Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Toyota Brake Problem Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Toyota Brake Problem Analysis - Research Paper Example They are the leading automobile manufacturer in the world for the last few decades. Even in America, Toyota cars are selling more than what the local automobile manufacturers were able to sell. Quality and reliability are the major features of Toyota vehicles. Competitors are struggling to compete with Toyota because of the superior quality, excellent supply chain, and very good after sales support, offered to the consumers by Toyota. It is difficult to compete with Toyota individually and therefore competitors are forming regional blocs to compete with Toyota. For example, â€Å"DaimlerChrysler and BMW accepted GM's invitation to cooperate in joint development of hybrid technology, in part to gang up on Toyota†2. In short, the competitors were struggling to compete with Toyota till recent times. However, Toyota suffered some major setbacks in recent times and forced to recall some of its cars because of technical problems like brake problems accelerator pedal problems etc. Th is paper briefly analyses the impacts of such problems caused to Toyota at present and in future. Some owners of the 2010 Prius have reported their brakes do not always engage immediately when they press the brake pedal, or that the brakes have an inconsistent feel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would assess the scope of the problem and the safety risk to about 37,000 cars that could be affected3 Brake problems and accelerator pedal problems were the major technical problems which caused Toyota to recall millions of vehicles from America, Europe and Asia for repairing and replacing. The Prius, a hybrid-powered (gas and electric) sedan introduced in American market as the most environmental friendly car by Toyota, suffered major brake problems which forced Toyota to recall around 37000 cars from American market alone. This vehicle was manufactured strictly in accordance with the demands of President Obama. Obama earlier declared cash for clunker program f or replacing old cars from American roads and to encourage Americans to use more environmental friendly and fuel efficient cars. Many of the Americans utilized the cash incentives offered by Obama to replace their old cars and they purchased Prius because of the claims put forward by Toyota. However, the brake problems of Prius affected the images of Toyota as a trusted brand in America. Toyota Motor Corp extended its safety recall of millions of its most popular cars to Europe and China in a further blow to the reputation of the world's largest auto maker. The scale of the fix for potentially dangerous accelerator pedals emboldened rivals and could land the Japanese carmaker with hundreds of millions of dollars in extra costs per month. Toyota, a byword for quality and reliability, said it had not yet determined how many vehicles in Europe would be recalled, or when, but media and analysts believe 2 million may be affected on top of some 6 million in North America. In China, the wo rld's biggest auto market in 2009, the carmaker said on Thursday it had submitted an application to recall over 75,000 RAV4 vehicles4 It is estimated that around 8 million Toyota were so far recalled from the global market because of accelerator and brake problems. Toyota engineers are working day and night to rectify the problems and to regain the lost confidence of the public. Nobody has any doubt about the abilities of Toyota in bouncing back from this crisis; however, it is

Monday, October 28, 2019

Law Conflicts Essay Example for Free

Law Conflicts Essay Situational Analysis on Children in Conflict with the Law and the Juvenile Justice System Atty. Sedfrey Candelaria; Atty. Aleli Domingo; Amanda Roselle Abrera; Geo Carbonell; Ma. Victoria Cardona and Tricia Oco Adhikain Para sa Karapatang Pambata (AKAP) of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Law School and United Nations Children’s Fund, 1998. E-mail: [emailprotected]/ [emailprotected] The Philippine Senate, through Resolution No. 109 dated July 20, 1990 ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) paving the way for the Convention’s implementation at the domestic level. This afforded children the set of protective rights related to the juvenile justice system under Articles 37, 39, and 40. The Philippine Government submitted its compliance commentaries on these provisions in its Initial Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 1993. In response, the CRC committee submitted the following principal concerns: †¢ need for national legislation to conform with the convention †¢ need for efficient mechanisms to monitor the situation of these children in conflict with the law †¢ need for compatibility of the present juvenile justice system to the principles and provisions of the convention and other international standards The development of a situational analysis on children in conflict with the law and the juvenile justice system is deemed necessary to guide policy-makers in implementing effective programs and procedures to protect the rights of the child. Purpose of the Research Last May 7, 1997, a consultative meeting was conducted, with representatives from the five pillars of criminal justice: law enforcement, prosecution, courts, correction and the community. The main purpose was to gather more data and to validate initial observations  and analysis on the status of juvenile justice administration in the Philippines. The objectives of the research were therefore constituted as follows: †¢ To analyze data and existing studies on children in conflict with the law; †¢ To assess the current situation of the administration of juvenile justice in light of the principles and relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (e.g. Articles 37, 39 and 40); and †¢ To recommend practical and achievable steps toward reforming the juvenile justice system. Methodology The research team reviewed the data covering 1993 to 1997 on various aspects of the juvenile justice process. This was derived from existing studies, surveys or reports prepared by a number of groups concerned with children in conflict with the law. These materials were supplemented by actual interviews and responses to questionnaires sent to selected institutional respondents. A series of dialogues with judges of designated courts for children’s cases were also conducted from April to June 1997. Findings The data reveals that while there are Philippine laws, rules and regulations applicable to children in conflict with the law, prosecution and trial procedures in general do not make distinctions between adult and youthful offenders facing charges before the courts. As regards the profile of the Filipino child in conflict with the law, findings show that the youthful offender is: usually male; between the ages of fourteen (14) to seventeen (17) years; an elementary graduate; a middle child from a low-income family with four (4) to six (6) members; charged with property related crimes (robbery and theft); and, exposed to drugs or gang influence. The experience of a number of youthful offenders with the various stages of the juvenile justice process reveals occasional neglect and insensitivity by duty holders. Analysis The following is a brief analysis of the three sub-sections pertaining to the legal framework and processes, institutional framework, and the narrative and statistical report. It will underscore the strengths as well the gaps of the Philippine juvenile justice system as these affect the rights of children in conflict with the law. The discussion of the Philippine legal framework and processes tend to confirm the state of legislative reform in this country, particularly in regard to juvenile justice, as observed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It further affirms that while there are laws protecting the rights of children in conflict with the law, Philippine legislators have yet to seriously consider reviewing existing laws. In terms of priority, existing jurisdiction of designated courts over juvenile and domestic relations cases, including cases of youthful offenders, needs to be enhanced by passing legislation on the creation of child and family courts. In line with this reorganization, procedural rules applicable to these courts will be necessary. Therefore, findings of this report on the conduct of court proceedings involving children clearly support: †¢ a move towards restructuring the jurisdiction of some lower courts ; †¢ a set of procedural rules in the handling of children’s cases; and a set of clear-cut criteria for appointment of judges to a specialized child and family court. Various surveys and studies reveal an interesting finding on the average age of youthful offenders to be mostly male and between fourteen (14) andmseventeen (17) years of age. Indeed, this is rather significant in light of the observation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child that Philippine substantive law on the age of penal responsibility is quite low (below nine (9) years). Socio-cultural factors, however, must be closely considered when reviewing the present standard contained in our penal laws and the Child and Youth Welfare Code. Other substantive rights, such as, the constitutional guarantees of an accused are adequately covered by existing laws. The application and practice of these rights in favor of children facing the justice system do not seem to be monitored effectively by the key institutions of the juvenile justice system. An example is the lack of quantitative and qualitative data from the enforcement and judicial sectors concerning compliance with the constitutional and CRC standards on the rights of the youthful offenders at the apprehension, investigation, and trial stages. Selected incidents of violations of the rights of some children arrested, investigated and tried before the courts, as narrated in this report, tend to suggest that there may be more of these incidents in practice occurring at various stages of the juvenile justice process. Non-observance of the CRC standards may be attributed to inadequate training and lack of sensitivity of some law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and even judges in handling of cases of children in conflict with the law. Given the limits of the existing procedural system dealing with youthful offenders, police, prosecutors and judges have sufficient discretion occasionally to ensure that the procedural laws aim at diversion measures rather than passively allow an investigation or judicial process to proceed. It has been emphasized in the said report that every measure be taken to avoid placing the child within the often stressful environment of litigation. Sometimes, this is even aggravated by the protracted delays in the disposition of cases contrary to conventional standards of speedy justice. A more disturbing reality is the unfortunate condition faced by most detained and sentenced youthful offenders in public jails and similar institutions.  Despite clearly stated guidelines, laws and policies regarding the treatment of detained and sentenced juveniles, there exists a startling disregard for a most basic standard. Such is the segregation of children from adult offenders inside detention centers or jails. This continues to stand out as a sore thumb in our review of existing practices on this issue. The objectives of the juvenile justice system could easily be eroded by this situation of youth offenders in detention or those serving sentence. Neither do most physical facilities and development opportunities for detained or sentenced children adequately meet the standards set by the CRC and related U.N. guidelines. The budget allocated by the government for food and other basic necessities hardly promotes the standard to meet all the requirements of health and human dignity. Rehabilitation programs through (non-institutional) community-based services are being resorted to more often by DSWD. This is a move towards the right direction. However, support services are needed in the form of financial assistance, education, and employment for the returning youthful offender. Conclusions One of the remarkable contributions of the CRC to the issue of juvenile justice is the emphasis made on the impact of societal conditions on the growth and development of a child. Several factors contribute to a child’s transformation either into an accomplished member of society or one who finds himself or herself in conflict with the law. Within the context of duties and responsibilities, it may be argued that those with the primary right and duty in the rearing of a child deserve the unqualified support of the State authorities and institutions through the creation of an environment conducive to the wholesome development of a child. This research has confirmed that the situation of children in conflict with the law was better understood when viewed not only within the limited context of the commission of the crime itself. Instead, it focused more directly on the failure of some duty-holders to provide for an environment  that can promote the fullest potential of a child. A convergence of circumstances more often places the child in a situation leading to the commission of a crime. A dysfunctional family relationship, poverty or peer influence create conditions which may push the youth towards conflict with the law. In the Philippine juvenile justice system, the child generally enjoys guarantees distinguishable from adults. However, the judicial process itself, consisting of the criminal procedure and the rules of admissibility of evidence, does not provide an exclusive mode of conducing trial. The juveniles, as accused before courts of general jurisdiction, are designated to a juvenile and domestic relations court. There is a general impression that the revival of exclusive child and family courts may be contribute towards effective management of cases of youthful offenders. The experience of some Filipino youthful offenders with the justice system has been characterized occasionally with neglect and insensitivity by a number of judges, prosecutors and private lawyers, notwithstanding the well-entrenched judicial guarantees. This is not to overlook, however, the recent efforts of inter-agency task forces aimed at raising awareness of the legal profession on the conditions of children in conflict with the law. Society’s attitude towards returning youthful offenders or those in community-based rehabilitation programs is crucial in successfully reintegrating these children. The present report underscores the vulnerability of those youthful offenders staying in â€Å"closed† institutions and prisons. Recommendations After careful analysis and investigation of the situation of children in conflict with the law and realizing the many gaps of the Philippine juvenile justice system, the following recommendations were drawn: †¢ Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, court social welfare officers, public attorneys and legal aid groups should be given orientation seminars  on international human rights instruments and child-related laws with emphasis on juvenile justice †¢ Government agencies and institutions engaged in defending youthful offenders should coordinate their efforts in providing protection to these children by establishing a common monitoring system covering the various stages of the juvenile justice system process. †¢ Specialized juvenile and domestic relations courts should be created. †¢ Support programs for streetchildren and other similarly vulnerable children should be increased as preventive measures. †¢ More facilities exclusively for children who are detained and sentenced should be constructed to prevent mingling with adult offenders. †¢ Community awareness of and involvement in non-institutional rehabilitation programs and services should be enhanced. †¢ Non-governmental organizations engaged in multi-disciplinary outreach programs with children in conflict with the law should form a network to maximize extension of assistance of these children. †¢ A comprehensive review of existing laws and procedures on juvenile justice in light of the CRC and other international standard-setting instruments affecting children in conflict with the law should be undertaken for purposes of law reform.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Attributes of Typical Heisman Trophy Winners Essay -- College Football

HEISMAN DILEMMA The Heisman Trophy: symbol of unquestionable superiority among fellow NCAA division 1-A athletes . . . or is it? This unique honor is awarded to the player who the Heisman panel believes is the â€Å"best† player in 1-A. The award can be given to a player of â€Å"any position,† or so the Heisman committee says. There has never been a Heisman candidate who hasn’t been a quarterback, running back, or multi-purpose skill player (for example: someone who plays wide receiver, defensive back, and is a situational running back). Does the Heisman Trophy really determine who the best player (and therefore best NFL prospect) is? I can prove who will win the Heisman this year, but should that person be the Heisman winner? Kirk Herbstreit is currently ESPN’s leading college football journalist, and I consider him the undeniable authority on all matters associated with college football. He created his own Website, Heisman Pundit. This Website contains â€Å"The 10 Heismandments,† which I think accurately capture the unofficial qualifications that the Heisman panel uses to choose the winner. It is my personal belief that the Heismandments are bogus, but if you look through the history of Heisman winners, they really do comply with most (if not all) of the qualifications. The â€Å"Ten Heismandments† are as follows: 1. The winner must be a quarterback, running back, or multi-threat athlete. 2. The winner must be a Junior or a Senior. 3. The winner must put up good numbers in big games on TV. 4. The winner must have some prior recognition. 5. The Winner must be one of the following three: a. a top player on a national title contender team; b. a player who puts up good numbers for a traditional power that has a good r... ... for money; they don’t have their own clothing lines; hell, they aren’t even allowed to do endorsements. They play for the love of the game, for a national title, for a Heisman Trophy, and to get noticed by NFL coaches. Let’s face it. Every football-loving fan in America is going to watch all of the top 5 bowls, regardless of who plays them. To take away from the purity and justice of college football to make a few pennies is an atrocity. Let’s just hope that NCAA officials can realize what they’re doing, and stop before it’s too late. Works Cited Burns, Marty. â€Å"Leinart, Trojans Having a Good Time.† Sports Illustrated. November 2005. Cincinnati Bengals’ Website. 2005. www.bengals.com. Heisman Website. 2005. www.heisman.com. Herbstreit, Kirk. Heisman Pundit. 7 November. 2005. www.heismanpundi.com. Pasquarelli, Len. ESPN Magazine. November 2005.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Kingdom of matthias Essay

The Kingdom of Matthias tells the story of Robert Matthews, who later took on the name Matthias the Prophet. A religious charlatan in 1830s New York, Matthews established a â€Å"Kingdom† of fanatical followers, causing a nationwide scandal. Matthews’ most fervent follower was Elijah Pierson, who was born into a strict Calvinist church upbringing but who quickly got swept up in the evangelical, â€Å"perfectionist† movement upon his move to New York as a merchant. Elijah married a missionary woman named Sarah, and together they established a â€Å"Retrenchment Society† and other organizations designed to spread the word of God. In her fervor, Sarah literally worked herself to death, and died in 1830. The event spurred Elijah toward madness as he attempted to raise Sarah from the dead during funeral. Elijah started to hear God speak and he adopted the title Prophet Elijah of Tishbe. Simultaneous to these events, Robert Matthews was born and raised in a Scottish community called Coila. His parents died when he was young, and after several of his sons tragically died, Matthews began to hear God and see prophetic visions. He adopted the name Matthias. In May 1832, Matthews visited Pierson, and Pierson became convinced that Matthews was God’s Prophet. Matthews used Pierson’s merchant wealth to establish â€Å"The Kingdom.† Matthews preached regularly to a small band of followers. Eventually, he came to regard Christianity as the Devil’s work, and his philosophy was full of anti-woman hatred. Matthews convinced a wealthy couple, Benjamin and Ann Folger, of his prophethood, and soon he established a community at the Folger home in Sing Sing, which he called â€Å"Mount Zion.† Matthews ruled his community with an iron fist, dressing extravagantly, bearing an unkempt beard, punishing severely, and lecturing frequently. Not content with the Christian conception of marriage, several of Matthews’ followers forsake marriage to be united in the â€Å"Spirit of Truth.† This caused a good deal of scandalous â€Å"wife-swapping†, as it might be called today. Matthews and Ann fell for each other, and Matthews proclaimed Ann as the â€Å"Mother† of the kingdom. Benjamin strayed to Matthews’ twenty-year-old daughter Isabella, as well as to a widow named Catherine Galloway. The sexual intrigue proved too much for the community, and Benjamin and then Ann revolt. Additionally, an increasing public outcry against the Kingdom and its scandals assisted in its dissolution. One day, Elijah Pierson, suffering from seizures, ate blackberries and soon after died. The public rumor was that Matthews, along with his servant Isabella Van Wagenen, had poisoned the man. Matthews was arrested and tried with murder after two doctors conducted an autopsy and claimed there was poison in Pierson’s stomach. However, the prosecution had only a flimsy case, and the jury found Matthews not guilty of murder, but guilty of assault (for beating his daughter), and so Matthews served four months in prison. The Kingdom of Matthias scandal is noteworthy for sparking the â€Å"penny press† newspapers, with their obsession with crime and scandal, a tradition that continues to this day with such periodicals as National Enquirer.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Air pollution economic case for enviromental regulation

IntroductionEconomic development and prosperity takes place, several times, coupled with contamination of the urban environment. This situation is defined in economics as an externality, which is an effect from one activity which has consequences for another activity but is not reflected in market prices. When these consequences are the generation of external costs they are defined as negatives. This is the particular case of air pollution. For example, â€Å"Pollution represents an external cost because damages associated with it are borne by society as a whole and are not reflected in market transactions.†(Koomey and Krause, 1997)  Despite the fact that stricter controls were put into practice in the last years, and the observed reductions in pollution, air pollution remains as a common concern among countries.Externalities correctionsThere are four major measurable examples to correct this problem which are: Property Rights, Regulation, Taxes and subsidies, Marketable Per mits.  Although it works in few cases, small groups, if property rights are correctly defined it may avoid the problem, e.g. if a firm owns the right to clean air and can charge people for using it.  Air pollution regulations were strengthened by enactment of the Air Quality Act in 1967, which introduced a regional approach to air pollution control; and has been has been increasing in the last years, E.g., limits on vehicle emissions, controls on allowable factory emissions, smoking bans. The problem on this measure is that does not encourage change in technology uses or new technology developments.Taxes and subsidies, for example differential taxes on carbon emissions, has the benefit that the company that produces contamination â€Å"pays†, thus encouraging technology change and being more efficient.  At last, marketable permits are a number of permits issued according to a total limit of output pollution. They may be auctioned to the highest bidder, going to companie s that can not reduce pollution easily. The Clean Air Act is a well-known example of the application of the marketable permits technique.ConclusionControlling air pollution is a difficult task, plenty of trade-off decisions. Many measures have been taken to stop the problem, but many of them have proven to be inefficient. It seems that taxes and subsidies are the best measures but this might be introduced slowly into the market, thus giving time to firms to adjust their production methods. Hence is that marketable permits are a validate instrument to go together with taxes in the meanwhile.ReferencesNorberg, Johan. â€Å"In Defense of Global Capitalism†. Publisher: Cato Institute. Place of Publication: Washington, DC. Publication Year: 2003. Page Number: 229.Cherni, Judith A. â€Å"Economic Growth versus the Environment: The Politics of Wealth, Health and Air Pollution†. Publisher: Palgrave. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number: 1.Colls, Jeremy. â€Å"Air Pollution†. Publisher: Spon Press. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number: 21.Arya, S. Pal. â€Å"Air Pollution, Meteorology and Dispersion†. Publisher: Oxford University Press. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 1999. Page Number: 15.Koomey, Jonathan and Krause, Florentin. â€Å"Introduction to Environmental Externality Costs†. Year: 1997. Published in the CRC Handbook on Energy Efficiency. Energy Analysis Program. Applied Science Division. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.   

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

New England and Chesepeake Bay Colonies DBQ essays

New England and Chesepeake Bay Colonies DBQ essays In the period leading up to the 1700s, the New World experienced a vast separation between the many English settlers who had arrived there. The colonists of English origin parted and took different paths, one leading many to the Chesapeake Bay/Virginia area and another to the Massachusetts Bay Colony/New England territory. Although similar in origin, the New World settlers divided and evolved into two very distinct societies with varied ideals, morals, and ways of life. In the New England area religion was extremely important and dictated very much so how the colonists should act. In a letter from John Winthrop states the need for unity as we must be knit together in this work as one man (Winthrop, 1). Written on board the Arbella, Winthrop calls for each man to abridge himself for the supply of others necessities. This theme of unity and religion is also very apparent in the Articles of Agreement founded in 1636 in Springfield. The townsmen join in the belief that though some of them are rich and some poor, they all agree to share planting ground and see to it that all have suitable estates. As in Winthrops letter, the colonists agree to the number one article in which, through Gods grace, they may form a covenant and walk in all the ways of Christ (Springfield, 2). A religion-dominated institution is apparent, lastly, in Connecticut, especially in the Wage and Price Regulations. The settlers of this New England colony form a General Court where the most important objective is to [receive] such moderate profit as may enable them to serve God and their neighbors with their acts and trades...and do not enrich themselves (Connecticut, 3). Seen in all three documents is the theme of sacrificing ones self and living as a Christian to better others as Christ would. In contrast, the Virginia colony seemed to consist of more divided, gold-hungry settlers. U...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Cotton Industry Essays - Cellulose, Crops, Cotton, Rice, Free Essays

Cotton Industry Essays - Cellulose, Crops, Cotton, Rice, Free Essays Cotton Industry THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA 1. Introduction Cotton is one of the oldest fibres used by human beings. Archaeologists have found cotton 5000 years old. Alexander the Great, around 300 BC, brought cotton goods into Europe but only the rich could afford it. The cotton plant grew wild in East Africa. Cotton belongs to the Hibiscus family. Our commercial varieties of cotton were developed from perennial shrubs in Central America. (Source A) 2. History of the cotton industry. Governor Phillip brought cottonseeds to Australia on the First Fleet in 1788. However, substantial production really only occurred in the 1860's with the American Civil war creating a shortage for the English spinners. Large areas of dryland cotton were planted in Queensland to meet the demand. A similar burst in production occurred in the 1930's when the American cotton crop had boll weevil problems. By 1934 Australia's production had risen to 17,000 bales, but 20 years later our cotton industry was almost non existent. Interest in cotton revived in the 1960's when the construction of major dams in northern NSW and southern Queensland enabled irrigated cotton production. Another boost to the industry was the arrival in Wee Waa of two American cotton growers who showed how to grow the crop. Irrigated and dryland planting have continued to expand since then. In 1998, production peaked at 3 million bales. (Source B) 3. Value of cotton industry to domestic/export to Australia. Australia is the fourth largest cotton growing country in the world Cotton is Australia's fifth biggest rural export worth more than $800 million. (Source A) The value of Australias raw cotton is now more than $1.5 billion, while the meal and oil produced from cotton seed contribute a further $100 million to the Australian economy. Last year, Cotton Australia claimed a record in cotton production with production of 681 tonnes of raw cotton outstripping wool production for the first time in Australian history. Australia produced a record 3 million bales of high quality cotton last year - 97% of this was exported to buyers in Indonesia, Korea and Japan. Cotton production in Australia has trebled since 1985 and doubled in the past three years. For every one-dollar earned in irrigation farming generates $6 in the wider community. Cotton Australia chief executive officer; Gary Punch said cotton production would double in the next three to five years. (Australian Cotton Outlook, September 1998) 4. Cotton industry organizations and their roles. The Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Cotton Production (Cotton CRC) was established in 1993 under the Commonwealth Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program. Its brief is to develop strategies that ensure Australia's cotton industry remains an economically sound and environmentally safe rural enterprise. The CRC researches sustainable production and improved techniques of growing. It is also researching breaking the dependence on pesticides, maintaining good sill quality, using water efficiently, irrigation water quality and searching for value adding opportunities. The Australian Cotton Industry Council (ACIC) is the industry body for cotton growers. Its aim is to promote and protect the cotton industry. The Queensland Cotton Corporation Limited is Australia's largest marketer and processor of cotton. It recently opened it first international office in California. It has just expanded the Dalby cotton gin and is constructing gins at Dirranbandi and Moura. (Source C) 5. Cotton industry distribution and why it is where it is. 6. Cost of production of irrigated cotton. For an irrigated cotton crop (Source E) Primary till costs $6.35/hectare, secondary till costs $5 hectare, inter row - $3.70 hectare, boom spray (4 times) -$7.40 hectare, aerial spraying - (13times) -$104 hectare, planting - $4.25 hectare, harvesting -$68 hectare, eliminator - $6.35 hectare. Planting is recommended at 12kilograms of seed per hectare at a cost of $33.60 per hectare. Fertiliser (nitrogen) -$111.22 hectare, fertilizer (starter Z) -$36.30 hectare, Herbicides - $70.45 hectare, Insecticides $507.66 hectare, Conditioners- $70.71 hectare. Irrigation -$180 hectare, Crop consultant -$42 hectare, Field handling - $84.80 hectare, Insurance $96.hectare, Casual labour- $80 hectare, Chipping - $42 hectare, Interest on crop credit - $58.09 hectare, Tarps, ropes etc - $16 hectare. Expected yield - $8t /hectare. Expected price - $450 tonne. TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS for growing / harvesting irrigated cotton - $1634/hectare. EXPECTED INCOME IS $3600 per hectare. GROSS MARGIN - $1,966 per hectare. 7. Yearly work program. (Detailed as above in costing) Planting time is

Sunday, October 20, 2019

A Complete Guide to College Graduation Announcements

A Complete Guide to College Graduation Announcements College graduation announcements can seem so simple  but also be so complicated. And, of course, while youre trying to figure out the ins-and-outs of the announcements, you still have to focus on finishing your classes and planning for life after college. Use this guide to help you through the planning, organizing, and sending of graduation announcements. The Logistics Coordinating the logistics behind announcements can be a serious pain in the brain. With a little help, however, it can also be taken care of with a few quick steps. The Why: 8 Reasons to Send Graduation AnnouncementsThe Who: To Whom Should I Send My Graduation Announcements?The Where and How: Where to Get Graduation AnnouncementsThe When: When to Mail Your Graduation Announcements The What: The Announcements Themselves Wording announcements can seem so easy. That is,  of course, until you actually sit down and try to write them. To get you started, below are a variety of announcement styles you can use or change a bit to create your own, personalized graduation announcement. No matter which type of announcement you send, the following information is vital: Your nameThe college or universityThe degree you earned (e.g., B.A. in Political Science)The commencement ceremony (or party) date and timeThe location of the ceremony or party Do you really have to invite people? Unlike high school graduation, not everyone is going to attend the commencement ceremony or expect a party. It is very common for college graduates to skip the date and location information and use their announcements as, just that, an announcement of your achievement. Announcements with Formal, Traditional Language Traditionally, a college graduation announcement uses formal language such as The President, Faculty, and Graduating Class... in the opening lines before giving the details in equally formal terms. Spelling out the dates and avoiding abbreviations for degrees are just some of the features youll find in formal announcements. If you would like to stick with tradition, here are two examples to explore: Formal Announcement Sample #1Formal Announcement Sample #2 Casual and Informal Announcements Maybe youre more of a casual graduate who wants to drop all formality and enjoy the celebration. If so, there are endless ways to begin your announcement and you can have as much fun as you like. Here are a few examples and dont forget to include the details. Education, Dedication, Jubilation, Graduation!Call the neighbors around, Raise a glass of Chablis,[Tasha] has earned [her] college degree![Shes] Graduating! Announcements Mentioning Family or Friends Yet another approach to the announcement is to include the support of your family and friends. This is a nice way for the people who care about you most and helped you through school to acknowledge how proud they are of you. Friends/Family Announcement Sample #1Friends/Family Announcement Sample #2 Announcements with a Religious Theme Whether you are graduating from a faith-based college or simply hope to acknowledge how your faith helped you in this great achievement, adding an inspirational verse is a great idea. It also doesnt matter which religion you follow, theres inspiration in all of them. Look for a verse or inscription that pertains to learning and knowledge and quote this at the top of your announcement. Again, dont forget the details! Religious  Announcement Sample

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Ancient Chinese Contributions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Ancient Chinese Contributions - Essay Example China can rightfully lay claim to numerous scientific discoveries and technological inventions which greatly enriched human civilization as these paved the way for global progress. This brief paper is a discussion and exposition of such ancient Chinese contributions to civilization. Chinese civilization had existed uninterrupted for several millennia and due to this fact, it was able to develop to such an extent that the ancient Chinese acquired or accumulated enough knowledge about the natural world and perceptive enough to make the right connections to make scientific discoveries based on their theories and hypothesis; the other useful connection was to make practical use of these discoveries through technological inventions and applications so as to make life easier for everybody. Theoretical knowledge was applied to everyday use and for this, world civilization has a lot to be thankful for because the discoveries and inventions of the ancient Chinese served as foundation for further scientific and technological progress to take place. Among the more prominent Chinese contributions are the compass, gunpowder, printing, paper, coal mining, pottery and porcelain, use of petroleum, sericulture, star atlas, and meridian. Based on the partial list mentioned above, the four most important contributions are the compass, gunpowder, paper, and printing. These four inventions contributed a lot to the progress and advance of world civilization as the use of these four discoveries spread worldwide. The four inventions can be considered as the most ingenious and innovative considering the great amount of knowledge, insight, and thinking that went into these four inventions and discoveries. Compass - its discovery was crucial to ship navigation and the eventual discovery of vast new lands and territories beyond the great oceans of the world. Although the compass was

Friday, October 18, 2019

Concreate Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Concreate - Assignment Example The study also takes into consideration, the different types of Portland cement from type I to V. In the concrete mix preparation, the strength and consistency of the concrete will be measured. This will enable the engineers to do necessary adjustments to regularize the range of strengths and elasticity. From the observations made in the general properties of the concrete mix, it is necessary to take note of the troweling feasibility of using the concrete. In order to ascertain determine whether the troweling is workable or not, the property test will require working with a trowel on the concrete. The quality of the concrete is measured by how smooth it was to work on it. If it requires so much strength to work on then the trowel workability is troubled, and will be assigned either fair or poor rating. The concrete is produced in different layers, each layer containing unique composition of materials. The third layer is overfilled for the sake of consolidation. The final stage is to finishing the upper layer using the tamping rod as well as the trowel to smoothen it. This is then followed by covering the upper layer to ensure there is no evaporation. Temperature and moisture require careful treatment and observation since they directly affect the strength of the concrete. Before com pressing and testing the concrete, one has to take the measurement of the radius and the diameter of concrete using calipers. The cylindrical concrete is measured in the middle at 4 points on its circumference. Just prior to the testing and compression, the engineers cap each end of the concrete to allow uniform spread of weight when a load is applied to it. Concretes are made into different shapes and compression failure modes to strengthen them. The shapes include full shear, splitting (columnar), shear cone, cone splitting and local shear wedge. The variables to

Write Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Write - Essay Example One of the most crucial qualities of the mature student is self-denial, which refers with restricting oneself self by mean of determination. Self-denial is related with controlling oneself from seducement and enticement. Mature student needs to be enough confident about what he has to do, avoid and overcome in terms of attaining a good career or to lead a better social life. Though, many people in the society interrelate Self-denial with self-discipline that completely an opposite approach because self-denial is not about making rules and regulations, and following them by restricting yourself in some particular aspects. But it is the manner by which student can create a particular order and strategy to achieve his goal in his academic parameters (Anon., 2012). It can easily be observed that every individual has their particular aim and goal with grand prospect that he endeavor to achieve. But, in order to achieve those intents, there is huge self-determination required that can only be possible by the implication of self-denial. In other words, self-denial can also be referred as refusing yourself in terms of controlling and managing impulse. The fact that needs to be understood by mature student is that, nothing is perfect in this world. So in this manner, many obstacles in mistakes can be overcome and modified by taking respective measures on the right time. If a person desires to achieve his goal, then there is a need of proper and core determination for its accomplishment that is another quality of the mature student. Determination refers with efficient effort and proper practice as goals and aims with great prospect cannot be achieved and fulfilled only by taking decision. The concept of determination and related characteristic can be found in different cultures such as in China, there is a famous tale regarding determination known as ‘The Foolish Old Man Removed the Mountain, that depicts several characters specifically the spirits of

Thursday, October 17, 2019

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) Research Proposal

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) - Research Proposal Example Boubyan Bank, international Bank of Qatar, and Turkish bank are the associates of NBK. NBK is the first bank in the Middle East to set up an International Advisory Board. NBK plc is a subsidiary of the bank. It has two offices, one in London and the other in Paris. The bank provides retail services related to trade and finance and private as well as corporate banking services (National Bank of Kuwait, n.d.). Research Objective The objective of research is to determine the factors that led the bank to become one of the largest profitable banks in that part of the world and to determine the influence of consumer loyalty on the financial performance of the organization. The objective will also be to analyze how balanced scorecard can be made effective to identify the causal relationships between the perspective of the customers as well as the financial perspective. Research Question The following are the questions that are to be addressed. Is the bank operating at its efficiency level? Can the consumer level initiatives in the balanced scorecard affect the financial level? Which factors can be held responsible for attracting customers to the bank? How the managers taking the help of HR can manage the organization in a better fashion? To support the perspective of the customer, what are the characteristics that the division head of the organization desires in the approach of Balanced Scorecard? Is the future of the bank secured? Literature Review One of the objectives of the organization is to sustain with strong financial position. A trend of adoption of western practices of management like Balanced Scorecard is creeping up. It is based on the organizational structure and goes beyond the usual conventional accounting system. The interaction between the customer and the bank is categorized into three different levels. The first category is comprised of the services that do not require any human interaction like the online banking services. The second category invol ves the interactions of the customer service representatives. A combination of the first and second category constitutes the third category. It is believed that the bank did not have to suffer terribly in the crisis period, but some are of the opinion that the business was negatively affected. The bank used its image to help the members maintain the relation with the customers. However, with increasing competition in the markets, the members are putting in more effort to hold or attract customers in the bank. If the balanced scorecard was implemented properly, then such a situation could have been avoided. The conceptual framework identifies the utility of building strong relations with the customers and its impact on the financial performance of the bank (Dash and Tripathy, 2004, p. 10). A few more additions in the framework will help to drive the behavior of customers to achieve loyalty. The experienced leaders should deal with the task of communicating the strategic objectives an d initiate instant decisions. Three research strategies can be used in order to achieve the objective of the project-descriptive, explanatory and exploratory (Khazal, 2010). The scale and time of the project must be taken in consideration when determining the appropriate methods. The portfolio of retail loans of the bank is maintaining good quality, and it is anticipated to depict fair performance in the near future as well. The bank does not share great exposure to financing the buying of shares. The

Damage awards should be capped for product liability suits Research Paper

Damage awards should be capped for product liability suits - Research Paper Example This implies that if consumers are injured or suffer because of a product they purchase and use, they should possess a defective products claims. One of the key aspects of a product liability claim is determining the amount and the type of damages that a consumer suffers after using a product. Due to the complexity of determining the compensation, it is imperative for consumers to estimate their damages up front. For instance, if the consumer suffers minor injuries and the financial losses incurred are insignificant, then it implies that it is unnecessary to initiate a claim. In the same way, consumers who suffer fewer damages have a less chance of finding a lawyer as compared to those who incur significant damages. Customers who suffer significant damages are advised to catalog and list the damages at the beginning of their lawsuit (Kinzie and Mark 21). The responsibility for a defective product lies with a manufacturer or anyone who supplied the product. On the part of the manufacturer, he is responsible for producing the product that causes damage to the consumer. In the same way, the initial design of the product may be of poor quality, thus resulting to the defects during the production process. Additionally, poor marketing by the manufacturer, making of misleading claims and lack of providing the correct information regarding the product makes the manufacturer to be responsible for a defective product. Once the products are distributed from the manufacturer to the retailers, the retailer can also be held responsible. It is important to note that if a manufacturer is no longer operating his or her business or it becomes difficult to identify the source of a defective product held by a retailer, consumers can seek for compensation from the retailers. This implies that all the members of the distribution channel have an obligatio n of ensuring that products they handle are safe (Moore and Michael 26). Despite that consumers are the major

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) Research Proposal

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) - Research Proposal Example Boubyan Bank, international Bank of Qatar, and Turkish bank are the associates of NBK. NBK is the first bank in the Middle East to set up an International Advisory Board. NBK plc is a subsidiary of the bank. It has two offices, one in London and the other in Paris. The bank provides retail services related to trade and finance and private as well as corporate banking services (National Bank of Kuwait, n.d.). Research Objective The objective of research is to determine the factors that led the bank to become one of the largest profitable banks in that part of the world and to determine the influence of consumer loyalty on the financial performance of the organization. The objective will also be to analyze how balanced scorecard can be made effective to identify the causal relationships between the perspective of the customers as well as the financial perspective. Research Question The following are the questions that are to be addressed. Is the bank operating at its efficiency level? Can the consumer level initiatives in the balanced scorecard affect the financial level? Which factors can be held responsible for attracting customers to the bank? How the managers taking the help of HR can manage the organization in a better fashion? To support the perspective of the customer, what are the characteristics that the division head of the organization desires in the approach of Balanced Scorecard? Is the future of the bank secured? Literature Review One of the objectives of the organization is to sustain with strong financial position. A trend of adoption of western practices of management like Balanced Scorecard is creeping up. It is based on the organizational structure and goes beyond the usual conventional accounting system. The interaction between the customer and the bank is categorized into three different levels. The first category is comprised of the services that do not require any human interaction like the online banking services. The second category invol ves the interactions of the customer service representatives. A combination of the first and second category constitutes the third category. It is believed that the bank did not have to suffer terribly in the crisis period, but some are of the opinion that the business was negatively affected. The bank used its image to help the members maintain the relation with the customers. However, with increasing competition in the markets, the members are putting in more effort to hold or attract customers in the bank. If the balanced scorecard was implemented properly, then such a situation could have been avoided. The conceptual framework identifies the utility of building strong relations with the customers and its impact on the financial performance of the bank (Dash and Tripathy, 2004, p. 10). A few more additions in the framework will help to drive the behavior of customers to achieve loyalty. The experienced leaders should deal with the task of communicating the strategic objectives an d initiate instant decisions. Three research strategies can be used in order to achieve the objective of the project-descriptive, explanatory and exploratory (Khazal, 2010). The scale and time of the project must be taken in consideration when determining the appropriate methods. The portfolio of retail loans of the bank is maintaining good quality, and it is anticipated to depict fair performance in the near future as well. The bank does not share great exposure to financing the buying of shares. The

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Increasing rate of HIV (see attachment) Assignment

Increasing rate of HIV (see attachment) - Assignment Example The venue chosen was considered to be private enough to offer a good chance for idea exchange amongst the youths. The place is also centrally situated and in an open area which would mean ease of access by those willing to attend. The area has limited traffic jam; this would reduce time wasted on the way to the venue on the material day. The designed flier will be distributed in schools, video dens, and local youth groups in the area, local social and recreational centers. These areas are considered to be major catchment areas of the target group. The main information which will be collected from the focus group discussion will be the number of youths who have undergone the medical male circumcision. It will also be an opportunity to find out whether the target group is aware of the benefits of this surgical procedure (Taylor, 2010). If they would wish to go for the procedure after the discussion, for those who will not be at that time circumcised, they will then be offered the service free of charge. As for the already circumcised, sharing their experience with the uncircumcised with the motive of encouraging them to go for it will be of great value. Those who shall attend the focus group discussion will have the opportunity of receiving free STI screening and treatment in case one if found to be suffering from any of the infections. There shall also be free refreshments for those in attendance. Few individuals will be chosen from the group to be the area ambassadors for the

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Way in Which Wordsworth Presents Emotion in Strange Fits of Passion Essay Example for Free

The Way in Which Wordsworth Presents Emotion in Strange Fits of Passion Essay Emotion is a central theme in ‘Strange fits of passion’; even in the title we have â€Å"Passion†, shown in the Poet’s feelings for Lucy and in the sudden (seemingly unfounded) idea that â€Å"Lucy should be dead† Overseeing the whole scene we also have the moon, used by Wordsworth to counterpoint the Poet’s Journey to â€Å"Lucy’s cot†. As he draws closer to the cottage the moon descends until suddenly â€Å"the planet dropped† which in turn causes the Poet to have a startling thought exclaiming â€Å"O mercy! † â€Å"If Lucy should be dead! † moving the Poet from a dazed half-sleep to startled alertness, as the feeling of dread overwhelms him. Given the rather jaunty ballad rhyming structure and rather tongue-in-cheek opening stanza, we could assume that the Poet is indulging in slight self-mockery at this notion, seen as ridiculous in hindsight. Or given some of the other imagery used, such as the moon’s slow decline—which given its romantic connotations could symbolize the decline and end of the Poet’s relationship with Lucy—and the analogy to a â€Å"rose in June†, we could assume that the Poet is reflecting on this incident with sadness regarding his memories of Lucy. This idea is further supported by the themes of the other â€Å"Lucy Poems†, namely loss. Poems such as â€Å"Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower† and She dwelt among the untrodden ways showcase the Joy of the Poet in Lucy’s company and feelings of great sorrow at her demise. While it is unlikely that the women featured in the â€Å"Lucy Poems† are one and the same, it makes no difference to the common feelings expressed throughout the poems. As stated above, the poem is written in the style of a ballad (as indeed all the â€Å"Lucy Poems† are, though none as obviously as â€Å"Strange fits of passion†), using the Common language of the people, as Wordsworth was often wont to do. This enables the reader to have an immediate reaction to the work, generally one of amusement at the â€Å"fond and wayward thoughts† of the Poet which is then gradually turned to a feeling of sorrow at the eventual death as implied in the â€Å"Strange fits of passion† and made plain in the other â€Å"Lucy Poems† and in the omitted last stanza from â€Å"Strange fits of passion† I told her this; her laughter light Is ringing in my ears: And when I think upon that night My eyes are dim with tears This reaction, in a way, shadows the Poet’s emotional response. In fact, it could be argued that there is a similar reaction from the reader to the Poet’s emotional state throughout, at first we are warned that this tale is for â€Å"lover’s ear alone† setting us up for a romantic, if slightly farcical, story. As the Poet sets out to Lucy’s cottage with rapt anticipation, we too anticipate the characteristic â€Å"reveal† of Wordsworth poetry. We at first part in our reactions when the poet draws near the cottage, as the Poet has his sudden revelation; while he is struck by despair and fear we are temped to laugh at his seemingly ludicrous thought. This position is then taken by the Poet himself once he is safely in Lucy’s company but his â€Å"wayward thought† is proven all to shrewd, as reader and Poet both weep at Lucy’s demise.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP)

Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) score for predicting severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in the early phase. Method The PubMed, Cochrane library and EMBASE databases were searched until May 2014. The strict selection criteria and exclusion criteria were determined, and we applied hierarchic summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model and bivariate random effects models to assess thediagnosibility of the BISAP score for predicting SAP. We obtained pooled summary statistics for sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and calculated the area under the HSROC curve (AUC). The 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each diagnostic test measure were also calculated. Publication bias was assessed using Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test. Statistical analyses were performed using the STATA12.0 software. Results The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 64.82%, 83.62%, 3.96, 0.42 and 9.41, respectively. The AUC was 0.77 and the HSROC curve for individual studies was generated and analyzed to explore the influence of threshold effects. Conclusion We confirmed that BISAP score is an accurate means to predict SAP in the early phase. Keywords: BISAP, HSROC curve, severe acute pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis Introduction Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas with a clinical course that varies from mild to severe and characterized by activation of pancreatic enzymes to cause self-digestion of the pancreas 1. Generally, AP is mild, self-limiting, and requires no special treatment and ranges about 80-90% of patients with only minimal or transitional systemic manifestations, but about 20%-30% of patients develop a severe disease that can progress to systemic inflammation and cause pancreatic necrosis, multi-organ failure, and potentially death 1-4. So it is important to have an early, quick, and accurate risk stratification of AP patients, which would permit evidence-based early initiation of intensive care therapy for patients with severe AP (SAP) to prevent adverse outcomes and allow treatment of mild AP (MAP) on the common ward. Early identification of patients with SAP would allow the clinician to consider more aggressive interventions within a time frame that could pre vent possible complications. Currently, there are a variety of score systems developed for the early detection of SAP, such as Ranson’s score 5, acute physiology and chronic health examination (APACHE) II 6, 7 and computed tomography severity index (CTSI) 8. Also there are many inflammation markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and others 9, 10. Several studies show that cytokines play an important role in the cascading inflammatory responses 11 and it may act as mediators of distant organ complications in SAP. So the levels of cytokine in serum may also reflect the degree of the inflammatory response 12. In 2008, Wu et al. 13 proposed a new prognostic scoring system, the bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), is a simple and accurateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ method that can predict the clinical severity of AP within 24 h of presentation. BISAP incorporates five parameters: blood urea nitrogen > 25 mg/dL, impaired mental status, systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS), age > 60 years, and detection of pleural effusion by imaging 14. Unfortunately there has been no systematic or meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies of this scoring system. The purpose of this study was to aggregate the reported data across the different studies and to assess the ability of the BISAP score to predict SAP. Materials and methods 2.1 Literature search The search was performed on three databases: PubMed, Cochrane library and EMBASE. These databases were searched from the first date available in each database up to May 2014, using the search terms ‘acute pancreatitis’ AND (‘BISAP’ OR ‘bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis’). Once articles had been collected, bibliographies were then hand-searched for additional references. 2.2 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria To be included in this meta-analysis, studies must meet the following criteria: (1) studies evaluate the BISAP score for predicting SAP; (2) the subjects were diagnosed with AP; (3) prospective study; (4) the absolute numbers of true positive (TP), false negative (FN), false positive (FP), and true negative (TN) test results were available or derivable from the article; (5) the clinical result of patients was indicated as SAP. Studies were excluded if one of the following existed: (1) the numbers of TP, FN, FP, and TN test results were not derivable from the article; (2) cross-sectional study; (3) non-original articles, such as review, meeting abstract, case report and comment; (4) duplicate of previous publications and data description is not clear. 2.3 Data extraction and quality assessment All data were extracted independently by two authors according to the inclusion criteria listed above. Disagreements were resolved by discussion or solved by consultation of a third reviewer. The following characteristics were collected from each study: the first author, year of publication, source, experiment design, sample size, the reference standard (gold standard), the numbers of TP, FN, FP, and TN and others. The QADAS (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) criteria were used to assess the quality of diagnostic accuracy studies included in this meta-analysis 15. Statistical analyses Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) modeland bivariate random effects model were performed in STATA 12.0 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) software using the program ‘metandi’ to generate pooled accuracy estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and calculated the area under the HSROC curve (AUC) 16. The HSROC curve for individual studies was generated and analyzed to explore the influence of threshold effects. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each diagnostic test measure were also calculated. Publication bias was assessed using Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test 17. Results 3.1 Eligible Studies The process of selecting studies for the meta-analysis was shown in Fig. 1. There were 32 studies potentially eligible studies identified. Of these, 14 studies were excluded after screening based on abstracts or titles to avoid obvious irrelevance. Finally, 9 studies 14, 18-25 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The data collected from the related studies was summarized in Table 1. Among these studies, kim et al. 20 reported the results of the meta-analysis with the cutoff values set at 2and 3, respectively. All patients were recruited within 24 h from the time of admission or transfer and used for the calculation of the BISAP scores. All included citations were prospective cohort studies. The absolute numbers of TP, FN, FP, and TN were calculated by sample size and the degree of sensitivity and specific. A summary of the quality of the studies was displayed in table 2. The included studies were not descript the tenth quality indicator (were the index test results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the reference?) and the eleventh quality indicator (were the reference standard results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the index test?) 15. At the same time, there are some studies not described in detail for eliminate and exit objects. 3.2 Meta-analysis The results of the HSROC model were show in Table 3. The pooled sensitivity of BISAP testing for the diagnosis of SAP was 64.82% (95% CI: 54.47%-73.74%), and the specificity was 83.62% (95%CI: 70.03%-91.77%). The pooled DOR was 9.41 (95%CI: 5.38-16.45), the PLR was 3.96 (95%CI: 2.27-6.89), and the NLR was 0.42 (95%CI: 0.34-0.52). The AUC of the HSROC was 0.77 (95%CI: 0.73-0.80) (Fig. 2). The I2 index of heterogeneity was 95% (95% CI, 91%-99%). 3.3 Subgroup Analyses There was a negative correlation between the logits of sensitivity and specificity (Spearman correlation coefficient, 20.09), indicating the present of an importanteffect of the diagnostic threshold (cutoff level) on the performance of BISAP score. The following cutoffs were selected for subgroups analysis (Table 4). Analysis of studies that set the BISAP cutoff point at 2, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 67.30% (95%CI: 60.53%-73.42%), 78.28% (95%CI: 68.86%-85.46%), 3.10 (95%CI: 2.12-4.52), 0.42 (95%CI: 0.34-0.51) and 7.42 (95%CI: 4.39-12.54), respectively. The AUC of the HSROC was 0.70(95%CI: 0.66-0.74). Analysis of studies that set the BISAP cutoff point at 3, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 61.18% (95%CI: 41.20%-78.00%), 88.64% (95%CI: 88%-97.18%), 5.39 (95%CI: 1.80-16.12), 0.44 (95%CI: 0.30-0.64), and (95%CI: 4.44-34.03), respectively. The AUC of the HSROC was 0.78 (95%CI: 0.75-0.82). 3.4 Publication Bias Deeks’ Funnel Plot Asymmetry Test for the overall analysis showed that no significant publication bias was found (P = 0.359, Fig. 3). Discussion Generally, Ranson, APACHE II, and CTSI scoring systems have been used to evaluate the severity of AP 22, 23. However, these techniques all have their inherent strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Ranson’s score 5 is relatively accurate at classifying the severity of AP, but the evaluation cannot be completed until 48 h, which will miss the potential for early treatment and increase mortality. The APACHE II system 6, 7 allows the determination of disease on the first day of admission and is more accurate than Ranson’s score, but complexity is its major drawback. CTSI 26, 27 is calculated based on CT findings of some local complications and cannot reflect the systemic inflammatory response. Recently, the BISAP score has been proposed as an accurate method for early identification of patients at risk for in hospital mortality 13. Several studies showed that BISAP score is a reliable and accurate means for predicting the severity of AP in the early phase 18, 22, 23. B ut these studies are not systematic, so we collect the reported data across the different studies and apply HSROC model and bivariate random effects model to assess the ability of the BISAP score to predict SAP. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 64.82%, 83.62%, 3.96, 0.42 and 9.41, respectively. The AUC of the HSROC was 0.77. Our meta-analysis indicated that BISAP score is a reliable and accurate means to predict SAP. This meta-analysis assessed the diagnostic performance of BISAP in 1972 individuals from 9 research studies 14, 18-25. The results show that the performance of BISAP to predict the severity of AP has a good specificity, but moderate sensitivity in predicting SAP. In addition, compared with other scoring systems in predicting SAP, BISAP has a higher specificity but a lower sensitivity 21-23, 28. The low sensitivity may be caused by these factors. First, the characteristics of study participants are differences (cultural and geographical differences), such as lifestyle, race, and genetic basis. Second, etiologic distribution may also explain the noted differences. Third, the different definitions of SAP may also be a reason for these variations. The HSROC curve presents a global summary of test performance and shows the tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity. The summary DOR and the AUC of the HSROC were 9.41 and 0.77, respectively.The predictive accuracy of BISAP scoring system was measured by AUC. An AUC of 1.0 represents a perfect test, whereas an AUC of 0.5 represents a test that performs no better than chance 29. The result revealed that the discrimination of disease severity was good in our study, which is similar to other reports. DOR is a single indicator of test accuracy that combines the sensitivity and specificity data into a single number. The DOR of a test is the ratio of the odds of positive test results in the patient with disease relative to the odds of positive test results in the patient without disease. The value of a DOR ranges from 0 to infinity, with higher values indicating better discriminatory test performance (higher accuracy).A DOR of 1.0 indicates that a test does not discriminate between pa tients with the disorder and those without it 30. In the present meta-analysis, we found that the pooled DOR was 9.41, also indicated a high level of overall accuracy. Since the HSROC curve and theDOR are not easy to interpret or use in clinical practice, and likelihood ratios are considered to be more clinically meaningful, we also presented both PLR and NLR as our measures of diagnostic accuracy. Likelihood ratios of > 10 or 31. The PLR and NLR value were 3.96 and 0.42, respectively. This result performed similar to traditional scoring systems in predicting SAP and suggested that the accuracy of still need to improve. But BISAP is relatively simple and had greater accuracy than other scoring systems, making it a promising method of predicting SAP 14, 19, 21, 28. Furthermore,it may be combined in medical decision-making at the extreme of the prediction range, such as enrollment criteria for clinical trials, and as triaging intensive care unit admission 32, 33. We also explored systematically the issue of heterogeneity by use of subgroup analysis. In our analysis, the diagnostic threshold presented an important effect on the performance of BISAP score. The results demonstrated that a BISAP score of 3 had greater accuracy and high predictive value than a score of 2 for predicting SAP. Our meta-analysis had several limitations. First, when the BISAP scoring system converts continuous variables into binary values of equal weight, it fails to capture synergistic or multiplicative effects based on the interactions of interdependent systems 21. Future research could focus on comprehensive reassessment of the pathologic mechanisms of AP with attention to the effects of preexisting risk factors (e.g. age, obesity, genetic) and well-defined end points, identification of accurate biomarkers to assess activity on these pathways, and mathematical models that have strong predictive accuracy. Second, the exclusion of conference abstracts, letters to the editor, and non-English-language studies might have led to publication bias, which was not found in the present review. However, a review of these abstracts and letters suggested that the overall results were similar to the results in the English language studies included. Third, there is a risk for publication bias in which positive results or results with ‘expected’ findings are more likely to be published. We made every possible effort to minimize this type of bias by contacting investigators in the field of BISAP. If editors were more likely to publish manuscripts showing the ‘expected’ results of a good diagnostic performance for BISAP, then our results may be overestimating the real diagnostic performance of BISAP. In conclusion, we confirmed that BISAP score is an accurate means to predict SAP in the early phase. Due to simplicity and easily obtained parameters, BISAP score should gain broad acceptance in routine use not by replacing clinical assessment, but rather by complementing and objectifying it.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Future of Policing Essay -- Police Crime Criminal Essays

Future of Policing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The future of policing is fairly clear in what direction it is heading. It has been slowly reforming to meet the needs of the people, reduce crime, and make policing more efficient. Some of the reforms that will probably take place in the future include, better educated police officers and police managers, consolidation of police departments to save on money and resources, upgraded technology, race and gender equality, better testing techniques to recruit and promote within the department, and improved proactive planning techniques. One of these proactive tools that will surely become more widely used and implemented better is community policing. It has been evolving since its first introduction into the police world and will see more reforms in the future. Compstat should also become more widely used by almost all police departments to make those in charge more accountable and for improved crime mapping.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Current economic and political trends will affect how, and if, certain reforms take place. Some trends like the increased costs for medical services will affect officer’s salaries and benefits, while the growth of inexpensive technology with instant communication through cell phones and personal computers will improve response time and distribution of information quickly and effectively. Changes population demographics, with the increase in the cultural and ethic diversity of the population will create more of need for career equality. This will also be pushed forward by the immigration of more highly educated professionals from third world countries. Increased multinational organized crime activity will create a bigger need for better communication between countries and joint efforts to stop it. Increased concerns with crimes committed by violent juveniles and individuals with modern weapons, terrorism and threats against our infrastructure will also shape the way policing reforms to solve these increased threats. Because of greater concern with terrorism, more resources will be allocated to homeland security. These are resources that could have helped domestic crimes and police management and will have to compensate for. Even smart credit cards, DNA identification and global positioning systems will all help shape the new policing model.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the main problems facing most police departments is using cost-eff... ...epend on them to find the individual or to crack down on the group. A great example of this is in Israel, with fighting militant groups like Hamas. Groups like this receive funds from other countries all around the world that support terrorism. An international police force could more easily gather information on the group and also serve as a barrier between the Israelis and Palestinians. This organization would be much like the United Nations, but instead of politics and an army it would be a world police force that could actually go in and arrest individuals and put them on trial in front of the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finally, the future of policing seems to already be headed in a good direction, focusing on improved communication between departments and with the public. The strong emphasis on community policing will help people feel more comfortable with the police and not as their own society. Some reforms need to be more focused on though, like the international police force, because of recent events like September 11th. Overall policing will seem to remain the same because the transition will be slow and gradually take effect, but it will always be improving in any way that it can.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Soundtrack to My Life Essay

This essay is requiring me to have at least 250 words to upload so I’m just going to put a whole bunch of random words until I have 250. All I want to do read an essay so I can get some ideas for my essay. Also did you know gonna is not a real word it’s actually going to. I just learned that like two minutes ago. And I’m listening to skrillex dang I just looked to see how many words I have and I only had like 73 because obviously I’m going to have more since well there’s more words. I wonder how many words I have now. Poop.My dang space bar isn’t working! As of right now I have 117 words. Well after working I had 117 words. Yay! I don’t have that many more words to go! Apple. Cat good food hungry random I don’t even care pink blue yellow purple. I’m just going to copy and paste this now. This essay is requiring me to have at least 250 words to upload so I’m just going to put a whole bunch of random words until I ha ve 250. All I want to do read an essay so I can get some ideas for my essay. Also did you know gonna is not a real word it’s actually going to.I just learned that like two minutes ago. And I’m listening to skrillex dang I just looked to see how many words I have and I only had like 73 because obviously I’m going to have more since well there’s more words. I wonder how many words I have now. Poop. My dang space bar isn’t working! As of right now I have 117 words. Well after working I had 117 words. Yay! I don’t have that many more words to go! Apple. Cat good food hungry random I don’t even care pink blue yellow purple. I’m just going to copy and paste this now.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Three

Bonnie fluffed her red curls as she hurried across Dalcrest's great lawn. It was so pretty here. Little flagstone paths bordered the lawn, leading off to the various dorms and classroom buildings. Brightly colored flowers – petunias, impatiens, daisies – were growing everywhere, by the sides of the path and in front of the buildings. The human scenery was pretty awesome, too, Bonnie thought, surreptitiously eyeing a bronzed guy lying on a toWellnear the edge of the lawn. Not surreptitiously enough, though – the guy lifted his shaggy dark head and winked at her. Bonnie giggled and walked faster, her cheeks warm. Honestly, shouldn't he be unpacking or setting up his room or something? Not just lying around half naked and winking at passing girls like a big †¦ flirt. The bag of stuff Bonnie had bought in the campus bookstore clinked gently in her hand. Of course, she hadn't been able to buy books yet, as they wouldn't sign up for classes until the next day, but it turned out the bookstore sold everything. She'd gotten some great stuff: a Dalcrest mug, a teddy bear wearing its own cute little Dalcrest T-shirt, and a few things that would come in handy, like an efficiently organized shower caddy and a col ection of pens in every color of the rainbow. She had to admit she was pretty excited about starting col ege. Bonnie shifted the bag to her left hand and flexed the cramping fingers of her right. Excited or not, al this stuff she'd bought was heavy. But she needed it. This was her plan: she was going to become a new person at col ege. Not entirely new; she liked herself fine, for the most part. But she was going to become more of a leader, more mature, the kind of person who people said, â€Å"Ask Bonnie,† or â€Å"Trust Bonnie,† rather than, â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† which was completely different. She was determined to step out of the shadows of Meredith and Elena. They were both terrific, of course, her absolute best friends, but they didn't even realize how terrifyingly in charge they were al the time. Bonnie wanted to become a terrific, ful y in-charge person in her own right. Plus maybe she'd meet a real y special guy. That would be nice. Bonnie couldn't actual y blame Meredith or Elena for the fact that al the way through high school, she'd had plenty of dates but no serious boyfriends. But the simple fact was that, even if everyone thought you were cute, if your two closest friends were gorgeous and smart and powerful, the kind of guy who was looking to fal in love might find you a little bit †¦ fluffy †¦ in comparison. She had to admit, though, that she was relieved that she and Meredith and Elena were al living together. She might not want to be stuck in their shadows, but they were stil her best friends. And, after al †¦ Thud. Someone crashed into Bonnie's side and she lost her train of thought completely. She staggered backward. A large male body lurched into her again, briefly crushing her face against his chest, and she tripped, fal ing against someone else's side. There were guys al around her, shoving one another back and forth, joking around and arguing, paying no attention to her as she was jostled among them, until a strong hand suddenly steadied her in the midst of the turmoil. By the time she found her feet, they were moving off again, five or six male bodies swiping and shoving at one another, not stopping to apologize, as if they hadn't even noticed her as anything more than an inanimate obstacle in their path. Except for one of them. Bonnie found herself staring at a worn blue T-shirt and a slim torso with Well-muscled arms. She straightened up and smoothed her hair, and the hand gripping her arm let go. â€Å"Are you al right?† a low voice asked. I'd be better if you hadn't almost knocked me down, Bonnie was about to say snippily. She was out of breath, and her bag was heavy, and this guy and his friends seriously needed to watch where they were going. Then she looked up, and her eyes met his. Wow. The guy was gorgeous. His eyes were a clear, true blue, the blue of the sky at dawn on a summer morning. His features were sharply cut, the eyebrows arched, the cheekbones high, but his mouth was soft and sensual. And she'd never seen hair quite that color before, except on the youngest kids, that pure white-blond that made her think of tropical beaches under a summer sky†¦ â€Å"Are you okay?† he repeated more loudly, a frown of concern crinkling his perfect forehead. God. Bonnie could feel herself blushing right up to the roots of her hair. She had just been staring at him with her mouth open. â€Å"I'm fine,† she said, trying to pul herself together. â€Å"I guess I wasn't watching where I was going.† He grinned, and a tiny zing! shot right through Bonnie. His smile was gorgeous, too, and it lit up his whole face. â€Å"That's nice of you to say,† he said, â€Å"but I think maybe we should have been watching where we were going instead of shoving each other al over the path. My friends sometimes get a little †¦ rowdy.† He glanced past her, and Bonnie looked back over her shoulder. His friends had stopped and were waiting for him farther down the path. As Bonnie watched, one of them, a tal dark guy, smacked another on the back of the head, and a moment later they were scuffling and shoving again. â€Å"Yeah, I can see that,† said Bonnie, and the gorgeous white-blond guy laughed. His rich laugh made Bonnie smile, too, and pul ed her attention back to those eyes. â€Å"Anyway, please accept my apology,† he said. â€Å"I'm real y sorry.† He held out his hand. â€Å"My name's Zander.† His grip was nice and firm, his hand large and warm around hers. Bonnie felt herself blushing again, and she tossed her red curls back and stuck her chin bravely in the air. She wasn't going to act al flustered. So what if he was gorgeous? She was friends – sort of, anyway – with Damon. She ought to be immune to gorgeous guys by now. â€Å"I'm Bonnie,† she said, smiling up at him. â€Å"This is my first day here. Are you a freshman, too?† â€Å"Bonnie,† he said thoughtful y, drawing her name out a little like he was tasting it. â€Å"No, I've been here for a while.† â€Å"Zander†¦ Zander,† the guys down the path began chanting, their voices getting faster and louder as they repeated it. â€Å"Zander†¦ Zander†¦ Zander.† Zander winced, his attention slipping back toward his friends. â€Å"I'm sorry, Bonnie, I've got to run,† he said. â€Å"We've got sort of a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"†¦ club thing going on. But, like I said, I'm real y sorry we almost knocked you over. I hope I'l see you again soon, okay?† He squeezed her hand once more, gave her a lingering smile, and walked away, picking up speed as he got closer to his friends. Bonnie watched him rejoin the group of guys. Just before they turned past a dorm, Zander looked back at her, flashed that gorgeous smile, and waved. Bonnie raised her hand to wave back, accidental y clunking the heavy bag against her side as he turned away. Amazing, she thought, remembering the color of his eyes. I might be falling in love. Matt leaned against the wobbly pile of suitcases he'd stacked by the entrance to his dorm room. â€Å"Darn it,† he said as he jiggled the key in the door's lock. Had they even given him the right key? â€Å"Hey,† a voice said behind him, and Matt jerked, tumbling a suitcase down onto the floor. â€Å"Whoops, sorry about that. Are you Matt?† â€Å"Yeah,† Matt said, giving the key one last twist and, just like that, the door final y opened. He turned, smiling. â€Å"Are you Christopher?† The school had told him his roommate's name and that he was on the footbal team, too, but the two of them hadn't gotten in touch. Christopher looked okay. He was a big guy with a linebacker build, friendly smile, and short sandy hair that he scrubbed at with one hand as he stepped back to make way for the cheerful middle-aged couple fol owing him. â€Å"Hi there, you must be Matt,† said the woman, who was carrying a rol ed-up rug and a Dalcrest pennant. â€Å"I'm Jennifer, Christopher's mom, and this is Mark, his dad. It's so nice to meet you. Are your folks here?† â€Å"Uh, no, I just drove up by myself,† Matt said. â€Å"My hometown, Fel ‘s Church, isn't too far from here.† He grabbed his suitcases and lugged them into the room, hurrying to get out of Christopher's family's way. Their room was pretty smal . There was a bunk bed along one wal , a narrow space in the middle of the room, and two desks and dressers crammed side by side on the other wal . The girls and Stefan were no doubt living in luxury, but it hadn't seemed quite right to let Stefan use his Power to get Matt a good housing assignment. It was bad enough that Matt took someone else's slot as a student and someone else's space on the footbal team. Stefan had talked him into doing just that. â€Å"Look, Matt,† he'd said, his green eyes serious. â€Å"I understand how you feel. I don't like influencing people to get what I want either. But the fact is, we need to stay together. With the lines of Power that run through this whole part of the country, we have to be on our guard. We're the only ones who know.† Matt had to agree, when Stefan put it like that. He'd turned down the plush dorm room Stefan had offered to arrange for him, though, and taken what the housing office assigned him. He had to hang on to at least a shred of his honor. Plus if he was in the same dorm as the others, it would have been hard to say no to rooming with Stefan. He liked Stefan fine, but the idea of living with him, of watching him with Elena, the girl Matt had lost and stil loved despite al that had happened, was too much. And it would be fun to meet new people, to expand his horizons a bit after spending his whole life in Fel ‘s Church. But the room was awful y smal . And Christopher seemed to have a ton of stuff. He and his parents went up and down the stairs, hauling in a sound system, a little refrigerator, a TV, a Wii. Matt shoved his own three suitcases into the corner and helped them bring it al in. â€Å"We'l share the fridge and the entertainment stuff, of course,† Christopher told him, glancing at Matt's bags, which clearly contained nothing but clothes and maybe some sheets and towels. â€Å"If we can figure out where to put it al .† Christopher's mom was prowling around the room, directing his dad on where to move things. â€Å"Great, thanks – † Matt started to say, but Christopher's dad, having final y managed to wedge the TV on top of one of the dressers, turned to look at Matt. â€Å"Hey,† he said. â€Å"It just hit me – if you're from Fel ‘s Church, you guys were the state champions last year. You must be some player. What position do you play?† â€Å"Uh, thanks,† Matt said. â€Å"I play quarterback.† â€Å"First string?† Christopher's dad asked him. Matt blushed. â€Å"Yeah.† Now they were al staring at him. â€Å"Wow,† Christopher said. â€Å"No offense, man, but why are you going to Dalcrest? I mean, I'm excited just to play col ege bal , but you could have gone, like, Division One.† Matt shrugged uncomfortably. â€Å"Um, I had to stay close to home.† Christopher opened his mouth to say something else, but his mother gave a tiny shake of her head and he closed it again. Great, Matt thought. They probably thought he had family problems. He had to admit it warmed him a little, though, to be with people who acknowledged what he'd given up. The girls and Stefan didn't real y understand footbal . Even though Stefan had played on their high school team with him, his mind-set was stil very much that of the Renaissance European aristocrat: sports were enjoyable pastimes that kept the body fit. Stefan didn't real y care. But Christopher and his family – they got what it meant for Matt to pass up the chance of playing for a top-ranked col ege footbal team. â€Å"So,† Christopher said, a little too suddenly, as if he'd been trying to think of a way to change the subject, â€Å"which bed do you want? I don't care whether I take top or bottom.† They al looked over at the bunk beds, and that's when Matt saw it for the first time. It must have arrived while he was downstairs helping with Christopher's luggage. A cream-colored envelope sat on the bottom bunk, made of a fancy thick paper stock like a wedding invitation. On the front was written in cal igraphy â€Å"Matthew Honeycutt.† â€Å"What's that, dear?† Christopher's mom asked curiously. Matt shrugged, but he was beginning to feel a thrum of excitement in his chest. He'd heard something about invitations certain people at Dalcrest received, ones that just mysteriously appeared, but he'd always thought they were a myth. Flipping the envelope over, he saw a blue wax seal bearing the impression of an ornate letter V. Huh. After gazing at the envelope for a second, he folded it and slipped it into his back pocket. If it was what he thought it was, he was supposed to open it alone. â€Å"I guess that's fate tel ing us the bottom bunk's yours,† Christopher said amiably. â€Å"Yeah,† Matt said distractedly, his heart pounding hard. â€Å"Excuse me for a minute, okay?† He ducked out into the hal , took a deep breath, and opened the envelope. Inside was more thick fancy paper with cal igraphy on it and a narrow piece of black fabric. He read: Fortis Aeturnus For generations, the best and brightest of Dalcrest College have been chosen to join the Vitale Society. This year, you have been selected. Should you wish to accept this honor and become one of us, come tomorrow night at eight o'clock to the main campus gate. You must be blindfolded and dressed as befits a serious occasion. Tell no one. The little pulse of excitement in Matt's chest increased until he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He sank down along the wal and took a deep breath. He'd heard stories about the Vitale Society. The handful of Well-known actors, famous writers, and great Civil War general that Dalcrest counted among their alumni were al rumored to have been members. To belong to the legendary society was supposed to ensure your success, to link you to an incredible secret network that would help you throughout your life. More than that, there was talk of mysterious deeds, of secrets revealed only to members. And they were supposed to have amazing parties. But they were just gossip, the stories of the Vitale Society, and no one ever straight-out admitted to belonging to it. Matt always figured the secret society was a myth. The col ege itself so vehemently denied any knowledge of the Vitale Society that Matt suspected the admissions people might have made the whole thing up, trying to make the col ege seem a little more exclusive and mysterious than it real y was. But here – he looked down at the creamy paper clutched in his hands – was evidence that al the stories might be true. It could be a joke, he supposed, a trick someone was playing on a few of the freshmen. It didn't feel like a joke, though. The seal, the wax, the expensive paper; it seemed like a lot of effort to go to if the invitation wasn't genuine. The most exclusive, most secret society at Dalcrest was real. And they wanted him.

National Identity Cards

Identity (ID) cards are known for their utility and integrity, which led to the adoption of its use by many countries all over the world. Some countries even have national IDs, which are officially released and which use is mandatory to all who sojourn in said territories. Examples of these countries that have a national ID system are France, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain, and Greece. On the other hand, many developed countries such as Australia, Sweden, Canada, and the United States, did not adopt such an identification system. National ID systems are established to serve two main purposes. The first one is to increase the police powers of the State. Consequently, ID cards can help the State reduce crime rate, conduct social engineering, and reduce the threat of insurgents or political extremists. The second purpose is to establish a comprehensive and useful administration of government services. The technology behind modern ID systems, such as the magnetic stripes and the microprocessor technology, ID cards offer a valuable towards the more efficient delivery of government services. However, while it appears that having a National ID system may offer many advantages, such a system could also pave the way for abuses on civil rights, invasion of privacy, and discrimination. In addition, the establishment of such a comprehensive registration system, would entail a huge amount in costs, which is an important consideration to make. All of these considerations should be weighed in order to reach at an intelligent decision on the issue of whether citizens of the United States should be required to carry National IDs. Â   Â   Â   Â  

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Women in Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Women in Politics - Essay Example The main reason behind the empowerment and awareness of women is the rate at which they are embracing education. Today women are holding senior government positions in many countries across the world especially in the developed world where gender issues are more flexible. Three out of the top ten most powerful women globally, according to the Forbes Magazine, are political leaders. The most powerful woman according to Forbes is the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. Leading the fifth biggest economy in the world, Merkel is the most powerful political figure in the European Union. This paper seeks to explain the participation of women in politics today, and the factors contributing to the situation. Hillary Clinton, the state secretary of the U.S, once said that true democracy could only be found if the world was willing to listen to the voice of women. This statement has been interpreted differently by different political analysts. While some have seen it as a wake-up call to the women to start taking part in a people’s democratic processes, others have interpreted it as a cry to the developing countries to encourage female participation in decision making (Zergaw, 2011). In the contemporary world, women are going to school and pursuing careers that were associated with men in the past. They are empowering themselves and establishing high ambitions. Educating the girl child has been the theme and goal of many campaigns especially in the developing nations. Such knowledge is intended to provide the girls and women with necessary professional and academic qualifications that can let them go into such fields as politics. Today, the there are eight female heads of state across the world. The most fascinating thing about the participation of women in politics is that most of the female heads of state are presidents in third world nations. The fact that such African countries as Malawi and Liberia have women presidents indicates how aggressive women have be come in seeking to manage their nations. Such women as Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is the Liberian president, and Joyce Banda, the popular head of state of Malawi are evidences of the revolution in the world of governance and politics. Third world nations have always been associated with male chauvinism and gender discrimination (Karin, 1999). However, with the current legislative reforms, women are gaining some bargaining power in socio-political dealings. Some of the most significant legislative reforms that have highly empowered women include the prohibition of gender violence and justice in inheritance of property. Unlike in the past century, most states now advocate for equal consideration in the distribution of family wealth. This has made women gain a wealth of knowledge in relation to their rights, privileges and responsibilities. The high rate, at which women are getting involved in politics, can be attributed to the awareness that the girl child has equal rights to educatio n as the boy child. In the past two decades, women got enlightened and went for such courses as law and political science. Typically, most influential women politicians are those that have taken legal courses and professions (Zergaw, 2011). Janet Reno is one of the most prominent women in the history of the United States. Having studied law at the university, Reno became the first female attorney general in the United States in the year 1993. She held the position for the second longest period in the history of the United States. This was after having been in the position for eight years. Reno had an enormous influence on all legal reforms in the

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Group Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Group Project - Essay Example In course of overall new business setup implementation the Unique Boutique has scheduled for a grand reopening of the store on May 24, 2010. Thus, by considering all these aspects we will plan the overall project. To estimate the overall time plans of the project we will use the CPA (Critical Path Analysis) technique, which is commonly used for the estimation of the appropriate time line in the project planning. This will also help us in handling and deploying the project resources. According to specification of the Unique Boutique management this project should not take more than 90 days. Unique Boutique has specified that this time line states exactly after the award of the contract for the overall technology development. As I have estimated and analyzed the nature of the project, I have found that this time line is enough for the completion of the overall project, i.e. development of the new customer database. According to specification of the Unique Boutique management this present project should be completed within budget of $10,000. In other words, that project completion should not take more than $10,000. For the resource acquisition firm will hire a technical consultant who will be responsible for managing the purchase of different equipment for the corporation. In this scenario the corporation’s technical consultant will survey the business and assess the main needs of new technology platform implementation. In this scenario he will build a requirements list. After that we will create a contract for all technology products to an outside technology vendor. These products will be acquired on established some effective deals. Unique Boutique’s staff will require training to use the new technology based equipment regarding working and handling of the new technology. In this scenario, the customer services and sales management staff will be trained. In addition, we will train approximately ten people for usage of system and handling the