The life of the Virginians during the 17th-18th centuries can be examined in detail with the focus on the life in colonial Williamsburg. Although there is a range of aspects and subjects which can be analyzed with references to the topic because of their historical significance, it is interesting to focus on such subjects as the development of the religious principles at Virginia’s territories, the development of the American family concept, the role of trades in the social progress and stratification, and specific elements of the 18th century clothing to add more details to the Virginians’ image.
Religion in Virginia
During the 17th century, white Virginians worshiped in the Anglican Church which developed depending on the people’s taxes. Much attention was paid to the support of the church’s authority in the society that is why there were no strict lines to distinguish between the religious and civil authority to influence the visions in the society. The church strived to unite the community members not only as the followers of one religious movement but also as the opponents of any other religious visions. Thus, Virginians rejected to demonstrate tolerance regarding not only non-Christian religions followed by blacks but also regarding Protestant sects.
The 18th century was characterized by the significant struggle of Protestants for their religious freedom. Blacks also supported sects as their way to oppose the traditional principles of the community’s life. Religion influenced each aspect of the people’s life because it provided the feeling of security and the feeling of belonging to the society. However, the bill to promote the religious freedom was not passed until 1786, while supporting the idea of connectedness between the civil and religious authorities (Colonial Williamsburg, 2014).
The American Family
The concept of the American family is rather complex because it consists of several elements, and it should be used to describe American families in their variety as it was in Virginia during the 17th-18th centuries. To understand the idea of the American family, it is necessary to concentrate on differences between the European, African, and Indian families. The Europeans brought to America their vision of the patriarchal family where fathers were the ‘heads’ of families, and mothers were occupied with children’s upbringing and household activities.
The African families reflected the European family’s pattern, but their families were more extended, and women were less submissive in their roles in spite of the fact that the majority of African women were slaves. The Indians families differed from the European and African families in their attitudes to women and children (Colonial Williamsburg, 2014). Thus, the focus on the matrilineal culture was observed, and much attention was paid to upbringing children without punishing them.
The Role of Trades
Trades played an important role in Virginia’s social progress and stratification. Men were mostly coopers, brickmakers, and shoemakers, but more attention should be paid to the activities of wigmakers because their business is the characteristic feature of the century. Wigmakers made wigs and hairpieces for the representatives of the social tops because wigs were the part of the formal dress for men and women depending on their social status. The wigmakers’ business was also based on selling perfumes and powders for hairs to support the image of the representatives of the upper classes.
One more interesting feature was the prosperity of milliners’ business. Milliners were women who could be discussed today as business women because milliners produced and sold accessories and other details of garments, and they also developed the import of necessary goods from foreign countries (Colonial Williamsburg, 2014). It is possible to state that in spite of the focus on the patriarchal tradition, women played an important role in trade activities of Virginia.
The 18th Century Clothing
Having examined the important role of milliners in the American society of the 17th-18th centuries, it is necessary to focus on the details of the 18th century clothing which accentuated the role of the Virginians in the society. However, it is important to note that the clothing of Virginians was divided into groups not only to reflect the social status but also to be used for different types of activities. The word ‘dress’ meant the rich formal clothes which included a lot of lavish elements and accessories to emphasize the person’s status. The formal dress of the rich woman included such an interesting element as a corset which was the basic element of the woman’s clothes because of the necessity to shape the woman’s figure.
Different materials were imported from many foreign countries. The fact of wearing the clothes made of the Chinese silk and shoes imported from England supported the prestige of the Virginians’ upper-class men and women (Colonial Williamsburg, 2014). Actually, only the families of planters and politicians could afford wearing expensive and rich clothes. Many poor families wore the clothes made by women in those families, and the used materials were inexpensive imported textiles which could not satisfy the tastes of the rich Virginians.
The focus on religion in Virginia, the concept of the American family, trades, and clothing is necessary to discuss the life of colonial Williamsburg during the 17th-18th centuries in detail.
Reference
Colonial Williamsburg. (2014). Web.
Coffee Connection And Starbucks Companies: Competitors Analysis
Introduction
The success of every business depends on its ability to generate profits and, equally importantly, continuously grow and expand its operations. Coffee Connection, a small enterprise located in the Midwest, is rather well-positioned to create value both for its customers and its stakeholders. Nevertheless, there are always opportunities for improvement, and the purpose of the present report is to identify the best practices in the coffee shop industry based on a financial analysis of a major competitor – Starbucks.
Clearly, Starbucks and Coffee Connection are on different ends of the company size spectrum. Starbucks was founded almost half a century ago and has since become a major actor in the coffee market. Currently, the corporation has over 22,000 stores in almost 70 countries (Starbucks, 2015). Evidently, Coffee Connection does not have the same resources as Starbucks does. However, researchers and practitioners in the field of business believe that competitor analysis can be a valuable business process improvement tool (Siha & Saad, 2008). In the present case, given Coffee Connection’s objectives to improve its profitability and expand its operations, the competitor analysis will be aimed at developing financial benchmarks necessary for Coffee Connection to achieve its goals.
The report consists of three parts. The first section is dedicated to an analysis of Starbucks’ financial statements with the purpose of identifying any considerable and noteworthy trends over the past two-year period. Special attention is given to the Starbucks’ management of accounts receivable, asset acquisition, and debt financing practices. The second part includes an analysis of the company’s financial performance through liquidity, solvency, and profitability ratios. The third section provides an overview of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles which Starbucks has to follow. Finally, the conclusion of the report reiterates its main findings and provides general suggestions for financial improvements.
Conclusion
The findings of the analysis have revealed Starbucks’ solid financial performance, regardless of the somewhat unfavorable economic conditions. While the analysis of asset acquisition demonstrated that the company continues to expand its operations, the examination of its debt financing practices showed that the company relies primarily on its own resources instead of turning to borrowing. Starbucks is experiencing a considerable rise in the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets: one may assume that this increase is due to the company’s marketing and CSR efforts.
The company experienced a slight drop in its liquidity ratios, but the figures still indicate that the company is able to repay its short-term obligations successfully. Starbucks also has low solvency ratios, meaning that it does not need to rely on its cash flow to honor its debts (Tracy, 2004). Given that Starbucks does not rely on external financing extensively, it is worth exploring how the company performs on profitability ratios. For the last three years, the company experienced a steady and significant increase in its returns on assets and equity. It means that the company uses shareholders’ funds for strategic and well-calculated investments (Needles, Powers & Crosson, 2014).
Coffee Connection should learn the following lessons from Starbucks. First of all, it is worth investing in marketing and PR since the value of the company’s intangible assets can play an important role in its business operations. Secondly, external financing should be the last resort option, and Coffee Connection should rely on its retained earnings for its future expansion. The key to growth is investing strategically, meaning carefully selecting and designing new store sites. It is, however, also important to consider the company’s own financial performance: what may work for one business, may not necessarily be a universal solution for all of its competitors.
References
Needles, B.E., Powers, M., & Crosson, S.V. (2014). Principles of accounting (12th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Siha, S.M., & Saad, G.H. (2008). Business process improvement: Empirical assessment and extensions. Business Process Management Journal, 14(6), 778-802.
Starbucks. (2015). Starbucks company profile. Web.
Tracy, J.A. (2004). How to read a financial report: Wringing vital signs out of the numbers. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Immune System And How It Functions: Types And Processes
Immunity
Humoral and Cellular Immunity
In contrast to the cellular immunity, the humoral one presupposes that the B cells should identify specific pathogens in the blood. The cellular-level response, in its turn, implies that T cells should be involved in the response to any hostile element in the bloodstream. The elements above are identified by locating the MHC markers that are qualified as aberrant (Colco & Sunshine, 2015).
Cellular Immunity Components
T-cells, therefore, are basically the only components of the cell-mediated immunity. The response itself can be split into three key stages. First, the self cells containing hostile antigens (APCs) bind to T-cells. Afterward, APCs produce interleukins, which cause T-cells activation. Cytotoxic T cells emerge in case the presence of MHC‐I and endogenous antigens is identified and destroy them. If the plasma membrane demonstrates the presence of MHC‐II and exogenous antigens, helper T-cells emerge and release cytokines, particularly, interleukins, so that B cells could release antibodies into the bloodstream (Bennett, Dolin, & Blazer, 2015).
Antigen, Hapten, and Epitopes
Differences Between Antigen and Hapten
In contrast to antigens, which can react with basically any antibodies, haptens can only react to specific ones. In addition, unlike haptens, antigens are immunogenic. Moreover, antigens can activate T cells and B cells whereas haptens do not have the given ability.
Characteristics of Epitopes
It is characteristic of antibodies to bind pathogens so that they could be destroyed and ejected from the body. Epitopes play a crucial role in the process; defined as the antigen determinants, these agents take the form of either carbohydrate or protein. Traditionally, linear (with antibodies bound to the adjacent components of a molecule) and conformational (three-dimensional) epitopes are distinguished as the key ones. Conformational epitopes are usually recognized by antibodies.
Antigens and Antibodies
Among the properties of antigens, the following ones need to be mentioned:
- Antigens are typically protein and, in some occasions, polysaccharide in nature (Abbas, Lichtman, & Pillai, 2015);
- Antigens can be found in the red blood cells in soluble state;
- Antigens typically come in the form of proteins, though they may also be represented by nucleo- and glycoproteins, glycolipids, andpolysaccharides;
- Antigens may be T-dependent (requiring the help of T-cells) and T-independent (able to stimulate the B-cell directly).
The properties of antibodies include:
- Emergence as a response to an antibody;
- Provision of humoral immunity;
- Causing biological activities;
- B-cell receptor location.
Typically, five classes of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM) are identified. Their functions include:
- Activating B-cells (IgE, IgM, IgD);
- Neutralizing toxins (IgG);
- Galvanizing the process of phagocytosis (IgG);
- Protecting against parasites (IgE);
- Providing localized protection (IgA).
Important Aspects of Humoral Immunity
By definition, humoral immunity is mediated by antibodies. In addition, the fact that the phenomenon can exist in an active and a passive form should be viewed as a unique property of humoral immunity. Humoral immunity implies production of antitoxins that destroy hostile elements in the bloodstream.
Relevant Characteristics of B-Cells
The key function of B-cells concerns the production of antibodies. B-cells form memory cells so that an automated response could be provided and antibodies could be produced automatically in case of recidivism. In addition, B-cells contribute to the production of plasma cells. B-cells are activated as antigens are connected to receptors.
T-Cells and Their Importance in the Immune System
T-cells fall under the category of lymphocytes and are split into two key types, i.e., killer and helper T-cells. The role of T-cells in the human body is reduced to locating the cells that have been mutated or infected with germs and attack them, thus, destroying he mutated and infected cells together with the mutagen or virus contained in them. As T-cells mature, they emerge in lymph nodes and the bloodstream.
Vaccines: Definition and Identification
A vaccine can be defined as the introduction of an agent that resembles the cause of a disease and is typically represented by a weakened microbe to the bloodstream. The development of the antibodies capable of fighting the disease in question triggers the destruction of the mutagen and the mutated cells. B-cells, in their turn, spawn the creation of memory cells that will later on attack the mutagen in case of the disease contraction.
Among the key vaccines that are viewed as imperative in the U.S., the following ones must be mentioned: Hepatitis B1, Rotavirus, Diphtheria, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b4, Pneumococcal conjugate, Inactivated poliovirus, Influenza (IIV; LAIV), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis A1, Meningococcal, Tetanus, diphtheria, & acellular pertussis, Human papillomavirus, Meningococcal B1, and Pneumococcal polysaccharide (CDC, 2016, p. 2). Immunization is advised for patients aged 0-6 and is supposed to occur based on a specific schedule.
Recombinant Vaccines, Toxoids, and Antitoxins
Much like antitoxins, toxoids are used as a tool against toxins, whereas recombinant vaccines presuppose the removal of a specific gene from one organism and its following insertion into the other one (i.e., the transfer of antibodies from a healthy organism to the infected one).
Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Clinical Importance
Monoclonal antibodies are the antibody molecules created by a line or clone of cells and incorporating a line of antibody molecules that are completely the same. Monoclonal antibodies allow building immunity against diseases.
Importance of Hemagglutination Reactions
A hemagglutination reaction implies that red blood cells should be tested for the presence of antibodies against soluble agents in them.
Reference List
Abbas, A. K., Lichtman, A. H. H., & Pillai, S. (2015). Basic immunology: Functions and disorders of the immune system. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Bennett, J. E., Dolin, R., & Blazer, M. J. (2015). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s principles and practice of infectious diseases. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Sciences.
CDC. (2016). Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0 through 18 years: United States, 2016. Web.
Colco, R., & Sunshine, G. (2015). Immunology: A short course. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.