Lojack and Micrologic Alliance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Lojack and Micrologic Alliance - Assignment Example The intention of this study is the alliance between Lojack and Micrologic as an example of upstream vertical (supplier) alliance. Alliances between companies can be horizontal and vertical. Direct horizontal relations are those in which the company reaches a tactic understanding with its competitors. This understanding might be related to price or other factors. Indirect horizontal alliances are often done with industry outsiders – these alliances help both the companies in research or other factors and do not create a conflict of interest between them. Upstream vertical alliances are done with suppliers. Lojack did not produce the theft detection system. Most of the production and technological work related to the product was done by Micrologic. Thus the alliance is an example of upstream vertical alliance along with the supplier. The other type of vertical alliance is the downstream alliance which is done with buyers. The stolen vehicle recovery system (SRV) had to involve p olitical and regulatory actors such as FCC (Federal communication system as well as various law enforcement agencies. It also involved the partnership with car dealers as well as the technology provider – Motorola. Thus the alliance between Lojack and Micrologic also involved a number of other relational actors. The initial objective of the alliance between the 2 players was intended to develop the necessary base software and equipment and to obtain FCC approves technology for the SVR system. However over a period of time the two have changed strategic objectives – Micrologic now wishes to use the alliance in order to use the marketing network of Lojack. ... ever over a period of time the two have changed strategic objectives – Micrologic now wishes to use the alliance in order to use the marketing network of Lojack. This shows that the objectives of an alliance can vary over a period of time. As the strategic objectives of the firms involved changes, the nature of partnership between them also changes. (George Stonehouse, 2004) They tend to leverage sources or integrate activities with other firm which tend to maximise their value proposition. Evaluation of the Partnership Making partnership is not a very difficult phenomenon. In this age of various multinational companies there are numerous opportunities available for collaboration. However the important thing to do is to evaluate the different collaborations. Evaluation helps both the firms to consider what are the objectives of the partnership, what they have done to achieve them and how do they want to move ahead. Evaluation helps the firm to understand how they need to work in the partnership; it helps both the partners to improve management processes and procedures. They are able to analyse the objectives which had been set by the firms initially and allows for a revision in this objectives if the need arises. Effectiveness of partnerships is important at three levels – input, output and impact. Input factors involve the partners working with each other. Both partners may bring different inputs to the partnership. In the case we are analysing the input from Micrologic was technical expertise whereas the input for Lojack was distribution and marketing strength. Output is the result of the work done by the partners together. The input and output factors both combine in order to create an impact. We will use the life cycle model of evaluating the partnerships in

Women and the Peace Movement in Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Women and the Peace Movement in Britain - Essay Example The essay "Women and the Peace Movement in Britain" analyzes the reasons why women did not make an individual contribution to British peace activist until the late 20th century.Though women have been quite instrumental in bringing the changes that led to movements for peace not just in Britain but across the world in the 20th century. The major reform that the Brits had achieved was the abolition of slavery in all the British colonies in the year 1833. This reform was particularly supported by the Christian women who had resolved to aid the movement by boycotting the usage of sugar which was the main export from the slave countries as they believed in the Christian philosophy of equality to all humans. This movement was the result of a long effort by William Wilberforce and Brougham along with their accomplices and Christian women in Britain and America as well. It is important to note that this movement to enforce the reform to end slavery in the world, particularly the British colo nies, had saved over a half a million African slaves. Another development was in the war front which has been quite active because of some major forces like Britain, Russia, France, Germany and almost all other countries of the world. War was on the verge of becoming the concept for social, political and economic strength for almost all of the countries of the world. Different countries and their respective allies had been taking to war increasingly and aggressively thereby changing the social and political scenarios in the world. and thus impacting the economic scenario the most which is the major factor effecting the people, their thinking and their life standards. By the mid - nineteenth century, political reforms had gained much momentum and some of them saw the light of the day after long periods and these reforms had been instrumental in giving the women some freedom from their earlier days of suppression. But still the conditions and the freedom of women was far from being si gnificant [1]. Not all women had been emancipated and the few who were enjoying freedom from the oppressive laws were miniscule even when the 'Custody of Children' bill had been passed in 1839 with much efforts by a much influential Caroline Norton and the then Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. This bill gave the rights to custody of the child below seven years and permission to see the older ones' above seven to the mother

Economic comment Essay Example for Free

Economic comment Essay Interest rates are proportionate to credit quality and it shows the ability of the investor to pay at any given circumstance. World economic conditions vary by geography and country and the nature of inflation and deflation influences interest rates. Interest rate is also determined by the government through its enactment of public policy called interest rate subsidy (Montalbano, 6). Interest rate term structures evidences how they are determined by future expectations of the value money. However in the absences of the aforementioned determinants, interest rates are determined by the supply and demand for funds. 2. Interest is the premium paid for use of borrowed money. The interest for loans is usually fixed for a certain number of years after which if there is delay in payment the interest rate adjusts upwardly each year. The value of dollar can increase or decrease depending on the supply and demand imbalance. However, lending of money is associated with risks as the lender can not be certain whether or not the borrower will pay the money back. In order for the lender to reduce the risks, it is important to secure the loan with a physical property such as real estate. Additionally, examining of one’s ability to pay back the money by use of credit score range can help reduce the risks of lending. 3. Interest rates are also determined by the supply and the demands for funds. This shows that at whatever rate of borrowing, the borrower believes he/she has borrowed at the lowest rate and he/she can even provide higher interest rates on the same funds (Montalbano, 12). On the other hand, the lender believes the funds cannot be lent at a higher rate and there is certainty to receive interest and return of principal. Works Cited Montalbano, J. How are interest rates determined? 201. Viewed August 14 2010 from http://www. ehow. com/how-does_4880725_how-interest-rates-determined. html

Elderly Empowerment in Social Work and Policies

Elderly Empowerment in Social Work and Policies Social services are nothing if they are not about empowering the powerless: giving older people the chance to stay in their own home, protecting the vulnerable from abuse and neglect, promoting independence and self reliance, bringing hope to families where almost all hope has gone Introduction This report will assess to what extent social policy with regard to the elderly has been successful in achieving its aim. In doing this the paper will look at policy development from the late 1940s onwards. It will evaluate policy success and will look at the role of social work in particular. It will look at the impact of New Right thinking on social work policy, funding and practice. There will be an examination of the effect of social policy on vulnerable and oppressed groups and of how ageism and classism may contribute to oppression. Methodology This is a documentary report using internet sources for Government websites and official data which is supplemented by other literature. There will be some use of figures and a diagram to illustrate certain points. After looking at policy development the findings will be used to assess the impact of policy and its effects on vulnerable adults. Policy Development The introduction of the Britain’s post-war welfare state was aimed at combating disease, poverty and ignorance. It was designed to support people in times of trouble and to protect those who were unable to protect themselves. From 1948 onwards, what were known as the personal social services, was introduced, it consisted of the health services which were responsible for public health, and welfare departments which were responsible for residential care and the care of the elderly and disabled. It also included children’s departments which were responsible for child care.[1] A large proportion of the budget was allocated for residential care. Since its inception the way in which the welfare state has been administered has undergone two major reforms. The first of these was in the 1960s and 70s where allocation of funding to departments was transferred from central government to the treasury.[2] In the 1960s welfare departments and children’s departments were unified into social services departments.[3]The second phase was in the 1980s and 90s and it led to a restructuring of the public sector and the way in which welfare was administered. This led to: The break up of administration into agencies, e.g. NHS Trusts and agencies responsible for Social Security. The introduction of the principles of management and the market which are found throughout the NHS and personal social services The requirement for public services to be run like markets, a separation of purchasing and provision of services and the introduction of competition.[4] During the setting up of the Welfare State the powers that had been held by local authorities were largely usurped by central government which still has the final say in how they conduct their affairs. Much of the work of the Social Services Departments was concerned with child services but this changed with the introduction of the NHS and Community Care Act of 1990 and there is a continuing move to operate services jointly. This also meant that care was no longer the preserve of the state, rather it should be the responsibility of the whole community. and state intervention should only occur as a final resort (Giddens, 2001).[5] The Community Care Act of 1990 was a development not only of the 1948 Act but also of the 1970 Social Services Act which states that: Every local authority shall establish a social services committee, and †¦there shall stand referred to that committee all matters relating to the discharge by the authority of- (a) their functions under the enactments specified in the first column of Schedule 1 to this Act[6] Under the terms of the 1990 Act everyone who wishes to access social care must first undertake an assessment of need (circular LAC (92) 12 states that any needs assessment needs to take into account the capacity of the person, their current living situation, any help or support from friends and relatives and also what the person themselves may want from care. The National Services Framework for Older People which is being continually updated has to be taken into account when such an assessment has been made.[7] Undergoing an assessment does not necessarily mean that a person will be offered services. Different local authorities have their own sets of eligibility criteria, against which the needs of the person are assessed an assessment is also made of their ability to pay for care (Moore, 2002).[8] The Health and Social Care Act 2001 entitled older people in residential care to free nursing care, in an attempt to integrate health and social care for older people. There has been conce rn that this Act might be the beginning of the end of adult social service departments.[9] Goodman (2005) has argued that access to care for older people may vary. The research suggested that those who were in residential care were more likely to be at a disadvantage in accessing other forms of care whereas older people who remained in their own homes were more likely to be able to access social care. The care needs of those older people in residential care tended to be met by care staff with the help of district nurses in order to provide some care to people in residential homes. Assessment of Findings Under the terms of the 1948 Act the state was the primary instrument of welfare and thus social care. As has been documented various later policies changed the way in which social care was distributed and accessed culminating in the Community Care Act of 1990 which shifted responsibility of care from central government to local authorities. It was claimed that this Act would lead to increased choices for service users. In contrast to this claim, some older, perhaps frail people, become socially disenfranchised and are placed in accommodation that is not up to standard nor suited to their needs. Moore (2002) points out that some commentators have argued that a mixed economy of care and the move away from public provision to one that was based on profit making: †¦would actually lower the standards of care, as profit rather than public service becomes the overriding motive†¦(this) will lead to a narrowing of choice†¦clients being seen as receiving charity†¦(and) the extent and the quality of services will differ from place to place (Moore, 2002:259). In 2000 the Government introduced the Care Standards Act as a response to poor standards in care homes. This has not been seen to be effective however, as stories of the abuse of older people in care have proliferated in recent years(Observer, 18th February, 2001). In the last hundred years people’s life expectancy in the western world has increased dramatically and there are now almost 5 million people over the age of 75 in the UK. Conversely the birth rate is now at an all time low. These changes in British demographics have generated an increased demand on the health service and on caring services generally. Although many older people remain in their own homes and may receive some kind of care to help them, there are presently about 200,000 people in registered residential homes in England. 35,000 of these homes are run by the local authority and 165,000 live in homes run by the independent sector. These figures do not include the 150,000 old people who are in nursing homes (Moore, 2002).[10] Older people are a marginalised group viewed by society as no longer useful, they are, of necessity, greater consumers of health and other services (Moore, 2002)[11]. When they feel they can no longer cope alone, or when relatives can no longer care for them, they go into residential or nursing homes, many of which are privately owned and run for a profit. Even when they are in council run homes older people are expected to at least make a contribution to the cost of their care. What is principally needed is a change in the way older people access services. In order for older people to have their needs met in ways which contribute to their quality of life and give them some choice over what happens to them Dunning (2005) suggests a greater need for advocates. He argues that in certain areas advocates should be a requirement for older people at certain times in their lives such as: retirement, which can bring about a reduction of income  and social networks a decline in physical and mental health, sensory impairment  and the need for health and social services a change in housing and living arrangements ageism. ( Dunning, 2005:10).[12] Dunning’s advice is wise if people want to access adequate care particularly as under the terms of the 1990 Act the care is no longer provided by the state alone. If a service user has been assessed as eligible for care then what is called a care package has to drawn up by the social worker. This package is organized primarily by the local authority and voluntary and charitable organizations also play a part in this. Increasingly this has meant that the autonomy of the social worker in this process is rapidly being eroded they are not always able to do what they see fit with regard to a service user’s need due to the need to collaborate with other agencies. Wanless (2006) found that access to care often depends on financial concerns and keeping people in care costs a lot of money. This has to be a consideration when the number of people entering residential care is increasing rapidly and estimated to increase by 50% over the next twenty years. The diagram below shows the cost of social care for older people in 2003/4.[13] Social worker’s decisions are subject to review by the care manager who is the person who holds the budget, this person’s primary job is to keep costs down. The social worker may do their utmost to obtain the best possible care for the older person they are dealing with but the final decision is often taken with regard to financial concerns. This is probably more of a problem with older people accessing care than with anyone else because they place a greater demand on the health and caring services.[14] When the welfare state was formed the total cost of residential care, or care that enabled a person to remain in their own home was met by the state. Those who went into private care did so as a matter of choice rather than a concern for the Government’s coffers. The New Right policies of Margaret Thatcher’s government was to roll back the welfare state and although the present government call their policies the third way they are very close to those of the New Right. Wanless (2006)[15] maintains that there has been fragmentation in the responsibility for social care at both local and central government levels. After the 1990 Act local authorities were no longer the direct providers of care, rather they were care managers. As a result of this a large part of government funded residential care and 69% of domiciliary services are provided by the independent sector. Social care is managed like other businesses whereby those with the most acceptable tender will get the work . Is this an empowering experience for older people, or do they become more oppressed and discriminated against than might previously have been the case? The Government has tried to address some of these issues by its promotion of participation and service user involvement. This is not always helpful as Dunning (2005) has pointed out. This is because of the power imbalance that exists between service users and professionals. Professionals may also use language that is not always accessible to service users. Arguably, in the current climate, it helps older people to have an advocate who is there to offer support and to help promote their interests. The Government pledged, in 201, that an older people’s champion would be appointed in each local authority. The champions would be there to represent older people’s interests. It was anticipated that as the champions should be doctors, nurses, other health professionals or social work practitioners, this might help to drive up standards of care. Quinn et al (2003) have argued that knowing what is on offer, and that if necessary there is someone who will put forward their views can be empowering for older people: Information, advice and advocacy are services in their  own right. They are also fundamental in enabling older  people to receive the services they require.  (Quinn et al., 2003, p. 3)[16] Conclusion While the promotion of advocacy and service user participation may make accessing care easier for older people, and could involve greater levels of empowerment overall policy development appears to have placed financial concerns before the needs of vulnerable people. New Right policies have, to a large extent, been continued under New Labour. Most of the developments since 1970 have hedged social work practice so that professionals are limited in the types and amount of care that they can offer service users. They have introduced market principles into a profession that was built on a concern for justice irrespective of a person’s ability to pay. As a result I would say that policy does not fulfil its aims to bring hope to the hopeless and protect the vulnerable. Bibliography Dunning, A. 2005 Information, Advice and Advocacy for Older People York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Giddens, A. 2001 Sociology Cambridge, Polity Press Moore, S 2002 Social Welfare Alive Cheltenham, Nelson Thorne Quinn, A., Snowling, A. and Denicolo, P. (2003) Older People’s Perspectives: Devising Information, Advice and Advocacy Services. York: Joseph Wanless 2006 Securing Good Care for Older People: Taking a long term view London, Kings Fund Publications http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/pss.htm#UK accessed 11/6/06 http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/uk.htm accessed 11/6/06 ibid http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/39/91/04133991.pdf accessed June 12th 2006 http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html accessed 12/6/06 1 [1] http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/pss.htm#UK accessed 11/6/06 [2] http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/uk.htm accessed 11/6/06 [3] http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/pss.htm#UK accessed 11/6/06 [4] http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/uk.htm accessed 11/6/06 ibid [5] Giddens, A. 2001 Sociology Cambridge, Polity Press see pages 338-40 [6] http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html accessed 12/6/06 [7] http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/39/91/04133991.pdf accessed June 12th 2006 [8] Moore, S 2002 Social Welfare Alive Cheltenham, Nelson Thorne page 185-6 [9] Ibid page 185 [10] Ibid page 324 [11] Ibid page 327 [12] Dunning, A. 2005 Information, Advice and Advocacy for Older People York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation  Page 10 [13] Wanless 2006 Securing Good Care for Older People: Taking a long term view London, Kings Fund Publications page.24 [14] Moore 2002 ibid page 326 [15] Wanless, D 2006 ibid page 9 [16]Quinn, A., Snowling, A. and Denicolo, P. (2003) Older People’s Perspectives: Devising Information, Advice and Advocacy Services. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation page 3

Sterling Engines :: physics sterling engine

The Sterling heat engine was invented by Robert Stirling in 1816. He was a reverend in the Scotland who built heat engines in his home workshop. His Heat Economiser was patented in 1816. The engine incorporates ideas of reduced fuel consumption compared with the current steam engines. Further development to the engine happened when his younger brother suggested using pressurized gas as the working fluid. Additional patents in 1827 and 1840 were for improvement to the design. A closed cycle with external heating engine that has a power piston, a displacer to move the enclosed air between the hot and cold ends a regenerator in now called a Stirling Cycle Engine. Air in the engine is cyclically heated (by an alcohol burner) and expands to push the power piston (shown in blue) to the right. As the power piston moves to the right, the yellow linkage forces the loose-fitting, red "piston" (on the left half of the machine) to displace air to the cooler side of the engine. The air on the cool side loses heat to the outside world and contracts, pulling the blue piston to the left. The air is again displaced, sending it back to the hotter region of the engine, and the cycle repeats. Stirling Engines work on a temperature difference between the hot end and the cooling fins. Any source of heat could be used. Refrigerant on the cold end may be needed for long term use or if the barrier conducts too much heat. On a finely machined Stirling engine, the temperature difference can be as low a just a few degrees- the heat from your hand can be enough to power the flywheel. Stirling Engines are most commonly found in waste heat recovery systems. Power plants that generate hot water could be used to power several heat engines for no additional cost after setup. However, the power generated by these engines would be only a fraction of what the steam turbine is putting out. Set up costs are high enough that waste heat recovery systems are not too common. Interests in heat engines may increase because they minimize the cost per unit energy being produced. For large scale power production, Stirling Engines are too expense to make. Given current energy shortages and rising environmental concerns, heat engines may become more attractive. The most common application of Stirling Engines is water pumping. Even Robert Stirling modified his engine to pump water from a stone quarry.

Public Outcry and Acceptance to Darwins theory of Evolution Essay

On Thursday 24 November 1859, Charles Darwin published and made available to the western world his magnum opus, On the Origin of Species, a compilation of some twenty plus years of research regarding the human biology and its advancement. Darwin proposed in Origins that all life slowly evolved, biologically mutated over a period of time, to its present day form. Expanding on prior research in the field of genetics, Darwin theorized a "survival of the fittest" complex which forced basic animals to evolve new advanced traits to survive in their respective environments, in the process theorizing that humans also evolved from lesser creatures. Darwin's theory of evolution was meet with critical response, mainly negative, at the time of its inception, but slowly gained support in the years following. In particular at the time of Origins publishing, the western world was undergoing a religious revival of sorts thanks to the rise of Evangelicalism. Due to conflicts of interest between Darw in's proposed theory of evolution directly contradicting the biblical theory of creationism, much controversy was generated by the publication of Origins. Creationism which stressed the belief of one omnipotent God creating the world and all its inhabitants was the most widely spread belief during this time period. Across the western world different assortments of clergymen attacked, or surprisingly stood in solidarity with the theory of evolution. This brings into question, why were the responses to evolution so disparaging? This can be explained that due to prior established beliefs and knowledge of respective individuals, the reaction to the theory of evolution was at first quite negative, but overtime became more and more accepting as people grew t... ...tarted rationalizing their emotions, the clarity of evolution dawned upon their eyes, and of acceptance of new foreign ideas. Here was a thing that not only could explain the mysteries of life, but also serve as testimonial to the foolishness of pride. Evolution was a hallmark in the relations between science and religion, as the two sides realized neither was trying to undermine the other, and even in some cases joined in union to promote humanities advancement. The story of evolution is significant to history not only because of its scientific achievements, but also the gap it bridged between the scientific and religious community, and the lesson it taught that acceptance of new ideas does not have to mean the end of prior beliefs altogether. No other scientific revolution has generated as much human controversy and unity as Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Chemistry Background Information Essay

When a person is exercising, or undergoing some sort of a strenuous activity, it has often been observed that they drink a lot of drinks. This maybe in the form of water, energy drinks, juice or it may even be carbonated sodas. Why is this so What Benefits do athletes get from drinking energy drinks How does fitness relate to energy drinks This answer lies in the basic chemical structure of energy drinks. These drinks consumed during exercising are much more complex than what they look like. They comprise of some vital nutrients which give the respective drinkers quick energy. Energy Drinks Energy drinks are drinks designed to increase stamina and improve physical performance. Some energy drinks are designed especially for elite athletes, but most are produced and marketed for the general community. The main ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone. Some new drinks on the market also contain opium poppy seed extract or ephedrine. Details of the ingredients present in some energy drinks: Chlorine Ions pH Glucose is the body’s preferred fuel. Energy drinks contain a ton of sugar which means, they contain a lot of energy. It’s a carbohydrate, and a lot of exercise regiments suggest a good dose of carbohydrates for workouts lasting more than an hour. However, to much sugar intake has been proved to cause diabetes. Taurine is an amino acid that our body naturally produces. It helps regulate heartbeat, muscle contractions, and energy levels. Usually the body makes enough that supplements are not needed. It’s thought, but not proven, that under â€Å"stress conditions† like illness, physical exertion, or injury, the body does not create enough and supplements can help. Taurine might be a â€Å"mild inhibitory neurotransmitter†, some studies show it helps with excitable brain states, suggesting its addition to most energy drinks. Ginseng, an adaptogenic herb, is known to increase energy, relieve stress and increase memory. However, it does contain some anti-fatigue components. Right now it’s suspected that ginseng helps stimulate the hypothalamic and pituitary glands, which then secrete something called adrenal corticotropic hormone. Ginseng is nothing that’s naturally created in the body, so having it in drinks certainly won’t hurt. 200mg/day is the standard dose, but one can safely take up to 2700mg. Anti-oxidants help the body gracefully recover from the damage of free radicals. Vitamin C is the most common anti-oxidant. Energy drinks containing a lot of Vitamin C can be compared to a really fresh orange juice. Anti-oxidants help fend off illness and prevent cellular damage. Vitamins C, E, and Vitamin A, are all anti-oxidants. Besides these common ingredients, energy drinks contain, sodium, magnesium and other ions. They are all a mixture of different chemicals performing their desired actions when it enters the human body. Thus, in this research project, we decided to analyse energy drinks and perform different types of qualitative tests on these drinks; so as to verify whether or not what the labels on the drinks, say, are true. As a result, different drinks are to be tested qualitatively. At the end of the experiments, a much more general idea of energy drink contents would be seen. In our research project, we will try to compare the qualitative contents of some energy drinks. These drinks will vary from international drinks to simple local energy drinks. To differentiate energy drinks form other drinks, such drinks can be compared to carbonate ones as well. We will be performing the following qualitative tests: 1) Test for Chloride Anion 2) Test for Reducing Sugars 3) Test for pH 4) Test for Electrolyte Aim: To test numerous energy drinks for some essential chemicals present, and validate its ingredients, as suggested by the manufacturers. Apparatus: To carry out these tests in a systematic order, a lot of materials are required. The list of the apparatus needed is given below: * Test Tubes (3-4) * Beakers * Dropper * Tripod Stand * Bunsen Burner * Distilled Water * pH meter * Connecting Wires * Battery * Mili-Ammeter * Light Emitting Diode (LED) * * Benedict’s solution * Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) solution Variables: There are not many variables in our experiment because of the fact that there is no quantitative data. All data to be tested is qualitative. Independent Variable Constant Variable Dependent Variable Chloride Anion: Energy Drinks Volume of Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) solution used Presence of Chloride ions Test for Reducing Sugars Energy Drinks Volume of Benedict’s solution used Presence of Reducing Sugars Test for pH Energy Drinks Volume of Drink pH Value (Acidic or Basic) Test for Electrolyte Energy Drinks Number of Batteries Connected Conductivity of the energy drink Manipulation of Variables: Procedure/Method: A lot of simple steps need to be carried out to achieve valid data. Since four different tests are being carried out, it would be better if the steps for each test ismentioned and followed separately. Test for Chloride Anion: Data Processing: Conclusion and Evaluation: Test for Reducing Sugar: Place a small amount of the solution to be tested into a test-tube. Add an equal amount of Benedict’s reagent into the test-tube and place this test-tube into a water bath. If the solution turns dark yellow or brick red, it is safe to assume that reducing sugars are present in the solution that had been tested. Test for Chloride Ion: Place a small amount of the solution to be tested into a test-tube. Add a few drops of silver nitrate. If a cloudy white precipitate is formed in the solution, it means that the solution contains the chloride ion. Test for the pH: Place a small amount of the solution to be tested into a small beaker. Calibrate the pH meter by placing it into the calibrating solution, and then testing it my measuring the pH of water. After this, place the pH meter into the solution that needs to be tested and then record the reading that appears on the digital display. Data Collection and Processing: All the data collected during the course of the experiment is summarized below: Pocari Sweat POCARI SWEAT is a world renowned mild tasting, refreshing drink which replenishes body fluids lost through perspiration. It is arguably the most widespread energy drink. Information received from: http://www.pocarisweat.com.ph/about.aspx Picture taken from: http://iheartjapan.com/pictures/food/Pocari%20Sweat.jpg Pocari Sweat Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 20 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.6. This is an acidic solution. Vita zone (orange) Vita Zone (Orange), just like our previous drink is an energy drink produced in Indonesia This drink has an orange flavor. We have taken up these similar drinks (both are Vita Zone) as we wanted to compare the element of flavor on the drink’s chemical components. As a result, we would get a much better insight into the uses of such chemicals. Picture Taken From: http://www.vitazone.com/assets/images/inner/var_orange.jpg Vita Zone (Orange) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 45 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.4. This is an acidic solution. Vita zone (Citrus) Vita Zone (Citrus) is an energy drink produced in Indonesia. It is known for its different flavors which help attract athletes. However, the drink we are testing is Vita Zone (Citrus), which has a citrus (lemon) essence added to it. Picture Taken From: http://www.vitazone.com/assets/images/inner/var_citrus.jpg Vita Zone (Citrus) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 25 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.9. This is an acidic solution. #Lemon Water Lemon Water is an energy drink produced in Indonesia. It is known for its quantity of Vitamin C that it provides athletes. It has a total of 1000mg of Vitamin C added into the drink itself. This drink is lemon flavored. Lemon Water Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. However, it is a weak electrolyte as it can conduct currents only up to 4 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.6. This is an acidic solution. #Orange Water Orange Water is an energy drink produced in Indonesia. It is known for its quantity of Vitamin C that it provides athletes. It has a total of 1000mg of Vitamin C added into the drink itself. This drink is orange flavored. Orange Water Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 20 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.9. This is an acidic solution. #UC 1000 (Lemon) This drink is manufactured by the same company as our previous two drinks. As a result, it does have the 1000 mg of Vitamin C added to it. However, this drink is carbonated. It has a natural lemon essence added to it. UC 1000 (Lemon) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 10 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.7. This is an acidic solution. #UC 1000 (Orange) This drink is manufactured by the same company as our previous two drinks. As a result, it does have the 1000 mg of Vitamin C added to it. However, this drink is carbonated. It has a natural orange essence added to it. UC 1000 (Orange) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 10 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.7. This is an acidic solution. Pepsi #Pepsi (Blue) To compare the contents of energy drinks and simple carbonated soft drinks, tests on Pepsi Blue, Coca Cola and Coca Cola Zero were carried out. Pepsi Blue was launched in mid-2002 and discontinued in the United States in 2004, although it remains available in some other countries. Its berry flavor was the result of taste-testing over 100 flavors over a 9-month period. It is consumed by many teenagers and adults alike. Information Taken From: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Pepsi_Blue Pepsi Blue Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 8 mA. Solution remained blue. Thus, there was no change in colour and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.1. This is an acidic solution. #Coca Cola This is a carbonated beverage sold in more than 200 countries worldwide. It is arguably the most renowned drink in the world. Coca Cola Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 6 mA. Solution remained black. Thus, there was no change in colour and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.4. This is an acidic solution. #Coca Cola (Zero) This is a carbonated beverage sold in more than 200 countries worldwide. It is arguably the most renowned drink in the world. However, this version of Coca Cola has Zero Sugar in it, as it can be seen from the name. It is claimed that this drink contains no sugar at all. Coca Cola (Zero) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Negative Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a weak electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 6 mA. Solution remained black. Thus, there was no change in colour and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of black. There was no significant colour change during the course of the experiment. As a result, reducing sugars are absent. The pH was recorded as 3.5. This is an acidic solution. #Red Bull Red Bull is the most consumed energy drink in the world. It is adapted from a Thai energy drink and is widely known for its Taurine content. Athletes all over the world consume this very drink to give them a sudden boost of energy. Red Bull Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is an electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 17.5 mA. Solution remained light brown in colour. Thus, there was no colour change and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.5. This is an acidic solution. Along with the routine tests carried out on this drink, a special ingredient was tested. Due to the unique smell of the drink, one can easily figure out the presence of esters in the drink. As a result, the test for Unsaturation was carried out. Bromine Water Test: Negative The colour of bromine water did not change. It did not decolorize and it can be concluded that Red Bull contains saturated esters. #Hormoviton Hormoviton is a drink associated in building up one’s stamina. It is consumed by males only to increase their endurance and stamina for different purposes. As a result, it can be included in the same category as energy drinks. Hormoviton Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is an electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 34 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.8. This is an acidic solution. Conclusion and Evaluation: Not enough is currently known about energy drinks and their effect on health and wellbeing. The producers of energy drinks make many claims about the health effects of their products. They say that their products can increase physical endurance, improve reaction time, boost mental alertness and concentration, increase overall wellbeing, stimulate metabolism, improve stamina and help eliminate waste from the body. The drinks are marketed as healthy, fun and youthful, and many children, young people and adults are taken in by the excitement created around them, believing these claims to be true. However, the evidence shows that it may be wise to be cautious in our consumption of energy drinks. Caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone occur naturally in the body, but the fact that they are present in much higher doses in energy drinks may be cause for concern. Scientists say that caffeine can have an effect on the growing brain and that it may cause a decline in the body’s immune system. For now, health authorities have determined that energy drinks are generally safe for consumption, with some cautions. Evidence is beginning to emerge that energy drinks may be harmful to some members of our community. It may be best to avoid giving these drinks to children under the age of ten. With older children and young people, watch closely the amount of energy drinks they consume as well as any effects on their mood or behaviour. If you are unsure or would like further advice, consult your doctor or other health professional.