Black Feminist Thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Black Feminist Thought - Essay Example Black feminism thought refers to a contemplation which argues that class oppression, racism and sexism are inextricably bound as one. Black feminist thought can as well be described as an idea meant to show that women should all be treated equally and fairly regardless of race and sex. The manner in which all these three issues relate to each other is referred to as intersectionality. There are forms of feminism that strive to do away with class and sexism but tend to ignore race. In this case, discrimination against people especially women through racial foundation is high. Combahee River collective is a union which supported the black women by arguing that their liberation would do away with sexism, racism and oppression of class. From research in the past, it is clear that black women experienced oppression from the black women giving the impression that they could not live with the whites without having issues among them (Carby, 1982, 92). Alice Walker is one among many women who has contributed to fighting for rights of women by forming a movement that supports their rights. This movement was known as Alice Walker’s Womanism.... This is not the case with the white women as this is not how they are positioned. With this in mind, it is clear that black women are not treated fairly. There are black feminist organizations that have been formed since long ago but they have faced many challenges. These challenges faced are mainly implicated by other Black Nationalist political unions or white women. This is yet another factor showing that black women have had a rough time with the white ones in the past (Collins, 1990, 85). The main reason as to why this organisation was oppressed by other larger organizations is because most members moved from the large organisation joining it. The other reason explaining why the black women were oppressed is the stereotype that was attributed to them. In this case, sex was the main issue as black women were referred to as whores and bulldaggers. This is one issue giving a clear impression that they were considered to be useful in the society (Davis, 1981, 56). At this point it w as even more serious because black men were involved in oppressing them as well. At this point they did not face oppression from the whites only but also from the blacks. The blacks who oppressed the ladies in this case were men. There are three main challenges that black women had to face from the whites and these larger unions. These challenges are: i. Prove to their fellow black women that feminism was not for the white women only. ii. They had to make the white women share power with them equally which they had to do it by force. iii. They had to fight misogynist propensities of Black Nationalism. Over the years, many feminist movements and

Decadence in Nigeria Essay Example for Free

Decadence in Nigeria Essay It is of no doubt that moral decadence has completely replaced core moral values in present times. This ravaging phenomenon is the cause of some of the major problems Nigeria is facing as a Nation. A society where the youths do not think of how tomorrow would be better than today or how to invent new things to automate processes involved in our daily activities rather focusing on how to enrich themselves by any means and controlling enormous wealth at a tender age. Many youths of today are engulfed in numerous means of gathering wealth and enjoying the good things of life tagging it hustling. when you ask an average youth what he does, he replies I am a hustler, you begin to wonder on what kind of job could it be that doesn’t have a name. It is rampant and prevalent and as a result has reduced the present youths to mediocrity. Recently, a youth corps member was asked as regards the new increment in youth corps members’ allowances, what will he use the money realized after NYSC for? He said he will get a car. It is nothing but a good example to show the degree of aberration currently going on in our society, total loss of focus, no entrepreneurship skills, no future plans, no thoughts about achievements, no more self-discovery, and decency is no more celebrated. In the world today, shame and shamelessness are rewarded with encomiums and emphasized recognition, Unclothedness is now directly proportional to your fame and acceptance, skimpy dresses are now tickets to classy events, songs that have intimate talks in them sell faster than the meaningful ones, when your trousers is around your waist then you are seen as a learner, big girls are now identified by level of exposure of their private parts. Even the world Religion and the institutions have failed in eradicating this dangerous way of life. What is the hope? Would the society continue to condone this act? Where will this lead us to? Is this how the great men of this world lived their youth lives? Fellow young minds, are we going make Nigeria a better place with this lack of focus and unscrupulousness, definitely NO.. Truly, a few of us are trying in our own capabilities to be useful to the society and act right but sincerely a few is not enough, we need a larger percentage of young minds to join the crusade and collectively move the nation forward by being creative, responsible, reliable, useful and patriotic. If you see no reason to help Nigeria, then there is a reason to be useful to your state, if u still see no reason, then your local government, if not your precious parents and family, what about your humble self, and if none of this motivates you to be useful, think about your unborn generations. The provisions of today would be used by the people of tomorrow. As a matter of fact, It is what the generation of Chief Obafemi Awolowo , Alh. Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the likes did that we are enjoying or suffering today. The good will be enjoyed and celebrated while the bad would be suffered for and be condemned. An activist used to say: our time shall past, but the history of our time will never past†. I put it to you today, Be part of the history of the struggle for a better Nigeria. Do anything in your capability to make your immediate society proud of you and appreciate you, do the right thing at the right time and never be an idle person. Discover yourself, your innermost strength and build it. Discover your Purpose  and the world would adore you like Rose†.

The Role of Deception in Hamlet Essay examples -- GCSE English Literat

The Role of Deception in Hamlet  Ã‚      In the play Hamlet, deception is a major factor in the cause of the deaths of all those who die in the play, including Hamlet himself. The following paragraphs will outline the deception involved in the deaths of various characters including: Polonius, Gertrude, Laertes, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Old Hamlet; as well as the downfall of the antagonist and protagonist: Claudius and Hamlet themselves. Dishonesty is a major factor in the deaths of many characters. "I'll silence me even here. Pray you be round with him." (III, iv, 4-5), is what Polonius says before hiding behind the arras in Gertrude's bedroom, and eavesdropping on Hamlet's conversation with his mother. Much to Polonius' misfortune, he is stabbed by Hamlet, who really intended to kill Claudius, mistaking him for Polonius behind the tapestry. Also, before Gertrude dies, Claudius says, "It is the poisoned cup; it is too late." (V, ii, 270). He is referring to the poisoned wine which he made for Hamlet, but Gertrude drank instead, and died as a result. As well, "The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, / Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice / Hath turned on me. Lo, here I lie, / Never to rise again." (V, ii, 294-297), is what Laertes says to Hamlet before he dies. Laertes tells Hamlet about how his own plan to kill Hamlet has turned on him, how he was blinded by rage over the death of his father, and how Claudius was the one who put him up to it. Other cases in which deceit is the cause of death include the death of Ophelia, given the impression that she is no longer loved, by Hamlet, who is just pretending to be mad and really has feelings for her. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were killed due to their ... ... Burnett, Mark Thornton. " 'For they are actions that a man might play': Hamlet as Trickster". Smith, Peter J., and Nigel Woods, eds. Hamlet.Buckingham: Open U P, 1996. (24-54). Leverenz, David. "The Inner Hamlet: An Interpersonal View". Schwartz, Murray M. and Coppelia Kahn, eds. Representing Shakespeare: New Psychoanalytic Essays. Baltimore: John Hopkins U P, 1980. Rosenberg, Marvin. "Deception in Hamlet". Thompson, Marvin, and Ruth Thompson, eds. Shakespeare and the Sense of Identity. Newark: U of Delaware P, 1989. Shakespeare, William. The New Cambridge Shakespeare: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Philip Edwards. Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 1985. Thatcher, David. Begging to Differ: Modes of Discrepancy in Shakespeare. New York: Peter Lang, 1999. Vickers, Brian. Appropriating Shakespeare: Contemporary Critical Quarrels. New Haven: Yale U P, 1993

Oz/Management Information Systems

Oz/Management Information Systems, 6th edition Part Case Projects Part 1, â€Å"The Information Age† 1. Review the Gardeners+ part- and chapter-opening cases. Make a list of the inputs, processing, and outputs the owners must do. Now, armed with your list, go online to research a computer system—computer, printer, and any peripheral equipment—that you think will meet Gardeners+’s needs. Place that information in a spreadsheet that could be attached to the â€Å"Financial† section of Gardeners+’s business plan.Remember, the banker will review the plan to determine the business’s funding needs. 2. Gardeners+ constantly needs to review its business to come up with new ideas to compete in the gardening business. Review Figure 2. 1 on page 43 of the book, which lists eight ways to gain a competitive advantage. You, Amanda, Mary, and Ed will be meeting to generate some strategic plans for maintaining Gardeners+’s existing business and expanding into new areas. Do some research online or in business magazines to see how technology is being used in the gardening industry.Brainstorm some new uses for technology, too. For example, restaurants could give customers electronic menus and allow them to check items off electronically on a tablet PC. Come up with two new ideas for Gardeners+ to remain competitive. 3. Chapter 3 focuses on the use of information technology in various business functions. Review the business functions that Gardeners+ needs to carry out and make a list. Go online to research an application that will support as many of Gardeners+’s functions as possible. Explain why you believe this application is a good choice.

Synopses of Psychology Articles

1. Synopsis: This magazine picture displays the concept of depression. As the female blankly stares into space, she looks very stressed and depressed. This also displays prescription drug pills in which are falling as if they were raindrops, with a teddy bear, kids’ small wagon with blocks in the background, and the female holding a bottle which references as if she’s overly stressed from the pressures of parenting. This ultimately results with having to take the pills for her psychological disorder of depression. The woman also appears to be suffering from post partum depression, which could have led to her drug abuse. Moreover, common experiences of new motherhood, such as sleep disturbance, postpartum pain, psychological stress, and trauma also increase the chances of having post partum depression. Psychological Concept: Depression—Andrea, Barbalich, Moms on Drugs (2011) Parents Magazine pp. 140-1412. Synopsis: This is a poem that describes the many things tha t one does when having the sleep disorder of insomnia. The person tries many methods to go to sleep, but none seem to work, so they stay up and perform different movements and actions in hopes that they’ll eventually go to sleep. Nothing works, so they just accept the fact that sleep won’t come. Psychological Concept- Sleeping disorders- Chidi, S. (2006). Up! Education. Retrieved December 9, 2009, from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/up-education/3. Synopsis: This was a very interesting video that speaks of the psychological effects that stem from positive and negative reinforcements a parent gives a child to change their behavior. For example, a parent may spank a child to reinforce their behavior of lying habitually. This is a type of punishment that parents gear towards in hopes to positively change their child’s behavior. Psychological Concept- punishment-Zakaria, F. (Host), & McCullough, C. (Writer). (2011, May 16). Psychology: reinforcement and punishment [ Video file]. Retrieved from http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTsQLH3vNQ&feature=related4. Synopsis: This website describes the many causes of drug and alcohol addiction that one may experience. It then goes on to mention the multiple treatments and therapies that one can seek to get through this life threatening psychological disorder. It not only affects the brain, but also affects the body detrimentally as well. This website is very informative on guiding them on a road to recovery. Psychological concept- drug and alcohol  use and addiction-Archer, D. (n.d.). Treatment approaches for drug addiction. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction5. Synopsis: This is an article that was published in the New York Times newspaper where it speaks of the effects of helicopter parenting, and how it negatively affects the child. Hovering a child hinders them from making their own decisions and developing their own identity in this societ y. This is a very significant psychological concept because decision making is essential to have and perform in daily life. Lacking decision making skills is a cause from one being neurotic.  Psychological concept- decision making- Lewin, T. (2008, Dec 01). Going off to college for less (passport required). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. A1. Keirsey, D(1998). Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence (Prometious Nemesis Publishing Company) Toronto Canada.6. Synopsis: This is a best seller book where the author David Keirsey talks about how being temperament is very important to have in college, other schooling, work, relationships and more. As a child, one may have temper tantrums when they don’t receive what they desire. That is a personality and psychological trait where the impulses in one’s brain becomes very strong and cause the tantrums. This behavior shows during adulthood in the daily life of the person. It’s important to b e temperament because it causes less arguments and altercations between yourself and others, as David stresses in his book. Psychological concept- temperament7. Synopsis: Freud talks about the three personality traits: Id, ego and super ego, and how they work together to build personalities and the complexity of human beings. They are the different levels as to how information in the brain is structured. Freud says there’s the unconscious, mid conscious and conscious. Freud practiced many methods and has come to the conclusion that the unconscious is where everything is stored. The three  personality traits that he has come up with him consider are important in making decisions. Psychological concept- Id, ego, and super ego  Lahey, B, Psychology: An Introduction 11th edition8. Synopsis: The psychological concept that is revealed in this commercial deals with forgetting. The psychological disorder of dementia is humorously shown in this commercial by an elderly woman who f orgets that she’s eating KFC, and that she placed the chicken bucket on her head. Dementia is very common in old age, and saddens families as they watch their elder loved ones go through it, but in the commercial it brings humor to the disorder. The family that’s in the commercial find it funny that the elder woman put the bucket onto her head. Psychological concept- forgetting- Pratt, C. (Executive producer). (2008, October 5). KFC [commercial] MTV.9. Synopsis: The movie Arachnophobia is about a group of scientists, looking to discover and research many species of insects and spiders, but accidently brings home a deadly creature then increasingly multiplies and kill many people. The people of the town become paranoid of them, and do all they can to get away from them. Psychological concept- phobia- Marshall, F. (Director). (1990). Arachnophobia [Hollywood Pictures]. Available from IDP Films, 1133 Broadway, Suite 926, New York, NY 1001010. Synopsis- Ivan Pavlov was a R ussian Physiologist who researched conditioning. One of his findings was that if you present someone with a repetitive demonstration that they are to perform, they will continue to receive the anticipation of what was told for them to perform. For example, when ringing a bell for a dog to come and get a bone, the dog comes to eat it. When the bone is taken away, but the bell is still rang, the dog’s mouth began to salivate and will anticipate the reward of the bone. The animal has been controlled by being conditioned by a conditioned response. Psychological concept- conditioning- Babkin, B.P. (1949). Pavlov: A Biography. Toronto, Canada: The University of Chicago Press.11. Synopsis- This picture represents a woman on her death bed relying on oxygen as a means of life support. There are 5 stages of dying, which are denial, anger, bargain, depression and accept. This woman’s first reaction was probably denial, in which she refuses to acknowledge the inevitable, perhaps b elieving a mistake has been made. She may have even sought other medical opinions and diagnoses or pretend that this situation would simply go away on its own. As she realized that she was dying, she may have experience anger due to her life ending prematurely.She may have also attempted to bargain, probably with God or another religious figure, and she may have promised to change or make amends or atone for her wrongdoings. The woman may have also experienced depression and hopelessness. During this stage, she may mourn the loss of health that was already occurring, as well as the impending losses of her family and plans. Lastly, when nearing the end of suffering she will learn to accept the inevitable, paving the way for a smoother transition both for herself and loved ones. Psychological concept- Stages of Dying-http://www.equalitybritain.co.uk/content/news/news_June09.asp12. Synopsis- This picture represents a young lady with an eating disorder. She displays signs of disappointm ent, disgust, depression, guilt and a pale/unhealthy appearance. She may be abnormally sensitive about being perceived as fat, or have a massive fear of becoming fat. The measuring tape in her mouth shows that she is very body conscious and is constantly measuring her body. The different writing on her body represents how she feels about herself and her image. She may have psychological and emotional problems that contribute to her disorder.She may also have a low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behavior and troubled relationships. Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues in society. Peer pressure and what she may have seen in the media may have fueled her desire to be thin. The exact cause of eating disorders is unknown. Unfortunately, many people with eating disorders resist treatment and experience serious complications such as bone loss, heart failure, digesti ve problems and seizures. Psychological concept- Eating Disorders- http://iamw0manhearmer0ar.wordpress.com/category/eating-disorders/

Female Genital Mutilation Essay

Female Genital Mutilation Essay Female Genital Mutilation Essay The World Health Organization defines Female Genital Mutilation as a practice that involves the alteration of female genitalia in a manner that does not relay any medical benefits to the victim. According to Oleinick (1998), around 87% of Egyptian Islamic women support the practice. The extent of this support is attributable to various factors. These may be cultural, religious or social. The purpose of this study was to find out the current state of FGM as a cultural practice in Egypt. Secondly, the study wanted to probe useful strategies in eliminating FGM. Finally, the study was to highlight the impacts of FGM on the global healthcare system. The research uses a longitudinal approach. Various factors make the Egyptian people susceptible to the practise of FGM. Firstly are the socio-demographic characteristics. These include factors such as age, income, religion, marital status and level of income. Islam considers FGM as ‘makruma’. This implies that it is not a mandatory, but honourable act. According to National Geographic Statistics, the country’s literacy level stands at 58%. There is limited knowledge on the implications of the practice. In Egypt, communities enforce FGM through various actions. For instance, women who do not participate are often ostracised from the community. The fact that it is a societal norm also permits the practice. Eighty-two percent of Egyptian women recommend FGM for their daughters. Various factors in the Egyptian society reinforce this practice. Circumcised women consider themselves ‘clean’. Egyptians credit FGM as a tool for reducing a woman’s libido, alongside other psychosexual effects, in limiting adultery. These factors prompt a majority of women to seek or participate in FGM. Consequently, over 90% of Egyptian women have participated. This is indiscriminate to religious factors. For instance, 78% of Christian women have participated. This prevalence is attributable to various factors. The most important are religion and Egyptian culture. From the study, FGM is more of a cultural practice. The Quran has vague support for the practice. The existence of FGM preceded Islam. There is little correlation between the two phenomena. FGM is non-existent in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq, where religion is highly regarded (Oleinick, 1998). According to the Toubia, Izzett WHO (1998), the practice is a violation of human and gender rights. However, campaigners have made various mistakes in the effort against FGM. To correct this, various strategies need implementation during intervention. For instance, the approach taken should be multi-sectoral. Participants may be from the health or legal communities. Community groups should be able to work hand-in-hand with NGOs. The process of behaviour change is a slow one. To eradicate FGM, the efforts have to be sustainable. The enlisting of support by leaders from various fields is crucial. For instance, religious leaders such as Imams are influential in discrediting the practice. Many people immigrate to Western countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK) to avoid this ill practice. Consequently, the study discovered that immigrants who have undergone FGM experience complications. These may be haemorrhages and other effects. This becomes a problem for the healthcare systems of the resident countries. There are many barriers to the elimination of FGM. Firstly, Egypt is a vast country. The country has many sparsely populated regions, whose inhabitants participate in FGM. Accessing such areas is difficult. Secondly, the country has poor educational standards. Around 60% of participants were ignorant of FGM’s implications. The Egyptian social attitude has been against Western ideals since the 1940s. Therefore, ideas promoted by bodies such as the WHO are often rejected. Finally, Egyptians are afraid of cultural repercussions such as shunning and curses, by failing to participate in FGM (Olenick, 1998). According to Celenko (1996), there is evidence of a Greek papyrus that describes the practice in the Ancient Egyptian context. Egypt is a predominantly Muslim state. Therefore, religion intertwines with culture. It is important to note that Egypt has a paternal culture. Consequently, they carry out FGM as an act of submitting women to men. Secondly, FGM has a close relation to marriage. The study discovered that circumcised women have better prospects of getting married. Religious and political influences are the main barriers towards the complete elimination of FGM. Here, the international community comes to focus. Campaigners should not impose their ideologies on the Egyptians. Instead, they should take a subjective approach. Do you need professionally written custom essays for money? can provide you with professional essay writing help online.

Input, Output, Storage Devices, Speed Essays

Input, Output, Storage Devices, Speed Essays Input, Output, Storage Devices, Speed Paper Input, Output, Storage Devices, Speed Paper Input Data is factual information and it needs to be accurately captured in order to be processed. There are many methods to input data and each situation warrants a different method. There can be several different ways to input the information and it can be done in an automatic fashion, as with a computer, or it can be done manually, as with a human writing the information down. For instance, printed questionnaires would best use a special scanning device called an optical data reader that uses optical mark recognition (OMR); when people complete the OMR form using pencils to fill in boxes on OMR paper an optical mark reader (OMR) can convert the pencil marks into digital data. The best method for a telephone survey would be the phone key pad since an integrated voice system (IVR) would be able to capture the touch tone responses. To input data from bank checks, the best method would be an image replacement document (IRD), where a paper facsimile that is the legal equivalent of an original check is transmitted electronically, since this reduces costs and fraud losses. Retail tags can be placed with a microchip, called a smart chip, that easily relays the product information when scanned with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner and this would be the fastest, easiest method for inputting the data into the store’s computer system. Long documents would best be processed with a computer scanner so that the information on the document can be copied exactly and stored easily on the computer for reading or printing. Whatever the situation, there will be a satisfactory method to gather the information. Output Once the data has been accurately gathered, the information needs to be produced in some format. This process, known as output, is the opposite of the initial input process. Again, it can be accomplished many ways. For a hand held computer, the best output method would be a small screen called a liquid crystal display screen (LCD) because this would be the best way to view the data. For a color photograph the best method of output would be on a high end ink jet printer that produces color photo quality images on photographic paper because a photo needs to be vivid and clear. For a resume, the best method of output would be a color injet printer because it can print on different types of high quality paper, in different colors, or in different fonts. Again, an inkjet printer would be the best method of output for a memorandum because it would be easy to print out in black and white for multiple recipients. A statistical report could be processed best on a graphical printer, such as an inkjet printer, because you need to be able to have a printout that would display charts or graphs. The best method of output for a company annual report would be a professional printer because you would need a heavy duty printer that can handle large volumes and produce high quality documents.. Each situation would benefit from its own unique output method. Storage Devices Where there is input and output, there is always a place to store the information either long term or temporarily. Computer systems need to store greater amounts of data, instructions, and information in a more permanent manner than the main memory of a computer will allow. Therefore, secondary storage is required. Every individual situation determines which storage device would be the most effective way to store information. For example, a hard disk is best used to store information for long term, frequent use because it gives direct access to the information, such as a teacher having access to their students’ grades stored on a hard disk. A floppy disk is a portable way that data was transferred and was best used for information that needed to go from one application to another or one computer to another, such as a report that needed to be taken home after being created at work. It is not widely used anymore and was replaced by the compact disk read-only memory, or CD-ROM. The CD-ROM is a disk that cannot be recorded on once it has data written onto it, and is most appropriate for companies to store computer games or programs for the consumer to use. Random Access Memory, or RAM, is a storage device that is for temporary use, which is best used for running instructions while the computer is powered on. A flash/jump drive is a portable drive that can be used to store information that needs to be transported to different computers, such as a student saving their report and working on it using multiple computers. Tape is also an appropriate method to store data onto an audio- and videocassettes, when the information needs to be stored but does not need to be accessed quickly. This method is inexpensive and ideal for information that needs to be stored in case of a disaster. Different types of storage are optimal for different types of situations. Speed The speed of computer components is very important because input and output need to be processed efficiently. Random Access Memory (RAM) is temporary storage that can be lost in a disruption such as a power surge; the disk storage is often called random access because the reading head can move rather quickly from one piece of data to another, and does not have to read all the data in between. It’s speed is measured in megahertz and the greater the megahertz, the faster the RAM can read the data. The clock speed is a series of electronic pulses at a predetermined rate which affects the machine cycle time and the control unit executes an instruction in line with the electronic cycle, or pulses of the internal â€Å"clock. † Every instruction takes at least the same amount of time as the interval between pulses. The shorter the interval between pulses, the faster each instruction can be completed. Data on hard disks can be retrieved quickly because the disk spins. The faster the disk spins the fater it can transfer data and retrieve data. It is measured in megabites. Data on a CD-ROM can also be accessed quickly as the disk spins in the same way the hard disk spins and the faster it spins the faster the recoded data can be retireved from the CD-ROM. Data on a floppy disk is the slowest method which is why it is being phased out and replaced by faster methods like the CD-ROM. The different components of a computer all process and retrieve data at different speeds to efficiently complete input and output. Citations Stair, Ralph M. , Reynolds, George W. (2006). Fundamentals of Information Systems (3th ed. ). Boston: Thomson Course Technology. Wikipedia. (2007). Floppy Disk. Retrieved June 6, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Floppy_disk Wikipedia. (2007). Random Access Memory. Retrieved June 6, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/RAM Wikipedia. (2007). USB Flash Drive. Retrieved June 6, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/USB_flash_drive

What to Expect on College Graduation Day

What to Expect on College Graduation Day Graduation day is everything youve worked so hard for, all rolled up into one super-charged day. So how can you make sure youre able to relax and enjoy your celebration instead of just running from one chaotic situation to another? Knowing what to expect on graduation day can make sure that the memory of you have of this important milestone is one of great joy and calm instead of chaos and frustration. Expect to be challenged as you try to balance everything All of a sudden, all of your worlds are going to collide. Youll have friends you want to see and say goodbye to, youll have family in town, and youll have all kinds of logistics to work out. You will likely feel pulled in a bunch of different directions, all at once, by the people who mean the most to you. Realize that this will likely feel a little overwhelming at times and that youll just have to roll with it. Expect the administration to be busy If you think you can take care of some last-minute to-dos like talking with the financial aid office, you might be surprised to learn that graduation day is one of the worst days to try to get things done. Many offices are super busy with student and family requests at a time when theyre also expected to be involved with graduation itself. If you have things you need to get done before you graduate, plan to do so before graduation day arrives. Expect to serve as a guide for your family You may have no problem knowing where to park, where to get food, where the bathrooms are, and where all the buildings are located on campus...but your family doesnt. Expect to serve as their guide and plan accordingly, either by being available physically to show them around or by being available via cell phone. Expect not to have much time with your friends You and your friends might plan on all seeing each other, eating together, and overall hanging out, but- just like you- everyone will be pulled in a million different directions. Do your best to cram in as much time with your friends as possible before graduation day arrives. Expect a challenge when youre trying to find people Even with cell phones, campus maps, and text messages, it can be a serious challenge to find your family, especially in a large crowd. Plan in advance to meet at certain places (e.g., next to the large tree by the church) instead of out front after the graduation ceremony is over. Expect large crowds around town Even if youre graduation in a major city, the restaurants and hotels nearby will likely be crowded before, during, and after graduation. If youre hoping to go out to eat afterward, make sure you have reservations in advance. Expect to see people for only a short amount of time Aha! You finally found your sorority sister after graduation. You say hello, introduce her to your family, and then...shes disappeared among the crowd. With so much activity and so many people on campus, its likely that youll only have a few moments to cherish with those who mean the most to you. Consequently, keep your camera handy (and fully charged) so that you can capture some amazing graduation pictures before they fade away. Expect to be on your cell phone- a lot The night before graduation is not the time to forget to charge your cell phone. Your friends will be calling and texting you; youll be calling and texting your friends; your parents and/or family will also be in touch; and even your grandmother, whos 1,000 miles away, will want to call and congratulate you. Consequently, make sure your cell phone is charged and ready. Expect a lot of conflicting emotions After all youve worked for and as ready as you thought you were to graduate, graduation day can be an emotional experience. You might very well find yourself not wanting to leave while also excited, and nervous, about what the future holds. Instead of trying to ignore your emotions, just let yourself feel and process whatever the day brings. It is, after all, one of the biggest days of your life, so why shouldnt it be an emotional one, too? Expect things to run late No matter how well you, your friends, your family, and the campus administration plan, things will inevitably run late. Taking it all in stride can help make sure you still enjoy yourself, no matter how far behind schedule things seem to run. Expect the day to be one of the most memorable days of your life Think of all the hard work you put into earning your degree; think of all your family has contributed and sacrificed; think of all the ​benefits of being a college graduate, both professionally and personally. When youre old and gray and looking back on your life, your college graduation will probably be one of the memories you are most proud of. Consequently, do your best to take a few moments throughout the day to absorb everything thats going on. It can be challenging, but after all youve done to make your graduation possible, youre definitely worth the few extra moments it might take to relax and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Identify the federal law that governs Protected Health Information Term Paper

Identify the federal law that governs Protected Health Information (PHI) and briefly discuss the elements of compliance. Describ - Term Paper Example In all, there are 18 identifiers that must be followed implicitly in order to avoid a breach of confidentiality. (Jones, 2009) Under HIPAA patients have the right to be educated regarding their health information and a clear definition of what will be done with that information, who has access to it; how it is stored, communicated, and distributed. They also have access to their health information with the right to amend it, obtain copies of it, and know the history of to whom it has been distributed. Before health care information can be released from the provider, the patient must sign an informed consent stating where the information will be distributed. This release must be specific and timely; health information requested for non-routine uses requires a separate consent to be signed by the patient. This authorized consent may not be forced or coerced; complaints with regards to breach of confidentiality can be filed with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Servic es. (Senior Health Forum, 2011) One of the largest claims filed to date involves a Seattle firm, Providence Health System.

Islamic Center Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic Center Proposal - Essay Example These assertions are false and truly unfair to the religion since the true followers rebuke and are strongly against such acts that plague the society. The people that orchestrate these acts are uninformed and misled people that believe that they are doing the work of God while they are doing exactly the opposite. It is therefore important to spread the teachings and information of the religion to other places all over the world to ensure that people associate the Islamic religion with the principles and teachings that they have instead of drawing from the false information that is asserted by the radical groups looking to destabilize the world. The Twin Cities is one of the major urban areas in America and is home to many people that have come from different parts of the world. America is accommodating and therefore the number of Muslims in the region are many thereby a Muslim Center is necessary. This is to ensure that the children and also the Muslims have a place for prayer and there is proper development of the children in the proper Islamic teachings. This will ensure that the number of people that have access to the Mosque and the Islamic teachings has increased significantly in the State. A Muslim Center is a place of worship and development and therefore the Center will be accessible to all people that are willing to learn and develop as well as for prayers. Islamic religion does not shut the doors to the Mosque or the praying hall since the people can pray at any time during the day or night. It will therefore be open to all people and the people around where the mosque is located will be encouraged to go to the m osque and engage with others in the Center. This will create an environment where people will have grown a culture where they know each other and therefore the fear of people for being Muslim will be eradicated. The Center will be built with an aim of developing different talents and enhancing community

Organization Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organization Studies - Essay Example Scientific management and the human relations theory are related to the rationalization theory of Max Weber. Specifically, scientific management by Frederick Taylor was formally rational because it involved the use of a well calculated procedure to produce maximum output at minimum input within organisations. On the other hand, human relations theory is substantively rational in nature because it calls for emphasis on sociopsychological and moral qualities of labour rather than scientific calculation and maximization of profits. The formal or technical rationality defined by Weber meant that an organisation is based on hierarchy of authority, functional specialization, impersonality and rules. Formal rationality is distinguished from substantive rationality because it is defined as a way of choosing the best means to a given end (ONeill, 1986). On the other hand, Weber defined substantive rationality as a way of determining whether the end achieved is rational. Substantive rationality is based on values and morals that define an organisation or a society. Formal rationality is based on measurements and calculations. In terms of economic action, formal rationality recognizes the extent of quantitative accounting in decision making (Weber, 1962). Weber suggests that such quantitative approach of decision making is possible and applicable. Weber further argues that formal rationality is a variable not an attribute because it has a varying extent. According to Weber, expressing items in terms of money is the best way of achieving the highest degree of formal rationality (Wallace, 1990). Formal rationality entails socially invented measurements which are determined by symbolic representation and manipulation of empirical observations. Such measurement scales can be used to assess the given means and results under given circumstances. Therefore, formal rationality

Summarize Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Summarize - Essay Example Martha McCaskey’s task in the Silicon 6 project is not an easy one. She is under intense pressure from the senior management to have the project completed and an action plan delivered to the client. The pressure calls her to make personal sacrifices as well as compromises. She is even considering paying someone to do the project for them, only that it emerged successful. The client too has a great reputation; therefore, the firm cannot take chances with the project. The client is a manufacturer of semi-conductors from California, the issue at hand was that the company wanted to identify the technologies and the cost regime of a new product (chip) that has been produced by client’s competitors. Martha’s job is to coordinate the activities that will foresee that their client obtains this information. She is tasked with the role of finding the information from another consultant, Phil Devon. The challenge is to have the consultant give her the information, Martha is doubtful. According to McCaskey, there are two possibilities that can be appropriate in the achievement of this task. Firstly, Phil Devon can be required to give a number of options on how the chips are produced, this would include the ones that are being produced by the competitor. She thought it would be a good strategy to eliminate any suspicion. However, this would come at a cost of additional funding from the client. The option also relied on the willingness of Devon to provide the information. Secondly, there was the option of leaving the task to Chuck Kaufmann, a senior associate from her firm. He was more experienced in seeking market intelligence information. Despite the option considered, the project would affect Martha in one way or another. She opted to have an interview with Devon; she called and had an early morning interview with a man who was willing to help with the information. However, Martha felt guilty for

Outdoor Management Development Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Outdoor Management Development - Coursework Example Thus, popular models and groundbreaking definitions will be employed to present the pointers that relate to leadership and change management in the context of group and teamwork interactions. Outdoor management development is meant to provide experiential learning through outdoor activities that facilitate behavior change and promote leadership competencies (McEvoy & Buller, 1997). Therefore leadership and change management were the fundamental ends I sought to achieve through the whole project. According to Armstrong, leadership involves â€Å"providing direction, facilitating change and achieving results through the efficient, creative and responsible use of resources† (Armstrong, 2014, p. 4). Therefore, I viewed the project as a way I could gain important leadership qualities and develop it further by observing how teams and groups are formed and utilized for the attainment of the best results. One central theme of this entire study was to examine how leadership and personality change could occur and be managed in the group dynamics. This is encapsulated in Tuckman’s views of the stages of team development which include forming, storming, norming, performing and doing (Blanchard & Parisi-Carew, 2009). This project was, therefore, an opportunity to consciously view how it occurs and how it affects the working cycle and integrate it into my learning competency. Learning and making changes as a result of some situation or circumstance is quite difficult. Learning goes through various phases and this includes challenging an individual’s original views and understanding of a given situation or phenomenon (MacKeracher, 2013). Therefore, a leader will have to unfreeze and refreeze ideas and concepts that exist in the minds and thoughts of his followers (Murray, et al., 2013).  

Summarize Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Summarize - Essay Example Martha McCaskey’s task in the Silicon 6 project is not an easy one. She is under intense pressure from the senior management to have the project completed and an action plan delivered to the client. The pressure calls her to make personal sacrifices as well as compromises. She is even considering paying someone to do the project for them, only that it emerged successful. The client too has a great reputation; therefore, the firm cannot take chances with the project. The client is a manufacturer of semi-conductors from California, the issue at hand was that the company wanted to identify the technologies and the cost regime of a new product (chip) that has been produced by client’s competitors. Martha’s job is to coordinate the activities that will foresee that their client obtains this information. She is tasked with the role of finding the information from another consultant, Phil Devon. The challenge is to have the consultant give her the information, Martha is doubtful. According to McCaskey, there are two possibilities that can be appropriate in the achievement of this task. Firstly, Phil Devon can be required to give a number of options on how the chips are produced, this would include the ones that are being produced by the competitor. She thought it would be a good strategy to eliminate any suspicion. However, this would come at a cost of additional funding from the client. The option also relied on the willingness of Devon to provide the information. Secondly, there was the option of leaving the task to Chuck Kaufmann, a senior associate from her firm. He was more experienced in seeking market intelligence information. Despite the option considered, the project would affect Martha in one way or another. She opted to have an interview with Devon; she called and had an early morning interview with a man who was willing to help with the information. However, Martha felt guilty for

Leadership assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership - Assignment Example The main drawback of the manager was that he was very autocratic in his style. The company consisted of 100 employees then. Though there were divisional managers for each functional level, the decisions for the functional levels are taken by the MD himself. Even if the decisions of the divisional managers are worth, the MD hardly approves them. The second major drawback of his is that he is less concerned about the growth of his employees. In other words, he is highly afraid of being dethroned by other talents in the company. When an employee aims for taking accreditation tests, he de-motivates them by saying that it is not required at their stage and they could think of it on some later years. Overall he wants the employees to progress very slowly in the organization. But there is one good quality that he possesses. He takes quick decisions. There were many instances where the company required immediate decisions to sustain business. He was good enough to take decision at the right time and sustain the business. Though decision making is one of the best skills of a leader, its sole possession cannot make a person an efficient leader. Organizational Structure and Culture The organization which I worked for was a partnership firm. The company had a very informal culture. As per the firm’s objectives, there were no strict hierarchies to be followed. Everybody from the associate staff to the top directors of the firm are to be addressed each other’s by their first name only. Even an associate staff has the liberty to report anything directly to the chairman or director. Every individual who is recruited to the company is being given orientation program about the organizational culture and practices. This one week of orientation program is given in order to make the individual learn and unlearn various things. The culture of the firm has definitely helped me to enhance my relationship skills. The only hindrance for growth was the attitude of the manag ing director. My role in the company was a consultant. A consultant is just one level next to the associate staff. I am a person who likes to interact and mingle with people. The company’s culture helped me to be in constant interaction with the divisional managers and even the managing director. I could always interact with them on work or non-work related matters. The workforce of the firm was divided into various groups based on the companies for which the consulting is performed. A group is not permanent and each group will have members based on their team requirements. For instance, the team for Kraft Foods consulting will be different from the team for John Deer consulting. Both the teams may or may not have common members in them. Therefore, the team system enables an individual to be connected with various people in the organization. The team will also undergo minor re-shuffling every year. Each team will also have a person as a team lead who will manage the smooth fl ow of work in that team. Therefore, it gives an individual the opportunity for enhancing their leadership skills. Performance of the selected leader As discussed before, one of the good qualities of the managing director was his effective communication skills. He always communicated well with the employees. In that way he has helped me to motivate me on my communication skills. I always like to interact with people. I could always talk to him about anything. He always

Effective Leadership Essay Example for Free

Effective Leadership Essay Being an effective leader means learning who you are and what you stand for, and having the courage to act on your values. Moral leadership is quite similar to the concept of servant leadership in that the emphasis and the reward are based in doing for others. A leader serves using an ethical foundation which is then adapted and acted on by followers within the organization. Moral leadership describes how leaders make decisions according to beliefs about right and wrong. A system of morals, or beliefs, is also very personal to leaders. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., displayed courage and moral leadership; Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the eldest son of Martin Luther King Sr., a Baptist minister and Alberta Williams King. King attended local segregated public school. He entered Morehouse College at the age of 15 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1948. After graduating with honors from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania in 1951, he went to Boston University where he earned a doctoral degree in systematic theology in 1955. Throughout his education, King was exposed to influences that related Christian theology to the struggles of oppressed people. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., operated on moral leadership, distinguishing right from wrong and doing right, seeking the just, the honest, the good, and the right conduct in achieving goals and fulfilling purpose. In May of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff escalated anti-segregation marches in Birmingham by encouraging teenagers and school children to join. Hundreds of singing children filled the streets of downtown Birmingham, angering Sheriff Bull Connor, who sent police officers with attack dogs and firefighters with high-pressure water hoses against the marchers. Scenes of young protesters being attacked by dogs and pinned against buildings by torrents of water from fire hoses were shown in newspapers and television around the world. During the demonstration, King was arrested and sent to jail. He wrote a letter from his jail cell to local clergymen who had criticized him for creating disorder in the city. His â€Å"Letter from Birmingham City Jail† which argued that individuals had the moral right and responsibility to disobey unjust laws, was widely read at the time and added to King’s standing as a moral leader. The demonstration forced white leaders to negotiate and end some form of segregation in Birmingham. Even more important, the protest encouraged many Americans to support national legislation against segregation. Martin Luther King Jr. and other black leaders organized the 1963 March on Washington, a massive protest in Washington, D.C, for jobs and civil rights. On August 28, 1963, King delivered the keynote address to an audience of more than 200,000 civil rights supporters. His â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech expressed the hopes of the Civil Rights Movement in oratory as moving as any in American history: â€Å" I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å" We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. â€Å" I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character†. The speech and the march built on the Birmingham demonstration to create the political momentum that resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited segregation in public accommodations, as well as discrimination in education and employment. As a result of King’s effectiveness as a leader of the American Civil rights Movement and his highly visible moral and courage stance he was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize for peace.

The World Channel Tunnel Engineering Projects Construction Essay

The World Channel Tunnel Engineering Projects Construction Essay The Channel Tunnel (French: le tunnel sous la Manche), widely recognized as one of the worlds greatest civil engineering projects, is a 50.5km underwater rail tunnel connecting Folkestone, Kent in the UK with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in France under the English Channel. Even though it began construction in 1988 and was opened in 1994, the idea to have a cross-channel tunnel was first mooted more than 200 years ago but did not materialize due to political, national security and cost considerations. However, with the tremendous increase in traffic growth, better and alternative means of communication, convenience and speed was necessary and hence the need for an alternative transport route was clearly evident. The need for such tunnel was further compounded with Britain joining the European Community and the cross-channel traffic doubling in the last 20 years (leading to the project), reflecting improved trading between the Britain and rest of Europe. The Channel Tunnel would also be a ble to provide an alternative competitive link between the transportation systems of the UK and France, providing both speed and reliability to freight deliveries. With the strong endorsement from the governments of both sovereigns, the decision to build the Channel Tunnel was thus made. In April 1985, the British and French governments issued a formal invitation to potential tenderers for the fixed Channel link and eventually the contract was awarded to the consortium Channel Tunnel Group Limited- France Manche S.A. (CTG/FM) (later renamed Eurotunnel). Figure 1: Project Organization The Channel Tunnel, with the governments intention that it be privately funded and there would not be any government assistance or undertaking, was a build-own-operate-transfer (B-O-O-T) project with a concession. The project organization is shown in Figure 1. In this contract arrangement, Eurotunnel would be the owner cum operator, which was being funded by the banks and shareholders. The governments of UK and France were represented by the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), to which the Safety Authority and the Maitre dOeuvre (an independent technical auditor) would report to. The IGC would then make final engineering and safety decisions. TML (essentially split from CTG/FM so as to separate the roles of owner/operator and contractor) consisted mainly of five British contractors (Translink Joint Venture) and five French contractors (G.I.E Transmanche Construction) and would carry out the construction works for the Channel Tunnel in a design and build contract. Upon completion of the project, the British and French governments would award Eurotunnel a 55 (which was later revised to 65) year operating concession to repay the banks and shareholders. The Contract was officially signed on 13 August 1986 and the fixed rail was to be fully commissioned in 1993. The services offered by the Channel Tunnel include the Eurotunnel Shuttle (a shuttle service for vehicles), Eurostar passenger trains and freight delivery trains. TMLs contract was to design, build, and test and commission the fixed rail tunnel. The Channel Tunnel (Figure 2) was designed to have three concrete-lined bores approximately 50km long, with 37.9km undersea and the rest under land at either ends of the English (Cheriton near Folkstone) and French (Pas-de-Calais village of Frethun) terminals (Figure 3). Two of the running tunnels were designed to have an internal diameter of 7.6m while the third was a 4.8m service tunnel running midway between the two and connected to them via 3.3m diameter cross passages at 375m intervals. 2m diameter piston relief ducts connecting the main tunnels at 250m spacing were built to prevent the accumulation of differential air pressures and aerodynamic resistance. To facilitate operations and maintenance, four crossover caverns were built between the two terminals to allow trains to cross between the running tunnels. Two crossovers were laid close to the terminals while the other two were under the seabed , effectively dividing the tunnel into three approximately equal lengths. Figure 4 below shows the main phases of the project. Two separate rail tunnels were chosen instead of a single large twin-track rail tunnel because this could minimize construction risk while at the same time enhance operations, maintenance and safety. The diameters were finalized after design analysis, development and optimization studies, taking into consideration the operation and support, speed and cost of construction. The service tunnel provided access between the running tunnels during normal and emergency situations and was equipped with a guided transport system. It was also where the water and pumping mains run and functioned as a fresh air supply duct to the tunnels in normal working condition. In addition, the service tunnel would function as a lead tunnel during construction which allowed the workers and engineers to assess and ascertain the uncharted ground conditions before advancing the main tunnels. Basing on the existing geotechnical investigations, past tunneling expeditions and two additional geotechnical and geophysical surveys carried out by TML on the English Channel along the proposed tunnel line, it was ascertained that there was a distinct sub-unit of the Lower Chalk layer known as the Chalk Marl running continuously between the two terminals. Chalk Marl, made up of alternating bands of marly chalk and limestone, was found to be the best tunneling medium as it was essentially impermeable (due to its high clay content) and provided good short term stability under excavation, thus minimizing the number of supports required (Figure 5). It was designed to be bored in the bottom 15m of the Chalk Marl layer to minimize the ingress of water from the fractures and joints, but above the Gault clay which is susceptible to swelling when wet, imposing high stresses on the tunnel lining. The chalk marl strata dipped gently at less than 5o with smaller displacements of less than 2m d ue to faulting towards the UK side; whereas the strata dipped severely towards the French side (up to 20o) with much larger displacements of up to 15m (Gueterbock, 1992). Chalk at the French side was also harder, more brittle and fractured. This thus led to the use of different tunneling methods on the English and French sides. The seaward and landward bores for all three tunnels on the UK side began at Shakespeare Cliff. Construction traffic would enter the tunnel via a new inclined access (Adit A2) at the Lower Shakespeare site, while worker access was built via a shaft driven to the tunnel level from the Upper Shakespeare site (Gueterbock, 1992). Due to the fast construction time required and the relatively dry chalk marl at the UK side, it was assessed that the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) was most suitable for the UK tunnels. One feature of the NATM was the interlinking of design, construction method, sequence and plant and the success of this method depended on the continuous integration of these elements by the tunneling engineers. Six TBMs were used to drive the UK tunnels spanning a total distance of 84km. The TBMs were operated on an open-face mode with a front excavating section and a rear gripper unit which acted as a temporary anchor point when the cutting head drove forward at 1.5m inc rements (Anderson Roskrow, 1994). Excavation of the tunnel and erection of the tunnel linings were carried out concurrently. Depending on ground conditions, the thickness of the linings ranged between 380mm and 500mm. Expanded concrete lining was used for the UK tunnels where the unbolted lining was expanded against the excavated ground. Pads on the back of the lining allowed the formation of an annulus to be filled with grout to prevent water ingress (Byrd, 1996). Each 1.5m lining ring was made up of eight precast concrete segments with a key segment. Cast iron lining segments were only used in poor ground conditions. Over at the other side, the tunnel drives started at the shaft in Sangatte in France. Due to the highly fissured ground resulting in very wet conditions on the French side, a different type of TBM known as the Earth Pressure Balance Machine was used. The TBMs were designed to operate both in open and closed modes. Close mode is characterized by the sealing off of the machine from the spoil around it and the cutting head, thus keeping pressure on the dirt in front as it excavated and allowing the machine to work in the dry as the pressure in the machine was higher than the outside. The arrangement of seals on the TBM allowed it to withstand up to 10 atmospheric pressures. When the TBMs reached dryer and more favourable grounds, they could then switch to open mode. While precast sections were also used on the French side, the materials used were different owing to the different soil conditions: neoprene and grout sealed bolted linings made of cast-iron and high strength concrete (Ander son Roskrow, 1994). The French tunnels were made of six 1.4 to 1.6m wide segments plus a key segment. A total of 5 TBMs were employed on the French side, and the bores from the UK and France were to finally meet in the middle of the English Channel in the tunnel breakthrough phase. The Channel Tunnel project was huge by any standard, with a number of key factors that could potentially impact the parties involved: bi-nationality, private funding (thereby effectively transferring most of the financial risks to the contractors), schedule and cost. To stay attractive to investors and banks alike, the project had to meet the following priorities: minimum risk of cost overrun, minimum operating cost and maximum traffic revenue. It was recognized, from the outset, that the main challenge of the project was to resolve the logistical support associated with large scale tunneling and the fast-track nature of this project. The management, finance and technical challenges related to this project would be explored in the subsequent paragraphs.

kodak history :: essays research papers

On July 12, 1854 in the village of Waterville Maria Kilbourn and George Washington Eastman had a child that would change the way the world took pictures forever, and that child was George Eastman. When George was five his father sold the family nursery business and moved to Rochester where he founded the Eastman Commercial College. Shortly thereafter George’s father died and the College failed leaving George and his mother in financial despair. So because of family circumstances George had to drop out of school at the age of fourteen and find a job. His first job was as a messenger boy with an insurance firm, which paid three dollars a week. A year later George got a job as an office boy for a different insurance firm. There through his own hard work, dedication, and initiative he soon took charge of filing policies and even began to write them. With these new responsibilities his pay rose to five dollars a week. After four years of working at the insurance firm he was hired as a junior clerk at Rochester Savings Bank where his current salary of five dollars a week tripled to more than fifteen dollars a week. Four years later George had planned to take a vacation to Santo Domingo. When a colleague of his suggested that he make a record of the trip George went out and purchased a photographic outfit with all the paraphernalia of the wet plate days. This was to be his first endeavor into the photographic world. At the time cameras were as big as today’s microwave ovens and needed a heavy tripod to support them. He also had purchased a tent to develop the pictures before the glass plates dried out. The supplies needed consisted of glass tanks, a heavy plate holder and a jug of water the entire outfit â€Å"was a pack-horse load† as George described it. Learning how to use his new equipment cost him five dollars. After all this George never made his Santo Domingo trip but became completely engrossed in photography and seeking out ways to simpl ify the process. George had heard that British photographers were using their own gelatin emulsions that remained sensitive after they were dry and could be exposed at your leisure. Using a formula he got from a British magazine for emulsions, George began making his own. He continued to work at the bank during the day while experimenting in his mother’s kitchen in the evenings.

AOW

A crowd stood and watched, waiting to see what the police would do. â€Å"l am trying to allow homeless people to have the same rights as everyone else,† said Mr.. Abbott, who has ignited a skirmish with the city over new restrictions on feeding the homeless in public places. â€Å"There is no rug big enough to sweep them under. † Once again the police issued him a notice to appear in court for the criminal violation of an ordinance -? the third one in nearly two weeks -? and then allowed Mr.. Abbott, who has worked to help the homeless for decades, to resume serving food to those waiting in line. And once again Mr..Abbott, who has become a cause cl;bare, vowed to continue to feed the homeless â€Å"as long as there is breath in my body† -? be it at the beach or in a park. To press his case, Mr.. Abbott also said he took the city to court on Wednesday, a tactic he used successfully nearly 15 years ago to beat back a similar local ordinance. Mr.. Abbot's stance ag ainst the city newest restriction on the homeless has put him at the center of an escalating debate in cities across Florida: How to feed, elf and handle the ever-present homeless population in a state that, with its balmy winter climate, draws an outsize share of the dispossessed.In 201 2, the state had nearly 55,000 homeless people, ranking third behind California and New York. â€Å"We have no desire to fight with Mr.. Abbott,† said Jack Seller, Fort Lauderdale mayor, who has spent days tying to counter reports that Mr.. Arnold had been arrested (he was not) and that his city is harsh on homeless people. On one side of the debate are local businesses and the chambers of commerce, which would like the homeless population to be less visible. On the other side are increasingly vocal homeless activists who want to ensure that homeless people are dealt with humanely.The balancing act is particularly tricky in Florida, where tourists blanket the state and tourism officials cring e at the thought of scared tourists. â€Å"Florida has had a sorry history of criminality the homeless,† said Michael Stoops, director of community organizing for the National Coalition for the Homeless. ‘That war is being played out all around the country. Florida leads the pack. † This year, Fort Lauderdale, despite a reputation for being more progressive than most Florida cities on homelessness, passed a series of measures that surprised and drew the ire of homeless activists.The latest one, passed last month, made food distribution in public places difficult by requiring toilets, written consent from property owners and feeding sites located 500 feet away from each other. But the law also relaxed the rules on feeding the homeless in houses of worship and on private property, an attempt to steer food distribution away from parks. On Wednesday, a police officer recommended two nearby sites to Mr.. Abbott, an offer the mayor said Mr.. Abbott had refused earlier i n the day.The new ordinance stemmed from long-running complaints about crowds of homeless people who congregated daily to wait for food at Astrakhan Park, a small park in front of a library and the Fort durable Woman's Club. ‘The Woman's Club said it couldn't hold any more weddings, events with children, yoga classes,† said Mr.. Seller, who underscored that most experts agree that handing out food in public spaces is a bad idea ‘They said: ‘Mayor, we have people urinating all over our property and porch, defecating on our property and our porch. There is garbage and litter.There is no respect for Our property. ‘ † Ronald L Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, said public feedings were typically counterproductive. â€Å"There are ways to help within the boundaries of the rules: feeding indoors,† he said. If not, he added, â€Å"You sustain them on the street, and that's not a good thing. † The city other new ordinances inc lude restricting panhandling at intersections and allowing the police to confiscate and store property left in public spaces. Similar laws -? and opposition to them -? have cropped up across Florida.

Labor Relations Hw

In my opinion, the employer now has learned what kind of discrepancies can occur and modify the security issues regarding the remaining medications. Any discrepancies occurred after a â€Å"Just† modification of the rules shall be applied strictly as Intended by the employer. 2. Explain why the relevant provisions of the collective bargaining agreement as applied to the facts of this case dictate the award. I think that it is very natural and obvious that the employer, who is in charge of his company, wants to charge someone of any discrepancy occurred inside his mandarins.Even if there is no exact proof existing, the employer believes that each supervisor must be responsible for their actions and be willing to accept the consequences that come from their own subdivision's control. For example, let's say there was a small bug Inside a potato chip bag. The bug could have got Inside the bag In any process during which the potato chip was being made, but the employer must decide one of the suspicious departments for the discrepancy. Let's say that the employer fired the supervisor of the final packaging vision.Even though all packaging is done by machines and the only daily duty of the packaging division is to identify wrong-packaged bags, the employer has made a decision. If there was a fluoroscopic machine that makes it possible to see inside every bag, then things would have resulted differently, but there wasn't one and the packaging supervisor was fired due to â€Å"irresponsibility. † This example explained above would be a similar example to why the relevant provisions of the collective bargaining agreement as applied to the facts of he previous case dictate the award. . What actions might the employer or the union has taken to avoid this conflict? I en employer malign nave set up a more strict policy Walt personnel controlling Ana accessing the medications. The total number of keys and a reliable sign-in/out system will be installed. Personne l granted access to the remaining medication will surely receive a proper orientation and training before accessing it. Also, to clarify the unjust â€Å"Just cause† standard, a very detailed warning and penalty will be posted to those committing any discrepancy.

Sunny San Diego

Literature 1301-012| Sunny Sandy Eggo| A Guide to San Diego for Young Adults| | Jonathan Lincoln| 3/5/2013| | Aloha! And, Welcome to one of the friendliest and most temperate climates in the world. We like to call this little slice of heaven, San Diego. Today, you will just get a crumb of the cake, as to what the beaches of this amazing, international hub have to offer. Starting from north, and heading south, along the coast line are La Jolla Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach.With everything from restaurants on piers, bars and novelty shops on the boardwalk, to rollercoasters and dog beaches. You can never go wrong on a bright, sunny, warm day from Also, for the college students; we will cover the social scenes that each area has to offer. La Jolla Beach is widely known for its Full Moon parties at Black’s beach, which is located north of Scripps Pier, beneath the Torrey Pines Glider port and close to UCSD. Hence, the name Full Moon party, every full moon, l ocals gather at the beach, usually with guitars, drums, and an occasional dj.Everyone then conjugates around a fire, and just enjoys the good times, along with life its self. Black’s beach is also known for its occupant’s sun bathing in the nude during the daytime, so I wouldn’t recommend venturing into the unknown. Our next stop, Pacific Beach, better known as PB, has more of a college student’s age demographic. Offering bars on the boardwalk, and a restaurant on the pier. If you’re in your party stage, this is where you want to be.Between Typhoon’s, which is one of many trifectas in the area, it triples as a restaurant, bar, and club, on Garnet Ave; to, Crystal Pier, there must be at least 20 different diverse bars, clubs and restaurants, offering something different for every walk of life. Heading further south, along the Ocean Front Walk, you will stride by many condos and houses before coming upon the first marker of Mission Beach, Belm ont Park. Here, you can enjoy a wooden rollercoaster, bumper cars, or simply lounge on the beach and enjoy the sun, sand and aqua. Down, past Belmont Park, on the Mission Beach Peninsula, you come to the yacht clubs.Although most are private, and only accessible by members and their guests, I personally, have been invited to join a handful of parties on the yachts, just by simply being in the right place at the right time. Skipping across Mission Bay to Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs, this peninsula was my home, better known as Point Loma Peninsula. The core of Ocean Beach’s, better known as OB’s, life support, lies within Newport Ave. At the base of the avenue, you will find not only, access to the pier and beach; but to two blocks that include over 30 different businesses based on tourism.The Black is probably the most recognized novelty shop, while Gallagher’s is the official Irish pub, and Roberto’s, the official restaurant. Also, if you have the time, take an hour or two to work your way further down the coast. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. Well, although there is so much more this ten mile stretch has to offer, I can’t give away all of the secrets and gems that this area has. Go out and discover things. Share your experiences. And remember, it’s only one life, so live with no regrets, and enjoy.

Administration management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Administration management - Essay Example Brendan Murphy has a list of requirements, which he wants us to finish. The total budget for the project is US $60,000. The plan is to fit the scope and the schedule of the work. 2. Scope The scope of the project is to conduct two major tasks, to landscape the garden, and to fence. Apart from the core objectives, there are other tasks involved in the project such as installing electric lines and construction fishponds. The water pipes also have to be fitted in order to provide constant supply of water through all the seasons. All the tasks and processes that the company can garden have to fit within the budget of US $ 60,000. 3. Change Management Process Change management process is a very critical factor to consider because once the changes are executed, some of them are irreversible. The change management process considers the present condition of the garden and the expected results after its completion. This requires engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy in a detailed interview. The i nformation they provide will be the guideline for the scope of the project. During the review of the change process, there will be need to assess the inherent risks involved and how to mitigate the risks before the change initiative can begin. If certain processes are attached to high-risk activities, then, there will be need to decline the processes and seek alternative actions (Chudley & Greeno, 2008). 4. Change Request After the interview and the risk assessment process, our company presents the request for change to our client with a summary of all the factors to consider and the expected results. As we do the request, we are mindful of the presence of our competitors who may present lower cost bids. Upon approval of the change request, we proceed to prepare the work schedule for the project (Diaz, 2013). It clear from the problem definition, that not all aspects of the garden need a change. Chang request feasibility has to be determined, and only when the change request feasibi lity has been ascertained can it move to the implementation of the activity schedule (McIntyre & Strischek, 2005). Similarly, there are areas that are completely new, including the fishpond project. The desire of our company is to encounter changes that can add value without necessarily having to attract legal challenges. The complete work schedule 5. Risk Management Risk assessment and control procedure will be required to consider the effects of these tasks on the environment and third party entities. Some of the risks to assess in this plan include: Legal Risks The processes have to be documented in a standard that complies with the regulations and policies of the government (Wood, 2012). For example, the fencing plan must coincide with the map from the government authorities in charge of planning. This is in observation that violation of legal regulations has heavy penalties. Risks of Insecurity The fencing of the garden is based on the survey of the environmental security. If t he risk is highly rated, then the control of having stronger fencing will be necessary. Additionally, there will be need to install live electric fence, and to employ security guards. Weather Changes The possibility of rainfall shortage is critical risk to the projects in the garden. The management for this is the plan for irrigation through the water pipe connections. 6. Communication The infrastructure in this environment has to support communication between the workers in the garden and between the owners and external service providers. Transport network will also be a vital factor to consider in this project (Chudley & Greeno,

Southern and northern chinese business negotiations Essay

Southern and northern chinese business negotiations - Essay Example The compulsions of the present times require versatility in the work ideology and functioning, thus making it imperative that individuals and firms, embrace the multi-cultural to meet the challenges with efficiency and unmatched proficiency. Emerging markets are crucial in the era of globalization and can be defined as the new area with high income and where the demand for the product can be created with relative success. Cases of developing economies like China and India are prime examples that have huge potential for developing markets. China, with its fast developing economy, is a strong emerging market that has tremendous scope for the multinational companies. We would therefore be looking at the factors that have significant impact on the business negotiations and analyzing those factors for their role and impact on the company’s marketing policies and strategies in such market conditions because market strategies need to be tailored according to the environmental conditions of the place. China is the fastest developing economy that has captured a large market segment of the world market in the last decade and a half. The country also boasts of a highly cultural society that takes pride in its more than thousand years old culture and firmly believes in conducting its business within the broader framework of its cultural values and business ethics. The vast differences in the socio cultural values of the eastern countries and the western countries have complicated the business negotiation techniques which need to be further explored for better understanding of cross cultural values and business ethics. The purpose of the study is to examine the factors that influence the business negotiations of China with the international business community at large and the West in particular. In the fast changing global equation of socio economic development, it is

The New Deal for 18-24 year olds (New labour deal) Essay

The New Deal for 18-24 year olds (New labour deal) - Essay Example It offers help for 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for about six months. Its ultimate aim is to reduce employment by helping young people to get jobs and assist them in many other possible ways. Everyone on New Deal gets a personal adviser who is his or her point of contact throughout the programme. The personal adviser is appointed to understand you, let you share your experiences, interests and goals. The idea is to get you into a suitable job. Its aim is to meet your needs of finding and keeping a job, or becoming self-employed. New Deal for Young People gives you a chance to take the skills and experience you may have already and polish them to create better opportunities for work. New Deal help people with job search, skills acquisition, work experience, and so on. The main aim for the deal was to reduce the unemployment outflow rates, and how far it has succeeded in this aim will remain dependent on the facts and figure to decide. According to the research by (Anderton bob, Riley Rebecca and Young Garry, 1999) 1. While unemployment was lower in the first half of 1998 than it had been in the first half of 1996 for all age and duration categories, it had fallen by more in the pathfinder than the comparison areas. The largest relative decline was for 18-24year olds who had been unemployed for more than 6 months (the target group). ... 2. Outflows from unemployment in the pathfinder areas relative to the comparison areas clearly rose for the target group. There is also evidence of a rise in relative outflows of older long term unemployed. 3. Outflow rates from unemployment were generally higher in the first half of 1998 compared to the first half of 1996. The outflow rates of the target group rose substantially in the pathfinder areas. 4. While outflow rates were generally higher in the first half of 1998 than two years earlier, the increase was more marked in the pathfinder areas for virtually all age and duration categories. 5. Inflows to unemployment were generally lower in the first half of 1998 compared to the first half of 1996. This pattern was common to both the pathfinder and comparison areas. Another briefing (Briefing document, May 2004) argues that the New Deal has, overall, been successful. It discuss that however there have been some successes but that was in some part of the country. It mainly focuses on some major groups, more particularly the black ethnic groups has gain less from the new deal than any one else. It states that Britain has the problem of racial inequality in employment. "Black and minority ethnic people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as white British people. There is a gap of nearly 17 percentage points in employment rates." Says the report. According to (tutor2u) Data on New Deal, participants published in the autumn of 2000 showed that up to the end of July 2000, over 518,000 people had passed through the New Deal scheme, 402,000 have left leaving 116,000 currently on the programme. 237,040 young people had entered employment. Of which 180,600 were in sustained jobs, and 56,440 in jobs lasting less than 13 weeks. 79,000

Choice and Relevance of the Name Healer to Refer Nurses Research Paper

Choice and Relevance of the Name Healer to Refer Nurses - Research Paper Example Nurses, given their delicate position and weird characters occupying the world, attract ridicule in order to undermine their work. This paper discusses some effects that these ridicules that include nicknames might have, and finds out some of the ways these could be avoided in order to pursue the nursing career in full swing. The identity that the name ‘healers’ gives to the nurses sure uplifts their image and the impact of this is also discussed. Lastly, various perspectives from various spheres of the term ‘healer’ are compared with the current scenario and a conclusion summing up the general ideas of the paper finalizes the paper. Thesis: The name ‘healer’ is well deserved to nurses globally as they have shown the quality, commitment, compassion, and competence it takes to take part in the healing process of a patient, right from the beginning to the end. Introduction What rings in one’s mind with the mention of the word ‘Healer? ’ The obvious guess would be the good doctor. ...This argument may qualify the fact that indeed nurses are healers (Watson, 1985). A healer is defined as an individual who oversees the transformation of a patient from unsound or ill condition to a healthy form. Healing does not just comprise of putting one into a sound form, but rather, healing is an umbrella to many objectives that a patient should transcend on his or her way to recovery. These include psychological, physical and social healing. With the definition of healing looked at from this perception, one might rethink the reference of doctors as healers, and rather give that honor to the nurses. Nurses are professions in the medical world that carry the obligation of human care in the community, families or individual in order to foster recovery, maintain a healthy condition and live a healthy life. They have the most responsibility in the world of medicine apart from just being the doctor helper. They truly deserve t o be called ‘healers’ because they are involved with a patient right from the beginning, to that very moment that the patients depart from the hospital. This paper shall carefully analyze the weight that this name carries and try to find the basis of the whole process of naming and some of the factors that go along naming. The name ‘healer’ is well deserved to nurses globally as they have shown the quality, commitment, compassion, and competence it takes to take part in the healing process of a patient, right from the beginning to the end. What’s in a name? Names go beyond the essence of just identity.

Design & defend an optimal performance appraisal system for a position Research Paper

Design & defend an optimal performance appraisal system for a position you aspire to hold (medical supervisor) - Research Paper Example The typical methodology geared to dealing with performance appraisal systems relies on using a generalized approach where one performance appraisal system is used for a number of different hierarchical positions in an organization (Cascio, 2013). However, it would only make sense to design a performance appraisal system that is attuned to the needs of a particular position being appraised. This paper attempts to design an optimal performance appraisal system for the position of a medical supervisor based on current research findings. Description of Position The performance appraisal system under design is for the position of a medical supervisor. Essentially the position requires a large amount of daily interaction with patients as well as members of staff and occasionally contact with members of regulatory agencies. Additionally, the medical supervisor represents a senior position at any medical institution and is responsible for overseeing the training and skill development of his subordinates. The medical supervisor needs to keep tabs on the budgeting of resources and scheduling of staff members to ensure uninterrupted medical service to patients. The multifaceted nature of the job of a medical supervisor means that the incumbent medical supervisor needs to be ready on all fronts to deliver in order to be relevant to the organization’s overall objectives. Proposed Optimal Appraisal Performance System The proposed appraisal performance system for the position of a medical supervisor is divided into sections based on the major responsibilities for the position. The responsibilities are segregated through broad overviews since the current paper is not intended to dissect all of the responsibilities in complete detail. The primary responsibility of a medical supervisor is to the patients under treatment. Patients can be seen as the customers for any medical system so delivering to the customers is of the utmost importance. The medical supervisor is suppor ted by his staff at various levels and positions in order to service the patients so dealing with staff is a secondary responsibility to ensure satisfactory service provision at least. Moreover, the medical supervisor is responsible to his immediate superiors and members of regulatory agencies such as the American Medical Association (AMA) who require consistent feedback for continuous performance assessment. Performance Appraisal for Patients The basic contention behind performance appraisals is to provide employees with feedback regarding their performance (Broady-Preston & Steel, 2002). In the case of medical institutions, the customers are patients under treatment. Performance appraisal needs to emanate from patients and their relatives who judge the quality of services being delivered by a medical supervisor. Essentially such a grass roots level performance appraisal system bases itself on the 360 degrees appraisal system proposed by Milliman (1994). The idea behind such an app raisal system is to ensure that all people interacting with an employee especially customers provide their effective feedback in relation to the employee’s attitude and behavior (Cascio, 2013). This provides the medical supervisor with a more goal oriented performance appraisal system that encourages a quantitative method to evaluate job

Foreign Reserves Essay Example for Free

Foreign Reserves Essay According to the article entitled â€Å"UNDP urges prudent use of excess crude funds, foreign reserves† by Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna on April 24, 2008, the Nigeria and other African nations are having several problems when it comes to socio-economic aspects. One of the best examples in this context is the country of Nigeria. Based on research, it has been said if Nigeria utilized their crude resources in a good position, they will have an economic stability. The problem in this country is that there are no source of guidance and help from other sectors so that they can use their resources properly. The Nigerian government looses its capability to obtain greater perspectives in the issue of natural resources especially crude oil that costs billions during these times. Based on my own interpretation of this article, the author discusses all the details in simple form. The author used descriptive elements to illustrate the happenings or situations in the Nigeria as well as the issues that they experience during this day aside from poverty. However, there is no concrete resolution with the problem that the author discussed because these are sensitive issues that should not be taken for granted by the authority. It is the right of the whole Nigeria to know the real situation in their society and not only within their personal lives for the reason that it manifests their everyday living. Work Cited Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna. (2008). â€Å"UNDP Urges Prudent Use of Excess Crude Funds, Foreign Reserves† http://www. guardiannewsngr. com/news/article03//indexn2_html? pdate=240408ptitle=UNDP%20urges%20prudent%20use%20of%20excess%20crude%20funds,%20foreign%20reserves

Development of Soil Nutrient Sensors

Development of Soil Nutrient Sensors The rising demand for food crops and the growing concern for environment have made it necessary to shift from traditional agricultural practices towards modern agricultural practices. Traditional agricultural practices are labor intensive, time consuming, expensive and also a cause of environment pollution. To achieve sustainable agriculture, it is necessary that the precision agriculture technologies and practices are integrated with the traditional practices, which will also help to deal with the spatial heterogeneity of the soil [1]. The biggest hurdle in the proper implementation of precision agriculture is the inability to generate information related to a particular site rapidly and at an acceptable cost using laboratory analysis and soil sampling methods. The nutrients required for the healthy growth of a crop are obtained from the soil. The quality of crop yield depends on the quality of soil in which it grows. Therefore, soil testing is an important aspect of precision agriculture. The proposed research work is an effort towards the design and development of a soil monitoring system that can be used to estimate the urea content in soil. The system makes use of Partial Least Squares Regression Technique (PLSR) for the estimation of urea. The system can be made portable, smart, low cost and user friendly through the use of embedded systems. With some modifications the system can be designed to estimate more than one soil component. The thesis is organized in the following chapters as described below. Chapter I (Introduction) â€Å"Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own†[2]. The growth in the demand for food, feed and fiber globally is anticipated to grow by 70 percent. The demand for crops for industrial use and in the production of bio-energy is also expected to rise simultaneously. The increasing demand for agricultural goods will put huge pressure on the limited resources available. The increase in urban settlement areas will force agriculture to compete for land and water. Agriculture will therefore have to adapt itself to newer conditions and at the same time will have to address issues related to climate change, maintenance of biodiversity and preservation of natural habitats [3]. To meet these demands, farmers therefore need to equip themselves with new technologies so as to increase productivity with limited number of resources. Sustainable resource management is the need of the hour. Conservation of soil quality is crucial to sustainability in agriculture. This has led to a shift from the use of traditional agricultural practices to modern agricultural practices so that the available resources are utilized in a sustainable manner. The modern technique of farming known as precision farming is based on the concept of site specific crop management. This method takes into consideration variability exhibited by the soil and accordingly inputs are applied based on the local requirements within a field. Soil sensing plays an important role in precision farming. Large numbers of soil sensors are being developed all around the world to measure different soil properties. Some of which are still in the research and development stage and some of which are commercially available. Based on their principle of working these soil sensors can be classified as follows: Electrical and Electromagnetic sensors: Depending on the composition of soil under test, electrical capacitance or inductance, resistivity or conductivity of the soil is measured. The response time of these sensors is very fast, they have high durability and are of low cost. These sensors are commercially available. Optical and Radiometric sensors: These sensors, through the use of electromagnetic waves, measure the level of energy that is either absorbed or reflected by the soil particles depending on the soil composition. The properties of the soil are measured using visible and near-infrared wavelengths [4]. They can be used for the estimation of CEC, soil texture, moisture and other soil parameters with the help of appropriate data analysis techniques. Mechanical sensors: these sensors measure soil resistance with the help of a tool used in the soil. The measure of resistance offered by the soil has a relation with the compaction of the soil which is a spatially varying property of soil. Acoustic sensors and Pneumatic sensors: Though these are a class of mechanical sensors, they can be used as an alternative means for the differentiation of physical and mechanical characteristics of soil. Measurements taken using pneumatic and acoustic sensor have been used to correlate soil texture and compaction. The application of acoustic sensors in characterizing the physical state of soil is not very clear and requires more research work. Electrochemical sensors: These sensors produce an output voltage through the use of ion selective membranes, depending on the activity of ions under study such as H+, K+, NO3 −, Na+, etc. Soil pH sensors using this technique are already commercially available. The extraction of ions such as potassium in real time is still not possible even though the concept appears to be simple. There is a need to develop fast, real time and portable soil sensors which can generate soil report instantly. Thus, the problem of designing and developing a smart soil monitoring system was formulated using a reconfigurable embedded system platform. Chapter II (Literature Survey and Objectives) The conventional laboratory methods of soil testing have a number of limitations such as they are expensive, labor intensive and time consuming. As such new methods of soil testing are being developed across the globe. A number of soil nutrient sensing techniques are in the stage of development and testing. These sensors can be broadly classified into two types depending on the techniques of measurement being used. 1. Optical sensing uses reflectance spectroscopy technique wherein the light that is absorbed/reflected by soil particles is measured. Since optical sensing techniques have the advantage of being non-destructive they are more widely used as compared to electrochemical sensing techniques [5], [6]. Soil color analysis can be used for estimating soil organic matter content through the use of optical sensors [7]. The visual and near-infrared spectral reflectance in optical sensing can be used for estimating soil texture, moisture, CEC etc. [8]. 2. Electrochemical sensing is based on the measurement of current or voltage generated between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode. The amount of voltage or current measured is related to the concentration of the selected ions such as H+, K+, NO3-, etc. [8]. Ion selective electrodes made of glass or polymer membrane, or ion-selective field effect transistors are used for the measurement of soil fertility. Ion-selective membrane sensors have a huge potential in the development of on-the-go soil nutrient(s) and pH sensors [9]. Currently, the accuracy of the results using these sensors is low as compared to those using laboratory tests, but this can be taken care of by increasing the sampling density. Use of Spectroscopic techniques in the estimation of soil properties has been demonstrated since 1970’s [10]. Various methods using spectral analysis have been proposed for the measurement of the soil properties. Methods that are based on the physical and analytical characteristics of the signal and chemometric based empirical methods provide good effective predictability. Therefore, the relation between soil properties and soil absorption can be used to develop regressions using field and laboratory data for calibration. Spectroscopic techniques are found to be faster, can provide real time measurements and are of low cost, as compared to conventional methods and hence are found to be more suitable when there are more samples and analysis to be done. Also, unlike laboratory testing methods which require sample pre-processing and the use of chemical extractants, spectroscopic techniques can be used directly, thus saving on cost and time [11]. Thus, the problem of developing a soil nutrient sensor using RF spectroscopy based on the dielectric principle was formulated. The thesis emphasizes on the design and development of the sensor and the use of embedded platform to make it portable, real time and user friendly system through the use of DSP algorithms. Objectives: In order to meet the global requirements of increased crop productivity and sustainable agriculture, there is an urgent need of developing soil sensors which are fast, accurate and portable. Also, the problem was formulated keeping in mind the conditions of Indian farmers. Indian farmers are mainly small farmers who are poor, technically unfit and cannot afford modern tools. This research work is being undertaken with the main objective of developing a fast, portable, cost effective and user friendly soil monitoring system to analyze the fertility status of the soil. The objectives of the research work are the design of a dielectric cell to measure absorption loss at RF frequencies for various soil nutrients and to use this RF data to develop a FPGA based smart soil monitoring system for accurate prediction of soil content using PLSR technique. The system shall be user friendly as well as reprogrammable for changed environmental conditions. Chapter III (System Design for Soil Monitoring System) The block diagram of proposed design for Soil Monitoring System is as shown in Figure 1. The design consists of RF data obtained from Scalar Network Analyzer fed as input to Altera DE2 board with target as NIOS II FPGA. The RF data is obtained from the soil sensor connected between a tracking generator and a spectrum analyzer. A soil sensor based on the dielectric loss technique is designed and constructed to measure the RF responses of various soil nutrients. The cell is rectangular in shape with outer dimensions 13cmx2cmx2.5cm and is made up of PMMA sheets. The inside surface of the cell is lined with gold foil and the same is connected to the outer shield of the feed connectors so as to provide the necessary shielding effect. The outer surface of the cell is covered with a copper foil and is also provided with the necessary shielding effect. A wire made of gold is connected from the input feed connectors to the output feed connector at centre of the cell. The RF spectrum of a sample is measured by placing it in the cell. A tracking generator is used for injecting an RF signal into the sample through the central gold wire. Thus, a dielectric cell consisting of the central wire, the outer copper shield and the sample is formed. The signal strength starts reducing as it propagates through the central wire from the input end to the output end of the cell, due to the dielectric loss associated with the sample solution. Thus, an output signal proportional to the absorption loss of the sample solution is captured by the RF spectrum analyzer connected at the receiver end of the cell. Signal Hound USB-TG44A tracking generator and Signal Hound USB-SA44B spectrum analyzer are used with both the instruments working in the frequency range of 1Hz-4.4GHz. Figure 1: Block diagram of the Soil Monitoring System Figure 2 shows the RF spectra for urea in the range 10MHz to 4.4GHz. Figure 2: RF Spectra of urea. Figure 3: Section of urea spectra with varying concentrations Samples for obtaining the RF responses of various soil components are prepared by dissolving the required component in distilled water. The amount of the component to be added to water was calculated from the data obtained from agricultural department. This amount was taken as the normal concentration of a particular component found in the soil. Samples of varying concentrations of the soil components are prepared and denoted as 1 for normal, 0.5 for half the normal, 2 for twice and 3 for thrice. The soil components considered for the study are urea, potash, phosphate, calcium carbonate and sodium chloride. The frequency range of 10 MHz-4.4GHz is divided into smaller frequency ranges based on the unique frquencies at which the variation in the attenuation is found as per the change in the concentration of the soil component. A set of recorded spectra for various combinations of the five soil components with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 are used in the calibration file. In order to predict the unknown concentration of urea in a sample, the detected spectra containing the urea signature along with the other components is passed through signal conditioning stage. The output from Spectrum Analyzer is stored in the computer. This data is then fed to a CYCLONE II device with Altera Nios II processor running on it. The recorded spectra are then passed through SIMPLS algorithm running on NIOS II processor. The algorithm predicts the concentration of unknown sample (Urea) and displays the result on LCD or a computer screen. The SNR of the detected spectra must be sufficiently high so a s to provide reliable urea specific information and therefore data processing is needed to identify spectral features of urea from the combination spectra originating from interfering matrix components like potash, phosphate, sodium chloride and calcium carbonate. We can extend the use of this system for the analysis of other soil components by modifying the processing algorithms required to analyze that component without changing the hardware. Chapter IV (Multivariate Data Analysis) It is a statistical analysis technique used in the case of data consisting of multiple variables. Due to the advancements in the field of information technology there is a huge amount of data being generated in various fields. Though the magnitude of data available is huge, it is still a challenge to derive useful information and knowledge from this data. Multivariate Analysis can be used to derive meaningful information for the improvement of process performance and product quality. Over the last decade, multivariate analysis is being successfully used to monitor and model chemical/biological processes [12]. Techniques using multivariate data analysis are widely used in the analysis of spectral data both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quick analysis of complex samples from their spectral signatures can be done using standard tools like Partial Least Squares (PLS), Principal Component Regression (PCR), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) and discriminant analysis based on chemometric techniques [13]. Partial least squares (PLS) isone of the recent multivariate data analysis technique particularly useful in situations where there is a large set of independent variables (i.e., predictors). A set of dependent variables can be predicted from this set of independent variables by using PLS. Partial Least Squares (PLS) can be an effective tool for the analysis of data as it has minimum constraints on scales of measurement, size of sample, and residual distributions. It consists of methods for regression and classification, and techniques for reducing dimens ion and tools for modeling. The basic assumption on which the PLS methods work is that a small number of latent variables that are not directly observed or measured are used to drive the observed data from a process or a system. The technique of PLS for projecting the observed data to its latent structure was developed by Herman Wold and coworkers. PLS is now being used as a standard tool in the analysis of a wide spectrum of chemical data problems in chemometrics. The successful data analysis of PLS in chemometrics has led to its increase use in other scientific fields such as bioinformatics, food research, medicine, pharmacology, social sciences, physiology etc. PLS is a multivariate technique that transforms the input-output data onto a smaller latent space, by extracting a small number of principal factors having an orthogonal structure. The extraction of the factors is done in such a way that it provides maximum correlation with the dependent variable [14]. To model linear relations between multivariate measurements, PLS is used as a standard tool. Multivariate Calibration Model for Soil Monitoring System: Multivariate spectroscopic data can be analyzed using the PLSR model. PLSR is one of the techniques of multiple linear regressions and is probably the least restrictive of the various multivariate techniques used in multiple linear regression models. This feature of PLSR makes it possible to be used in situations when there are limitations on the use of other multivariate methods, for example, when the predictor variables are many as compared to number of observations.PLSR can be used as an elementary analysis tool for the selection of suitable predictor variables and in the identification of outliers. PLSR model based on SIMPLS algorithm using C language is developed and ported on NIOS II platform to estimate the urea concentration. The PLSR model is validated for the following cases: Case 1: Changing urea concentrations from below normal to above normal i.e. from 0.5 to 2 and keeping other components at their normal concentration value i.e. 1. Case 2: Changing the concentration of each of the other soil component from 0.5 to 2 and keeping urea constant in all the cases. Chapter V (Design of FPGA Soft Cores for Soil Monitoring System) DSP functions can be implemented using two different types of programming platforms: digital signal processors (DSP) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Digital signal processors are microprocessors specifically designed for handling DSP tasks, while FPGAs are reconfigurable signal processors. The factors that make FPGAs more suitable, particularly for high performance computing applications are: (i) Huge potential for implementation of parallelism (ii) The control logic is embedded (iii) On-board memory in FPGA helps to overcome the limitation set by number of I/O pins on processor logics memory access bandwidth and hence results into significant performance benefits (iv) A higher capacity FPGA can be used on the same board as an older device, to support performance upgrades. DSP Implementation on Embedded system The implementation of DSP algorithms is done on Altera platform. A Nios II system is designed to measure the concentration of urea in soil. The Nios II system is the heart of the instrument which controls the various modules of the system like interacting with 12 bit ADC and performing the SIMPLS algorithms on the spectral data to estimate the concentration of urea. The whole interface and algorithms are implemented using 32-bit NIOS II soft-core ported on CYCLONE II FPGA. Chapter VI (Analysis, Results and Conclusion) The thesis covers the design and development of soil sensor based on the dielectric technique. The technique proposed the use of RF signals in the range of 10MHz-4.4GHz and analyzing the detected spectra in the soil sample for urea signature. In this thesis a novel Soil Monitoring System is developed using RF spectroscopy based on embedded technology. An Altera DE2 board based on NIOS II soft-core platform and having target as CYCLONE II (EP2C6) is used to estimate the urea content in soil in the RF range of 10MHz-4.4GHz. SIMPLS algorithm for PLSR model is developed using C language and embedded on the NIOS II platform for the estimation of urea concentration. The designed sensor was tested for its precision by recording the spectra of a particular component over a number of times. The PLSR model was validated by calculating percentage error under various conditions. It was found that the predicted urea values showed percentage error which was within the acceptable levels required fo r device development.