Preparing a Case Analysis SWOT

The firm will use a SWOT matrix to help it analyze its future growth plans in the industry. The SWOT matrix involves an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, which a firm faces in the industry. It will help the firm identify all advantages and threats it faces in the industry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Preparing a Case Analysis: SWOT specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first column of the SWOT matrix indicates attributes which are beneficial to a firm’s growth plans while the second column shows attributes which are harmful to a firm’s growth in the market (Harris, 2012, p. 33). Strengths: Low costs. Competent staff. High quality production systems. Weaknesses: Inadequate skills, Low consumer loyalty, Weak brand power. Opportunities: Low market share/penetration by major brands. Low technology usage by the firm’s competitors. Threats: Slow market growth,St ringent investment regulations. Figure 1 showing a SWOT matrix. A BCG or a growth share matrix will make it possible for the firm to analyze its performance in the industry by focusing on different products and business units. This will help the firm allocate resources effectively to different units after assessing their performance in the market (Harris, 2012, p. 37). Cash cows are business products that have a large share of a slow-growing market. They boost a firm’s profits even when other units perform poorly.Figure 2 showing a BCG/ Growth share Matrix. Dogs are units which do not have a large market share and they do not contribute positively to a firm’s profits. Question marks are units which have a high growth potential yet they make a firm incur a lot of expenses.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Stars are units that have a large market share in an i ndustry with a high growth potential. A SWOT matrix helps a firm understand its strengths and how it needs to exploit them to become more competitive in the market. It helps a firm identify specific areas of its operations that need more resources to help it achieve its objectives more effectively. A SWOT matrix helps a firm come up with an effective strategy that helps it assess the direction it is heading and what it needs to do to make its operations more competitive (Phadtare, 2011, p. 48). A SWOT matrix does not provide a firm with adequate short term indicators to measure performance. It only focuses on the general aspects of a firm’s operations and fails to offer a detailed approach on how a firm can turn around its operations. It is also not suitable for a business that serves different markets with unique attributes (Phadtare, 2011, p. 51). A growth share matrix makes it possible for a firm to understand which business units offer it a higher competitive edge in the market. This helps a company with diversified portfolios to assess the growth rates of each portfolio to come up with effective inputs to maintain positive performance in the long term. Therefore, a firm is able to identify its current and future profitability projections to determine the quality of its operations (Phadtare, 2011, p. 56). The growth share matrix fails to show other elements in the industry that help a firm become more profitable in the long run. Some business units which are ranked as question marks may fail to live up to this expectation resulting in a lot of losses. The matrix supposes that profits obtained from cash cows helps to fund other units. This approach is not sustainable in the long term (Phadtare, 2011, p. 59). The firm needs to use the SWOT analysis to identify operational strengths that make it more competitive in the industry. It needs to conduct a comprehensive market study to understand consumer behavior and needs of different market segments so as to develop products that satisfy needs of different customers. It needs to define specific market niches to come up with an assessment on how they contribute to its objectives in the market. The firm also needs to use the growth share matrix to determine the performance of its individual units in different markets. The firm needs to define brand attributes of each product to find out how these attributes relate to its mission in the industry (Phadtare, 2011, p. 65).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Preparing a Case Analysis: SWOT specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The firm will produce shampoos, lotions and air fresheners. It will incur one million dollars in its first year of operations. Product First Year Strategy Second Year Strategy Third Year Strategy Shampoos Women of all ages in the local market Saloons, beauty parlors, and customers Regional market Lotions Both male and female clients Partnerships w ith various retail chains Partnerships with strong foreign brands Air Fresheners Domestic and corporate clients Specific fragrance lines to cater for specific tastes Sustaining consumer loyalty Figure 3 showing strategies to be used to position different products in the market. The firm needs to ensure that it promotes all products in their specific markets without paying a lot of attention to cash cows and stars as shown by the growth share matrix. It needs to make these products have their own independent brand attributes to make them appeal to different consumer segments. This will help the firm diversify its markets to ensure its operations are not dependent on only one flagship brand. Therefore, the firm needs to take advantage of all opportunities in different markets it serves. This will make it possible for its products to get a high level of brand recognition in the market (David, 2011, p. 172). This can be achieved through establishing strong relationships with custom ers in specific market segments the firm is active in. The viability of opportunities as identified by the SWOT analysis will be measured by the way the firm performs in the market. For instance, the firm’s ability to run low cost operations will be assessed by analyzing the quality of its products. The impact of these low cost operations will be assessed after two years to determine if they have helped the firm achieve more profits. The firm will engage consumers in its target markets to find out if products that are sold to them satisfy their expectations. A study will be done after two years to evaluate perceptions of consumers regarding the firm’s products. The growth share matrix will be used to identify which product deserves to be made a flagship brand after three years. The product that registers the highest amount of profits and consumer loyalty will become the firm’s flagship brand. The firm will assess all products sold in their respective markets to find out their results (David, 2011, p. 175).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The firm will need to build close relationships with its customers to ensure that its strategies achieve desired impacts. The firm needs to improve the competitiveness of its operations to make its products more attractive to customers. An audit of the firm’s operations will help it determine specific units that need to be improved. References David, F.R. (2011). Strategic management: Concepts and cases. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall / Pearson. Harris, N. (2012). Business economics: Theory and application. London: Butterworth Heinemann. Phadtare, M.T. (2011). Strategic management: Concepts and cases. New Delhi: PHI Learning Limited. This essay on Preparing a Case Analysis: SWOT was written and submitted by user Harmony J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Three Major Psychological Disorders essays

Three Major Psychological Disorders essays There are many Psychological Disorders: Bipolar Disorder; Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Panic and Agoraphobia Disorder; Schizophrenia.... Disorders like depression, neuroses, anxiety disorders, psychosomatic diseases, posttraumatic stress disorders, are very common in the adult population. Depression and anxiety disorders may affect heart rhythms, increase blood pressure, and alter blood clotting. They can also lead to elevated insulin and cholesterol levels. These risk factors, with obesity, form a group of signs and symptoms that often serve as both a predictor of and a response to heart disease. Furthermore, depression or anxiety may result in chronically elevated levels of stress hormones, such as adrenaline. As high levels of stress hormones are signaling a "fight or flight" reaction, the body's metabolism is diverted away from the type of tissue repair needed in heart disease. In this paper we will look closer at three major psychological disorders: depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. We take a look at four main points of the disease: a) Clinical Presentation, b) Risk Factors, c) Epidemiology, d) The Role of Culture. Mood Disorders Mood disorders clearly demonstrate a disturbance in emotional reactions or feelings. Almost all psychological disorders have an impact on mood or affect, but the major symptom of these disorders is the intensity or extreme nature of the mood. While we all experience occasional highs and lows, mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, are characterized by their extremes in both intensity and duration. Even at their most intense, however, symptoms of affective disorders are often misinterpreted as merely mood swings. Worse, affective disorders are sometimes considered personality flaws rather than real medical conditions. The truth is that mood disorders are treatable medical illnesses caused by a complex interacti...

Impact of customer motivation on profitability of financial Essay

Impact of customer motivation on profitability of financial institution in Oman - Essay Example Without these people this work would not have come to a smooth completion. May the Almighty Allah bless you all and protect you. Research findings have potent that customer motivation is an essential ingredient in the performance of a financial institution all over the world. It has been shown by business research that well satisfied customer’s guarantees at least 2% increment in business profitability by the end of every trading year. Customer satisfaction reduces the cost of business operations on advertizing by over 5% every year according to research findings. This is because a satisfied customer is an advertisement to a business by itself. This research study is aimed at finding the motivational tools used by financial institutions in Oman in achieving their financial objectives. The objective of this study is to evaluate customer motivation techniques in Oman banks and other financial institutions. It focuses on the influences of these motivations to the achievement of these institutions goals and objectives. Business experts have agreed to the fact that businesses that invest in customer motivat ion more often than not makes high profits than those that do not. Over a long time financial institutions have adopted the idea of treating customers as assets. This has therefore necessitated the need to measure the value of the customer and the value customer by financial institutions. This also has provided several institutions with the need to identify opportunities for the growth of the customer value and the return of investment on customer base and loyalty to an institution. Such findings often are seen as the basis of employee actions in the creation of the values that attracted and increased the customer base in an institution. The achievement of such objective requires the development of appropriate incentive

Hypnotherapy and Smoking Cessation How Effective Is It Essay

Hypnotherapy and Smoking Cessation How Effective Is It - Essay Example It is not considered useful for physical problems but is said to help if there is any kind of psychological aspect, for instance, phantom pain from an amputated leg. It can help, but it is not a cure. According to one advocate of hypnotherapy, the process is more than hypnosis. It is a partnership between practitioner and patient (Annamalay 1). Even so, the willingness of the client to share control with the practitioner is paramount. The main question becomes: Is hypnotherapy a useful technique or is it actually a profession, a business set up for profit with no real guarantees, even though money-back guarantees are rampant Is it considered a legitimate process in the health field This essay will attempt to explore the hypnotherapist's role in smoking cessation, how much depends on the client personally, how effective the process has been and whether it is a proven source of help for the smoker to cure his or her addiction. Can one discuss hypnotherapy in the 21st century without acknowledging it as part of holistic health The debate continues as to whether or not hypnotherapy is a preferred treatment for tobacco addiction. It must be noted that smoking is an addiction developed over time, basically through dependence on nicotine, a known addictive drug. This physical need, however, can be overcome if a person truly wants to stop smoking and is determined to benefit from any treatment offered. In the area of hypnotherapy, the ability of a person to be hypnotised is based on the willingness of the subject to allow himself or herself to be hypnotised. Therefore the success or failure of such a process is entirely up to the person being hypnotised. Once the hypnosis is successful, the therapist can be helpful in treating phobias, weight problems, insomnia, anxiety and stress in addition to bringing about smoking cessation. Current Development of Hypnotherapy in Smoking Cessation In modern therapy, Ericksonian hypnotherapy is well known in the field. The process was instituted by Milton H. Erickson, an MD who treated many patients using hypnotic techniques and did his best to document his achievements (Hypnotherapy: History, par. 4). He is highly respected in his field, and the process he developed truly can be called a technique. This type of therapy treats the client based on the unique qualities of the individual's needs. Erickson considered the experience of trance or hypnosis a natural, everyday experience; similar to learning to drive or ride a bicycle and finding it has suddenly become a reflexive action. One can also relive or re-experience an event by bringing it into the present through memory. Erickson further challenged the notion that some people could not be hypnotised and believed that interaction with the client would give them the ability to enter into their own treatment, thereby allowing hypnosis to take place (Johnson, 2, 4). The availability of hypnotherapy at present pretty much depends on the financial status of the person wishing to engage a therapist. Most clinics offering the service are privately owned, and the cost can be anything from 30 to 200 an hour. To get hypnotherapy treatment under National Health Service (NHS), it

Human Form versus Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Form versus Nature - Essay Example The Romans were influenced by these thoughts and also sought to portray man as a superior being. Here the emphasis is on man’s power as opposed to the lesser importance of people as seen in Eastern art where nature has a much more dominant role. The sculptures of Michalangelo are famous for the way the human body is treated. With his excellent skill at carving the marble his work stands as some of the greatest ever created in this style. In China, the philosophical principles of Daoism and Confucianism play a big role in the way of life and the way of thinking is a guide to live by. One of the facets of Daoism is the relationship of nature in relation to its various elements and to man. Man is taught to follow the principles of nature. Nature in art is illustrated as the central element in a great many pieces. Nature as a dominant theme has lasted more than a thousand years. By the late Tang Dynasty, landscape painting had evolved to depict man as seeking an escape from everyday life to commune with nature in all its beauty. The influence of China spread to Japan, as did the philosophy of Buddhism. In Japanese art people are often portrayed as a small part of the vast landscape. They are only a part of the world and the powerful forces of nature are seen as great in comparison. Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji beautifully illustrate this theme. â€Å"A hint to solving our current questions of what nature is, how it should be faced and how to coexist with it should be hidden within these art pieces that have viewed nature.† (Sakagami 1) References 1. Nature in Japanese Art after the Experience of the Earthquake, Keiko Sakagami, Web. 10 Nov. 2011. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/adv/wol/dy/reviews/110422.htm Writing Assignment: The Afterlife Across Cultures The afterlife has long been a theme in art. From Ancient Egypt, Greece, Africa and other Far Eastern cultures the attitudes and beliefs about a supernatural transformation that takes place after a person dies has inspired many objects to be placed with them at the time of their death. In Ancient Egypt people were buried with objects that they might have used in their life on earth. This practice stems from the belief that the person will be living in another realm after their death in a similar fashion. They therefore will need the things they had with them in their former life. Depending on the place in society and economic class the t hings they will need vary. A member of the royal family may have statues of soldiers and musical instruments buried with them while a farmer might have animals and tools and pottery with them. These things relate to their lifestyle as it was. The idea of immortality was also ceremonial zed in the elaborate coffins the dead were buried in. The Egyptians believed that these complex burial rituals help to ensure the person would arrive safely in the afterlife. The coffins themselves were decorated with symbolic images that were believed to guarantee this passage into the next life. Many of these artifacts have been uncovered in tombs of the dead and survive in museums today. In Ancient Greece they believed that the spirit of a person left the body at the time of death and went to a place known as Hades. In the Underworld all of the dead resided. In honor of the deceased elaborate preparations of the body were made and large stone structures marking the grave sites were built. Sculpture s and other objects also decorated the graves. In addition to the actual site of burial, vases were decorated with scenes commemorating the person’s life in homage to them. The immortality of a person lay in their

Effect of the Inorganic Filler Contents on Polymer

Effect of the Inorganic Filler Contents on Polymer ANALYSIS OF ZIF 8/PAI AND CMS/PAI MEMBRANES FOR CO2/CH4 GAS SEPARATION Yohannan Subin Sabilon Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks 8 (ZIF 8) nanocrystals and Carbon Molecular Sieves (CMS) particles were prepared by using standard procedures. UV visible spectroscopy and XRD tests were done for the confirmation of the particles prepared and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis were done to study the morphology of the particles prepared. ZIF 8/PAI and CMS/PAI MMMs were successfully synthesized by using ZIF 8 and CMS inorganic fillers and Polyamideimide (PAI) polymer using phase inversion technique. Various weight contents (1%, 2% and 3%) of the inorganic fillers were incorporated in the polymer matrix. Reinforcing of the polymer matrix with inorganic fillers was done in the form of nano and micro particles respectively. The effect of the inorganic filler contents on the mechanical properties of the polymer was investigated. Hydrophilic nature and porosity determination test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (F TIR) and SEM were done to study the hydrophilicity and morphology of the composite system. Keywords: Carbon dioxide, Methane, Mixed Matrix Membranes, Carbon Molecular Sieves,Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks INTRODUCTION Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the components of landfill gas, natural gas and biogas. It is also the main combustion product of fossil fuels and a leading contributor to global warming as its a greenhouse gas. In order to obtain fuel with enhanced energy content, to prevent corrosion problems in the gas transportation system and to reduce the climatic impact of CO2 gas it is quite essential to remove CO2 from those gas streams. This has driven the development of different technologies for CO2 gas separation. Among the different types of technologies being used membrane technology has experienced substantial growth, breakthroughs and advances during past decades [10]. Membrane technology offers high energy efficiency, simplicity in design and construction of membrane modules and environment compatibility. Although there are different types of membranes being used the combination of the superior performance of inorganic materials with the handling properties of the polymers is offered by Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs). Therefore in our study we will be using MMMs for CO2/CH4 gas separation. In the MMMs the inorganic fillers are added to the polymer matrix. Over the years different inorganic fillers have been used for preparing MMMs for CO2/CH4 gas separation out of which Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 8 (ZIF 8) is known to show maximum selectivity while Carbon Molecular Sieves (CMS) is known to show maximum permeability [19]. In this study the preparation and characterization of these inorganic fillers is shown. These inorganic fillers were successfully incorporated in the Polyamideimide (PAI) polymer matrix and MMMs were prepared. The characterization and analysis of the ZIF 8/PAI and CMS/PAI MMMs have been done with different loading of inorganic fillers in order to choose the best possible membrane combination for CO2/CH4 gas separation. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION Materials Zinc hydrate crystals and N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) required in the preparation of ZIF 8 nanocrystals were purchased from Merck Life Science Private Limited, Mumbai, India. Methanol used for washing during centrifugation was also bought from Titan Biotech Limited, Rajasthan, India. 2-methylimidazole and n-butylamine also required for the preparation of ZIF 8 nanocrystals were bought from Otto Group Hamburg, Germany, Polyamidieimide polymer was also purchased from UTM, Malaysia. Acetone was purchased from Merck Specialities Private Limited, Mumbai, India. All reagents were used without any further purification. Synthesis of ZIF 8 nanocrystals ZIF 8 nanoparticles were synthesized based on the procedure reported by Cravillon et al[3]. The ZIF-8 nanocrystals so formed was sent for UV spectroscopy, XRD, HRTEM and SEM analysis. Synthesis of CMS particles CMS particles were synthesized based on the procedure reported by De. Q. Vu et al[8] The CMS particles were then sent for XRD analysis. Synthesis of ZIF 8/PAI membranes Membranes of 3 different concentrations i.e., 1%, 2% and 3% of ZIF 8 nanocrystals were prepared by solution casting method. 17wt% of polyamideimide polymer solution was prepared by dissolving exactly 5.274g mixture of polyamideimide polymer i.e., Torlon and ZIF 8 nanocrystals in 25ml of NMP solvent in a beaker. A magnetic bead was cleaned and dried using acetone and was placed in the beaker. The 3 beakers containing the 3 different concentration solutions were kept on 3 different magnetic stirrer for complete dissolution. The exact amount of polymer and inorganic filler taken for respective concentrations is given in the table below: Table 1 Composition of ZIF 8/PAI membranes Concentration of ZIF 8/PAI Amount of PAI (g) Amount of ZIF 8 membranes (wt %) nanocrystals (g) 1 5.116 0.158 2 5.169 0.105 3 5.221 0.053 Now 3 glass plates and casting rods were washed and kept for drying. After drying the glass plates and the casting rods were cleaned and dried by using acetone. After complete dissolution the polymer solution in the 3 beakers were casted on 3 different glass plates using casting rods of 750 ÂÂ µm thickness. The glass plates after casting were allowed to dry at room temperature overnight for all the NMP solvent to evaporate. After drying the polymer membrane so formed was peeled off the glass plate. The membrane samples were sent for SEM analysis. Synthesis of CMS/PAI membranes Membranes of 3 different concentrations i.e., 1%, 2% and 3% of CMS particles were prepared by solution casting method. 17wt% of polyamideimide polymer solution was prepared by dissolving exactly 5.274g mixture of polyamideimide polymer i.e., Torlon and CMS particles in 25ml of NMP solvent in a beaker. The exact amount of polymer and inorganic filler taken for respective concentrations is given in the table below: Table 2 Composition of CMS/PAI membranes Concentration of ZIF 8/PAI Amount of PAI (g) Amount of CMS particles membranes (wt %) (g) 1 5.116 0.158 2 5.169 0.105 3 5.221 0.053 A magnetic bead was cleaned and dried using acetone and was placed in the beaker. The 3 beakers containing the 3 different concentration solutions were kept on 3 different magnetic stirrer for complete dissolution. Now 3 glass plates and casting rods were washed and kept for drying. After drying the glass plates and the casting rods were cleaned and dried by using acetone. After complete dissolution the polymer solution in the 3 beakers were casted on 3 different glass plates using casting rods of 750 ÂÂ µm thickness. The glass plates after casting were allowed to dry at room temperature overnight for all the NMP solvent to evaporate. After drying the polymer membrane so formed was peeled off the glass plate. The membrane samples were sent for SEM analysis. TESTING AND CHARACTERIZATION Confirmation tests for inorganic filers UV visible spectroscopy analysis. The ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis)utilizes light to determine the absorbance or transmission of a chemical species in either solid or aqueous state. The UV Visible Spectroscopy analysis was done for the confirmation of ZIF 8 nanocrystals. XRD analysis. XRD can be done on a number of different kinds of samples. Smallvolume of sample was tapped on microscope slide glass. The intensity of the beam used was 40 kV and 40 mA. The XRD analysis was done for the confirmation of ZIF 8 nanocrystals and CMS particles. Morphological studies of Inorganic fillers and MMMs SEM with EDX analysis. The surface morphology of PAI polymer was observed usingthe JSM-6701F with high resolution field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with the magnification of 5000ÃÆ'-. For EDX analysis the acceleration voltage was set to 20kV and the working distance was set to 14mm. The detector was moved down to 45mm. The sample was scanned by X-rays for a time of 200s. The elemental analysis of film in order to confirm the presence of carbon was done using an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) with magnification of 3000ÃÆ'- and acceleration voltage of 15 kV. After the scan was completed the spectrum was plotted using the data obtained from the scan. SEM with EDX was done for the confirmation of the CMS polymer film. TEM analysis. The sample preparation was done by sputtering the same with gold.Then the chamber door was opened and the sample was placed in the sample holder. The chamber door was closed and the required input like voltage, acceleration and time for scan were given to the system connected to the TEM analyzer. The scan was started and the results were recorded. TEM analysis was done for the size determination of the ZIF 8 nanocrsytals. FTIR analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a technique whichis used to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption or emission of a solid, liquid or gas. An FTIR spectrometer simultaneously collects high spectral resolution data over a wide spectral range. Sulfonic acid group functionality of membrane was studied using attenuated -total-reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy (Thermo scientific Nicolet iS5 FTIR spectrometer). The spectra for all dried membranes were observed from the range from 4000 to 400 cm-1 wavelength. Mechanical strength test The material strength of the membranes prepared were studied by the performing Stress-Strain tests. The Universal Testing Machine was used to perform the tests. The samples of the membranes were cut into dimensions of height 30mm, width 10mm and thickness 0.45mm. The initial gauge length was set at 20mm. The samples were placed in a sample holder one at a time and the tests were performed. The data was recorded and the graphs were plotted for respective samples. Hydrophilic nature and Porosity determination test The hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of the membranes were studied by immersing a 1cmx1cm membrane samples in different beakers each containing 20ml water. The beakers were kept on a rotary shaker for continuous mixing overnight. After 24 hours the membrane samples were taken out and the weight of the wet membranes were measured using a digital weighing balance. After that the membranes samples were dried in a vacuum oven at 60oC for 6 hours and then the weight of the dry membranes were measured similarly. The amount of water absorbed and the average porosity of the membranes were determined and the results were tabulated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Confirmation of ZIF 8 Nanocrystals The UV Visible Spectroscopy analysis was done for the primary confirmation of ZIF 8 nanocrystals. UV of ZIF 8 nanocrystals 12 10 Absorbance 8 6 4 2 0 200 212 224 236 248 260 272 284 296 308 320 332 344 356 368 380 392 404 416 428 440 452 464 476 488 500 512 524 536 548 560 572 584 596 Wavelength Series1 Figure 1 UV visible spectroscopy result of ZIF 8 nanocrystals The penetration depth was found to be directly proportional to the exciting wavelength i.e., 325nm because of decreased absorbance which is in accordance with the reference paper, Liu et aL, (2013)[1]. Therefore we can confirm that its ZIF 8 nanocrystals. The XRD analysis was done for the secondary confirmation of ZIF 8 nanocrystals. Figure 2 XRD result of ZIF 8 nanocrystals When n-butylamine is added as the modulating ligand, nearly instantaneous formation of a solid is observed upon combining the component solutions, and pure-phase ZIF-8 nanocrystals are recovered after 24 h (see XRD pattern in Figure 2). An average size of 18 nm is estimated from the broadening of the Bragg reflections. The XRD results were also in accordance with the reference paper Cravillon et aL, (2011). Hence we can confirm that the particles synthesized were ZIF 8 nanocrystals. Morphology of ZIF 8 Nanocrystals ZIF materials constitute a new distinctive, rapidly developing subclass of crystalline porous coordination polymers (PCPs) or metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The tetrahedral framework structures of ZIFs are constructed from bivalent metal cations and bridging substituted imidazolate anions and frequently possess a zeolite topology. Numerous ZIFs combine the attractive features of MOFs (diversity of framework structures and pore systems, large surface areas, post-synthetically modifiable organic bridging ligands) with high thermal and chemical stability. Figure 3 SEM image of ZIF 8 nanocrystals It is this combination of properties which makes ZIFs very promising candidate materials for many technological applications. Properties and performance of porous materials rely much on their supply as nano and microcrystals of well-defined size and shape, as is well-known for zeolites. SEM images (Figure 3) reveal that the well-defined nanocrystals have a rhombic dodecahedral shape crystal structure. Figure 4 TEM image of ZIF 8 nanocrystals TEM images (Figure 4) show roughly spherical particles being Confirmation of CMS Particles It is not possible to directly measure permeation properties of CMS particles as with CMS films, replicate mixed matrix films prepared with the two different sieves give very similar effective mixed matrix film permeation properties using powder-pyrolyzed sieves versus the film-pyrolyzed sieves. XRD was performed on the CMS films and powder, as shown in Fig. 5. The XRD diffractograms show very similar peaks and d-spacings, suggesting similar planar dimensions between the film-pyrolyzed CMS and the powder-pyrolyzed CMS, thereby confirming that the particles produced were CMS particles. CMS particles Polymer film Figure 5 XRD results of CMS particles and CMS polymer film Surface Morphology of CMS Polymer Film The CMS membrane films have an intrinsic CO2/CH4 selectivity of 200 with a CO2 permeability of 44 Barrers at 35oC. For UltemÂÂ ®-CMS mixed matrix membrane films, pure gas permeation tests show enhancements by as much as 40% in CO2/CH4 selectivity over the intrinsic CO2/CH4 selectivity of the pure UltemÂÂ ® polymer matrix. Likewise, for MatrimidÂÂ ®- CMS mixed matrix films, enhancements by as much as 45% in CO2/CH4 selectivity were observed. Effective permeabilities of the fast-gas penetrants (O2 and CO2) through the mixed matrix membranes were also significantly enhanced over the intrinsic permeabilities of the UltemÂÂ ® and MatrimidÂÂ ® polymer matrices. These encouraging selectivity and permeability enhancements confirm that mixed matrix membrane behaviour is achievable with CMS particles. Figure 6 SEM image of CMS polymer film Fig. 6 shows top surface SEM micrographs of a CMS polymer film. These micrographs show a smooth surface without any defects. Figure 7 EDX result of CMS polymer film The table below shows the EDX analysis of the CMS polymer film. The sharp Silicon peak is present due to the Silicon detector used during the EDX analysis. Table 3 EDX result of CMS polymer film Element Series unn. C norm. C Atom. C Error (3 [wt.%] [wt.%] [at.%] Sigma) [wt.%] Carbon K-series 8.50 23.61 36.45 4.40 Oxygen K-series 9.89 27.46 31.82 4.26 Sodium K-series 1.16 3.22 2.60 0.31 Aluminium K-series 4.56 12.67 8.70 0.74 Silicon K-series 9.37 26.03 17.19 1.28 Calcium K-series 2.52 7.01 3.24 0.31 Total: 36.01 100.00 100.00 The Oxygen peak is due to the oxygen present in the atmosphere during EDX analysis. The Carbon peak denotes the confirmation of the CMS polymer film prepared. As expected it shows a maximum wt % of 23.61. Cross Sectional Morphology of CMS/PAI Membranes Scanning electron micrographs of the CMS fibers are shown in figures 8, 9 and 10 Figure 4.8 SEM image of 1% CMS/PAI membrane Although asymmetry appeared to be present in the CMS fiber morphology, the thicknesses of the layers were markedly different from each other and from those of the precursor fibers (compare with those of the precursor fibers in Figure 6). The original polymeric precursor fibers consisted of a very thin dense skin (1000-2000 Ã…) on a porous core. This skin layer in polymeric fibers has been observed at very high resolution under SEM. In figure 8, high magnification of the wall in the cross section of the PAI CMS fiber reveals a gradual transition from the porous inner core to the denser outer micropore structure. In contrast, high magnification of the PAI CMS fiber shows a uniform dense micropore structure in figure 9. Figure 9 SEM image of 2% CMS/PAI membrane Figures 8, 9 and 10 show SEM micrographs of a mixed matrix film after these modifications. These micrographs demonstrate smaller CMS particles (mostly Figure 10 SEM image of 3% CMS/PAI membrane Cross Sectional Morphology of ZIF 8/PAI Membranes Figures 11, 12 and 13 shows SEM images of ZIF-8/PAI mixed matrix dense films, which indicates good contact of bare ZIF-8 to the PAI matrix without sieve-in-a-cage morphology at each loading. It is noteworthy that the good contact was achieved without any surface treatment of the sieve. This should be due to the hydrophobic nature of ZIF-8, proved by TGA measurements in reference paper Zhang et. al. (2012). Interestingly, in the SEM images of ZIF-8/PAI mixed matrix dense films, as shown in figures 11, 12 and 13, we observe a morphology that has not been previously reported in mixed matrix membranes prepared with other molecular sieves. Other than well-dispersed 10 nm ZIF-8 particles, there also exist many non-ideal large clusters of ZIF-8 with size ranging from 50 nm to several microns, which is more than an order of magnitude larger than single ZIF-8 particles. Also, volume fraction of large ZIF-8 clusters in the matrix increases with increasing ZIF-8 loading. Figure 11 SEM image of 1% ZIF 8/PAI membrane Unlike agglomerations of molecular sieve particles that have been previously reported in mixed matrix membranes prepared with other molecular sieves, the surface of these large ZIF-8 clusters as revealed in figures 11, 12 and 13 looks fairly smooth. Also, almost no defects were observed for these clusters among all the ZIF-8/PAI dense film samples. Since film samples were randomly fractured for SEM analysis, we believe that the mostly non-defective feature of these large ZIF-8 clusters shown in figures 11, 12 and 13 is representative of their interior structures. It is important to understand the formation mechanism of these large ZIF-8 clusters and their impacts on gas transport properties of the mixed matrix membrane to allow extension to practical asymmetric structures. By achieving the desired uniform distribution of individual ZIF-8 particles with the PAI matrix we can achieve outstanding gas separation results. Figure 12 SEM image of 2% ZIF 8/PAI membrane Figure 13 SEM image of 3% ZIF 8/PAI membrane The cross sectional view of the ZIF 8/PAI membranes shows good adhesion between the inorganic filler ZIF 8 and the polymeric membrane PAI. The figures show the SEM images of 1%, 2% and 3% ZIF 8/PAI membranes prepared respectively. FTIR Analysis of ZIF 8/PAI membranes The FTIR results shows that the aluminosilicates are present in the ZIF 8/PAI membranes prepared. The aluminosilicates are present due to the presence of ZIF 8 nanocrystals. FTIR Results Conjugated cyclic Aluminosilicates 120 100 %T 80 Unsaturated aromatic 60 40 20 ketoaldehydes or enols dimer esters and lactones 0 3691 2970 4000 3897 3794 3588 3485 3382 3279 3176 3073 2867 2764 2661 2558 2455 2352 2249 2146 2043 1940 1837 1734 1631 1528 1425 1322 1219 1116 1013 910 807 704 601 498 cm-1 Series1 Series2 Series3 FTIR Analysis of CMS/PAI membranes The FTIR results shows that the carbon bonds are present in the CMS/PAI membranes prepared. The carbon bonds are present due to the presence of CMS particles. FTIR Results Carbon bonds 120 100 %T 80 60 unsaturated aromatic 40 dimer ketoaldehydes or enols 20 0 Conjugated cyclic esters and lactones 3691 2970 4000 3897 3794 3588 3485 3382 3279 3176 3073 2867 2764 2661 2558 2455 2352 2249 2146 2043 1940 1837 1734 1631 1528 1425 1322 1219 1116

malaria Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is one of the ten deadliest diseases of all time. It effects men, women, children, and animals. It is in full force in Africa, India, Asia, China, South America, and the Caribbean. This disease is malaria. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s population lives in areas that are effected by the disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Malaria is a serious, infectious disease spread by certain mosquitoes. It is caused by infection with the Plasmodium genus of the protozoan parasite. More than one hundred species of this parasite exist. It is capable of infecting reptiles, birds, rodents, and primates. Four species infect human beings, the most common being P.vivax and P. falciparum.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many animals can get malaria but human malaria does not spread to animals. In turn, animal malaria does not spread to humans. A person becomes infected with malaria when bitten by a female mosquito who pocesses the malaria parasite. The parasite enters the blood stream and travels to the liver, where they multiply. When they re-emerge into the blood stream symptoms appear. By the time most symptoms show up, the parasites have reproduced very rapidly, clogging blood vessels and rupturing cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Malaria cannot be casually transmitted. Instead an infected mosquito bites someone with it, and then passes the disease on to the next person bit. It is also possible to spread malaria through contaminated needles or in bl...