Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Effect of Inflation in Ethiopia - 6723 Words

Published in Computing and Systems Technology Division Communications, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 18(2), 1995. Low Cost Virtual Reality and its Application to Chemical Engineering - Part Two John T. Bell H. Scott Fogler University of Michigan June 1995 Introduction and Update from Part One This article has been broken up into two parts, the first of which presented an introduction to virtual reality and some discussion of what low-cost hardware and software options are available3. This second part will cover some applications of virtual reality, including areas where VR is being or could be applied to chemical engineering, and in particular the work being done at the University of Michigan’s department of Chemical†¦show more content†¦The Windows 3.1 solution is still being sold, and is a popular product, but unfortunately the SPEA card is no longer available, which puts a damper ( at least temporarily ) on the DOS product. However, Sense8 now has an alternate product, using OpenGL and Windows NT. OpenGL is based upon the graphics language developed by Silicon Graphics for their high-end graphics supercomputers, and will be supported by the new Windows NT operating system. Because of the huge potential market for CA D applications and computer games, a number of companies have announced plans for OpenGL graphics accelerator cards, which will be initially expensive, but will rapidly drop in price as volume sales and competition develops. Some systems available now from InterGraph corporation rival high-performance SGI workstations in performance for a fraction of the cost, but the nice thing about it all is that Windows 14 NT will support OpenGL applications whether or not a graphics accelerator is present - they will just run faster with the special cards. Current Applications of Virtual Reality, Including Possible Future Applications, and Their Extension to Chemical Engineering Virtual reality has been applied to a wideShow MoreRelatedPosition Paper On State Of Poverty In Ethiopia. Nathan808 Words   |  4 PagesState of Poverty in Ethiopia Nathan Dawson Poverty is defined to be a state when â€Å"[A person’s income is below] a minimum income level used as an official standard for determining the proportion of a population living in poverty.† (‘poverty line’ Dictionary.com, 2016). In 2015, the USD purchasing price the international poverty line was set at $1.90 (Worldbankorg, 2016). Ethiopia, on average, falls well below said poverty line with the â€Å"real income per capita (income after inflation based on year 2000Read MoreDeterminants of Gross Domestic Saving in Ethiopia: a Time Series Analysis7053 Words   |  29 PagesDeterminants of Gross Domestic Saving in Ethiopia: a time series analysis Kidane Badeg Contact: Kidane Badeg MoFED P.o.Box 1905, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia Email: kbadeg@mofed.gov.et Abstract The study conduct a time series analysis of the determinants of gross domestic saving in Ethiopia using co-integration and error correction econometric modeling(ECM), and employed data for the period of 1971-2009 collected from National bank of Ethiopia (NBE), MOFED, CSA and world bank on annual base. TheRead MoreCalculating Marketing Budget1261 Words   |  6 Pagesand a key to exist in the business environment especially in the financial sector where competition is strong. In Ethiopia there are 16 private commercial banks and three public owned banks. There is strong competition among these banks to take market share and earn profit especially for those banks that enter the market recently. In addition according to the National Bank of Ethiopia Directive, all commercial bank have to reach 500 million paid up capital in the coming four years. In order to achieveRead MoreGlobalization and Its Discontents1109 Words   |  5 Pages 3. Protests not new in developing world, ARE new i n developed world 4. Now, with communications advances, even 16-year olds have an opinion on NAFTA 5. As result, even conservative politicians must pay heed to negative effects of globalization (Chirac cited as example) I. Globalization A. Brought much good through int’l trade (Nike facftory example) B. Social benefits as well: Greater connection throughout world has allowed things like the InternationalRead MoreNatural Disasters And Urbanization On Foreign Aid For Basic Resources1977 Words   |  8 PagesINTRODUCTION Ethiopia faces detrimental consequences from an unstable agricultural system and has become dependent on foreign aid for basic resources. Efforts must be made in Ethiopia to both prevent and reverse the negative effects that both natural disasters and urbanization have had on the health, environment, and economy of this third-world country. Although the country is continuing to make improvements to become educated on more modern and efficient farming techniques, more progress isRead MoreFactors Affect Profitability26818 Words   |  108 PagesIndustry Amdemikael Abera A Thesis Submitted to The Department of Accounting and Finance Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Accounting and Finance) Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June 2012 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Amdemikael Abera, entitled: Factors Affecting Profitability: an Empirical Study on Ethiopian Banking Industry and submitted in partialRead MoreUrban Outfitters : A Growing Clothing Corporation1820 Words   |  8 PagesTerrain, and BHLDN. The company is looking to take another step to support their success by building a new textile factory in Ethiopia. But is this a viable decision? Some of the reason s Urban Outfitters may decide Ethiopia would be a great investment because of its labor resources, its growing infrastructure, and its economic sympathy towards foreign investors. Ethiopia is a strong, diverse country located in the eastern region of Africa also known as the â€Å"Horn of Africa†. The land area is 1,221Read MoreAnalysis Of Somaliland Announced s Secession From Somalia Essay824 Words   |  4 Pagesthe United Arab Emirates, which takes in more than half its total exports. Just three countries United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Oman account for 82.5 percent of all exports, predominantly in livestock, and about 11.7 percent Somaliland exports to Ethiopia which is the closest friend that Somaliland has in Africa. Regional partners often impose strict restrictions on Somaliland, mainly out of security fears because Somaliland is still part of Somalia which is the unsecure nation in the world,† saidRead MoreAppraisal of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s Strategic Success3080 Words   |  13 Pages................................ 4 Vision, Mission and Objectives ....................................................................................... 4 Current strategies of commercial bank of Ethiopia........................................................ 5 Strategy of Commercial bank of Ethiopia since 2006 -2011 .......................................... 6 External Environment Assessment (PESTEL analysis) ...................................................... 7 Political Factors .........Read MoreEssay on Fair Trade Coffee772 Words   |  4 Pagesgrow. Many coffee farmers around the world receive market payments that are lower than the costs of production, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debtWithout urgent action, 25 million coffee growers face ruin. The knock-on effects for national economies are just as catastrophic. 30 years ago, LEDCs received around 30% of the total value of international coffee sales. Today, this has slumped to just 10%. As export earnings from coffee shrink, national economies fail

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Tragic Heroes Of A Tragic Hero - 1955 Words

Oedipus Essay Tragic fates and the downfalls of others have always seemed to interest a crowd. Audiences will travel from afar and pay to witness such performances. They listen and sit at the edge of their seats wondering when and how the catastrophe will occur in the protagonist’s doomed life. The reason for this is because almost all of the spectators can relate to the protagonist due to the fact that the protagonists of these tragedies are tragic heroes. These tragic heroes have qualities that render them both tragic and heroic, and they display five key characteristics according to Aristotle’s definition. The criteria of a tragic hero is that they must suffer throughout the play, have a tragic flaw, eventually recognize their tragic flaw and take responsibility for their actions, be neither completely good nor completely bad, and arouse pity and fear in the audience. These traits allow the people in the audience to relate to the tragic hero because no one is complet ely good, no one is completely bad, many have felt suffering, fear having a tragic flaw of their own, and long to recognize their own tragic flaw and take responsibility for their actions. This reliability has helped tragedies, specifically Greek tragedies, become some of the most influential pieces in theatre and literature. In the play Oedipus the King, the protagonist Oedipus is an excellent example of a tragic hero. The first trait of a tragic hero that applies to Oedipus is that he suffers greatly inShow MoreRelatedThe Heroes Of A Hero1082 Words   |  5 PagesChristopher Reeve once said, â€Å"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.† In today’s society, what describes a hero is different to each person you ask. In my opinion, there are three different heroes today. There are the heroes you read about in books and watch in movies such as The Avengers and X-Men, and there are the everyday heroes such as doctors, police, and soldiers. There are also tragic heroes. Shakespeare is famous forRead MoreHeroes and How to Represent Them929 Words   |  4 Pages The word hero is Greek, from a root that means â€Å"to protect and serve†. A hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others, like a Sheppard who will sacrifice to protect and serve his flock. At the root, the idea of hero is connected with self sacrifice† (Vogler, pg. 29). A hero represents an ego which distinct them from the rest of the human race. The journey of many heroes separates them from a family or tribe. They begin a long journey of only wisdom and power whichRead More Shakespeare - Tragic Heros Essay625 Words   |  3 Pages The name amp;quot;tragic heroamp;quot;, which has become synonymous with Shakespearean dramas, was developed before Hamlet, Macbeth or any of Shakespeare’s well-known plays were written. The literary term was actually discovered around 330 BC by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Through his theory of catharsis, Aristotle debated that the great plays of Sophicles, Euripides, and other Greek playwrights contained tragic heroes similar to each other, which all portrayed four basic characteristicsRead MoreAristotle s The Tragic Hero1561 Words   |  7 Pagesclaims four requirements for the tragic hero. The hero must be good. The hero must have appropriate quality of his or her gender and class. The hero must be true to life. Lastly, the hero must be consistent. These four characteristics are present in many tragic heroes. However, there are so many different authors with different interpretations of the tragic hero, that to define the tragic hero with merely four traits is not plausible. Aristotle defines the tragic hero in a way too simple manner. Aristotle’sRead MoreRole of Gods and Goddesses in Homers Iliad845 Words   |  4 Pagesdeveloped into one of Western philosophys greatest questions: why is it that people are drawn to watching tragic heroes suffer horrible fates? Aristotles ideas revolve around three crucial effects: First, the audience develops an emotional attachment to the tragic hero; second, the audience fears what may befall the hero; and finally (after misfortune strikes) the audience pities the suffering hero. Through these attachments the individual members of the audience go through a catharsis, a term whichRead MoreAristotle and the Tragic Hero1067 Words   |  5 PagesAristotle and the Tragic Hero The traditional hero stresses courage and nobility as essential traits of heroism. He lived by a code of honor and valued certain things as more important than others, so that he is willing to take risks and endure hardships for their sake. He is often a leader and protector of a community. The fact that the hero not only performs great deeds but performs them out of worthy principles renders his deed even more admirable. On the other hand, the Greek tragic hero is best definedRead More Shakespeares Macbeth and Hamlet as Tragic Heroes Essay893 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet as Tragic Heroes      Ã‚   William Shakespeare has written many literary works - from his sonnets to his plays, each has its own individual characteristics.   One popular characteristic that comes from his plays is the tragic hero.   The audience can always relate to the tragic hero and the many trials he faces.   Macbeth and Hamlet are just two of Shakespeares plays that involve the tragic hero.   Through their nobility, tragic flaws, and dignity Macbeth and Hamlet prove to be tragic heroes. Read MoreTragic Hero1598 Words   |  7 PagesTragic Hero From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A tragic hero is a protagonist with a tragic flaw, also known as fatal flaw, which eventually leads to his demise. The concept of the tragic hero was created in ancient Greek tragedy and defined by Aristotle. Usually, the realization of fatal flaw results in catharsis or epiphany. The tragic flaw is sometimes referred to as an Achilles heel after the single fatal flaw of the Greek warrior Achilles. [citation needed] Aristotelian tragicRead MoreRomeo and Juliet Tragic Hero Essay748 Words   |  3 PagesWilliam Shakespeare. For a play to be a tragedy there must be a tragic hero. In Shakespeare plays, tragedy is identified as a story that ends unhappily due to the fall of the protagonist, which is the tragic. In this play there are two tragic heroes. Romeo and Juliet are both the tragic heroes. To be a tragic hero they must be from a high estate, have a tragic flaw, and the tragic flaw is the cause of their downfall. A tragic hero must be from a high estate or well- known family. For a familyRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Things Fall Apart 1283 Words   |  6 Pagesyou hear the word hero? You may think of superheroes, a significant figure in your life or anyone else who generally brings greatness about the world. A tragic hero on the other hand is a character who has a flaw that eventually helps aid to their downfall as a tragic hero. In the novel Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe and Macbeth written by Shakespeare, we meet two prime examples of tragic heros. The elements of a tragic hero include hamartia, anagnorisis and the tragic downfall. Hamartia

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Fundamentals of Management for Turnover in Ford- myassignmenthelp

Question: Write about theFundamentals of Management for Turnover in Ford. Answer: High Employee Turnover in Ford Out of all the organizational issues that are encountered by the food company, the high rate of employee turnover in recent times have compromised and the overall quality of organizational performance. The company has to encounter huge amount of financial loss that is caused due to this high rate of employee turnover. This is mainly due to the fact that the company each year spends nearly $1.2 million for the training program that is aimed to improve the level of skills of inexperienced workers at various departments. It has been seen for the past 2 years on average 80 employees are resigning from their respective post in every month (Corporate.ford.com, 2017). Hence, the cost of the training program that is being provided to the workers is accounted as total loss for the company. It is believed that the poor communication between the workers and the management is one of the major causes of employee dissatisfaction. This in turn is causing high rate of employee turnover. The poor workplace environment is believed to be one of the major causes of high employee turnover rate. It is also evident that the employees are not satisfied with the salary packages that are being provided. High rate of employee turnover can also be one of the major De-motivating factors for the existing employees of Ford Company. There are also few cases, where the senior workers are forced to leave the organization due to lack of career growth opportunity. This is a major loss for the company due to the fact that they are not able to further utilize the experience of the senior workers that can be used to provide valuable mentoring advice to the new employees. The trust and coordination level among the workers within the organization is also compromised due to the fact that they are not satisfied with the environment of the workplace. As the workers leave the organization, the company had to spend more money, in the process of recruitment. Being one of the reputed automobile organizations, the Ford Company has like to implement effective methods of recruitment to select the best candidates. It is important to mention that due to shortage of skilled automobile engineers the company is not able bring about the innovation that is needed to maintain sustainability within the workplace. The autocratic style of leadership within the organization is regarded as one of the main cause of poor employee motivation as they are not able to take part in the crucial decision making process. From the survey that has been conducted with employees of Ford company, it is evident that most of the new workers are not able to properly communicate with the management regarding the issues within the workplace (Kuvaas et al.2016). It is important for the company to introduce motivational theories like the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that uses different levels of within the organizational structure to deal with the issues of poor environment within the workplace. Regular payment hike for the senior employees can also help them to maintain high level of motivation within the workplace (Anitha, and Begum 2016). Reference Anitha, J. and Begum, F.N., 2016. Role of organisational culture and employee commitment in employee retention. ASBM Journal of Management, 9(1), p.17. Corporate.ford.com. (2017). Sustainability Report 2016/17: Ford Motor Company. [online] Available at: https://corporate.ford.com/microsites/sustainability-report-2016-17/index.html [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017]. Kuvaas, B., Buch, R., Gagn, M., Dysvik, A. and Forest, J., 2016. Do you get what you pay for? Sales incentives and implications for motivation and changes in turnover intention and work effort. Motivation and Emotion, 40(5), pp.667-680.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Whataya Want From Me by Adam Lambert free essay sample

Here we go with Adam Lambert again. The gay icon of 2009, full of both a stunning talent and a scandalous personality. So even before you watch the music video, even before you hear the song, your brain starts asking once you hear the name Adam Lambert: so whats next? It turned out that Whataya Want From Me is not too shocking. Tending to be rather pop-like and emotional, Whataya Want From Me gives our Idol runner-up the opportunity to show his great vocal range and blow our minds away with the message in the song: Just don’t give up I’m workin’ it out/ Please don’t give in, I won’t let you down. After hearing this pleading from Adam, we could easily sit back with an encouraged smile on our face or be driven to tears. The music video, which focus on cold, dark color, provides us with quite an insightful view into Adams personal life. We will write a custom essay sample on Whataya Want From Me by Adam Lambert or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the music video, Adam is followed by a camera man, supposedly a paparazzi, into his apartment. There are also shots of Adam singing with his band throughout the video. If you are someone who only listens to chart-toppers, I can tell you Whataya Want From Me will not top the Billboard Chart, because it seems to be too gentle compared to the mainstream, dominated by artists like Lady Gaga and Jay-Z. Yet perhaps you deserve a break, so why dont come to try something more soothing, something that actually touches your soul?

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Otherness essays

Otherness essays The Theme of Otherness in Anti-Semitic Cartoons Through political cartoons circulated in the early twentieth century, anti-Semites tried to persuade people to strongly believe the inferiority of the Jews by depicting them as a social other. Perhaps the simplest definition of "otherness" is those human qualities that are different from ones own qualities and outside the groups to which we belong, yet are present in other individuals and groups. In this context, otherness is marked by outward signs like race and gender.   Otherness has also been associated predominantly with those who, by virtue of their difference from the dominant group, have been disempowered and robbed of a voice in the social, religious, and political world. There was an enormous amount of anti-Semitic propaganda and political cartoons published, not only in Germany, but throughout the world. These political cartoons often emphasized and exaggerated the stereotypical views that most people had about Jews. Physical appearance was often highly exaggerated in anti-Semitic cartoons. Many years before Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany, he was obsessed with ideas about race. In his speeches and writings, Hitler spread his beliefs of racial purity and his beliefs in the superiority of the Germanic race, or what he called an Aryan master race. As every student in primary school is taught, Hitlers idea of the perfect Aryan was blond, blue-eyed, and tall. Anyone who did not possess these qualities had a sense of otherness about them. The cartoon of the Jewish money investor embodies the stereotypical features of a Jewish male. He is obviously quite short, and fulfills the misconception that all Jews have a distinctive large nose. Indeed, these features are in contrast with the physical features of Hitlers ideal Aryan race. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote about ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Abraham Darby and the Iron Revolution

Abraham Darby and the Iron Revolution Englishmen Abraham Darby  (1678 - 1717) invented coke smelting in 1709 and, advanced the mass production of brass and iron goods. Coke smelting replaced charcoal with coal in metal foundries during the process of refining metals; this was important to Britains future since charcoal at that time was becoming scarce and was more expensive. Sand Casting Abraham Darby scientifically studied brass production and was able to make advances in that industry that turned Great Britain into an important brass goods exporter. Darby founded the worlds first metallurgy laboratory at his Baptist Mills Brass Works factory, where he refined brass making. He developed the process of sand molding that allowed iron and brass goods to be mass produced at a lower cost per unit. Before Abraham Darby, brass and iron goods had to be individually cast. His process made the production of cast iron and brass goods a continuous process. Darby received a patent for his sand casting in 1708. Greater Detail Darby combined the existing technologies of casting iron with casting brass that produced goods of a greater intricacy, thinness, smoothness, and detail. This proved important to the steam engine industry that came later, Darbys casting methods made the production of the iron and brass steam engines possible. The Darby Lineage Decedents of Abraham Darby also made contributions to the iron industry. Darbys son Abraham Darby II (1711- 1763) improved the quality of coke smelted pig iron for forging into wrought iron. Darbys grandson Abraham Darby III (1750 - 1791) constructed the worlds first iron bridge, over the Severn river at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire in 1779.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

My Contribution to the MBA Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Contribution to the MBA - Coursework Example I also find the faculties to be very qualified and an authority in their respective areas of expertise. Its state of the art facilites are top-notch and second to none compared to any university in the world with a tuition fee that is reasonably priced. Combining all these factors that the MMUBS has to offer, I believe that the university gives its students a competitive edge. After graduating the course at MMU Business School, I am very confident that my preparation at the university will imbue and furtherly enhance my professional skill sets in business to be competitive in a very tough job market. As a student, it is incumbent upon me to follow and abide with all the rules and regulations of the school. To be courteous and respectful to all the staff and faculites of MMUBS and to fulfill all the academic requirements of the course; to be cooperative in any activity that the university may undertake as it prepares me to become more professionally competetitive in the future. I beli eve that this should be the first contribution that any student should give to the university when they get admitted. MBA is a course that should prepare us in the competetive world of business. During the course of its study, it is important that we should have a well-founded theoretical framework to base business decisions as we exercise corporate leadership in the future. While this highlights the importance of the Professors as they impart to us the conceptual foundations of business, leadership and decision making in business to make us better leaders and managers, there is another important component in the advance course of business and corporate administration that requires the professional participation of its students. For the theoretical and conceptual foundation should be perfected with experience and empirical exposure to other aspect and fields of business to better enhance our professional skill-sets that would make us better leaders and managers. In this area, I can contribute my extensive knowledge and expertise in Advance Logistics and Supply Chain. This will enable other students to have a better grasp understanding in my field of expertise which hopefully, could contribute to their professional growth. Of course, I too would expect other students to share their professional expertise which could also widen my horizon and understanding of the business and corporate landscape. This exercise will add to the already rich professional diversity in the MBA Programme benefitting each and every student. Second, of which I believe I could tremendously contribute, is to share to other students the unique perspective and cultural context of doing a business in the Middle East. That they may have a better grasp and understanding of the nuances and idiosyncrynacies of the culture when they chance to do business in that specific region in the future or deal with somebody who has a cultural context of that region. I believe that this understanding is impe rative as businesses now operate in a global economy making it inevitable and necessary for each business to deal and transact across countries and cultures. This too, will add to the already rich cultural diversity of the university with each student sharing the uniqueness of his/her own culture. As a student, there was also a time when I was new and unfamiliar with Manchester. Although I find the place to be

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Mathicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Research Paper

Mathicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - Research Paper Example Methicillin resistant S. aureus is an antibiotic resistant form of S. aureus that has emerged as a significant strain of this bacterium. The first outbreak was reported in 1980 in the region of Detroit and since then MRSA has established itself as a clinically dominant community pathogen. In 2004, a study of adult patients who presented with purulent staphylococcal infections in the emergency, MRSA constituted a 78% of S. aureus infections (Crossley et al 272, 275). The community associated MRSA has been defined on the basis of the criteria provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the criteria, infections are classified as MRSA if (a) MRSA is isolated within 48 hours from a hospitalized patient, (b) the patient presents with a history of hospital admission, dialysis, surgery or long term care facility residence, (c) patient has an indwelling device during the time of culture isolation, (d) previous history of MRSA infection (Crossley et al 272). It is i mportant to differentiate the microbiological characteristics of the MRSA strains from the S. aureus, the disease spectrum and manifestations so that a correct diagnosis and treatment plan can be devised. Fig 1 :Prevalence of MRSA shown in relation to the age of the patients performed by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004 (Crossley et al 281). The microbiological characteristics of the staphylococcus aureus are significant in understanding the clinical course of the disease. Staphylococci are included in the Gram positive bacteria which are signified by their catalase-positive and facultative anaerobic properties. Staphylococci measure 0.2-1.5 micro-meters in diameter and produce golden yellow colonies on agar or broth cultures within 12-24 hours at 37 C. The colonies are formed in grape like cluster formation or in the form of pairs, chains or even single bacterium (Weston 128). MRSA is a type of S. aureus that is resistant to a group of antibiotics call ed beta-lactams. This group includes Methicillin and others such as oxacillin, amoxicillin and penicillin (Centers for disease control and prevention n.p.). Fig 2: Representation of the MRSA colonies on the cultures agar observed through microscopic examination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention n.p.). The epidemiology of MRSA is mostly significant in health-care facilities. MRSA is typically introduced through patients who are transferred from other health care settings. Doctors are also considered as important sources of inter-hospital spread of MRSA infections. Spouses of patients can also act as reservoirs of infections at several times. Colonization occurs rapidly once MRSA is introduced into a hospital. Open wound diseases such as skin diseases including chronic dermatitis, ulcers, burns, surgical wounds and decubitus ulcers predispose the patients to the MRSA colonization. Aged and debilitated patients, patients on poor anti-microbial therapy, intensive-care patients , patients of chronic hemodialysis or long-term hospitalized patients are at higher risks for MRSA infection development (Gantz et al 264,265). Apart from patients in health care facilities, visitors of infected patients are also at high risk. Disease is transmitted through casual contact such as hugging, touching or kissing. Close skin to skin contact or contact of open wounds with contaminated items and surfaces also predisposes to MRSA infections. Crowded living conditions and locations

Sunday, November 17, 2019

How Has The Automobile Shaped American Culture Essay Example for Free

How Has The Automobile Shaped American Culture Essay Vehicles of all sorts have dominated the roads of America in all phases of history. From its early invention till further sophistication, it has been the most convenient means of transport for the common man. With the passage of time this invention made life easier and augmented to bring freedom to all Americans making it a liberal country. The objective of writing this paper is to provide a comprehensive sketch of the automotive history in America. What advancements and upheavals were faced by the American automotive industry and how with deep thought, deliberation and insight, all the problems were resolved. The paper discusses how in different phases of various social and economic ups and downs influenced automotive history the luxury and prestige turned to be a necessity for ordinary Americans. History of American automobile: The first car: The foremost car on American boulevards was a horse buggy with a lone cylinder engine manufactured by Charles and Frank Duryea in 1923. Within few years autos came out of the typical vehicular animal autos and gradually took the form of modern vehicles we see today. o be exact, with a multi cylinder engine in obverse, clutch and transmission on the bottom floor, shaft drive, leaf springs, brakes, wheel gear connections, tires etc. (Michael, 146). Despite these advancements there were some unsettled challenges, as in tires would blow on speed every now and then. Petrol was more like kerosene oil, and lubricant akin to adhesives. Driving in cold weather was virtually impractical. Other spare parts made of steel would repeatedly break and distract journey. The electric cars which were recommended for ladies had heavy clutches making the drive very difficult. Engine protection needed constant care. A lot of parts required regular replacements making automobiles like playthings for the rich in that era, making it a luxury to the common man. Henry’s T model: In 1920s, Henry Ford’s T model revolutionalized and added a milestone in the whole automobile industry. He did not invent the motor car however, but used an assembly line technique which was affordable to all. During mid 1990s his Ford Company manufactured more than fifteen million model T cars. Thus, Henry altered the social and economic outlook of not only US but of the whole world. Here was a car that merged the pits motorized blunders of its manufacturers and yet it was a breakthrough in the history of automobiles. It was amazing to see garbage piles filled with endless filthy lot of interchangeable pieces which anyone could bolt together to upkeep his T model onto the streets indefinitely. Literally, Ford brought America on its steering helm (Brown, 55). Engineers can’t forget 1930s when two major improvements were brought in the ride quality of American cars. Engines were brought between the front two wheels. This helped the car to be spacious for more passengers and engine weight was put forward making the drive easier. As a result the car could bounce less and kept floating instead. Thus, it turned out to act like an American family car also as a result of changes in structure and style. Another boost came in automobile industry in the form of first fully automatic transmission in 1939. All that the driver had to do was leave the shift lever in drive and keep going. After world war two such automatic cars burgeoned everywhere on streets. Gradually these cars were ordered by majority of families since it became much easier to drive for every member of the family. Consequently, people of all ages were seen driving due to the automatic system in cars. People turned more independent and entertainment seeking since they started owning personal cars which became symbols of prestige during those days. As they say that nothing is constant except change, things keep evolving and advancements pave their way with some wild developments. Family automobiles kept evolving with additional amenities such as air-conditioning, power windows, and power seats, automatic headlight dimmers etc. Ride turned to be smoother and silence thus bringing more convenience for those availing the facility. All of a sudden, the federal government intervened in car manufacturing and the circumstances changed from 1970s. they ordered companies how to make cars in order to curb exhaust emissions affecting the environment causing pollution, and new safety measures were introduced to contain highway crashes which were occurring as a result of new cars on streets etc. these regulations came so fast that engineers hadn’t yet kept a track of them and new issues started popping up (Michael, 123). Effects of Arab Oil Embargo in 1973: With this trend came other unforeseen concerns like Arab Oil Embargo in 1973. The entire structure of auto fabric changed overnight. Long run planning was not viable. Petrol prices were increasing manifolds gripped the whole nation in a mode of inflation worst after the great depression of 1930. This embargo was declared by Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC (comprising the Arab members of OPEC, including Egypt, Syria and Tunisia). This was due to America’s decision to resupply forces to Israeli military during Yum Kipur war. The stocks were crashing, people were in panic but there was no way out. Until next year in 1974 when the embargo was lifted when Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had reached a deal to withdraw Israeli forces from parts of Sinai Golan Heights in Middle East (Richard). In addition, to meet federal standards engine modifications were taking place hurting people’s purposes like anything deteriorating the economy. In the upcoming years during 1970s American automotive designs were in total unruliness and bedlam. On the other hand, Detroit has incorporated conventional American luxury and gadgetry into undersized and lighter cars meeting governmental regulations promotion pre-requisites. Effects of automobile on American lives: Automobiles have brought more independence and freedom to the lives of people. With further advancements cars are no more a luxury but a necessity. Almost every other household in America holds a car. People are availing less, the facility of mass transit system. Additionally, families can go on outings and stay late night outside home for recreation and entertainment. Thus, it has given reality to the concept of family vacation. Automatic cars have brought a surge in the number of drivers belonging to different age groups as a result under aged enthusiasts have come onto roads. They go with friends for fun and distances between relations have shrunk. The modern autos have brought people closer and increased personal bonds. Americans are also becoming fond of car racing and love to see speed competitions on shores which have impelled companies to invest on auto racers who are capitalizing on this profession (Brain). Apart from convenience comfort, auto craze has led to accidents, social isolation, environmental and noise pollution. Free parking spaces are installed around d restaurant, shopping centers, commercial buildings etc, which encourages people to drive even for shorter distances. Thus, it resulted in reduction of sidewalks near crowded places endangering the common pedestrians. Moreover, estimates report that an ordinary American car emit s approx 3. 4 grams per mile of carbon monoxide which is really dangerous for environment and its habitat. The annexure of roads has produced a cutback of forest areas disturbing ecological balance (Brain). This is augmenting to global climate change and endangering wildlife. Excessive construction of roads has resulted in surface runoff alteration, which in turn increases the risk of flooding. Social scientists say that automotives have also disconnected communities and increased individualism. Many people don’t even labor to walk or exercise up to their neighbors unless something very urgent occurs. In 1990s many songs were written with cars as their main subjects. Drive through and drive in facilities has made people fond of junk food. Eating without laboring to get out of the car helps breed laziness and obesity. Therefore obesity is increasing in American culture which may lead to diabetes, heart attack and other fatal diseases. Conclusion: Not only Americans but entire world cannot imagine a life without automobiles or vehicles. Though autos are facilitating our lives in a number of ways, nevertheless its detriments outweigh the benefits. Accidents, environmental threats, pollution, individualism and other side effects are such which cannot be overlooked. So, let’s hope for further improvements which would contain these harms and bring more benefits to American citizens without restraining their idea of freedom.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Government Regulation of Video Game Violence is Unconstitutional and Un

â€Å"Breaking news tonight at 11, three students dead, several wounded after manic depressed teen lashes out with a handgun†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Americans serve witness in recent decades to this scary yet familiar occurrence. The cause of this familiar scene is minors suffering from social disorders and aggression. The major focus of blame is the entertainment industry including television, movies, books, and recently video games. The state of California decided to address the concern of video game violence by passing a law banning minors from purchasing games that are considered â€Å"violent†. However, the law is unconstitutional and unnecessary. The law is simple: any game that humanoid characters are maimed, killed, or tortured is considered violent. Labels that clearly state 18 must be placed on all games falling under this definition. The law requires that any individual purchasing a game in this category must provide proof of age. Additionally, retailers must obtain proof of age before selling the game or face fines. The law’s purpose is to protect minors from games that contain violence. Unfortunately, the California law ignores the Constitution. The First Amendment covers minors’ rights to obtain video games, because the games enjoy the same protections granted to other forms of protected speech. Carmen Hoyme (2004), notes in the First Amendment Law Review that since video games share properties that other protected media forms have, the same protections are extended to video games and restrictions affecting minors' access are allowable due to incitement (pp. 318-385). Holning Lau (2007), writing in the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, explains that minors have the right to obtain expressions protected by the First A... ...Freedom of expression and interactive media: video games and the first amendment. University of North Carolina School of Law First Amendment Law Review, 2(377), 377-402. Retrieved September 22, 2014 www.lexis.com Lau, H. (2007). Pluralism: a principle for children’s rights. Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, 42(317), 317-372. Retrieved September 22, 2014 www.lexis.com O'Holleran, J. (2010). Student note: blood code: the history and future of video game censorship. Journal on Telecommunications & High Technology Law, 8, 571-612. Retrieved September 22, 2014 www.lexis.com Wood, R. (2009). Violent video games: more ink spilled than blood - an analysis of the 9th circuit decision in video software dealers association v. schwarzenegger. Texas Review of Entertainment and Sports Law, 10, 103-121. Retrieved September 22, 2014 www.lexis.com

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Consumer and Market Knowledge Essay

During the internship at ITC (in logistics), I interacted with ground level employees (on floor)-even when it is not mandatory. Through which I got in debt understanding of the actual process happening on field. By doing so I was a able to identify that the workers are mixing up the stock without associating with their respective codes. I was also able prove that by abandoning one particular plant J-1(name shortened) will save cost irrespective of its flexibility and proximity. During my schooling, I was the School president during my X- class.There was an alumni meet along with the inaugural function every year. My role that year is to look over the snacks and gifts (for our our alumni and guests). We were allotted a budget and we paid the dealer in advance. The function has been postponed to the next day, So we left the oder (snacks and gifts) in the dealers godown. But the next most of it is spoiled by the rats. The dealer accepted to take the responsibility, but neither is he able to return our total money or reproduce the order immediately. I being the response point took two decisions: For gifts, i made the dealer to give gift vouchers, which we will give to our guests and alumni, through which they can go to that distributor and select a gift of their choice within the price range (discount included as per original agreement). And for the snacks, instead of buffet I opted for dine-in to avoid the stock out situation. And also instead of having three common snacks, we opted for a variety of snacks in small quantities(it includes fruits to a large extent). During the crisis I conveyed my proposal to my Vice-principal, and it was readily accepted. And next day i was applauded during the morning prayer in front of the whole school by the principal for my effective handling of the situation.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Current Issues in Corrections Essay

The article I found is most related to Chapter 4, â€Å"Diversion and Probation†, because it looks at how probation is a great way to help juvenile offenders get back on their feet. The article is about the positive changes that juvenile offenders in California have made due to an increase in probationary programs. The probation departments in California have changed the way they operate and by doing this have accomplished something extraordinary. Originally, probation for juvenile offenders included, â€Å"focus on suppression, enforcement, and monitoring of youthful offenders† (63), but since 1995 all that has changed. A new program called the Comprehensive Youth Services Act / Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (CYSA/TANF) was created that changed the way in which probation works. Now there is a, â€Å"focus on families and on rehabilitative and therapeutic approaches† (63), to help juvenile offenders rather than punish them. The new programs aim to help the entire family because most juvenile delinquency starts from the home. Such programs include, â€Å"case management services, gang intervention programs, and parenting skills training† (64). These new initiatives have led to a dramatic decline in juvenile crime. Arrest rates have gone down, the incarceration rate has diminished, and the amount of juvenile offenders in ranches and camps has also dropped. Not only that, but the amount of teen pregnancies have decreased, and the amount of children living in poverty has improved. These are all a result of changes made within the corrections system. I think it is essential that other states learn from what the probation departments in California have done. They are proving that their new proactive approach is making differences both within the system, and within the community. If these teens can be reached before it’s too late they have a great chance at living a life free from the confinement of prison walls.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Pollution Essays - Waste Management, Waste, Environmental Toxicology

Pollution Essays - Waste Management, Waste, Environmental Toxicology Pollution Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. It is a major problem in America and as well as the world. Pollution not only damages the environment, but damages us also. It has cause many problems ranging from lung cancer to the greenhouse effect. It is all among us and but we continue to live in our own filth. What is the reason behind this flawed logic? In this paper I will examine the problems and solutions for this issue. Automobiles are undeniable the greatest source of pollution. The noise pollution created by cars is immense. Another polluting effect of cars is the heat it creates. This heat makes it unpleasant to be near the car while its running. And of course the most famous of the automobiles evils is the exhaust. The toxic fumes given off as a byproduct of the combustion engine are slowly deteriorating our lungs and our atmosphere. The exhaust is extremely toxic to human beings. But why do we do continue to drive these walking time bombs. Some people will say it is progress, but the majority drives it for the convenience. Why walk four miles in four hours when you can drive the same miles in four minutes? Another popular source of waste is the post-consumer market. American citizens throw away millions of tons of garbage each year, and this trash has to go somewhere. While there are projects underway to clean and reuse this refuse most of it gets dumped into huge landfills. These landfills are disgusting festering blisters on our country's landscape. But people continue to consume and throw away more and more in the name of convenience. As they see it, when things get old, throw it away and get a new one. They blame the government for the trash problem, but the truth blame should be placed on themselves. The last great source of pollution lays in the businesses. Although not common, businesses have been known to dump their waste products into streams, lakes, and rivers. This may seem like a relatively small occurrence that really is not your concern, but you're wrong. Each time one of these companies pollutes there are horrible consequences to pay. Mutations, destroyed ecosystems, and human death have all occurred as a direct result of illegal dumping. It contaminates our drinking water and soil. It causes entire communities of humans (not to mention animals) to move on to new places not to return for at least a century. The pollutants dumped by industry are so concentrated that a single barrel can destroy an entire lake's ecosystem. Not only do companies dump chemicals, but also hot water. This hot water kills most life it comes into contact with, but also causes an overgrowth of algae that covers the surface of the lake, or pond, and blocks the light from reaching the bottom. This means the plant life cannot grow, which mean the small bacteria and other microorganisms can't grow which means fish can't feed which means the ecosystem dies. Pollution like any other problem can be solved, but this is a long process. Individuals can do their part to save the environment as well as themselves. Instead of driving, carpool, take the bus or any other method of mass transit. This will cut down on pollution made by cars each year, not to mention your gas bill. When it comes to the trash problem, take the time to sort your trash and place it in the appropriate recycling bins. By recycling we reduce the amount of waste piled onto the landfills. As for consumption, pay attention to how the products you buy are manufactured and how they are packaged. Avoid those products made in 'unfriendly' ways towards our mother earth. If a product encourages the destruction of land, or is of completely no use don't buy it. And finally voice your opinion in the polls. If each individual did their part, we will be creating a better world for ourselves as well as our children. July 27, 1998 English 1A

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Leaf-Footed Bugs of Family Coreidae

Leaf-Footed Bugs of Family Coreidae Leaf-footed bugs (Family Coreidae) will grab your attention when several of these large insects gather on a tree or garden plant. Many members of this family have noticeable leaf-like extensions on their hind tibia, and this is the reason for their common name. Members of the family Coreidae tend to be fairly large in size, with the largest reaching almost 4 cm in length. North American species usually range from 2-3 cm. The leaf-footed bug has a tiny head relative to its body, with a four-segmented beak and four-segmented antennae. The pronotum is both wider and longer than the head. A leaf-footed bugs body is typically elongate and often dark in color, although tropical species can be quite colorful. The coreids forewings have many parallel veins, which you should be able to see if you look closely. The most commonly encountered North American leaf-footed bugs are probably those of the genus Leptoglossus. Eleven Leptoglossus species inhabit the U.S. and Canada, including the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) and the eastern leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus). Our largest coreid is the giant mesquite bug, Thasus acutangulus, and at up to 4 cm long, it lives up to its name. Classification Kingdom – AnimaliaPhylum – ArthropodaClass – InsectaOrder – HemipteraFamily - Coreidae Leaf-Footed Bugs Diet As a group, the leaf-footed bugs mostly feed on plants, often eating the seeds or fruit of the host. Some, like the squash bug, can do considerable damage to crops.   A few leaf-footed bugs may be predaceous. Leaf-Footed Bugs Life Cycle Like all true bugs, leaf-footed bugs undergo simple metamorphosis with three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The female usually deposits her eggs on the underside of foliage of the host plant. Flightless nymphs hatch and molt through several instars until reaching adulthood. Some leaf-footed bugs overwinter as adults. Certain coreids, most notably the golden egg bug (Phyllomorpha laciniata), demonstrate a form of parental care for their young. Instead of depositing eggs on a host plant, where the young could easily fall victim to predators or parasites, the female deposits her eggs on other adult leaf-footed bugs of her species. This may lessen mortality rates for her offspring. Special Behaviors and Defenses In some species, the male leaf-footed bugs establish and defend their territories from intrusion by other males. These coreids often have enlarged femora on the hind legs, sometimes with sharp spines, which they use as weapons in battles with other males. Leaf-footed bugs have scent glands on the thorax and will emit a strong odor when threatened or handled. Range and Distribution Over 1,800 species of leaf-footed bugs live throughout the world. Only about 80 species inhabit North America, mainly in the south. Sources Borror DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson.Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition, edited by John L. Capinera.Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, by Eric R. Eaton and Kenn  KaufmanFamily Coreidae – Leaf-Footed Bugs, Bugguide.net. Accessed online January 13, 2012.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Managing Change Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Managing Change - Research Proposal Example n being that, with change a company gains new perspectives on its operations, develops new ways of managing itself which are intended to make a positive impact. Several organizations go through various types of changes, either as dictated by their markets or their own growth definitions. Examples of common changes are such as: Changes in a company’s corporate strategies, privatization of a company, merging or internalization and such. In these changes, a company will tend to focus on how it will grow and be able to get high returns in revenue. Other than revenue, focus may be on employee relations, management structuring, and market target and competitively in market space. Fitting into these changes will often be dependent on the reason for making the changes. In situations where companies are forced to make changes, there is usually difficulty in adjusting to their new environment. Difficulties in adjusting may hinder company growth and performance in achieving the goals set. However, a company’s management may actively be involved in the process, making every employee fit in to the changes occurring. The following proposal will cover a case on The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC covered banks in six countries – Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The reason for choosing the GCC as the case for this assignment is from the recent trends in the organization. In the recent years, banks in in the above named countries have started to change their mode of operation. The change has greatly been influenced by economic forces surrounding this countries. That is, taking an example of a bank in the GCC, the traditional way of operation focused on oil-driven markets and governmental organizations. Telecommunications, tourism and other government based organizations had taken over the markets in the countries mentioned above. Banks would focus on these areas, ignoring other emerging and potential economic areas. In the recent

Friday, November 1, 2019

Edgar Allen Poe Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Edgar Allen Poe - Research Paper Example Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809 (Kennedy, 2001, 19). Personal misfortunes were, sadly, a persistent episode during his lifetime. He never met his father who abandoned his mother. His mother died from tuberculosis. After his parents’ death Edgar was adopted by Frances and John Allan, a rich trader in Richmond, Virginia (Kennedy, 2001). From the very beginning of Poe’s authorial vocation, he adored creating verses for the most important persons in his life. Soon after, when he reached maturity and understood life’s unpleasant realities, his narratives became more disquieting and darker, possibly because of his overindulgence in alcohol and drugs (Magistrale, 2001). His horror tales are still regarded as one of the most chilling and frightening tales ever written, and, due to this, several literary scholars contemplated on the possible sources of these dark themes. Numerous literature activists and historians have assumed that h is problematic love life was the root whereas others have pointed to his drug and alcohol addiction (Magistrale, 2001). ... Poe implanted this in his famed masterpiece Alone (Hoffman, 1998, 38): â€Å"From childhood’s hour, I have not been as others were; I have not seen as others saw; I could not bring my passions from a common spring.† As mentioned above, several of the most significant persons in his life were a vast source of influence because of their deaths. His reaction to death consistently included more heightened addiction to alcohol and drugs (Kennedy, 2001); hence, it is difficult to make a decisive difference between the influences of Poe’s individual loved ones. Nevertheless, since the deaths happened prior to the drugs and alcohol addiction, it was only death which occupied the utmost position in his life, bringing about series of self-destruction that sooner or later put an end on his own existence (Kennedy, 2001). In spite of his personal misfortunes, nevertheless, he stays as one of the most treasured and broadly celebrated of all American authors. His disturbing and frightening tales and poems will survive through ages and be read by innumerable people from various societies and different eras, a reality which would have certainly given some spring of calm for this agonized, gifted, and disturbed individual. Almost every well-known author that came after Poe, embodying practically all national literatures, was familiar with him, and writers who were not personally influenced by his idea were compelled somehow to recognize it, if simply in a feat of denial (Kennedy, 2001). The reputation and significance of Poe as an author were at first freed from the nasty rumors of Rufus Griswold, his literary architect, by the determined attempts of Charles Baudelaire, a French writer (Magistrale, 2001). The influence of Poe on 19th century French literature

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Internation business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internation business - Essay Example For the time being, it is considered as just a deal between the two countries (Rapoza, 2013). Free Trade Talks would assist in expanding their bilateral agreement and trade along with improving cooperation regarding conservation of energy, production of high-end machinery and modern agriculture (Palmer, 2013). It is observed that both China and India are looking to work closely in future negotiations and cooperate in areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and forestry. Both the countries would be undertaking future negotiations on climate change along with cooperating by the aid of ad-hoc groups (Kanjilal, 2010). Both India and China would play a vital role in impeding trade negotiation through mutual cooperation and comprehension of their strategies which would enable them to become a free trade bloc entailing other leading Asia and Oceania nations such as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand (Vishwanath, 2013) Questions 2 Evidently, Australian companies have been very slow to develop Asian connections. Contextually, different views reveal that the attempts made by Australian companies to enhance Asian literacy have not materialised. This is because there have been critical fault lines in most of the strategies that required greater assessment. Moreover, promising programs lacked sustainability and continuity due to funding problems along with changes of policies and governmental interventions. Additionally, certain strategies have been reclusive because of structural impediments. Furthermore, most of the companies have emphasized on issues related to supply and very little importance had been given in building demands in terms of Asian literacy facet along with making investment in the Asian curriculum which seem to be important for foreign nations to be successful on Asian shores (Asialink, 2012) With National Broadband Network coming into the fold, it would be possible for Australian companies to go beyond agricultural and mining sectors in Asian re gion. Opportunities would be created for participating in a better way in digital economy. In this regard, liquefied natural gas is also expected to grow by a considerable extent. There would also be extravagant opportunities for service, tourism and education sectors to develop with the rising of the level of income within 2025 (Australian Government, 2013; Australian Government, n.d.). Question 3 In recent decades, the Australian dollar has enhanced substantially as compared to US dollar. In the recent times, the Australian dollar has become almost equal to US dollar. This reflects that most of the Afro-Asian countries would be benefited mostly by shifting towards Australian dollar by a considerable level. It has been observed that both Australia and China have decided to get their currencies converted in a straightforward way, which would result in lowering costs for Australian companies performing business in China. It can be considered as a strategic move for Australia and vice versa adding to their economic engagement. The strategic move of converting currency directly is considered to be an essential step for global growth process (Curran, 2013; Poljak & Baker, 2013). Moreover, both the countries could find economic stability in the coming days with agreements been carried out between them. Furthermore, Chinese population can leverage sustained enormous benefits from Australian market. It has become easier for Chinese companies to carry out business

Monday, October 28, 2019

Carbon Nanofoam Structure and Functions

Carbon Nanofoam Structure and Functions Abstract Carbon nanofoam is the fifth allotrope of Carbon after graphite, diamond, fullerene (e.g., C-60 molecules), and Carbon nanotubes. It was discovered in 1997 by Andrei V. Rode and his team at the Australian National University in Canberra, in collaboration with Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute in St Petersburg. The molecular structure of Carbon nanofoam consists of Carbon tendrils bonded together in a low-density, mist like arrangement. This paper talks about the physical structure, chemical properties, preparation methods and applications of Carbon nanofoam. The most unusual property of Carbon nanofoam is its ferromagnetism; it gets attracted to magnets, like iron. At a temperature as low as -183 ÃÅ'Ã…  C, Carbon nanofoam behaves like a magnet. Also, the foam is a semiconductor, making it attractive for device applications. The reason for the foams magnetic property has been explained in the paper. Carbon nanofoam is hence the first pure-Carbon magnet and also one of the lightest known solid substances (with a density of ~2 mg/cm3), when used along with aerogel. The Carbon nanofoam is believed to remove magnetic prejudice among the known elements, the idea than an element should be stereotyped as either magnetic or nonmagnetic. 1. INTRODUCTION Carbon nanofoam was discovered by  1Andrei V. Rode  and co-workers, in collaboration with Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute in St Petersburg at the  Australian National University  in  Canberra in the year 1997. It is the fifth allotrope of Carbon after graphite, diamond, fullerene and Carbon nanotubes. The molecular structure of Carbon nanofoam consists of Carbon tendrils, bonded together to form a cluster- like assembly of low density in a loose three- dimensional web pattern. The width of each cluster is about 6 nanometers, consisting of about 4000 Carbon atoms. These Carbon atoms are linked in the form of graphite- like sheets but consist of heptagonal structures included among the hexagonal patterns, giving it a negative curvature, (Figure 1(a)) unlike the Buckminster fullerenes [1] in which the inclusion of pentagonal structures gives the Carbon sheet a positive curvature. The density of Carbon nanofoam is approximately 2 mg/cm3, which makes it one of the lightest known solid substances, the other being aerogels whose density is about 100 times more than that of Carbon nanofoam [1]. According to Rode and his colleagues [1], nanofoam contains a number of unpaired electrons due to the Carbon atoms with only three bonds, found at topological and bonding defects. This gives rise to the most unusual feature of Carbon nanofoam, which is that it is attracted to magnets. Moreover, below ˆ’183 °C Carbon nanofoam acts as a magnet itself. Another property of Carbon nanofoam is that unlike aerogels, Carbon nanofoam is a poor conductor of electricity. The clause for the magnetic property of Carbon nanofoam is that only freshly produced Carbon nanofoam is ferromagnetic; Carbon nanofoam is strongly attracted to a permanent magnet at room temperature, initially. This room temperature ferro- magnetic behavior disappears after a few hours of preparation of the Carbon nanofoam, when the temperature eventually fluctuates to go above the room temperature. However, the ferro-magnetic property persists at lower temperatures. Depending on the pressure of the ambient Argon gas inside the chamber where high- pulse, high- energy laser ablation [3] [4] [5] and deposition of Carbon vapors is performed, different Carbonaceous structures are formed. At a pressure of 0.1 Torr*, diamond- like Carbon films are formed. As the pressure is increased to greater than 0.1 Torr, diamond like Carbon- nanofoam is produced. The density of the Carbon nanofoam depends on the density and the polymerization chemistry used during the sol-gel process [3] [4]. The particle diameter of low-density foams is the largest, which is up to 100 nanometers, with a pore size of at least 500 nanometers. The high- density Carbon foams have pores of size less than 1000-Angstrom Units and the particles are ultra-fine, the density being approximately 0.8 grams/cubic centimeter. Electrically conductive Carbon nanofoams are also under production, which has many properties of the traditional aerogel material. Prepared by sol- gel methods, these mate rials are available in the form of monoliths, granules, powders and papers. The foams prepared by these methods are typically of low density, continuous porosity and high capacitance. The most intriguing property of Carbon nanofoam is its Ferro magnetism (Figure 1(b)). The reason for the existence of this unusual property attributed to an allotrope of Carbon, which is conventionally believed to be a non- magnetic element, is due to the complex microstructure of the nanofoam. Few researchers claimed that the ferromagnetism is due to the presence of traces of iron and nickel impurities in their foam. Later they calculated that the small amounts of these magnetic materials could only account for 20% of the strength of the ferromagnetic fields in the foam and concluded that the ferromagnetism is an intrinsic property of this allotrope of Carbon. The unpaired electron that does not form a chemical bond in the 7- corner, 7- edged polygons present in the structure of Carbon nanofoam has a magnetic moment, which is suspected to be the reason of its magnetism. *1 Torr is approximately equal to 1 mmHg; 1 Torr = 133.322368 Pascal Due to the magnetic properties of Carbon nanofoam, it can be used in a number of applications namely, medicine, optics, fuel cells and other electronic devices. They are also being used as lightweight, high temperature insulation materials, absorbents and coating agents and as electrodes for water deionization cells. In biomedicine, Carbon nanofoams are used as tiny ferromagnetic clusters, which could be injected in blood vessels, in order to increase the quality of magnetic resonance imaging. Another application of Carbon nanofoams is in spintronic devices, whose operations are based on the materials magnetic properties. The researchers also have preliminary indications that the novel magnetic behavior also occurs in another nano-compound made of boron and nitrogen, two other elements that are ordinarily non-magnetic. The following parts of this paper discuss in detail, the Molecular Structure Synthesis methods Properties, and Applications of Carbon nanofoam. 2. STRUCTURE OF CARBON NANOFOAM Carbon nanofoam consists of Carbon atoms bonded by both sp2 and sp3 hybridizations, unlike the other allotropes of Carbon such as graphite and diamond which have only sp3 hybridization and C60 and Carbon nanotubes that have only sp2 hybridization [7]. Around 4000 such Carbon atoms are bonded together in the form of a cluster-like assembly of low density. In other words, these Carbon atoms are bonded in the form of graphite-like sheets but consist of heptagonal structures included among the hexagonal patterns, giving it (Carbon nanofoam) a hyperbolic pattern, as proposed for schwarzite[6] The percentage distribution of the sp2 and sp3 hybridizations can be controlled by during the synthesis of the nanofoam. High pulse-rate Laser Ablation method for the synthesis of Carbon nanofoam by A. V. Rode et al [1] demonstrates that there are two types of particles in the foam and that here is a small amount of particles with a high sp2 fraction (~0.9) of graphite-like bonds, due to crystalline graphite used in the experiment. Particles with a fraction, generally lower than 0.8 sp2 are inferred to consist of amorphous Carbon with a mixture of sp2 and sp3 bonding. Particles with lower sp2 content and a higher Plasmon energy are more diamond-like, as they have higher density and a higher fraction of sp3 bonds. Upon measurement, it has been observed that these is a high sp3 content at the edges of the foam and at the edges of the cluster, which is a clear indication that the sp3 bonding atoms are located at the surface of the clusters and that the connections between the clusters a re due to the sp3 bonding. 3. SYNTHESIS OF CARBON NANOFOAM The synthesis of Carbon nanofoam is done on a laboratory scale and is not produced industrially, in bulk. Two methods are adapted for the preparation of Carbon nanofoams, depending on different types of requirements such as particle size, density, resistivity, etc. The two methods are listed and explained below. 3.1. Laser Ablation Laser ablation is the process of removing material from a solid (or occasionally liquid) surface by exposing it to radiation with a laser beam. Depending on the flux density of the laser, the effect of laser ablation varies. For a more clear description; at low laser flux, the material is heated by the absorbed laser energy and evaporates or sublimates. At high laser flux, the material is typically converted to plasma. Usually, laser ablation refers to removing material with a pulsed laser, but it is possible to ablate material with a continuous wave laser beam if the laser intensity is high enough. High-repetition-rate laser ablation and deposition of Carbon vapors results in the formation of quite different Carbonaceous structures depending on the pressure of the ambient Ar gas in the chamber. Diamond-like Carbon films form at a pressure below 0.1 Torr whereas a diamond-like Carbon nano-foam is created above 0.1Torr. The creation of particular molecular structures involves atom-to-atom attachment in appropriate physical conditions at an appropriate rate. 3.1.1. Experimental Setup The experimental setup of the experiment conducted by E.G. Gamaly and piers is as follows: a 42-W, 120-ns pulse-width Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (ÃŽÂ » = 1.064 mm) with variable repetition rate of 2-25 kHz was used. Laser of intensity approximately 109 Watts/cm2, averaged over the pulse duration was created on the glossy Carbon target, keeping the repetition rate fixed at 10 kHz and focal spot scanned over a 2X2 cm area of the target surface. 3.1.2. Formation of Carbon Nanofoam in Ar ambient temperature The diamond-like Carbon (DLC) films is deposited in vacuum of approximately 106 Torr. Transformation to a different form of Carbon material occurs in an Ar-filled chamber at a pressure around 0:1Torr. At this pressure, the mean free path for collisions of the evaporated Carbon atoms is in the order of 1 cm. Thus, Carbon-Carbon and Carbon-argon collisions in the chamber start to play a dominant role in the formation of Carbonaceous structures in Ar-filled chamber. The high-repetition-rate laser evaporation of a Carbon target in a 1-100 Torr Ar atmosphere produces a higher evaporation rate of Carbon atoms and ions than conventional laser ablation techniques. The resulting increased average temperature and density of the C-Ar mixture in the experimental chamber increases the probability of the formation of higher energy Carbon-Carbon bonds. The resulting increased collision frequency from the above deposition conditions encourages diffusion-limited aggregation of Carbon atoms into fractal structures, and the formation of low density Carbon foam. Figures 3.1.2. (a) and 3.1.2. (b) show the scanning and transmission electron microscope images respectively, showing the free-standing Carbon foam. These images are scaled to 1 mm and 100 nm respectively. The analysis of these images reveal that the foam represents a fractal-like structure which consists of Carbon clusters with the average diameter of 6 nm randomly interconnected into web-like foam. The foam looks like a capricious mixture of strings of pearls. [3] Initially, the flow of atomic Carbons is created by the laser ablation near the target surface. After the chamber is filled with an inert ambient gas, it results in the collision of Carbon atoms with the ambient gas atoms, as the Carbon plume expands. Hence, the Carbon atoms collide, diffuse through the gas, exchanging their energy, and finally cool down to the average Carbon-gas temperature. 3.2. Sol Gel Process The sol-gel process, also known as chemical solution deposition, is a wet-chemical technique widely used in the fields of materials science and ceramic engineering. Such methods are used primarily for the fabrication of materials (typically a metal oxide) starting from a chemical solution (or sol) that acts as the precursor for an integrated network (or gel) of either discrete particles or network polymers. Typical precursors are metal alkoxides and metal chlorides, which undergo various forms of hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions. Carbon nanofoam is also prepared from the pyrolysis of organic precursors, such as organic aerogels produced through sol-gel processes (such as resorcinol formaldehyde sol-gels) (Figure 3.2.). The sol-gel solution is cast into the desired shape and after the formation of a highly cross-linked gel the solvent is removed from the pores of the gel. The remaining rigid monolithic shape consists of covalently bonded, nanometer-sized particles that are arranged in a 3-dimensional network. Precursor RF gels can be applied to a fine Carbon felt which is Carbonized to form Carbon nanofoam electrodes [9]. The Carbon nanofoam thus prepared usually has low density and very high specific surface areas (up to ˆÂ ¼1200m2 g-1), and they can be produced in different forms, such as monoliths, fine particles or films. The final shape and properties depend strongly on the sample history, as is the case with all amorphous Carbons. 4. PROPERTIES OF CARBON NANOFOAM Many of the properties of Carbon nanofoams match with those of the traditional aerogel materials. Carbon nanofoams are available in the form of monoliths, granules, powders and papers. They are electrically conductive, synthetic and lightweight foams in which the solid matrix and pore spaces have nanometer-scale dimensions. Prepared by sol-gel methods, nanofoams typically have low density, continuous porosity, high surface area, and fine cell/pore sizes. The foams are also electrically conductive and have a high capacitance. Standard densities of Carbon nanofoams range from 0.25 to 1.00 g/cm3. Carbon nanofoams precursors can be infiltrated into a Carbon fiber mat that, when Carbonized, will result in paper-like electrode material 0.007 to 0.050 inches thick. Morphology examination by scanning electron microscope shows an open cell structure and continuous porosity. The particle size and pore spacing is a function of density and the polymerization chemistry used during the sol-gel process. Low density Carbon nanofoams (~0.25 g/cm3) have the largest cell/pore size with particle diameters of up to 100 nm and pores at least 500 nm. High density Carbon foams (abt. 0.8 g/cm3) have ultra-fine particles and pores of less than 1000Ã…. The nanofoam contains numerous unpaired electrons, which Rode and colleagues propose is due to Carbon atoms with only three bonds that are found at topological and bonding defects. This gives rise to what is perhaps Carbon nanofoams most unusual feature: it is attracted to magnets, and below ˆ’183  °C can itself be made magnetic. 4.1. Ferro magnetism of Carbon nanofoam It is a well-known fact that Carbon and its allotropes are among those materials which do not get attracted to magnets. Although, it has been discovered that Carbon nanofoam is attracted to magnets, and below ˆ’183  °C can itself be made magnetic. This behavior of Carbon nanofoam is unusual as against the magnetic property generally attributed to Carbon. However, at room temperature, the nanofoams magnetization disappears a few hours after the material is produced. The reason for the magnetic behavior of Carbon nanofoam is discovered to be its molecular structure; it consists of a number of unpaired electrons due to the Carbon atoms with only three bonds that are found at topological and bonding defects. The unpaired electrons contribute towards the existence of magnetic moment in the nanofoam, which is believed to be the reason for its ferro magnetic character. Detailed explanation Speaking in terms of magnetic susceptibility, in general, all known Carbon allotropes exhibit diamagnetic susceptibility in the range of à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ =ˆ’(10ˆ’5-10ˆ’7) emu/g Oe with the exception of: Polymerized C60 prepared in a two-dimensional rhombohedral phase of à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡= +(0.25ˆ’1.3)*10ˆ’3 emu/g Oe (depending on the orientation of the magnetic field relative to the polymerized planes) which shows ferromagnetism The disordered glass-like magnetism observed in activated Carbon fibers due to nonbonding à Ã¢â€š ¬-electrons located at edge states, and The unusual magnetic behavior observed in single wall Carbon nanohorns ascribed to the Van Vleck paramagnetic contribution. Although ferromagnetism in polymerized C60 is noteworthy, the exceptionally large magnetic signal in Carbon nanostructures such as Carbon nanofoam remains a case of special interest. In order to study the ferro magnetism of Carbon nanofoam, an experiment was conducted by Rode and his colleagues. They prepared Carbon nanofoam by high-pulse-rate laser ablation of an ultrapure glassy carbon target in a vacuum chamber made of stainless steel, filled with high-purity (99.995%) Argon gas, inside a 2 inch cylinder made of fused silica (SiO2). This setup results in the formation of carbon nanofoam, with a combination of sp2 and sp3 hybridization. The reason for the magnetic character of Carbon nanofoam was then discovered to be the ferromagnetic interaction of the spins of the unpaired electrons, separated by sp3 centers. [6] A possible mechanism for magnetic moment generation would be a simple indirect exchange interaction through conduction electrons located on the hexagons. Low temperature magnetization curves indicate a saturation magnetization of approximately 0.35emu/g at 2 K. [10] 5. APPLICATIONS OF CARBON NANOFOAM Carbon nanofoam is one of the lightest known solid substances till date. Hence, it finds its application in a number of fields. Although there are no immediate applications of Carbon nanofoams, a few of the possible areas where there can be applied are as follows: They could be used in spintronic devices, which are based on a materials magnetic properties. In biomedicine: the Nano metric scale ferromagnetic clusters could be injected into blood vessels to enhance magnetic resonance imaging. It could also be implanted in tumors, where it could turn radio waves into a source of heat that would destroy the tumor but leave surrounding tissue unharmed. Carbon nanofoam can replace the nanofoams of other metals because of its low density, high conductivity, light weight and also its ferro magnetic property. As coatings or absorbents in specialty optics As flexible electrodes for deionization and fuel cells Carbon nanofoam paper Making of High-Sensitivity Ultrasonic Transducer in Air High-performance metal-air batteries Spintronics, meaning spin transport electronics is also known as magnetoelectronics. It is an emerging technology which, in addition to its fundamental electronic charge, exploits both the intrinsic spin of the electron and its associated magnetic moment, in solid-state devices. Spintronic devices find their application in perhaps the most important computer subsystems: random access memories and high density non-volatile storage media. Hence in order to develop large memories on a small chip, making the chip as light weighted as possible is also very important. This is where the use of carbon nanofoam gives the desired result. Carbon nanofoam paper is another interesting application of carbon nanofoams. Due to its composition, carbon nanofoam paper has proven very difficult to cut using traditional methods such as metal blades. It was found that using 100 W of power at a speed of 250 inches per minute (IPM) the 0.0075-inch thick carbon nanofoam paper was cleanly cut. [11] For a high-sensitivity ultrasonic transducer in air, nanofoam can be considered to be applied to its acoustic matching layer. Since nanofoam has extremely low acoustic impedance, it is effective for the acoustic matching layer of an ultrasonic transducer in air. The sensitivity of the developed ultrasonic transducer can be made up to about twenty times higher than that of a conventional ultrasonic transducer in air. [12] The desirable structural characteristics of carbon nanofoams can be exploited to design and produce electrocatalytic structures for O2 reduction that will enable high-performance metal-air batteries. While the native carbon nanofoam structure exhibits modest activity for O2 reduction, further functionalization of the nanofoam is necessary to achieve technologically relevant performance. [13] 6. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this term paper throws light on a recently discovered allotrope of carbon called as Carbon Nanofoam, whose molecular structure and properties are different from the other allotropes of carbon such as graphite, diamond, C60, amorphous carbon, carbon nanotubes and fullerene. Carbon nanofoam is found to be one among the lightest known solid substances, which gives it an advantage over other substances in a number of varied applications. The most intriguing feature of carbon nanofoam is its magnetic property. This novel magnetic behavior found in carbon nanofoam has made many renowned scientists and researchers rethink about what makes a material magnetic, since ferro-magnetism is not one of the attributed properties of carbon in any of its forms. Furthermore, this ferro-magnetic characteristic of carbon nanofoam, along with its other characteristics such as extremely low acoustic impedance, low density, continuous porosity, high surface area, fine cell/pore sizes, electrical conductivity and high capacitance is believed to have wide applications in the developing current technology whose motto is The smaller the better!

Friday, October 25, 2019

religious policies of England and France from 1603 to 1715 :: essays research papers

Describe the religious policies of England and France from 1603 to 1715. Why do you think rulers feared religious toleration so much? When discussing why the rulers feared religious toleration and how their fears affected what religious policies were enforced, one must first look at what events transpired through the years to get a full understanding of the word â€Å"stubbornness.† During the early years, the English church was dividing into a conservative camp that wanted to retain the religious ceremonies and the hierarchy of the church and a radical, Calvinist camp called Puritans who wanted to "purify" the church of everything not contained in the Old and New Testaments. The Puritans demanded that the English church abandon the elaborate ceremonies and flatten the hierarchy of the church into something more closely resembling the voluntary associations of the Calvinist church. King James, however, would have none of the Puritan argument and declared, in 1604, that he was fully in the camp of the religious conservatives. This division between the monarch and the Puritans, which would be continu ed by his son, Charles I, lit the fire that ignited the English Civil War. Charles sided with the religious conservatives against the more radical Puritans. The archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, was particularly hostile to the Puritans' complaints and Charles allowed him to freely take any measures to stifle their dissent. In 1633, Charles forbade Puritans from publishing or preaching, and in 1637, they tried to bring Scotland under the fold of the English church. The Scots had, for a long time, a Calvinist church based on a flattened hierarchy and the purification of the religion of all non-Biblical practices. The imposition of the English church--which included the English prayerbook, church hierarchy, and rituals and sacraments that were derived from Catholic ceremony--was too much for the Scots to take. So they rebelled. The English Civil War started as a conflict between Parliament and Charles over constitutional issues; it fired its way to its conclusion through the growing religious division in England. The monarch was supported by the aristocracy, landowners, and by the adherents of the Anglican "high church," which retained the ceremonies and hierarchy so despised by the Puritans. The Parliamentary cause was supported by the middle class, the Puritans, and the radical Protestants. The king's forces roundly beat the Parliamentary forces for almost two years and the Parliamentary cause seemed all but lost. In 1642, however, Parliament reorganized its army under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, who was a landowner and, in religious matters, an Independent. religious policies of England and France from 1603 to 1715 :: essays research papers Describe the religious policies of England and France from 1603 to 1715. Why do you think rulers feared religious toleration so much? When discussing why the rulers feared religious toleration and how their fears affected what religious policies were enforced, one must first look at what events transpired through the years to get a full understanding of the word â€Å"stubbornness.† During the early years, the English church was dividing into a conservative camp that wanted to retain the religious ceremonies and the hierarchy of the church and a radical, Calvinist camp called Puritans who wanted to "purify" the church of everything not contained in the Old and New Testaments. The Puritans demanded that the English church abandon the elaborate ceremonies and flatten the hierarchy of the church into something more closely resembling the voluntary associations of the Calvinist church. King James, however, would have none of the Puritan argument and declared, in 1604, that he was fully in the camp of the religious conservatives. This division between the monarch and the Puritans, which would be continu ed by his son, Charles I, lit the fire that ignited the English Civil War. Charles sided with the religious conservatives against the more radical Puritans. The archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, was particularly hostile to the Puritans' complaints and Charles allowed him to freely take any measures to stifle their dissent. In 1633, Charles forbade Puritans from publishing or preaching, and in 1637, they tried to bring Scotland under the fold of the English church. The Scots had, for a long time, a Calvinist church based on a flattened hierarchy and the purification of the religion of all non-Biblical practices. The imposition of the English church--which included the English prayerbook, church hierarchy, and rituals and sacraments that were derived from Catholic ceremony--was too much for the Scots to take. So they rebelled. The English Civil War started as a conflict between Parliament and Charles over constitutional issues; it fired its way to its conclusion through the growing religious division in England. The monarch was supported by the aristocracy, landowners, and by the adherents of the Anglican "high church," which retained the ceremonies and hierarchy so despised by the Puritans. The Parliamentary cause was supported by the middle class, the Puritans, and the radical Protestants. The king's forces roundly beat the Parliamentary forces for almost two years and the Parliamentary cause seemed all but lost. In 1642, however, Parliament reorganized its army under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell, who was a landowner and, in religious matters, an Independent.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Money and Happiness Essay

It is often noticed that people with a higher income live a more relaxed life while the truth of the matter is their money allows them to easily take care of the necessities in life such as food and clothing that other people may not be able to maintain. Therefore, in comparison to those types of people, the ones with more money generally appear more fulfilled because they are able to purchase other desires without the worry of not sustaining a steady lifestyle. Having more money provides relief for the person rather than happiness because of their ability to obtain new possessions. Giving is better than receiving is a commonly used phrase that shows the generosity among different people; however, when it used as an argument debating happiness, it is proven to be too vague to fit the modern day definition. A recent study by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton explains that the â€Å"most satisfying way of using money is to invest in others†¦donating to a charity†¦buying lunch for a friend† (Can Money Buy Happiness?). Their argument demonstrates that putting their money towards other people rather than themselves brings an even greater joy, but how does that differ from paying taxes? Taxes are provided for many reasons such as donating to shelters, paying for government workers, and maintaining roads, so why are the citizens upset about the requirement of investing a portion of their income to the government when the investment in others brings happiness? Consequently, the satisfaction of giving money to others does not always apply to all even if it is for charities. Because happiness is based on an individual’s perspective, a person’s outlook on what makes them happy may vary from someone else’s. Happiness is something compared to everyone else; some people appear happier than others. It is an individual perception, and it is influence by a variety of factors such as society, family, relationship status, health, occupation, love, and even income. Read more:  Does Money Bring Happiness Essay

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Short & Long Term Career Goals

Education has always been an important aspect of my life. Although there have been trials and tribulations I have surmounted them. My story is not one of a privileged life not wanting or wishing for anything. Instead it is a dream, a dream to be able to fulfill what is my destiny. On December 14, 2005 I will have my associate's degree; it has been a long time coming, and it is finally here. I have managed to maintain full time work to support myself and my family while attending to school to accomplish one of my life long dreams. By attending Drexel this would not only afford me the opportunity to continue my dream of furthering my education but it will also allow me to advance in my industry. My short term career goals include furthering my education in business administration; Drexel will allow me to do that. Long term Drexel will give the tools, confidence, and background necessary to advance even further in my career goals. Business has been my passion for a number of years, Drexel will allow me to have more of a hand on approach, and it will allow me to be even more of a key player in the business industry. Over time my goals continue to grow and advance, Drexel will allow me to make my current goals a reality and work toward my future goals and the ones that I will create in the future. The main way that Drexel would help me with my current and future goals is through affording me a great education, with a wonder staff and plentiful resources as my disposal. These tools are priceless, and impossible to truly measure. All I can say is that it is my beliefs that Drexel is the best place for me to continue my education. Through researching the school and the programs that are offered through Drexel, I believe that the business program best suits my life style. The program allows flexibility which is extremely important in my life. My short term career goals include: advancing my knowledge base in the field of business administration, balancing work and family, becoming more confident in my abilities as a degreed professional, learn how to deal more efficiently in my professional life and personal life. Drexel can help me reach these goals by, affording me the opportunity to have a flexible school schedule, by teaching me the necessary tools to needed to become more confident in my personal and professional abilities, giving me a platform to increase my skills in business as well as interpersonal skills necessary to survive in the business world. Long term goals include, advancing into a higher position with my current employer, or possibly starting my own business, becoming a motivator and teacher to others through my knowledge and experience. Drexel can aid me in reaching these long term goals in the same ways that Drexel can help me reach the short term career goals. One is through allowing a platform to gain further education in the field of business. By advancing my knowledge in the field of business, I hope to be able to be an inspiration to others, as well as have the tools necessary to be effective in my endeavors as well as help others obtain their lifelong goals. Drexel University is the perfect fit for me. I know that if I am allowed to become a part of the student body all of my dreams will become realities. There is no where to go but up with a Drexel education. If given the opportunity you will not be disappointed. I give every endeavor 100%! Education is necessary in continuing my goals. My Bachelors is just the beginning, just a single step leading up the stairway of my lifelong dreams. Thank you in advance for considering me for your Bachelors program.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

British Library Project

British Library Project Introduction The British Library project was undertaken by the British Library, which is the biggest and the official national library for the United Kingdom (UK). The library currently holds about 150 million items in form of books, journals, videos and other forms of materials which are sourced globally (Wedgeworth 1993, p. 149).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on British Library Project specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The library is accredited with holding up to 14 million books from various sources and some of them are historic (meaning that they date from 2000 BC) (Wedgeworth 1993, p. 149). Annually, the library is estimated to add up to 3 million items in various modes and collectively, the distance covered is up to 11 kilometers (Wedgeworth 1993, p. 149). The library is currently a non-departmental public entity and most of the projects undertaken by the institution have been under the department of culture, me dia and sport (in terms of sponsorship and supervision). The Library undertook a failed project that saw it experience delays of up to 5 years and an upsurge of project costs that were in excess of 400 million Euros. There are many reasons advanced for the failure of projects but every project has its own unique characteristics (Walravens 2006, p. 30). This study will focus on the British Library project and account for the delays and shortcomings of the project. Secondly, this study will analyze the role the project managerial team had in causing these delays and the overspill of budgetary cost. Thirdly, this report will evaluate the possible remedies which could have been adopted by the project managers to avert the delays and overspill of project expenditures. Lastly, a conclusion summarizing the above findings will be provided. Delays and Cost Increases Project delays are a common recipe for the failure to meet project deadlines (Sears 2008, p. 1). There are often a number of re asons why various projects fail to meet their deadlines, thereby resulting in delays, but a number of them are unique to the project itself. The British library project resulted in significant delays of up to 5 years. There were a number of reasons voiced by various shareholders but most of them are not unique to the project per se, but projects of similar nature as well.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the reasons attributed to the project delay was the overambitious estimation of the time needed to complete the project (Mincks 2004). There was also an incorrect task assessment of the project. Perhaps, the optimism evidenced in the project came about from the project outcomes expected of the study and previous precedents set by other projects of similar nature and undertaken by other organizations. However, the failure to correctly estimate the factual tim e schedule could be attributed to the failure of the project shareholders to coordinate effectively, thereby leading to overly optimistic time schedules. Also, the theoretical time scheduling failed to factor in the practical challenges of implementing such time schedules, therefore leading to excessive delays. Also, increased pressure from the client (British Library) put a lot of pressure on the project managers to unrealistically squeeze a lot of tasks within a short timeframe (that could potentially lead to an overall compromise of the project quality). Considering the mandate that the British Library has is of a public nature, there was a lot of public scrutiny and media surveillance that also added on to the pressure experienced by the project managers in meeting the project specifications (Wedgeworth 1993). This ultimately resulted in a lot of simultaneous task scheduling that fails to meet the required time schedules. Secondly, there was an unrealistic project scope that evi dently showed an inconsistency in the manner the project was to be undertaken and the time schedule allocated. In other words, the project had a wide scope that could not be accommodated in the set timeframe. The irrationality of the client also contributed to the widening of the project scope because various features were added to the project without carrying out a feasibility study to determine whether such changes could be accommodated. Such types of changes are normally estimated to result in months of project delays (Angel 2009). Thirdly, there was an obvious lack of clarity of project tasks and roles supposed to be undertaken by the project staff (Project Smart 2011). This means that there were instances of certain project staff doing the duties of another, and in the same manner, there were instances of certain project staff failing to do the duties that they were assigned.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on British Library Project specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This led to instances of overwork and time wastage to both groups of project staff; thereby leading to significant project delays. The lack of a clear breakdown of tasks also significantly affected the work of the project staff, with instances of staff misunderstandings becoming a common feature. Fourthly, there was a clear lack of risk management system where significant problems encountered in the course of undertaking the project were easily assumed to be repairable. In some instances, there was evidence of team members downplaying certain project challenges and assuming that they could be tabled in subsequent meetings. This created a situation where team members acted like they lived in a make-believe world where they believed that they could rescue a project at its last dying minutes without a comprehensive and all-inclusive plan that facilitated the achievement of such goals. This kind of short-term strategies meant to dea l with project challenges are not recommended by most project experts, as is affirmed by Angel (2009) who notes that: â€Å"All projects have problems; any one problem could destroy the plan and throw the project out of whack. If these problems are not identified and proactively resolved on an ongoing basis, things will only get worse† (p. 78). The lack of resources was a commonly voiced topic of concern among the project managers and which eventually lead to significant project delays. One of the most recognized factors was the delay in project funding by the relevant ministry which set back the completion of the project by a couple of months if not years. This issue can potentially cause a total halt to the project process, or in the same manner, lead to a slowdown of project functions (Angel 2009). In real sense, there is no way a project can be able to be completed in good time if the resources identified to complete the project within a given time schedule are not provid ed. For instance, if a project requires five developers, and only four are present, the likelihood of the project being completed in the given time is very low.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lastly, there were significant delays evidenced out of experiencing damaged or missing infrastructure where certain tools to be used in the project completion (such as software, hardware, or documents) were either not availed at the project site or failed to work properly (Angel 2009). Significant delays were evidenced and compounded when such infrastructure were needed most; possibly to facilitate the transition of a given project task into another. In terms of costs escalation, the British library Project incurred more than 400 million pounds in excess of the estimated project costs. A number of reasons were attributed to this cost increase. Firstly, technical considerations accounted for the largest increase in project cost. Particularly, the lack of appropriate cost forecasting techniques contributed most to the project’s cost escalation. Most importantly, there seemed to be a lack of inadequate data that could be relied on by the project experts to correctly estimate the project costs (Project Smart 2011). These two factors consequently contributed to the biggest increase in project costs. Secondly, there was a clear evidence of optimism-bias by the project managers which consequently led to an escalation of project costs (Flyvbjerg 2008, p. 3). In other words, there was evidence of the project managers and other project shareholders to overestimate the likelihood of positive cost expenses and downplaying the likelihood that the costs incurred may spillover the set budget. Finally, there were instances of the sociopolitical environment having an effect of the cost structure of the project, in the sense that, there was a strategic misrepresentation of the scope of the project and the nature of the budget in ensuring the project is completed in an affordable manner. Considering the British Library project was a matter of public interest, such kind of sociopolitical influence was widely expected to affect the project in the long-run. Responsibility of Project Managers Of the above reasons identified for project delays and cost escalation, some of them can be directly attributed to a failure of the project manager to effectively undertake his or her duties, but others are beyond the scope of the project manager. When critically analyzing the escalation of project costs, the technical and psychological causes of project increase can be significantly attributed to the failure of project managers to effectively undertake their duties in the project management process (Project Smart 2011). In detail, the project manager should have adopted good cost forecasting techniques that were beneficial to the specific project. The inclusion of wrong data into the entire process also significantly contributed to the problem because wrong inclusion of data was bound to result in wrong cost forecasting. In terms of the failure of the project to meet its laid down guidelines, a number of factors could be specifically attributed to the project mana ger. For instance, the lack of clarity of project tasks was a function of the project manager because as Project Smart (2011) affirms, the project manager is supposed to ensure that project tasks are correctly executed by the project staff. The incorrect task assessment of the project was also a failure of the project manager because Verzuh (2008, p. 39) notes that project managers are supposed to ensure successful planning of the project is done before the project is underway. Under the same role, the failure to come up with a reasonable project scope was also a failure of the project manager. The same can also be said regarding the evidence of overambitious time estimates by the project manager. The lack of formulation of good risk management systems was also a failure of the project manager because this task falls under the role of monitoring and controlling of project tasks (Verzuh 2008, p. 39). Comprehensively, the above factors sum up the roles supposed to be undertaken by the project manager, but the lack of resources for the undertaking of project tasks, and the failure to provide appropriate and efficient infrastructure for the successful completion of the project, could not be attributed to the project manager. In a similar manner, the sociopolitical factors that led to the cost increase cannot be entirely attributed to the project manager, but rather the department for culture, media and sports and the administrators of the national Library. Alternative Project Management Actions There are a number of strategies which could have been undertaken by the project managers to avert the above mentioned time and cost risks. With regards to the costs risks, the project manager should have had a cost contingency fund to shoulder any risks of cost escalation (Mincks 2004, p. 316). This fund should specifically cover the spillover of costs that were not factored in the initial cost scope of the project. This strategy has been derived from studies done to evalu ate the reasons for the escalation of costs in cost engineering processes (Mincks 2004, p. 316). In ensuring the project meets it’s laid down time schedule, the project manager needed to first critically analyze the details pertaining to the project (Luckey 2006, p. 203). This implies critically analyzing the requirements of the project so that he or she can correctly know what the project entails (right to the slightest of details). In instances where there is evidence of ambiguities, clarification should be sought and finally, professionals should be hired to iron-out the project requirements, functional demands and ultimately, the design requirements for the entire project. Emphasis should however be laid on the scope creep in the overall development of the project plan because it has the potential of killing the purpose of the project (Angel 2009, p. 157). In highly demanding situations, it is advisable for the project manager to aggressively reduce the project scope and to ultimately avoid the inclusion of any new features to the project plan which were otherwise not there in the first place. To avoid any negative resource implications, it is pertinent for the project manager to map out any available resources (Mincks 2004, p. 316). This strategy need to be undertaken with the project requirements in mind so that the required personnel are available on the ground to undertake all the project requirements. Also, the available funding need to be determined to ensure the project will be completed without any financial hiccups. The entire relevant infrastructure needed for the completion of the project also needs to be determined well in advance (before the start of the project). With regards to risk management procedures, the project manager should identify all possible risks in the project execution process and develop a contingency plan that will outline the strategies to be used to remedy such risks incase they occur. A back-up plan would also come in handy, in case any aspects of the project plan (like personnel failures) fail to materialize. This plan will ultimately be the support system for the entire process. To avoid problems brought about by a lack of clarity of project tasks, the project manager should assign roles and responsibilities to team members in a clear and concise manner (Mincks 2004, p. 316). This will ensure every project member knows what he or she is supposed to do, and at what time. In effectively coming up with a good plan to this effect, the project managers should use project management tools, such as Gantt charts to come up with the right time schedules for this purpose. A failure to observe this procedure will ultimately lead to an overlap of responsibilities, time wastage, duplication of employees’ roles and responsibilities, and poor project quality. In undertaking this management strategy, the project managers also need to break down huge responsibilities into small and manageable roles. This implies the creation of sub-activities that are totally independent of each other, but which can be completed independently as well. After this breakdown is implemented, the smallest activities should be completed first; then the major activities follow. On a more general platform, the project manager should discourage the scheduling of many meetings meant to change the course of the project (Mincks 2004, p. 316). On the contrary, the project manager should only support meetings which are meant to solve pertinent problems only (on a need-by-need basis). Long and tedious meetings which have no clear-cut agenda are synonymous to a lot of time wastage and inefficiencies that are ultimately going to set back the completion of the project. Also, on a general basis, it is important for the project manager to document the critical underpinning of the project (Kohli 2006, p. 401). This means writing down the successes and failures of the projects on a sheet of paper so that future refe rencing can be done (with regards to the same project or subsequent projects). The project dashboard can come in handy when undertaking this task because it gives the project manager an overview of the project and enables him or her to quantify the progress made by the project team (in comparison to the laid down guidelines of the project plan). Conclusion This project assessment task exposes a number of lessons to be learnt in project management. Firstly, it exposes the fact that delays and cost implications are the most common types of risk in project management. In fact, these are the two factors identified as the sources of failure of the British library project. Secondly, we are able to learn that a single element of the project management process can be potentially fatal to the entire process. This implies that all areas of the project execution process need to be considered with equal seriousness. Thirdly, we can see that a majority of the problems assumed to be project risks fall within the mandate of the project manager. This means that the roles of the project manager need to be carefully checked in the execution of project plans. However, we can be able to see that there is a strong need for the coordination of project tasks and the roles of other project stakeholders (like sponsors); because not all project risks can be contained by the project manager. Comprehensively, these factors encompass the lessons to be learnt from the British library project. References Angel, P. (2009) PMP Certification, a Beginners Guide. London, McGraw Hill Professional. Flyvbjerg, B. (2008) Curbing Optimism Bias and Strategic Misrepresentation in Planning: Reference class forecasting in practice. European Planning Studies, 16(1), 3–21. Kohli. (2006) Project Management Handbook. London, McGraw-Hill. Luckey, T. (2006) Software Project Management for Dummies. London, For Dummies. Mincks, W. (2004) Construction Jobsite Management. London, Cengage Learning. Project S mart. (2011) Role of the Project Manager. 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