Monday, September 30, 2019

Biochemistry WGU

Oxygenated vs deoxygenated states of blood: One hemoglobin can carry 4 oxygen Deoxygenated hemoglobin is not bound to oxygen If a person has low oxygen level, a bluish hue will result and a low pulse oxygenation will register as a measurement of the difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. *†Hemoglobin transports oxygen to cells and C02 to lungs to be exhaled. **Deoxygenated hemoglobin is concave shape; oxygenated is planar shape and red in arteries Hemoglobin (2013) Bohr Effect Lower blood pH or higher blood C02 = hemoglobin proteins – oxygenLower C02 or higher pH = hemoglobin + oxygen Myoglobin has no allostery, does not display Bohr effect High C02, high H+, low partial = oxygen from hemoglobin High C02 or low pH = increase of oxygen in tissues Bohr Effect (2013) Oxygen Affinity and pH Bohr Shift Carbonic acid = lower blood pH Lower blood pH = Bohr Shift (oxygen from hemoglobin) wolfe (2000) Hemoglobin and Myoglobin Myoglobin Binds iron, stores oxyge n ‘OF2 ADnormal, result 0T an Injury to muscle Myoglobin = heme + iron + 8 amino acid chains in alpha helix HemoglobinTransports oxygen from lungs to tissues Contains iron (Hemoglobin 2013) Sickcle Cell Abnormal, sickle cell shaped RBC's Sickle cells stop blood flow, very painful Problem: valine in place of glutamic amino acid causing cells to stick together Problem: cells are rigid and inflexible Problem: normal RBC's live 90-120, sickle cells live 10-20 days, shorter lifespan results in anemia Inheritance Autosomal recessive disease inherited from parents Carrier parents will produce offspring with a 1:4 chance of inheriting sickle cell disease .

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Expository Essay

Expository Essay Some memories are joyful, while others are quite sad, and then the bittersweet moments are a combination of both. These bittersweet memories are often memorable and one that stays fresh in my mind is the coming and going of my Golden Retriever puppy, Chance. I was overjoyed when we first got him and couldn’t have been happier but his death was unpleasant and left me with a bad taste in my mouth for weeks to come. This whole experience taught how to appreciate what I have because you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.One of the most memorable and impactful memories of my life happened when I was just six years old. It was a chilly day in mid January as I cheerfully scampered off the school bus to dash inside and be greeted by a mug of hot chocolate and warm cookies. I was clumsily toying around with Legos while waiting in anticipation for my dad to get home. The moment I saw my dad walk through the door I darted down the stairs and was shocke d to see him holding a large, mysterious cardboard box.He informed me that contained inside were loads of cupcakes he had gotten from work, but to my surprise when I looked inside I saw a tiny little puppy bundled up in blanket sleeping on the base of the box. I was thrilled at first but soon after my hopes were crushed when I realized this little dog had fatal cancer and only had a short month to live. Due to his horrible condition we named him Chance for his perseverance to survive such a sickly Herring 2 disease. My roller coaster experience with him helped to mold me into the person that I am today.This memory is so important to me because Chance was the first pet I had ever had the opportunity to call my own and I had also desired to own a puppy ever since I was a baby. Over a short time Chance and I had developed a strong bond from racing around the house and bounding around in the fresh snow. This connection we shared showed me how important companions were and how much I enj oyed having them around me. After a few weeks of living with him he began to show signs of weakness. He would sometimes stumble while walking and even vomit after eating a meal.I was feeling miserable to see him experiencing this pain so our family had to make a decision. We came to a general consensus that it was time to put him down. After a lot of shed tears and heartache I began to understand the situation in a different light. I had begun to realize life ends and living things don’t last forever. I really appreciated chance for what he was and dearly missed him. The great memories with Chance still remained and helped me to cherish his existence even more. Overall this memory taught me how to enjoy what I have and be grateful because I may blink and not see it ever again. Expository Essay

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Diversity in Organizations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diversity in Organizations - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that workforce is the basis of success of any given organization. Much as there are other factors of production to consider in determining the likelihood of success of any organization or business entity, human capital is the most significant. This is because; no operations can become successful regardless of the capital input, unless they are well managed and implemented. Thus, the need for adopting a flexible human resource program that integrates diverse cultures and personalities within the operations of the organization is paramount. The encompassment a different people, from different backgrounds in religion, socio-cultural activities, education, and exposure ensures that the organization can uphold variant ideas, opinions, and judgments. These are the basis of development. Owing to the fact that teamwork is the basis for success of any given organization, diversity comes in handy. Where diversity is non-existent, the individuals involv ed cannot interact and share ideas and opinions freely. This means that there is low or no chance of devising new ways of doing things. It is through the free interaction of individuals and their teamwork attitude that creates avenues for innovations and inventions. Various methods can be adopted to enhance diversity climate in an organization. Education that entails equipping the management team with relevant and diverse training skills is one such method. This serves to ensure that the management team is better placed to adopt different individuals and incorporate them in their labor force. Such training enhances the management ability of ensuring every member of their team feels appreciated and equally important, not withstanding their differences in personalities, cultures, religious backgrounds e.t.c. The establishment, enforcement, and implementation of a set of code of ethics is yet another method. The basic step in achieving this is through the recruitment of individuals fro m different spheres of life. Exposure, through establishment of equity and accountability, as a core value of the organization is another method that applicable in enhancing the climate of diversity in an organization. This ensures that all the individuals are treated equally, regardless of their gender, origin, race, religion e.t.c. any group, committee or panel formed to undertake different tasks for the organization should be representative of the different personalities in that organization. Each group or individual should feel well represented in that formation. This goes a long way to enhancing respect and cooperation from all the individuals in the organization. There are three procedures followed to establish diversity climate at a work place. The first is the moderate open- minded change, where some basic rules are established in work place to foster teamwork, flexibility, and diversity. At this stage, the workers are promoted solely based on merit and performance. Such rul es as those guiding promotions are established and implemented by the policy makers. However, the problem associated with this is that not all aspects of diversity are implementable through formal rules. The second procedure is the essential change stage, where the organization adapts measures beyond formal rules to guide the achievement of diversity in the organization. At this stage, even though two members of the same affiliation are better placed to be promoted based on their performance, an allowance for equity is created by promoting another individual of a different affiliation. The last procedure is the revolutionary change, where the short-run and the long-run needs of the organization come into play. Under this stage, the organization establishes equity and diversity in the short-run, while buying time to consolidate a system that will afford automatic flexibility and diversity

Friday, September 27, 2019

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 25

International Business - Essay Example As the manager says, majority of the bottles are not originally made by the company. This reduces the cost of operations as they enter the new markets that make them to offer low priced products to the consumers hence attracting more sales than the competitors (Bradley, 2005). The company also uses well established names in the industry in form of franchising. This makes them to reduce the competition levels in the new acquisitions as the firm establishes on how to become stable in those economies. Coca cola also provides for joint ventures with the established firms. The firms are allowed to have substantial shares by contributing funds which provides the capital for investment and compete in the respective markets. From the strategies mentioned above, the company will offer reduced prices for the consumers and the forces of demand and supply will make us more prices reasonable in the market. While venturing onto the new countries, the organization ensured there was differentiation on the products (Bradley, 2005). This provided a wide consumer choice in the market that attracted more customers to our products increasing our sales on the respective countries. The company also provides unique products with unique logos that ensure customers do not confuse the organization products. The products are then taken through various promotional activities like in the media advertisements, open sales that are used to popularize the products in the market. Many nations do not allow free trade since they always wants to protect the local products. As a result we operate different distributions channels to ensure we exist all over the world. We recruit different organizations inform of franchised distribution channels. These firms are legalized and operate in our behalf to sale our products within the respective countries. There are also bottler firms who are situated in various countries (Bradley, 2005). To break the barriers, we

Thursday, September 26, 2019

English Contract Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English Contract Law - Case Study Example Invoice sent by the company included the note which stated that the terms of the contract shall be adhered according to the original quotation. As per the original quotations Gordon has clearly specified that the servers with latest processors and maximum storage capacities are to be delivered within one month of the order and also sent the payment under the contract with the specific instruction that 'contracting under my specification'. Therefore the company is under an obligation to deliver within one month and since the delivery is not made within a month there is a clear violation of the contract. In addition there is the violation of the contract specifications as to the quality of the servers also. Since the company has sent servers which did not meet the requirements of Gordon with respect to energy sufficiency and without latest processors the company has made a second violation of the contract. The company Dodgy has fulfilled only the maximum storage capabilities requirements of the servers. The failure on the part of the company to supply the servers with the required specifications gives rise to different remedies under the contract law to Gordon. ... In this instance Gordon is entitled to the right of withdrawing from the contract since he has expressly made his desire to procure servers with energy efficiency and latest processors. Therefore these terms of specifications to the servers become the terms of prime importance to the contract and the failure to meet these terms entail the cancellation of contract by Gordon. In an alternative situation if Gordon has not made specific request for the supply of servers with energy efficiency and latest processors, he cannot repudiate the contract as there will be a case of breach of warranty only. The issue that Gordon has specified the requirements and Dodgy has not fulfilled them has resulted in a breach of the condition and therefore has altered the nature of the contract. In addition the contract would be treated as void as it is made by misrepresentation. Dodgy has made misrepresentation about its products to Gordon and Gordon has ordered the supply in utmost good faith. Since by the supply of servers not meeting the specifications Gordon has been misled by the company and Gordon therefore is entitled to treat the contract void. An additional point to consider here is that the misrepresentation by the company as regards the quality of the product is not an innocent misrepresentation but one made with the specific intention of making Gordon believe that. It is unlawful on the part of Dodgy to enter into a contract with Gordon for the goods which the company may not be able to supply at all. Even though there are mistakes committed by both the parties with regard to the terms of the contract, the contract needs to be terminated as there is no identity of minds ('consensus ad

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Pere Goriot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pere Goriot - Essay Example This novel shows how difficult it can be to maintain a loving relationship in the modern world. Through the character of Eugà ¨ne de Rastignac, it is possible to see that while love is achieved at points in this novel, it is no longer the traditional version of love. It is a new, modern version where certain faults and attitudes must be ignored in order to make things work. One such example of a character who cannot truly love another is Eugà ¨ne de Rastignac, who does not have any interest in the women he pursues, but it rather more interested in improving his position in society. This is shown by the fact that he abruptly halts his pursuit of Madame de Restaud and begins his pursuit of Madame de Nucingen simply because of who the latter’s father is. As the novel progresses, Rastignac does develop true feelings for Delphine. This, however, blinds him to her true character, as she is only involved with him for selfish intentions. He deceives himself into believing that she is not as bad as she seems, but it is clear that she is only involved with him for her own interests and, therefore, does not truly love him. While this relationship does eventually become sincere, it only becomes so because of Rastignac’s decision to ignore all of Delphine’s faults and to love her anyways. This makes the relationship seem somewhat forced, as Ra stignac has to make a decision to love this selfish person, rather than simply looking out for his own good. This could be viewed as a modern form of love, implying that the old love where people are perfect for one another no longer exists. Another character that is affected by Rastignac is Victorine. She is a young girl who falls for the first attractive man who shows interest in her, which is not true love, but is rather based on inexperience. Rastignac does not truly love her, but he leads her on in order to possibly marry her for her father’s money.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

With reference to your own research, do you think that the ability of Assignment

With reference to your own research, do you think that the ability of a business to act successfully in a social responsibility manner is mainly determined by the products it produces - Assignment Example Introduction Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR for short is the ability of a business to manifest its truest basis to the public time and again. This means that its aim is to be truthful to all and sundry to create a positive mindset and image about the different product and service offerings under its organizational aegis. This paper will highlight the potential benefits of CSR which is in relation to the cost for businesses and stakeholders. It will also highlight how the CSR becomes a significant entity in relation to several other objectives of the organization. Then there will be some influences which determine the kind of responsibilities that are accepted by a business enterprise and the ones which are not while also highlighting some of the factors which discern the extent to which a business can be deemed as socially responsible. The value and the dire limitations towards businesses and stakeholders in the realms of social reporting will be discussed as will be the exte nt to which governments have a role in influencing the CSR. ... Hence in conjunction with what the businesses and stakeholders think and act, it is pertinent that the premise of CSR is given importance. How this happens is a difficult process though. These businesses and stakeholders need to find a way through which they can reach the minds of their consumers so that they can eventually bring about a sale or make use of their services. The bottom line however is an intention to bring about a sale. Even though this might not be said, the role of CSR is to build a positive word of mouth for the business regimes which will eventually set about a pragmatic feel for all and sundry related with the business. The stakeholders might find it difficult to understand the message that CSR is trying to send their way but in entirety it is being conveyed in one form or the other. Hence in relation to businesses and stakeholders, the role of CSR is of paramount significance because it communicates a message like none other. The need is to realize how CSR is wor king to its full capacity and allow it to propagate a message which is for the overall betterment of the organization, a case in point being Nike where CSR is always seen imperatively. Similarly, CSR for the sake of Apple helps it to establish its basis within markets where Nokia and Samsung are in common use as far as mobile phones are related. The question that remains here is whether or not both Nike and Apple are doing all that they can to bring about something further in the name of CSR than merely producing goods and products (Petersen, 2012). Importance of CSR Relative to Other Corporate Objectives Since corporate objectives of every business are different, the role of CSR also takes a

Monday, September 23, 2019

Business Law (company law) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Law (company law) - Essay Example In the event that partners or external third parties decide to file a lawsuit, in actual sense they would be suing only the company with the exclusion of investors/stockholders. They are not held liable for such matters as loans as well as other debts owed by the company. In contrast to them, investors, general partners, and sole proprietors are considered to be liable for such business debts all through. Limited liability is fundamental in the exclusion of certain parties from being held liable for such liabilities. Limited liability companies have a lot of advantages that I would say, arguably, outweigh the disadvantages regarding the same. It is therefore advisable that Robert, Sarita, and Phillip to start convert their company ‘IN THE EVENT’ into a limited liability company. The respective advantages of a limited liability company are as follows. The mere existence of a limited liability company provides for the limited liability security or protection to its own members or owners. This could be arguably the most imperative advantage of this form of company. They are basically not personally accountable for the company’s business debts and liabilities. Creditors are legally crippled to pursue the personal assets (houses, savings, and etcetera) of the business’s stakeholders in order to earn back their business debts (Macintyre, 2010). This is in contrast to many other contrasting forms of business. The only liability that members have to bear is that for the amount that they are yet to pay on shares. In the event that things do go wrong, the only losses encountered by the members would be the value of shares as well as any loans made by the members to the company. However, there is an ambiguity. The protection of limited liability companies does not go as far as to cover frauds. In the unfortunate occasion that creditors incur losses via direct fraud, there is no limit to personal liability. A limited liability company

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Emergent Multimedia Technology (Cloud Streaming Technology) Essay

Emergent Multimedia Technology (Cloud Streaming Technology) - Essay Example The paper tells that the world of technology is a dynamic one with scientists and technicians coming up with high-tech gadgets by the day. This has not always been the case. Technology has come a long way off. From the time of the dark ages where the only form of data storage was the primitive human mind not to mention the ancient writings preserved in stone. The short comings of these methods of storage called for better ways of data preservation hence the discovery of paper and later secret safes that were used to store classified information. Decades later, the world enjoys an unlimited number of technological options to choose from. Modern technology too has continued to grow in leaps and bounds with incremental and disruptive developments being made daily. Incremental development is whereby a development in one sector is so as to improve on a previous development that had already been made. These inventions come in with highly sophisticated and efficient apparatus. Machines that more than double human output, this means that production is taken to a higher level thus the supply to consumers is made easier and available thanks to these inventions. A good example can be drawn from the development of play stations which was a follow up of the traditional brick games. Other examples of incremental development are the use of tractors in agriculture as an improvement on the traditional hoe used to plough, use of modern processing and storage facilities instead of the previous versions of the same and the use of electric trains is also an improvement on the locomotive.... Modern technology has converged together for a common goal. This can be explained by equating technology to an abstract entity. The entity slowly moves towards other entities in the same field with similar goals. At the end, they form one big entity that is more efficient. This simple yet complex technological advancement is the reason why today, we are able to easily access audio, video and even application data more efficiently than before. This convergence of technology has been made possible by massive funds that have been channeled into research by both private and commercial developers. The end result is that the new development from this mergence is more progressive and has competitive advantage over the redundant ones. There has been a number of emerging technologies in various fields ranging from information technology to medicine, agriculture, robotics and even biotechnology. Emerging technologies in the field of medicine include new surgical equipment and procedures and th e development of new drugs to combat emerging diseases. Development in the field of medicine has seen the mastery of new procedures such as artificial insemination and the use of test tube babies, a fete that was once thought impossible. Furthermore, vaccines against diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and even HIV/AIDS have been developed. Doctors are now able to treat and sometimes cure diseases like cancer which were previously unmanageable. This has consequently improved the life expectancy in the country. Child mortality rates have also decreased significantly (Hung, D & Khine, M. S., 2006, p 567). In the fields of agriculture, emerging technology such as genetic engineering has made

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Quest for Identity Essay Example for Free

The Quest for Identity Essay In some point of our lives, we all try to find our identities; try to find a place that we can fit in completely. Most people struggle, some does not. The question of identity is especially difficult for immigrants and their coming generations since they have different cultures and different views. In the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, the main character Gogol struggles with his cultural identity due to the ideological difference between him and his parents on the concept of name. According to Bengali naming traditions, everyone has two names, a pet name and a good name. The good name is for the public to use, the pet name is for family and friends to use in private places, it is also â€Å"a persistent remnant of childhood, a reminder that life is not always so serious, so formal, so complicated. They are a reminder, too, that one is not all things to all people† (26). Different traditions represent different cultures; In the United States, many people name their son after the father or the grandfather to honor the elders and also act as a symbol of heritage. On another hand in India, every name is sacred and cannot be inherited. Ashima and Ashoke decided to name their first child Gogol, this name doesn’t just represent the life of this child, it also represents the life of the father-Ashoke. However, this shapeless and weightless name has become a burden of Gogol’s life for a long long time. The first lesson that Gogol learns about his names is at the town’s public elementary school. At first, he does not want to go to kindergarten because his parents have told him that he will be call a new name-Nikhil at school which he does not want and does not understand. He is afraid to be Nikhil, someone he doesn’t know† (57). Of course, he is not the only one who doesn’t understand about the pet name and the good name. When Ashoke tries to explain to the principal Mrs. Lapidus about why they want her to call Gogol Nikhil, Mrs. Lapidus tries to understand, but ends up in confusion due to the cultural difference. â€Å"I’m not sure I follow you, Mr. Ganguli. Do you mean that Nikhil is a middle name? Or a nickname? Many of the children go by nicknames here† (58). She has never deal with this issue before, even with the other Indian students at school. And the big problem with this is that Gogol does not respond to the name Nikhil. Therefore, Mrs. Lapidus decides to ask Gogol about his own opinion towards this new name, Gogol shakes his head as his answer, so Mrs. Lapidus writes a note to Ashima and Ashoke telling them Gogol will be known as â€Å"Gogol† instead of â€Å"Nikhil† at school due to his preference. In here, Gogol is just a kid who doesn’t understand about his culture, but at the same time, the author is trying to hint us that even though Gogol is an Indian looking kid, he is Americanized; his thoughts are very different from his parents who are typical Indians. And in the United States, his parents’ thoughts are not so accepted which increases the gap between Gogol and his parents. As Gogol is getting older, he then realizes how unusual his name is. As an Indian-American, his name is neither Indian nor American, but Russian. He does not know about the story behind his name yet, all he knows is that he starts to hate his name. Before he goes to college, he decides to change his name to Nikhil officially. It seems like he believes that changing his name would make him who he wants to be. So he goes home and asks for his parents’ opinion and complaints about his name. â€Å"I don’t get it. Why did you have to give me a pet name in the first place? What’s the point? † â€Å"It’s our way, Gogol,† his mother maintained. â€Å"It’s what Bengalis do† (99). Until this point, Gogol still doesn’t accept this naming tradition because he feels inferior for his name. However, â€Å"The only person who didn’t take Gogol seriously, the only person who tormented him, the only person chronically aware of and afflicted by the embarrassment of his name, the only person who constantly questioned it and wished it were otherwise, was Gogol† (100). The conversation ends with a sentence by Ashoke, â€Å"In America anything is possible. Do as you wish† (100). This sentence sounds normal, but it is filled with helplessness and sadness. Ashima and Ashoke can’t change anything, they are just two Indians living in America, no one cares about them, not even their son. They have no choice but to give in† (60). Now, he is officially â€Å"Nikhil†, but â€Å"Gogol† is still like a splinter in his heart. He doesn’t want to touch it, doesn’t like to talk about it, but the dull pain inside his heart always reminds him that it’s there. After Ashoke’s death, he learns to seize the time with Ashima. But when he knows that Ashima is planning to move back to India, he suddenly realizes that â€Å"Without people in the world to call him Gogol, no matter how long he himself lives, Gogol Ganguli will, once and for all, vanish from the lips of loved ones, and so, cease to exist. Yet the thought of this eventual demise provides no sense of victory, no solace. It provides no solace at all (289). He finally realizes that as he gets mature, his love once are getting older too. His name will die just like the people. This shows that finally accepted himself as a whole, and this name is part of him. Maybe â€Å"Gogol† is not who he wants to be, but â€Å"Gogol† is who he really is. Ashima and Ashoke are the first generation immigrants, they consider themselves Indians, but learning to adjust their minds and live like Americans. Struggles are parts of their daily lives. Gogol, as an American born Indian, he has an Indian appearance, but growing up in America and getting American education make him a real American inside. â€Å"Living with a pet name and a good name, in a place where such distinctions do not exist-surely that was emblematic of the greatest confusion of all† (118). No wonder, the quest for identity is exhausting, but eventually, you will get to the destination. Open your mind, accepts who you really are, life is beautiful.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Construction of Pekeliling Flats, Kuala Lumpur

Construction of Pekeliling Flats, Kuala Lumpur Introduction to Case Study Pekeliling Flats is situated on the Lebuhraya Mahameru-bound Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur. The flats are also known as Tunku Abdul Rahman public flats. Pekeliling flats are one of Kuala Lumpurs earliest public housing projects and were built in 1967. There were 11 residential blocks comprising 2,969 units. For the construction of the first pilot project, the Government held a negotiation with a joint venture company Citra/Boon Cheah which intended to use the French Tracoba System of construction. But the negotiation was unsuccessful and the project was subsequently opened to public tender. The tender was eventually awarded to Gammon/Larsen Nielsen using the Danish System of large panel industrialised prefabricated system. The construction was then launched in 1968. The scheme at Jalan Pekeliling comprises 4 blocks of 4-storey flats and shops, 7 blocks of 17-storey flats, totaling 3009 units and was completed within 27 month, including the time taken in the construction of the RM 2.5 million casting yard for the prefabricated elements at 10 ½ miles Jalan Damansara. The whole construction of the flat is constructed using the prefabrication of concrete box method which is similar to the British Truscon System whereby a standard through-shaped concrete boxes, which incorporate facade walls made from lightweight materials, ceilings consisting of plaster boarding stapled and as well as internal fittings. Assembling Method The boxes are made by precasting the walls panels with ribs downwards and smoothing down the concrete as it has semi-set. Once the walls have hardened, they are then removed from the moulds by means of an overhead gantry and placed into a jig. Foundations pads are cast and on top of these precast concrete beams, inverted T cross section are then laid. The boxes are now unloaded directly from the lorry and are placed in position upon these inverted T beams. Once the boxes, which form one course from facade to faà §ade have been bolted together along the wall. After the boxes are connected together at the structural floor level of two connector plates, which are bolted with bolts to threaded inserts on either side of the joint. Once the boxes, which form one course from facade to faà §ade have been bolted together along the wall, where again the cast-in sockets which joined by steel plates and bolts, there only thin vertical joints visible. The vertical channels between the adjoining ribs of the end-to-end boxes make rigid cross-walls of remarkable sound insulation. Horizontal reinforcement rods are lowered and concrete is cast-in, resulting in the formation of a party wall. Evaluation and Comparison Cost Industrialised prefabricated construction of the Pekeliling project was more expensive than the conventional system. Its cost was 8.1% higher than a conventional housing project completed around that time. There are many advantages you can get if you are using precast construction method instead of using in-situ construction method. One of the advantages is the cost implication. Using precast construction method can save money or reduce the cost of construction because: Time Mass production as well as off-site production shortens project timeline, gives earlier return on investment, allowing earlier occupancy and keep in schedule. It is estimated that a precast structure takes up to 20% less time to construct than a similar cast in situ structure. For example, the walls of a building can be manufactured while on-site foundations are being built. If the time is over the schedule or due date, the company needs to pay the damages. Durability Provides long service for high use applications and does not require regular maintenance; save cost in long term. Waste Minimization Fewer materials are required because precise mixture proportions and tighter tolerances are achievable. Less concrete waste is created due to tight control of quantities of constituent materials. Waste materials are more readily recycled because concrete production is in one location. Sand and acids for finishing surfaces are reused. Steel forms and other materials are reused. Reduced requirements for formwork, access scaffolding and less reliance on wet trades. The reduced requirement for site supervision by the main contractor also saves money. Compared to cast in-situ concrete, the following percentages of savings can be expected: 75 per cent in terms of formwork and scaffolding and 90% for wet concrete. Recyclable precast concrete structures in urban areas can be recycled into fill and road base material at the end of their useful life. Fewer trucks and less time are required for construction because concrete is made offsite; particularly beneficial in urban areas where minimal traffic disruption is critical. When fewer trucks are required means lesser the cost needed to rent vehicles. The reduction in site labour which partly offsets a shortage of skilled site workers. Priced in the $55 $65 range per linear foot of wall, precast systems are competitive with other foundation walls, particularly when costs are examined as an assembly that includes footings and sub-slab drainage. Precast walls can be installed quickly in any weather. Because the concrete is cured in the factory, precast foundations can be backfilled as soon as the slab is placed and first floor bracing is in place, enhancing jobsite safety and site accessibility. Door and window openings, steel beam pockets, and brick ledges must be cast into the panels, so orders must be customized. The wall sub-base must be compacted and leveled, similar to precision required of footings. In making cost comparisons between alternative systems, it is imperative that total like for like costs are considered. There are substantial savings to be made using precast construction which are not evident when a direct elemental cost comparison is made with alternative construction methods. To get an accurate like for like cost, whole building costs must be estimated. To accurately assess whole building cost, each of the advantages of precast must be accurately costed. Savings through factors such as earlier completion dates, inbuilt fireproofing, reduced formwork, scaffolding, reduced wet trades and increased budget control can be significant. Also, fast-track procurement and construction may minimise capital costs by reducing financing costs and securing earlier rental income. The precast frame package typically includes columns, beams, floors, wall panels, stairs, landings, balconies etc., all of which have an inbuilt minimum one-hour fire protection. Specialist precast frame producers will assist design teams in evaluating the scope for standardised precast components for a particular project. Budget costings and erection programmes can be prepared by the precaster on receipt of outline drawings and a list of performance criteria. For contractors and specifiers, there is a big difference between price and cost. While price is but one element of cost, it is the initial, most visible and the easier of the two to understand. Focusing on price is not a preferred strategy in any business, especially where high-quality, reliable manufactured goods are concerned. Instead, for precast concrete products, the focus should be on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). How is TCO calculated? The Total Cost of Ownership is equal to the sum of the four cost components: quality, service, delivery and price. In terms of cost elements, a distinct advantage of precast concrete over cast-in-place (CIP) is speed of delivery and ease of installation, or service. Both contribute directly to lower Total Cost of Ownership. Precast concrete, especially when produced in certified plants, boasts the additional benefit of higher quality. Controlled batch proportions placed under uniform conditions consistently creates a better product than can be cast in place. For illustration purposes, we will use an ordinary precast underground structure. On the construction site, scheduling is an important, unpredictable and expensive risk. Nature stacks the cost odds against CIP concrete. It is a much quicker and less risky choice to have the precast delivered and installed the same day rather than excavate, form, pour and strip the CIP concrete, cure, damp proof and backfill. Given the cost matrix in Example 1, it could save six days in construction scheduling. For illustration purposes, consider a typical below-grade structure. For the inside dimensions of a 4-by-8-by-4-foot structure of either precast (6 inches thick) or CIP (8 inches thick), assume these facts: CIP requires three separate days to pour the base, walls and top. Curing and stripping adds one day to each step, requiring six days to cast on site. Damp proofing adds one day to the CIP process, totaling seven working days of open-hole time. Allowing an average $350 per cubic yard for small jobs (ready mix, rebar, mastic, labor and equipment), the 4 cubic yards of CIP required prices out at $1,400. Precast takes only one day to deliver and install, including backfill of the pre-damp proofed unit. The precast alternative to produce and truck to the job site prices out at $2,000. Installing the precast requires a four-hour minimum charge of $400 for a 20-ton crane. Hardware costs for fittings, embedded items, etc., are identical for precast and CIP. The TCO of precast is fixed at $2,400. However, the TCO of CIP is just beginning at $1,400. That raises the question among doubters as to why a contractor would spend more for precast. But many savvy contractors and specifiers recognize that their costs are actually less with precast. The six days of additional scheduling are required by the mechanics of pouring and curing concrete on site. The work could be done off site in a quality controlled precast plant while other work on site progresses. Even if a contractor has a concrete crew doing multiple projects on site, the efficiency gained by substituting as much precast as possible cannot be ignored. A contractor saves money for every minute he or she is ahead of schedule. If a $1 million contract yields a 10 percent profit margin and can be completed in 10 months that equates to $10,000 per month, or $333 per day in profit. Saving six days means an additional profit of 6 x $333 or $2,000. Furthermore, that savings is compounded by the elimination of general conditions costs of about $500 per day for the burden of supervision, insurance, fixed and variable job site costs, etc. And these are just actual costs. Add to this the avoidance of liquidated damages, and the cost advantage of precast concrete becomes the overwhelming choice. The cost advantages are summarized in Example 2. Speed The project took 27 months to complete, inclusive of the time taken in setting up the precasting factories. The construction period was comparable to the fastest conventional construction. Thus industrialised building has the following advantages in terms of time saving. Saving of time and materials involved in the erection of scaffoldings Shorter construction time as a result of well planned and co-ordinated sequence of construction Not affected by weather condition as building components are manufactured in the factory, and there is no on-site concreting. Labour Requirement Industrialised prefabricated system enable labour saving of 30%-40% mainly of skilled labour such as brick layers, plasterers and carpenters. In Malaysia, skilled labour in the building industry is scarce so it is expensive. The introduction of industrialised building system can obviously improve the situation. As we all know, labour can divided into three types. There are unskilled labour, semi-skilled labour and skill labour. Labour productivity is defined as the manhours required to complete the structural element of one unit house. A total of 499 data points were obtained from seven residential projects constructed between January 2003 and April 2004. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated that the labour productivity was significantly different between four structural building systems for example. The mean labour productivity for conventional building system was 4.20 manhours followed by cast in-situ table form manhours, cast in-situ half tunnel form 1.88 manhours and precast concrete system 1.33 manhours. Furthermore, the analysis of crew size indicated that the mean crew size for conventional building system of 24 workers was significantly different from the IBS of 22 workers. However, the crew size within the IBS was found to be insignificant. The cycle time measured in days per hou se was found to be significantly different between structural building systems with the conventional building system of 4.9 days, cast in-situ table form of 3.9 days, cast in-situ half tunnel form of 2.9 days and precast concrete system of 2.3 days. The labour productivity obtained from this study could be used as a preliminary guideline for client or consultant to identify the most appropriate building system for carrying out a construction project and determining the labour requirement in the construction industry. Further, the comparison of crew size indicated that the conventional building system of 22 workers was significantly different from the IBS of 18 workers. Similarly, the cycle time of 17 days per house for conventional building system was found to be significantly different from the IBS of four days. As a conclusion, using conventional method require more labour to be done on site compare to the pre cast construction or Industrialised Buildiing System (IBS). When using precast, the requirement of labour will reduce because there is less work to be done site. The number of labour also will small compare to the in- situ construction method. Quality The finished appearance of the building was of a much higher quality than that achieved in conventionally built low cost housing units. In particular, the finish of interior walls was much better to that achieved using cement-sand hollow blocks. There were serious environmental problems and some stresses were caused as a direct result of the detailing of the system. These problems can be overcome by changes in the detailing. Productivity There are many essential elements in construction industry. One of them is construction labour productivity. Its principal applications include construction planning, scheduling, cost estimating, accounting and cost control. As a matter of fact, international labour factors and also suggested ways in which they could subsequently be applied to determine comparative international construction cost and labour requirement are generated by labour productivity rates. The study on labour productivity for construction industry has been conducted by many researchers. However, the majority of them put their concentration on labour intensive conventional in-situ construction system. Only a fat lot of attention is devoted to perplexing question such as productivity measurement for industrialised building systems (IBS) in despite of the proliferation of the systems in Malaysia. The precast construction system can be termed as industrialised building systems (IBS) also. During the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005) whereby 600,000 to 800,000 houses are expected to be built, the need for huge demand for housing industry results in the development of these IBSs. The conventional in-situ construction system which is currently being used by the construction industry is incapable to cope with the demand in a stipulated period. The method is labour intensive. Since this method requires a lot of manpower, so it relies heavily on foreign workers. Thus, productivity research attention shall be swerved toward IBS which utilizes the philosophy of assembly activity. For productivity improvement in building industry from craft activity to assembly activity, there is a tremendous potential as depicted in Table 1. Objectives Large number of studies focused on labour productivity for single operation such reinforcement bar productivity, productivity of concrete and formwork productivity, whereas, only small effort is devoted towards the combined labour productivity for combination of all the single operation that form the structural element of one unit house. Therefore, this conducted study introduces a standardised data collection methodology for measuring and comparing the conventional and industrialised building systems in aspects of labour productivity and cycle time. Description of Data The data for this study were acquired from seven on-going residential projects constructed between January 2003 and April 2004. A sum of 499 data points were observed during that period. The data of projects gross floor area per unit house vary in size in interval between 60m ² to 84m ². Turnkey contractors were in charged in four projects while the remaining projects were built by a general contractor. In table 2, the project characteristics are presented. (Refer to the Appendix for data) Carpenter, barbender, concretor and crane operator were in charged in installation and erection of these structural elements. Therefore, the labour productivity of one unit house is calculated as below. Labour productivity for structural element of one unit houses = Crew Size carpentry, barbender, concretor and crane operator x work timeBuilding gross floor area (m2) = Total manhoursBuilding gross floor area (m2) All data were collected via a standardised data collection form as shown in Table 3. Every day, data collectors were designated to on-going construction sites and 30 minutes were spent per site for observation and record of the crew size, work time and location of work place. Daily observation is recommended because all workers were paid daily. Since workers absenteeism might occur during the construction period and weekly or monthly data variability are too large to enable reliable analyses, weekly or monthly observation is not favorable. Daily observation can also show high degree of variability due to various disturbance project related factors but not as much as other observation. Observation on every hour is also not suggested because it is very expensive and spends a lot of time. Some confidential information was obtained through direct interview with the project managers. Workers daily wage is one of the confidential information. Besides that, regular interviews to identify an d understand any peculiarities delay and interruption to the projects were essential to carried out. Rationale for Combining Data Points The size of the data points has a great effect on the appropriateness, accuracy and reliability of statistical analysis. When a single independent variable is used, small sample with 20 data points is ideal. And yet, a large sample of 1000 data points or more will cause the statistical analysis sensitive and unreliable. Moreover, peculiarities in observations or unusual conditions will bring some inexact data points that cause a baneful effect on the analysis. The rationale for combining the data points from different projects into four structural building systems are as follows: All projects are residential projects. They consist of repetitive structural designs. No special formwork system is needed because they do not have any peculiarities architectural features. Workers in charged in all operations are semi-skilled and skilled workers. The manual dexterity is about the same. The effects of weather and temperature are minimized since all projects are located within 30 km distance. Result and Discussion The data analysis and results focus on two specific subjects as described below: Labour productivity comparison between structural building systems using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cycle time comparison between structural building systems using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparison of Labour Productivity between Structural Building Systems This section evaluates the labour productivity comparison between structural building systems. Table 4 presents the descriptive statistic for labour productivity comparison between projects while Table 5 presents the labour productivity comparison between building systems using the average data from the seven projects. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results of labour productivity between the four building systems was found to be statistically significant different [ANOVA output, F(3,498) = 319.526, P-value = 0.000] as shown in Table 6. The precast concrete system was the most productive building system with labour productivity of 1.33 manhours/m ² followed by cast in-situ half tunnel (1.88 manhours/m ²), cast in-situ table form (2.70 manhours/m ²) and conventional building system (4.20 manhours/m ²). Taking the conventional building system as the benchmark of 100%, the cast in-situ table form system achieved a construction speed of 135% followed by the cast in-situ half tunnel form system of 155% and precast concrete system of 168%. The result was in tandem with the number of trades for each building system. For example, the conventional building system consisted of four major operations, namely the erection of scaffolding and formwork, installation of reinforcement bars, casting of concrete and dismantling of scaffolding and formwork; hence, it was highly labour intensive. However, only a few construction operations are needed for industrialized building system. For instance, the precast concrete system was pre-assembly in factory, hence reducing on-site labour input. Besides that, no scaffolding is required for cast in-situ tunnel form system to support the slab. Cycle Time Comparison between Structural Building Systems This section examines the cycle time measured in days required to complete the structural element of one unit house. Table 7 shows the cycle time for each project while Table 8 shows the average cycle time for four structural building systems. In Table 9, analysis of variance (ANOVA) results indicated that there was significant different between the four building systems in term of cycle time per house, [F(3,498)=161.416, P-value = 0.000]. The mean cycle times were 4.9 days for conventional building system, 3.9 days for cast in-situ table form, 2.9 days for cast in-situ half tunnel form and 2.3 days for precast concrete system. In term of percentage, the conventional building system required 26% more cycle time than cast in-situ table form system, 41% of cast in-situ half tunnel form system, and 53% of precast concrete system. Summmary This study has introduced the standardised data collection methodology for measuring and comparing the building structural element of conventional and industrialised building system. Researchers are enabled to combine data points from various projects to produce a larger database if they adopt this methodology. The rational for combining the data point is that the majority of residential projects has a simple structural layout plan and do not have any peculiarities architectural features. A total of 499 labour productivity data points were obtained from seven on-going residential projects. The results and discussion evolves on comparison between structural building systems in terms of labour productivity and cycle time per structural element of one house. In aspect of labour productivity comparison, the precast concrete system was the most productive building system with labour productivity of 1.33 manhours/m ² compare to the conventional building system with labour productivity of 4.20 manhours/m ². Besides that, assuming the conventional building system as the benchmark of 100%, precast concrete system achieved a construction speed of 168%. For instance, when the first house constructed using conventional building system is just done, whereas the first house constructed using precast concrete system was done and the second house is constructed about 68% completed. The comparison of cycle time per house indicated that the two building systems were significantly different. The mean cycle times were 4.9 days for conventional building system and 2.3 days for precast concrete system. In term of percentage, the conventional building system required 53% more cycle time than precast concrete system. Finally, the precast concrete system is preferable compare with conventional building system because the building works can be done faster since it requires less time to construct completely. Wastage In the field of structural concrete construction, two basic concepts are generally applied in practice which is precast concrete construction and conventional cast in-situ construction. Wastage can be defined as goods that are damaged, out of date, reduced, or generally unsaleable, which are destined to be thrown away and which are written off as a loss. Construction waste can be divided into three principal categories namely material, labour, and machinery waste. However, material wastage is given more concern because most of the raw materials used in construction industry come from non-renewable resources. The construction industry is a major generator of waste material. Traditionally, construction waste is defined as any material, apart from earth materials, which need to be transported elsewhere from the construction site or used within the construction site itself for the purpose of land filling, incineration, recycling, reusing or composting, other than the intended specific pu rpose of the project due to material damage, excess, non-use, or non-compliance with the specifications or being a by-product of the construction process. Material construction waste can be classify as natural waste (unavoidable waste allowed for in the tender), indirect waste (material used for purposes other than that for which it was ordered), and direct waste (material which is encountered for). It is generally known that there is a relatively large portion of the materials being wasted because of poor material control on building sites. The problem of material wastage is not an isolated issue on construction sites. It is also an environmental concern. When construction waste is viewed from an environmental perspective a different type of categorization must be considered. The environmental criteria include the consideration of solid waste. This is divided into four categories: hazardous waste production, non-hazardous waste production, inert waste production, and radioactive waste production. The construction industry consumes a significant amount of building materials and produces large quantities of building waste. Construction and demolition (C D) material is a mixture of inert and non-inert materials arising from construction, excavation, renovation, demolition and roadwork. The composition of construction waste is divided into two major categories: inert materials (soft and hard inert materials) and non-inert waste. The soft inert materials (such as soil, earth and slurry) can be reused as fill materials in reclamation and earth filling works. The hard materials (such as rocks and broken concrete) can be reused in reclamation works and/or recycled for construction work as granular materials, drainage bedding layers and concrete application. The non-inert waste (such as metal, timber and packaging waste) can be recycled or disposed of in landfills. Further, it was shown that there is a noticeable difference in the generation of material waste between pre-cast and in situ.In general, any reduction in on-site concreting leads to waste reduction. Precasting and prefabrication therefore offers significant opportunities for the reduction of waste. In comparison, the wastage in utilizing precast concrete construction method has smaller amount than conventional cast in-situ construction method.The main reason behind this may be due to the negligible wastes arisen during transportation and installation at the site. The pre-cast concrete elements transported to the site were stored unit wise by manufacturers themselves to avoid damage to the elements. Hence the waste arising during transportation had been minimized and identified as zero. Since pre-cast elements were supplied according to the required length, waste arising during installation of elements was at a minimum level and waste occurring due to over ordering of materials was also eliminated. Further, the pre-cast elements were produced at factories under proper supervision using steel moulds which can be formed of different sizes. Therefore, the wastage of materials during manufacturing also reduced to a considerable amount. On the other hand, there have larger amount of wastage due to conventional in-situ construction than precast concrete construction. This large quantity of wastage for conventional in-situ construction was identified due to the lack of supervision, inaccurate mixing methods, inappropriate type of equipment used, poor storage of materials and poor quality workmanship and this led to higher waste of materials in the following ways: excess cement being used to accelerate the curing process excess concrete being used due to the breaking of form work higher waste in transit and handling of metal and sand and excess concrete being used in uneven surfaces The objective of an in-situ method is to eliminate and reduce the traditional site-based trades like traditional timber formwork, brickwork, plastering and to reduce labour content. Conventional cast in situ construction method utilise lightweight prefabricated formwork made of steel, fibre glass or aluminum in order to replace the existing conventional timber formwork. The method is suitable for large numbers of housing units that require repetitive utilisation of formwork. The formwork can be reused as many times as possible with minimal wastage. There is a noticeable difference between the waste of pre-cast construction and in situ construction. However, because of the significant differences in other material wastes, it can be said that there is a significant reduction of material wastages of pre-cast concrete compared to the material wastages of conventional in-situ concrete. Therefore it can be concluded that there is a significant waste reduction when pre-cast concrete is used. Conclusion From the studies that have been done, it can be concluded that the precast method is better than the conventional Cast-In-Situ method in terms of cost, speed, labour, quality, wastage and productivity.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Quest for Nirvana in Siddhartha Essay -- Hesse Siddhartha Essays

The Quest for Nirvana in Siddhartha    In Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha and his friend, Govinda, leave their sheltered lives as Brahmins, Hindu priests, to be Samanas, ascetics who deny themselves all pleasure. Some years after, they meet the Buddha, whom Govinda stays with to be a monk while Siddhartha leaves to continue on his own adventures. Toward the end of their lives, they meet again at a river bank and discover if they have truly achieved inner peace. Hesse uses Govinda as a contrast to Siddhartha. As displayed in excursions with the Samanas, with the Buddha, and on other adventures, Siddhartha is a character who is more independent and must learn on his own while Govinda is more dependent and feels he must be taught.    Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia      According to Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, Hesse was born in Germany in 1877. After rebelling from traditional education and being expelled from the seminary in which he was enrolled, he educated himself mostly through books. In his earlier years, he became a bookseller and journalist, which may have inspired his first book, Peter Carmenzind. Being a pacifist, Hesse moved to Switzerland during World War I. He came in contact there with renowned psychologist Carl Jung who inspired some of his better-known works.    Frank McLynn   Edwin F. Casebeer   Joseph Mileck   New Standard Encyclopedia   Ernst Pawel   Felix Anselm      Frank McLynn, a biographer of Carl Jung, states that Hermann Hesse, following a breakdown, began psychoanalysis with one of Jung's pupils. It was through this pupil that Hesse eventually came in contact with Jung in 1916. According to noted Hesse... ...dhartha and learn from what he sees without being taught. Theodore Ziolkowski notes that characters of Hesse have transformed from trying to escape their problems more toward trying to resolve their inner vision. Siddhartha and Govinda are both. The two characters try to escape their suffering by trying to learn how to deal with pain by exposing themselves to immense amounts of it while they are with the Samanas. However, they realize that this approach will not help the problem: human suffering exists as emotional as well as physical pain. They must learn how to separate themselves from this suffering, not hide from it; that is Nirvana. Their paths separate because Siddhartha's adventures are based on those of an independent man who will try to teach himself, whereas Govinda's are based on those of a dependent man who prefers to learn by example.   

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Distance Education Essay -- Learning Educational School Essays

Distance Education Traditionally, in the field of education, courses have been designed and student/teacher interactions have taken place through the teaching/learning process where the student and teacher are in the same location at the same time discussing the same topic. Students and teachers usually meet in this predetermined location at a predetermined time to interact in a classroom setting. The absence of either party usually has a negative result. Distance education has captured the interest of educators because it removes the restrictions of time and location for the involved learner and the teacher. Distance learning is "taking instruction to the student through technology rather than the student to the instruction" (Cohen, 1999, p. 218). Distance education seems new to many when in actuality it has been around for some time. It began as correspondence learning in the last century and continued into this century, transforming into mass communications through the use of radio and television (Cohen, 1999, p. 218). Distance education further developed in the forms of extended education, open education, and distance learning (McIssac & Blocher, 1998, p. 43). Now, distance education takes on many forms: teleconferencing, electronic mail, web-based instruction, chat rooms, satellite television, computer networks, and virtual classrooms just to name a few. Distance education has evolved from the use of primarily print-based materials into a worldwide movement using various technologies (McIsaac & Blocher, 1998, p. 43). Distance learning can be interactive or non-interactive learning. Interactive learning can be synchronic or asynchronic or a combination of the two. Synchronic learning is where "the teacher and stud... ...can Journal of Distance Education, 8, 2, 30-42. Kearsley, G. (March-April 1998). Educational technology: a critique. Educational Technology, 38, 2, 47-51. McIsaac, M. S., & Blocher, J. M. (March 1998). How research in distance education can affect practice. Educational Media International, 35, 1, 43-47. Moller, L. (1998). Designing communities of learners for asynchronous distance education. Educational Technology Research & Design, 46, 4, 115-122. Moore, M. G. (1990). Recent contributions to the theory of distance education. Open Learning, 5, 3, 10-13. Offir, B., & Lev, Y. (June 1999). Teacher-learner interaction in the process of operating dl (distance learning) systems. Educational Media International, 36, 2, 132-136. Willis, B. (January-February 1998). Effective distance education planning: lessons learned. Educational Technology, 38, 1, 57-59.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Comment on the development of the character of Pip Essay

We are acquainted with Pip from the outset of the novel, the opening lines telling of his unfortunate name and of the untimely deaths of his parents. To the reader, Pip appears to be a perceptive young boy- his visions about his parents were very lurid and imaginative, considering they were only taken from the font and style of his parent’s tombstones. Pip talks in a very matter of fact manner, i.e. he has no feelings of sadness or guilt when he talks about both his parents and his brothers. His encounter with the convict is a catalyst for change in Pips character, we can see that he changes from being quite confident and sure of himself, to being paranoid and afraid. When Pip hears the guns of the prison-ships, he begins to worry quite spontaneously, and links the fact that a convict has escaped with his encounter in the graveyard. This makes Pip even more fearful, seeing as now he has no doubt that the convict will carry out the necessary incisions to take out his heart and liver, unless of course Pip delivers the food. After the drop off has been made, Pip’s character takes another turn, this time into the realms of paranoia. Straight after Pip came back to his house in chapter four, Pip’s first words were ‘I fully expected to find a constable in the kitchen, waiting to take me up.’ All the way through the Christmas dinner when Pip’s relatives were present, Pip was constantly on the edge of his seat- ready to hide under the table every time Mrs. Gargery left the room, his fears about the missing food and drink riding high in his hyper-paranoid state. When Pumblechook informed Pip of his imminent visit to Miss Havisham’s, Pip is filled with questions to do with the purpose of his visit, and we see the deeply inquisitive side of Pip. His visit and time there bred mixed feelings within Pip: feelings of shame, ungratefulness, jealousy and a very prominent inadequacy within himself. He wishes he had Estella for himself, he wishes he had Miss Havisham’s fortune and he wishes he was someone else. He wishes he was someone uncommon, and someone well educated, gentlemanly and with fair hands. These wishes and strong feelings awakened his inadequacy and thus inadvertently his expectations. Estella sets an inner turmoil into motion within Pip. He feels strong feelings of love, jealousy, dislike for her (and himself) and an intuition which says leave her well alone, while his reckless love for her is in direct conflict with this. His love for her is a mystery to even himself, he analyses scrupulously his interactions with her, and the cold and heartless things she does to him, and he himself cannot explain the feelings he has towards her. Pip’s expectations change the way Pip thinks. He no longer looks upon himself as common and due to a few hints here and there from Miss Havisham, is convinced that she is his secret benefactor and that she has set him and Estella up for each other. This knowledge that Pip thinks he has leads to a change in Pip’s character, whereas before he was thinking of ways to improve himself so that Estella would look more kindly upon him, he now thinks that he just has to sit back, relax and wait. The truth was a shock to Pip, in his own words: ‘The abhorrence in which I held the man, the dread I had of him, the repugnance with which I shrank from him, could not have been exceeded if he had been some terrible beast.’ His foolishness with which he had treated Estella became apparent and inwardly Pip wished he had done more. He became both guilty and ashamed, and he came to almost resent his good fortunes, close to but not.

Monday, September 16, 2019

A Critical Examination of Cultural Influences in the Film Bend It Like Beckham Essay

The film ‘Bend it like Beckham’ resonates with me strongly, as the conflict between Western and Indian culture is all too familiar. The main character ‘Jess Bhamra’ personifies this conflict in the most perfect and relatable way. Being a first generation Australian-born girl with Indian heritage, I can personally attest to having to simultaneously maintain two very different cultures that so often clash. ‘Bend it like Beckham’, is a film telling the story of an Indian girl whose only real goal in life, much to her parents’ dismay, is to play professional football. As Jess embarks on her trying journey of self-development in a cross-cultural space, she befriends fellow football enthusiast and player Jules who convinces Jess to join the local women’s football team. This friendship provides an interesting perspective on the Western culture, by offering the responder an insight into the struggles of Jules’ life, some of which are very same struggles present for Jess. The diasporic identities that are Jess’ parents are not ill intentioned, however slightly overbearing in their persistence of Jess’ obligations to her traditionally Sikh family. Thematic aspects of etic-emic distinction are raised in this film and include the role of women, homosexuality, stereotypes, cross-generational behaviours and integration by relational theory. All such themes are highlighted by the culture clash at play, as Jess attempts to grasp some sense of identity in an over-protected Indian space. Women’s roles in both Western and Indian cultures are thoroughly scrutinized in the film. Jess expresses some discomfort in assuming the traditional role of a Sikh woman as stipulated by her parents. This is the main source of discontent throughout the film, as her ethnocentric parents truly, and somewhat naively, hold the belief that becoming a lawyer and marrying a man within their community is the key to happiness. As was noted in Article one of Part A, the Asian culture holds loyalty to family-kin relationships and obedience to elders in very high esteem. In this regard, Jess’ Western values of freedom of choice and personal fulfilment take a backseat. This is highlighted in a conversation that occurs with her Western teammates, where hey ask her how she is able to ‘stand’ getting an ‘arranged marriage’ to which she replies, â€Å"It’s just culture† with a certain nonchalance. In doing so Jess is demonstrating that she is culture-bound, conditioned to the Indian cultural practiced of ‘arranged marriages’. The ultimate attribution error committed by Jess’ parents is not a result of ill-intentions, rather a prot ection mechanism against unknown western influences. The role of women in the Western culture is not spared of social commentary in this film. It is interesting that Chadha, the Indian-born writer, director and producer of the film, chooses to examine the social constructs surrounding the implications of a women’s football team in England. As there is no professional English women’s football league, one can safely assume that football is not an appropriate past time for women. This idea is reaffirmed by Jules’ mother who, throughout the film, holds a very traditional English view on the role of women in society. She often expresses her disapproval with sentiments such as, â€Å"Nobody’s going to go out with a girl who’s bigger muscles than him! † Jess’ mother subscribes to the Indian tradition of a woman as a homemaker by saying, â€Å"What sort of family would want a daughter-in-law who could play football but not cook? † expressing much the same outlook as Jules’ mother, varied only by the respective women’s contexts. Such generalisations about women’s social placement is also seen in Article four of Part A. Adams et al. (2010) acknowledges the place of women in Spanish society as home-maker figures by hypothesising women to be more able in polychronic environments. It is also seen that the Western culture as a whole participates in the alienation of the team as a result of unfeminine associations. This is seen when Jess makes the point that ‘Indian’ girls do not play football. Jules pointedly remarks, â€Å"It’s not just an ‘Indian’ thing. How many people come out to support us? The girls clearly seek an equality matching relationship with the men’s team. The concept of homosexuality is broached in this film. While the notion is still taboo in Indian culture, Chadha makes a statement by depicting the West to be more informed but equally disapproving. This is illustrated by the undue paranoia felt by Jules’ mother when she mistakes the friendship between Jules and Jess as something more. When confronted, Jules exclaims, â€Å"Mum, just because I wear trackies and play sport does not make me a lesbian! The matter-of-fact feel of this conversation and level of homosexual awareness in the Western culture is contrasted by Jess’ grandmother’s remark, â€Å"Why did she call Jess a lesbian? I thought she was a Pisces† Her obvious lack of knowledge in confusing homosexuality and astrological star signs indicate her culture blind nature. As if to reiterate the secretive taboo that is homosexuality in the Indian culture, Chadha scripts Tony, Jess’ childhood male friend, as a homosexual. Jess’ reaction to the news is indicative of a typical first-generation non-resident-Indian, a result of cultural conditioning. Her shock is portrayed through her exclamation, â€Å"But you’re Indian! † as if to say homosexuality is simply non-existent in the Indian culture. Jess soon recovers and displays an acceptance far greater than that of her own grandmother or Jules’ mother and tells Tony that she is â€Å"okay† with him â€Å"liking David Beckham†. While Chadha aims to resist and counter some stereotyping, the stereotyping of Indian communities as ‘backward’ and ‘conservative’ is still very prevalent throughout the film. Jules’ mother innocently typifies the Indian culture in her first encounter with Jess by making statements such as, â€Å"I bet your parents are fixing you up with a handsome young doctor soon† and â€Å"Jess, I hope you can teach my daughter a bit about your culture, including respect for elders and the like. † She soon learns of Jess’ involvement in Jules’ football club and meekly states, â€Å"I’ve never seen an Indian girl play football before†. Jules’ mother exhibits culture-blind behaviour and has very fixed notions about Indian culture; she exudes disbelief as Jess dispels these essentialising notions. Chadha further breaks free from the stereotyping of arranged marriages by scripting Jess’ sister, Pinky, as having a ‘love’ marriage. When Jess tells her teammates that her sisters’ marriage was a ‘love match’, the display of acculturation allows for her teammates to learn that the Indian culture is not as backward and conservative as is perceived. It seems that for an Indian family living abroad, the generational gap between parent and child is magnified by the overlay of cross-cultural aspects. Jess and her father share the same penchant for sport and both qualified to participate in quasi-professional teams in England. When both characters are on the receiving end of racial slurs on the field, they both react true to their cultural upbringing. Jess’ father demonstrates an ‘Eastern’ submission and interdependent self-concept by walking away from the sport and quashing any hopes of returning to the field. Jess, however, displayed a more ‘Western’ dominance and independent self-concept by physically retaliating, costing her a ‘red card’ and a temporary suspension from playing. The Eastern mentality of obedience is also noted by Chang et al (2007) in stating â€Å"anti-hierarchical behaviour is not allowed in Taiwanese workplaces†. The movie culminates in Pinky’s extravagant wedding, very true to Indian culture. As an unfortunate coincidence, the football Grand Finals are held on the same day, rendering Jess unable to attend her football match and compelling her to her sister-of-the-bride duties. Throughout the movie, Chadha depicts Jess’ parents in a harsh, dictatorial light however, her fathers’ wish for her happiness compassionately exceeds his own expectations, â€Å"If it’s the only thing that will put a smile on your face one the day of your sister’s wedding, go and play. Jess reluctance to leave suggests that she strongly identifies with family ties and cultural commitments. Urged by Tony, she ultimately leaves the wedding to play the last half of the football match, winning the game and landing an opportunity to play professional football in America. Through Relational Theory her parents understand that to have a meaningful social relationship with their daughter they must actively seek to understand her cultural viewpoint and schema. This feel-good film is a perfect illustration of Contact Hypothesis whereby Chadha has brought to life some contentious issues of Eastern and Western culture and allowed for a gradual process of cultural integration throughout the film. Concepts such as the gender roles, homosexuality, stereotyping and generation gaps are highlighted so as to demonstrate that multicultural societies should not invoke permanent differences, rather form fluid identities which enable people to accept and internalize all components of culture beneficial to their lives.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women Essay

According to Jennifer Mclune, a writer, activist, and librarian, sexism, and homophobia saturate hip-hop culture and any deviation from these forms of bigotry is made marginal to its most dominant and lucrative expressions. In her article â€Å"Hip hops betrayal of black women† Published on first of July 2006, Mclune is informing and trying to persuade her audience of this generation of teenagers and young adults, also seen as millennials, that hip-hop songs that have these elements of woman-hating, sexism, and homophobia, are basically a normal thing and it should not be because it causes an influence and makes the actions seem like it’s okay to commit rather than seeing it as something offensive. She claims that â€Å"Hip-hop owes its success to the ideology of woman-hating† By this, she means that it creates, perpetuates, and reaps the rewards of objectification. I strongly agree with Mclune she feels that the hip-hop world has degraded women and it became the †norm† so people became blinded so, now it’s time to fight back. To help support my claim, Mclune uses real-life evidence/examples such as song lyrics, another article similar to her topic, and language. First off Mclune starts off addressing Kevin Powell’s ’’ notes of hip-hop heads ’’ and he states how poverty breeds into sexism and that hip-hop is saturated with the past and homophobia. Mclune feels that that’s a way to silence the feminist critiques of the culture. Mclune also states how Powell forgets to mention the fact that women too were raised in the violent and poor environments as men too. Basically, it shouldn’t excuse the fact that men are degrading women through the hip-hop culture. When we as black females need to stand up and gain knowledge on how the hip-hop world participates in women-hating. You have men writing songs about black women pain, but have rappers such as jay-z who has lyrics such as I pimp hard on a trick. In particularly this article written by Sharpley Whiting called †Pimp Up, Ho’s Down† Whiting argues that hip hop’s commercial success is heavily dependent upon young black women. Creating both, this masculine and misogynistic gap in understanding the real complexities of young black women in hip hop’s commercial art. The color prejudice and sexually charged lyrics in a dominated culture, hip-hop. Whiting also states how the millennium generation has grown into the wake of the hip-hop culture, blinded by their unconscious participation, they fail to connect the destruction of feminism in hip-hop, this statement is similar to what Mclune has been saying throughout her article. It is not hip hop itself that has made the uniqueness of its own culture, but it is hip-hop itself that normalizes it. It’s very understandable that the hip-hop world bases their lyrics on real-life situations but the things that are said about such as †gold diggers,† † chicken heads† about women shouldn’t be motioned because it doesn’t do anything but make those situations become the norm. In an article written by Dr. Johnnetta Cole argues in her article that there is a â€Å"war between the sexes†. Also, that hip-hop plays a significant influence on is battle that has been going on since the 60’s. We as black women need to stand our ground for something that we believe in, which is treating us with respect and not degrading us in hip hops music. The sense of impudence toward the woman is being noticed by boys and girls at an early age. Therefore, to them it seems that what is being said and demonstrated in videos is okay. The ruthless and tyrannical gender talk in today’s hip-hop music must be put to rest, but to do that we must chan ge the way we put out our message. Words can be very motivating and inspiring, but you can’t influence someone by humiliating others.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Abortion: One of the Most Argumentative Topics

One of the most argumentative topics with our court today is the topic of abortion. Abortion has been practiced in the United States since the founding of the Republic according to You debate. It all began when married woman moved to lower their fertility rates after 1830. it became a widespread practice held in the United States. According to You debate, doctor’s estimated that in the 1960’s through the 1970’, there was at least one abortion every four birth’s. One common worry that congress had was the safety of the mother’s during the abortion progress. Before 1973, â€Å" abortions were preformed illegally, and in unskilled ways, many woman died from the awful infections and intense bleeding. Hangers and other sharp objects were one of many objects used for illegal abortions† (you debate, 2). There are numerous reasons as to why someone would be for abortions, or against abortions. In my own personal opinion, I believe that a woman has a right to decide what she would like to do. This essay will consist of both pro’s and con’s of abortion. Also, it will include certain cases that been brought to the congress’s attention. Abortion is a topic that several Americans have expressed their concerns with. People have the right to their own opinion whether they are pro or con for abortion. There are several reasons for pro-choice. One according to WCLA, is that â€Å" we support reproductive freedom† which means that an individual woman should be able to make her own choice whether or not she is going to give birth to the child. Also, laws have never stopped abortion. When illegal abortion was the leading killer of woman in the United States, there was no right to life choice. Most people in the United States believe that abortion may be the morally right choice under certain circumstances. Some of those circumstances are for example when a woman is rapped. If a woman gets rapped, I believe that is she is pregnant by the man, that she does have a right whether or not to birth the child because of the circumstances. According to WLCA, â€Å" Many people who are personally opposed to abortion for religious or moral reasons also believe that it’s wrong to impulse their values by civil law on everyone. You don’t have to like abortion to respect the right of choice. Another argument that congress has had to face is whether the baby is considered a alive, or is not. According to WLCA, â€Å"The fetus is totally dependent on the body of the woman for it’s life support. The health of the fetus is directly related to the health of the pregnant woman. Only at birth are they separated. † A woman named Margaret Sanger said, â€Å" No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body. † Almost all legislatures who oppose abortion rights also support the death penalty. One might ask if they think that people who are are convicted of murder are no longer human. According to the WLCA, The Constitution protects various rights that are not specifically mentioned. The constitutional right of privacy has been interpreted repeatedly to include matters of marriage, sex, and family, specifically â€Å"the right to be free from unwarranted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the decision whether to bear a child or beget a child. † The agreement among the people of the United States has grown in support. In 1982, an NBC poll showed that 77% agreed to abortion should be between the woman and the doctor only. Another poll showed that 5. 4% of rape victims become pregnant. This poll proved that people are becoming more sympathetic towards women who are being rapped and getting pregnant. Also, most medications are not completely 100% effective for getting pregnant. Because of this, abortion should not be a problem because all medications are not 100% effective. Also, some people cannot afford to pay for medications. Therefore, abortion would be necessary. According to WLCA, â€Å"The increase in teen sex has complex society causes, including sexually orientated such as TV, movies, and ads. Birth control and abortion don’t cause sex. † The Supreme Court, in 1976, reaffirmed that the privacy allows woman to be free of governmental interference in decisions about childbearing. The court struck down the law that the father of the child does not have a say so in the decision of his unborn child. The court came to the conclusion that the person who is physically bearing the child is more affected by the pregnancy. Another reason for abortion is that most unwanted babies are usually battered or even killed by the immature parents are not ready to raise a child. The parents may not want the baby, so there fore they do not show or give the baby the love that he or she needs. Most abortions are done for health reason. When is a woman is with child, there are several cases in which the mother could in fact become in danger is the mother does decide to bear the child. In some cases, the babies that are being aborted are unhealthy babies. The parents can try again for a healthy baby. Also if we have abortion clinics, there will be a less percent of â€Å"abortion mills†. These are places in which woman have high risks of being hurt by the people actually doing the procedure. One last reason according to WLCA, why abortions should be accepted in the United States is that when a child is in the wound, the brain and sensory waves do not develop until the 30th week. Most abortions do not accrue usually after the 24th week. There are several reasons as to why people do not accept abortion in the Untied States. People believe that human life begins when there is conception of a child. Therefore, it would be calling abortion murder. According to WLCA, â€Å"abortion is morally wrong. † wrong. † They believe that if you think abortion is morally wrong, you are obligated to work to make abortion illegal. People also believe that it is a sense of â€Å"decay† towards Americans. People believe that the fetus is not just part of the mother, but actually another separate human being. The argument that argues a woman’s rights to her own body are argued with the statement, â€Å"The right of the unborn to live supersedes any right of a woman to control her own body† (WLCA, 1 ). Abortion could also be wrong because it is described as taking a human life. Also, if abortion is not mentioned in the Constitution, then why is it considered a constitutional right? People in the United States declare that we add an amendment that describes it as the human life amendment. This would consist of declaring a fetus a full person. Also, abortion should not be legal because of a rape situation. They believe this because the percent of woman who get pregnant after being rapped are very low. The question will always remain â€Å"If you are having sex, you should be able to pay for consequences. † Most Americans feel that if a woman is old enough to have sex, then she is able to take care of a child if she is aware of the idea of getting pregnant. According to DEBATE, â€Å"Teenagers are being les and less capable of saying no. Having the option of abortion increases the sexual experiences of teenagers. † People think that the teenager who is considering having an abortion, to consult their parents first. They believe that the parent will be able to help guide the teenager’s decision to a more moral outcome. Another argument is that most parents, who do not want the child at the time, want the child later on in life. There are several other negative effects of abortion such as woman who have died from legal abortion verses those who have died from illegal abortions. Study shows that if a woman has an abortion, then it could possibly affect her pregnancy later on in life. Adoption affects are also a strong case in congress with the subject of abortion. They want people to know that they could give birth to the child, and then give it up for adoption. There has also been a shortage is adoptive children because of the high numbers of abortion each year. In conclusion, there are several opinions on whether a woman has the right to carry her pregnancy to full term. There are several pros and cons about the topic abortion. In the United States, people battle with abortion everyday. This is a topic that may take several years to finally resolve with the Supreme Court. Is it that we are murdering a human being? Does a woman have the right whether to bear and have her child? Should the Supreme Court be for or against it? Both sides have very strong points of view about the positive and negative affects. With the case of Madsen V. Woman’s Health Center, the people protesting do have the right to their freedom of speech because it was not trespassing. But will it do any good or have any affect on the woman going in and out of the clinic? Who knows? This is a difficult decision that the Congress will have to decide. We may never be alive when this conflict is resolved.

HRD in Bangladesh: Chronological Background Essay

Human resource development (HRD)( is the most useful device for enhancing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of managers to accomplish their tasks efficiently. It helps inculcate right values and attitudes among the managers as well as administrators and their subordinates. It keeps them abreast with changes taking place in various spheres. It is thus, an investment in human resources to ensure the continued quality and adaptability of the administrators of both public and private sector organizations to change and their ability to grasp contemporary social and economic problems. Today it has come to be regarded as very vital and a precondition for national development. In today’s world everything is changing rapidly and every country has to cope with such changes. The strong urge felt by governments to formulate appropriate policies, make timely decisions and implement those decisions to meet the changing demands of the citizens, force them to improve the managerial skills and competence through systematic training. Even the poorer nations of the world now embark upon building training infrastructure for the development of their human resources in an attempt to achieve the goals for wider social, economic and political development. They are often supported in their efforts by international donors, whose advocacy of good governance is another important reason for the increasing emphasis on training and the consequent expansion training arrangements in poorer countries. With a view to contribute in our national development, a good number of public and private training institutes have been playing their role since Pakistan period. In 1960, Gazetted Officers Training Academy (GOTA) was set up in Dhaka for regular and systematic training of the civil servants. National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) was set up at Dhaka in 1961 mainly to impart public administration training to the mid-level officers of central and provincial governments, autonomous and local bodies. At the same time Bangladesh Management Development Center (BMDC) was established under the Ministry of Industry in order to develop our manpower into human resources through management training. In 1970, BMDC turned into an autonomous training institute. To cater for the training needs of the senior administrators, another training institute; Bangladesh Administrative Staff College (BASC) was established in 1977 as an apex institute. In 1984 the government merged NIPA, COTA and BASC to the Public Administration Training Complex (PATC). PATC, later renamed as Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center (BPATC), is entrusted with the responsibility of imparting training to officers of all categories. In order to synchronize the efforts of different training institutions and to make training relevant to the process of national development, a National Training Policy was formulated in 1986. At present many training institutes like BCS (admin) Academy, Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center (BPATC), Land Acquisition Training Center (LATC), Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Academy for Planning and Development (APD), Rural Development Academy (RDA) and National Academy for Education and Management (NAEM) are playing a vital role in our national development as the public training institutes through training activities. Besides these, few NGOs like HAMIBA HRD Centre, BRAC, Steps towards Development (STD), PROSHIKA, Resource Integration Centre (RIC), SKILL (Specialized Knowledge and Information Liner for Life), SPEED and so on are initiating training activities as private sector training institutes for our national development. [pic] ( HRD is a process of developing human resource through appropriate need based training. ———————– HR Functions: Employee Development Objectives: After reading this chapter you should be able to †¢ Be familiar with HRD programs in Bangladesh †¢ Identify the HRD approaches †¢ Distinguish between HRD and HRM †¢ Discuss the activities involved in HRD process

Friday, September 13, 2019

StilSim Personnel Strategy Formulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

StilSim Personnel Strategy Formulation - Essay Example By staying in the business of staffing solutions, they are trying to match a demand supply gap for employment that exists from time to time within the economy (StilSim Personnel, 2007). SWOT Analysis Strengths StilSim Personnel has been in the staffing solutions for over 25 years. So naturally, it can be estimated that at least as of current scenario they still have some faithful and loyal customers in the market. StilSim Personnel boasts of a strong customer service, which helps them in maintaining in steady flow of returning customers. Weakness Decline in profits and monthly performance statements affecting the company’s top line growth and overall performance of the company as compared to others in the market Fighting within employees, cold tensions existing among employees thereby leading to low employee morale and affecting company motivation A strong sense of over confidence exists with the Customer Service, which the company provides to its customers Opportunities In th e age of today’s fast changing business environments, big corporations are increasingly looking for temporary staffing of their variable demands. They don’t want to retain employees for the long run, when the demand for manpower is low and so is very much in favor of temporary staffing. As of today’s date, 90 % of the corporations and enterprises, big or small are looking into temporary staffing to fill up their variable short time manpower needs. Though, StilSim Personnel has a division to deal with temporary staffing, but taking the business on the internet and integrating the temporary staffing division on the worldwide web will help the company to meet the demands of big corporations, while being able to show an impressive performance in the monthly... StilSim Personnel has been in the staffing solutions for over 25 years. So naturally, it can be estimated that at least as of current scenario they still have some faithful and loyal customers in the market. StilSim Personnel boasts of a strong customer service, which helps them in maintaining in steady flow of returning customers. Decline in profits and monthly performance statements affecting the company’s top line growth and overall performance of the company as compared to others in the market Fighting within employees, cold tensions existing among employees thereby leading to low employee morale and affecting company motivation A strong sense of over confidence exists with the Customer Service, which the company provides to its customers In the age of today’s fast changing business environments, big corporations are increasingly looking for temporary staffing of their variable demands. They don’t want to retain employees for the long run, when the demand for manpower is low and so is very much in favor of temporary staffing. As of today’s date, 90 % of the corporations and enterprises, big or small are looking into temporary staffing to fill up their variable short time manpower needs. Though, StilSim Personnel has a division to deal with temporary staffing, but taking the business on the internet and integrating the temporary staffing division on the worldwide web will help the company to meet the demands of big corporations, while being able to show an impressive performance in the monthly performance statements.