Multi Channel Merchandising Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Multi Channel Merchandising - Case Study Example In this report, the case study is chosen to a health care hospital, a service industry. The Heath care facility chosen for the case study is UK Health care, one among the best in UK. UK HealthCare is the patient care enterprise of University of Kentucky Medical Center. UK HealthCare consists of the medical, nursing, health sciences, public health, dental and pharmacy patient care activities of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, and in several off-site locations. It has one among the best health care facilities in the world. It utilizes the expertise of various faculty of University to provide the best possible service to its patients. The physicians, residents, staff and students take pride in achieving excellence in patient care, education, and research and community service. With all its world class facilities, it provides the most advanced patient care and serves as an information resource for the whole industry. UK HealthCare is part of an academic medical center that has a thriving research community. Medical advances are frequently made in a wide variety of health care disciplines. All the elements of UK HealthCare's strategic plan for the future focus on one ambitious goal: achieving Top 20 status among all academic medical centers nationwide. UK HealthCare is committed to providing the highest-quality and safest patient care possible.UK health care is becoming a medical destination where the patients can seek the best in specialty and subspecialty care. Their demand for health care is ever growing within the industry. UK HealthCare is more than just a hospital and a physician practice. As a major health resource for the region and the state, it is an organization dedicated to providing the most advanced and comprehensive patient care underpinned by cutting-edge medical research and the education and training of tomorrow's health professionals. UK HealthCare facilities include UK Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children's Hospital, UK HealthCare East, Kentucky Clinic, Polk-Dalton Clinic, Kentucky Clinic South, 80 specialized clinics, 143 outreach programs, and a team of 6,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists and health care workers all dedicated to patient health. It includes some of the highly acclaimed centers, including the Center for Advanced Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, Radiation treatment facilities and Transplant Center. The unique capabilities of this health care facility is it ability to combine multispeciality group to enable care providers of UK HealthCare to provide multidisciplinary teams for patient care. Such teams are useful for managing complex medical and surgical cases. The Hospital also pioneers in various departments of health care and serve as a resource center for the local health care community. It attracts patients from many countries with its state of art facilities and the capability to treat any health care problems. Current State of Industry: In a 2007 report by the Commonwealth Fund, the UK was ranked first among six developed countries for its provision of healthcare, in relation to quality of care, access, effectiveness and efficiency. Healthcare services have contributed to some dramatic improvements in the health of people in England and Wales over the last 20 years. This is attributed to the improvements in health care facili

Global war wine Essay Example for Free

Global war wine Essay The global wine industry is being influenced by a number of factors including consumer demand and changes in the way wine is produced and sold. There has been a shift in the perception of wine in the past half-century as consumers and producers have migrated away from the Old World philosophies to the modern-thinking the New World has brought about. By the 1990’s the average consumer’s palate changed especially here in the U. S. where consumers were more apt to look for the premium ($7-14) and super-premium (+) wines. By this time, there was a drop in consumption in countries that traditionally consumed a great deal (France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and Chile) while demand in other countries increased (U. K. , Canada, Belgium, and some Asian countries). Wine consumption was now becoming truly â€Å"global† and New World producers had the means to handle demand. Shipping overseas was now a cost-effective way to transport wine around the globe allowing consumers even more choices of quality wines. Therefore, one of the most important factors in how the wine industry is changing is in the education of the wine consumer. And consumers now can look at a bottle of wine and tell the type of wine and the region they came from along with the date bottled. 2. How did the French become the dominant competitors in the increasingly global wine industry for centuries? What sources of competitive advantage were they able to develop to support their exports? Where were they vulnerable? French wine producers became the dominant competitor as a result of four reasons. First, their geographic and climatic featuresplayed significant role. As France is in the middle of Europe culture with suitable climate and soilcondition for harvesting grape, had accrued first-mover advantage and established its place as thedominant competitor in the global wine industry. Second, they became the first high-quality winemarket and gained a lot experience. Especially, the negociantstraded wine between France and othercountries and this worked as word-of-mouth effect, increasing the reputation and dominance of Frenchwine. Third, they used the latest innovations such as mass production of glass bottles, the use of cork stoppers and pasteurization. These innovations increased the stability and longevity of wine whichallowed the transportation of wine to distant places, and birth of global wine market. Lastly, the government support made significant effect on the reputation and improvement of French wineindustry. The sources of competitive advantage that they were able to develop to support their exports is to keen to taste and tradition in the production of wine (strongly tight to the French culture), artistic and historical talent and expertise in wine making and well located as to the high demand markets such as England,.. The main vulnerable aspects of French wine industry were highly fragmented vineyard and wine production, increasing vineyard prices per acre, complex distribution and sales system, long multilevel value chain, risk of bad weather and disease; and poor roads and complex toll and tax system. Also, they lack of rational assessment of their place comparing to other countries and they do not have any marketing plan or strategy.

Enhancing Paracetamol with Silver Metal Ions

Enhancing Paracetamol with Silver Metal Ions 1- Introduction The paracetamol (Fig. 1) is one of the famous analgesic drugs which is commonly named as N-acetyl-4-amino-phenol. Paracetamol has an antipyretic medication with little toxicological side effect [1-7]. The fluorometry [8], luminescence [9], electrochemical [10], nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy [11] and liquid chromatography [12] are different analyses techniques used to determination of paracetamol drug in pure and pharmaceutical fashions. Paracetamol has a side effect as hepatotoxic in man and animals if it was taken with over dose [13-17]. Herein in this research paper, we aimed to enhance the efficiency of the drug in the presence of silver metal ions by formation of new complex. This complex was proven using spectroscopic and thermo gravimetric analyses. Fig. 1: Chemical structure paracetamol 2- Experimental 2-1- Materials Reagents (paracetamol and silver(I) nitrate) are in analytical grade and used without further purification. 2-2- Instrumentations The elemental analysis (%carbon, %hydrogen and %nitrogen) results were measured using CHN-2400 Perkin Elmer analyzer instrument. FT-IR spectra were scanned on Bruker FT-IR spectrophotometer within 4000-400 cm-1 region. The UV-vis. spectra of reactants and silver(I) complex were scanned using Perkin-Elmer Lambda 4B spectrophotometer in dimethyl sulphoxide solvent. The thermo gravimetric analyses TG/DTG were carried out in nitrogen atmosphere using Schimadzu TGA-50H thermal analyzer. 2-3- Synthesis The 1 mmol of AgNO3 was dissolved in 20 mL distilled water and then mixed to 20 mL of methanolic solution of paracetamol with 1 mmol ratio under magnetic stirring. The pH of mixture was neutralized at 7-8 using diluted ammonium hydroxide solution. The mixture was refluxed at 60 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C and left to evaporate slowly at room temperature. The precipitate was filtered off, washy with hot methanol and dried at 60 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C. 2-3- Microbiological investigation The biological activity of silver(I) complex was tested against bacteria and fungi with more than one test organism. The organisms used in the present investigation including two bacteria (B.subtilis Gram +ve), (E. coli Gram –ve) and two fungi (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flarus). The results of microbiological investigations of bacterial and fungi against synthesized silver(I) complex were assessments. 3- Results and Discussion 3-1-Elementl analyses The experimental data of %carbon, %hydrogen and %nitrogen are matched with the calculated values (Table 1). The elemental analyses results are support that NO3à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ­ ions not detected. The silver(I) complex is air stable with highly melting point > 300 oC. Table 1:Elemental analyses and physical results of Ag(I) complex [Ag2(para)] M.wt (g/mol) %C %H %N %M à ¯Ã‚ Ã…’ (à ¯Ã‚ 1. cm2.mol-1) Found Calcd. Found Calcd. Found Calcd. Found Calcd. 364.88 27.0 26.33 1.87 1.93 4.00 3.84 58.50 59.12 7.0 3-2- Molar conductivity The molar conductance value of the silver(I) complex of paracetamol drug in DMSO solvent with concentration of 1.0010-3 M was found to be 7.00 à ¯Ã‚ Ã…’ (à ¯Ã‚ 1. cm2.mol-1) at 25 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C. This data suggested that silver(I) complex is non-electrolytes. 3-3- Infrared spectra The infrared assignments data of paracetamol free drug and its silver(I) complex are tabulated in Table 2 and silver(I) complex is shown in Fig. 2. Based on the comparison between the infrared spectra of free paracetamol drug ligand and its silver(I) complex, it has been discussed that, the absorption band at 3300 cm-1 and 3200 cm-1 of free paracetamol have been assigned to –OH and –NH stretching vibration motions. These bands have been absence in the spectra of the silver(I) complex due to the involvement in complexation. The strong-to-medium absorption bands at 1650 and 1260 cm-1 in the spectrum of para drug are assigned to the stretching vibration bands of à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(C=O) and à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(C-O), respectively. These bands are shifted to lower wavenumbers at 1627 and 1100 cm-1 due to sharing in coordination mode. The presence of new absorption band at 510 cm-1 in silver(I) complex is assigned to à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(Ag -O) stretching vibration. Upon the infrared spectral assi gnments, the silver(I) ions coordinated to para drug through two place of coordination (deprotonated of –OH) and (deprotonated of –NH and oxygen of carbonyl group) as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 2: FT-IR spectrum of Ag(I) complex. Table 2: Infrared frequencies within 4000-400 cm-1 of para and its Ag(I) complex. Compound à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(OH) + à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(NH) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(C=O) à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¤(CNH) amide group à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(C-O) phenyl group à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ®(M-O) para 3300, 3200 1650 1560 1260 [Ag2(para)] 1627 1550 1100 510 Fig. 3: Suggested structure of Ag(I) complex. 3-4- UV-vis. spectra The formation of the Ag(I) complex was also confirmed by UV-vis. spectra in DMSO solvent within the 200-600 nm range. It can see that free para has two absorption bands at 300 and 390 nm due to à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ °-à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ °* intra-ligand transition of the aromatic ring and n-à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ °* electronic transition, respectively. 3-5- Thermo gravimetric analyses The heating rate was controlled at 10à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C/min under nitrogen environment. The weight loss was scanned from room temperature till 1000 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C. The thermo gravimetric curve of silver(I) complex is shown in Fig. 4. The thermal decomposition of [Ag2(para)] complex exhibit at two step. These steps are occurring at 200-1000 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C and corresponding to the decomposition of para molecule with a weight loss of 11.4%. The final residual product is silver metal contaminated with few carbon atoms. Fig. (3): TG/DTG curve of Ag(I) complex of paracetamol. 3-6- Microbiological investigation Antibacterial and antifungal activities of silver(I) paracetamol complex are assessed against Escherichia coli (G –ve), Bacillus subtilis (G +ve) and antifungal (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus). The antimicrobial activity scanned based on the size of inhibition zone. Ag(I) complex is found to has high activity against bacteria and fungi. The data listed in Table 3 and is shown in Fig. 4. Table 3: Antimicrobial data of para complex Fig. 4: Statistical data of biological activities of DMSO control and silver(I) complex References M.A. Jan Mens, Best Pract. Res. Clin. Rheumat. 19 (2005) 609. E. Dic, A. Ozdemir, D. Baleanu, Talanta 65 (2005) 36. A.B. Moreira, H.B.M. Oliveira, T.D.Z. Atvars, LL.T. Dias, G.O. Neto, E.A.G. Zagatto, L.T. Kubota, Anal. Chim. Acta 539 (2005) 257. B.B. Ivanova, J. Mot. Struct. 738 (2005) 233. C. Xu, B. Li, Spectrochim. Acta A 60 (2004) 1861. L.G. Binev, Vassileva-Boyadjieva, Y.I. Binev, J. Mot. Struct. 447 (1998) 235. A.M. MacConnachie, Intensive Crit. Care Nuts. 13 (1997) 238. J.L. Vilchez, R. Blance, R. Avidad, A. Navalon, J. Pharm. Biomed. 13 (1995) 119. D. Easwaramoorthy, Y. Yu, H. Huang, Anal. Chim. Acta 439 (2001) 95. H. Tanka, P.K. Dasgupta, J. Huang, J. Anal. Chem 72 (2000) 4713. J.P. Shockcor, S.E. Linger, I.D. Wilson, Anal. Chem. 68 (1996) 4431. S. Murray, A.R. Boobis, J. Chromatogr. 33 (1991) 355. A.K. Singh, R. Negi, Y. Katre, S.P. Singh Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 302 (2009) 36. L.F. Prescott, Paracetamol over dosage. Pharmacological consideration and clinical management. Drugs, 25 (1983) 290. P.J. Harvison, F.P. Guengerich, Chem. Res. Toxicol 1 (1988) 47. L. Chavkin, H. Merkle. Us Patent (1979). F.J. Strenbenz, L. Weintraub, G.L. Cohen UK Patent. Application GB 2103 87A, 1983.

Main Economic Features of Oligopolies and Price-fixing Theories Essay

Introduction Oligopoly, from the ancient Greek ÏÅ'ÃŽ »ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ³ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ¹ "a few" and πώÎ »ÃŽ ·Ãâ€š "seller" (Woodhouse, 2002), defines the market with a small number of large players. (Begg and Ward, 2009, B&W). To demonstrate a clear understanding of what it is and how it works, this essay will be tacitly divided in two sections. In the first section I will discuss oligopoly's definition, demand curve, main features and price-fixing. In the second, I will illustrate oligopoly by referencing the UK Beer Market, and the extent to which this industry could support price-fixing. Oligopoly: definition Under monopoly one firm has no rivals (Rittenberg and Tregarthen, 2009). On the contrary, in perfect competition many small firms co-exist, none with the power to influence price (Sloman and Sutcliffe, 2001). Equally important, as a combination of monopoly and competition, monopolistic competition represents the market with freedom to enter and many firms competing. However, each firm produces a differentiated product and therefore has some control over its price. Finally, oligopoly exists when few large firms can erect barriers against entry and share a large proportion of the industry. Moreover, firms are aware of their rivals and concerned about their response to competitive challenges (Allen, 1988). Consequently, oligopolies operate under imperfect competition. Demand Curve Oligopolies present kinked demand curves. These curves are downward-sloping, similar to traditional ones. However, they are distinguished by a convex bend at a discontinuity. This change in elasticity shows that price rises will not be match by competitors, yet prices reductions will (B&W). Therefore, firms will tend not to raise prices because a small increase will lose customers... ...n_law [Accessed on 21/11/2010]. Rittenberg, L. and Tregarthen, T. (2009). Principles of Microeconomics, 2nd edition. New York: Flat World Knowledge, Inc. Routledge, R.(2010). Bertrand competition with cost uncertainty. Economics Letters, no. 107, pp. 356–359. Sab-Miller Report. (2003). On-trade and off trade. Available at: http://www.sabmiller.com/files/presentations/2003/000503/may03_ontradeofftrade_slides.pdf [Accessed on 21/11/2010]. Sloman, J. and Sutcliffe, M. (2001). Economics for business, 2nd edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Vives, X. (2001). Oligopoly pricing: old ideas and new tools. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. Woodhouse, S. (2002) English-Greek Dictionary: A Vocabulary Of The Attic Language. 10th edition. Padstow: TJI Digital. World Bank. (2010). Indicators by country. Available at: [Accessed on 16/11/2010].

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is when a person is forced or under strong influence from their friends to do something be it good or bad. Peer pressure can have both positive and negative effects. Hence this essay will discuss about the positive and negative effect of peer pressure. Firstly, a little peer pressure can be a tool to motivate students to achieving great heights. For instance, when a weak student is struggling with his studies, his classmates can help by encouraging him in every little improvement he makes. This will not only make the weak student feel motivated to study, but also to improve his friendship with his friends. Secondly, with peer pressure, students can help their friends who are addicted to smoking. They can constantly remind, nag and scold the classmate who is smoking to not smoke. This will pressure the student who is smoking to quit his bad habit as all his friends are against it. This is another positive effect of peer pressure. Lastly, peer pressure can help in situations when 2 students are fighting. Students can use peer pressure to strongly discourage the two parties from fighting and instead, help to mediate and let them talk things out. Thus resolving all conflicts. However, There are negative effects to peer pressure too Firstly, there are numerous students who smoke in schools. These students may go around forcing their wills onto other innocent students to smoke. Because they are in groups and are intimidating the innocent students maybe forced into smoking. There is a high chance that they will pick up the bad habit too. Secondly, peer pressure can cause students to be depressed. For instance, when a student is being picked on in class by a group of ‘popular’ students. He might feel that he is unwanted and that the class hates him. Sooner or later, he will be depressed and hate coming to school. This is damaging to the student’s mental health as he is constantly afraid of people attacking him verbally or even physically. To sum up, there are many effects of peer pressure, both positive and negative effects. Peer pressure can be used to motivate, inspire and build up relationship with one another. However, they can also be destructive as they can corrupt and destroy people’s lives. ï » ¿Peer Pressure Have you ever been forced to do anything ? Have u ever felt that you are in a tight corner because of someone's comment? We all could face situations like that; we all could have faced peer pressure. What is peer pressure? â€Å"Peer pressure is when someone or a group of people influences or encourages others to do things they do not want to do or tries to change people’s attitude, or behavior towards something or it is the feeling that someone of your own age is pushing you towards making a certain choice, good or bad†( http://www.thecoolspot.gov/pressures.asp). Peer pressure is mostly common among teens, they could accept to do something they don't want to do as their friends would make fun of them or everyone is just trying to fit in.Because when you act in a different way you are considered an outsider and not cool. The desire to fit in can go as far as doing things you have never imagined. We all are influenced by our peers, both negatively and positively. It help s us to define who we are. It is how we chose to react to peer pressure that defines who we are as individuals. Are we a leader or a follower? Both types of people are needed to make the world go round or just you may lose yourself and forget who you are just to satisfy your peers. Peers influence your life, even if you do not realize it, just by spending time with you.You learn from them, and they learn from you. It is only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group. Peers can have a positive influence on each other. For example, a student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember something related to the subject. You might admire a friend who is always a good support for you and try to be like him, these are examples of how peers positively influence each other every day.Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, some people in school might try to get you to cut class with them, or your friend might try to convin ce you to try to start smoking or taking drugs with him, or your friend in might want you to shoplift with  him. The causes of peer pressure are so many, One of the main reasons that can lead to peer pressure is lack of self-confidence, the feeling of being alone, not accepted by anyone or by society, everyone is making fun of you and the desire to fit in, these reasons can affect anyone easily and put him under this pressure.One of the causes also is changing the environment you are used to, like leaving high school and going to University, meeting new people with different characters and personalities. Or the big problem might be in the way parents bring up their children. This can affect society in good and bad ways. The effects of negative pressure can lead to the presence of cloning minds different people but have the same mentality, thinking in the same way and acting in an inappropriate way that is unacceptable by the society. A question that always comes up.Why do people g ive in to peer pressure? People give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, may be Others go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that everybody is doing that thing can influence some people to leave their common sense behind and the way they judge things. How can people combat peer pressure? The normal way of just saying no does not work. Sure, it sounds good to say no but in reality, a person may want to say no, but just cannot as it is tough to be the only one who is facing this pressure, but on the other hand you can pay attention to your feelings and beliefs about the right and wrong things that can help you more self-confidence and having a strong pack up from parents, family even from your teachers can help you stand firm.One of the solutions that help you to run away from peer pressure is to have at least one friend, who is willing to say no too. This takes a lot of the power out of this pressure and makes it much ea sier to resist. Try to ask for advise from your teacher or your family and they will support you facing peer pressure, stay away from friends who use drugs, smoke cigarettes, or even lying. Also try to help a friend who is facing peer pressure or having troubles resisting it, it can be so powerful to one of them by joining the other in order not to  feel alone in this nightmare.To sum up peer pressure is like a nightmare chasing us all, so If you continued to face peer pressure and you are finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you can trust and don't feel guilty if you have made mistakes. Stand up again and continue your way and prepare youself for the next time you face peer pressure.

Skydiving and Parachuting Weather - Atmosphere

Skydiving and Parachuting Weather - Atmosphere We live on the bottom of an ocean of air that covers our world. Some people venture up into that ocean as aviators. Some even get out of their aircraft and allow their density to pull them back down to the bottom. Currently, this can only be survived through the use of a parachute. Although, skydiving seems like an extreme activity to many people, in good weather conditions the risks are very low. When weather conditions change, risks are compounded. That is why these daredevils must be very aware of the currents and conditions of this ocean of air. Wind Conditions and Skydivers The factor that is most important to skydivers is wind conditions. Modern square parachutes have approximately a twenty mile per hour forward speed. This forward speed affords the skydiver great maneuverability. On a day with no wind, a parachutist can go twenty miles per hour in whatever direction they prefer. When the wind is blowing, the wind speed and direction must be taken into consideration in order to land in the designated landing area. Just like a boat on a river, the currents of air will push a parachute in the direction that it is flowing. Using Winds for Spotting Skydivers learn a skill called spotting, which is to pick out the location above the ground that will allow the wind to best assist the skydiver with getting back to the landing zone. There are three ways to figure out the best spot for the jump: Skydivers may use the winds aloft forecast provided by the National Weather Service.The skydiver may simply look at the movement of the clouds aloft for the upper winds.Looking at the windsocks and flags on the drop zone for surface wind speed and direction also works. The Effects of Winds on the Drop Zone A 10 mile per hour wind will drift a skydiver a half a mile in a normal 3000-foot descent under canopy. Because a skydiver in freefall is going at speeds ranging from 120 mph and 180 mph on average, they only stay in freefall for between 45 seconds to a minute. With less surface area to cause drift, freefall drift is much less than the wind drift under canopy. So skydivers look at an aerial view of the area and find an easily visible landmark that is as far upwind of the landing area as their estimated drift. Once in the air, the real trick is to able to look straight down and direct the plane to that spot. One degree of angle becomes quite a large distance of the spot when looking from a height of two miles up. Modern GPS technology has made the job in the aircraft much easier because all the pilot has to do is head into the wind and look at the GPS for the distance from the center of the landing zone, but a good skydiver still knows how to look for the spot. The Dangers of Wind Turbulence and Skydiving As air flows over objects close to the ground, it will roll, just like water flowing over a rock. This rolling air is known as turbulence. Turbulence is very dangerous to skydivers because if a jumper gets caught in a downward flow of air, it will accelerate the parachutist toward the ground, which can result in injury or death. Unlike water on a river, this flow is invisible, so skydivers must be aware of the objects that cause turbulence such as buildings, trees, or mountains. Depending on wind speed, turbulence can be created downwind of that obstacle at a distance of ten to twenty times the height of the obstacle. That is one of the reasons why skydivers dont typically jump when the winds are more than 20 to 30 mph. Clouds and the Parachutist Clouds are also a factor when skydiving. In the United States skydiving falls under visual flight rules, which basically means a skydiver needs a clear view of the ground from the height that they wish to jump. Although clouds are droplets of condensed water and would not hurt the skydiver if they fell through them, it is what is on the other side of them that the skydiver cant see, such as an airplane, that could hurt them. The FAA has specifications as to how far away from clouds you must be depending on what altitude you are at, and they are listed in FAR 105.17. Beware of Thunderstorms Especially dangerous to skydivers are thunderstorms. They are generally accompanied by very strong and erratic winds and have even been known to have updrafts that are strong enough to lift a skydiver into dangerous levels of the atmosphere where there is very little oxygen. Now that you know what kind of weather you need to skydive safely, pick a beautiful day and head out to your local skydiving center. The United States Parachute Association is the only national organization that is recognized by the International Federation of Aeronautics. The USPA offers a list of member skydiving centers (dropzones) that promise to follow the basic safety requirements for skydiving. Edited by Mr. Dennis Zurawski