Monday, September 30, 2019
Learning and education Essay
à à à à Learning and education are some of the most prized assets any person could have. Many parents consider these assets to be the primary treasure which they can give to their children to face the challenges of the future. However, there are some instances in which education becomes unreachable due to some hindrances like learning disabilities. It may become a concern not only for the individual but for the family as well.à Fortunately there are still some available steps in order to combat the possible dilemmas learning disabilities might bring. à à à à On the part of Tony, it seems that he is not really that ready enough to become a part of the larger scope of education structure. He used to have a separated domain of learning which highlighted his interests to accommodate knowledge. The one-on-one teaching method provided by Ms. Brumbley became the most comfortable realm for Tony to achieve success. However, in order to develop more, he needs to take a few more steps of the education ladder. In middle school and beyond, school works are more complex and require more diligence in following directions. Add to that the extremely dynamic social nature of the class where students will tend to stabilize their roles and projections towards other members of the society. Because of such factors, Tony may have a hard time adjusting to the situation. à à à à In order to accommodate Tony to perform his ultimate best, what can be done is to at least set some modifications in the classroom. First is to introduce the basic foundations of new lessons for discussion. For example, a lesson in Math can first take a course of simple arithmetic to fraction computations. This may seem too easy relative for the whole class but exampling to them the importance of the strong math foundation will not impose an obvious aspect that the procedure is intended for Tony to refresh what he has previously learned. It is also possible to provide Tony a separate customized textbook and assignments so that he can gradually adjust to the lessons involved in middle school education. This approach is not intended for a long term basis so that he can actually progress to entertain newer and more complex lessons in middle school subjects. Lastly, as a concerned teacher, he will be provided with at least an hour of academic assistance everyday after class. A consultation form of conversation is best for him so that he could provide any feedback about the class procedures. à à à à In order to support the standing of Tony in middle school through high school, coordinating with his other teachers would be the best practice to do. This will help the whole learning sector to have a single approach in fulfilling the special needs of Tony. Even if after he has completed the year level in a particular class, a complete coordination between his previous teachers and the ones who will be handling him should be initiated. à à à à Basing on some studies and personal observations, individuals like Tony do not simply experience learning problems. The nearest dilemma apart from education concerns is the social interaction aspect of the person. Primarily, if one is not able to acquire the supposedly pace of learning rates in education, then most probably there will be a certain problem within his core interactive capabilities. Of course, it was noted that he exemplifies a certain degree of fondness in dealing with people in a comical way but deep inside, Tony might also have some concerns in having an interaction with people in a serious manner. If he will realize his disadvantages over the people he will constantly interact with, he might experience a sense of inferiority or discrimination. Compassionate encouragement and kindness can minimize the inferiority factor this dilemma might induce (Kentucky Education Cabinet). à à à à Helping the students to explore their capabilities is one way to nurture their personalities. But for individuals who have a relative disadvantage in learning, utmost assistance and care is needed beyond teaching. References Kentucky Education Cabinet. N.D. Learning Disabilities. Kentucky.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2008 from http://ada.ky.gov/learning_dis_def.htm.
Bank of America Company Profile
Bank of America is a global financial services company headquartered in Charlotte, NC. It is one of the worldââ¬â¢s largest financial institutions. Bank of America serves over 53 million customers. They serve these customers through 5,500 retail banking offices. Bank of America is known as a leader in the online banking world. Online alone the company services 30 million active users. The company serves customers in all 50 states and more than 40 countries. The company has numerous different lines of business and employs over 260,000 people. (Bank of America 2012) Historical Perspective The entire banking industry is made of mergers and acquisitions. The history of Bank of America is no different. Bank of Americaââ¬â¢s earliest predecessor was called the Massachusetts Bank. Boston petitioners wanted the right to start a bank. They were armed with $300,000 in capital and had many supporters. 15 of the original shareholders were woman. Among the founders and first customers were names like; John Hancock, General Henry Knox, and Paul Revere. That branch opened for business on July 5th 1784. This happened before the US Constitution had even been adopted. John Hancock was the governor of Massachusetts. In 1784 he signed the banks charter making it only the second bank to receive a state charter. In 1786 Massachusetts Bank financed one of the earliest sailings of an American ship to china. This opened up the china trade. The bank continued to grow throughout America. Expanding to new states and changing names like Pacific National. It is believed that the Easton National Bank, one of the predecessors to Bank of America, was the first pay interest on deposits. Offering numerous financing to significant projects through history, one of the most notable is in 1815. After the fires that devastated the capital, the bank financed the reconstruction of the capital. Fast forward over a century to 1998. NationsBank merges with Bank of America. This move created the first coast-to-coast retail banking franchise. (Our Heritage, 2010) Bank of America continues to grow acquiring financial service companies like US Trust and Merrill Lynch. With a storied history in the financial services sector, and building of our country, Bank of America is the most fitting name. Lines of Business Bank of America focuses on 3 customers. They focus on the people, companies, and institutional investors. They are the leading provider of checking, savings, credit and debit cards, and home equity lending. Bank of America is the nationââ¬â¢s largest loan servicer offering numerous different home mortgage options. Bank of America is a strong hold in Global Corporate and Investment banking. The Bank also has a strong focus on financial advising and wealth management. The addition of Merrill Lynch has put Bank of America as the leader in Financial Services. Financial Position Bank of America, or BAC, is often one of the most popularly traded stocks. In April, the share price of BAC declined over 5% to $11. 63. (Oleinic, 2013) As interest rates start to bottom out, the bank must constantly adjust to keep revenue up. Currently the 52 week range of BAC is $6. 90 ââ¬â $13. 99. Although it has a larger 52 week range, the company is still somewhat stable. It has achieved this by building a strong balance sheet. In 2012 Revenue in millions was reported at $84,235 while Net income was reported at $4,188. Compared to 2011 revenue dropped almost $10,000 however Net income increased from $1,446. As far as the shareholders are concerned, BAC has an EPS of $. 2. Overall the company is positioning itself to remain strong during the current downturn. (Bank of America 2012) Bank of America must constantly adhere to stricter policies from the SEC; while still maintain a positive image in the consumers mind. As the bank continues growth it must remain competitive against its 3 competitors; Citi, Wells Fargo, and Chase. Conclusion Bank of Amer ica plays a major role in the global market place. From its beginning in the late 1700ââ¬â¢s, the bank has seen the value in financing international trade. Centuries later the same remains true. Any company as large as Bank of America will be influential in the Global market place. As mentioned above, with 260,000 employees, the company has certainly left a very deep foot print in the global economy. The unique thing with Bank of America in the global economy is the amount of other global businesses that depend on the stability of the company. It is a company that finances several other global companies. For this reason, I think Bank of America will be here for a long time. It has positioned itself to grow during an economic downturn. We will have to wait to see if it has been good growth.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
3G Services in India
Indiaââ¬â¢s much awaited third generation (3G) mobile services auction was reschedule to February 2010 as we shared in our earlier news. Before the long expected 3G auctions, telecom experts advised prospective operators to search for the High-end customers in their existing subscriber base and prepare to them to shift to high speed download with the 3.5G that the third generation spectrum would facilitate. The telecom expertââ¬â¢s view at a 3G India Mobile Operators Executive Summit was that the new service could lead to explosive 3G growth in India with low cost UMTS enable mobile phones. It would enable cheaper download of several applications like Mobile TV, Video clips of films and Sports like Cricket, Education network Gaming and Entertainment; for hi-end users, voice and video callings would be cheaper on 3G. The State run telecom operator Bhart Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) who have been providing 3Gmobile services for some months and still only licensees to provide the 3G mobile and broadband service in India, enlightened the operators assembled with their own experience in the much hyped 3G domain. Indiaââ¬â¢s First 3G mobile service operator MTNL ââ¬â¢s Chief General Manager (Wireless Services-Delhi), A. K. Bhargava pointed out how the problem was not in technology but in ancillary services like billing and customer management. ââ¬Å"The customer does not care whether it is 3G or 2G; we have to educate him on what benefits to expect from 3G.â⬠MTNL had fewcustomers to begin with but once the benefits were explained ââ¬Å"we had one lakh new 3G customers in just a monthâ⬠. The higher tariff at the beginning restricted usage but ââ¬Å"when tariff came down, customer base multipliedâ⬠, he added. His view was that ââ¬Å"it was too early to talk of 3G services becoming popular with bottom of the pyramid customers.â⬠But for the service to be profitable, the customer search should include middle level users as well as hi-end ones. The potentialcustomers could be preselected from the existing subscriber base and told about what 3G could mean to each one of them. The MTNL executive suggested that operators must project 3G as a tool for enhancing efficiency, productivity and as promoting a changed life style and not as a mere upgrade on 2G. According to the BSNL principal general manager for value added services, Mr. S. S. Sirohi, 3G would be most popular with those who need to use Internet while on the move. ââ¬Å"Download is quick with 3G bandwidthâ⬠he pointed out taking a leaf out of his companyââ¬â¢s offer of 3G services in the last few months. Live TV would be most popular and also network games with 3G availability. Mr. Sirohi advised theprospective operators to offer a bouquet of services on 3G different from the ones they were so far offering on the 2G networks. ââ¬Å"Opportunity for network games is enormous on 3G networks. This bouquet of services would drive the quest for rising average revenue per userâ⬠. Among other services that 3G would make popular, would be family services like multi-media. Operators should configure services before they begin to offer the higher bandwidth. Educate the customer to discover that for many of the hi-end services, 3G base would be much cheaper for him. The experts also wanted the cost of handsets that can enable use of 3G, to be cheaper than what they are today. ââ¬Å"A handset costing Rs 5,000 may not be cheap by our standardsâ⬠Mr. Bhargava pointed out. ââ¬Å"It should come down to Rs.3000 or even less.â⬠Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) member R. N. Prabhakar advised the operators to use existing 2G networks to transmit 3G service also, to reduce costs enabling them with right software. HSPA enabled networks would be able to handle 3G transmission. He assured mobilecustomers that the regulator would keep a watch on the quality of service of 2G operation even as networks move on to provide 3G services. Mr. Avner Amran, chief operating officer of leading 3G network provider TTI Telecom, a worldwide company with comprehensive 3G network operator service solutions experience in several continents likened the explosive growth of telecomin India as ââ¬Å"more a kind of revolution than evolution, any operator going into 3G needs to prepare for the switching by advance preparation of the potential customer and lining up adequate applicationsâ⬠, he told a select audience at the summit organised by Bharat Exhibitions.Bharat Exhibitions MD Mr. Shashi Dharan said ââ¬Å"3G about to become a reality from a dreamâ⬠emphasizing the context of the event. The 3G auctions are expected to conclude by February There will be three type of customers to drive 3G in indiaâ⬠¦. 1. Business people using phones as Data Modem. Some thing similar to Reliance NetConnect or Tata Photon+. Pricing should be comparable to exiting broadband plans. 2. Connected Generation which needs to own one device to manage there social networks e.g. skype,twitter,facebook and always connected. 3. Parents of IT generation the great Indian Middle class who can always do with easy to use video phone services. 1. This delay of over three years has deprived Indian subscribers of the benefits of high-speed mobile data services, which is proven to affect positively the domestic economy 2. 3G will permit to offer data related services and also some innovative video VAS services. Giving millions of people access to broadband Internet in a short span of time. 3. This is also an opportunity for Indian developers to join efforts with operators to develop applications that will meet the needs of the Indian mobile user. And because of the size and India software skills, these could be rolled out into other emerging markets. 4. Moving 3G will enable high-speed data transfer enhance the user experience on services like live video streaming and many other graphic formats. As 3G is packet based, it uses wireless spectrum more efficiently than circuit switched formats. 5. The slow data transfer problems that subscribers faced with 2.5G will be improved by 3G. Also other services will be benefited by the higher bit pipe provided by 3G like music download or Internet applications/search. It will help operators offer rich content and new services such as mobile commerce, mobile music, video-based services and hi-speed mobile Internet services 6. One of the biggest benefits for operators in India for launching 3G is to provide additional spectrum for voice services. Many operators are starved of spectrum and as 3G offers four to five times the voice capacity of 2G spectrums, it is a cost-effective tool to deliver voice 7. Still India has a Poor broadband penetration (as of March 2008 there were only 6.22 million broadband subscriptions). mainly because the large untapped rural market. Is a big challenge to provide high bandwidth in rural areas using fixed lines. With 3G, network operators can offer wireless broadband services. Empowering services like telemedicine, virtual marketplace and e-learning can help to make peopleââ¬â¢s life better. 8. According to (FICCI), in India, 3G subscriber base is expected to reach 90 million by 2013, accounting for 12% of the overall wireless user base. By 2013, 3G service revenues are expected to generate $15.8 billion, accounting for a share of 46% in overall wireless service revenue. There will also be an increase in the share of non-voice services, including data card access, and short messaging service. The Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) from these services is expected rise from the present 9% to nearly 23%.â⬠2010. The Indian telecommunications industry is the world's fastest growing telecommunications industry,[1][2][3] with 688.38 Million telephone (landlines and mobile) subscribers and 652.42 Million mobile phone connections as of July 2010 [4] It is also the second largest telecommunication network in the world in terms of number of wireless connections after China.[5] The Indian Mobile subscriber base has increased in size by a factor of more than one-hundred since 2001 when the number of subscribers in the country was approximately 5 million[6] to 652.42 Million in July 2010.[4] As the fastest growing telecommunications industry in the world, it is projected that India will have 1.159 billion mobile subscribers by 2013.[7][8][9][10] Furthermore, projections by several leading global consultancies indicate that the total number of subscribers in India will exceed the total subscriber count in the China by 2013.[7][8] The industry is expected to reach a size of 344,921 crore (US$76.23 billion) by 2012 at a growth rate of over 26 per cent, and generate employment opportunities for about 10 million people during the same period.[11] According to analysts, the sector would create direct employment for 2.8 million people and for 7 million indirectly.[11] In 2008-09 the overall telecom equipments revenue in India stood at 136,833 crore (US$30.24 billion) during the fiscal, as against 115,382 crore (US$25.5 billion) a year before.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Secular America - Pharisees of the New Millennium Assignment
Secular America - Pharisees of the New Millennium - Assignment Example Secularization has been at the core of Americaââ¬â¢s founding as a nation. Religion has been given a minor role and influenced by the Founding Fathers based on the fundamental fact that it is against rational thinking and that it provides a less valid way of understanding reality, at least, in comparison with the humanist perspective, science, among other social institutions. According to Ostwalt (2003), this phenomenon gained traction sometime in the 1960s when the prevalent thought was religion as something that controls and manipulates and that freedom from it is an ideal way of life, a form of enlightenment for humanity (2). Morrison (1948) observed that the core liberalism in America emerged proposing a radical criticism of the Christian faith in light of modern culture instead of proposing a radical criticism of modern culture in the light of Christian faith (87). This came with his discourse that posited how Protestantism, the dominant religion in America, has embraced mode rn culture so that most of its components appeared to be sanctioned and ended up secularizing the American public life (Smith, 2003, 303).à Today, even with the aggressive initiatives on the part of religious authorities, to reverse or counter the influence of secularization, there is very little impact achieved. This can be attributed to several fundamental reasons. One of these is that argument that states how many forces of secularization are identified with the values of Romanticism, the Renaissance in addition to the Enlightenment and scientific revolutions, which have been encouraged by the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Church itself (Norman, 2007, 32). The idea is that these phenomena and institutions created social constructs that established the platform and environment in which secularization took root, thrived and flourished.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Land Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1
Land Law - Essay Example The lease agreement is considered in essence a contract between the tenant and the landlord and thus must satisfy the contract law principles. License on the other hand implies a situation where an individual gives to another individual or to an explicit number of individuals, a right to undertake or continue undertaking in or upon the static or immovable property of the provider/granter, something that would otherwise be regarded as unlawful in the nonexistence of such a right. It is simply a permission granted or given to a licensee to undertake something on the land of the owner, which could be inclusive of the permission to occupy. The main difference between a lease and a license is that a license does not grant a proprietary right and thus is revocable, while a lease does grant a proprietary right and thus non-revocable. 1It is vital to note that a lease or a licence can came up without having any written document, and in the case where no document is available that sets the parties intentions, it may be hard to determine whether the contract was a licence or a lease. In the case entitled Street v Mountford of the ye ar [1985], the House of Lords held that a tenancy or a lease would come up where the intention to create a legal relation exists, exclusive possession, and a periodic or fixed term at a rent is present. Undue influence is present where a particular contract has been entered because of pressure, which falls short of amounting or generating duress, the party subject to the force may have a basis of action in justice to have the agreement reserved on the reasons of undue influence. Undue influence is regarded as a broad equitable doctrine that seeks to relieve an individual from domination or oppression consequences (actual undue influence), or the abuse of confidence or trust (presumed undue influence), which are categorized into two. The first one is a recognized relationship providing an undue influence presupposition (e.g. child
Mid-Term Status Report Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Mid- Status Report - Term Paper Example Development of the food industry in Saudi Arabia has placed the requirement for better quality of food supplies. Arzaq avails the chance of being one of the main importers of food supplies to keep their restaurants and grocery stores completely equipped with food items at all times. In the present competitive global business realm, marketing plays a vital role in guaranteeing the success of food industry in the market. Saudi Arabia is not an exemption from this competitive business atmosphere in the global market. The financial system of Saudi Arabia is oil-based and there is a well-built government control over all the main financial activities. So, proper attention should be given to every stage of the project by way of mid-term status report. This report includes mostly the analysis part since it is a mid-term report. Analysis part includes the market analysis of food industry in Saudi Arabia. As a direct outcome of such mid-term status report evaluation processes, various plans i ntended at improving the main plan have been drafted and as such, the proposals contained in the report have at the present turned out to be specific initiatives, looking to improve the execution of all programs that have been assessed and examined. Taking into account all efforts of various people involved in this mid-term status report, we would like to thank them as well as dedicate the document to them for having helped to turn it into a reality. Both primary and secondary sources will be used to recognize the most appropriate way to set up the HRD at Arzaq. Literature review and market analysis prove that the best way to establish the HRD is to evaluate the organizational structure of other business establishments of similar size and ideally carrying out similar services as well as find out how the HRD functions in them. The main aim of this project is to successfully set up the HRD at Arzaq that rapidly fits into the culture of the organization and assists the company in devel oping quality of performance of the workforce. After carrying out a marketing and situational analysis of Arzaq food industry of operations, there have been various discoveries as to how the organization can make use of its operations to increase its competitiveness. Background of the Project: Our viewpoint for the Saudi Arabian customer sector remains bright, in line with the most recent economic indicators. The Saudi Arabian financial system is currently firing on every cylinder, as high oil costs, heavy government expenses and buoyant customer confidence continue to drive development. The adjustment of the HRD into Arzaqââ¬â¢s organization and its competence will be examined after it has been established. The performance of HRD will be evaluated with regard to business of the Arzaqââ¬â¢s systems, volume of knowledge, and value of performance of the employees. Arzaq started out as a private company through a very limited scope, but in its successful efforts to respond to the increasing requirements of the market, has enlarged in its scope and size of work. The company is at the present large enough to contend with any reputable service providers in this area, and so needs an appropriate human resource department (HRD). Until now, the HRD services were being carried out informally by the top management that has been multitasking, but at the present the need for an
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Project Management - Planning a wedding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words
Project Management - Planning a wedding - Essay Example In this case, taking into consideration the objectives and goals of the project would be imperative. Every couple would like to have memorable and unique wedding incorporating a great menu, beautiful decorations, enjoyable music as well as the best honeymoon. In this case, create ideas about color schemes, decorations and flowers matching the scheme, food and cake ideas, music, activities and games for guests as well as favors. Matching the dress codes, invitation cards, thank you cards and themes with other arrangements. Collaborating with the bands, caterers, decorators and designers who would be providing these services. In essence, it would be important that these contacts be followed up with to fasten and ease the arrangements. Booking the reception venue, the church as well as making honeymoon arrangements and incorporating the appropriate table and venue decorations to match up with the set out theme for the occasion. Taking care of the dressing arrangements for the bride, the groom as well as the bridesmaids and grooms men. Have the time schedule clearly stated and liaise with all the stakeholders to ensure that the wedding arrangements go according to plans. This would also entail communicating with all the stakeholders to ensure that the wedding starts and ends on time. Once the service is over, it will be important that all arrangements are made so as to ensure that, the reception venue is properly equipped with chairs and tables, plates, cutlery, water glasses and napkins. This also entails ensuring that the cake, food and drinks are ready as well as making arrangements with the entertainment band. Once the wedding ceremony is over, paying attention to the honeymoon arrangements would also be imperative. All these activities... It is evidently clear from the discussion that project management also involves management of the project plan implementation, as well as running regular controls, in order to ascertain that there is objective and accurate information pertaining to the performance, in line with the plan. In case the project is not going according to plan, either as far as usage of resources or following the process is concerned, recovery actions would have to be devised and implemented to return it to the right course. Given that projects are essentially temporary or short term in nature, they necessitate the development of unique management strategies and technical skills all aimed at meeting distinct goals and objectives. Marking the importance of project management is the fact that the project is constrained in terms of funding, deliverables as well as time-duration within which it has to be completed. The main challenge for project management is essentially the achievement of all project objectiv es and goals while honoring preconceived constraints. The secondary challenge is optimization of the resource allocation and integration of the required inputs so as to achieve the predefined objectives. In quality control, all the characteristics of the project would be examined in order to ascertain their capacity to meet the implied or stated goals and objectives. Quality control refers to the use of activities and techniques that compare the actual performance quality with the intended goals and objectives as well as defining the appropriate course of action to respond to the shortfalls.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Ethical Dilemma Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Ethical Dilemma - Term Paper Example She also runs a daycare center hence her hands were pretty full. After refusing the deployment orders Hutchinson was subsequently arrested and is currently held at Fort Stewart, GA as investigations continue. The young mother faced a dilemma of leaving her ten month old son with a relatively unknown person or possibly the child protection service and obeying military orders or ignoring the orders and remaining behind until she sorted out the issue. She chose the latter and that is why she was arrested for ignoring military orders. The consequence of her action is that she could lose her job and be jailed for up to one year. Deontological theory on ethics holds that one should do what is right the consequences notwithstanding. It further argues that that there are some actions which are considered morally wrong and should be avoided. Such acts include cheating, murder or punishing the weak and innocent. Theological theory on the other hand refers to dilemmas which mostly have a religious perspective. For instance a Christian soldier who is forced to go to war where there is a possibility of killing the enemy. This certainly goes against the Christian teachings. (Reamer 26). In my view the case of Hutchinson falls under a deontological dilemma since she just wanted to do what she believes is right for her innocent child. She didnââ¬â¢t refuse to go to war because it is against her religious beliefs. According to Reamer a case of some Israel soldiers who refused to bomb unarmed Palestine youth because of their Christian beliefs would appropriately fall under a theological theory dilemma. (31). The matter is currently being investigated by the military to determine the correct position. Kevin Larson a spokesman for Hutchinsonââ¬â¢s unit says that the army cannot deploy a single mom with no child care plan. I agree with the position
Monday, September 23, 2019
Management accounting - financial reporting Essay
Management accounting - financial reporting - Essay Example Recent literature suggests that the environment that supports management accounting practices have changed considerably with advances in information technology, mounting competition among companies, globalization of businesses, economic recession, new management strategies and the shift of focus to customer services and improve quality. To support such changes, companies have altered their management accounting practices to adapt to the ever changing environment. There is sufficient research done by the authors discussed in this work, to support such a statement. The authors have also identified the factors that led the companies to implement such changes in their respective subject groups.To remain competitive in such a globally advanced environment, developing countries have introduced new cost and management accounting systems such as activity-based costing (ABC), activity-based management (ABM), target costing, product life cycle costing, quality cost management, customer account ing and the balanced score card (BSC) approach to performance measures. The difference in the systems used by the developed and developing nations can be attributed to the difference in cultural values between them. The systems in practice in the developed nations need not suit the developing nations as the environments surrounding the two are significantly diverse.A study of the South African firms by Waweru et al (2004) revealed that on average 63 percent of the management accounting changes were implemented in the last decade... The study reveals that Australian companies are early adopters while Indian companies are late adopters. The final study discussed by Damant (2003) in this work deals with a specific aspect of financial accounting, the income statement. The author of the study supports the view that a proposed change is needed to the traditional profit and loss account to promote better understanding and transparency in reporting. Although it is evident from the study that financial accounting requires a standardized format across companies and industries to enable comparisons and benchmarking, the author is of the opinion that implementing the new matrix would clear away many past and present difficulties in financial reporting. Theoretical insights by the authors According to Waweru et al (2004), all organizations are subject to their external environment and are dependant on them for their inputs and their output. "A company has to maintain a consistent relationship with the environment for its success." The changes in the external environment cause a rippling effect that causes alterations in the management accounting principles adopted by a company. The authors concur with the statement and conducts further research to identify the factors that induce and hinder the companies to alter their management accounting principles. Studies have proved that the political, social, economic and cultural aspects that surround a company influence its management accounting practices. Bearing in mind the diverse conditions under which companies operate, developing countries are cautioned against adopting principles practiced by the developed countries. Joshi (2001) also supports previous studies conducted concerning management accounting
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Vulnerable Areas of Industrial Security Essay Example for Free
Vulnerable Areas of Industrial Security Essay In the transportation industry such as airport, train, or ships there are many vulnerabilities that can be faced if security measures are not foreseen. These industries can be victims of sabotage, espionage, or lack of security process which would result in the industry loss of product. Sabotage such as terrorism will exist in transportation industries if the operations of the merchandise are not carried out to protocol. Espionage from competitor transportation industries can leak the companyââ¬â¢s operations and be a risk for theft. Employee theft can be just as detrimental to the industry as outside theft. Some of the vulnerabilities and countermeasure will be mentioned in this review of different transportation industries. Sabotage can be issues related to terrorism in the sense that terrorist want to harm for political reasons or for profit (PWC, 2011). Sabotage can also be from competitors or employees not even realizing they contributed to sabotaging the process of transportation. According to California Highway Patrol Commercial Industry Education Program (n. d. ââ¬Å"having a security plan in place will ensure your cargo reaches its destination safely, safe lives, avoid possible law suits, and prevent any accidental or intentional acts that could have serious consequences (page 4). To be aware of your surroundings will help prevent the threat of sabotage for transportation industries. Another way to avoid sabotage is to ensure workers are never alone. When employees are opening or closing the business there should always be more than one person with them to prevent an incident that would be harder to control if left alone (Hospitality 2008). Most industry losses occur due to lack of employee attention to their environment, which can lead to potential threats and espionage (Hospitality, 2008). Espionage is a sure way for the transportation industry to gain losses. People may secretly watch businesses to see when they open or close, or just how many employees are working at a certain time of day. According to Hospitality (2008), ââ¬Å"Potential criminals do watch business operators patterns, so it is important to vary times for leaving and lockupâ⬠. Employees may release sensitive material just for his or her profit. Background checks are imperative to an industries success and safety. Avoiding hiring a potential employee with a chancy background can help to weed out some potential threats. Transportation industries can take this into consideration and implement this in their security routines. Almost all spy incidents have been deemed volunteers and not hired by foreign countries or Americans (Fischer, 2000). According to Fischer (2000), ââ¬Å"security educators have promoted the theory that nearly all of these offenders did it for money for greed or because they were faced with overwhelming financial problemsâ⬠(page 1). With the fallen economy, more transportation industries can expect incident for sabotage and espionage for otherââ¬â¢s profit. One way to ensure maximum security is to enforce a security plan to prevent these incidents from occurring frequently. No security plan is always guaranteed to work but it will prevent a lot of transportation losses of merchandise by having one. Outsourcing a security company to evaluate the industry and implement a threat and vulnerability assessment will help in creating a plan for transportation industries (Mays, 2009). Having more security in secluded areas or areas not very well lit will ensure unauthorized persons from entering or roaming the surroundings (Hospitality, 2008). Up to date camera systems and checkpoints can safeguard a transportation industry from potential vulnerabilities and losses. The negligence of employees can be a huge cause for transportation industry losses. Educating the importance of being vigilant and aware of his or her surroundings can help an industries security (Hospitality, 2008). The transportation industries face much vulnerability in their everyday process. In order to prevent as much as possible is to first look at what are potential threat. Sabotage, espionage, and lack of employee attention are just a few that disrupt the security process. Ensuring there are an abundant amount of security professionals at location to prevent sabotage or notice espionage occurring. Background checks of employees will ensure hired employees are faithful to the industry, but not all security plans are ever guaranteed. Precautions should be taken especially when according to Mays, (2009) ââ¬Å"transportation and logistics market is valued at about $250 billion with an estimated $18 billion in lossesâ⬠(para. 1). In the hopes of building less lose and preservation of the transportation process, airport, train, and ship industries need to take consider outsourcing their security plan to evaluate the vulnerabilities and make action plans to prevent losses.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Effects of Soda Drinks on Health
Effects of Soda Drinks on Health Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tam INTRODUCTION Healthcare has become the primary concerns of public. There are many factors to ensure people healthââ¬â¢s quality. Among them, food-stuff has a directly impaction on people health. At the time when food-stuff industry develops swiftly, it is really hard to distinguish between good and bad products. Especially, chemicals have been misused to add on processing products ââ¬â not only on food, but also on drinks. Soda is the most popular drinks in the world. It appears in over 200 countries. However, not many users know how much sugar and carbonate they consume after drinking a can of those, which has strong affection on their health. This paper will discuss the issue of sodaââ¬â¢s influences on people health in the United State and propose some solutions to these problems. DEFINITION Soda ââ¬â another name of soft drinks or carbonated drinks ââ¬â is a bizarre mixture of a great deal of sugar (or high fructose corn syrup), corrosive phosphoric acid, caramel coloring and a well-known drug ââ¬â caffeine (Dillan, 2013). Beverages are usually packed by can, glass or plastic bottle, supper-sized bottle for some kinds. They can be seen in any supermarkets, restaurants or simple junk food stall. Moreover, they are colorful, eyes catching and cheap. It is partly explained the reason they are familiar to the major group of American, especially teenagers and young adults. SITUATION In recent years, people drink more and more soda. One of the biggest consumers is the United State with the sales volume increased up to 170 liters per one year in 2012 (Check, Dodson and Kirk, 2012). There is a big number of people who get addict to soda. According to Coca-Cola, there were 1.7 billion soda servings sold every day in 2010 (Coca-Cola GB, n.d.). Count out of only America, about 48 percent reported drinking at least one glass of soda per day. Among them, 20 percent drank more than 2 glasses (Saad, 2012). Carbonated drink has many reasons to become so popular and addictive. They were sold and advertised everywhere, the price is moderate. Especially, it contains plenty of sugar (or high fructose corn syrup) and caffeine, which provide instant energy and vigilant. However, long term drinking too much sugary drinks can lead to a lot of diseases. New Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) research suggests that roughly 180,000 obesity-related deaths worldwideââ¬âincludin g 25,000 Americansââ¬âwere associated with the consumption of sugary drinks (Hsph.harvard.edu, n.d.). PROBLEMS The issue of high soda consumption has led to several problems. Firstly, soda contains big amount of sugar. In 12-ounce can of coke, there are about 39 grams of sugar, which is about 9 1/3 teaspoons (Coffman, 2013). This amount of sugar would transform to about 154 calories in human body. According to American Heart Association (AHA), limit for daily added sugars intake is 100 calories (about 6 teaspoons) for women and 150 calories (about 9 teaspoons) for men (Heart.org, 2014). It can be seen that only a 12-ounce can of coke transcend the maximum sugar permission level for a day. The caloric excess can cause many diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure. Author of The Small Change Diet: 10 Steps to a Thinner, Healthier You, Keri Gans, said that ââ¬Å"One 12-ounce soda a day translates into 16 pounds of extra weight over one year! If you drink one 20-ounce bottle of soda (which contains about 250 calories), you will drink up about 91,000 calories, which translat es into 26 pounds of extra weight!â⬠. The proportion of overweight adults and obese adults in 2014 is 35.3 percent and 27.7 percent respectively. This obesity rate was the highest annual rate Gallup and Healthways have measured since beginning to track obesity in 2008 (McCarthy, 2014). Absorption of lots of sugar caused blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called type 2 diabetes. The redundance of glucose in bloodstream can lead to heart and blood vessels diseases, nephropathy, eyes damage (Mayoclinic.org, 2014). Secondly, carbonated beverages brought about several problems of bones and teeth by its phosphoric acid. Tufts University researcher, Katherine Tucker, found that women who drank more than three 12-ounce servings of cola per day had 2.3 to 5.1 percent lower bone mineral density in the hip compared with women who consumed less than one serving per day (Enews.tufts.edu, 2003). Moreover, acid and acidic sugar byproducts in soft drink soften tooth enamel, contributing to tooth decay (Colgate.com, n.d.). Children and teenagers usually do not consume enough calcium in their diet while they drink soda more often. Long term beverages intake can reduce the amount of calcium in their bones and teeth. If this happens day after day, users will be at high risk of osteoporosis. This kind of illness considerably impact on humanââ¬â¢s health and daily activities. In addition, beverages usually accommodate a great quantity of caffeine ââ¬â about 45 to 60 milligrams. Caffeine is a kind of drug because it changes how you brain works. It is also considered to be stimulant. This chemical crosses the blood-brain barrier and gets inside the brain and central nervous system (Scott, 2014). Consumers may feel excited and alert when they use, however, stimulant can brings many bad effects to their body, even their brain. Caffeine not only brings users energy, it also triggers and releases stress hormones. It means the benefit only occur temporarily, after that, the body will feel exhausted and distracted. Drinking too much soda a day is the same with absorbing plenty of caffeine, which can easily cause insomnia, fatigue and stress. In fact, there are some phenomena occur to the abuser of caffeine. Although they are awake, they can not concentrate to what they are doing or feel light-headed ââ¬â no physical strength. Undoubtedly, soft drink is no t effective as expectation, it just cheat on humanââ¬â¢s feeling. Besides, a study of University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has shown thatdrinking sugary drinks was associated with cell aging. ââ¬Å"Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas might influence disease development, not only by straining the bodyââ¬â¢s metabolic control of sugars, but also through accelerated cellular aging of tissues.â⬠saidElissa Epel, PhD, professor of psychiatry at UCSF and senior author of the study. The survey also indicated daily consumption 20-ounce of sugary drinks shortened life expectancy by 4.6 years (Leung et al., 2014). SOLUTIONS These issues bring a lot of negative aspects, not only for individuals but also for the country and society. However, there are several possible solutions to resolve these problems. The first solution is to raise educational awareness of citizens. To be more specific, schools can give some lectures to both parents and students. The purpose is to show them the terrible consequences of long term taking soda and teach them how to build a healthy diet or how to give up carbonated drinks. For example, they should replace daily Coke by fresh water or less-sugar juice. It is better for their skin and healthier. Besides, organizations related to food-stuff and health should conduct researches and provide convincing evidences to the citizens. It would be better to publish those lectures and researches on media such as television, radio, internets. In other words, this solution is used to gradually change the drinking habits of beverageââ¬â¢s consumers. Furthermore, some kinds of taxes can be increased or imposed heavily, for instance, non-alcohol carbonated drinks tax, plastic bottled beverages tax, advertise tax. There is a fact that beveragesââ¬â¢ industry can be succeed like today, thanks to an important part to the advertising and marketing strategies. Coca Cola spent over 4 billion for marketing around the world and 3.3 billion on advertisements in 2013, represented 7 percent of its net sales (Forbes, 2014). In sum, marketing and advertisement play an important role in the level of consumer products. Therefore, restricting advertisements can reduce sodaââ¬â¢s popularity and impaction. In January 2014, the Mexican government slapped an extra tax of 8 U.S cents per liter on sugary beverages. The result came out effectively, sale level for the biggest soft drink bottler, Coca Cola Femsa, dropped by 4.6 percent in Mexico during the first half of 2014, compared with the same period of 2013 (Guthrie, 2014). EVALUATION Those solutions above have two sides ââ¬â advantages and disadvantages. This paragraph will evaluate the proposed solutions and suggest the best one. For the first solution, the good points of it are to change humanââ¬â¢s eating habits and bring long-term effects. On the other hand, habits are difficult to change. It is very hard to overcome the psychological obstacles of avoiding favorite beverages. Moreover, to conduct a research or hold a thematic and publish them is simple and cheap. The price of making banners, advertisement or experimentsââ¬â¢ devices is pretty high. For these reasons, this solution is time consuming and expensive though it is very effective. In comparison, the second solution succeeds almost immediately. However, it also has disadvantages which are really complex and sensitive. Taxes are under the management of the government, thus imposing new tax may impact the politics and economy problems. Once the genuine items are interfered, the contraband goo ds will take advantage of spreading which can cause serious consequences for customers. Therefore, the best solution should be the long-term increasing educational awareness. CONCLUSION Carbonated beverages have become a part of Americansââ¬â¢ diet. They are usually served with fast food which contains a lot of oil and calories. Totally, their meal accommodates much higher level of calories they need for a day. This prolonged situation can lead to enormous problems. For the purpose of avoiding negative consequences, human should have initiative solutions to solve those problems, especially to raise the awareness of healthcare and nutrients in soda, which cause many influences on peopleââ¬â¢s health. Overall, soda cause plenty of problems for peopleââ¬â¢s health, however, human can actively avoid them. REFERENCE LIST Coca-Cola GB, (n.d.).How many cans of Cocaââ¬âCola are sold worldwide in a day? : FAQ. [online] Available at: http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/products/how-many-cans-of-coca-cola-are-sold-worldwide-in-a-day.html [Accessed 15 Dec. 2014]. Coffman, M. (2013).How Many Teaspoons of Sugar Are There in a Can of Coke? | LIVESTRONG.COM. [online] LIVESTRONG.COM. Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/283136-how-many-teaspoons-of-sugar-are-there-in-a-can-of-coke/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2014]. Colgate.com, (n.d.).Soda and Teeth Is Soda Bad for your teeth. [online] Available at: http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Oral-Hygiene/Oral-Hygiene-Basics/article/Soda-or-Pop-Its-Teeth-Trouble-by-Any-Name.cvsp [Accessed 19 Dec. 2014]. Check, D., Dodson, M. and Kirk, C. (2012).Map: Americans Drink More Soda Than Anyone Else in the World. [online] Slate Magazine. Available at: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/map_of_the_week/2012/07/map_of_soda_consumption_americans_drink_more_than_anyone_else_.html [Accessed 15 Dec. 2014]. Dillan, J. (2013).What is in Soda and Why is it so Addictive?. [online] Health Ambition. Available at: http://www.healthambition.com/what-is-in-soda-why-so-addictive/ [Accessed 15 Dec. 2014]. Enews.tufts.edu, (2003).Tufts E-News: Soft-Drinks And Bones. [online] Available at: http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/802/2003/09/25/Tucker [Accessed 19 Dec. 2014]. Forbes, (2014). Coca-Colas Brand Building Initiatives Could Shoulder Sluggish CSD Sales. [online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/04/02/coca-colas-brand-building-initiatives-could-shoulder-sluggish-csd-sales/ [Accessed 20 Dec. 2014]. Gans, K. (2011).The Small Change Diet: 10 Steps to a Thinner, Healthier You. New York: Gallery Books, p.75. Guthrie, A. (2014).Survey Shows Mexicans Drinking Less Soda After Tax. [online] WSJ. Available at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/survey-shows-mexicans-drinking-less-soda-after-tax-1413226009 [Accessed 20 Dec. 2014]. Heart.org, (2014).Frequently Asked Questions About Sugar. [online] Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Sugar_UCM_306725_Article.jsp [Accessed 19 Dec. 2014]. Hsph.harvard.edu, (n.d.).Roughly 180,000 deaths worldwide linked to sugary drink consumption | News | Harvard School of Public Health. [online] Available at: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/roughly-180000-deaths-worldwide-linked-to-sugary-drink-consumption/ [Accessed 20 Dec. 2014]. Leung, C., Laraia, B., Needham, B., Rehkopf, D., Adler, N., Lin, J., Blackburn, E. and Epel, E. (2014). Soda and Cell Aging: Associations Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Healthy Adults From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.American Journal of Public Health, [online] 104(12), pp.2425-2431. Available at: http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/10/119431/sugared-soda-consumption-cell-aging-associated-new-study [Accessed 20 Dec. 2014]. Mayoclinic.org, (2014).Type 2 diabetes Complications Diseases and Conditions Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/basics/complications/con-20031902 [Accessed 19 Dec. 2014]. McCarthy, J. (2014).In U.S., Adult Obesity Rate Now at 27.7%. [online] Gallup.com. Available at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/170264/adult-obesity-rate.aspx [Accessed 19 Dec. 2014]. Saad, L. (2012).Nearly Half of Americans Drink Soda Daily. [online] Gallup.com. Available at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/156116/nearly-half-americans-drink-soda-daily.aspx [Accessed 17 Dec. 2014]. Scott, C. (2014).Caffeine: Energy Drinks, Coffee, Soda, Pills. Mason Crest Publisher.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Channel Tunnel Construction: Project Management
Channel Tunnel Construction: Project Management The Channel Tunnel is considered to be the largest private sector infrastructure project of the twentieth century. It is a fixed link transportation system comprising twin rail tunnels with an additional service tunnel each 50.5 kilometres in length. These run below the English Channel connecting England and France. The terminals can be found in Folkstone in the UK and Coquelles, near Calais in France. In 1986, a treaty of Canterbury was signed establishing the political framework for the project. This addressed issues such as jurisdiction, national boundaries and governmental involvement, consequently defining the role of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) and Safety Authority. In the same year, the Concession Agreement was awarded to Eurotunnel (ET), a bi-national company formed by the Channel Tunnel Group (UK) and France Manche S.A. (France) for 65 years. Eurotunnel subsequently became owner and operator of the project and awarded the construction contract to Transmanche Link (TML) for the tunnels design, construction, testing and commissioning. ET also became linked to the banks via a loan agreement and to national railways via a usage agreement. The scope of the project entailed the development of a system to accommodate the transfer of regular traffic through airport-sized terminals onto an entirely new rail system with minimum transit time and shuttles travelling at high speeds with high capacity in a confined tunnel environment. This therefore defined the technology to be used, since a high integration was required between works and specific transport equipment, an unprecedented rolling stock which included the heaviest traffic on rails, and the largest real-time data system ever employed to manage shuttles travelling at high speeds. Project Roles and Responsibilities Project Sponsor As the project was privately funded, the sponsor had to raise finance on an unprecedented scale through bank loans and equity while making shares available to the public. The loan was secured through a consortium of 203 banks worldwide. An increase in finance during the course of the project was necessary to accommodate for the previously unconsidered needs of the IGC and for safety and environmental concerns as well as the approval of changes made to the project plan by the manager to address the commissions concerns and the degree of fast-tracking between the several phases of the projects. Contractual issues had to be resolved during the course of the project, with a revised agreement to that made with TML in 1987 being drawn up. As installation of equipment progressed, the concern shifted to the training of personnel for the operation of the transport system. Maintaining communication between both sides of the tunnel was also crucial in achieving project success. Project Manager The project managers principal responsibility was to plan and organise the project effectively to meet the sponsors design and construction specifications while adhering to cost and time constraints. During the construction phase, the project manager had to appoint sub-contractors for various stages of the project, with fixed-price contracts issued to reduce costs. Other duties included the modification of the project plan to accommodate for changes in the original design necessitated by pressures from the Intergovernmental Commission and accounting for safety and environmental concerns. The project manager also had to ensure that there was effective communication between the French and the English sides of the tunnel construction. Project Timeline Commissioning Jan 1990 total tunnel bored reached 50km Dec 1986 Geotechnical study of Shakespeare Cliff carried out. Cross channel surveys developed for the 1974-1975 tunnel project were refined using the latest satellite observations Nov. 1987 Funds arranged totalling à £5 billion Oct 1990 Eurotunnel Signs agreement for à £1.8 billion additional bank credit facilities June 1992 The installation of complex signalling, control and communication system begins. Nov 1993 Commissioning Program Begins August 1987 Construction work begins on both UK (Shakespeare Cliff) and French (Sangatte) sides of the channel Figure 1: Fast-track programme for Channel Tunnel [Event dates obtained from Wilson Spark (1994)] Original Project Objectives The fundamental objective of the tunnel was to offer a comfortable, fast, frequent and reliable transportation service that linked the United Kingdom to France via the English Channel. ET suggested that that two rail tunnels and a service tunnel be constructed. The service tunnel was to be fitted with safety and electronic equipment of the highest standard while the rail tunnels were to be designed to accommodate shuttle speeds between 100 to 160 km/h with an average journey time of three hours between London and Paris. The project was initially scheduled for opening on the 15 May, 1993. This meant that the time taken between design consideration and completion of the project was set at seven years. Since Eurotunnel could not start earning revenues until the tunnel became operational, schedule overruns were linked directly to loss of revenue, and were considered a more damaging consequence than direct cost increases. Based on the conceptual design, the budget was estimated at à £5 billion. It can therefore be observed that the quality of the system was of greatest importance in this project. A compromise was necessary between the desired quality and the time taken to achieve this quality, since as the time increased, so did the costs (in the form of lost revenue). Figure 2 indicates the time-cost-quality relationship for the Channel Tunnel project. The red dot represents the relative importance of quality with respect to time. Project Strategy The scale of design was massive and consequently broken into several smaller projects that ran simultaneously to achieve the overall objectives. Realistic time estimates for the project were obtained from detailed schedule planning during the inception phase of the project. This included activity definition, activity sequencing, and activity duration to develop a baseline project schedule. During the course of the project, monitoring and re-evaluation of the time estimates were performed by the implementation of a hierarchical planning/control system. This allowed overall strategic planning, proper reporting to management and detailed logging of day-to-day activities using a computerized reporting system to monitor the progress on all aspects of the project. According to the Channel Tunnel Treaty, Eurotunnel had to obtain funding for the project from private sources, without government aid or loan guarantees. Hence, financing was obtained through equity and loan capital markets. The Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) was put into place to ensure the quality objectives were achieved. This included implementation of a Safety Authority which was responsible for monitoring and specifying design procedures, specifications, construction and issues related to the environment, operation and safety. Since the project was bi-national in nature, the IGC mandated that if there were differences in the standards of the two countries, the higher of the two should prevail. The Quality Management plan included quality planning, quality assurance and quality control. Contracts played an essential role in defining the scope of work, cost, timeline and rules of engagement (or penalties). Contract Strategy During the conceptual design phase, Eurotunnel contracted TML for the construction of the tunnel. The contract agreements were based on estimated costs since at this stage of the project, detailed design was incomplete and hence, fixed prices were not available. Based on the estimated costs, the contract had three facets: Lump sum works for the construction of terminals and installation of mechanical and electrical equipment in both tunnels and terminals. Target works, for all tunnelling and related equipment such as the tunnel boring machines. The arrangement was that if the actual cost was less than the target cost at completion, the contractor will receive 50% of the savings, while if the actual cost exceeded the target cost, the contractor was required to pay 30% of the excess, up to a maximum of 6% of the target cost. Procurement items for the rolling stock and its associated equipment on a cost reimbursement basis with a procurement fee. Project Manager Type and Style ET comprised mainly of banks and contractors. Throughout the project, ET was largely criticised for its approach to design and management. This resulted in failure to deliver the project according to the sponsors time, cost and quality objectives. Additionally, since ETs organisation was bi-national, a sole project manager could not be identified. Organisational Structure Eurotunnels organisational structure can be described as functional, but its two board system made it unique. This is depicted in Figure 3 below. Figure 3: Eurotunnel Management Structure: Joint-Board System (adapted from Stannard (1990)) / In retrospect with the original project objectives, the Tunnel was not opened until 6 May 1994 at a cost of approximately à £12 billion. Additionally, original specifications for the rail system and tunnel quality were revised in order to keep costs down. Many reports have analysed the Channel Tunnel project in an effort to determine what went wrong in such a massive construction venture. From its inception, it was plagued by financial and technical woes, blown schedules and highly public battles between the company managing the project, ET, and its contractors, TML. One of the factors responsible for the cost overruns stem from the short time allocated for bidders to place their proposal for the project in the inception phase. Due to time constraints only a conceptual design was presented and priced. All detail design was to be completed during the construction phase after the bid was won (an example of fast-tracking in the program). Consequently, a number of design problems were not identified from the onset of the project and no provisions were made for them in ETs initial cost estimates. A typical example of this was the need for air-conditioning in the tunnel, and therefore, an additional à £200 million to accommodate this new design aspect. Later on, this lead to disputes between ET and TML about who was responsible for these cost overruns. Another important factor to consider was the poor communication between the British and French teams, in addition to ET and TML. Project communications was an important aspect in project planning, especially for a project of this magnitude. The multi-national team of approximately 15,000 persons included the politicians, governmental workers, bankers, lawyers and analysts who were responsible for obtaining an approved proposal plan and financing, and the construction workers, machinists and engineers who were responsible for the actual implementation of the project. With a task force of this size, an executional communication plan was necessary to address horizontal and vertical communication channels. An analysis of the Risk Management revealed that focus was on engineering risk as compared to process and approval risk, such as IGC safety decisions and approval, while the business risk was addressed via contractual agreements. During the project life, several key members of the ET team resigned and TMLs management also underwent significant change. Strategies were adjusted given the depreciating status of the project. Organisations involved such as the banks, Safety Authority, environmental issues, local authority and public opinion interfered strongly and permanently in this project that was constantly under media scrutiny. The Channel Tunnel was able to withstand all these delays and cost overruns principally because of its highly robust future income stream.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
New Internet Marketing Landscape Essay -- essays research papers
The internet is changing marketing not to mention the world. "The number of internet users worldwide is expected to reach almost 1.4 billion by 2007" according to Armstrong & Kotler (2007) p. 26. The internet is also changing the ways that companies are conducting their marketing. A great example of a company that has been transformed by the new digital age is Melendi Photography (wwww.melendiphotography.com), owned and operated by my dear uncle Luis Melendi and his wife Maria, located in Key Largo, Florida. Originally a mom & pop photography company, it has now been revolutionized by the internet and telecommunications in the past 10 years. They?re main source of marketing came from local newspapers. When they first opened there storefront in 1975, they concentrated on locals and local businesses as their own means of business. Business was steady, but in a small community like Key Largo, Florida, at times business could be very slow. After analyzing and planning a new marketing tactic, they decided it would just be better to close. The year that they decided to close their photography company was the year when the internet took a nose-dive. Many dot-com companies were going out of business, but shortly after the dot-com revolution began to get stronger, and it came back with a vengeance. In 2000 with the revolution of the internet, they created a website, a virtual gallery, a virtual spot on the World Wide Web (WWW) where customers- not only from their small Florida community could view their portraits, but statewide, nationwide and worldwide, in a last ditch attempt to keep their small photography studio alive. They designed an effective website. Melendi Photography took a chance, on something they new very little of.... ...as available on the Melendi?s new site, which they could only offer in there storefront location originally. They really began to see a difference in profits. In addition, using the internet in their photography business, the Melendi?s have been able to offer greater product access and selection. Conducting business in the traditional form is still habitual, but as technology is ever-changing, business will eventually need to keep up with technology and the changes in the environmental factors and understand that with the coming of the digital-age, every aspect of a business is affected, including marketing. References Kilby, Nathalie (2007). Get connected to affiliates. Journal Marketing Week Volume 30 Issue 12. p35-36 Armstrong G. & Kotler P. (2007) Marketing: An Introduction 8E Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Philosophy of Education- Written from a Teachers Perspective :: Philosophy Education
A personââ¬â¢s philosophy of education shapes what one thinks about education, how one delivers what he thinks and why one thinks the way he does about education. My experience as a teacher and guidance officer has led one to think about education and develop a philosophy that centers on the learner. I believe that education is preparing the learner for life and not just life ââ¬â but a well-balanced, well-adjusted life. I also believe that students should be able to cope with and deal with lifeââ¬â¢s challenges, they must have a purpose to life, a code for right and wrong, a passion to fight against injustices and at the same time appreciate beauty, the aesthetics and traditions. In my view, a philosophy that is known or unknown to the to the teacher influences teaching styles and method. I have never really given serious thought about philosophy at education during my career until this moment. In retrospect, I would have taught my students to be disciplined in all aspects of life. I have used as a theme, ââ¬ËDo unto others as you would have them do unto youââ¬â¢ because I believe in fairness and justice. My students have also learned too to discover, to experiment to be a team player and to realise they can think for themselves and make informed choices. As a guidance officer, I have helped students to understand that life is beautiful, but there are also so many challenges to which they have the inner resources to handle. I constantly explain to my students that their life must be balanced ââ¬â it should include a little of everything. My philosophy assessment results in some ways reflect my beliefs about education. I had very close scores in three of the educational philosophies (Perennialism - 17; Progressivism ââ¬â 17; Reconstructionism ââ¬â 18). This is rather interesting because I like the traditional way of doing some things, for example, telling stories to children. Added to this, some things like good manners never change and yet I welcome the modern constructivist way of teaching and learning. Students should be exposed to diversity and reconstruct what ideas they would have had on certain issues. A very simplified example is that all over the world, rice is consumed; it would be preposterous to think that the only way to eat rice is with a fork or spoon. The students that interact with others and experience other cultures would have a balanced life.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Hunger
A term that many of us dont think about on a day to day basis, because we have enough to eat. However there are many In the world who lack even enough food to sustain a healthy life and many people end up dying of starvation. 3. Deaths In Children Under Five 4. Hunger In the U. S Hunger Is growing to be a serious problem In the united States. In 2006 35. 5 million people do not have access to enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The people in the united States who represent the common face of hunger would surprise many.An elderly couple struggling to pay medical bills; a single parent trying to support his/her children; all the way to a child at school who can't focus because they didnt have enough to eat the day before. 5. Hunger in the World In the year 2007, 923 million people where undernourished. With about 900 million of those people residing in developing countries. Each day 16000 children die from hunger-related causes, one child every five seconds Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger dally are typically poor.And do not have the enefits of things Ilke soup kitchens and food stamps. And there Is simply not enough being done by us to assist these countries In there need. 6. 7. However a group was formed to combat this hunger, this group Is Bread for the World. 8. History In the year 1972 a group of Protestants and Catholics met to determine how people of faith could influence U. S policies regarding hunger. under Reverend Arthur Simon, the group began to grow. With in the fist year they had recruited more than 500 people and have continued to increase their numbers. ? 9. How we can help 10.Offering of letters Each year Bread For the World hosts a critical legislative campaign known as the Offering of Letters. People throughout the country write letters to Congress, In support of an hunger fighting legislation. Many people place these letters In their churches offering plates as a offering to God, their citizenship ref lecting their stewardship. 11. On Campus Bread for the world has currently founded a Student Coalltlon of over 300 campuses, where they add their voice to the ause of addressing World hunger. The Bread for the World Coalition gives students the tools they need to help end world hunger.The students, write, call, and visit members of congress to get the message heard. Community service organizations, human rights groups and other Justice-minded organizations take action by writing letters after a community service project or during a Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. 12. The Media Bread for the World believes that the media contributes to many victories won by world hunger organizations. By simply informing your local newspaper/ news station of a hunger problem in your community you can help bring awareness to the situation and get more people to help. ? 13. What Bread for the World has doneâ⬠¦ 14. The Farm Bill The farm bill affects the life of every person who eats In the united States, especially those who suffer from hunger. Bread for the World thought the farm bill can provide better and broader support for U. S. farmers, strengthen communltles In rural America, nelp nungry people In tnls country anora a sumclent nd nutritious diet, and support the efforts of small-scale farmers in developing countries to sell their crops and feed their families.So Bread for the World had thousands of people write letters to congress getting many modifications to the bill made. 15. The ONE Campaign Bread for the World is a founding member of the One Campaign The ONE Campaign is a movement to rally Americans to respond to the global emergencies of extreme poverty, hunger and AIDS. 16. Other Hunger Organizations Action Against Hunger directly delivers emergency aid and longer-term ssistance to people suffering from the dire consequences of natural disaster or man-made crisis.Their mission is to save lives by combating hunger, disease, and the crises threatening the lives of helpless men, women, and children. Church World Service is a coalition of 36 Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox communions in the U. S. , cooperating worldwide in programs of long-term development, emergency response and assistance to refugees. CWS is perhaps best known among anti-hunger activists for sponsoring the annual 2,000 CROP WALKS throughout the U. S. that have been raising funds and awareness to fght hunger for more than 30 years.Food First â⬠formally known as the Institute for Food and Development Policy â⬠seeks to eliminate the injustices that cause hunger by awakening people to the possibility of social change and their own power to bring it about. United Methodist Committee on Relief presents practical solutions to the problems of hunger, human rights and world peace by aiding refugees, providing relief in disaster areas, and confronting the challenge of world hunger and poverty. ? 17. What it all comes down toâ⬠¦Bread for the Worlds final messag e is that there is enough food in the world to alleviate hunger. Its Just what we choose to do with the food and money that we need to change. Our problem is equitable distribution. Hunger is a political condition. Which can be amended. Each year 13 million dollars on excess dog food that goes to waste. If we simply allocate some of the money that goes into things that we all don't truly need, we can help end world hunger. And save the lives of millions Hunger A term that many of us dont think about on a day to day basis, because we have enough to eat. However there are many In the world who lack even enough food to sustain a healthy life and many people end up dying of starvation. 3. Deaths In Children Under Five 4. Hunger In the U. S Hunger Is growing to be a serious problem In the united States. In 2006 35. 5 million people do not have access to enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The people in the united States who represent the common face of hunger would surprise many.An elderly couple struggling to pay medical bills; a single parent trying to support his/her children; all the way to a child at school who can't focus because they didnt have enough to eat the day before. 5. Hunger in the World In the year 2007, 923 million people where undernourished. With about 900 million of those people residing in developing countries. Each day 16000 children die from hunger-related causes, one child every five seconds Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger dally are typically poor.And do not have the enefits of things Ilke soup kitchens and food stamps. And there Is simply not enough being done by us to assist these countries In there need. 6. 7. However a group was formed to combat this hunger, this group Is Bread for the World. 8. History In the year 1972 a group of Protestants and Catholics met to determine how people of faith could influence U. S policies regarding hunger. under Reverend Arthur Simon, the group began to grow. With in the fist year they had recruited more than 500 people and have continued to increase their numbers. ? 9. How we can help 10.Offering of letters Each year Bread For the World hosts a critical legislative campaign known as the Offering of Letters. People throughout the country write letters to Congress, In support of an hunger fighting legislation. Many people place these letters In their churches offering plates as a offering to God, their citizenship ref lecting their stewardship. 11. On Campus Bread for the world has currently founded a Student Coalltlon of over 300 campuses, where they add their voice to the ause of addressing World hunger. The Bread for the World Coalition gives students the tools they need to help end world hunger.The students, write, call, and visit members of congress to get the message heard. Community service organizations, human rights groups and other Justice-minded organizations take action by writing letters after a community service project or during a Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. 12. The Media Bread for the World believes that the media contributes to many victories won by world hunger organizations. By simply informing your local newspaper/ news station of a hunger problem in your community you can help bring awareness to the situation and get more people to help. ? 13. What Bread for the World has doneâ⬠¦ 14. The Farm Bill The farm bill affects the life of every person who eats In the united States, especially those who suffer from hunger. Bread for the World thought the farm bill can provide better and broader support for U. S. farmers, strengthen communltles In rural America, nelp nungry people In tnls country anora a sumclent nd nutritious diet, and support the efforts of small-scale farmers in developing countries to sell their crops and feed their families.So Bread for the World had thousands of people write letters to congress getting many modifications to the bill made. 15. The ONE Campaign Bread for the World is a founding member of the One Campaign The ONE Campaign is a movement to rally Americans to respond to the global emergencies of extreme poverty, hunger and AIDS. 16. Other Hunger Organizations Action Against Hunger directly delivers emergency aid and longer-term ssistance to people suffering from the dire consequences of natural disaster or man-made crisis.Their mission is to save lives by combating hunger, disease, and the crises threatening the lives of helpless men, women, and children. Church World Service is a coalition of 36 Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox communions in the U. S. , cooperating worldwide in programs of long-term development, emergency response and assistance to refugees. CWS is perhaps best known among anti-hunger activists for sponsoring the annual 2,000 CROP WALKS throughout the U. S. that have been raising funds and awareness to fght hunger for more than 30 years.Food First â⬠formally known as the Institute for Food and Development Policy â⬠seeks to eliminate the injustices that cause hunger by awakening people to the possibility of social change and their own power to bring it about. United Methodist Committee on Relief presents practical solutions to the problems of hunger, human rights and world peace by aiding refugees, providing relief in disaster areas, and confronting the challenge of world hunger and poverty. ? 17. What it all comes down toâ⬠¦Bread for the Worlds final messag e is that there is enough food in the world to alleviate hunger. Its Just what we choose to do with the food and money that we need to change. Our problem is equitable distribution. Hunger is a political condition. Which can be amended. Each year 13 million dollars on excess dog food that goes to waste. If we simply allocate some of the money that goes into things that we all don't truly need, we can help end world hunger. And save the lives of millions
Monday, September 16, 2019
Circumplex Model
Introduction Marriage and Family are very important aspects of the human experience. These two units play vital roles in who individuals are and who they may become. Many times issues or problems arise in the marriage and family structure thus, requiring therapy in order to make matters better. The Circumplex Model of Family and Marriage has been used and has been affective in the treatment process when helping dysfunctional families. The Circumplex Model of Marriage and Family Therapy developed by David Olson and other colleagues provides a road map in understanding the marriage and family experience. Circumplex Model of Marriage and Family As previously mentioned, the Circumplex model of Marriage and Family Therapy was developed by David Olson and several of his colleagues. This model focuses on the three central dimensions of marital and family systems: cohesion, flexibility, and communication (Olson, 1999). In these dimensions the family system is ranged from balanced, to mid-ranged, to extreme. The family system is further ranked as chaotic, flexible, structural, or rigid. This model was developed in an attempt to narrow the separation of research, theory, and practice (Olson, 1999). Olson states that the model is specifically designed for clinical assessment, treatment planning, and outcome effectiveness of marital and family therapy. Three Dimensions of the Circumplex Model As stated prior, the three dimensions of the Circumplex Model are cohesion or togetherness. The second being flexibility or the amount of change in the families leadership, role relationships, and relationship rules, and the last dimension is communication. Following is a clearer definition of each dimension: â⬠¢Cohesion:Described as the emotional bonding that family members have toward one another. Family cohesion can be considered as emotion bonding, boundaries, coalitions, time space, friends, decision-making, and interests and recreation. The focus of cohesion is how systems balance their separateness versus togetherness. There are four levels of cohesion ranging from disengaged (very low) to separated (low to moderate) to connected (moderate to high) to enmeshed (very high). It is hypothesized that the central or balanced levels of cohesion (separated and connected) make for optimal family functioning. The extremes or unbalanced levels (disengaged or enmeshed) are generally seen as problematic for relationships over the long term (Olson, 1999). â⬠¢Flexibility:This is the amount of change in its leadership, role relationships, and relationship rules. The specific concepts include leadership (control, discipline), negotiation styles, role relationships and relationship rules. The focus of flexibility is on how systems balance stability versus change. The four levels of flexibility range from rigid (very low) to structured (low to moderate) to flexible (moderate to high) to chaotic (very high). As with cohesion, it is hypothesized that central or balanced levels of flexibility (structured and flexible) are more conducive to good marital and family functioning, with extremes (rigid and chaotic) being the most problematic for families as they move through their life cycle. Flexibility focuses on the change in a familyââ¬â¢s leadership, roles and rules (Olson, 1999). â⬠¢Communication:This aspect is considered critical for facilitating movement on the other two dimensions. Because it is a facilitating dimension, communication is not graphically included in the model along with cohesion and flexibility. Communication is measured by focusing on the family as a group with regard to their listening skills, speaking skills, self-disclosure, clarity, continuity tracking, and respect and regard. In terms of listening skills, the focus is on empathy and attentive listening. Speaking skills include speaking for oneself and not speaking for others. Self-disclosure relates to sharing feelings about self and the relationship. Tracking is staying on topic, and respect and regard relate to the affective aspect of the communication and problem solving skill in couples and families and have found that balanced systems tend to have very good communication, whereas unbalanced systems tend to have poor communication (Olson, 1999). Circumplex Model: Couple and Family Map The three dimensional Family Circumplex Model Each of the dimensions in the Circumplex Model are key elements in the how Olsonââ¬â¢s view of marriage and family are based. Olson believes that the way families interact with each other is based on togetherness, flexibility, and communication. Studying and evaluating these areas can lead to answers and solutions of troubled families and marriages. Treatment Planning Using the Circumplex Model The Circumplex Model has been a useful tool in the treatment process of helping dysfunctional families. A major job for research outcomes is to determine which elements of intervention are most appropriate and effective with which presenting problems and with which elements of family functioning (Olson, 1999). This model was formulated to lead families towards more functional patterns and rise above behavior what is not socially correct or accepted. The model provides a conceptual framework for assessing family system functioning on two dimensions of family organization: cohesion and flexibility (Olson, 1999). Families that are monitored under the Circumplex Model from either extreme intervention strategies can be set in place to guide them towards a more balanced system in a step by step process. Clinicians need to be very attentive to prevent wavering that can occur. The clinician has to evaluate and rate each aspect of the treatment process in order to affectively rank the family or couple in the model. In doing this, the clinician has to determine which area is the outweighing factor that is causing the most conflict in the family. Using the Circumplex Model in my Practice After careful research and studying of the Circumplex Model, I have found the components of the model to be quite interesting. It is believed that the model, if careful used and used in depth to assess issues of family and marriage can be very useful in determining the root cause of the dysfunction that the family is stricken by. I personally would attempt using the Circumplex Model once I have become a therapist because I believe it would lead me to ways that can shed light on key causes of family problems and possibly could be a path to other therapeutic processes to help the client. Because I believe that this model does pin point problems of clients whether there is a lack of togetherness, too much togetherness, a lack of flexibility or too much flexibility, or a lack of communication, this model provides enough information to give the necessary treatment to help clients overcome their problems. Conclusion The Circumplex Model of Marriage and Family ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between research, theory, and clinical practice (Olson, 1999). It is designed for clinical assessments and treatment planning with couples and families. Through the three dimensions of cohesion, flexibility, and communication, studies are performed to evaluate the extremities of each dimension thus, shedding light on what the family or couple maybe lacking or overly possessing. Clinicians must have a central goal of the presenting problem and symptoms of family members to achieve intervention focuses on changing a dysfunctional type of couple or family system (Olson, 1999). The basic assumption is that the current pattern of interaction in the family system dynamics are helping to maintain symptomatic behaviors (Olson, Gorall, 2006). Before the problems of the families and marriages can be alleviated, the current pattern of interaction in the family needs to be changed. The Circumplex Model of Marriage and Family can be very helpful to clinicians in providing treatment and very beneficial to clients who maybe seeking assistance to resolve matters in his or her family structure of marriage. References FACES IV & the Circumplex Model, David H. Olson & Dean Gorall, 2006 www. lifeinnovations. com Circumplex Model of Marital & Family Systems, David H. Olson, 1999
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Ankle Joint Angular Kinematics Health And Social Care Essay
Kinematic information was obtained utilizing an eight camera gesture analysis system as participants ran at 4.0ms-1+5 % , angles were created utilizing the coiling method and the six available rotary motion cardan sequences. A popular method of quantifying the angular place of a stiff dynamic frame with regard to a mention frame is via the use of independent angles known normally as cardan or Euler angles ( Schache et al. , 2001 ) . Cardan/Euler rotary motions are obtained by agencies of an ordered sequence of rotary motions ( Schache et al. , 2001 ) . Rotations are considered to happen about the axis of the section co-ordniate system. For illustration during an XYZ cardan sequence of rotary motions, the section is rotated about the X axes by an angle A, so rotates about a revolved Y ââ¬Ë by an angle B and so eventually rotated about a twice rotated Z â⬠axes by an angle C ( Schache et al. , 2001 ) . For a given gesture, different cardan sequences can act upon the angular computations ( Cole et al. , 1993 ) . The International Society of Biomechanics ( ISB ) recommends that lower appendage angular kinematics be calculated utilizing an XYZ sequence of rotary motions, where Ten is flexion/extension, Y is abduction/adduction and Z is axial ( internal/external ) rotary motion ( Cole et al. , 1993 and Wu et al. , 2002 ) . Cole et Al ( 1993 ) based their recommendations around the apprehension that the first rotary motion should be the axis with the greatest scope of gesture, their consequences led to the recommended attack to give clinically relevant informations. However, the big sum of sagittal plane gesture during pace can encroach on the representation of motions outside the sagittal plane ( transverse talk ) , ensuing in greater than expected coronal/transverse plane articulation profiles ( Thewlis et al. , 2008 ) . As such it has been proposed that the XYZ sequence when applied to rotary motions outside the sagittal plane may non be the most appropriate method. In add-on to the normally used cardanic method, coiling angles can besides be used to depict the place of one mention system with regard to another ( Woltring et al. , 1985 ) . Using this technique a place vector and an orientation vector are defined and motion from a mention place is described in footings of rotary motion along a individual projected axis. This method is considered to be stable over any imaginable joint gesture, yet it is utilised infrequently as angular gesture utilizing this technique may non match with an anatomical representation that is clinically meaningful ( Hamill and Selbie, 2004 ) . The ankle articulation plays a cardinal function in the stance stage of the pace rhythm ( Areblad et al. , 1990 and Novacheck 1998 ) . In combination with the hip and articulatio genus articulations the mortise joint facilitates motive power and transmits forces and minutes during the stance stage when the pes is regarded as the interface of the human locomotor system with the environment. Therefore, motion of the mortise joint is an of import constituent of pace mechanics and as such the right reading of its motion is indispensable in kinematic analyses. A choice figure of probes have examined the influence that the method used to cipher segmental kinematics has on the representation of segmental kinematics during pace ( Schache et al. , 2001, Kavaduna et al. , 2000, Tupling and Pierrynowski 1987, Woltring, 1991 and Thewlis et al. , 2008 ) . Areblad et al. , ( 1990 ) and Cole et al. , ( 1993 ) compared ankle articulation kinematics in the sagittal, coronal and cross planes utilizing two rotary motion sequences where the first rotary motion was flexion/extension in both instances. However, these probes did non analyze the staying four rotary motion sequences and used a two camera set-up whereby the deliberate angles are sensitive to the alliance of the camera As such the most appropriate method for the finding of ankle joint kinematics during running remains unknown. This survey investigated the influence of the coiling method every bit good as the 6 available cardan sequences on ankle joint kinematics in the sagittal, coronal and cross planes.MethodEleven male participants volunteered to take portion in this probe ( age 19 + 1 old ages ; Height 176.5 + 5.2 centimeter ; Mass 78.4 + 9.0 kilogram ) . All were injury free at the clip of informations aggregation and completed an informed consent signifier. Ethical blessing for this undertaking was obtained from the School of Psychology moralss commission, University of Central Lancashire and each participant provided written consent. A statistical power analysis of pilot informations was conducted in order to cut down the likeliness of a type II mistake and find the minimal figure participants needed for this probe. It was found that the sample size was sufficient to supply more than 80 % sta tistical power in the experimental step. An eight camera gesture analysis system ( QualisysTM Medical AB, Goteburg, Sweden ) captured kinematic informations at 350Hz from each participant running at 4.0ms-1. Calibration of the QualysisTM system was performed before each information aggregation session. Only standardizations which produced mean remainders of less than 0.85 millimeter for each camera for a 750.5mm wand length and points above 4000 were accepted prior to informations aggregation. Velocity was monitored utilizing infrared photoelectric cells Newtest 300 ( Newtest, Oy Koulukatu 31 B 11 90100 Oulu Finland ) , a maximal divergence of + 5 % from the in agreement speed was allowed. Participants ran over a force platform ( Kistler, Kistler Instruments Ltd. , Alton, Hampshire, UK ; Model 9281CA ) , stance clip was determined as the clip over which 20N or greater of perpendicular force was applied to the force platform. The marker set used for the survey was based on the CAST technique ( Cappozo et al. , ( 1995 ) . Retro-reflective markers were attached to the right pes and shank in the undermentioned locations 1st and 5th metatarsal caputs, median and sidelong maleoli, median and sidelong epicondyle of the thighbone, with a tracking bunch positioned on the right shank. The tracking bunch was comprised of four 10mm spherical brooding markers mounted to a thin sheath of lightweight C fibre with a length to width ratio of 1.5-1, in conformity with the Cappozzo et al. , ( 1997 ) recommendations. A inactive test was captured to specify the pes and tibial sections, following which markers non used for tracking the sections during gesture, were removed. Kinematic parametric quantities were quantified utilizing Ocular 3-D ( C-Motion Inc, Gaithersburg, USA ) and filtered at 10 Hz utilizing a zero-lag low base on balls Butterworth 4th order filter. Five tests of ankle joint rotary motion during stance were a veraged for each participant. Angles were created utilizing the coiling method and about XYZ, ZXY, XZY, YXZ, YZX and YXZ rotary motion cardan sequences referenced to co-ordinate systems about the proximal terminal of the section, where Ten is flexion-extension ; Y is ab-adduction and is Z is internal-external rotary motion. Descriptive statistics including agencies and standard divergences were calculated for each status. Differences in stance stage extremum angles and scope ââ¬Ës of gesture were examined utilizing perennial steps ANOVA ââ¬Ës with significance accepted at the P & A ; lt ; 0.05 degree. The Mauchly ââ¬Ës sphericalness premise was violated in all instances and as such the grades of freedom of the F statistic were adjusted via the Greenhouse Geisser rectification. The Shapiro-wilk statistic for each status confirmed that the informations were usually distributed. Appropriate post-hoc analyses were conducted utilizing a Bonferroni rectification to command for type I error. Effect sizes were calculated utilizing an Eta2. Cohen ââ¬Ës suggestion sing effects sizes was observed ( little R & A ; lt ; 0.3 ; medium R & A ; gt ; 0.3 and & A ; lt ; 0.5 ; big & A ; gt ; 0.5 ) . All statistical processs were conducted utilizing SPSS 17.0.ConsequenceFigure 1 presents the average 3-D angular kinematics of the ankle articulation during the stance stage. Tables 1 and 2 present scopes of gesture and peak angles observed in all three planes of rotary motion as a map of cardan sequence.Table1: Mean ( and standard divergence ) scope of gesture ( deg ) for each rotary motion as a map of cardan sequence ( * = important ( p & A ; lt ; 0.05 ) chief consequence ) n=11.@ @ @ Table 1 near here @ @ @Table 2: Mean ( and standard divergence extremum values ) ( deg ) for each rotary motion as a map of cardan sequence ( * = important ( p & A ; lt ; 0.05 ) chief consequence ) n=11.@ @ @ Table 2 near here @ @ @The consequences indicate that important scope of gesture chief effects were observed for the coronal F ( 1.85, 16.66 ) = 10.04, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2= 0.53 and cross plane F ( 2.04, 18.39 ) =21.91, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2=0.71. Post-hoc analyses revealed that both coronal and cross plane ROM utilizing the YXZ and ZXY sequences was significantly greater than the others. Furthermore , it was besides observed that extremum angle chief effects were found for the coronal F ( 2.28, 20.48 ) = 82.99, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2=0.90 and transverse planes F ( 2.08, 18.72 ) = 80.49, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2= 0.90. Post-hoc analyses revealed that peak coronal and cross plane angles utilizing the YXZ sequence were significantly greater than the others.@ @ @ @ Figure 1 near here @ @ @ @Figure 1: Representative mortise joint articulation kinematics in the a. sagittal, b. wreath and c. transverse planes as a map of cardan sequence.DiscussionEuler/Cardan angles are used extensively within the Fieldss of clinical and sport biomechanics. To day of the month the consequence of changing the sequence of rotary motions has yet to be to the full investigated with regard to the ankle articulation composite ( Areblad et al. , 1990 ) . The intent of the current probe was to analyze the grade of sequence dependence associated with the cardanic method when depicting 3-D kinematics of the mor tise joint.The consequences indicate that changing the sequence of rotary motions when detecting kinematics in the sagittal plane has no important affect on joint scope of gesture parametric quantities. This is unsurprising given the laterality of sagittal plane gesture pace ( Novacheck, 1998 ) . This concurs with the bulk of literature with respects to sequence dependent angles as the wreath and cross plane motions are little in comparing to the sagittal plane and therefore the potency for two-dimensional cross-talk is minimum ( Areblad et al. , 1990 and Thewlis et al. , 2008 ) . Leading to the decision that choosing the appropriate sequence of rotary motions is non an issue when look intoing kinematics in the sagittal plane. However, for the coronal and cross planes a important consequence was found in footings of both the scope of gesture and peak angle observed during the stance stage. The consequences of this survey with regard to the mortise joint articulation found that the ZXY and YXZ sequences significantly affected ankle joint kinematics bring forthing highly big values for both scope of gesture and peak angles. The mistake associated with these sequences is such that the kinematic estimations are anatomically unrealistic. It is interesting to observe that the two combinations which were observed to be significantly different from the others ( YXZ and ZXY ) each had X 2nd in the order of rotary motions. This was the instance even when the principal axis under probe is placed foremost, where it could be assumed that the comparative orientation ( of the chief axis ) would be minimally affected by the grade of sagittal plane gesture holding been placed before it in the sequence. However, when the wreath and cross plane profiles are observed it is evident that peak angles occur at or around maximal dorsi-flexion. Thus it appears to back up the being of two-dimensional cross-talk, and concurs with the findings of ( Thewlis et al. , 2008, Kabada et al. , 1990 and Blankevoort et al. , 1988 ) . However when X is placed last in the order of rotary motions it has small consequence on the magnitude of the and the coronal and cross plane articulation profiles appear to be independent to motion in the sagittal plan e. These consequences appear to oppose those reported by Areblad et al. , ( 1990 ) who reported that changing the sequence of rotary motions has merely a little influence on the angular computations. However nevertheless, observation of the angular profiles and statistical informations suggests that there appears to be minimum transverse talk from the sagittal plane in informations which uses the XYZ sequence to cipher coronal and cross plane kinematics. Another, proposed method of quantifying angular kinematics is to see the principal axis under probe. Whereby the sequence of rotary motions is selected based on the plane being considered, with X placed last during coronal and cross plane rotary motions to cut down its weighting and rarefy cross-talk ( Richards et al. , 2008 ) . This method may hold virtue and could function as an option to the ISB method as the consequences suggest that cross talk is minimum utilizing this technique, but future probes are necessary to find whether it p rovides any extra benefits to the XYZ sequence. It is clear from the consequences that different computational methods can give different angular kinematic forms. Based on these consequences it appears that at the current clip the ISB recommendations are the most appropriate for the representation of ankle joint kinematics during the stance stage of running, and as such its usage is encouraged. The findings may hold wider deductions for research workers utilizing Cardan angles as portion of their kinematic informations decrease protocol. In add-on the consequences suggest that the YXZ and ZXY sequences produce the greatest mistake and therefore the use of these sequences to quantify ankle gesture outside the sagittal plane is strongly discouraged. This survey emphasizes the demand for new methods which allow angular kinematics to be measured accurately. Therefore, guaranting joint map is represented right.
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