Effect of Enzyme Catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide

Effect of Enzyme Catalase on Hydrogen Peroxide Introduction In this experiment, I am going to determine the effect of different concentration of enzyme catalase on the rate of reaction of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Normally, hydrogen peroxide is produced naturally in human or plant cell. Hydrogen peroxide is the by-product of respiration. As an oxidizer, it will decompose to form oxygen and water. The chemical equation for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is 2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2. The reaction is speeded up by the presence of enzyme, namely catalase which is used in this experiment. This mechanism is important in living organisms cells and body system particularly in human. This is because the corrosive characteristic of hydrogen peroxide may damage the wall of liver where it is largely produced during cellular respiration process. When it is present in high concentration, it is an aggressive and powerful oxidizer, whereby it is unstable and also hazardous as it will corrode many substances including human skin. Therefore, concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the cell should be constantly regulated. When hydrogen peroxide is used for the purpose of experiment, this highly corrosive material should be kept in a container made up of non-reactive material such as glass. However, at low concentration, hydrogen peroxide can be used as disinfectant and antiseptic for medicinal uses. In this context, catalase, a teramer of four polypeptide chains is made up of over 500 amino acids long. It is also categorised as globular protein in which the polypeptide chain is highly folded into a compact spherical shape. There is also active site available to bind to the hydrogen peroxide substrate to form enzyme-substrate complex. It is further adapted with four porphyrin heme groups to react with hydrogen peroxide. Besides, the enzyme catalase is known to be one of the enzymes that possess a high turnover number. Its turnover number can be up to 600 000 whereby one molecule of enzyme catalase can catalyse the decomposition of 600 000 molecules of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water at body temperature. This reaction is known as catabolic reaction as the hydrogen peroxide molecule is broken down into oxygen and water which are comparatively smaller. Sometimes, catalase also uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidise toxins including Phenols, Formic Acid, Formaldehyde and Alcohols. I n this experiment, potato is chosen to be tested due to the presence of catalase in it. However, other organisms such as fungi or yeast can be used as well as they are producers of enzyme catalase. Enzyme is used to speed up the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy of a reaction. Activation energy or free energy of activation, is the initial investment of energy for starting a reaction the energy required to contort the reactant molecules so the bond can break for a reaction to occur. Enzyme functions as biological catalyst in many chemical reactions that occur inside our body. For example, saliva secretes enzyme amylase which catalyses the hydrolysis of carbohydrates in the mouth. Not only does enzyme play an important role in maintaining efficient function of body system, it is largely used in industrial field as well to speed up the production rate. For example, protease is commonly used in biological detergent for domestic washing and rennin is used in manufacture of cheese. For an enzyme to carry out its function effectively, active site should present on the surface of the polypeptide chain. An active site is a groove or pocket formed by the folding pattern of the protein. This active site has particular chemical composition and electrical charges on the amino acids, which make up the specificity of the enzyme, in which it allows only certain substances to bind to it. When the substrates bind to the active site, here the working mechanism of enzyme starts. The binding of the substrate to the active site bring the substrates closer and thus aids in bond formation in anabolic reaction. In catabolic reaction, the active site may distort the shape of substrate to break its bond. When the products are formed, the substances no longer fit into the specific shape of the enzyme and will leave the active site of the enzyme. The enzyme is free to bind to another substrate and catalyse another reaction. The enzyme is not altered at the end of reaction. As enzyme contains specific shape and charge on its active site, its activity is easily affected by the changes in the surrounding conditions. Generally, different pH, temperature, concentration of substrate or concentration of enzyme has a large impact on its efficiency in carrying out its function. Whenever the changes in surrounding such as change in pH or temperature alter the bonding between the R group of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain which form the active site, the shape of active site will change and thus the substrate will no longer bind to the site. At this point, the enzyme is said to be denatured. On the other side, when the temperature or pH is optimum for the reaction, the rate of reaction is the highest. Although the optimum pH and temperature may vary from one another, optimum temperature for most enzymes functioning in human body system is often 37 Â °C. However, the presence of inhibitors or cofactors may alter the enzyme activity as well. In this experi ment, the effect of enzyme concentration is chosen to be investigated on the rate of reaction catalysed by enzyme catalase. An increase in enzyme concentration will increase the active site available and thus increase the rate of reaction until it reaches maximum velocity when all active sites of the enzyme molecules are engaged. Problem Statement: Do different concentrations of enzyme affect the rate of reaction? Objectives: To investigate the effect of different concentrations of catalase on the rate of reaction to catalyse the decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide To determine the presence of catalase on the rate of reaction of hydrogen peroxide. To develop effective experimental skills throughout the experiment Aim: To determine the effect of different concentrations of enzyme on the enzyme activity Hypothesis: The higher the concentration of enzyme, the higher the rate of reaction until a maximum velocity is reached. Techniques: Use a water displacement technique to determine the volume of oxygen gas evolved Calculate the rate of reaction by using the gradient of the graph Materials: Freshly mashed or blended potato, 3.0 % hydrogen peroxide solution, buffer solution (pH 6.5), distilled water Apparatus: Boiling tubes, graduated tubes, 500 ml beaker, weighing balance, spatula, delivery tube, stop watch, measuring cylinder, dropper, rubber bung, weighing dish Variables: Variable How the variable is determined 1. Manipulated Concentration of catalase By using different mass of blended potato at 1g, 2g, 3g and 4g. Different masses of blended potato indicate the difference in concentration of catalase in its content. 2. Responding The volume of oxygen gas released By recording down the reading on the graduated tubes at 30 seconds interval. 3. Constant pH Volume and Concentration of hydrogen peroxide By using buffer solutions at pH 6.8 throughout the experiments By using the same volume and concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which is 2.5cm3of 3.0 % hydrogen peroxide throughout the experiment Procedure: 1 g of the freshly prepared or blended potato is transferred into a boiling tube. 5 cm3 of buffer solution is added into the tube and it is swirled to mix the substrate. A graduated tube is filled with water to the brim. It is placed carefully into a beaker of water. One end of the delivery tube is placed into the graduated tube with the other end with rubber bung ready to fix with boiling tube. 2.5 cm3 of hydrogen peroxide solution is measured and it is added into the boiling tube containing the potato and buffer solution. The tube is immediately closed with a rubber bung connected to the delivery tube. A stopwatch is started by one member of the pairs in conducting this experiment. The volume of gas released is measured for every 30 seconds for 5 minutes or until the gas evolution stops. The experiment is repeated using 2g, 3g and 4g of freshly blended potato. The results obtained are recorded in a table. Graphs for volume of gas released against time is plotted for each concentration or amount of enzyme used. The initial rate of reaction for each concentrations of enzyme used are worked out. Discussion: Based on the above experiment, the effect of different concentrations of enzyme on the rate of reaction is successfully determined. Five graphs are plotted based on the results obtained in the experiment to show the data in a clearer way and provides a better mean for analysing. The results show that the rate of reaction is increased by an increase in enzyme concentration. In this experiment, potato is used as source of catalyse. The first four graphs showing oxygen gas evolved against time are drawn based on respective mass of blended potato used. The initial rate of reaction is measured from each graph by obtaining the gradient of the graph. A predicted line is drawn on each graph. Generally, the longer the time taken, the higher the volume of oxygen gas evolved. In the beginning, all graphs show an rapid increase , the speed is the slow down as some of the substrates are converted to products. For the substrate at 1 and 2 g of bended potato used, the maximum volume of oxygen gas e volved has reached within 300 seconds and a plateau is obtained. This is because the reaction has completed for all substrates. Theoretically, the maximum volume of oxygen gas released should takes a shorter time as compared to 1g and 2 g of potato as more active site are offered. However, In the 3 and 4 g of blended potato which react, the maximum volume of oxygen is unable to be obtained within 300 seconds. This is probably due to some errors conducted throughout the experiment, particularly due to the vigorous and rapid reaction and in the process of changing the graduated tube. The errors will be discussed later. The initial rate is taken because the rate of reaction is rapid as the collision between the substrate and enzyme is the highest. The rate of reaction may not be reliable to be compared between data if readings are taken in the middle of the experiment because some reactions have reached the maximum rate. The initial rate of reaction for hydrogen peroxide with 1g, 2g, 3 g and 4g of blended potatoes are 0.0611, 0.2895, 0.6579 and 0.7000 cm3/ s respectively. The initial rate of reactions for all the experiments are then compiled into the fifth graph. This shows a clearer picture on the effect of concentration of substrate on the rate of reaction. Initially, there is an increase in the rate of reaction when the mass of blended potato increases. This is because the increase in the concentration of enzyme offers more active site for the binding of substrate. Then, the slope of increasing line becomes less steep with further increase in concentration of enzyme. This is because the active site has been occupied by the substrates or it is said to be saturated whereby the increase in substrate has no further effect on the rate of reaction. Theoretically, the graph should reach a maximum velocity where the plateau occurs in the graph. However, in this experiment, the plateau is not shown because most probably the concentration of enzyme is not high enough to bind to all the 3.0 % of hydrogen peroxide substrate. However, throughout the experiment some errors might occur in which the real values may not be obtained. Firstly, there is a high tendency for the reading obtained from water displacement method to be inaccurate especially when the volume of oxygen gas evolved are too much that the first graduated tube is fully filled with oxygen gas and when the delivery tube has to be transferred to the next prior-prepared graduated tube. The delivery tube transferring process may consume some time particularly if a rubber delivery tube is used instead of a glass delivery tube. This will cause some of the oxygen gas to escape into the water during the process. Next, parallax error may occur as well when the reading is taken from the graduated tube on the volume of oxygen gas evolved. This is because oxygen gas is a colourless gas, in which its level is not so clearly seen on the calibration of the graduated tube. To minimise the errors, the experiment is repeated twice and the mean reading is obtai ned. To further increase the accuracy of the results, a piece of white paper can be placed behind the graduated tube to make the reading easier. Next, the possible error is greater if the experiment is carried out individually. This is due to the human limited ability to record the reading and at the same time watch over the time. Inaccuracy may arise. In this case, a pair work is preferred in this experiment as one of the members times and the other one record the readings obtained. Next, when the mashed potato is poured into the boiling tube from the weighing dish, some potato may be left in the weighing dish. To minimise this error, a few drops of distilled water can be used to rinse the weighing dish to ensure there is no residue left. Consequently, there are a few precautions that ought to be taken to increase the accuracy of the results obtained. For each experiment, the potato used must be freshly mashed or blended. If the potato is prepared in a container, the lid of the container should be kept closed after the desired mass of blended potato is scooped out for each and every experiment. The preparation of blended potato in a beaker which is exposed to the air should be prevented because oxidation will occur and this may affect the activity of enzyme catalase in it. Changes in surrounding such as temperature may also induce changes in the enzyme. A blended potato is used instead of discs of potato so that it will react easier. Its viscosity should be reduced so that it is easier to use. Next, hydrogen peroxide has to be stored in an opaque container as it breaks down quickly when exposed to light. The lid of the container that contains hydrogen peroxide solution should be kept closed after each desired sample i s taken out using a dropper as the oxygen in the surrounding air may oxidise its content and causes the results to be inaccurate. A buffer solution is used to ensure the pH is kept constant throughout the experiment. The buffer solution of citric acid sodium phosphate solution which has a pH of 6.8 is used because this is the optimum pH for the enzyme catalase. Furthermore, a water bath is preferable as the surrounding temperature may change throughout the experiment. In addition, as the rubber bung of the delivery tube should be of the same size as the boiling tube to ensure all the opening of the boiling tube containing enzyme and substrate is fit tightly, it should be pushed and twisted with care. It should also be checked from time to time to ensure there is no leakage of product in gaseous form to the surrounding. Besides, the other open end of delivery tube should be placed in water all the time for the bubble of gas to form and rise to its surface. The presence of air bubbles ensure that the rubber bung is still in contact with the boiling tube unless the substrate and enzyme has completely reacted. To fix the graduated tube in place, a retort stand and clamp can be used. Besides, the boiling tube containing reactants and enzyme ought to be swirled throughout the experiment to ensure the substrate and enzyme react. This may increase the rate of collision between the reactants and enzymes and thus fasten the time taken for the reaction to complete. Throughout the experiment, some safety measures should be abided by. As the substrate used in this experiment which is hydrogen peroxide is highly corrosive, rubber glove should be used to protect the skin. After the hydrogen peroxide is used, it should be disposed off and not to be returned to stock bottles as any contaminants may result in decomposition and explosion may occur. The blended potatoes have to be handled carefully as well as it will irritate some peoples skin. A lab coat should be put on. The glass wares and the delivery tube used should be handled carefully as they are fragile. Conclusion: The hypothesis is accepted. The presence of enzyme increases the rate of reaction of hydrogen peroxide. When the concentration of enzyme increases, the rate of reaction increases until a maximum velocity is reached. Limitations: The species of potato Different species of potato may contain various concentration sof catalase The age of potato An older potato may have lower concentration of catalase The freshness of potato The concentration of catalase may vary in different potatoes which are stored in different ways before experiment. Storage at high temperature may cause the enzyme to denature Part of potato used Different parts on the potato may have different amount of catalase. Further Work: The effect of temperature on the enzyme activity The effect of different concentrations of substrate on the enzyme activity The effect of pH on the enzyme activity The effect of concentrations of enzyme on activity of other type of enzyme such as amylase on starch The effect on the rate of reaction of hydrogen peroxide by using different concentration of fungi as the source of catalase

UK Insurance Industry Analysis

UK Insurance Industry Analysis Discuss the background to change that exists in todays economy Abstract: This case study focuses upon AEGON in the UK, AEGON specializes in the insurance sector which was created in 1983 in the United Kingdom, as a result of merger between a Netherlands based Dutch insurance company called AGO Ennia. AEGON has a long history for instance it operates in the United States, which is based in Baltimore and has been insuring people since 1858, while in the United Kingdom, AEGON Scottish Equitable has been in existence since the early 1830s and since then it has a remarkable history of providing excellent insurance packages to the general public AEGON has recently expanded its international presence, gaining access by providing its services in new growth markets such as the Americas, the Central and Eastern Europe and Asia in particular, presently AEGON has its business interests in more than 20 countries across the globe AEGON is one of the worlds largest leading providers of life insurance, investments and annuities companies which also specializes in pensions, life insurance, asset management and adviser businesses in the UK. This particular case study basically illustrates the success that embracing and pursuing change has brought to AEGON in the UK. AEGON has a motive goal of becoming the best long-term savings and protection business within the UK. The AEGON Group has more than 27,000 employees and more than 25 million customers worldwide. The major share market for AEGON is in the United States of America and Netherlands. Since 1994, United Kingdom has become another major and increasingly important market for AEGON, In recent years mainly due to recession the life insurance and pensions industry, in which AEGON operates, has had a poor reputation. Some organizations have been accused of mis-sellingby not providing consumers with the best product for their needs. To prevent similar situations arising in the future, (FSA) the Financial Services Authority has put significant amounts of regulation on the industry, many of the service products which falls within the financial sector are quite often difficult to understand. Most of the People who choose the range of financial products and services are not sure where to seek support advice for their investments. Keeping in mind the falling values on the Stock Exchange have considerably affected the investment return on some of the insurance products, namely mortgage, endowments etc. that is to say for instance some people the product they bought has not delivered the financial return which they have expected, due to which it has created uncertainty in regards to the financial services industry. Industry has also been characterized by intense competition. AEGON faces competition as in other businesses which sell directly to consumers which are better known in the UK. AEGON who distributes its products services to customers mainly through its appointed financial advisers, AEGON with its reputed brand image had to overcome and address these industry related issues in order to remain competitive over its competitors Historically AEGON had been successful however with the Government imposed restrictions related to price controls which had reduced its profitability, comparing with its competitors, AEGON had developed good products and services and had a good reputation with distributors specially in the pensions sector, unfortunately other than pensions AEGON was not well recognized in other areas such as offshore investment products which were more profitable. Today if a consumer wants to invest for a product in the long term, first they want to make sure and know more about the organization which they are going to deal with for example they would like to recognize the brand understand more about the brand, its value which it represents, AEGON is financially strong which is rated AA by Standard Poors rating agency Evaluate the strengths and weakness of the organization Abstract: The strength and weakness related to a business or organization is its positive elements, which they do something well and within their control, the strengths and weakness of a company or group is based on its values which gives it the edge in areas over their competitors Following is an outline and main strengths of AEGON Making alliances with strong popular businesses is a major plus point for AEGON as it helps in bringing new customers and make business more effectively Keeping the overall costs lower than their competitors and maintaining the cost advantages helps AEGON to pass on some of the benefits to its consumers AEGONs marketing strategy has proved to be very effective which helped in raising Profiles Profits which is one of its major strength AEGON has a large extensive customer base, which is a major strength in regards to sales and profits Being financially strong {rated AA by Standard Poors rating agency}helps AEGON deals extensively with any threats problems arising in profits and can out perform their rivals Keeping competitive pricing is one of the vital element for AEGONs overall success, as this keeps them ahead of their competitors Riding high in the highly competitive insurance industry and has helped boost AEGON which raised its reputation and turnover AEGONs continuous innovation over its products keeps it as a front-runner in the insurance sector with its regular tuning of new patents and proprietary technology AEGON has a strong brand image which is well recognized and respected By providing high quality products and services it is a vital strength which in turn ensure customers to return to AEGON AEGONs with its vast distribution chain can be listed as one of their strengths and links to its success AEGON is equipped with experienced employees which is a key success of AEGON helping to drive them forward with expertise and knowledge in their respective field AEGON keeps high percentage of the market share due to its brand image which keeps them ahead of their competitors Products and Services which is offered by AEGON are authentic/original, which means people will turn to AEGON to purchase or obtain them Online presence for AEGON is strong which means it is ahead of many competitors AEGONs with its international operations has a wider customer base, strong brand image with its presence in the global market Innovation and Development is the prime concern for AEGON in regards to the products and services which is a major strength for its overall performance With its high quality offices, advanced modern equipment and well trained personnel which ensures the job is done to the utmost standard, which is a big strength AEGON AEGONs has a strong reputation which the consumer / people view it with respect and believe in their products services A weakness for any company or organization is needed to be improved for better performance which is under their control. Weaknesses can also place behind the competitors, when a company or organization stops to meet their objectives Following is an outline and main weaknesses of AEGON Limited customer base is considered as a major weakness for AEGON which means they have fewer{less} people to sell their products in the market The weak market position for AEGON is a limitation to their overall success, as they will be considered behind their rivals. A serious weakness for AEGON means that their services or products are of low quality, and then people opt for better-quality substitutes. Reputation is very important, and once its damaged for AEGONs it will be a major weakness where consumers will not trust the firm anymore and will not borrow their products By not reducing costs the same way as their competitors which means AEGON is outlaying more for their profits, maintaining higher costs than their competitors will be considered as a major weakness If AEGONs Research development {RD} work is low and insignificant, which is a major weakness in insurance as it is constantly creating new products Lack of inexperienced staff will be a major downfall for AEGON as it could lead to mistakes and negligence which could tarnish the image of AEGON in the long run Unstable with stock exchange are a weakness for AEGON as they need to keep up with demand Online presence is vital for success these days, and lack of one is a limitation for AEGON Overpricing is one of the reasons and setting higher prices for AEGON products/services could make them uncompetitive, which is a major weakness. The lack of business alliances is a major weakness for AEGON, as they will struggle to get deals, favors and partnerships. AEGON is in a poor financial position which makes it weaker than its competitors. AEGONs lack of innovation limits its success, as there is no forward thinking. Good companies need loyal employees, but AEGON has a poor relationship with staff which affects performance. If AEGON does not function internationally, it will have an effect on its success, when they do not reach consumers in overseas markets. AEGONs underdeveloped distribution chain has a marked effect on performance as it affects the distribution of their products/services. Lack of original services products is a major flaw in AEGONs future success, as it shows a blinkered outlook. AEGONs location is weakness for the firm, as it means they miss out on many opportunities. AEGONs lack of patents/proprietary technology puts it behind its rivals and is deemed as one of their weaknesses. The weak brand name compromises success for AEGON as it doesnt inspire people to buy their products/services Compare alternative forms of organizational development Abstract: With the impact of change which affects the organization in both ways internally and externally this is influenced on how people behave and also how they communicate with each other and when the organization becomes more focused on the customer. With such emphasis of making clear information for the customer in order to understand the company of making business easier, to embed such values and behaviors, AEGON established a new relationship with Shirley Robertson, the famous yachtswoman and the only British female athlete to have won gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games. By associating AEGON with an individual who embodies similar values, it was able to bring the values and behaviors to life for their staff, AEGON had to further develop their brand and its reputation, which AEGON maintain in couple of ways for example AEGON carried out external promotional campaigns in order to emphasize the relationship between Scottish Equitable and AEGON which helped to reinforce the local knowledge and the global power of AEGON within the United Kingdom with such refreshing of the brand internally and externally resulted in strong positive feedback AEGON also launched newer and innovative products for instance the 5 for Life annuity which helped to change the way in which consumers look at their retirement income support which provides with more certainty levels of income for the consumer, providing the levels of return as promised by AEGON of being responsible for any risks associated with doing so AEGON today with its brand image has a position within the financial services industry which over the years has posted record results with significant growth in the underlying earnings, AEGON has also increased its business across a mix of their profitable products and services, reflecting its continued strengthAcronyms Terms The alternative forms of organizational development which AEGON had figure out is to fully integrate organizational structure where employees are best integrated while their service offerings are best coordinated cross-selling opportunities and best tracked and pursued, with the recent analyses of organizational development which suggests a growing concern with the tempo of change, pattern of work or activity, such a change which is in contrast with continuous change on such basis of implied metaphors of organizing Develop systems for understanding and involving others in the process of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  change. Identify systems to involve appropriate stakeholders in the introduction of change Abstract: In todays developing environment any product development is a complex process which needs to be consider new demands from different stakeholders which can be analyzed how these demands can be fulfilled while sharing appropriate stakeholder information is important, however it can only be beneficial when the information is used effectively. When an induction of change arises the information must be shared across stakeholders, such process relies up to a large extent on the individual common understanding for stakeholders involved in order to help balance the interests of different stakeholders and their related functions. With such a process we need to identify the relevant stakeholders and their relation to the product, normally such a requirements from different Stakeholders can be negotiated and balanced in order to develop a competitive product In order to make a well-balanced product it is therefore necessary to take a broader approach by taking into consideration not only the end-users, but also all the other stakeholders throughout the products life cycle hence the stakeholders play according to their interest they use such power and influence the product in the direction they desire. A stakeholder can be defined as an individual or a group of people and a stakeholder could either be external or from the internal organizational stakeholders could also be addressed or regarded such as Primary or Secondary wherein primary stakeholders are those stakeholders who has a direct stake in an organization and to its success, secondary stakeholders are those who have a special or public-interest stake in the organization. Stakeholders interacts each other in different ways such as exchanging information, products, providing supporting tasks, instructions etc. Stakeholders can also be external or internal; AEGON had historically been successful however with the government-imposed price controls which had reduced profitability over its competitors, AEGON had developed good products and services and had a good reputation with distributors, particularly in the area of pensions which were a key strength of AEGON Culture refers to the personality and attitude of an organization. It also includes the shared beliefs, values and behavior of the employees. These determine the ways in which the organization and its people make decisions and solve problems. The goal of AEGONs CEO helped to provide a vision for change. Financial objectives were important as the path for future developments depended upon these. It was also important to create more clarity about who AEGON was. With limited awareness of AEGON in the UK, it was important to explain what it had to offer, how big the organization was within the UK and how strong it was globally. At the heart of this strategy was the need to: Simplify financial services and provide more customer focus. It was important that consumers understood more precisely what they were buying, as well as the benefits and services they received Develop the workforce. The objective was to develop the skills needed within the business to help it change. AEGON also created opportunities for progression from one job to another in a way that provided individuals with a coherent career path. Create a more distinct presence within the marketplace. This involved refreshing the AEGON brand in a way that made it more distinctive from its competitors and more attractive to customers. Analyze and evaluate these systems Abstract: In order to analyze and evaluate such systems it is important to understand the environment in which key issues which needs to be responded in order to improve decision-taking which reduces uncertainty. In recent years few industries have experienced such changes in their external environment especially in the financial services sector. Saving for retirement is a good concept that is sometimes difficult for people to understand. Within the United Kingdom life expectancy has risen in recent years where people can be expected to retired in the long run, there are many examples where an individual have not planned properly for their retirement and later in their life they may experience a shortfall in the amount of money available to them, there is also a drive by the government to reduce dependency on the State in old age with such uncertainty looming over many companies have introduced less expensive pension schemes and has insisted on employee pension contributions which did not exists in the past, with such factors people have to make wise decisions to invest properly at an early stage of their lives. Keeping in mind of the old age investing in the future helps people to prepare financial security towards their old age Life insurance and pensions industry, in which AEGON operates, has had a poor reputation in recent years. Some organizations have been accused of mis-selling by not providing consumers with the best product for their needs. To prevent similar situations arising in the future, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has put significant amounts of regulation on the industry People do not always feel equipped to choose between the range of financial products and services as financial services products are often difficult to understand, most of them are not sure where to seek support and advice. With the recession falling values on the Stock Exchange have affected the investment return on some products, such as mortgage etc, which for some people means the product they bought has not delivered the financial returns as they had expected. The financial industry has also been characterized by intense competition where AEGON is no exception and in terms of competition with organizations which sell directly to consumers and which are better known in the UK. AEGON distributes its products and services to customers mainly through financial advisers. AEGON being a reputed company had to address and overcome these industry-wide problems to remain competitive among their competitors Adapt an appropriate model for change Abstract: AEGON had a good historically record of being successful however with the government-imposed price controls which had reduced profitability comparing with their competitors, AEGON was not well known by consumers. It had developed good products and services and had a good reputation with their distributors, particularly in the area of pensions which were a key strength of Scottish Equitable. If consumers are to invest in a long term product, they need to know more about the organization they are dealing with. They need to recognize the brand and understand more about the brand values that it represents. As AEGON traded under a number of brand names it was not always easy for financial advisers and consumers to recognize the breadth and depth of the company in the UK, however, AEGON had to develop the brand and its reputation by carrying out the following tasks: AEGON carried out external promotional campaigns in order to emphasize the relationship between Scottish Equitable and AEGON. This helped to reinforce the local knowledge and the global power of AEGON in the United Kingdom Chief Executive Officer talked to the media about the need for change. The refreshing of the brand internally and externally resulted in strong positive feedback. AEGON has launched new and innovative products. For example, the 5 for Life annuity has helped to change the way in which consumers can look at their retirement income. It provides more certainty about levels of income for the consumer, with AEGON providing the levels of return promised and being responsible for any risks associated with doing so. Today the AEGON brand has a position from which it is influencing the financial services industry. It has posted record results with significant growth in underlying earnings. It has also increased its new business across a mix of profitable products and services, reflecting its continued strength. Change is continuous. The process of change is a journey. External factors will always be there to influence business organizations. AEGON responded well to such factors by simplifying, clarifying and strengthening its brand in the UK. As organizations change, their patterns of behavior and business culture develop. As AEGON is concerned as an organization it has to move positively towards achieving its full potential and to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult market How was the plan implemented, its process and outcomes Abstract: AEGON underwent a discovery phase with its new Chief Executive (CEO) in place. The main purpose of this process was to find out what it had to do to meet the CEOs goal. This goal was to build the best long-term savings and protection business in the UK. The discovery focused on three main key questions such as What do we stand for in the UK? AEGON owns life and pensions, asset management and advice businesses. AEGON name to be known for helping their customers build better financial futures and as a result they are actively raising their brand profile in the UK. What do we want to stand for in the UK? AEGON responded to these factors by simplifying, clarifying and strengthening its brand in the UK What should we be doing about it? This has helped AEGON as an organization to move positively towards achieving its full potential and to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult market Describe the purpose of the eight behaviors Abstract: The main purpose of eight behaviors for AEGON is to develop a behavior framework to support its brand values, it was designed keeping in mind to influence how people at all levels within the organization could work and make their decisions. Such behaviour would emphasize the values of the organization which AEGON have helped to build its culture and to be influenced its performance Following are the eight behaviours: Decisive action Work together Learn and grow Relate and communicate Think customer Embrace change Encourage excellence Act with integrity Evaluate the role of an audit within and outside an organization. To what extent can a process of audit form the basis for a business strategy? Brand audit To answer these questions AEGON undertook a brand audit. This audit looked at two aspects: the company internally how the organisation was positioned externally. The purpose of the audit was to find out more information about the organisation. This helped AEGON to provide a more informed approach to the decisions that were needed to start the process of change. The audit showed that AEGON was solidly placed within the market. Its staff were known for their considerable expertise, innovation and clarity of communication. The external audit also helped to discover where AEGON was positioned in relation to its competitors. People who were aware of AEGON saw it as being a refreshing and different organisation. However, there was evidence that people were confused about the breadth of what AEGON did because it traded under a number of different company brands

Be Warned and Study Justice:The Shifting Definition of Justice in Virgi

Be Warned and Study Justice:The Shifting Definition of Justice in Virgil’s Aeneid A twenty-first century reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey will highlight a seeming lack of justice: hundreds of men die because of an adulteress, the most honorable characters are killed, the cowards survive, and everyone eventually goes to hell. Due to the difference in the time period, culture, prominent religions and values, the modern idea of justice is much different than that of Greece around 750 B.C. The idea of justice in Virgil’s the Aeneid is easier for us to recognize. As in our own culture, â€Å"justice† in the epic is based on a system of punishment for wrongs and rewards for honorable acts. Time and time again, Virgil provides his readers with examples of justice in the lives of his characters. Interestingly, the meaning of justice in the Aeneid transforms when applied to Fate and the actions of the gods. Unlike our modern (American) idea of blind, immutable Justice, the meanings and effects of justice shift, depending on whether its subject is mo rtal or immortal. Before discussing justice in the epic, it is important to establish the meaning of the term. For our present purpose, justice will specifically apply to the social system of moral checks and balances. Acts that are valued in society are rewarded materially or emotionally. Acts that are devalued lead to punishment. Also, recipients of unmerited punishment receive compensation for their injuries. Often, a person is seen as the embodiment of the value of their action, thus a person can be seen as â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad,† and the consequences of justice that affect them are based on the general value of their general actions. The value given to actions is based on a soc... ...are confronted with the question of moral absolutes, we are forced to wonder when and to whom justice truly applies. Hopefully, we will look at our world and our ideas of right, wrong and retribution in different ways, ways that will enlighten and enrich our lives, and the those of the an audience of readers 2,000 years from now. Works Cited Braund, Susanna Morton. â€Å"Virgil and the Cosmos: Religious and Philosophical Ideas.† The Cambridge Companion to Virgil. Charles Martindale, ed. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1997. 204-221. Solmsen, Friedrich. â€Å"The World of the Dead in Book 6 of the Aeneid.† Oxford Readings in Vergil’s Aeneid. S. J. Harrison, ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1990. 208-223. Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1983. Williams, Gordon. Technique and Ideas in the Aeneid. New Haven, Ct: Yale UP, 1983.

Euthanasia Opinion :: Free Euthanasia Essay

Euthanasia Opinion Euthanasia is the intentional termination of life by another at the request of the person who dies. Although it is legal in Holland, it is illegal throughout the UK and is an extremely controversial topic often discussed in the media. When it is being debated it is essential to address all the issues and arguments for and against, religious and non-religious, as all the churches oppose it strongly. There are very many points against euthanasia. The first is that life is a gift from God and only he can take it away. This is obviously a strong religious argument that many people feel cannot be argued against, as any gift from God should be treasured. Some people also argue that there are many pain-killing drugs that will relieve the patients suffering and that at the time the patient may not be able to make a rational decision or may change their minds but be incapable of expressing this to a doctor. Older people may feel they are becoming a burden upon their families and other people and opt for euthanasia although they may actually want to continue living. It also means that the relationship of trust between doctors and patients is put at risk as it goes against the Hippocratic Oath that doctors must try to preserve life. Some people argue that if there were better facilities for caring for the dying there would be no need for euthanasia. Euthanasia is also seen to devalue life and can be said to be the first step on a "slippery slope." The Catholic Church has the following opinion on euthanasia: "à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Euthanasia goes against Christianity and the will of God. It is sinful and wrong." Although the churches disagree strongly with euthanasia, there are still many people who would put forward strong arguments for it and would like to see it legalised. These arguments would be that it can quickly and humanely end a patient's suffering and it can help to shorten the grief and emotional pain of the loved ones of the

L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Playing game) :: essays research papers

Larp   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yo jimbo is a friend of mine. His company, Dreamscape, had had a huge effect on my life. It has changed my life in many ways. I have made many new friends, discovered my love of role playing, and adopted an over all different life style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dreamscape is a Fantasy L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Playing game) or Larp. Dreamscape runs an event once a month, at Fountain Blue state park in Mandeville La., where people come from all over La. And even the Mississippi area to play. At an event choose a race to play out of the preset races. I personally play a lizard man. You are required to where makeup and prosthetics to make your self look as much like your race as you can. Then you choose a class, which is like a job. You can buy skills off certain charts depending on your class. The skills you buy help determine what your character knows and is capable of in the game. Combat is done with foam weapons so that no one gets hurt, and spells are represented by a packet of bird seed which is thrown at the target of your spell.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  jimbo is now sole owner of Dreamscape, head of plot, (the developer of the over all story line) and the highest level player character in the game. He spends much of his time making rule calls and playing NPCs (None Player Characters) to further the story line.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dreamscape has had a major impact upon my life. The first time I went was January of 2004. I was one of the only lizard men in the game. That quickly got m a reputation amongst the other people who played. I began to learn peoples names and got invited to other things that they were doing, between the monthly events. I discovered I loved to role-play. Before Larp I believed that I just loved to play video games and the reason I even tried Larp was because it sounded a lot like one of my favorite games. I quickly realized that it wasn’t as much a love of video games as it was a love of being able to make a personality in my head and play that character as if I were them. L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Playing game) :: essays research papers Larp   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yo jimbo is a friend of mine. His company, Dreamscape, had had a huge effect on my life. It has changed my life in many ways. I have made many new friends, discovered my love of role playing, and adopted an over all different life style.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dreamscape is a Fantasy L.A.R.P. (Live Action Role Playing game) or Larp. Dreamscape runs an event once a month, at Fountain Blue state park in Mandeville La., where people come from all over La. And even the Mississippi area to play. At an event choose a race to play out of the preset races. I personally play a lizard man. You are required to where makeup and prosthetics to make your self look as much like your race as you can. Then you choose a class, which is like a job. You can buy skills off certain charts depending on your class. The skills you buy help determine what your character knows and is capable of in the game. Combat is done with foam weapons so that no one gets hurt, and spells are represented by a packet of bird seed which is thrown at the target of your spell.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  jimbo is now sole owner of Dreamscape, head of plot, (the developer of the over all story line) and the highest level player character in the game. He spends much of his time making rule calls and playing NPCs (None Player Characters) to further the story line.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dreamscape has had a major impact upon my life. The first time I went was January of 2004. I was one of the only lizard men in the game. That quickly got m a reputation amongst the other people who played. I began to learn peoples names and got invited to other things that they were doing, between the monthly events. I discovered I loved to role-play. Before Larp I believed that I just loved to play video games and the reason I even tried Larp was because it sounded a lot like one of my favorite games. I quickly realized that it wasn’t as much a love of video games as it was a love of being able to make a personality in my head and play that character as if I were them.

Psychology of Guido Orifice in “Life Is Beautiful” Essay

Guido Orefice, the main character from ‘La Vita E Bella,’ is a very optimistic person. He works for his uncle in a hotel in Italy. He keeps bumping into a lady, whom he considers to be his princess, Principessa Dora. Guido does many things and takes many risks just to see Dora. So they fall in love with each other and get married. They have a boy name Joshua. Their life is very great until the Nazis come and take them all away to a concentration camp. On that very same day it is Joshua’s 7th birthday. Guido says that he has planned a birthday surprise and that they are going to a fun place to play fun games. Guido tells his son that he needs to be quiet and do what the guards say while the adults go and play games. He also said that every game they win and for every time they do something correctly they get a certain number of points. The first person to win 1,000 points gets a real tank. Joshua really wants it so he does what he is told to. So while Joshua is hiding all the other kids are being gassed and killed. Also Guido is working very hard so he does not get killed and can make his son happy. He gives up his food and other basic needs to have his son think they are playing a game. By the end of the war, Guido says they have 940 points; the Nazis are mercilessly killing the Jews. Guido tell Joshua to hide in a little box, and not to come out until he comes back or until it is totally quiet, and that this will get him to 1,000 points and he will him the game. Guido then dresses up as a girl and goes looking for his wife. A Nazi comes and takes him into an alley and shoots him. Soon the gunshots die down and everyone leaves. Then Joshua comes out of his box and looks around. He sees a large tank coming towards him and is excited because he won the game and got his tank. In the end, Joshua is a grown man and you hear him say, â€Å"This is my story. This was the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.† Erik Erikson identified eight psychosocial stages during which an individual’s primary goal is to satisfy desires associated with inborn social needs. He hypothesized that from infancy through adulthood, we proceeds through these stages, each of which is related to a different problem that needs to be resolved. If the potential problem is dealt with  successfully it will result in a positive personality trait. If not dealt with properly he or she may become anxious, worried, or troubled and develop social and personality problems. Guido has gone through every stage with a successful result. He has trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity and intimacy. Generativity versus stagnation is the Stage 7 problem. So far, Guido is leaning towards generativity, but it could change. If Guido had remained alive till Stage 8, he would have integrity instead of despair. Sigmund Freud hypothesized five psychosexual stages during which a child’s primary goal is to satisfy desires associated with innate biological needs. Freud believed that the interactions between parent and child greatly influenced the child’s social development and future social interactions. Guido is currently in the genital stage, the last stage that lasts from puberty through adulthood. It is the time when an individual has renewed sexual desires that he or she seeks to fulfill through relationships. Guido must have had a problem during the oral stage so therefore he had an oral fixation. Guido loves to talk and make people laugh, that is how we figure that out. Lawrence Kohlberg developed a theory to explain moral development. His theory had some similar features to the other analysts. He classified moral reasoning into 3 levels, pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. The three levels are each divided into two stages. Also, he suggested that everyone progresses through the levels in order, from lowest to highest. Not many people make it to the higher stages of moral development. Guido is considered to be in Stage 3 because his wife and his son guide his moral decisions. Guido can understand the actions and talk of Stage 4 where moral reasoning is determined most by confirming laws of society. Abraham Maslow was interested in human motivations, especially in how humans go about choosing which biological or social needs to satisfy. He proposed the hierarchy of needs. It is an ascending order with biological needs at the bottom and social needs at top. This shows that we first satisfy our biological needs before social ones. Before the Nazis came and took Guido  and his family away, Guido was on the highest level, the level of Self-Actualization. It involves developing and reaching our full potential as a unique human being. When he was in the concentration camp, his whole hierarchy of needs started all over again and he was back at level one. When he was shot he was still at level one because he had no protection and harm. Carl Rogers had a personality theory that was often called the self-theory because of his emphasis on the ‘self.’ Our society also leads us astray with conditions of worth. As we grow up, our parents, teachers, peers, the media, and others, only give us what we need when we show we are â€Å"worthy,† rather than just because we need it. We get a drink when we finish our class, we get something sweet when we finish our vegetables, and most importantly, we get love and affection if and only if we behave. These actions of only getting positive regard on condition are called conditional positive regard. Because we do indeed need positive regard, these conditions are very powerful, and we bend ourselves into a shape determined by a society that may or may not truly have our best interests at heart. A good little boy or girl may not be a healthy or happy boy or girl. Over time, this â€Å"conditioning† leads us to have conditional positive self-regard as well. We begin to like ourselves only if we meet up with the standards others have applied to us, rather than if we are truly actualizing our potentials. And since these standards were created without keeping each individual in mind, more often than not we find ourselves unable to meet them, and therefore unable to maintain any sense of self-esteem. Guido had unconditional positive regard and unconditional positive self-regard. This is the opposite of what is above. Guido was loved no matter what happened and he loved himself because of that. He did not keep and high goals and was always happy and had a high self-esteem. The last, and probably the most detailed analysis of Guido’s personality would be Myers-Briggs. According to the Myers-Briggs test, Guido is an ENFP. This stands for Extrovert, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving. ENFPs want to both help and be liked and admired by other people, on an individual and a humanitarian level. They have a large amount of passionate charm. They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. They are warm, affectionate, and  disconcertingly spontaneous. However, their attention span can be short. ENFPs are easily intrigued and distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting about the older ones. ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions. Follow-through tends to be a problem because they get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along. They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about p erforming any small, uninteresting tasks that they’ve been assigned. Guido meets almost all of the traits of an ENFP.

Bad Boys by Arnette Ferguson

Paige Kahalnik Sociology Bad Boys paper In the book, Bad Boys, Ann Arnett Ferguson goes on a three-year journey through Rosa Parks Elementary School to observe and research why it is that mostly black males are ending up in jail and are unsalvageable from such a young age. She interviews and observes daily interactions with the eleven and twelve year old students that have been labeled â€Å"at risk† by their teachers and peers. She wants to research how it is being in school when all of the educators have already labeled them as â€Å"unsalvagable, at risk, and bound for jail†.These kids pretty much act in the way that their teachers treat them. They get into trouble every single day and most of the times these boys provoke it because that’s how they think there supposed to act because they think they are already going no where in life. At such a young age, these boys, just because they are black, shouldn’t be criminalized and put in a different category than other boys. These children faced many challenges that effected how they learned in school, the way teachers and peers treated them, and how they are labeled as bad boys.Ann Arnett Ferguson said, â€Å"in the course of my study it became clear that school labeling practices and the exercise of rules operated as part of a hidden curriculum to marginalize and isolate black male youth in disciplinary spaces and brand them as criminally inclined†(page 2). This means that the educators didn’t really realize they were doing this and labeling these boys but it was more like a tradition and they saw nothing wrong with it. This is purely based on race and obviously some people are still in the mindset that black people are inferior to white people.Bad boys show black males from a very young age being adultified and become very masculine making them becomes part of the criminal system early on. Adultification is a filter of overlapping representations of three socially inven ted categories of â€Å"difference†; age, gender and race. This is justified by saying that humans are different from animals, children different from adults, girls different from males, and blacks different from whites. African American boys are doubly displaced among society.Ann Arnett Ferguson says, â€Å"they are not seen as childlike but adultified; as black males they are denied the masculine dispensation constituting white males as being â€Å"naturally naughty† and are discerned as willfully bad†(page 80). These African American boys are thought of being two things, either a criminal or an endangered species. They are not allowed to be naughty by nature according to society, but rather there naughtiness is a sign of vicious, inherent, insubordinate behavior.African americans are seen as endangered victims, which makes them criminals. Ferguson states, â€Å"It is their own maladaptive and inappropriate behavior that causes African americans to self-destr uct†(page 82). There are two versions of childhood that are contradictory to each other. A real child would be seen as a â€Å"little plants† ready to grow up accordingly which is what white men were like to educators. On the other hand the African American boys were seen as children who are powerful, self centered, and have an agenda of their own.These black boys are seen as adults from such a young age, they don’t have time to be young and grow up because others make it seem like they are already fully grown. This drives them in the path to do bad things and make bad decisions. In the beginning of the book, the vice principal of Rosa Parks Elementary school said that most of the children in the school would be headed for jail and that there was a jail cell with some of their names waiting on it. At first, Ferguson rejected this point of view and said that that was not going to be true.After further research and observation, Ferguson definitely looked at the sit uation differently. She said, â€Å"While I rejected the labeling practices of the school vice principal , in my opening chapter, I also reluctantly admitted that by the end of school year, I too had come to suspect that a prison cell might have a place in the future of many Rosa Parks students† (page 230). These boys have adopted the way that people treat them and it has such a negative effect on them that they are probably heading to jail.They are all being punished so much and isolated from the classroom that they aren’t learning anything throughout the days. They don’t have many social interactions and don’t have full access to resources that are needed. Educators might not see it, but they are a big reason that these children and being put behind bars and not meeting expectations that white boys meet. They are treated differently than white boys from such a young age, so they just start to â€Å"act black† like how everyone else thinks they sh ould. They know they are getting treated differently, so they just keep it that way.Most of the people that end up in jail are usually African American boys. If these â€Å"bad boys† weren’t treated like they are some kind of poison, maybe they wouldn’t be behind bars as life goes on for them. African American boys have to seem masculine every single day from such a young age because they were labeled as adults so early on. These boys thrive on their masculinity because this means that they have power and value. Their life doesn’t have meaning if they aren’t throwing masculine performances to the best level. This is why so many African Americans get in trouble.They want to prove their masculinity through violence. When young African American boys are in school they fight to show others who they are. Most of these boys identify themselves in groups like gangs because it is a sense of home for them. They are all being treated differently than others and they come together based on the fact of their race and how others see them. There is never any white boys in these gangs they are all black. Gangs are a sign of family and equality when they’re with there â€Å"homies†. They do violent acts in gangs to show their masculinity to others and have others fear them.The public and the media see them as â€Å"ghetto† black boys who aren’t educated and are violent. Since so many people portray them as this, they tend to do these things. They know how people see them and so they act on it how they think they should be acting in correlation to what the media and public see them as. In the classroom the African American boys will talk out of turn, say mean comments to others, and not answer any questions that the teacher asks. They see this as a masculine performance. It is fundamental for these boys to engage with power while in the classroom or they don’t feel like themselves.They are always seen as inf erior to the white boys and girls in class, so they decide to stay that way and not play around with the hidden curriculum. Bad Boys shows that there is still race issues that are going on today. Whether the educators realize that they single out the black boys more than anyone or not, there hidden curriculum is very apparent in this book. Fergusons portrayal of what happens to black boys is very real and happens to tons of them. It is true that mostly African Americans end up in jail and that they are treated like adults from such an early age that they already feel grown up by the time they are eleven or twelve.These boys are supposed to â€Å"act black†, so they do. These boys are supposed to act masculine, so they fight. These boys do everything that the public and media say they should and they don’t know any other way of how to act. This has been going on for so long, that there is no turning back for these boys. This book will show people what is really going on and I think many educators, peers, parents, etc. will see this and really try to change the way they say and do things to African Americans. Maybe this book will turn some people around and these boys will be treated equally.