Tuesday, December 31, 2019

What Is the Cauchy Distribution

One distribution of a random variable is important not for its applications, but for what it tells us about our definitions. The Cauchy distribution is one such example, sometimes referred to as a pathological example. The reason for this is that although this distribution is well defined and has a connection to a physical phenomenon, the distribution does not have a mean or a variance. Indeed, this random variable does not possess a moment generating function. Definition of the Cauchy Distribution We define the Cauchy distribution by considering a spinner, such as the type in a board game. The center of this spinner will be anchored on the y axis at the point (0, 1). After spinning the spinner, we will extend the line segment of the spinner until it crosses the x axis. This will be defined as our random variable X. We let w denote the smaller of the two angles that the spinner makes with the y axis. We assume that this spinner is equally likely to form any angle as another, and so W has a uniform distribution that ranges from -Ï€/2 to Ï€/2. Basic trigonometry provides us with a connection between our two random variables: X tanW. The cumulative distribution function of X is derived as follows: H(x) P(X x) P(tan W x) P(W arctanX) We then use the fact that W is uniform, and this gives us: H(x) 0.5 (arctan x)/Ï€ To obtain the probability density function we differentiate the cumulative density function. The result is h(x) 1/[Ï€ (1 x2) ] Features of the Cauchy Distribution What makes the Cauchy distribution interesting is that although we have defined it using the physical system of a random spinner, a random variable with a Cauchy distribution does not have a mean, variance or moment generating function. All of the moments about the origin that are used to define these parameters do not exist. We begin by considering the mean. The mean is defined as the expected value of our random variable and so E[X] ∠«-∞∞x /[Ï€ (1 x2) ] dx. We integrate by using substitution. If we set u 1 x2 then we see that du 2x dx. After making the substitution, the resulting improper integral does not converge. This means that the expected value does not exist, and that the mean is undefined. Similarly the variance and moment generating function are undefined. Naming of the Cauchy Distribution The Cauchy distribution is named for the French mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy (1789 – 1857). Despite this distribution being named for Cauchy, information regarding the distribution was first published by Poisson.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Access and Availability Two Challenges for Health Care

Access and Availability: Two Challenges for US Health Care Kaitnarine Harilal Walden University Access and Availability: Two Challenges for US Health Care The United States (US) health care system is changing dramatically. The Affordable Care Act is a catalyst that is spurring change by the promotion of two drivers: access and primary preventative care. Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, over 47 million Americans were uninsured thus denying them access to basic health care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2012). Increasing access and increasing the availability of primary care services (pre-natal care, preventative care, primary disease prevention, and secondary disease†¦show more content†¦The second major reform is to abolish TriCare, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children Health Insurance Plan. This would establish one government system for all the elderly, poor, government workers, (to include military and veterans) and all children up to the age of 25. A single payer system would streamline billing by reduce administrative overhead necessary to manage clients from multiple payer systems. Shi amp; Singh (2012) agrees that this reform would provide benefits without penalty due to income level. However, such a system could become overburdened that may result in health care rationing (Shi amp; Singh, 2012). Access and availability of primary care providers are just two of many drivers that are shaping the health care industry. Passage of the ACA will result in improved access however the challenge of having enough primary care physicians for poor communities has not been properly addressed. Health care administrators in impoverished communities will have to be resourceful in attracting primary care providers to serve in their communities. The lesson provided by Cuba has shown that through their network of neighborhood clinics, preventative care can be successful (Bourne, Keck, amp; Reed, 2006). Cuba has shown that low cost care can result in health care outcomes that are comparable to the US (Bourne, Keck, amp; Reed, 2006). US health care is under going a transformation thatShow MoreRelatedThe Complex And Historical Problem Accessibility1306 Words   |  6 Pageshealthcare system. This is exceedingly difficult as each country is unique in their history, culture, population and health needs, all of which require a specialized system. Furthermore, an ideal system addresses equally the three key aspects of healthcare: quality, affordability and availability. A system without even one of these aspects at its full potential is not providing the best care possible for the population. Arguably, accessibility is the most crucial and challenging aspect. This is stillRead More1. Introduction . 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Saturday, December 14, 2019

Assessment Task Carbon Chemistry and Functional Groups Free Essays

Assessment Task:Â  Carbon Chemistry Functional Groups 1. Why does the carbon atom make so many covalent compounds? Carbon atoms have 4 single valence electrons, which mean they can bond to 4 other atoms. It bonds in a tetrahedral shape, or make straight, bent or ring shaped molecules when many are bonded together. We will write a custom essay sample on Assessment Task: Carbon Chemistry and Functional Groups or any similar topic only for you Order Now The complexity allows it to bond to many other atoms. (1) 2. How is the structure of ethanol (key ingredient in vodka) different than the structure of acetic acid (vinegar) in terms of functional groups? Firstly, the structure of ethanol contains 6 hydrogen atoms, 2 carbon atoms and an oxygen atom. What is different from ethanol is that acetic acid has 2 oxygen atoms bonded to it rather than one and there are 5 hydrogen atoms on acetic acid while there are 6 hydrogen atoms on the ethanol. On the ethanol, the oxygen and a hydrogen atom bond together to form a hydroxyl group at the end of the chain while there is a carboxyl group attatched to the main chain of the acetic acid. The aldahyde functional group contains a double bond oxygen atom and a hydroxy group bonded to the end carbon. (1) 3. Draw diagrams of ethanol and acetic acid – clearly showing the shared pairs of electrons (covalent bonds). 4. Draw a structural diagram of glycine. (2) 5. Name the class of compounds that glycine belongs to and what do all of the compounds in this class have in common? Glycine is in the class of macromolecules. Ths class includes many repeated functional groups. 1) 6. Draw an organic compound that has two different functional groups. Lable these groups. Hydroxyl group on one end carboxyl group on the other. References 1. Allinotte, T. (2008). Chemical Basis of Life. Retrieved from www. virtualhighschool. com/d2l/orgTools/ouHome/ouHome. asp? ou=58018amp ;gt; on December 28, 2011. 2. Wales, J. (2011). Glycine. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Glycine on December 28, 2011. How to cite Assessment Task: Carbon Chemistry and Functional Groups, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Feeling Glamorous Essay Example For Students

Feeling Glamorous Essay I was less nervous on this particular Saturday than I anticipated. This is after all, the day that every woman dreams of, her wedding day! My head was intensely pounding from the previous nights celebration. If I could give advice to any engaged couples- have your â€Å"last night out† parties weeks before the wedding! Luckily for me, my maid of honor anticipated how I’d feel, she put Tylenol and bottled water on my night stand. I took my time making my way downstairs, even though I could hear all of my family in the kitchen. I had told them all several days in advance â€Å"It’s an evening wedding, sleep in and relax. No one should be stressed out. † I tried to walk into the kitchen as nonchalant as possible, however as soon as my mother saw me she burst into tears! â€Å"Stop that! You’ll be a red, puffy eyed and red nosed in all the pictures. You better all get it out now before we go for hair and make-up at the salon. † I said. You see, I was the last of 6 daughters to get married. My father passed several years ago and my grandfather passed the year prior, I was the last and only one walked down the aisle with my mother. Once brunch was eaten and everyone had calmed their nerves, I suggested to relax in the sun. It’s not often that my family can all get together besides major holidays- this was such a blessing. We all lounged on the back deck where time seemed to pass in slow motion. Perhaps we were quietly bracing ourselves for the frenzy that would follow as the day progressed. All the women of the family, as well as my female soon-to-be in-laws headed off to the salon. Luckily for me this salon had a private room so I was able to have peace while everyone else sounded like school girls. Thinking back, I believe some of them were more excited about my wedding than I was. Before anyone realized, time had started speeding by. We had been at the salon for five hours and my wedding was due to start in less than two! I decided to leave the salon with my maid of honor while the rest of the girls finished hair and make-up. As I walked downstairs and entered the room I had turned into what appeared to be a wedding boutique, it hit me! It was as if someone had punched me in the gut and knocked the wind out of me. I started sweating and had the horrible watery mouth sick taste right before you vomit- it was horrible! I scanned the room, doing a mental checklist, and caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. I froze, the woman in the mirror was someone I didn’t recognize. I am a simple girl- minimal make-up, ponytail, jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. The woman in the mirror was someone I didn’t recognize. With my hair pinned up in curls, glossy red lips and just enough eye shadow to enhance the blue in my eyes I was ready to put my dress on. I wanted to be fully dressed, ready to walk down the aisle an hour before the ceremony was to start. Fortunately, my wedding crew returned in enough time therefore my mom could help me get dressed. I had my dress at my mothers for months, so no one could see it until today. I truly had forgotten how beautiful it was! I wore a white, A-line, hand embroidered wedding dress with a train and crystals sewn all over resembling fireworks. Looking in the full mirror, I had the same feeling as earlier, like the wind was sucked out of my body. .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b , .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .postImageUrl , .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b , .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:hover , .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:visited , .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:active { border:0!important; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:active , .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u366ab8009e015805d162218d9422488b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Friendship theme from lord of EssayI couldn’t help but stare at my own reflection for what seemed like several minutes. At that moment I knew I would never feel better about myself. Never in my life have I felt as glamorous as I looked in the mirror that day. Not to sound like a cynic, I do not believe I will experience anything like it again in my lifetime. My wedding rings are now off, vows in front of family, friends and God have sadly been broken. Even through all the pain that followed this wonderful day, remembering seeing my reflection can still bring a smile to my face.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Urban Dwellers In Plainsfield, Pennsylvania Essays -

Urban Dwellers In Plainsfield, Pennsylvania Urban Dwellers in Plainfield, Philadelphia Plainfield's earliest settlers, like many others who pioneered this country, were seeking religious and political freedoms denied them in their own countries. By 1685, seven families (whose name identify them as all good Scots) established farms along the Cedar Brook. But long before the arrival of the first settlers, Indians had frequented the area in their travels between the Hudson and Delaware rivers. Those living in the Plainfield area were the Watchungs, part of the Lenni-Lenape tribe. They encamped along the Green Brook and in the areas of the Watchung and Park avenues, and Grant and Clinton avenues. The trails they marked out hundreds of years ago ran through the heart of our city. When the railroad was built in the 1800's, it followed that old Indian cut-off to the sea. The new settlement was named Milltown, a reference to the gristmill, which was built in 1760 on the Green Brook, near what is now Watchung Avenue. In 1788, the Quakers moved their Friends Meeting House from the original site near what is today the Plainfield Country Club, to the corner of Watchung Avenue and East Third Street where it remains as one of the historical landma rks of the city. Although the Plainfield area was mostly open farmland with a population of only about 50, it was considered of sufficient military importance during the Revolutionary period to warrant a large militia post. On April 1, 1800, a post office was established and the name of the growing community (pop. 215) was changed to Plainfield, appropriate to the gently rolling fields of the area. Plainfield at this time consisted of one Presbyterian church, one Baptist and one Methodist church, two Friend's meeting houses (Hick site and Orthodox), two grist mills, one saw mill, four stores, thirteen master hatters, who manufacture about $74,000 worth of hats annually; five master tailors, employing 70 hands, which work for the southern market; a fire engine, and company, a mutual insurance company. As with many other urban communities, Plainfield's growth followed completion of the railroad in 1838 when service was provided between Elizabethtown and Plainfield. The traveler reached New York by boarding a boat at Elizabethport. With improvement t of railway service, Plainfield became a commuter town for New York. Many urban dwellers that came to spend their summers and vacations in the country stayed to build their homes there. By the late 1860's some wooded residences were being converted into stores. The block from Somerset Street to Grove Street on West Front S treet boasted one brick building in 1869, but no lighted or paved streets. By 1884, the railroad had greatly changed Plainfield. The grist mill and farm life were being replaced by industries such as hats, clothing, carriages, printing and other manufacturing. In the post-Civil War period, two major changes took place in Plainfield's appearance. Use of macadam upgraded the main streets and the main business section began to shift from the North Avenue area to Front Street between Cherry Street (now Park Avenue) and Peace Street (now Watchung Avenue). Originally a part of Elizabeth and Westfield townships, Plainfield became it own township on March 4, 1847. In 1862 Western Union opened a branch office and by 1883 the first telephone pole station was established. The Plainfield Gas Light Company opened its plant in 1860 and the Plainfield Electric Light Company started business in 1886. Public Service Corporation of New Jersey was organized in May 1903 and became the Public Service El ectric and Gas Company, which serve the city today. In conclusion, urbanization in the revolution era for Plainfield has grown and changed dramatically. The revolution has affected many different areas and Plainfield is just one example of this. History

Monday, November 25, 2019

Informative Essay Sample on John Bosco

Informative Essay Sample on John Bosco John Bosco was a saint known for his strong will of teaching children and people about their faith. He was born in the year of 1815 and died on the sad year of 1888. He started many oratories even though Saint Philip Neri refused to let him, he started them anyway. When he was younger than age 2 his father died, and his mother had to support three other children, Bosco’s brothers. John had to work as a child, he was a Shepard (kind of reminds you of Moses.) Bosco was an intelligent child, he could memorize many things easily and was full of wit, as he grew older he wanted to learn more. He felt that he must turn down his job as a Shepard and start learning and going to school. Due to his poverty he had to go back to the fields turning down the education. John Bosco had a rough childhood yet he found hope when he went to a seminary and became a priest. As soon as he left the seminary Bosco went to a city called Turin where he entered into his labors as a priest. Bosco went to p risons, to sick people and to schools. He made children abandon the worst places and enter the faith. John Bosco was a great man, he created the Silesianu society. He was born to a poor family and yet thrived. John Bosco left the seminary and arrived at Turin he saw the reality of what he was supposed to do, he took many children and took them to the oratory. The numbers of students increased drastically and the school was too small for this. John Bosco helped many people; he forced Saint Philip Neri to let him construct an oratory outside of Rome. John Bosco was thriving with his oratory, but â€Å"everything that has a beginning has an end† (Matrix, revolutions) this oratory was called the Refugio. John Bosco was always energetic and active with his students; he played soccer with them everyday and talked to them. He did not believe in punishing his students for he thought that they could be taught through words. His students adored him and cared for him, when he was sick they would pray for him. One time, when he was in his late 50s he was really sick; he was on the border of death at one time, it was impossible for him to die, his students, prayed and prayed. They pleaded god to spare him, that they still needed him. That was john Bosco’s miracle, he was saved from his mortal disease, he was spared by god, he made through, but with consequences, Bosco gathered seven hundred members for his oratory and then his fatal day came, he died. He was granted a saint by pope Piuss the sixth. Lots of people remember john Bosco for his fortified spirit and great faith. Even though he spent most of his life at hard times he always worked forward and finished what he started. He had a hunger for knowledge and that is why I believe he taught, he wanted to fill the minds of the young, he wanted to make them spiritually formed and physically in the sense of knowledge.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company Case Study

Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company - Case Study Example There must be an offer from one party and its acceptance by the other party. Also, there should be an exchange of consideration and willingness by parties to enter a legally binding relationship.2 However, the contracting parties can vary the terms of the contract such as by waiving the requirement for the communication of an acceptance as is the case when sellers make ads to the general public through the media the public responds by performing the requirements. The Carbolic Smoke Ball Company (defendant) was a manufacturer of the carbolic smoke balls that had responded to a flu pandemic that had claimed the lives of more than a million people. They made an advertisement in the Pall Mall Gazette and other media offering to reward any buyer with  £100 who would buy and use the smoke balls according to their directives of three times daily for two weeks and contract any disease such as influenza, colds, etc.3 After seeing the ad Carlill (the plaintiff) bought the smoke balls according to the direction specified by the company of three times a day for almost two months. She contracted influenza and claimed for the reward from the company. However, the defendant refused to give the reward prompting the plaintiff to seek court intervention. This case was determined in the court of appeal after the company decided to appeal the earlier court’s ruling in favour of the plaintiff. The legal issue, in this case, was whether the ads by the defendant constituted an offer for a valid contract having waived the right to be notified of the acceptance of the offer with a purpose of attracting as many buyers of the smoke ball as possible across the nation.4 There were other issues whether the case met the basis of a legal contract such as consideration, intention to form a legally binding agreement and determining whether a person could make a valid contract with the general public.   

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Management of Family Owned Real Estate Properties in London Dissertation

Management of Family Owned Real Estate Properties in London - Dissertation Example 1.3 Statement of the problem Fritz (1997) conducted management studies, which explored some of the complexities/ difficulties that are normally encountered in the management of family owned business and he concluded that the management of family owned businesses is quite different from other types of businesses and even the difficulties experienced are unique and rarely experienced in other types of business. In the studies conducted by Fritz (1997), he established that there are five common complexities that are normally experienced in the management of family owned business including real estate business. These complexities include family feuding that arises due to failure of the family members to separate their personal lives and business. The other complexities include nepotism, lack of a proper succession plan, inclusion of emotions in the running of the business, and the loss of crucial non-family employees who may opt to leave the company because of family conflicts and restricted growth opportunities since certain senior positions are preserved for the family members. It is because of these common complexities that family members of real estate businesses in London opt to use the services of property agents in order to avoid encountering these common complexities (Poutziouris et al 2006). 1.4 Research objective To establish how property agents have reduced the complexities involved in the management of family-owned real estate properties in London 1.5 Research objectives

Monday, November 18, 2019

Making a major Purchase Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Making a major Purchase - Term Paper Example The need for shelter is a necessity. Such, individual has to buy a house at some time or another. The bigger question would be when and will it be right time to buy it. The act of purchasing a house is relatively infrequent and generally constitutes an individual or a family’s â€Å"single most important investment and expenditure (Levy et al., 2008 pg. 253). To make the analysis clearer in this case, let us assume that the buying decision to purchase will be made on cash. Buying on cash can also demonstrate clearly the economic principles behind making such decision or indecision. To illustrate further these economic principles, let us assume that the buyer is a typical middle class with a regular job and regular income that making a purchase would require a serious evaluation on his or her part. A house is a need. It shelters us from the vicissitudes of the weather and the inclemencies of the storm. It provides a place for rest and recreation where we can grow our families and live as a person. But before getting those benefits, we can consider what we have to give up. This consideration is very important because purchasing a house is the most expensive purchase that we will make. In addition, we have to be careful in letting go of our scarce resources especially that we are still in the process of recovery. The economy has to be considered in making that purchase. There are two things that should be considered before making that purchase; first, is the economic condition of the economy as this will determine the price of the house whether it is the time to make the purchase and this will also determine the individual’s capacity to pay. The economy is still in the process of recovering and it may be slow certainly not entering into a recession as observed by Fred Smith, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FedEx Corp. (FDX) (Del Giudice, 2011).

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Quality of Artesian Water | Analysis

Quality of Artesian Water | Analysis Evaluation of the microbiological and physicochemical quality of Artesian well water used for irrigation in ArRiyadh Sulaiman Ali Alharbi1*, M.E.Zayed1, Arunachalam Chinnathambi1, Naiyf S. Alharbi1 and Milton Wainwright1,2 Abstract The quality of water from artesian wells used for irrigation was analyzed. Water samples were collected from 12 wells from different farms along a 8.5 km transect of the Hayer which is an area located approximately 35 km south of ArRiyadh. The major parameters for assessment of the groundwater quality used here were analysis of the major cations (K+, Na+and NH4 +) and the major anions (Cl-, SO42-, NO3- and PO43-). A total dissolved solid (TDS) is a summation of the all major constituents. pH, temperature and electrical conductivity (EC) were also measured as important indicators of groundwater quality. The samples were also tested for the presence of total and fecal coliforms bacteria. All the samples were free from contamination by coliforms bacteria; the physicochemical parameters of the all of the samples were not however, within the acceptable limits prescribed by WHO and FAO. Key words: Physicochemical quality, Artesian well water quality, Irrigation, coliforms, Cations      Ã‚   Introduction Water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater aquifers is an essential human resource and is needed for direct consumption as well as for recreational purposes1. Groundwater is a vital source for fresh water in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Gulf states2; groundwater being the major source of both potable and irrigation waters in Saudi Arabia. As the population of Saudi continues to increase, especially in the big cities such as ArRiyadh, the demand for adequate and high-quality groundwater resources continues to increase. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (about 2.25 million km2) is one of hottest and most arid countries in the world, with an average summer temperatures of 46oC and an average rainfall of 120 mm per year over most of the country2. The available surface water and groundwater resources is limited, precipitation rates are low, while evaporation is high. With increasing population and agricultural use there is an increasing need for high quality water in Saudi Arabia 3. The total population of Saudi Arabia has increased from about 7.7 million in 1970 to 11.8 million in 1990 and is expected to reach 19 million in 2010, if the present growth rate of 3 per cent per annum continues. Consequently, domestic water demand has increased from about 446 MCM in 1980 to about 1,563 MCM in 1997, and is expected to reach 2,800 MCM in 20104,5. Agriculture accounts for some 88% of water use, while industry consumes only around 3%6. Saudi Arabia faces severe water problems and as a result, is in need of new water policies to achieve sustainable development in its harsh environment. Problems include balancing supply and demand while facing aridity and water scarcity, nonrenewable supplies, poor quality of ground water, poor distribution of supplies, salt water intrusion, and the overuse and contamination of aquifers7. Available water resources in Saudi Arabia are a) conventional, i.e. groundwater and surface water, and b) non-conventional such as desalinated seawater and treated waste water. About 88 percent of the water consumption in Saudi Arabia is met from groundwater supplies2.Groundwater is generally presumed to be ideal for human consumption and is used as a potential source of drinking water, agricultural development, urbanization and industrialization8. Around 47% of the water supplied in ArRiyadh is groundwater pumped from local aquifers9. It is estimated that 18% of worldwide cropland is irrigated, producing 40% of all food. Irrigation water and any foliar applied water, in intimate contact to the developing or mature edible portions of fresh produce, is likely to lead to contamination with human waste, although irrigation using surface water is likely to pose a greater risk to human health than irrigation water obtained from deep aquifers drawn from properly constructed and protected wells10. Water-borne pathogens infect around 250 million people and result in 10 to 20 million deaths world-wide each year. An estimated 80% of all illness in developing countries is related to water and sanitation, with some 5% of all child deaths under the age of five years occurring in developing countries resulting from diarrheal diseases 11,12. Pathogens pose a risk to human health as a result of the various uses of water (Figure 2). For example, it was suggested that contaminated irrigation water was a possible source of a recent outbreak of E. coli across USA13. Fruit and vegetables are frequently contaminated impacted by fecally-polluted irrigation water14. As a general rule, surface water resources are more susceptible to microbial contamination than are groundwater supplies. Microbial contamination introduced through sprinkler irrigation systems may also affect the surface of a crop for varying periods of time, and the risk is increased when the irrigated crop is consumed raw and so metimes unwashed15. Pathogen-contamination of fresh, ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables is a significant issue in agriculture. In many cases, fecal-oral pathogens such as toxin-producing E. coli, Salmonella spp., and norovirus are the causative agents16. Fecally contaminated irrigation water is frequently a possible or likely source of contamination of fresh, ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables17. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)18, at least 12 percent of foods borne outbreaks during the 1990s were attributable to fresh produce, and the economic cost of food borne illness is estimated at around $10 to $83 billion per year19. Water is subject to varying degrees of fecal pollution, and consequently fresh waters are a vector transmission of many pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Fecal pollution can reach water resources as the result of human activities, such as sewage treatment plants and communities where sewage treatment is not available. Many diseases are related to fecal polluted water, but the majority is caused by enteropathogenic microorganisms, and not surprisingly therefore, the presence of enteric pathogens in waters is of considerable concern. For this reason, maintaining the microbiological safety of water is very important issue relating to the protection of public health1. Washing and disinfection practices are less effective against pathogens which in penetrate the plant interior20., and for this reason the prevention of water-borne contamination is considered to be an important primary means of controlling health risk associated with food borne pathogens19. The quality and safety of farm irrigation water determines the quality and safety of the resultant crop, and the safety of water depends on its source. Human pathogens can be introduced into irrigation water via run-off of manure from animal production facilities, from domestic/urban sewage systems or directly from wildlife. Extreme rainfall (which lead to storm overflows), spills of manure, or human waste can all increase the probability of the occurrence of contamination21. The quality of water needed for various uses is determined by its physical characteristics, chemical composition, biological parameters and the conditions of use and all surface or sub-surface waters contain varying amounts of salts which increase in irrigated soil due to evaporation. The aim of the work reported here was to determine the microbiological and physicochemical quality of waters obtained from artesian wells used for irrigation near the city of Riyadh. Materials and methods Description of the artesian wells: The samples were taken from wells of depth ranging from (60-100 m); some wells were open while others were closed. Sampling collection: Sampling: All ground water sampling (chemical or microbial) was conducted with the existing well pumps which were run for a sufficient time (10-15 minutes) in order to replace the old water in the pipes with fresh water and thereby obtain reliably stable readings of pH, specific conductance and temperature. Well water depths were measured with a graduated (l/l00th foot) steel tape. A total of three water samples were collected from 12 different wells located in different farms along a 8.5 km transect of the Hayer, which is an area located some 35 km south of Riyadh, during November 2010. The water samples were collected in plastic bottles, pH, EC and TDS were measured on site; samples were subsequently transported to the laboratory in an ice box. Each sample was divided into three portions; one for cation analysis, one for anion determinations and the third for coliform analysis. The concentration of total dissolved ions, Na, K, P, Cl, S04, NH4 and N03 were determined. The analytical procedures used for these determinations were those described in standard methods or the examination of water and wastewater. The evaluation of the suitability of groundwater for irrigation purpose is based here on the irrigation water specification provided by the Saudi Arabian Standards organization (SASO), irrigation water standards 1993, and water quality for use in agriculture by the FAO (1994). (Table 1) shows the concentration (mg/l) of individual constituents, groundwater, hardness, electrical conductance and pH of the groundwater. Coliform determination: Sample Preparation: The samples were diluted in the range- 10-1 to 10-6 and the original water sample were aseptically diluted into 9 ml buffered peptone prepared in three series. The number of total and fecal coliforms was determined using the MPN method and statistical tables were used to interpret the results. From each dilution, 1ml was removed and added aseptically to triplicate tubes containing 5ml of lauryl tryptose broth (LSB). The tubes were then incubated at 37  °C for 48 hours. Tubes showing color change or gas production were recorded as positive, and the number of positive tubes at each dilution was referred to MPN tables to obtain the number of bacteria present in the original sample. Results and Discussion Microbiological analysis: None of the water samples obtained from any of the wells contained coliforms, a fact which shows that the general sanitary conditions around the wells are excellent. Analysis of physicochemical parameters: Physical Characteristics: Table 1 shows the laboratory determinations used, together with the acceptable range to evaluate common irrigation water quality, as prepared by FAO 1994. Table 1. Laboratory determinations used to evaluate common irrigation water quality problems. Water parameter Symbol Unit1 Usual range in irrigation water SALINITY Salt content Electrical Conductivity ECw dS/m 0 3 dS/m (or) Total Dissolved Solids TDS mg/l 0 2000 mg/l Cations and anions Calcium Ca++ me/l 0 20 me/l Magnesium Mg++ me/l 0 5 me/l Sodium Na+ me/l 0 40 me/l Carbonate CO3 me/l 0 .1 me/l Bicarbonate HCO3- me/l 0 10 me/l Chloride Cl- me/l 0 30 me/l Sulphate SO4 me/l 0 20 me/l NUTRIENTS2 Nitrate-Nitrogen NO3-N mg/l 0 10 mg/l Ammonium-Nitrogen NH4-N mg/l 0 5 mg/l Phosphate-Phosphorus PO4-P mg/l 0 2 mg/l Potassium K+ mg/l 0 2 mg/l MISCELLANEOUS Boron B mg/l 0 2 mg/l Acid/basicity pH 1-14 6.0 8.5 Sodium Adsorption Ratio3 SAR (me/l)1, 2 0 15 1 dS/m = deciSiemen/metre in S.I. units (equivalent to 1 mmho/cm = 1 millimmho/centi-metre) mg/l = milligram per litre à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã†â€™ parts per million (ppm). me/l = milliequivalent per litre (mg/l à · equivalent weight = me/l); in SI units, 1 me/l= 1 millimol/litre adjusted for electron charge. Table 2. Physical parameters of analyzed groundwater samples Sample ID Parameters Temperature (Degree Celsius) pH E.C* (ms/cm) T.D.S** (mg/L) Turbidity (NTU) Total Hardness (mg/L as CaCO3) A 25.0 8.15 3.87 2476 11.30 1800 B 25.5 8.13 8.89 5689 28.70 3000 C 24.5 8.17 4.48 2867 20.50 1200 D 25.5 7.98 3.74 2393 18.00 1400 E 23.5 8.19 5.49 3513 6.24 1000 F 24.5 8.05 9.41 6022 2.98 2600 G 28.0 8.02 9.19 5881 0.73 2800 H 25.0 7.84 10.78 6899 21.90 3600 I 26.5 8.29 9.41 6022 0.94 3200 J 26.0 8.07 10.29 6585 5.78 3200 K 27.0 8.06 11.13 7123 12.30 3800 L 27.0 8.11 10.16 6502 5.63 3600 * E.C = Electrical Conductivity ** T.D.S = Total Dissolved Solids Table 2 shows the physical parameters of the groundwater samples; the data reveals the following: pH: The pH values of all gr the groundwater samples tested was alkaline (around 8); a pH which is generally not conducive to optimal crop plant growth Total dissolved solids (TDS) : Suspended solids and total dissolved solids (TDS) are indicators of polluted water. The value for TDS of the samples ranged from 2393-7123 mg/l. Most of these values are outside the standard values generally considered to be suitable for irrigation purposes. TDS values exceeding 3000 mg/l are high values for irrigation of some crop types. The high TDS values found in groundwater sampled from the study area are likely to be due to high concentrations of sodium, chloride, sulfate and nitrate. Conductivity: Electrical conductivity gives a measure of all of the dissolved ions in solution. Electrical conductivity values measured in this study varied from 3.74 to 11.13 ms/cm with sample-K exhibiting the highest conductivity (11.13) and sample D the lowest, (3.74). The acceptable limit of conductivity is 1.5 ms /cm22. Generally, the conductivity of clean water is lower but as water moves down the soil profile it leaches and dissolves ions and also picks up organic from the biota and detritus23. Generally the conductivity values recorded for wells sampled here were not within the acceptable limit prescribed by WHO and FAO limits. Total Water Hardness: Water hardness is primarily a measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium, and to a lesser extent, iron in a water sample. Water hardness is measured by summing the concentrations of calcium, magnesium and converting this value to an equivalent concentration of calcium carbonate (CaCO3); a value which is expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water. Water with hardness greater than 200 mg/L is considered to be of poor quality and water with hardness greater than 500 mg/L is normally considered to be unacceptable for domestic purposes. The analyzed samples for hardness, had hardness concentrations ranges between 1200 to 3800 mg/L been found then the samples would be assessed as belonging to the fourth category with very hard water and unacceptable for domestic purpose without treatment. Cations and anion loads of the groundwater samples: Table 3 shows the cations and anions loads of groundwater samples, the data shows the following: Sodium: An infiltration problem related to water quality occurs when the normal infiltration rate for the applied water or rainfall is appreciably reduced and water remains on the soil surface for long periods, or infiltrates too slowly to supply the crop with sufficient water to maintain acceptable yields. The infiltration rate of water into soil varies widely and can be greatly influenced by the quality of the irrigation water. The two most common water quality factors which influence the normal infiltration rate are water salinity (total quantity of salts in the water) and sodium content relative to the content of calcium and magnesium. Water which is highly saline will increase infiltration, while a low salinity water, or a sample with high sodium to calcium ratio will decrease infiltration; both of these factors may operate simultaneously. One serious side effect of an infiltration problem is the potential to develop plant disease and vector (mosquito) problems. An infiltration problem related to water quality in most cases occurs in the surface few centimetres of soil and is linked to the structural stability of this surface soil and its low calcium content relative to that of sodium. When a soil is irrigated with sodium-rich water, a high sodium surface soil develops which weakens soil structure. The surface soil aggregates then disperse into much smaller particles which clog soil pores. The problem may also be caused by an extremely low calcium content of the surface soil. In some cases, water low in salt can cause a similar problem but this is related to the corrosive nature of the low salt water and not to the sodium content of the water or soil. In the case of the low salt water, the water dissolves and leaches most of the soluble minerals, including calcium, from the surface soil. Analyses of the ground water samples tested here shows that that all have sodium ranges over 500 (mg/L);sodium contents greater than 500 mg/L are normally c onsidered unacceptable for irrigation according to water quality standards used by the FAO for agricultural use. Table 3. Cations and anion loads of the groundwater samples Sample ID Parameters Sodium Na (mg/L) Potassium K (mg/L) Phosphorus P (mg/L) Sulphate SO4 (mg/L) Ammonia NH3 (mg/L) Nitrate NO3 (mg/L) Chloride Cl (mg/L) A 500 17.0 0.53 1437 0 2.0 1250 B 1375 28.0 0.37 3275 0 10.0 2500 C 750 15.0 0.15 1302 0 5.5 1500 D 500 15.0 0.11 1380 0 2.0 1250 E 750 23.0 0.10 1607 0 4.0 1500 F 1500 27.0 0.00 3675 0 3.5 2850 G 1375 26.0 0.33 3275 0 13.5 2500 H 1375 27.0 0.25 2587 0 49.5 3000 I 1125 30.0 0.81 1737 0 138.0 2750 J 1375 27.0 0.00 2987 0 35.0 2750 K 1375 31.0 0.00 3075 0 142.0 3250 L 1125 30.0 0.25 1595 0 158.0 3000 Nitrates: The nitrate content of the analyzed groundwater samples ranges between 2 mg/l in well A and D and reaches a maximum of 158mg/l in well L .Many of the sampled groundwater wells contain nitrate exceeding the guideline values for irrigation water prescribed by FAO (0-10 mg/l), with most of the nitrogen present being probably derived from the biosphere. The nitrogen originally fixed from the atmosphere, is mineralized by soil bacteria into ammonium, which is converted into nitrate by nitrifying bacteria under aerobic conditions24. The main sources of nitrate result from either natural or anthropogenic activities rainfall and dry fall out, soil nitrogen, nitrate deposit, sewage, septic tank and animal waste, manure or compost, green manure and plant residues, atmospheric nitrogen fixation, fertilizer nitrogen from irrigated overflow water outlets and industrial effluent25. Nitrate is the end product of the oxidation of nitrogen in the environment. Particularly high nitrate concentrations indicate pollution from either sewage or agricultural fertilizer waste. Nitrate is without doubt an essential plant nutrient, but is equally a potential threat to human health when present in excess concentrations in the drinking water 26. The data obtained from the samples tested here shows that the ground waters examined contain high level of nitrate, concentrations which exceed the permissible limits for drinking purposes (Table 3). Ammonia: The term ammonia includes the non-ionized (NH3) and ionized (NH4+) species. Ammonia originates in the environment from metabolic, agricultural and industrial processes and from disinfection with chloramines. Natural levels in groundwater and surface water are usually below 0.2 mg/liter27. Anaerobic ground waters may contain up to 3mg/liter. Intensive rearing of farm animals can give rise to much higher levels in surface water. Ammonia contamination can also arise from cement m

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Outsourcing Development Work to India Essay -- Globalization Jobs Work

Outsourcing Development Work to India I. Introduction Globalization has had a major impact on the way business is conducted. Companies are increasingly turning to offshore software development outlets for design management. Anywhere from one-half to two-thirds of all Fortune 500 companies are already outsourcing to India and the amount of work done there for U.S. companies is expected to more than double this year according to Forrester Research. This paper will take a look at some of the arguments for and against outsourcing IT development to India. Most importantly this paper will take a look at ethical standpoints taken on outsourcing. But first, we'll take a look at the history of outsourcing to India. II. History In the late 1980's the rise of India outsourcing had its start. During this phase, India provided skilled contract workers for the US. Efforts to outsource projects to India arose in the late 1990's. This was driven by a combination of rapidly changing technologies and shrinking IT budgets Little by little the small offshore development projects started to multiply. In the beginning it was trial and error because there wasn't much focus on a repeatable and process driven model. During this time offshore outsourcing led to several failures. The big outsourcing force during the late 1990's came with Y2K. Work needed to get done quick and outsourcing to Indian companies was a solution to this. Indian companies had the ability to scale rapidly. Y2K conversion wasn't too high in the value-chain job, however it gave Indian companies a view of what was possible. Then came process maturity and standardization through processes. Indian companies have spent much time honing rigorous developmen... ... http://news.com.com/2100-1011-5175699.html [4] Gupta, Sachin. For a global software company, outsourcing began at inception . World Paper. April 19. 2004 http://www.worldpaper.com/2004/april/april4.html [5] India greets H-1B cutback with a shrug -- But cap could sting if U.S. market rebounds. Electronic Engineering Times: 1, October 13, 2003. [6] Kripalani, Majeet & Egnardio, Pete. The Rise Of India. Business Week Online. December 8, 2003. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_49/b3861001_mz001.htm [7] Outsourcing created more jobs in US. MSN Business. IANS. http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandoraV2/output/33601A5C-9FA2-491F-8E3B-EBC7CC04EDAF.asp [8] Pink, Daniel. Wired Magazine. The New Face of the Silicon Age. How India became the capital of the computing revolution. February 4, 2004. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.02/india.html

Monday, November 11, 2019

Accounting for Business Combination and Ethics Assessment Essay

Early 2011, Yung Limited acquired 75% interest in Chum Limited. This is the first time of Yung Limited preparing the consolidated statement. A few issues regarding to the first consolidated financial statement have been raised up. This report is used to solve the raised issues and explain general principle of consolidation accounting. Before the acquisition, Yung and Chum was a competitor to each other. Their financial statement only reflects their own financial position. Thus, the balance and transaction would state in the financial statement. The reason is that they are viewed as two entities from different aspect. However, after the acquisition, Yung and Chum became a single combined entity as Yung held 75% interest in Chum. It means Yung can direct business decision of Chum according to its preference. This view would be reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Since the consolidated financial statements view Yung and Chum as a single combined entity, the balance due to each other would be eliminated as a result. As Yung and Chum are the single entity, the amount due to Yung is set off by the amount due from Chum. One entity cannot lead money to itself in order to create a liability or asset. See more:Â  Capital budgeting essay As Yung and Chum are a single entity, transactions with each other are just a transfer of assets or liabilities, or a relocation of assets, this would not recognise as a transaction in the consolidated financial statements. Generally, profit margin is added to those transactions. These profit margins would raise book value of assets in the transactions. The common example is inventory and non-current assets. Those profit margins can only be realised in the sales or disposal to external parties. Thus, the consolidated financial statements would eliminate those unrealised profit also. According to the above statement, Yung gets the power of control in the Chum. It means every transaction can be related to Yung and its decision. The relationship between Yung and Chum would be a parent-subsidiary, and not just similar to other associate as investor-investee. Therefore, it is required to show consolidated financial statement of Yung and Chum. The distinction between consolidation and equity basis of accounting is power of control. Generally, if an entity holds more than 50% interest of another entity, the entity is required to consolidate the controlled entity. However, if an entity holds about 20% to 50% interest of another entity, the entity is required to practising the equity basis of accounting. Comparing with the two methods, consolidation basis of accounting would reflect a smaller net income if there are a large amount of inter-company transactions. Equity basis of accounting only show the share of profit in associate as an extra item in the income statement of investor (parent in consolidation). Thus, it would be a greater net income unless there is a net loss in the associate. In conclusion, different methods change the net income. The financial statements for equity basis of accounting are only included the investment in associates as non-current assets, and recorded as cost plus fair value adjustments in the net shares of equity. The consolidated financial statements are the combination of the parent and subsidiaries, and goodwill, excluding inter-company balance and cost of control. Thus, Yung’s financial statements would be greater value in statement of financial position if all investments were consolidated, but smaller value in income statement as there are large amount inter-company transactions between Yung and Chum. Equity basis of accounting could provide a greater asset value to Yung, but a smaller net income to Yung also. Dear Mr. Li, Memo regarding the revenue cut-off problem of Yung Limited According to the recent conference with John Au, President of Yung Limited, he reported that the sales of Yung Limited in 2010 incorrectly included sales in 2011. However, we did not discover this material error by our audit work. This material error overstated the profit of Yung in 2010 by 10%, but understated the profit of Yung in 2011 by the same rate. John Au also mentioned that he prefers to ignore this error because he can get benefit from this error as the understated profit. Ignoring revenue cut-off problem leads to conflicts in ethical and professional. This conflicts with fundamental ethical principles, such as integrity, objectivity and professional behavior. In the integrity aspect, we should not disclose any untrue financial statements. In the objectivity aspect, our professional judgments should not be influenced by reputation of our audit firm and any potential legal sue. In the professional behavior, we should comply with relevant laws and regulations relating to this revenue cut-off problem. The following are some of my recommendation on this revenue cut-off problem. The first recommendation would be reporting to the board of directors directly. This material error should be report the board of directors of Yung Limited. This report could give directors’ chance to decide the treatment of this material error. They could estimate effect of this material error. The second recommendation would be following John Au’s suggestion, ignoring this material error. This could be a way to accommodate our client. The third recommendation would be requiring John Au to correct this material error. This could reflect the true financial position of Yung Limited. The fourth recommendation would be convening an extra-ordinary general meeting with all shareholders of Yung Limited. This EGM could give shareholders opportunity to aware this material error, and understand the potential. Finally, I would recommend asking John Au to correct this material error. Although this correction would make him loss of a bonus, this is a fair treatment to all stakeholders at all. Also, this solution could reflect the professional position of our company.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Women Characters in The White Queen (Wars of the Roses)

Women Characters in The White Queen (Wars of the Roses) In June, 2013, BBC One debuted a 10-part series, The White Queen, a depiction of the Wars of the Roses seen through the eyes of key women, and based on a series of historical novels by Philippa Gregory. The White Queen refers to Elizabeth Woodville, and The White Queen is the title of Gregorys first book in the series that is being adapted. Dont expect it to be exactly history but Gregory has respect for history, and that will likely show through in the series as well, even though there will be lots of poetic license taken. The other books in the series are The Red Queen  (about Margaret of Anjou), The Kingmakers Daughter  (about Anne Neville),The Lady of the Rivers (about Jacquetta of Luxembourg), The White Princess  (about Elizabeth of York)  and  The Kings Curse  (about Margaret Pole.) The sequel BBC One series,  The White Princess,  debuted in 2017. You can also see this as something of a prequel to the popular series, The Tudors. Elizabeth Woodville was the grandmother of King Henry VIII, featured in that series. Here are some of the women youll likely encounter in the series, and some of their interconnections youll see why Gregory called the series on the Wars of the Roses The Cousins War many close relatives found themselves on opposite sides. Many of the key characters traced their ancestry to the sons of Edward III of England, or to other kings of England. The White Queen and Her Family Elizabeth Woodville (1437 - 1492), widow of Sir John Grey who was on the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses, and who was killed in the battle at St. Albans. The legend of her meeting with Edward IV under an oak tree by the side of a road is a very early one. That they secretly married and thwarted the marriage plans for Edward being made by Edwards uncle, the Earl of Warwick (known as the Kingmaker), is historical. One of her sons by John Grey was an ancestor of Lady Jane Grey.Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, was a descendant of Englands King John. Her father was a French count. Jacquettas first husband was the brother of Henry V. She had no children by that first marriage, but at least ten by her second to Richard Woodville. She was accused during her lifetime of using witchcraft.Elizabeth of York (1466 - 1503), eldest daughter of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV, became the queen consort of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor and Margaret T udor. Catherine or Katherine Woodville(~1458 - 1497), sister of Elizabeth Woodville, who married advantageously thanks to her connection to her sister the Queen. She became the Duchess of Buckingham and the Duchess of Bedford.Mary Woodville (~1456 - 1481), another sister of Elizabeth Woodville, was able to marry the heir to the Earl of Pembroke through her sisters connections. Her father-in-law was executed by Warwick, the Kingmaker.Cecily of York (1469 - 1507) was the second surviving daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. (An older sister, Mary of York, died in 1482, before she could be married.) Edward tried to marry her to the Scottish royal heir, then to that heirs brother, but Edward died before that could be complete. Then Cecilys marriages were arranged and unarranged by the next two kings, Richard III (her uncle) and Henry VII (her brother-in-law). The Kingmaker and His Family Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, (1428 - 1471) was a powerful figure in the drama of the Wars of the Roses. He used his female family connections to advantage, including gaining the Warwick title itself through his wifes inheritance. He was called the Kingmaker, as his presence and that of the troops he could muster would make a difference in which king won. Lady Anne Beauchamp (1426 - 1492), Countess of Warwick, wife of the Kingmaker, mother of Anne Neville and Isabella Neville. She was an heiress, inheriting the Warwick titles because no male heirs remained, and bringing them to her husband. She was descended on the maternal side from King Edward III and the powerful Despenser family.Cecily Neville (1415 - 1495), was the aunt of the Kingmaker. She was the mother of Edward IV as well as of George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was married to Richard, Duke of York, who was the heir of Henry VI and his protector during his minority and during one or more bouts of insanity. Both Cecily and her husband were descendants of King Edward III of England and his wife, Philippa of Hainault. Cecilys mother was a daughter of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford.Anne Neville (1456 - 1485), daughter of Richard, Duke of York, called the Kingmaker, who was a nephew of Cecily Neville. She first married Edward of York, son of Henry V I of England, but after his early death, married Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the future Richard III, brother of Edward IV (and son of Cecily Neville). Richard and Anne were first cousins once removed. Isabella Neville (1451 - 1476), sister of Anne Neville, and thus daughter of the Kingmaker and great niece of Cecily Neville. She was also known as Isabel. She married George, Duke of Clarence, a younger brother of Edward IV (and older brother of Richard III, Anne Nevilles second husband), and also a son of Cecily Neville. Isabella and George were first cousins once removed. From the House of Lancaster Margaret of Anjou (1429 - 1482), was the queen consort of the Lancastrian king, Henry VI of England, with whom Edward IV contended in the Wars of the Roses. Margaret of Anjou was herself an active Lancastrian leader. Elizabeth Woodville had been a maid of honor serving Margaret of Anjou when she married Sir John Grey.Margaret Beaufort (1443 - 1509) was the Red Queen to Elizabeth Woodvilles White Queen. She was married to Edmund Tudor when she was only 12, and gave birth to his child after he died in Yorkist captivity. That child later became Henry VII. Though she married twice more, she never had more children, and threw her support to her sons cause in the Wars of the Roses. More? These women arent likely to be in the series, except by reference, but are important to the context of the story. Catherine of Valois (1401 - 1437), sister-in-law of Jacquetta, was the queen consort of Henry V of England and mother of Lancaster king Henry VI. She was also the grandmother of Henry VII, the first Tudor king, via her second husband, Owen Tudor. This is the same Henry VII who married Elizabeth Woodvilles daughter, Elizabeth of York. Catherines father was Charles VI of France. She is not likely to make an appearance in The White Queen: she died the year that Elizabeth Woodville was born.Margaret of Burgundy, a sister of Edward IV who was friendly with Edwards new wife Elizabeth Woodville. Margaret was married off to the Duke of Burgundy a few years after Edward became king, and after the Tudor triumph, her home became a haven for Yorkists in exile.Lady Jane Grey was descended from one of Elizabeth Woodvilles sons by her first husband, John Grey, and from one of Elizabeth Woodvilles daughters, Elizabeth of York, by her second husband Edward IV, through Elizabeth of Yorks and Henry VII s daughter Mary Tudor. Margaret Pole (1473 - 1541) was the daughter of Isabella Neville and George, Duke of Clarence. She was a peeress in her own right, and eventually earned the enmity of Tudor King Henry VIII. The Roman Catholic Church beatified her as a martyr in 1886.Elizabeth Tilney (1447 - 1497) was a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth Woodville. Whether shell appear in the series I doubt, but it would be a subtle foreshadowing of the Tudor era: she was grandmother to both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, second and fifth wives of Henry VIII. One way women often got entangled into the Wars of the Roses: illegitimacy controversies. Learn more about some of those: Birther Controversies and the Wars of the Roses Many of these same women were portrayed in Shakespeares Richard III as well.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on The Washington Connection And Third World Facism

â€Å"The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism† by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman â€Å"The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism† is an overwhelming work that I found difficult to read at first, but as I got further into the book, I discovered that I was understanding more than I had originally thought. Chomsky and Herman do a great job at dissecting the United States involvement in various third world countries, on all political levels; including, labor unions, the economy, political heads, and local establishments. To me, the most interesting phenomenon in this book is the simple fact that it is dated in some respect, but all the information, theories, and ideas have not changed. I n many cases, I discovered that a lot of the ideas that the author had brought forth, were, for its time, very radical, and sometimes, considered almost idiotic. In actuality, I thought the most insightful portion of the book was the first chapter, in which the authors discussed terrorism and media. The two, at first glance, may not seem to have anything in common, but after thought, you start to realize that they have everything in common. Terrorism, in the dictionary is defined as, the use of force or threats to intimidate. Simple enough to learn, impossible to understand. Terrorism, cannot exist without the media. I speak not of just attacks on the U.S., but of all terroristic acts everywhere. In the same respect, the media, in some circles, cannot exist without the threat of terrorism. They almost have to coexist, which sounds absurd, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was headed down the right path. This is not an attack on the media, nor am I empathetic. People need to know what is really going on in the world, not just what cooperate America can squeeze into a thirty minute slot. Personally, I believe tha t, information, is the cause and effect of terroristic activity. In the f... Free Essays on The Washington Connection And Third World Facism Free Essays on The Washington Connection And Third World Facism â€Å"The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism† by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman â€Å"The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism† is an overwhelming work that I found difficult to read at first, but as I got further into the book, I discovered that I was understanding more than I had originally thought. Chomsky and Herman do a great job at dissecting the United States involvement in various third world countries, on all political levels; including, labor unions, the economy, political heads, and local establishments. To me, the most interesting phenomenon in this book is the simple fact that it is dated in some respect, but all the information, theories, and ideas have not changed. I n many cases, I discovered that a lot of the ideas that the author had brought forth, were, for its time, very radical, and sometimes, considered almost idiotic. In actuality, I thought the most insightful portion of the book was the first chapter, in which the authors discussed terrorism and media. The two, at first glance, may not seem to have anything in common, but after thought, you start to realize that they have everything in common. Terrorism, in the dictionary is defined as, the use of force or threats to intimidate. Simple enough to learn, impossible to understand. Terrorism, cannot exist without the media. I speak not of just attacks on the U.S., but of all terroristic acts everywhere. In the same respect, the media, in some circles, cannot exist without the threat of terrorism. They almost have to coexist, which sounds absurd, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was headed down the right path. This is not an attack on the media, nor am I empathetic. People need to know what is really going on in the world, not just what cooperate America can squeeze into a thirty minute slot. Personally, I believe tha t, information, is the cause and effect of terroristic activity. In the f...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Development in the English Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Development in the English Language - Essay Example The essay "Change and Development in the English Language" talks about the various socio-historical influences on the development of the Old English such as the separation of the land from the Continental influences, conversion of the English to Christianity, the assimilation of the Scandinavian colonizers on the English language, the veritable beehive of scholarly activity in England following its conversion to Christianity in the sixth century etc had pertinent linguistic effects which contributed to the development of Old English.In the development of the Old English, there were several socio-historical elements which influenced the linguistic progress of the language. The advent of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Frisians in the British Island in the year 449 proved to be a major event in the history of the land and the language. They occupied Great Britain and converted the major population of the land to English speakers. The following separation of the land and language of the Old English from the influences of other Continental nations and languages helped in the development of a distinctive language in Great Britain. The external influence on this language cannot be ignored. It is of paramount relevance that the conversion of the English to Christianity was one of the major socio-historical influences that shaped Old English. Christianity introduced the influence of Latin on Old English and the linking of the English culture with mainstream Europe through the Synod of Whitby.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Multi-national organization that is an ideal candidate for acquisition Research Paper

Multi-national organization that is an ideal candidate for acquisition - Research Paper Example According to Miller, Vandome and John (2010) have reported that the company has furthered its growth in the foreign market and has branches in Sweden, United States, UK and other 100 countries. It is headquartered in London, UK. AS of 23rd December 2011 it had a market capitalization of approximately ? 39.5 billion. It has an operating income of US $8.15, a net income of US$ 6.33 billion, and 57,200 employees in the year 2012. AstraZeneca is involved in the development, manufacturing, and selling of pharmaceutical and biotechnological products. According to Magidibe (2011) reported that the pharmaceutical industry is also risky because to develop a drug requires huge investments and out of the many thousands of discovered compounds. As a result, only one might be approved drug for sale with the failure rate being high and very difficult to get the return on investment. To venture into a foreign market requires a consideration of various factors. Cultural diversity plays a crucial rol e in the organizational structure of the business. Cross-cultural diversity is emphasized as it helps create cohesion in the organization. To attain international business success, the organization must employ the services of the people in the nation you have established your business. This is leads to product diversity. According to McDowell (2011) found out that productive diversity refers to the business benefits that emerge through the employment of many different people. Such advantages are referred to as diversity dividend and comprise of: expanded global opportunities; an improved business to business relations; enhanced innovation and creativity; advanced communication between the parties; superior teamwork skills; quality customer service; and reduced workplace conflict. For an organization to be effective in their translation of goals into results there must be an alignment between organizational structure and the business strategy. Alignment is attained when the shared be liefs, ways of working and values within the organization drive towards the realization of strategic objectives and goals. The pharmaceutical industry has many challenges if you want to establish the organization globally. It therefore needs a strategy in order for it to survive in the foreign environment. According to Afuah (2009) is of the opinion that strategy is the actions taken by managers to attain certain goals and objectives of the firm. The key aspects of global strategies include: treating the global market as a domestic market; creation of a global marketing mix; creation of production and distribution systems; concentrating on the power brands. With my pharmaceutical company investing in a nation that we were not aware of the pharmaceutical industry, therefore the need to align with AstraZeneca. The conduction of business analysis found out that pharmaceutical industry is characterized by rising consumer expectations and an ageing population which continues to create un met medical needs. Cherubini (2013) argues that there are the enormous needs of the developing nations nearby a fundamental driver behind continued research and development (R&D) investment so as to create novel drugs. However, the costs of healthcare have consistently raised faster than GDP thus creation of an unsustainable situation in healthcare systems, whether it is publicly or privately funded. Entry into a foreign market requires a strategy. The probable strategy to enter the European market is by utilizing

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Jewish Cosmopolitanism in the Modern Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Jewish Cosmopolitanism in the Modern Era - Essay Example As the Jews started to prosper in there respective settlements, so did Anti-Semitism grow and developed into one huge monster that today’s history still recalls. Anti-Semitism is defined as the hate towards people of the Semitic group. This hatred is defined in various forms that include cultural, political, economic, religious, racial, and apocalyptic. Milestone events that marked the height of Anti-Semitism included the First Crusade back in 1096, that happened in France and Germany, The Massacre of Jews in Spain in late 1300s, Expulsions from England, Portugal, Russia and Soviet Republic. The peak of all these was the Holocaust by the Germans under Adolf Hitler. All these revolutions were about Jewish clearance due to many aspects relating to Anti-Semitism. The above historical events changed the Jewish perception of themselves. This was from the new definitions that were given of the Jews in the many expulsion revolutions that were Anti-Semitic. General fear of being assoc iated to the Jewish culture with an imagination that the same could eventually happen and the same fate repeat itself allover again is another main cause of change. These two causes have redefined the modern Jews, turning them into a cultureless population spread allover the world, and minority seclusions with respect to discrimination they faced back then. This has caused tremendous assimilation where the current Jewish has turned into a cosmopolitan culture, giving no origin or definition. This paper shall analyze some of the causes that the city has had in the identity-building process that has resulted into the evolution of the traditional Jew into an independent modern-day Jewish Cosmopolitan. The changes of the Jews shall be attributed to the main Anti-Semitic hatred forms that attributed the Jews as unique, thus deserving the hatred they received, and still to some reasonable measure, still receive. These are cultural, economic, religious, political, apocalyptic, and racial p erceptions. Major cities in the world are cosmopolitan; meaning that they host diverse cultures, races, religions and tribes. Based on the Anti-Semitic belief by the Jews that predominantly having the desire to exercise the Jewish Culture would lead to the easy identification of Jews, much care is taken. There is also a belief that since the Jews were considered as the Chosen Lot, there was a tendency of them wanting to overturn any other culture and make people assimilate their culture. The result of this fear made the modern-day Jew take up the cultures of various cosmopolitan groups in the city, gifting them with diverse survival tactics that aped all the communities. This gave the modern Jews an upper hand as they were able to interact with all the groups. According to them, this was a survival skill they had to learn in order not to be distinct and conspicuous for any attack from the Anti-Semites. This was good, but eventually, Jews lose their touch with their culture and thus lose there identity too. Judaism, the main Jewish religion, has had a long misunderstanding with Christianity ever since the emergence of Christianity. This misunderstanding arose from various factors that included the differences in beliefs about God, processes and general conduct. This is despite the origin of the two being from the same historical foundation, usually described as the Second Temple period. The dominance of Christianity has, however, outweighed Judaism with statistics showing a population of 2 billion

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Effect of Ability Tracking on Student Performance Essay Example for Free

Effect of Ability Tracking on Student Performance Essay Many factors can influence students’ academic performance. Some argue that more challenging course material can put less prepared students at a disadvantage, while others argue that insufficient challenge leaves bright students bored and unmotivated. In essence, the â€Å"one size fits all† approach to curriculum has for many years been set aside in public schools in favor of ability tracking. The fit of students to curriculum difficulty is argued by some to be the key to ensuring student success; it ensures that teachers give equal focus to students of all ability levels, and also can encourage students with lower ability to participate more in class because they are less likely to feel intimidated (Slavin, 1990).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of course, how students are tracked varies; some schools allow students to be placed into an advanced class for one subject and a lower ranking class for others, while others do not allow this kind of mobility (Slavin, 1990). Even if done carefully, tracking can influence choice of peers and views toward other students. Gamoran (1992) finds that friendships are more easily formed among students in the same tracks than among students in different tracks. A related concern is that tracking leads to students being stigmatized, and ultimately leads to poor academic performance and negative attitudes toward education (Gamoran, 1992). Ansalone (2003) discusses how tracking may perpetuate the cycle of poverty, and the effect of tracking on learning compared to educational systems outside the United States.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So does ability tracking help or hinder performance? Analyzing historical and present academic performance of eleventh graders in the context of the level of challenge attached to their curriculum, may help to answer this complex question. Specifically, two hypotheses were tested:   First, improvements in performance (percentile rank) will be more pronounced for students with more challenging curriculum than those with less challenging curriculum. Second, Improvements in performance (percentile rank) will be more pronounced for students who have lower current GPAs but had more challenging curriculum than for student with higher current GPAs and less challenging curriculum. Data Sample   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The sample included 261 eleventh graders for whom no demographic data (e.g., gender, family income, parent’s education, race) were provided. The following variables were available: Grade Eight Performance Assessment (GEPA) scores in Algebra and Science. Track Rank scores indicating the level of challenge associated with each student’s curriculum. Eleventh Grade High School Performance Assessment (HSPA) in Math. Eleventh Grade Math SAT scores. 4)   Current Grade Point Average (GPA). Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Track Rank scores in the sample ranged from 1.17 to 4.17, with a mean of 2.75 and a standard deviation of .68. To test the first hypothesis, percentile scores were calculated for each student’s GEPA scores, as well as their HSPA scores, and then difference scores were calculated between each of the GEPA percentiles and the HSPA percentile. Descriptive statistics for the percentile improvement variable are shown in Table 1. GEPA SCI Improvement (n=260) GEPA ALA Improvement (n=260) Mean -.00134 .00397 Std. Dev. .2206 .2927 Minimum -.574 -.889 Maximum .616 .828 Table 1. Descriptive Statistics for Percentile Improvement Scores Track Rank scores were not significantly correlated with percentile difference scores for either of the GEPA performance scores (see Table 2). Thus, the first hypothesis—that students with more challenging curriculum will experiences more pronounced score improvements than those with less challenging curriculum can be rejected. GEPA SCI Improvement (n=260) GEPA ALA Improvement (n=260) Track Rank r = .099, p = .112 R = .057, p =.362 Table 2. Correlation of Track Rank with Performance Improvement To test the second hypothesis, it was necessary first to determine whether some students had higher GPAs and lower Track Ranks, while others had lower GPAs and higher Track Ranks.   In fact, Track Rank was significantly correlated with GPA (see Table 3). This indicates that Curriculum difficulty is a strong predictor of GPA, and makes it impossible to test the remainder of the second hypothesis. GPA (n=261) Track Rank r = ..634, p = .000 Table 3. Correlation of Track Rank with GPA In contrast, both GEPA scores were significantly correlated with Track Rank (as shown in Table 2), and with GPA, HPSA and SAT scores (see Table 4). Additional data, such as demographics, would have allowed more detailed analysis of this sample. However, with the available evidence, in the current sample, the surest predictor of current performance is past performance. GEPA SCI Improvement (n=260) GEPA ALA Improvement (n=260) HPSA r = .706, p = .000 r = .481, p =.000 SAT r = .500, p=.000 r = .407, p=.000 GPA r = .383, p=.000 r = 4.91, p=.000 Table 4. Correlation of GEPA scores with later performance References Ansalone, G. (2003). Poverty, tracking, and the social construction of failure: International perspectives on tracking. Journal of Children and Poverty, 9(1): 3-20. Gamoran, A. (1992). The Variable Effects of High School Tracking. American Sociological Review, 57(6): 812–828. Slavin, R.E. (1990). Achievement Effects of Ability Grouping in Secondary Schools: A Best-Evidence Synthesis. Review of Educational Research, 60(3): 471–499.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The great Voyages of discovery

The great Voyages of discovery What was the economic significance of the Great Voyages of Discovery during the late fifteenth century? Compare the consequences for the Venetian Republic and Portugal. The Great Voyages of Discovery dates back to the late fifteenth century and this period can be termed as the Age of Discovery. The Portuguese navigators had a major role during this period. The voyages had a long run impact on global economy, thus it can be inferred that the voyages had great economics significance. They had significant consequences on both the Venetian Republic and Portugal. It is also worth noting that the Economic significance of the voyages of discovery were two folds: Opening up of new routes to east around southern tip of Africa broke the Venetian monopoly of trade between Europe and East. Discovery of New World opened up new possibilities of international specialisation between the New world and Europe. It is important to note that during that period Venice played a major role in opening the Mediterranean economy to West European commerce. It had important connections with North Europe. In building up its trade, Venice created a political empire. Between 1388-1499, Venice acquired territory on Italian mainland, by 1557, total population of these territories was about 1.5 million. It developed types of ship suitable for venetian commerce and the conditions of trade in the Mediterranean. The biggest enterprise in Venice was the Arsenal, a public shipyard . The other big sectors of Venetian economy apart from international trade were banking, book production, sugar production, trades in timber, carpentry, rope etc. There were also considerable manufacturing activities producing goods for local use and export. It was a leader in glass blowing. Venice traded with Asia in raw silk and silk products, but eventually this led to import substitution in Europe. The Venetian government regulate d production of silk and related products. The products were of very high quality and they made a substantial contribution to Venetian exports. They also traded in spices. For trade with east, they relied on Mediterranean followed by Egyptian and Syrian middlemen. Thus briefly stated, Venice had a political empire and it also had trade monopoly with the east. Europeans wanted direct access to the spices and trade with Asia, thus discovering a route to east was not a new idea. By 15th century, it was clear that such a venture would be very expensive and highly risky, but developments in eastern Mediterranean made it clear that the old Venetian route through Egyptian and Syrian middlemen was under threat, and the benefits from a new route would be enormous and rewarding. Therefore, there were preparations for this venture. It started when Prince Henry established a marine research station in Portugal. There had been developments in ship design, rigging and seamanship which made it possible to undertake long distance trips in deep waters. Further the Portuguese undertook trial voyages to explore possible route and wind patterns, like the one by Bartolomeu Dias. He discovered the Cape of Good Hope (May 1488). The Portuguese strategy of doing by knowing made good sense. Each trip built on the one before; each time they went a little farther. All these finally led to the voyage of Vasco da Gama around Africa to Calicut, India during 1497-99. The voyage itself was not very feasible, but he had proved the feasibility of the route and found a new source of gold in east Africa. He also confirmed that there were no maritime fleets in the Indian Ocean which could impede Portuguese access to spice trade. Following da gamas first voyage, Padro Cabral set sail to improve on the route, bring back a significant cargo and establish a base on Kerala coast. Cabral went farther west in the Atlantic than da Gama, and accidently found Brazil, which was within the boundaries allotted to Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas. It was further followed by da gamas 2nd voyage to India. All these developments led Portuguese Kingdom discovering and mapping most of the Globe. It is also worth noting that Europeans also went west. In 1492, Spain financed Columbus for his venture, he set sail and sighted West Indies. Later, to protect the respective interests, Spain and Portugal negotiated for a line of demarcation to divide the world into two halves for purposes of further exploration, with western half reserved for Spain and eastern for Portugal. The demarcation line even gave Brazil to Portugal. The Venetian role in spice trade was greatly reduced at the beginning of the 16th century because of restrictions on trade with Syria and Egypt imposed by the new Ottoman authorities, and competition from direct Portuguese shipments from Asia. Venetian spice import fell from 1600 tons a year towards the end of 15th century to less than 500 tons a year by the first decade of the sixteenth century. Thus the leading role of Venice in trade had declined. Its sugar industry in Crete and Cyprus also declined because of competition from Portuguese production in Madeira and later in Brazil. There were changes in shipbuilding technologies because of which the Venetian galleys became obsolete, because of which there was a sharp decline in the main product of the Arsenal. The Venetian merchants increased their purchase from abroad. Venice could not adapt to technological change because it did not have access to cheap timber unlike other Atlantic economies. The great old mercantile and industrial city state of Venice eventually lost out. Venetian republic along with other city states had been at the forefront of the medieval commercial revolution and had led the way into international trade and division of labour, but they never really capitalized on the opportunities opened by the great discovery; there was no Italian ship in Indian Ocean or crossed Atlantic. It was entered and caught in the great inland sea. It is also worth noting that over the 16, 17, 18th centuries Venice did not expand much in population and per capita income, but it remained one of the richest parts of Italy and Europe until overtaken by the Dutch in the 17th century. After da gamas second voyage, he returned to Lisbon with 13 of his ships and nearly 1700 tons of spices i.e. about the same as annual Venetian imports from the middle east at the end of the 15th century. However, the Portuguese margins on this trade were much bigger than the Venetian. Portugals primary commercial objective in the east was to obtain pepper and other spices and ship these directly to Europe, bypassing the intermediaries that the traditional traffic faced across Asia into the Mediterranean. The Portuguese did this by purchase or seizure. The Portuguese displaced Asian traders who had supplied spices to Red Sea and Persian gulf ports for onward sale to Venetian traders. Initially, these measures were a huge success and earned a large share of trade i.e. 40 percent of the pepper imported into Europe was going around the cape of good hope. This significantly hurt the venetians. But as time progressed, the older trade routes were being reused. The direct Portuguese share fell back to about 20 percent. To make up for the shrinking spice trade, the Portuguese foot into intra Asia exchange. There was trade within the Asian waters in textiles, porcelain, precious metal, carpets, perfume, jewellery, horses, timber, salt, raw silk, gold, silver, medicinal herb s and many other commodities. In the 1550s to the 1630s this kind of trade between China and Japan was a particularly profitable source of income for Portugal. Silk and porcelain played an increased role, and in the 17th and 18th century, cotton textiles and tea became very important. The Portuguese completely controlled the Indian Ocean. All merchant vessels were required to purchase a Portuguese trading license. Those who did not abide by the rules were liable to seizure. This domineering had another positive effect for Portugal: many fewer ships went out from Europe to Asia. In 1570, the crown gave up its monopoly of trade between Lisbon and Goa. This led to decline of Portugal as a trade leader. The various voyages by Portuguese navigators (Dias, Cabral, da Gama) had laid the foundations of the Portuguese trading empire in east Africa and Asia. Portugal maintained a monopoly of traffic round the Cape of Good Hope until the last decade of the 16th century. Thus it can be comfortably said that without advances in shipbuilding and navigation, journey to far east would not have been successful. Overall, the costs of trade were much low for Portugal as compared to the Venetian method-through Mediterranean and by land across Asia. Thus, the great voyages of discovery completely transformed European trading with the east, breaking the monopoly held by the venetians and making many of the goods found in Asia more accessible to rest of Europe. References: Maddison, A.(2001).The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective. Paris: OECD Maddison, A.(2007). Contours of the World Economy, 1-2030 AD: Essays in Macro-economic History.Oxford: Oxford University Press Landes, D.(1998). The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: why some are so rich and some so poor .Little, Brown and Company Winius, G.(2007). Portuguese Indian Ocean Exploration Voyages, 1497-1515,The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Maritime History. Ed. John B. Hattendorf. (online) (http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Mainentry=t232.e0659). Oxford: Oxford University Press(Accessed 06 December 2009)

Friday, October 25, 2019

Weather Forecasting :: essays research papers

Weather Forecasting In researching this project I was amazed to find the many books on this topic. After going through much information and reading an enormous amount of writing on weather forecasting I can only come to one conclusion that when all is considered the best forecasters can only give an educated guess of what is in store for weather. Through the many means at their disposal, such as satellites, ships at the ocean, infrared, radio, and radar transmissions even with all of these techniques no prediction is 100% accurate. One question that I asked myself was "when was the first weather forecasting ever done?", I found out that in 1863 in Britain there was a united forecasting system headed by Captain Robert Fitzroy. Captain Fitzroy would send ships around Britain to warn people of storms and such. However, he was often wrong and criticized and therefor committed suicide. Since then there have been many other services, but the largest one currently is the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service gives predictions for all of the world through satellite imagery for all countries. Also in recent history many local television and radio stations have made private forecasts for small areas. Meteorologists are people who interpret the weather, the reason I don't say predict the weather is because even though all forecasters have the same information and data at their fingertips, the way that they interpret what is in front of them can be different. Meteorologists receive information from various sources, but their interpretation of the data determines the accuracy of their prediction. Someone might ask, "If forecasters have so much information on a particular area; how could they predict a flawed forecast ?" The answer to that question lies in the fact that any one of a number of weather conditions may ruin a forecast. A fast cold or hot front moving in, an unexpected flow from the ocean or a cold wind may change the whole days forecast. There are many different materials and devices used by local and government services to predict the weather. Some of these devices are, Radar which is actually sound waves, which bounce off clouds and give location of storms this way. Another such device is actually a variation of radar called "Doppler Radar" actually can give the exact location of a storm within a kilometer. However, Doppler Radar is not used so much for everyday forecasting, but for tornadoes and very large storms. The way Doppler Radar works is almost the same as regular radar with one advantage, it also can measure the speed of an object or storm, which makes its prime usage tornado watching.