need a well condition of in moist-drained soil to grow, and typically grow 0.5-1 m tall, though some may grow as tall as 2 meters. They are heat-tolerant, though they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade. The leaves of the green type are often eaten raw with bread and butter. The chopped leaves are also used as a substitute for sage (Salvia officinalis Linn.) in stuffing. C. aromaticus is used for seasoning meat dishes and in food products (Uphof, 1959) while a decoction of its leaves is administered in cases of chronic cough and asthma (CSIR, 1992). It is considered to be an antispasmodic, stimulant and stomachic and is used for the treatment of headache, fever, epilepsy and dyspepsia (Khory &Katrak, 1999; Morton, 1992) . 2.2 Antioxidant An antioxidant in food is really important as it can protect human body from free radicals activity. It is also has capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. When electrons are transferred form a substance to an oxidizing agent, it called as oxidation reaction. Free radicals can be produced during the Oxidation reactions, where the start  chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols or polyphenols. Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases. Low levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzym es, causes oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells. As oxidative stress might be an important part of many human diseases, the use of antioxidants in pharmacology is intensively studied, particularly as treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is unknown whether oxidative stress is the cause or the consequence of disease. Antioxidants are also widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements in the hope of maintaining health and preventing diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. Although some studies have suggested antioxidant supplements have health benefits, other large clinical trials did not detect any benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may be harmful In addition to these uses in medicine, antioxidants have many industrial uses, such as preservatives in food and cosmetics and preventing the degradation of rubber and gasoline. Current research into free radicals has confirmed that foods rich in antioxidants play an essential role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. As far as our literature survey could ascertain, antioxidant activities of this plant have not previously been published. Hence, the previous work investigated the possible antioxidat ive effects of freeze-dried powder obtained from aqueous extract of fresh leaves of C. aromaticus. In this study, they had examined the antioxidant activity of CAE (C.aromaticus hydroalcoholic extract) employing various in vitro assay systems, such as the ÃŽ ²- carotene-linoleate model system, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl)/superoxide/ nitric oxide radical scavenging, reducing power and iron ion chelation, in order to understand the usefulness of this plant as a foodstuff as well as in medicine. 2.2.1 Antioxidant Assay using a ÃŽ ²-carotene-linoleate Model System On the previous experiment, the antioxidant activity of the extract was measured by the bleaching of  ÃŽ ²-carotene. By adding CAE and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) at various concentrations, it can prevent the bleaching of ÃŽ ²-carotene to different degrees. ÃŽ ²-Carotene in this model system undergoes rapid discoloration in the absence of an antioxidant. This is because of the coupled oxidation of ÃŽ ²-carotene and linoleic acid, which generates free radicals. The linoleic acid free radical, formed upon the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from one of its diallylic methylene groups, which attacks the highly unsaturated ÃŽ ²-carotene molecules. As a result, ÃŽ ²-carotene will be oxidized and broken down in part; subsequently, the system looses its chromophore and characteristic orange colour, which can be monitored spectrophotometrically. The presence of different antioxidants can hinder the extent of ÃŽ ²-carotene bleaching by neutralizing the linoleate free radical and other free radicals formed in the system (Jayaprakasha, Singh, & Sakariah, 2001). It also showed that the CAE was found to hinder the extent of ÃŽ ²-carotene bleaching by neutralizing the linoleate-free radical and other free radicals formed in the system. In comparison, the CAE showed an appreciable antioxidant activity of 83.0% at 250 ÃŽ ¼g/ml, while BHT, a synthetic antioxidant had 89.6% antioxidant activity at 100 ÃŽ ¼g/ml. Table 2.1: Antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of C. aromaticus in ÃŽ ²-carotenelinoleate System Sample Concentration (ÃŽ ¼g/ml) Antioxidant activity (%) Aqueous extract 125 53.2  ± 1.04 250 83.0  ± 1.33 500 91.3  ± 1.41 BHT 50 64.2  ± 1.81 100 89.6  ± 1.52 200 95.3  ± 1.33 2.2.2 DPPH Radical-scavenging Activity The CAE showed a concentration-dependent antiradical activity by inhibiting DPPH radical with an EC50 value of 210 ÃŽ ¼g/ml (Table 2). DPPH is usually used as a substrate to evaluate antioxidative activity of antioxidants (Oyaizu, 1986). The method is based on the reduction of methanolic DPPH solution in the presence of a hydrogen donating antioxidant, due to the formation of the non-radical form DPPH-H by the reaction. The extract was able to reduce the stable radical DPPH to the yellow-coloured diphenylpicrylhydrazine. It has  been found that cysteine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, polyhydroxy aromatic compounds (e.g., hydroquinone, pyrogallol, gallic acid), and aromatic amines (e.g., p-phenylene diamine, p aminophenol), reduce and decolorise 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl by their hydrogen donating ability (Blois,  Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)  oregano (É™rÄ•gˈənÃ… ) [key], name for several herbs used for flavoring food. A plant of the family Labiatae (mint family),Origanum vulgare, also called Spanish thyme and wild marjoram, is the usual source for the spice sold as oregano in the Mediterranean countries and in the United States. Its flavor is similar to that of marjoram but slightly less sweet. In Spain and Italy many other Origanum species are also grown as oregano. A related herb ( Coleus amboinicius ) of the same family, called suganda in its native Indomalaysia, is known as oregano in the Philippines and Mexico, where it is a popular flavoring. Several other herbs also provide spices called oregano, e.g., species ofLippia and Lantana of the verbena family. In all cases the flavoring is made from the dried herbage. Oregano is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Lamiales, family Labiatae . All rights reserved. genus Origanum is a member of the Lamiaceae family and has a complex taxonomy [1]. O. vulgare plays a primary role among culinary herbs in world trade [2]. It is distributed all over Europe, West and Central Asia up to Taiwan [3]. The use of O. vulgare as medicinal plant is believed to be due to biological properties of p-cymene and carvacrol. Bernà ¡th [4] has noted that there are intras- pecific taxa of oregano having no â€Å"oregano† character that is based on the presence of carvacrol. Oregano is the common name for a general aroma and flavour primarily derived from more than 60 plant species used all over the world as a spice [5]. Four main groups of plants com- monly used for culinary purposes can be distinguished, i.e., Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart); Spanish origano (Coridohymus capitatus (L.) [2]; Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.); and Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens HBK [6]. Origano is the commercial name of those Origanum species that are rich in the phenolic  monoterpenoids, mainly carvacrol and occasionally thymol [7]. A number of chemically related compounds i.e. p-cymene; ÃŽ ³-terpinene, carvacrol methyl ethers, thymol methyl ethers, carvacrol acetates and thymol acetates; as well as p-cymenene, p-cy- men-8-ol, p-cymen-7-ol, thymoquinone, and thymohy- droquinone are present in the oil of Origanum vulgare which is extremely rich in essential oils (up to 7%) with carvacrol as a major constituent present in very high quantity (75% – 95%), followed by p-cymene (4% – 14%) and ÃŽ ³-terpinene (1% – 10%). It seems possible that the uses of the plant in traditional medicine can be attributed to the known biological properties of p-cymene and car- vacrol [8]. Many of the studies confirmed the medicinal effects of oregano for human health. The Origanum spe- cies, which are rich in essential oils, have been used for thousands of years as spices and as local medicines in traditional medicine [9]. About 20 European public in- stitutions hold genetic resources of different species of oregano [10]. Marjoram (Origanum vulgare L.) is one of medicinal aromatic plants found wholesale almost in all areas of Albania, which is a perennial plant usually grows in dry area in smaller groups. Oregano plants are collect- ed from natural habitats and used as raw materials in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry [11]. But many countries start to cultivate it in different areas. In botanical aspects, the oregano populations differ from one to another, that is they vary depending on the content and composition of essential oils [12]. From the quantity and quality of essential oils the values of this plant were determined [11,12]. The different results showed that the effects of oregano antioxidante are associated with high content of essential oils, thymol and carvacrols, and these are the main ingredients in oregano oil. The con- tents of Thymol and Carvacrol in oregano give it differ- ent properties [13]. According to the studies, carvacrol is a powerful bactericidal agent, and provides protection against mold and other common bacteria. The main ob- jective in our study was to investigate the different re- gions and to find the variation for oil content in oregano plant populations. The research expedition was organized in 2012 in the whole territory of Albania. During this expedition are identified and collected 62 accessions. At each location were taken of the 50 samples which derived a main rep- resentativ sample. From the total samples collected, were selected 16 samples mostly widespread of natural popu- lations of  origano (Origanum vulgare L. sp. vulgare and sp. hirtum). Those samples you perform analyzes for content of oils and their components. The confirmation of 53 essential oil was made to analyses: ÃŽ ²-Pinene, p- Cymene, ÃŽ ³-Terpinene, Linalool, Terpinene-4-ol, Thymol, Carvacrol dhe Caryophyllene oxide. The overground parts of the flowering plants (20 – 25 cm from the top) were collected during the summer of 2012. The plant material was air dried, packed in paper bags and kept in a dark and cool place until analysis. Plant identity was verified and voucher specimens were deposited at the Institute of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Skopje. 2.2. Essential Oil Isolation Essential oil isolation from oregano was performed by hydro distillation in all-glass Clevenger apparatus fol- lowing this procedure: 20 g of the plant material was stored in 500 mL flask where 250 mL of water R was used as distillation liquid and 0.5 mL of xylene R was added in the graduate tube. The Distillation was per- formed for 2.5 h with a rate of 2 – 3 mL/min. GC and GC-MS analyses: Agilent 7890Ð  Gas Chro- matography system equipped with flame ionization de- tector (FID) and Agilent 5975C Mass Quadrupole detec- tor as well as capillary flow technology which enable simultaneous analysis of the sample on both detectors. HP-5 ms (30 m Ãâ€" 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 ï  ­m) cap- illary column was used. Operating conditions were as follows: GC Method for essential oils: oven temperature 60 °C (0 min), 3 °C/min to 240 °C (held for 1 min) and 10 °C/min to 280 °C (held for 1 min); helium as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min; injector T = 220 °C and FID T = 270 °C. 1 ï  ­L of injection volume was injected at split ratio 1:1. The mass spectrometry conditions were: ionization voltage 70 eV, ion source temperature 230 °C, transfer line temperature 280 °C and mass range from 50 – 500 Da. The MS was operated in scan mode. GC Method for Head Space: oven temperature 60 °C, 20 °C/min to 280 °C; helium as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min; injector T = 260 °C and FID T = 270 °C. 1000 ï  ­L of injec- tion volume was injected at split ratio 1:1. The mass spectrometry conditions were: ionization voltage 70 eV, ion source temperature 230 °C, transfer line temperature 280 °C and mass range from 50 – 500 Da. The MS was operated in scan mode. Head Space method: Incubation Temperature 80 °C, Incubation Time 5.00 m:ss, Syringe Temperature 85 °C, Agitator Speed 500 rpm, Fill Speed 500 ÃŽ ¼l/s, Pullup Delay 500 ms, Inject to GC, Injection speed 500 ÃŽ ¼l/s, Pre  Inject Delay 500 ms, Post Inject De- lay 500 ms, Flush Time (m:ss) 0:10, GC Run time (m:ss) 10:00. Identification of the components: Identification of the components was made by comparing mass spectra of components in essential oils with those from Nist, Wiley and Adams mass spectra libraries, by AMDIS (Auto- mated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System) and by comparing literature and estimated Ko-vat’s (retention) indices that were determined using mix-ture of homologous series of normal alkanes from C9 to C25 in hexane, under the same above mentioned condi- tions. The percentage ratio of the components was com- puted by the normalization method of the GC/FID peak areas and average values were taken into further consid- eration (n = 3). 2.3. Statistical Analyses All statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS software (version 15.0, SPSS) [14]. Means values and variation coefficients were used in the statistical analyses. Effects of the studied traits were evaluated by ANOVA. In order to assess the differentiation of plants of oregano based on all variables that were measured, the Canonical Discriminate Analyses (CDA) was applied Psidium guajava (Guava): Chronic degenerative diseases have reached epidemic proportions in industrialized and developing countries. Many studies have shown that plant can be helpful to prevent or treat diseases. Psidium guajava is a small medicinal tree that is native to South America and Brazil is among the world’s top producers and most of the country’s production is destined for the food industry. It is popularly known as guava and has been used traditionally as a medicinal plant throughout the world for a number of ailments. The aim of this review is to present some chemical compounds in P. guajava and their pharmacological effects. The main constituents of guava leaves are phenolic compounds, isoflavonoids, gallic acid, catechin, epicathechin, rutin, naringenin, kaempferol. The pulp is rich in ascorbic acid, carotenoids (lycopene, ÃŽ ²-carotene and ÃŽ ²-cryptoxanthin). The seeds,  skin and barks possess glycosids, carotenoids and phenolic compounds. All parts of the plant have been used for different purposes: hepatoprotection, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-hyperglycemic, analgesic, endothelial progenitor cells, anti-stomachache and anti-diarrhea. P. guajava has many effects on health and that it should be researched more extensively in clinical trials. Furthermore leaves, seeds and peel are treated as wastes by the food processing industry and are discarded, so their use may reduce the disposal of these parts of guava as pollutants. Psidium guajava; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Cancer; Diabetes; Dyslipidemia Industrialization has led to many modifications in the lifestyle of the world’s populations, giving rise to increase the indices of several diseases, including chronic degenerative diseases such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases, reducing the quality of life and increasing costs on hospitalizations, medications and other public health interventions. Studies have demonstrated that the consumption of fruits, vegetables and seeds can be helpful to prevent the risk factors of many diseases due to the bioactive compounds. Many plants have been used for the purpose of reducing risk factors associated with the occurrence of chronic disorders and for many other purposes Psidium guajava L. is a small medicinal tree that is native to South America. It is popularly known as guava (family Myrtaceae) and has been used traditionally as a medicinal plant throughout the world for a number of ailments. There are two most common varieties of guava: the red (P. guajava var. pomifera) and the white (P. guajava var. pyrifera) All parts of this tree, including fruits, leaves, bark, and roots, have been  used for treating stomachache and diarrhea in many countries. Leaves, pulp and seeds are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, and as an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, as a cough sedative, anti-diarrheic, in the management of hypertension, obesity and in the control of diabetes mellitus. It also possesses anticancer properties . The seeds are used as antimicrobial, gastrointestinal, anti-allergic and anticarcinogenic activity. Brazil is among the world’s top producers of guava and most of the country’s production is destined for the food industry to produce candies, juices, jams and frozen pulp. As result of the fruit process there is a discard of the leaves, seeds, part of the peel and pulp fraction not separated in the physical depulping process. The high cost of pharmaceutical medications conduces to the search for alternative medicines to treat many ailments. In view of this, studies are necessary to confirm the effects of medicinal plants. The aim of this review is to show that several studies have demonstrated the presence of many different chemical compounds in P. guajava and their pharmacological effects. Medical Properties and Composition of Guava Pulp The main constituents of guava are vitamins, tanins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, essential oils, sesquiterpene alcohols and triterpenoid acids. These and other compounds are related to many health effects of guava . Some authors have found high concentrations of carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene, and beta-cryptoxanthin), vitamin C and polyphenols in guava pulp. Lycopene has been correlated with the prevention of cardiovascular damage because of its positive effects on dyslipidemia . Ascorbic acid is recognized for its important antioxidant effects . Shu et al. isolated nine triterpenoids from guava fruit: ursolic acid; 1beta, 3beta-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid; 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyurs-  12-en-28-oic acid; 3beta,19alpha-dihydroxyurs-12en-28-oic acid; 19a-hydroxylurs-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyrano- side; 3beta, 23-dihydroxy urs-12-en-28-oic acid; 3beta, 19alpha, 23beta- tri-hydroxylurs-12-en-28-oic acid; 2alpha, 3beta,19alpha, 23beta-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and 3alpha,19alpha,23,24-tetrahydroxyurs -12-en-28-oic acid. Ursolic acid and other triterpenoids are associated with anti-cancer properties. Shu et al. found three benzophenone glycosides in ripe edible fruits of P. guajava L: 2, 6-dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-benzophenone; 2, 6-dihydroxy-3-methyl-4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzophenone and 2, 6-dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethyl-4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzophenone. Benzophenone glycosides have inhibitory effect on triglycerides accumulation. Thuaytong and Anprung found antioxidant activity in guava and the major constituents identified in white and red guavas were ascorbic acid, gallic acid, catechin equivalents, cinnamyl alcohol, ethyl benzoate, ß-caryophyllene, (E)-3-hexenyl acetate and ÃŽ ±-bisabolene. The antioxidant properties of the guava pulp can be related to anti-cancer effects. Studies with humans have found that the consumption of guava for a period of 12 weeks reduced blood pressure by 8%, total cholesterol levels by 9%, triacylglycerides by almost 8%, and induced an 8% increase in the levels of HDL-c. Farinazzi et al.showed that animals treated with guava pulp juice had significantly lower body weight, glycemia, cholesterol and triglycerides levels and significantly augmented the levels of HDL-c when compared to the animals from the control group. Lyophilized pulp of P. guajava in diabetic rats induces to significant hypoglycemic effects probably due to its antioxidant activity of compounds present in the pulp. Medical Properties and Composition of Guava Leaves Guava leaf extract has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. These effects are probably due to the presence of phenolic compounds.   Jimà ©nez-Escrig et al., Wang et al. and Haida et. reported the presence of higher amounts of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity in the leaves of white (Psidium guajava var. pyrifera L.) and red guava (Psidium guajava var. pomifera L.) when compared with other vegetable species. Wu et al, Melo et al. and Chen et al found gallic acid, catechins, epicatechins, rutin, naringenin and kaempferol in the leaves. Studies have shown that gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin inhibit pancreatic cholesterol esterase, which decreases cholesterol levels. Catechins are important as a preventive treatment for diabetes type 2 and obesity. Quercetin has been associated to decreased mortality from heart disease and decreased incidence of stroke. Quercetin presents hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant activity. Rutin is effective in the inhibition of triglyceride accumulation in adipocytes. Naringenin and kaempferol can promote moderate cytostatic activity against all cell lines and kaempferol can be useful as anticancer . Fu et al.elucidated the structure of three novel sesquiterpenoid- based meroterpenoids of psidials A-C found in guava leaves. Matsuzak et al.isolated two new benzophenone galloyl glycosides, guavinosides A and B, and a quercetin galloyl glycoside, guavinoside C as well as five known quercetin glycosides from guava leaves. The structures of the novel glycosides were elucidated to be 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone 4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl)-beta-D: -glucopyranoside (1, guavinoside A); 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzophenone 4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl)-beta-D: -glucopyranoside (2, guavinoside B), and quercetin 3-O-(5’’-O-galloyl)-alpha-L: -arabinofuranoside (3, guavinoside C). Kim et al.related that the guava leaves contain ascorbic acid, citric acid,  acetic acid, epicatechin, xanthine, protocatechuic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, malonic acid, trans-aconitic acid, maleic acid and cis-aconitic acid. Ghosh et al.isolated two terpenoids from the leaf extract of P. guajava (betulinic acid and lupeol) and reported their potential antimicrobial and phytotoxic activities. Betulinic acid and lupeol can be used in the treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular desease, obesity and atherosclerosis. Shao et al. isolated two terpenoids from guava leaves: Psiguadials A and B, two novel sesquiterpenoid-diphenylmethane meroterpenoids with unusual skeletons, along with a pair of known epimers, psidial A and guajadial. Shu et al.identified one diphenylmethane, one benzophenone, and eight flavonoids from guava fresh leaves(2,6-dihydroxy-3-formaldehyde-5-methyl-4-O-(6†³-O-galloyl-ÃŽ ²-D-glucopyranosyl)-diphenylmethane; 2,6-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethyl-4-O-(6†³-O-galloyl-ÃŽ ²-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzophenone; kaempferol; quercetin; quercitrin; isoquercitrin; guaijaverin; avicularin; hyperoside and reynoutrin. Guaijaverin has high potential antiplaque agent by inhibiting the growth of the Streptococcus mutans. Avicularin and guaijaverin work as urease inhibitors (against Helicobacter pylori urease). Shao et al. isolated four new triterpenoids, psiguanins A-D (1-4), and with 13 known compounds from the leaves of guava.   Guava aqueous leaf extract showed anti-trypanosomal properties in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.   Rahim et al.evaluated the effects of aqueous mixture and water soluble methanol extract from guava leaves and bark against multi-drug-resistant Vibrio cholera and found strong antibacterial activity. They concluded that this plant offers potential for controlling epidemics of cholera. Birdi et al. and Birdi et al. related that P. guajava leaves have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial action (as antigiardial and antirotaviral activity) that could be effective in controlling diarrhea due to a wide range of pathogens. The antimicrobial activity can be linked to the presence of flavonoids  extracted from guava leaves. Deguchi and Miyazaki reported that guava leaves infusion not only reduced postprandial glycemia and improved hyperinsulinemia in murine models but also contributed to reduce hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypoadiponectinemia in the animals of their study. Rutin and kaempferol found in guava leaves are compounds related to the decrease of HMG-CoA reductase activity in hepatic tissue and improve lipid profiles. Akinmoladun et al. studied methanol extracts of some fruits, including P. guajava, and demonstrated that there is a good correlation between total phenolic contents and reductive potential and a fair correlation between total phenolic contents and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. Several studies have shown that aqueous extract of Psidium guajava contains components with LDL-c antiglycation activity, suggesting its contribution to the prevention of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases Other studies have found cardioprotective effects of aqueous extract of P. guajava in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts, primarily through their radical-scavenging actions. Ojewole identified the presence of phenolic compounds in the leaves demonstrating their hypoglycemic and hypotensive effects on diabetic rats treated with aqueous leaf extract. Soman et al. reported a decline in the levels of glycated hemoglobin and fructosamines, as well as a significant reduction in the glycemic levels of diabetic rats treated with guava leaf extract. Singh and Marar studied the effects of Psidium guajava leaves on the inhibition of the activity intestinal glycosidases related with postprandial hyperglycemia, suggesting its use for the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes.Other studies have demonstrated that guava leaf and peel extracts also had hypoglycemic effects on experimental models drug-induced to severe conditions of diabetes. Wu et al.found that the phenolic compounds, gallic acid, catechins and  quercetins in guava leaves inhibited the glycation of proteins suggesting its use for the prevention of diabetes complications.The Psiguadials A, B and guajadial isolated by Shao et al. exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the growth of human hepatoma cells. Kim et al. related that the guava leaves contain compounds that promote free radical scavenging activity showing promising antioxidant properties. Dutta and Das identified significant anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract of guava leaves in experimental models, while Kawakami et al. observed the antiproliferative activity of the leaves through inhibition of the catalytic activity of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases involved in the inflammatory process. Guava budding leaves aqueous extract possesses an extremely high content of poly phenolic and isoflavonoids and suppresses the cell migration and the angiogenesis. In view of this, clinically it has the potential to be used as an adjuvant anti-cancer chemo preventive . Matsuzak et al. isolated phenolic glycosides from guava leaves and showed significant inhibitory activity against histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, and nitric oxide production from a murine macrophage-like cell line. Roy and Das studied the hepatoprotective activity of different extracts of P. guajava (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous) in acute experimental liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol. The effects were compared with a known hepatoprotective agent and observed that the best effects came from guava methanolic leaf extract that significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin. P. guajava leaves exhibit high capacity to reduced polymerization and aggregation of sickle cell hemoglobin molecule. This molecule is a product of a defective genetic code of hemoglobin molecule and is prone to deoxygenation-induced polymerization and has low insolubility. The development of chemical modification agents that reduce the tendency of sickle cell hemoglobin molecule to aggregate represents an important  chemotherapeutic goal. Guava extract leaves can be responsible for membrane stabilizing effect on sickle erythrocytes that are susceptible to endogenous free radical-mediated oxidative damage. This effect can be attributed to the flavonoids, triterpenoids and host of other secondary plant metabolites . Chen et al. found that aqueous extract of guava budding leaves possess anti-prostate cancer activity in a cell line model and concluded they are promising anti-androgen-sensitive prostate cancer agent. Han et al. studied the effects of P. guajava ethyl acetate extract on atopic dermatitis and found that it inhibits chemokine expression in keratinocytes what suggests this extract can have possible therapeutic application in atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases. Methanol extracts of the leaves can also be useful in the treatment of gastric ulcer disorders possibly due to the presence of volatile oil, flavonoids and saponins Methanolic extract of guava leaves can exhibit wound healing effects and this property can be explained by the presence of tannins and flavonoids. Guava leaves extract also can show anti cough effects as shown by Jaiarj et al. Medical Properties and Composition of Guava Discarded Products As told before, the fruit process results in the discard of the leaves, seeds, part of the peel and pulp. Some studies showed the presence of total phenolic compounds in the agroindustrial wastes (seeds, skin and pulp) of guava, confirming its antioxidant activity . Leaves, seeds and peels of fruits have significant proportions of bioactive compounds with beneficial physiological and metabolic properties. Its antioxidants can control body weight and biochemical variables like glycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and other risks of cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidant properties of the guava seeds extracts can be associated to anti-cancer effects on both hematological and solid neoplasms  and the antioxidant properties of the guava peel can be related to anti-cancer effects. Castro-Vargas et al.and Ojewole extracted and identified significant levels of carotenoids and total phenolic compounds from guava seeds. Seeds exhibit antimicrobial, gastrointestinal and anticarcinogenic activities probably due to the presence of phenolic glycosides in the composition. Farinazzi et al. showed that Wistar rats treated with guava seed had significantly lower glycemia, cholesterol and triglycerides levels and body weight. These animals significantly increased HDL-c levels. Rai et al. reported hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects in diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of lyophilized guava peel.   Psidium guajava stem-bark extract can be used to treat malaria because it presents antiplasmodial activities possibly due to the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, seccoirridoids and terpenoids. Related study Many researchers have been demonstrating the presence of a wide variety of bioactive compounds in the leaf, seed and bark of Psidium guajava that are capable of showing beneficial effects on human health. If we consider that chronic degenerative diseases have reached epidemic proportions in many countries and increase the socio-economic burden for the public health system, it is necessary to find non-allopathic alternatives that minimize risk factors of these diseases and help in the treatment. Furthermore, population consumes medicinal plants also to treat other kind or diseases because of high costs of allopathic medications. The studies using P. guajava bring information that may provide validation for its medicinal uses but it should be researched more extensively in clinical trials so it could be used for prevention and as an adjuvant in the treatment of numerous disorders. Nevertheless we should emphasize the importance of experimental and clinical  studies involving more specific factors related to the bioavailability of the compounds, as well as the effective and safe doses to be used by individuals for the prevention and treatment of various disorders. Katakataka( bryopphyllum pinnatum) Constituents †¢ Phytochemical screenings have yielded alkaloids, triterpenes, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, butadienolides, lipids, and organic acids. †¢ Yields arachidic acid, astragalin, behenic acid, beta amyrin, benzenoids, bersaldegenin, beta-sitosterol, bryophollenone, bryophollone, bryophyllin,caffeic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, steroids, and taraxerol. †¢ Phytochemical evaluation of leaf extract yielded bryophyllum A, B and C, a potent cytotoxic bufadienolide orthoacetate. †¢ Bufadienolide has been reported to be poisonous with digitalis-toxicity type cardiac effects (slowing of heart rate, heart blocks and potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. †¢ Bryophillin A, a bufadienolide compound, has shown anti-tumor promoting activity. †¢ Leaves yield malic acid. Fractionation of an EtOAc extract yielded seven kaempferol rhamnosides: kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-L-(2-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-L-(3-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-L-(4-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-D- glucopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, afzelin, and ÃŽ ±-rhamnoisorobin. (19) Properties †¢ Leaves considered astringent, antiseptic, hemostatic, refrigerant, emollient, counterirritant, mucilaginous, vulnerary, depurative, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, and tonic. †¢ Pharmacologic studies have showed pharmacologic properties: immunomodulatory, CNS depressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antianaphylactic, antileishmanial, antitumorous, antiulcer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, febrifuge, gastroprotective, immunosuppressive, insecticidal, sedative, muscle relaxant. Folkloric – Leaves used as astringent, antiseptic, and counterirritant against  poisonous insect bites. – Pounded fresh material is applied as a poultice for a variety of conditions: Sprains, eczema, infections, burns, carbuncle and erysipelas. – Leaves, made pliable by hold over fire, are applied to wounds, bruises, boils; also, used as poultice or power in bad ulcers. – Juice is mixed with lard and used for diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, and phthisis. – Pounded leaves are applied as poultices to the soles of the feet to stop hemorrhages. – Leaves are used as topicals in dislocation, ecchymoses, callosities. – Leaves, pounded and mixed with salt, used as plaster and applied to stomach to relieve enuresis – For boils, the whole leaf is pressed by hand, to and fro, until it becomes moist with the leaf extract. A small opening is made in the middle of the leaf which is then placed on the boil with hole over the pointing of the abscess. – For asthma, leaves of leaves places in hot water for 15 minutes, then juice squeezed out of the leaves, and drunk. – Juice of leaves used in bilious diarrhea and lithiasis. – In Ayurveda, useful in vitiated conditions of vata and pitta, cuts, wounds, hemorrhoids, menorrhagia, boils, sloughing ulcers, burns and scalds, diarrhea, dysentery, headaches, vomiting, bronchitis. – In Puerto Rico, leaf juice used as diuretic. – Leaves are rubbed or tied on the head for headaches. – Leaf decoction usually taken to lower blood pressure. – Leaf juice used for earache and ophthalmia. – In Sierre Leon, cough medicine is made from the roots. – In Brazil leaves, heated over fire and mixed with oil, are used as emollient and refrigerant for facial swelling associated with neuralgia or tooth trouble. Also, used for asthma and bronchitis. – In Jamaica, leaves used for coughs and colds. Sometimes, it is mixed with salt or honey, for headaches, colds, bronchial affections, and hypertension. Heated leaves used for swellings and abscesses. – In Africa, used for earaches, eye problems, and as diuretic. – In China used for rheumatoid arthritis, bruises, burns and ulcers. – In Nigeria, plant is considered sedative, wound-healing, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and cough suppressant. Leaf juice used to treat boils and skin ulcers. Plant used for intestinal parasites, bronchitis,  pneumonia. Banana (Musa sapientum Linn.) The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant. The main or upright stem is actually a pseudostem, growing from a corm, to a height of 6 to 7.6 meters. Leaves are spirally arranged, as long as 2.7 meters and 60 cm wide, fragile and easily torn by wind, with the familiar frond look. Each pseudostem produces a single bunch of bananas; the pseudostem dies after fruiting, as offshoots usually develop from the base of the plant. Each pseudostem produces a single inflorescence, the banana heart, containing many bracts between rows of flowers. The banana fruits develop from the heart, in a hanging cluster made up of tiers (hands), up to 20 fruit to a tier. Distribution Cultivated throughout the Philippines in many varieties. Constituents †¢ Juice of the flower-stem contains potash, soda, lime, magnesia, alumina, chlorine, sulfuric anhydride, silica and carbon anhydride. †¢ High potassium content – a medium banana contains about 450 mg of potassium. (Because of potassium homeostasis in the body, 40K ingested is balanced by 40K potassium excreted. The net dose of a banana is zero.) †¢ Preliminary phytochemical screening of fresh steam juice yielded vitamin B, oxalic acid, sulphate, vitamin C, starch, tannin, glycosides, phenolic compounds, gum mucilage. †¢ Study yielded 6 triterpenes: 6 triterpenes: cyclomusalenol, cyclomusalenone, 24-methylenecycloartanol, stigmast-7-methylenecycloartanol, stigmast-7-en-3-ol, lanosterol, and a-amyrin and eight flavonoids. – Mineral content and nutritional value of varieties (lakatan, latundan, saba, and bungalan) Properties †¢ Demulcent, nutrient, cooling, astringent, antiscorbutic, antifebrile, restorative, emmenagogue, cardialgic, styptic. †¢ The ripe fruit is laxative, demiulcent, and nutrient. †¢ Unripe fruit is cooling and astringent. †¢ Dried fruit considered antiscorbutic. †¢ Root is antibilious and alterative. †¢ Juice of the plant is styptic. †¢ Because of its high potassium content, bananas are naturally slightly radioactive, more than other fruits. †¢ Good sources of vitamin A, fair sources of vitamin B, and good sources of vitamin C. All are deficient in calcium and phosphorus, and only fair in iron. †¢ Studies have attributed biologic activities: antiulcerogenic, antidiabetic, antiatherogenic, antidiarrheic, antitumoral, antimutagenic, antihypertensive. Parts used Leaves, fruit. Uses Edibility / Nutritional – The â€Å"puso† (male inflorescence) of saba is extensively used as a vegetable. – Unripe fruit is sugared and candied. – Ripe fruits also used in making brandy, rum, and wine. – Rich in vitamins A, B, and C; a fair source of iron. Folkloric †¢ Young leaves used for cool dressing of inflamed and blistered surfaces and as cool application for headaches. †¢ Powdered roots used for anemia and cachexia. †¢ Mucilage prepared from seeds used for catarrhal and mild inflammatory forms of diarrhea. †¢ Juice of tender roots used as mucilage for checking hemorrhages from the genitalia and air passages. †¢ In China, juice of roots used as antifebrile and restorative. †¢ Juice of the trunk applied to scalp to increase hair growth and prevent hair from falling. †¢ In West Africa, used for diarrhea. †¢ In Gambia, sap of inflorescence used for earaches. †¢ In French Guiana, flowers used as emmenagogue. †¢ In the Gold Coast, sap from roots given as enema for diarrhea. †¢ In Cambodia, Java and Malaya, juice from trunk used for dysentery and diarrhea. †¢ Juice from flowers, mixed with curds, for dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. †¢ Flour made of green bananas used for dyspepsia with flatulence and acidity. †¢ Ripe fruit, mixed with half its weight in tamarinds and a little salt, is a valuable food in chronic dysentery and diarrhea, †¢ Cooked flower used for diabetes. Flowers also used as cardialgic. †¢ Sap of the flower used for  earaches. †¢ In Western Ghat in India, leaves are used for bandaging cuts, blisters and ulcers. †¢ Ripe bananas combined with tamarind and common salt used for dysentery. †¢ In traditional medicine in India, used for diabetes. †¢ In South-Western Nigeria, green fruits used for diabetes. Others †¢ Papermaking / Clothing: Plant fibers used in the manufacture of paper and clothes. A related species, Musa textilis (Abaca, Manila hemp) is produced on a commercial scale for its fiber use in the manufacture of paper. †¢ Wrapping / Cooking: Leaves used for wrapping food for cooking. Leaves used for polishing floors, lining pots for cooking rice. Studies †¢ Hypoglycemic / Flowers: Study on the chloroform extract of M sapientum flowers showed hypoglycemic activity with significant reduction of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and improvement in glucose tolerance. †¢ Hypoglycemic/ Fruits: Study on the green fruits of M paradisiaca indicate it possesses hypoglycemic activity and lends credence to its Nigerian folkloric use for diabetes. †¢ Antioxidant: (1) Musa sapientum flower extract showed improved antioxidant activity in diabetics. (2) A study of extracts of M. sapientum var. sylvesteris showed concentration-dependent scavenging effects, with antioxidant activity stronger than that of vitamin C. †¢ Gastroprotective: Study on the unripe plantain extract of M sapientum and unripe pawpaw meal showed alteration of the gastric phospholipid profile and through a prostaglandin pathway may have a profound effect on the gastroduodenal mucosa and implications for gastric and duodenal ulcers in rabbits. †¢ Flowers / Antihyperglycemic / Antioxidant: Study showed banana flower extract to have an antihyperglycemic action and antioxidant properties, comparatively more effective than glibenclamide. †¢ Analgesic: Study of the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Musa sapientum showed central analgesic action. †¢ Wound healing: Study of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Musa sapientum showed wound healing properties through increased wound breaking strength, reduced glutathione, decrease percentage of wound area, scar area and lipid peroxidation. Wound healing was probably through antioxidant effect and various biochemical parameters. †¢ Anti-Ulcer  Activity: Study of dried powder of banana pulp showed anti-ulcerogenic activity, esp in the unripe, mature green plantain banana (var. paradisiaca). †¢ Banana Peels Phytochemicals: Study showed the peel can be a good source of carbohydrates and fiber. The study of anti-nutrients showed generally low values except for saponins. Study suggests, properly processed and exploited, the peel could be a good source of livestock feed, providing a high quality and cheap source of carbohydrates and minerals. †¢ Antimicrobial Activity: (1) Study of ethanolic extracts of unripe bananas, lemon grass and turmeric showed antimicrobial activity at stock concentrations. Unripe bananas showed a high antimicrobial activity against all test organisms. (2) Ethanol extract of Musa sapientum showed antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms – Gram-positive and Gram-negative bateria (B. subtilis, B. cereus, and E coli.) †¢ Anti-Helicobacter pylori / Anti-Internalisation Activity: In a study of 9 Thai plant extracts used for gastric ailments, Musa sapientum and Allium sativum showed marked anti-internalisation and present a potential benefit in H pylori , prevention eradication, therapy and avoidance of antibiotic resistance. †¢ Anticonvulsant: Study in mice showed AMS prevented convulsions possibly through prevention of inhibition of vitamin B6 metabolism with subsequent increase in GABA synthesis in the CNS or due to facilitatory effect on GABAergic neurons – an effect mediated by the antioxidant potential of phytoconstituents present in the AMS. †¢ Indigenous Antiulcer Activity / Leucocyanidin: Study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic activity of an aqueous extract of M. sapientum. Study yielded an active compound–a monomeric flavonoid, leucocyanidin, that showed anti-ulcerogenic activity, in congruous with standard drug esomeprazole. †¢ Antioxidant / Antibacterial /Hemagglutination Inhibition: Study of methanolic extract of leaves of M. sapientum var. Sylvesteris showed antioxidant and antibacterial activity in vitro. It also showed hemagglutination inhibition activities and hydrogen peroxide induced hemolysis inhibition activity of human red blood cells. †¢ Antimicrobial / Cytotoxicity: A methanolic extract of M. sapientum L subsp. sylvestris showed good antimicrobial activity the pulp, moderate activity with the peel, and insignificant activity with the seed. On cytotoxicity evaluation using Brine Shrimp Lethality, pulp>seed>peel.