Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Nanomaterials The Development of Polymer Composite

Nanocomposites A nanocomposite is multiphase material consist one of the phases has one, two or three dimensions of less than 100 nm. Polymer nanocomposities have existed for decades. Term â€Å"nanocomposites† first appeared in 1994[Lan Pinnavaia (1994), Lan et al. (1995), Giannelis(1996)]. After this a lot of researches started on the field of various fillers. Due to increased demands for the improvement in the performance of polymer materials led to emergence of new technologies. In these days, development of polymer composites is one of the most active research area in the field of nanomaterials. The composite consists of a matrix and a reinforcement (filler), these are combined in such a way that it enhance property as compared to the individual constituents. The property of composite material (matrix +filler) significantly depends on the mixture ratio between the matrix and nanofiller. Most commercially produced composites uses a polymer matrix material often called as resin solution. Type of composites contain polymer as a matrix known as polymer matrix. Most common polymer used as matrix are: polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, phenolic, polyimide, polyamide, polypropylene, PEEK, and others. To overcome the terminology and nomenclature issues, a standardization committee, ISO TC229 Nanotechnologies, started in 2005, and a joint working group with IEC 113 Nanotechnology Standardization for Electrical and Electronic Products and SystemsShow MoreRelatedNanotechnology in Aviation2303 Words   |  10 Pagespossessing high strength at a reduced mass and size make lighter aircraft with lower fuel consumption. The development of new materials with tailored properties is a primary goal of today’s materials science and engineering. This paper gives us a brief idea of the various applications and benefits of nanotechnology in Aerospace Industries. Contents. †¢ Introduction †¢ Properties of Nanomaterials †¢ Applications in Airframe and Components †¢ Coatings †¢ Engine †¢ SensorsRead MoreMonitoring And Controlling Blood Glucose Levels999 Words   |  4 Pagesglucose. Nanotechnology has impacted these efforts by increasing the surface area of sensors, improving the catalytic properties of electrodes and providing nanoscale sensors. Herein, we discuss the developments in the past several years on both nanosensors that directly measure glucose as well as nanomaterials that improve glucose sensor function. Diabetes is a rapidly growing problem, currently affecting 300 million people worldwide . and its incidence is expected to increase rapidly in the coming decades[0]Read MoreNanotechnology Case Study997 Words   |  4 Pagesfacilitating the next stage of development of biosensors, formulation of nanomaterials based pesticides through micromanagement of diseases (Manjunath et al., 2016). Green nanotechnology is one of the promising research areas in the biological fields including agriculture and allied areas. Indiscriminate use and continuous application chemical pesticides lead to accumulation of toxicants in environment and soil ecosystem. To overcome these types of problems, development of nanoparticles and use atRead MoreThe Synthesis Of Nannomaterials1734 Words   |  7 PagesChemical synthesis of nanomaterials for drug delivery most commonly involves the synthesis of nanometal compounds, polymer nanocomposites and quantum dots. The original synthesis techniques for these nanomedicine applications involve toxic reagents and waste products. Green chemistry initiatives are attempting to produce nanometals, composites and quantum dots without the toxicity and waste associated with early methods. Nanometals are an area of high interest in for drug delivery due to their magneticRead MoreMotivation Statement853 Words   |  4 Pagesenergy storage system with modified metal-organic framework (MOF). Because of its excellent stability, high specific area and porosity structure, MOF has become the super-star materials in scientific community. Composite with other high conductivity materials, such as conducting polymers like polyaniline (PANI), has been a promising way to solve its low conductivity problem for high performance supercapacitor and lithium ion batteries. PANI only has small contact area with MOF and could not be mixedRead MoreWhat Is The Synthesis Of 2D Tmds766 Words   |  4 Pagespreparations. This allows the creation of hybrid and composites by combining different materials and coatings by spray coating or doctor blading. In the past, liquid based graphene has been used to make high frequency electronics and hence solution-based TMDs are expected to have similarly good applications in flexible electronics and composite materials. TMDs can also be exfoliated using ultra-sonication in liquids such as organic solvents or solutions of polymer to mention a few. Ultra-sonication resultsRead MorePolymeric Materials Essay1273 Words   |  6 Pagesdisposable blood storage containers, surgical products, human tissue compatible plastic components, easily digestible and coated medicines and many others. Secondly, automotive industry have made significant commercial transformation using plastics and composites, due to inherit properties plastics like design freedom, multiple process flexibility, excellent aesthetic finish and light weight, which supported automakers to manufacture, energy efficient, cost effective and yet highly attractive cars. Few otherRead MoreGraphene And Its Effects On Our Environment2081 Words   |  9 Pagesuse. It’s been cited as a miracle material that will bring great change to living conditions and everyday life due t o its material properties that can’t be equaled by much else at the moment. Improvements can be seen in nearly every field. The developments will not only help progress humanity but also protect our environment. Though in saying this to be a new material the long term health effects are yet to be seen as it’s plausible that it may be genotoxic. Though as research continues the initialRead MoreWhat Is The Electronic Properties Of 2D Tmds1247 Words   |  5 Pagespreparations. This allows the creation of hybrid and composites by combining different materials and coatings by spray coating or doctor blading. In the past, liquid based graphene has been used to make high frequency electronics and hence solution-based TMDs are expected to have similarly good applications in flexible electronics and composite materials. TMDs can also be exfoliated using ultra-sonication in liquids such as organic solvents or solutions of polymer to mention a few. Ultra-sonication resultsRead MoreGold Nanorods Essay1782 Words   |  8 Pagesthe GNRs and improve their biocompatibility there have been several ligands that have been proposed to cover or ‘cloak’ the GNRs. The three methods I will be investigating are Polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated GNRs, Silica-coated GNRs and Lipid-GNR composites. Amorphous silica nanoparticles have the potential to become compatible with biomolecules using either electrostatic interaction or physical absorption as shown by Zhang, J.-J., Y.-G. Liu, L.-P. Jiang, and J.-J. Zhu, 2008 [11]. The two main characteristics

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Christian View of Buddhism - 764 Words

Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world, and it is continually expanding throughout the world. Buddhism comes from budhi, which means to awaken, the goal of Buddhism. Buddhism is a very open and adaptive religion. Because of this, there are over 80,000 different types of Buddhism. The two most widest beleived being Mahayanna and Theraveda. There are about 3-4 million Buddhists in America now. Buddhism is rich in history and it appeals to millions, as it spreads messages of peace, equality, and fairness with little or no commitment needed on the follower. The goal of Buddhism is to reach enlightenment. Enlightenment is not only for those who are extremely good. Every person has the potential to reach that state†¦show more content†¦If I did not know that God sent his Son to die for my sins and free me from the burden of sin and death, I could very easily see the appeal of Buddhism. The problem with Buddhism is that it relies solely on the actions of ones self. We are imperfect beings, and nothing we do can redeem us of the sin we live in. Except Jesus. Jesus came and said a person cannot do it on their own, they need savior to free them and provide a way to the Father. Buddhism is an incredibly enticing religion. It is peaceful, open-minded, easy to understand, with limited rules and structure, and adapts to the individual. While the teachings are beneficial, and the message positive, they will never provideShow MoreRelatedBuddhism from a Christian View920 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhism from a Christian View When the word Buddha is spoken the thoughts of Zen, peace and tranquility may come to mind. To the over 300 million Buddhist’s throughout the world Buddhism is much more than a religion, it is a way of life. The path of a Buddhist can be summed up in three simple sentences. The first, lead a moral life. The second, be mindful of your thoughts and actions and lastly, develop wisdom and understanding. Buddhism is said to explain injustice within the world and at theRead MoreBarrows Vs. Shaku And Dharmapal An Argumentative Analysis1469 Words   |  6 Pageshowever, to juxtapose Barrow’s arguementative skills in â€Å"Words of Welcome† to Shaku’s and Dharmapala’s skills in their argument for Buddhism. Upon an in depth analysis of both passages, it is clear that Shaku and Dharmapala supported their religion more effectively than Barrows did and ultimately helped the Western world, as a whole, gain a new-found respect for Buddhism. At first glance, Barrows’s â€Å"Words of Welcome† is simply a welcome to all the other members of the parliament. He uses vivid imageryRead MoreHealthcare Provider and Faith Diversity Essay1557 Words   |  7 Pagescompare the philosophies of three diverse faiths. The faiths chosen are Islam, Christian Science and Buddhism, and how they compare to Christianity. We will learn about basic beliefs, spiritual perspectives on healing, and the components of healing such as meditation, prayer and other rituals they follow. Furthermore, addressing the importance and perceptive of how to care for a patient with a different faith and cultural view. In the field of nursing we are in constant contact with patients ofRead MoreBuddhism And Christianity : The Ideals Of Social Structure And Society Of Their Era843 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhism and Christianity came about before 600 C.E. and reformed the ideals of social structure and society of their era. Both the Buddha and Christ taught during a large political collapse, focusing on the spirituality and morality of a person in society. These like monotheistic religious views both had a central doctrine but held different positions on how to acquire this truth. Buddhist and Christians teachings both challenged social norms by preaching equality among all both in gender andRead MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Buddhism807 Words   |  4 Pagescompare religions to determine which views are acceptable and which ones are not suitable by specific preferences. The following is a comparison between Christianity and Buddhism. Buddhism and Christianity are both religions that have a substantial history and millions of dedicated followers throughout the world. In some ways, the two religions are similar, being based largely on the teachings of a single man; Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha in the case of Buddhism, and The Lord Jesus Christ in the caseRead MoreThe Distinguishment Of Religions : Christianity Vs. Buddhism1389 Words   |  6 Pages The Distinguishment of Religions: Christianity vs. Buddhism It is evident that religion is considerably a controversial topic across the globe that seems to bring up futile disputes between people. From the many religious extremist groups that have been the world, such as the Crusaders, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), Al Qaeda, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS); it is apparent that this certain topic evokes controversial views from enthusiasts. So why is this topic so controversialRead MoreBuddhism s Belief Of God1419 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism hope to its adherents is to have a state of life in the afterlife where each individual can find his own way. They identifies their existence as god-like beings, who do not believe in an omnipotent creator God. Each individual discover and walk their own path. Nonetheless, Buddhism is not divine it just points the way to Nirvana. In the Buddhism religion they do not personally believe in God or a divine being. They do not worship, pray, or praise a divine being. Though the religion doesRead MoreAnalysis of Worlds Major Religions: Terminologies, Values, and Implementation in Daily Life1704 Words   |  7 PagesImplementation in Daily Life Table of Contents BUDDHISM 3 History Origin 3 Basic Beliefs 3 Sub-divisions 4 Teachings of Buddha 4 Four Noble Truths: 4 Eight-Fold path: 4 Role of Charity 5 CHRISTIANITY 6 History Origin 6 Basic Beliefs 6 Impact from other Religions 7 Sub-divisions 7 Teachings of Jesus 7 Role of Charity 8 DIONYSIAN AND APOLLONIAN 8 GNOSTIC AND LITERALIST COMPONENTS 9 REFERENCES 10 BUDDHISM History Origin Buddhism is a wide spread religion or philosophyRead MoreApol 104 Critical Thinking Assignment Essay926 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Thinking Assignment APOL-104 June 25, 2012 Critical Thinking Assignment PART ONE: The Question of Origin In Buddhism, they do not teach nor do they believe that there is an all-powerful God that created the universe. They look to Buddha, the religion’s founder, for a model of how to behave. In the Buddhist view, the universe is infinite in both time and space and the universe is created and destroyed over and over again in a process we call natural evolution. The Question ofRead MoreFaith Diversity Essay examples1251 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract This paper will look and examine four diverse faiths: Christianity, Buddhism, Rastafarianism and Islam spiritual perspective on healing. In Christianity, prayer is a way that a person can stay healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. Health is viewed by having a strong spiritual relationship with the Lord and living ones life by the word of God. Buddhist need a balance of health both mentally and physically in order to achieve optimal health. They way that they are able to restore

Monday, December 9, 2019

Challenges in Social Networking for Businessâ€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Challenges In Social Networking For Business? Answer: Introduction: Social networking sites are gaining popularity every now and then. Social networking sites helps people to create their personal profile online and keep in touch with the rest of the world (Ashley and Tuten 2015). Users of social networking sites are able to connect with other parts of the world by using their profile of social networking sites. According to many study, people in recent time often access various social networking sites to stay updated. In this modern era, people prefer virtual meeting with their friends and family more than physical meeting. The do not get sufficient time in their busy schedule to visit their relatives place to meet with them. By using their social networking sites they can meet and interact with their close ones within a short span of time (Brinkmann 2014). In recent time, business organizations are adopting new strategies to reach to the large number of buyers, social media is considered as one of the most preferred form of new media for every business organization (Hall and Antonopoulos 2016). In this online era, several business organizations use social networking sites as the weapon to draw the attention of large number of consumers. It helps them to reach to their potential consumers. Social networking helps the business organization to promote their brand name to the every corner of the world. Although, social networking has many benefits for a business organization, it has some drawbacks as well. The below mentioned article has concentrated on the challenge in social networking for the business. It has enlightened various aspects of a business organization to provide a vivid concept about the negative impact of social networking on the growth of a business organization. Literature Review: Many analysts claim that social media puts significant impact on the every functional area of a business organization, such as- PR, marketing, supply chain, internal and external stakeholders. Every organization are now a days adopting hybrid approaches to make put a strong footprint in the social media. This is a major challenge for the business organization to implement hybrid approaches in the organization (Wamba and Carter 2016). According to some reports, the emergence of social networking sites has changed the organizational structure of the business organizations (Tsimonis and Dimitriadis 2014). It is often evident that confidential data of the business organizations accidentally released in the social networking sites which is harmful for the organization. In this online era, everything has become very much transparent. It has become tough for any business organization to maintain the security of the important information of the organization. This may lead the organization to meet an awful consequence. It is important for every business organization to safeguard the private data of the organization, as it can be harmful for the organization to beat other rival companies. There are many reports that claim that rise of social networking sites has increased the power of the customer (Van Noorden 2014). Customers can now a days quickly exchange their products and ask for refund. This has scope of the negative publicity of the business organization. It has become hard for the business organizations to stop bad publicity among the consumers. Although, it works as good publicity for the business organization, it can be harmful for the reputation of the business organization as well. It has become tough for the business organization to track any negative statement that can destroy the brand image of the business organization. The development of the organization can be harmed due to such practices. Due to the immense popularity of social networking sites, people often comment or share their opinion over an issue in their social networking sites. They can make any statement purposely to destroy the image of any business organization. The business organizations are facing various challenges due to such issues. They often fail to track the person that has made negative comment about their brand name (Trainor et al. 2014). It is impossible for any business organization to track the activity of each employee on the social networking sites. The organizational management often faces due to this issue, as many employees are making various statements on the behalf of the organizational authority. In recent time, it can be frequently seen that many business organization is suffering from various crisis due to wrong comment of the employees on the social networking sites. Due to the rise of social networking sites it has become very easy to make comment over any issue. Sometime the ex employees of many business organization purposely comment on the organizational issue to spoil the brand name of the organization. This is one of the major challenges for every business organization is facing every now and then. According to some reports, the emergence of the social networking sites has provided an opportunity to the rivals of the business organization to spoil their reputation in the society (Rothaermel 2015). Due to the emergence of social networking sites, the scenario of the business organizations has been transformed. It has led the organizational management of the business organization to modify their human resource activities as the one wrong step can spoil the whole reputation of the business organization. It has become very important for the business organization to consider the fact while designing their human resource activity. The organizational management must pay close attention to the activity of their employees as well as other members of the business organization to protect their reputation. This is one of the biggest challenges for the business organization. In this competitive era, where every business organization is adopting new strategies to foster the growth of the organization it has become tough to monitor the activity of the organizational member to maintain the reputation of the organization. Many studies have claimed that use of social networking sites has increased the production cost of the organization as well as it has put the reputation of the business organization at stake. The business organization must appoint some social media expert to maintain the social networking sites of the organization. One wrong step form the expert can lead the organization to face an awful consequence. This has increased the production budget of the organization. Eventually the product price of the organization will be increased. This is harmful for the growth of the business organization. It has become very tough for the business organization to maintain the balance. Sudden increment in the product price can decrease the profit margin by reducing the market demand of the product. The growth of the organization will be restricted due to such practices. This is considered as one of the major challenge for business organization these days (Schivinski and Dabrowski 2016). Comparative Analysis: Although, many business organization is facing various difficulties due to rise of social networking sites, there is a conflict among the analysts about the effect of social networking sites on the business organization. According to some analysts, social networking sites have affected the growth of the business organization in negative manner (Leonardi, Huysman and Steinfield 2013). On the other hand, there are some analysts that claim that the growth of the business organizations has been influenced due to the emergence of social networking sites. They have explained some of the opportunities that social networking sites have provided to the business organizations, such as- Customer Relationship Management: According to many reports, the growth of the social networking sites has provided a great opportunity to the business organization to establish a strong relation with the consumers. As opined by Funk (2011) in his book Social Media Playbook for Business: Reaching Your Online Community with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and More that the rise of the social media has strengthen the relationship between the business organization and potential consumers. The business organizations are now a days share all the detail related to their products and brand in the social networking sites. This has increased the transparency level in the relationship of the consumers and business organization. Increase profit Margin: By maintaining healthy relation with the consumers via social networking sites, the business organizations in these days are capable of increasing the sales rate of their product. The transparency level that has maintained by several business organizations has increased the loyalty of the consumers towards the brand. Eventually this increases the sales ratio of the organization and the organizations have become capable of retaining consumers for a long period of time (Laroche, Habibi and Richard 2013). Business Expansion: Social networking site have provided an opportunity to the business organizations to expand their business in the global market. In this online era, it has become very easy for every business organizations to promote their product in every corner of the world. This helps the organization to reach to the global customer and earn huge profit by providing quality product and service to them (Kwok and Yu 2013). Defeat Rival Companies: By using social networking sites as a weapon to promote the brand name in all over the world, the business organizations have become capable of defeating their rival companies. According to many reports, the business organizations are now capable of maintaining healthy competition with their rival companies. The business organizations are giving tough competition to their rival companies by using social media to as a tool to draw the attention of huge number of consumers (Hudson et al. 2015). Public Relation: It is important for every business organization to maintain healthy relation with the society and people around the organization. The social media provides a great opportunity to the business organizations to draw the attention of the whole society towards the organization. Many business organizations are promoting their CSR activities in the social networking sites to seek the support of the society. This helps the organization to gain more popularity among the consumers. Social media works as a public relation tool for the organization (Jussila, Krkkinen and Aramo-Immonen 2014). Thus it can be stated that there are many benefits of social media that foster the growth of the business organization along with various negative impacts of social media. Although there are some negative impacts of social media in the development of the business organizations, social media has influenced the growth of the business organization. It has put a significant impact on the financial infrastructure of the various countries. In order to achieve desired position in the industry, many business organizations are using social media as their weapon. Social media marketing has become an integral part of the organizational strategy. Every business organization is incorporating social media marketing to increase the profit margin by selling products to the local as well as the international consumers (Tiago and Verssimo 2014). However, it cannot deny that social media possesses some negative impacts as well that can be harmful for the reputation of the business organization. One wrong step in the social media can destroy the brand name of any business organization. Thus, business organizations must be careful about the fact (Dijkmans, Kerkhof and Beukeboom 2015). Conclusion: As per the previous discussion, it can be stated that social media has become an integral part of the business organization in recent time. The primary objective of the business organization is to make huge profit and reach to the maximum number of people by using social media. The organizational management of several business organizations are including new strategies to gain more popularity in the in the social media. However, there is a conflict among the analysts about the impact of social media on the growth of the organization. According to some analysts it affects the growth of the organization in a positive manner. On the contrary, there are some analysts that claim the rise of the social networking sites is harmful for the organization. It has increased the production cost of the organization, it has raised a safety issue of the company and it has put companys reputation at stake. Thus, it can be concluded that the social networking possesses both positive and negative impac t on the business organization. Reference: Ashley, C. and Tuten, T., 2015. Creative strategies in social media marketing: An exploratory study of branded social content and consumer engagement.Psychology Marketing,32(1), pp.15-27. Brinkmann, S., 2014. Interview. InEncyclopedia of Critical Psychology(pp. 1008-1010). Springer New York. Dijkmans, C., Kerkhof, P. and Beukeboom, C.J., 2015. A stage to engage: Social media use and corporate reputation.Tourism Management,47, pp.58-67. Hall, A. and Antonopoulos, G.A., 2016. Introduction. InFake Meds Online(pp. 1-17). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Hudson, S., Roth, M.S., Madden, T.J. and Hudson, R., 2015. The effects of social media on emotions, brand relationship quality, and word of mouth: An empirical study of music festival attendees.Tourism Management,47, pp.68-76. Jussila, J.J., Krkkinen, H. and Aramo-Immonen, H., 2014. Social media utilization in business-to-business relationships of technology industry firms.Computers in Human Behavior,30, pp.606-613. Kwok, L. and Yu, B., 2013. Spreading social media messages on Facebook: An analysis of restaurant business-to-consumer communications.Cornell Hospitality Quarterly,54(1), pp.84-94. Laroche, M., Habibi, M.R. and Richard, M.O., 2013. To be or not to be in social media: How brand loyalty is affected by social media?.International Journal of Information Management,33(1), pp.76-82. Leonardi, P.M., Huysman, M. and Steinfield, C., 2013. Enterprise social media: Definition, history, and prospects for the study of social technologies in organizations.Journal of Computer?Mediated Communication,19(1), pp.1-19. Rothaermel, F.T., 2015.Strategic management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Schivinski, B. and Dabrowski, D., 2016. The effect of social media communication on consumer perceptions of brands.Journal of Marketing Communications,22(2), pp.189-214. Tiago, M.T.P.M.B. and Verssimo, J.M.C., 2014. Digital marketing and social media: Why bother?.Business Horizons,57(6), pp.703-708. Trainor, K.J., Andzulis, J.M., Rapp, A. and Agnihotri, R., 2014. Social media technology usage and customer relationship performance: A capabilities-based examination of social CRM.Journal of Business Research,67(6), pp.1201-1208. Tsimonis, G. and Dimitriadis, S., 2014. Brand strategies in social media.Marketing Intelligence Planning,32(3), pp.328-344. Van Noorden, R., 2014. Scientists and the social network.Nature,512(7513), p.126. Wamba, S.F. and Carter, L., 2016. Social media tools adoption and use by SMEs: An empirical study. InSocial Media and Networking: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications(pp. 791-806). IGI Global.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Substance Abuse Prevention Essays - Substance Abuse,

Substance Abuse Prevention Substance Abuse Prevention Community Assessment The community that we have chosen to assess is Springfield, Missouri. Springfield is located in Green County in Southwest. According to the USDC, Bureau of the Census in 1999 the population estimate for the Springfield Metropolitan area was 308,332. The annual population growth rate is 1.8% for Springfield. This is compared to 0.6% for the state of Missouri and 1.2% for the United States. Population density of Springfield is 2,068 people per square mile. Comparatively speaking this density is located between the densities of Kansas City (1,397 people per square mile) and St. Louis (6,406 people per square mile). The average family size of Springfield is 2.96 and the approximate percentage of persons in a family is 77.6%. The age-sex pyramid for Springfield MSA has peaks around 15-24 and 35-44 for both males and females. Overall the chart shows that Springfield has a slow to medium growth pattern. The population of Springfield is predominantly Caucasian while Asians, African-Americans and Hispanics represent a very small percentage of the population. Of the total workforce of 171,577 in Springfield only 3,305 people are unemployed which is 1.9% of the total workforce. Since 1990, as a general trend, unemployment rate has dropped from about 5.6% to the current level. According to the Missouri Division of Workforce Development in August 2000 the total breakdown of persons employed by sector is as follows: Number Employed Percentage of workforce Government 19,600 11.4% Services 49,500 28.9% Finance 8,700 5.1% Retail 33,700 19.6% Wholesale 11,100 6.5% Transportation & Utilities 12,800 7.5% Mining & Construction 8,600 5.0% Manufacturing 23,500 13.7% Other 4,077 2.4% According to the Missouri State Census Data Center, the median household income in 1995-1996 was $31,499 and the BEA Per Capita Income was $25,059. There are several major employers in the Springfield MSA. These include Bass Pro Shops, The Battlefield Mall, Tracker Boats, Prime Trucking, Cox North Hospital, Cox South Hospital, Saint John's Hospital, John Q Hammons Enterprises, as well as several government state and county offices. The Springfield school systems are also a major employer of the city. The school system is one of the strongest in Missouri. The largest high school, Kickapoo, has received Gold Star and Blue Ribbon national recognition for outstanding secondary schools. The three major problems areas in Springfield are alcohol abuse including dunk driving and use by minors, tobacco use, and use of marijuana primarily among adolescents. These three major problems are influenced by many different risk factors. 1. Factors contributing to alcohol abuse: The two main problem areas that have been noted within alcohol abuse are drunk driving, and minors consuming alcoholic beverages. It seems that many people who drink and drive do so as a direct act of defiance for the law. Other possible risk factor for drinking and driving include peer pressure, and lack of overall law enforcement which leads to feelings of security. Minors consuming alcohol is a totally different situation. This use generally stems from lack of parental influence, depression, resistance to authority, lack of law enforcement, and easy access to alcohol. 2. Factors contributing to tobacco use: There are several risk factors that lead to the use of tobacco products. Generally people begin using as a result of peer pressure, observation of role models smoking, lack of parental supervision, high tolerance for deviance, and exposure to advertising. 3. Factors contributing to the use of marijuana: A few of these factors are rebelliousness, nonconformity to family values, resistance to authority, relatively easy access, and an overall lack of anti-drug enforcement. With these three main problems now established, it is important to see the way that various individuals or groups of individuals throughout the community can help to prevent these problems: 1. Individual: The individual is responsible for making productive decisions that will help to get his or her life back on the right path away from any type of abuse or addiction. Also, the individual must be responsible enough to recognize that there is a problem and ask for help if necessary. 2. Peer Group: It is essential that the peer group provide a supportive network for the individual to overcome his or her problems. It is also the responsibility of the peer group to seek help for the individual when necessary. 3. Parental: The parents play a key role