Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Ancient Chinese Chou Dynasty

The Ancient Chinese Chou Dynasty The Chou or Zhou dynasty ruled China from about 1027 to about 221 B.C. It was the longest dynasty in Chinese history and the time when much of ancient Chinese culture developed. The Chou Dynasty followed the second Chinese dynasty, the Shang. Originally pastoralists, the Chou set up a (proto-)feudal social organization based on families with administrative bureaucracy. They also developed a middle class. Although a decentralized tribal system at the beginning, the Zhou became centralized over time. Iron was introduced and Confucianism developed. Also during this long era, Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War, in about 500 B.C. Chinese Philosophers and Religion During the Warring States period within the Chou dynasty, a class of scholars developed, whose members included the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. The Book of Changes was written during the Chou Dynasty. The philosopher Lao Tse was appointed librarian for the historical records of the Chou kings. This period is sometimes referred to as the One Hundred Schools Period. The Chou banned human sacrifice. They saw their success over the Shang as a mandate from heaven. Ancestor worship developed. The Start of the Chou Dynasty Wuwang (Warrior King) was the son of the leader of the Chou (Zhou), who were located on the western border of the Shangs China in what is now Shaanxi province. Wuwang formed a coalition with the leaders of other states to defeat the last, evil ruler of the Shang. They succeeded and Wuwang became the first king of the Chou dynasty (c.1046 to 43 B.C.). Division of the Chou Dynasty Conventionally, the Chou dynasty is divided into the Western or Royal Chou (c.1027 to 771 B.C.) and the Dong or Eastern Chou (c.770 to 221 B.C.) periods. The Dong Zhou itself is subdivided into the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu) period (c.770 to 476 B.C.), which was named for a book supposedly by Confucius and when iron weapons and farm implements replaced bronze, and the Warring States (Zhanguo) period (c.475 to 221 B.C.). At the start of the Western Chou, the empire of the Chou extended from Shaanxi to the Shandong peninsula and the Beijing area. The first kings of the Chou dynasty gave land to friends and relatives. Like the two previous dynasties, there was a recognized leader who passed power to his descendants. The vassals walled cities, also passed down patriarchally, developed into kingdoms. By the end of the Western Chou, the central government had lost all but nominal power, such as was required for rituals. During the Warring States period, the aristocratic system of warfare changed: peasants fought; there were new weapons, including crossbows, chariots, and iron armor. Developments During the Chou Dynasty During the Chou dynasty in China, ox-drawn plows, iron and iron casting, horseback riding, coinage, multiplication tables, chopsticks, and the crossbow were introduced. Roads, canals, and major irrigation projects were developed. Legalism Legalism developed during the Warring States period. Legalism is a school of philosophy that provided the philosophical background for the first imperial dynasty, the Qin Dynasty. Legalism accepted that humans are flawed and asserted that political institutions should recognize this. Therefore the state should be authoritarian, demanding strict obedience to the leader, and meting out known rewards and punishments. Resources and Further Reading Paul Halsall on the Chinese DynastiesChinese History Zhou DynastyLegalism. (2009). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online: search.eb.com/eb/article-9047627

Saturday, November 23, 2019

5 Ways to Get Inspired when Writing a College Paper

5 Ways to Get Inspired when Writing a College Paper 5 Ways to Get Inspired when Writing a College Paper Y’all know the drill by now. Your professor sets an assignment. You head to the library and get out the relevant textbook. You write up your paper and receive an average grade for your efforts. But what if â€Å"average† isn’t good enough? How do you make your work stand out? How do you get inspired when writing a college paper? One answer is â€Å"independent research,† which will make your work more original. It also demonstrates that you’ve engaged with the topic in depth (rather than merely remembering what you were taught in class). This, however, may involve venturing beyond the library walls in search of inspiration†¦ 1. Conferences and Workshops Some of the best places to get new ideas are academic conferences and workshops, especially if you want to find out about cutting-edge research when it’s first presented. Most conferences are aimed at professional academics and grad students, but it’s definitely worth looking to see if your college is hosting anything relevant to your subject. 2. Books and Journals While a good college library should have everything you need to get by, it’s always worth looking beyond the catalog for additional books and journals. Try checking the reference list in any set texts to see if something grabs your eye. If the library doesn’t have it, ask a librarian if they can order it in. Its here somewhere. Good luck finding it. [Photo: Djembayz/Wikimedia] 3. Getting On(line) The internet, to paraphrase Homer Simpson, is the cause of, and solution to, all of academia’s problems. On the one hand, journal databases provide a quick and easy way to access decades of research in various fields. College message boards, moreover, allow you to discuss academic (and non-academic) matters with other students around the country and beyond. On the other hand, you should be careful when doing research online, as not every internet source is considered suitable for academic work. We’re looking at you, Wikipedia. 4. Talking to Your Lecturers Back in meatspace, you could try asking lecturers, seminar leaders or other academic staff for advice. Most of them will be happy to recommend further reading. Heck, most of them will just be happy you’ve been paying attention. 5. Trade Magazines and Newsletters Finally, if you’re studying a major with connections to a particular industry, reading trade publications will help you to keep up with current news and events in your field. Probably best to go for a slightly more recent issue than this.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Property-liability insurance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Property-liability insurance - Research Paper Example Different insurance plans are needed that not only save the owners from many problems in future but also to satisfy the requirements of government regulatory offices and in acquiring loans from commercial banks. Property, general liability, workers’ compensation, automobile liability, liquor liability, life insurance, loss of business, food contamination, and specific peril insurance are the most commonly used contingency plans available. We will discuss these options one by one in length. Firstly, all business owners are required to have property insurance. A small amount of annual premium is paid to the insurance company against a full coverage from incidents like fire. One such incident can bring everything to ashes. National Fire Protection Association reports that fire related cases are the second highest cause after arson and constitute 14% of the total number of commercial fires in the US from 1999 to 2002 (Patrick, Nolan. 2008). Secondly, general liability insurance pl an protects from claims like ‘slip and fall’ or when a customer gets sick after eating food. Although it is named as ‘general liability’, business proprietors deal with such cases on a regular basis. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there are 25,000 food related shipments arrive per day from 100 different countries. Food and Drug Administration department manages to inspect only 1% of them (Patrick, Nolan. 2008). Therefore, food borne illness is on the rise more than ever. It makes imperative to have a general insurance plan. Beside an insurance plan that covers food borne illnesses, business owners should be careful about the inventory suppliers, technical specifics to store perishable items e.g. minimum required temperature for walk-ins and so on. Thirdly many states, like Texas, require restaurant owners to acquire liquor liability insurance. It responds to different liabilities cause by selling or serving liquor in the premises. For exampl e if some drunk and gets involved in a fight than the serving party is responsible. The worst scenario is when someone gets intoxicated, drives away, and involves in a traffic accident. Fourthly, if a worker gets injured while at work then you need worker compensation insurance. Let’s understand the importance of such liability plan with the help of a practical scenario. Suppose an employee is driving a company truck and gets cornered by another vehicle. As a result, the employee gets seriously injured. Now who compensates the employee? Since the party at fault carries worker compensation insurance so the claim will be settled down by the insurance company no matter how much it is. However, the annual premium goes high and thus affects the employer to a great deal. Fifthly, Life insurance is another optional plan that the owners may consider for themselves. In case of the owner’s demise, the heirs may not have enough to pay for his debts. In this case the business will be possessed by the lender. Many multinational companies and corporations offer this plan to their employees also. But it costs a hefty amount to the employer in terms of premium. An employees’ death on the premises raise claims, then life insurance plan addresses such liabilities towards the employer. Sixthly, Loss of Business insurance

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Impact of interest rates on the typical consumer in the economy Essay

Impact of interest rates on the typical consumer in the economy - Essay Example Many people work hard in order to fulfill their aspirations of owning their dream home or buying a brand new car. To afford these, numerous consumers resort to borrowing from financial institutions such as banks, which impose interest rate on the said loans. When interest rates go up, the cost of borrowing increases. This means that should they decide to push through with purchasing the house or car this period their monthly amortization would be relatively higher. If the amortization amount goes beyond the consumer's budget, he/she may decide to defer buying the new house or car. With this, it becomes evident that interest rate uptrend complicates borrowing decisions since consumers become confronted with the uncertainty if the said trend would prevail in the long term. As such, consumers usually suspend purchasing big-ticket items when interest rates climb. This may potentially lead to a contraction in the housing or automobile markets as well as in other industries. On the contrary, an interest rate downtrend easily translates to a boom in the housing market and various industries for big-ticket items. A low interest rate environment augurs well with consumers, as they are encouraged to borrow in financing their purchases. This condition fuels consumption spending since consumers are driven by the relatively lower interest payments they would be potentially servicing every month. Cost of Loans/Mortgages For those who are currently servicing debt payments under adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), jump in interest rates entail ballooning monthly payments. Given this, an upward movement in interest rate puts the period of full ownership of a house further over the horizon. This may even lead to payment default or property foreclosures for homeowners on tight budgets who may be having a hard time affording rising mortgage payments. In this regard, increase in interest rates creates a dent on income which results in lower spending of consumers. However, on the upside, should interest rates go down then there maybe a downward adjustment on consumers' monthly payments. As a result, they are left with more disposable income which they could allot for other purchases. Credit Card Purchases Not only does an interest rate movement affect consumer spending for big-ticket items but also for ordinary expenditures such as groceries, utility bills and other household items among others. Since there are a considerable number of consumers who purchase using their credit cards, an increase in interest rates may lead to an uptick in credit card rates and the amount consumers have to pay for monthly credit card charges. With this, consumers who are not so liquid, i.e. those who do not have ample cash on hand, may cut back on credit purchases. In the same way, consumers may perceive that lower credit card rates make them better off as they are able to derive "savings" from what they would have paid when rates were much higher. This goads them to spend more to take advantage of low rates. Savings Incentive Apart from spending, interest rates also affect consumer savings. With higher interest rates, consumers have greater incentive to save because their deposits may earn higher interest income. However, a low interest rate regime brings about disincentive to save. When interest rates slide, so does the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Infrared Film and Thermography Essay Example for Free

Infrared Film and Thermography Essay Thermogram of a traditional building in the background and a passive house in the foreground Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal imaging, and thermal video are examples of infrared imaging science. Thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 9,000–14,000 nanometers or 9–14  µm) and produce images of that radiation, called thermograms. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects above absolute zero according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to see ones environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature; therefore, thermography allows one to see variations in temperature. When viewed through a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; humans and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, day or night. As a result, thermography is particularly useful to military and other users of surveillance cameras. Thermography has a long history, although its use has increased dramatically with the commercial and industrial applications of the past fifty years. Government and airport personnel used thermography to detect suspected swine flu cases during the 2009 pandemic.[1] Firefighters use thermography to see through smoke, to find persons, and to localize the base of a fire. Maintenance technicians use thermography to locate overheating joints and sections of power lines, which are a sign of impending failure. Building construction technicians can see thermal signatures that indicate heat leaks in faulty thermal insulation and can use the results to improve the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning units. Some physiological changes in human beings and other warm-blooded animals can also be monitored with thermal imaging during clinical diagnostics. Thermogram of cat. The appearance and operation of a modern thermographic camera is often similar to a camcorder. Often the live thermogram reveals temperature variations so clearly that a photograph is not necessary for analysis. A recording module is therefore not always built-in. Non-specialized CCD and CMOS sensors have most of their spectral sensitivity in the visible light wavelength range. However by utilizing the trailing area of their spectral sensitivity, namely the part of the infrared spectrum called near-infrared (NIR), and by using off-the-shelf CCTV camera it is possible under certain circumstances to obtain true thermal images of objects with temperatures at about 280 °C and higher.[2] Specialized thermal imaging cameras use focal plane arrays (FPAs) that respond to longer wavelengths (mid- and long-wavelength infrared). The most common types are InSb, InGaAs, HgCdTe and QWIP FPA. The newest technologies use low-cost, uncooled microbolometers as FPA sensors. Their resolution is considerably lower than that of optical cameras, mostly 160120 or 320240 pixels, up to 640512 for the most expensive models. Thermal imaging cameras are much more expensive than their visible-spectrum counterparts, and higher-end models are often export-restricted due to the military uses for this technology. Older bolometers or more sensitive models such as InSb require cryogenic cooling, usually by a miniature Stirling cycle refrigerator or liquid nitrogen. | Thermal Energy This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) | Thermal images, or thermograms, are actually visual displays of the amount of infrared energy emitted, transmitted, and reflected by an object. Because there are multiple sources of the infrared energy, it is difficult to get an accurate temperature of an object using this method. A thermal imaging camera is capable of performing algorithms to interpret that data and build an image. Although the image shows the viewer an approximation of the temperature at which the object is operating, the camera is actually using multiple sources of data based on the areas surrounding the object to determine that value rather than detecting the actual temperature. This phenomenon may become clearer upon consideration of the formula Incident Energy = Emitted Energy + Transmitted Energy + Reflected Energy where Incident Energy is the energy profile when viewed through a thermal imaging camera. Emitted Energy is generally what is intended to be measured. Transmitted Energy is the energy that passes through the subject from a remote thermal source. Reflected Energy is the amount of energy that reflects off the surface of the object from a remote thermal source. If the object is radiating at a higher temperature than its surroundings, then power transfer will be taking place and power will be radiating from warm to cold following the principle stated in the Second Law of Thermodynamics. So if there is a cool area in the thermogram, that object will be absorbing the radiation emitted by the warm object. The ability of both objects to emit or absorb this radiation is called emissivity. Under outdoor environments, convective cooling from wind may also need to be considered when trying to get an accurate temperature reading. This thermogram shows a fault with an industrial electrical fuse block. The thermal imaging camera would next employ a series of mathematical algorithms. Since the camera is only able to see the electromagnetic radiation that is impossible to detect with the human eye, it will build a picture in the viewer and record a visible picture, usually in a JPG format. In order to perform the role of noncontact temperature recorder, the camera will change the temperature of the object being viewed with its emissivity setting. Other algorithms can be used to affect the measurement, including the transmission ability of the transmitting medium (usually air) and the temperature of that transmitting medium. All these settings will affect the ultimate output for the temperature of the object being viewed. This functionality makes the thermal imaging camera an excellent tool for the maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems in industry and commerce. By using the proper camera settings and by being careful when capturing the image, electrical systems can be scanned and problems can be found. Faults with steam traps in steam heating systems are easy to locate. In the energy savings area, the thermal imaging camera can do more. Because it can see the radiating temperature of an object as well as what that object is radiating at, the product of the radiation can be calculated using the Stefan–Boltzmann constant. Emissivity Emissivity is a term representing a materials ability to emit thermal radiation. Each material has a different emissivity, and it can be difficult to determine the appropriate emissivity for a subject. A materials emissivity can range from a theoretical 0.00 (completely not-emitting) to an equally-theoretical 1.00 (completely emitting); the emissivity often varies with temperature. An example of a substance with low emissivity would be silver, with an emissivity coefficient of .02. An example of a substance with high emissivity would be asphalt, with an emissivity coefficient of .98. A black body is a theoretical object which will radiate infrared radiation at its contact temperature. If a thermocouple on a black body radiator reads 50  °C, the radiation the black body will give up will also be 50  °C. Therefore a true black body will have an emissivity of Thermogram of a snake held by a human. Since there is no such thing as a perfect black body, the infrared radiation of normal objects will appear to be less than the contact temperature. The rate (percentage) of emission of infrared radiation will thus be a fraction of the true contact temperature. This fraction is called emissivity. Some objects have different emissivities in long wave as compared to mid wave emissions. Emissivities may also change as a function of temperature in some materials.[3] To make a temperature measurement of an object, the thermographer will refer to the emissivity table to choose the emissivity value of the object, which is then entered into the camera. The cameras algorithm will correct the temperature by using the emissivity to calculate a temperature that more closely matches the actual contact temperature of the object. If possible, the thermographer would try to test the emissivity of the object in question. This would be more accurate than attempting to determine the emissivity of the object via a table. The usual method of testing the emissivity is to place a material of known high emissivity in contact with the surface of the object. The material of known emissivity can be as complex as industrial emissivity spray which is produced specifically for this purpose, or it can be as simple as standard black insulation tape, emissivity 0.97. A temperature reading can then be taken of the object with the emissivity level on the imager set to the value of the test material. This will give an accurate value of the temperature of the object. The temperature can then be read on a part of the object not covered with the test material. If the temperature reading is different, the emissivity level on the imager can be adjusted until the object reads the same temperature. This will give the thermographer a much more accurate emissivity reading. There are times, however, when an emissivity test is not possible due to dangerous or inaccessible conditions. In these situations the thermographer must rely on tables. Difference between infrared film and thermography IR film is sensitive to infrared (IR) radiation in the 250 °C to 500 °C range, while the range of thermography is approximately -50 °C to over 2,000 °C. So, for an IR film to work thermographically, it must be over 250 °C or be reflecting infrared radiation from something that is at least that hot. (Usually, infrared photographic film is used in conjunction with an IR illuminator, which is a filtered incandescent source or IR diode illuminator, or else with an IR flash (usually a xenon flash that is IR filtered). These correspond with active near-IR modes as discussed in the next section. Night vision infrared devices image in the near-infrared, just beyond the visual spectrum, and can see emitted or reflected near-infrared in complete visual darkness. However, again, these are not usually used for thermography due to the high temperature requirements, but are instead used with active near-IR sources. Starlight-type night vision devices generally only magnify ambient light. Passive vs. active thermography All objects above the absolute zero temperature (0 K) emit infrared radiation. Hence, an excellent way to measure thermal variations is to use an infrared vision device, usually a focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera capable of detecting radiation in the mid (3 to 5 ÃŽ ¼m) and long (7 to 14 ÃŽ ¼m) wave infrared bands, denoted as MWIR and LWIR, corresponding to two of the high transmittance infrared windows. Abnormal temperature profiles at the surface of an object are an indication of a potential problem.[4] Thermal imaging camera screen. Thermal imaging can detect elevated body temperature, one of the signs of the virus H1N1 (Swine influenza). In passive thermography, the features of interest are naturally at a higher or lower temperature than the background. Passive thermography has many applications such as surveillance of people on a scene and medical diagnosis (specifically thermology). In active thermography, an energy source is required to produce a thermal contrast between the feature of interest and the background. The active approach is necessary in many cases given that the inspected parts are usually in equilibrium with the surroundings. Advantages of thermography * It shows a visual picture so temperatures over a large area can be compared * It is capable of catching moving targets in real time * It is able to find deteriorating, i.e., higher temperature components prior to their failure * It can be used to measure or observe in areas inaccessible or hazardous for other methods * It is a non-destructive test method * It can be used to find defects in shafts, pipes, and other metal or plastic parts[5] * It can be used to detect objects in dark areas * It has some medical application, essentially in kinesiotherapy Limitations and disadvantages of thermography * Quality cameras often have a high price range (often US$ 3,000 or more), cheaper are only 4040 up to 120120 pixels * Images can be difficult to interpret accurately when based upon certain objects, specifically objects with erratic temperatures, although this problem is reduced in active thermal imaging[6] * Accurate temperature measurements are hindered by differing emissivities and reflections from other surfaces[7] * Most cameras have  ±2% accuracy or worse in measurement of temperature and are not as accurate as contact methods [8] * Only able to directly detect surface temperatures * Condition of work, depending of the case, can be drastic: 10 °C of difference between internal/external, 10km/h of wind maximum, no direct sun, no recent rain, Applications Kite aerial thermogram of the site of Ogilface Castle, Scotland. * Condition monitoring * Digital infrared thermal imaging in health care * Medical imaging * Infrared mammography * Archaeological Kite Aerial Thermography: Kite_aerial_photography * Thermology * Veterinary Thermal Imaging * Night vision * UAV Surveillance[9] * Stereo vision[10] * Research * Process control * Nondestructive testing * Surveillance in security, law enforcement and defence * Chemical imaging * Volcanology[11][12] * Building [13] Thermal imaging cameras convert the energy in the infrared wavelength into a visible light display. All objects above absolute zero emit thermal infrared energy, so thermal cameras can passively see all objects, regardless of ambient light. However, most thermal cameras only see objects warmer than -50 °C. The spectrum and amount of thermal radiation depend strongly on an objects surface temperature. This makes it possible for a thermal imaging camera to display an objects temperature. However, other factors also influence the radiation, which limits the accuracy of this technique. For example, the radiation depends not only on the temperature of the object, but is also a function of the emissivity of the object. Also, radiation originates from the surroundings and is reflected in the object, and the radiation from the object and the reflected radiation will also be influenced by the absorption of the atmosphere.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Patient Transition into Hospice Care Essay -- Analysis of Care Transit

I. Introduction The patient presented in this paper is Ms. H an 83 year old African American woman that appears younger than stated age with a history of Multiple Myeloma. The patient chart was reviewed and an interview conducted. Interestingly the patient had retained every note, lab, hospital H&P and discharge summary in a file folder in her possession. Ms. H was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in April of 2008 when she was being worked up at her dentist for a toothache. X-rays performed revealed she had bone lesions in her zygomatic process and in her skull above her right eye. She was referred to Oncology Hematology Care for further work-up. A bone marrow biopsy revealed she had Multiple Myeloma. During the course of treatment the patient received Thalidomide, Revlimid, Velcade, Aredia, Zometa, and Decadron. Remission was achieved and the patient underwent stem cell transplant in February of 2009. The transplant was successful and the patient was cancer free until August of 2012 when she receiv ed news that her cancer had recurred. Current meds are Lisinopril 20 mg PO daily for HTN, Omeprazole 40 mg PO for GERD, Topamax 25 mg BID for headaches, Calcium 500 mg PO TID for osteoporosis, Zofran 4 mg every 6 hrs/prn for nausea, Vicodin 5/325mg every 4 hours/prn for pain control. Ms. H has 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren that are in their early 20’s. During the initial treatment phase Ms. H was employed part time at J.C. Penney. Once she was sent to Jewish for bone marrow transplant, she retired. She is on traditional Medicare with Medicaid due to reaching the cap on her secondary Humana plan. Ms. H is divorced but has a supportive friend Mr. P that has been at her side throughout her diagnosis and treatment. He... ... benefit. V. Analysis of Transition Admission Forms Admission forms include Consent, HIPPA Acknowledgement Form, Patient and Family Rights Statement Receipt, Permission to Bill Medicare. Forms required for hospice admission are few and concisely written to reflect the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Patients who are compromised enough to sign their own forms are usually ill enough that the number of forms needed are appreciated. Ms. H and family were amazed and happy with the need for fewer signatures to admit. References (1.)Blood. 2008 March 15; 111(6): 2962–2972. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-10-078022 PMCID: PMC2265446 (2)ASH 50th Anniversary Review Article on Multiple Myeloma†¦(look up) (3)Publication Date: 2008-03-18Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 9 - Coverage of Hospice (4) JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE Volume 9, Number 6, 2006

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Littlefield Technologies Essay

Managing Customer Responsiveness at Littlefield Technologies Background Littlefield Technologies (LT) has developed another DSS product. The new product is manufactured using the same process as the product in the assignment â€Å"Capacity Management at Littlefield Technologies† — neither the process sequence nor the process time distributions at each tool have changed. On day 0, the factory began operations with three stuffers, one tester, and one tuner, and a raw materials inventory of 9600 kits. This left the factory with $1,000,000 in reserves. Customer demand continues to be random, but the long-run average demand will not change over the product’ 268-day lifetime. At the end s of this lifetime, demand will end abruptly and factory operations will be terminated. At this point, all capacity and remaining inventory will be useless, and thus have no value. Management would like to charge the higher prices that customers would pay for dramatically shorter lead times. However, historic lead times often extend into several days, so management has been unwilling to quote the shorter lead times. Operations Policies at Littlefield LT uses a Reorder Point / Order Quantity raw material purchase policy. That is, raw kits are purchased as soon as the following three criteria are all met: (1) the inventory of raw kits is less than the reorder point, (2) there are no orders for raw kits currently outstanding, and (3) the factory has sufficient cash to purchase the reorder quantity. No order is placed if any of these three criteria are not met. So, for example, a team could prevent orders from being placed at all by setting the order quantity so high that there is insufficient cash to place an order. Kits are purchased in multiples of 60 because orders arrive in batches of 60. A reliable supplier delivers exactly the order quantity of batches, four days after the order is placed and paid for. Management considers physical cost of holding inventory negligible compared to the financial costs. Other details concerning the purchasing policy can be found in the â€Å"Littlefield Technologies — Overview† note. The current reorder point and reorder quantity can be changed by clicking on â€Å"Edit Data† on the Materials Buffer icon. Customers are willing to pay a premium for fast lead times, and you now have three pricing contracts to choose from: †¢ price = $750; quoted lead time = 7 days; maximum lead time = 14 days. (This is the contract that the factory starts with). †¢ price = $1000; quoted lead time = 1 day; maximum lead time = 3 days. †¢ price = $1250; quoted lead time = 0.5 days; maximum lead time = 1 day. As before, if an order’ lead time exceeds the quoted lead time, then the revenue for that s order decreases linearly, from the prices above for the quoted lead time to $0 for the maximum lead time. A contract is assigned to an order as soon as it arrives at the factory, and that contract cannot be changed subsequently for that order. Contracts for future orders can be selected by clicking on â€Å"Edit Data† on the Customer Order icon. You will also notice a few days where zero jobs are completed by the factory. On such days, the daily average lead time and daily average revenues are meaningless, so a value of zero will appear in the plots and downloaded data on those days. You are also allowed to buy and sell machines and change the scheduling rule at the tester. Assignment The factory has been running for 50 simulated days, and management has recalled the high-powered operations team (you) to manage the capacity, scheduling, purchasing, lot sizing, and contract quotations to maximize the cash generated by the factory over its lifetime. Management is not providing any operating budget beyond the cash generated by the factory itself. You will have control of the factory from day 50 to day 218. At 1 hour per simulated day, this translates to 7 real days. At day 218, you lose control of the factory, and the simulation will quickly run another 50 days of simulation. When you lose control of the factory, management expects you to leave the factory parameters set to maximize the factory’ cash position when the factory shuts down on day 268. After the simulation s ends on day 268, you can check the status of your factory, but the factory will no longer be running. Your team should turn in one summary of what actions you took during the week you had access to the factory, why you took those actions, and in retrospect whether you think you did the right thing. Show analysis to justify your conclusions. Your team’ grade will be s partially based on your performance, but mainly based on your summary. The summary cannot exceed 3 pages in length, and no appendices are allowed.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

A Right to Bear Arms: Living the Second Amendment

Linda Hasselstrom vehemently defends her choice of means to protect herself in her essay, â€Å"A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun†.The topic of gun control provides for a heated debate between those that believe guns are dangerous and unnecessary and those who rely both on the protection of the gun and the right to its possession.Rather than waxing philosophic on her rights under the Second Amendment, she describes years of feeling powerless and finding that the conventional and more passive methods of self-defense are simply ineffective. Hasselstrom makes a convincing case for her choice to carry a gun.The most persuasive aspect of the essay is the way that Hasselstrom leads the reader to the obvious conclusion that gun possession was her only option. She describes, on page 371, the advice given to women to avoid certain situations.While she complies, she is irritated at the idea that the precautions only apply to females, and that females must fear men. Next, s he describes incidents in which she felt helpless because more physically powerful men were immune to polite requests and common decency. Instead of going directly to the gun, she spent time learning martial arts and self-defense, only to realize that the sheer size difference was too great a disadvantage.Her most convincing argument is the story of the woman who called for help for a flat tire only to be raped and beaten. Hasselstrom’s implication is that if the woman had a gun in her possession, it never would have happened.In conclusion, Hasselstrom does not suggest that every woman carry a gun, nor does she recommend using that gun to threaten anyone unnecessarily. Rather, she keeps the gun for protection and only reveals it in order to protect herself.Not only is â€Å"A Peaceful Woman†¦Ã¢â‚¬  a convincing argument for gun possession, but it is also a tribute to the lasting nature of the Second Amendment.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

On Human Humor and Irony essays

On Human Humor and Irony essays Analysis of The Kugelmass Episode by Woody Allen Sidney Kugelmass first wife was Flo with whom he had two dull sons. Their marriage was a failure ending with a divorce. He had to give alimony and support to his children and this eventually burdened him. Kugelmass second wife was an oaf woman named Daphne. Their marriage had been unhappy, too. Kugelmass had been telling his analyst how he regretted marrying fat Daphne who swelled up like a beach ball. (2) He also mentioned that, although he admitted it not to be enough, one of his reasons of marrying Daphne is her few bucks. (2) Aside from his marital qualms, he also brought up his desire for an implicit love affair with a new woman. He said that he wanted romance in Venice, at the famous New York restaurant 21, or in front of wine and candlelight. He also told him that the other woman must not come from City College where his wife and he, as a humanities professor, were working. He wanted the relationship to be discreet, though, for he nevertheless did not want a second divorce. Kugelmass also confessed about the dream he had the night before he went to the analyst. He dreamt of himself skipping through a meadow holding the Options-marked basket only to find out that the basket had a hole. His analyst was appalled by what Kugelmass disclosed. He told Kugelmass that an affair would not solve any of his problems. He tried to make it clear to his patient that he needed something more than this short-term cure for his deep-seated problems. He declared that he could not propose such an overnight solution since he was an analyst and not a magician. Kugelmass did not want to take it from his analyst so he terminated his treatment and opted for the Great Persky, a magician, who all of a sudden phoned him offering an instant fulfillment of his hidden desire for a new affair. He convened with Persky in a decr...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Basic Japanese Language Vocabulary with Audio Files

Basic Japanese Language Vocabulary with Audio Files When you are learning Japanese, it is essential to hear the words spoken. These audio words and phrases are grouped by topic and you can use them to learn to speak Japanese. Hiragana Pronunciation with Audio Files The following tables contains the 46 basic sounds found in Japanese. Click the link to listen the pronunciation of each hiragana character. (a) (i) (u) (e) (o) (ka) (ki) (ku) (ke) (ko) (sa) (shi) (su) (se) (so) (ta) (chi) (tsu) (te) (to) (na) (ni) (nu) (ne) (no) (ha) (hi) (fu) (he) (ho) (ma) (mi) (mu) (me) (mo) (ya) (yu) (yo) (ra) (ri) (ru) (re) (ro) (wa) (o) (n) Katakana Pronunciation with Audio Files   Here are the 46 basic Japanese sounds. Click the link to listen the pronunciation. (a) (i) (u) (e) (o) (ka) (ki) (ku) (ke) (ko) (sa) (shi) (su) (se) (so) (ta) (chi) (tsu) (te) (to) (na) (ni) (nu) (ne) (no) (ha) (hi) (fu) (he) (ho) (ma) (mi) (mu) (me) (mo) (ya) (yu) (yo) (ra) (ri) (ru) (re) (ro) (wa) (o) (n) Verbs Learning verbs when learning a new language is obviously very important. In the table below I have created a list of some of the most important verbs that someone new to Japanese should know.   If you are not familiar with Japanese verbs at all, follow this link to learn about verb groups and conjugations.  If you would like to hear the pronunciation of each verb, click the link and small audio file will play for you. Group 1 Verbs Dictionary Form(Basic Form) English Formal Form The ~ te Form aruku to walk arukimasu aruite asobu to play asobimasu asonde au to meet aimasu atte hairu to enter hairimasu haitte hajimaru to begin hajimarimasu hajimatte iku to go ikimasu itte kaeru to return kaerimasu kaette kakaru to take kakarimasu kakatte kaku to write kakimasu kaite kau to buy kaimasu katte kiku to listen kikimasu kiite matsu to wait machimasu matte motsu to have mochimasu motte narau to learn naraimasu naratte nomu to drink nomimasu nonde okuru to send okurimasu okutte omou to think omoimasu omotte oyogu to swim oyogimasu oyoide shiru to know shirimasu shitte suwaru to sit suwarimasu suwatte tatsu to stand tachimasu tatte tomaru to stop tomarimasu tomatte tsuku to arrive tsukimasu tsuite uru to sell urimasu utte utau to sing utaimasu utatte wakaru to understand wakarimasu wakatte warau to laugh waraimasu waratte yomu to read yomimasu yonde Group 2 Verbs kangaeru to think kangaemasu kangaete miru to see mimasu mite neru to sleep nemasu nete oshieru to teach oshiemasu oshiete taberu to eat tabemasu tabete Group 3 Verbs kuru to come kimasu kite suru to do shimasu shite At the Restaurant Click the link to hear the pronunciation.   ueitoresu waitress Irasshaimase. Welcome to our store. (Used as a greeting to customers in stores.) nanmei sama how many people (It is very polite way of saying how many people. Nannin is less formal.) futari two people kochira this way Sumimasen. Excuse me. menyuu menu Onegaishimasu. Please do me a favor. (A convenient phrase used when making a request.) Shou shou omachi kudasai. Please wait a moment. (formal expression) Douzo. Here you are. Doumo. Thanks. go-chuumon order boku I (informal, it is used by men only) sushi no moriawase assorted sushi hitotsu one (Native Japanese number) o-nomimono beverage Ikaga desu ka. Would you like ~? biiru beer morau to receive Kashikomarimashita. Certainly. (Literally means, I understand.) nanika anything Iie, kekkou desu. No, thank you. Rooms and Furnishings Click the link to hear the pronunciation.   heya room ima living room daidokoro kitchen shinshitsu bedroom toire bathroom genkan entrance niwa garden kabe wall tenjou ceiling yaneura attic yuka floor mado window Furniture kagu furniture tsukue desk hondana book shelf isu chair tansu chest of drawers beddo bed todana cupboard Appliances reizouko refrigerator reitouko freezer sentakuki washer kansouki dryer oobun oven denshi renji microwave suihanki rice cooker soujiki vacuum cleaner terebi TV More Audio Phrases and Words by Topic Animals: From bird to zebra, heres the menagerie. Body: These words are especially useful if you need medical help. Calendar: Months, days of the week, and seasons. Colors: All colors are treated as nouns. Listen to the rainbow. Dates: These follow a basic rule of the number plus nichi. Family: Learn how to talk about your family and somebody elses family. Foods: Basics for food, meals, and phrases related to eating. Greetings: The basic phrases you will need. Introducing People: Learn how to introduce people and hear the vocabulary and expressions. Location: Dont wander about lost. You need these phrases to get directions. Numbers: How to count in Japanese. On the Phone: How to speak a phone number, plus phrases you will need for a phone call in Japanese. Tea: How to order tea and how to  pronounce  different types of tea. Time: How to express the time of day and ask and answer questions about time. Travel: Words and expressions youll need when youre on the move. Useful Expressions: Simple yes, no, thanks, and other basics. Weather: How to talk about what its doing outside. Adjectives: from near to far, clean to dirty, youll want to know these modifiers. Adverbs: From always to never, together to separately.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

In Class Essay #2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

In Class #2 - Essay Example weat shop labor has become the major means of producing fake and cheap goods especially in the textile market and the working conditions are deplorable with meager wages being given to the workers. While Goodwin argues that sweatshop labor provides a means of employment for women who are dominated by men. The employment gives them a chance to be financially independent and to make their own choices. However, it must also be borne in mind that the women are subjected to horrendous working conditions and paid very little wages. It is their employer who enjoys maximum benefits out of the profit. This inequality in profit distribution will never help the working class to grow and lead a better life. Additionally all the goods produced by such companies are counterfeit and intellectual property theft has risen drastically over the past years. Purchase of such goods by consumers with the notion that they are genuine and later realizing that they aren’t results in loss of consumer tr ust and that in turn could be a major blow to design houses that invent the goods. Among the other countries China produces a major chunk of such fake products which have created a market for themselves. The massive unemployment coupled with economic restructuring has resulted in many people including children opting for job that pay meager wages. Employment of children by such companies has been on a rise as recent reports in China indicate that children could constitute about 20 percent of the workforce which prevents them from fulfilling their right to education. While men and women are paid only a fraction of the minimum wage that they are due, the plight of the children could be even worse. Their young age and vigor are misused and are expected to work day and night and in some cases with only one day off in a year. While the law states that it is illegal to employ children who are under 16 for work, it is not strictly enforced. Thus the entire scenario includes breach of human rights,

Friday, November 1, 2019

Annotated Bibliography& Academic Criticism Research Paper

Annotated Bibliography& Academic Criticism - Research Paper Example Such well-constructed annotations make all the difference when they are attached to a scholarly research paper. The skills required for such concise exposition has to be developed in a measured manner. A well-chosen annotated bibliography can raise the value of the research work and inform the reader of its reliability at the same time. Developing annotated biography demands greater intellectual and analytical skills. In order to achieve such skills of the higher order, greater efforts are needed and working on annotated bibliography equip the researcher with such finer skills besides familiarising them with formatting and other such aspects of creating annotated bibliography. In brief, the paper aims at developing the appropriate skills required to construct annotated bibliography which is well-directed, without compromising the refinement that it demands. Introduction The feedback received from peers and tutor can be summarised as below. The format of an annotated bibliography is s ignificant and its concise style holds the key. It has to be pithy and condensed. A forceful and uninterrupted progression of the thought stripped of all the details is an essential ingredient. Furthermore, a lucid style can retain the interest of the reader and convey the message or theme straightaway. It is worthwhile to keep in mind that the reader has greater importance than anybody else and therefore a narrative style that focuses on the theme and interest the reader has to be maintained throughout. Next up, the annotation must present the central argument vividly and convincingly. Listing the content is not the task on hand; the central recurring theme and the authority of the author are to be established beyond any doubt. It is always good to appraise and analyse the source content critically and evaluate its merit commenting on the author’s approach and way of presentation. In short, annotations are critical, concise and evaluative. Ebegbulem, J. C.(11June 2012).Corru ption and leadership crisis in Africa: Nigeria in focus. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3 (11): 221-227. The paper by Ebogbulem throws light on the rampant corruption and inept leadership that plague post-independent Africa especially Nigeria. A country rich in natural resources bear the brunt of illiteracy, unemployment, malnutrition and poverty. Ebegbulem (2012) discuses in detail the factors that have contributed to the present crisis in Nigeria, that has brought democracy and economic growth to a standstill. Economic mismanagement and fraudulent misappropriation by people in power has spelled economic disaster, causing abject poverty for the people. The author further argues that the leadership crisis has been triggered by corruption. The paper categorically states that the leadership, both democratic and military, has ever inflicted untold miseries on the Nigerians, robbing public wealth. Ebegbulem goes on to examine how the democratic stability and econo mic growth are affected when corruption and its resultant bad governance strikes. Ebegbulem concludes that a strong leadership committed to the welfare of the people alone can reverse the trend. In the context of Nigeria the author drives home the point that corruption and bad governance destabilising the democracy and economy are entwined. The paper brings into limelight the stark realities haunting Nigeria. The narrative style is straightforward and objective. Obo,U. B &Obo E. B. (7 July 2013). Public Policies and the Crisis of Underdevelopment in Nigeria: A Critical