Her First Ball Essay

My first impression of Leila simply from the first page of â€Å"Her First Ball,† was that she was an innocent girl that wasn’t completely satisfied with her current situation in life. Leila was portrayed as having a weak/inexperienced heart. For example, â€Å"†¦she couldn’t have helped crying because she was an only child, and no brother had ever said ‘Twig? ’ to her† (265), and for the fact that being different from the others bothered her. Despite her innocence and immaturity, she attempts to compose herself and act mature than she is capable of by â€Å"trying not to smile too much; she tried not to care† (265). Her life up to now wasn’t eventful or memorable in any way and she has a desire to cling onto the present/momentary excitement and not let go. â€Å"She would remember forever. It even gave her a pang to see her cousin Laurie throw away the wisps of tissue†¦as a keepsake, as a remembrance† (265), shows her emotions on how she wants to keep hold of every little detail of this first ball. I made the connection of this ball being her first in relation to not only the actual ball, but numerous ‘first times’ down her path of becoming mature. First time interacting with the opposite gender, feeling the lack of maturity amongst the other girls in the ladies’ room and first time in being hit in the head with reality, a frightening image from the fat man that Leila had never considered before, resulting in a somewhat loss of her previous innocence. I was able to relate to Leila’s situation of having missed out on the experiences of the ‘real world,’ such as the comparison between Leila and the Sheridan girls. Having lived in Abbotsford for my entire middle school life, I believe I missed out on experiences that I would have had if I lived out in the city (Surrey), seeing that Abbotsford is relatively an isolated/country city. Although I wasn’t as isolated as having the â€Å"nearest neighbor for fifteen miles† (265), I felt I could relate to Leila’s uncontrollable excitement that she felt while she was taking in her new surroundings. The impactful last sentence of the story, â€Å"She didn’t even recognize him again† (270), I found it almost eerie regarding the fact that it seemed like her memory was wiped blank. I questioned that even though her innocence was already long gone, whether that meant she would have to go through the same horrible process of being hit on the head by reality, as the first time she met the fat man and how she will be able to cope with the shock and sadness she feels every time. Throughout the reading, her style of writing, her word choices portrayed Leila’s perspective of her first ball in a magical/fantasy way. The presentation of a perfectly set up ball, â€Å"she clutched her fan, and gazing at the gleaming, golden floor, the azaleas, the lanterns, the stage at one end with its red carpet†¦how heavenly; how simply heavenly (267)! Every little detail was attractive and well suited to her fantastical desires. Leila was not yet revealed to the somewhat frightening reality that comes along with her magical world that is inevitable.

Analysis of Competition on the Book “Maus”

Competition in Maus The book Maus addresses the issue of the Holocaust and tells the story of Vladek in detail, a man who survived Auschwitz. However, one of the most striking things about the story is not the surviving issue, but how it reveals the relationship between Vladek and his son. Competition is everywhere in the story. In the first book Vladek had a competitive relationship with his son Artie, but throughout the story the competition falls into the hands of Artie and Richieu, the dead brother.Artie is constantly struggling with the broken relationship he has with his father. When talking to Pavel, Artie says: â€Å"No matter what I have accomplished, it doesn’t seem like much compared to surviving Aushwitz† (II, 45). Artie’s life experiences and those of his father are completely different and this difference seems to increase the distance between them. People have different stories and backgrounds, but their skills and greatness can’t be measure d by one individual event, such as the Holocaust.Due to this eternal competition imposed by his father, Artie's purpose for writing the book may have started in order to record family history, but this was a superficial cover attempting to overcome his deeper feelings of inferiority he felt while around his father. â€Å"He loved showing off how handy he was†¦ and proving that anything I did was all wrong. He made me completely neurotic about fixing stuff†¦ One reason I became an artist was that he thought it was impractical-just a waste of time†¦ It was an area where I wouldn’t have to compete with him† (I, 97).In fact, Artie did show his competence through writing the book and being able to portrait his dad’s story so well. A passage that demonstrates how Vladek always seems to be making Artie feel incompetent is when Vladek knocks over a his bottle of pills and blames it on Artie. â€Å"Look now what you made me do! † (I, 30). Even thoug h Vladek knows it was his own fault, he doesn’t want to admit it. Then Artie tells him â€Å"Okay, I’ll re-count them later†. 30), but Vladek replies saying that Artie doesn’t know how to count his pills and adds â€Å"I’m an expert for this† (30). These two quotes clearly show how Vladek is always trying to prove himself better than his son. Vladek never gives Artie the chance to prove that he is capable of doing anything and this increases the distance between father and son. Another example of Vladek's necessity for dominance is shown when he accidently breaks a plate and gets really upset. Artie tries to remedy the ituation and offers to do the dishes, but his father replies in his broken English, â€Å"No. You can defrost out the turkey legs†¦ you only would break me the rest of my plates† (II, 73). Vladek is always trying to give him easier jobs and won't admit that Artie is equally capable of anything because this would pu t a hole in his credibility. With credibility comes dominance, and without it he loses it. If he loses his dominance over Artie, this would free Artie from the comparison trap because he wouldn't feel inferior anymore.On the second book, Artie tells Francoise about Richieu and how his parents had always had a picture of the dead brother in their room, but never a picture of Artie. â€Å"The photo never threw tantrums or got in any kind of trouble†¦ it was an ideal kid, and I was a pain the ass. I couldn’t compete† (II, 15). Due to this eternal competition with Richieu, Artie was caught in a â€Å"competition trap† that he struggled with his whole life. This boxed Artie in. Because everything he did was compared to an unrepeatable experience, Artie could never break out of the competition trap.This trap would always hold him back. Artie lived in a new time with new opportunities, but he still couldn’t let go of this unspoken competition with his ghost brother. One of the most effective images in the novel was on the very last panel, when Vladek says â€Å"I'm tired from talking, Richieu, it's enough stories for now† (II 136). This scene illustrates the preference Vladek has for his first son, Richieu. In choosing this quote to be the last one in the book Artie displays that this competition with his brother has no end.The fact that Artie dedicated the book to Richieu is another display of this, that even though they never met, Vladek was able to bring Richieu alive in Artie's life. This passage also demonstrates how much Vladek still wishes Richieu was there with him. It is definitely painful for Artie to be called Richieu. In addition to this last quote, Artie also chose to dedicate the book to Richieu, Vladek and Richieu felt the direct pain of the holocaust, and as much as Artie tried he would only be able to experience its indirect effects, and this would never hold up in any comparison.Sibling rivalry built up in Art ie's veins, but as most siblings have ways to exchange this equally, Artie was in a unique situation. Not only could he never experience the things Richieu did, he could never exchange any emotions. Richieu was only a photo, and yet Vladek always unconsciously made sure Richieu’s life affected Artie. Artie was never going to be good enough for his father, or his ghost brother. He was stuck in a constant competition with someone no longer living. Writing Maus was what he did to relieve what was forced on him.Most books written about the holocaust are full of the direct effects, but his book took a new spin on the topic by focusing on the indirect effects. He would never stop competing with his brother. This is evident up to the last quote of the story when Vladek calls Artie by his dead brother’s name, which just goes to show that Artie is still upset by this competition. Work Cited: Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor's Tale, I : My Father Bleeds History. New York: Panth eon, 1986. Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor's Tale, II : And Here my Troubles Began. New York: Pantheon, 1986.

Healthy Fast Food Chain Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12000 words - 1

Healthy Fast Food Chain - Dissertation Example The answer to this question lies in the correct identification of the consumer behaviors along with their existing and future preferences along with the changing trends in the market. The consumer behavior is the concept refers to dealing with the demand for the consumption of any product or services. In other words, the consumer behavior is the patterns that individuals follow while making purchase decisions. The study of behaviors is also referred to as the social science, which plays one of the most important but complicated roles in designing the business strategy or developing a brand. The reason is that the behaviors of individuals are seasonal. Moreover, the behaviors can change at any point in time depending on the circumstances. This implies that for a successful business start-up and identification of most suitable business strategy, reading the minds of the target market or expected consumers is important. The phenomenon of dealing with the complications of consumer behavi or is important in almost all kinds of business. The importance is even higher in case of the food business. The research work is based on the identification of brand development strategy of a healthy fast food chain. The key determining elements which are studied in this research work for the establishment of the fast food brand are the marketing trends and the consumer behavior. â€Å"To identify the most successful branding strategy that can help the new entrants in the fast food business to establish healthy fast food chain. Moreover, the research work also served the purpose of guiding the entrepreneurs regarding how to identify the marketing and consumer behaviors along with the strategies of dealing with these complications â€Å"

Reasearch Paper - Final Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Reasearch - Final - Research Paper Example In this regard, only blood samples from patients who were diagnosed positive for both tuberculosis and Hepatitis B Virus were considered for this study. Samples were collected from a hospital to facilitate sample collection exercise. As for the Hepatitis B Virus, further analysis that involves specific portions of the genome sequencing was done to classify the virus because it is form this that characterization of the genome could be done. Conclusions were then drawn after the characterization procedure. Hepatitis B virus is a double stranded DNA virus which exhibits four serotypes (adr, adw, ayr, ayw) and is subdivided into 8 genotypes, A-H. The virus belongs to the species of Orthohepadnavirus in the family Hepadnaviridae. The virus is known to co-infect with either other viruses or other infectious diseases. The virus is contracted through several routes: unprotected penetrative sex, contact of body fluid with infected persons, and blood transfusion from infected persons. Research studies have documented that HBV is more infectious than even HIV and HCV, and this explains its overwhelming prevalence in the world. Given the genotypic variation of the virus, this study was intended to establish the prevalence of the individual HBV genotypes in tuberculosis endemic areas. Unlike in HIV, the epidemiological prevalence of HBV with reference to the genotypic variation is not known. As stated in the introduction above, the virus (HBV) does exist in association with other know infectious diseases and aggravates the condition of the patients – a situation referred to as co-infection. Surprisingly, the specific genotypes of the HBV in all the cases are not known. A study in Korea reported that those with chronic HBV infection have the tendency to develop Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (Engels, Cho, and Jee, 2010). The findings of the study indicated that those with chronic HBV

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The person behind this is Ingvar Kamprad, a dyslexic, who established IKEA in Almhult, Sweden at the age of 17. The ownership is under a Dutch-registered foundation which is run by the family of Ingvar Kamprad. The owner and franchiser is Inter IKEA Systems B.V. which also holds the IKEA trademark and the IKEA concept. The mother company of IKEA Group of Companies is INGKA Holding B. V., who is also the owner of Swedwood Industrial group, and is owned solely by Stichting INGKA Foundation which is registered in Netherlands. The said IKEA concept is based on different functional home and furnishing products that are sold in cheap price – enough to make it affordable to many people because the concept aims to cater to the needs of people to have a good life by having a nice and comfortable house. The IKEA concept is still maintained up to now and can be seen through the transaction of every business. IKEA has also the idea of getting out of the status quo of producing high quality materials with a high-end price and producing low quality product at low price. For them, it is better to produce high quality products that are affordable. This is possible according to IKEA through having devises that are cost-efficient and innovative at the same time. With this thinking, IKEA is successful in creating good products with nice designs at affordable price. The IKEA brand has complex ownership because it is owned by so many companies and foundations. Then those companies which are considered retailers pay 3% royalty of the total sales to the original owners, which is the Kamprad family. The distribution of products is made through different outlets around the world. There are 251 stores which can be found in 34 countries dominantly in Europe, United States, Canada, Asia, Middle East, and Australia. The countries which have the first IKEA store are Sweden (1958), Norway (1963), Denmark (1969), Switzerland (1973), Germany (1974),

How The Hurricane (Sandy) Affected The Economy Of The USA Essay

How The Hurricane (Sandy) Affected The Economy Of The USA - Essay Example An estimation placed by IHS Global Insight reflected a total loss of $30billion to $50billion that also includes the infrastructure losses of around $20billion. However, according to the studies of economists, the overall effect on the economy of the country has been minimal. This is primarily because some of these losses would be covered by insurers, while others would be covered through efforts of rebuilding and recoveries. The process of rebuilding has already begun. Hence, very big and negative consequences of the economy are not expected on the country’s state of economy. Also, the federal budget deficit of the country is not going to be mush affected as a result of Sandy. Based on comments made by senior economists of IHS, it can be said that the power struggle in politics of the country â€Å"over the cost of government aid is unlikely, considering that many politicians have dialed back their campaigns in the storms wake† (Kavoussi, 2012). However the employment of the country may be affected leading to â€Å"0.5 percent cut out of real gross domestic product (GDP) in the last three months of the year† (Kavoussi, 2012). According to the recent reports of JPMorgan, although there have been and may be initial effects of the storm on the economic activities of the country, the long term effects can be nullified with the rebuilding and recovery measures that have already initiated. In the present times, the frequency data and seasonal adjustments may be badly affected and hence kept off for some period of time. However, the impact would be minor with the passage of time. Impacts are more reflected on housing, construction and retail sales sector, where the storm has led to declines in performances and outcomes, but from the data and predictions, the country would be able to follow its normal economic activities and course lines that would have been in place if the storm had not occurred (Gauging Hurricane Sandys impact on the US economy,

Theory of planned behavior Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Theory of planned behavior - Literature review Example The theory of planned behavior focuses on the intention of a person to perform a particular behavior and relates it to the likelihood of the behavior actually being exhibited. This is similar to the original theory of reasoned action. While gauging intention, the model does not simply deal with a binary set of choices (yes or no). Instead, it measures the motivational factors behind the behavior such as how hard one would be willing to try and how much effort they would be willing to put in to perform the behavior. However, it is important to remember that the intention to perform the behavior can only influence the actual performance if the person has volitional control over the behavior i.e. they can decide to perform or not perform the behavior at will. (Ajzen 1991) Another factor that significantly influences the chances of the behavior being expressed is the person’s actual control over the behavior. This refers to the resources at their disposal and the availability of o pportunities requisite for them to perform the behavior (eg: time, money, energy, cooperation, intelligence etc.). For example, a child could intend to participate in the 100 yard race at his school’s annual sports event. He may be willing to try his hardest, run as fast as he can and train as hard as possible. However, if he suffers an injury a day before the event, he would not have the resources necessary (in this case physical fitness) to exhibit the behavior. Therefore, as long as the person has the intention and the actual control necessary to perform the behavior, there is a high likelihood of the behavior being performed (according to the theory of planned behavior). The importance of actual behavioral control is obvious. The resources and opportunities available to the person definitely influence the chances of that behavior being performed to a certain extent. Another important factor is the perceived behavioral control. Perceived behavioral control is what distingu ishes the theory of planned behavior from the theory of reasoned action. It refers to the person’s opinion of how easy or difficult it would be for them to exhibit the behavior in question and their confidence in their ability to do it. Take for example the phenomenon of stunt biking. Almost every teenager who owns a bike would like to be a stunt biker and impress his or her peers with their daring feats. They have the resources required to do it (in this case an open stretch of road and a bike). Still, very few of them actually try doing a ‘wheelie’ or a ‘stoppie’ or any other such stunt, because the rest are not confident of their ability to successfully exhibit this behavior. This is why perceived behavioral control is an important influence in the exhibition of a said behavior and can be used to predict the probability of success of behavioral expression in an individual. The theory of planned behavior has more utility than merely predicting beha vior. It also attempts to explain the behavior, dealing with attitudes and subjective norms which influence the final outcome. The theory suggests that, at the most rudimentary level, the behavioral intent is a function of the person’s salient beliefs with respect to the behavior. These salient beliefs have been further segmented into behavioral beliefs which influence the person’s attitude towards the behavior, normative beliefs which take the influence of subjective norms into consideration and

The Competitor orientation, Tech orientation and Customer Orientation Essay

The Competitor orientation, Tech orientation and Customer Orientation effect on performance through salesmanship and technical selling skills - Essay Example As such, the marketing departments of most companies look into ensuring that the competitor orientation has well stipulated methods by which sales of the employing company shall out-do those of the competitors. The tech orientation seeks to determine the various technological means by which the company can be able to further its sales to the consumers of its products without losing its market base. The customer orientation on itself seeks to define various ways which the company can apply to enable it meet its customers’ tastes and preferences as well as the products’ perceived expectations. Why is research limited regarding the effect of competitor, customer and tech orientations on the company’s performance through salesmanship and technical skills? While no direct answer may be found, this study was conducted with the sole purpose of bringing out this variability. The findings in this study show that the customer orientation selling skills requires the immediate actions by the salespeople. While competitor orientation seem to have more effect on the sales performance, this study reveals that mostly it has been neglected by most marketing managers. Tech orientation seems to what is taking ground at the moment with most companies resorting to the internet to market their products and so a revelation of companies expanding their IT staff reported. The main aim of this study was to understand the effects of competitor orientation, tech orientation and customer orientation on the performance of the company through salesmanship and technical skills. The term "customer service" encompasses an assortment of techniques used by firms to make certain the contentment of a client; from sociable and thoughtful staff to punctual reply when confronted with produce defects. Successful small company owners often cite this feature as one of the most

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (F.I.S.A.) court Term Paper

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (F.I.S.A.) court - Term Paper Example The particulars of such actions were in effect up until the early 1970s and it was the ‘Keith’ case that predominantly broke the shackles to such unfair means. In 1972 the Keith case was one of the major turnarounds that led to the development of FISA courts in the country. Technically speaking this particular legal case was between the United States’ government and a United States district court. The district court emphasized that an acting attorney general gave specific directive permission to carry out electronic wireless intelligence without a warrant on a US citizen accused of bombing a Central Intelligence Agency building. The Supreme Court firmly rejected the US government’s petition of claiming foreign intelligence on the per se warrant requirement but the court emphasized that according to the legislative structure and constituting to the fourth amendment it is uniquely prohibited to use of warrantless surveillance particularly directed at domestic threats to U.S. national security. The court however did not reach a general consensus on whether it is appropriate to target warrantless surveillance on foreign individuals and agents pertaining to other agencies but opened up a new line of thought for the executive council suggesting that it may be up to the latter body if and how they would significantly indulge in matters related to the mentioned entities and personnel. The Supreme Court however demanded that the congress issue a revised plan for a fool proof constitutional amendment that would ensure as a constitutional element for future electronic wireless surveillance of threats regarding the national security of the United States. Another event... The paper tells that there are several fundamental aspects of the FISA warrants and it solely addresses to two particular fractions of people that may pose a potential threat to the national security of the United States. Firstly warrants are foremost issued to personnel that are categorized as a foreign power. Places or entities that succumb to such definitions may potentially include a foreign government, a diplomat; other representative or employee of a foreign government, a fraction of a foreign nation that is not substantially composed of US persons, an entity openly acknowledged by a foreign government to be directed and controlled by it, or a group engaged in international terrorism or activities in preparation therefore. The second defining figure that a FISA warrant can be issued to, are agents of foreign powers. These may fundamentally include any individual who is not a US person and works for a foreign power inside the united states or an individual who again may not be a US person but engaged in espionage intelligence gathering activities running from within any associated foreign power. However the FISA constitution does also recognize US citizen as also potential National security threats and a FISA warrant can be issued if for some reason they may be suspected with substantial defying evidence of engaging into espionage pertaining to compromising the national security of the United States or involved in clandestine intelligence gathering activities for a foreign power which activities constitute a violation of U.S. criminal statutes.

Young Offenders Should Not Have Harsher Consequences Essay Example for Free

Young Offenders Should Not Have Harsher Consequences Essay Do you know about the YCJA? If so, do you agree with the way it goes about doing things? The Youth Criminal Justice Act passed in 2003 by parliament allows young offenders to be treated differently than adult offenders. The conservatives want to introduce a bill to treat offenders more harshly. I strongly disagree with this. Young offenders should not be given harsher consequences. The YCJA is stable. It has many goals to accomplish. Also instead of just looking at the crime it goes deeper into the situation by examining the person’s background. The YCJA has helped young offenders. They attempt to rehabilitate the person in a way that is not harsh. They also reintegrate them into society which is giving them a chance at a new life. I think that guidance is what the young offenders need, not to be treated harshly. The need to be shown which â€Å"path† to take. Whether it is from just the YCJA or maybe even a sentencing circle. The YCJA is stable. Its main goals consist of the points stated next. They attempt to stop crime from happening again by addressing the situation underlying a young person’s offending behaviour. Examples of this goal in action are counselling or helping a family deal with a situation. The second goal is to rehabilitate and reintegrate young offenders. The third goal is to ensure that a young person has meaningful consequences for the offence that the young offender committed. The YCJA wants long-term protection of society. In my opinion if a consequence is meaningful it is more effective than a consequence that is harsh. The fourth and final goal is to make sure that young people are separated from adults. We have to realize that they have a reduce level of maturity. The YCJA is helping young offenders. One way it is doing this is by rehabilitating and reintegrating young offenders. I want to touch on this point again because it is a very important part of the YCJA. When the YCJA attempts to rehabilitate a young offender it goes about doing it in this way. They give the young offenders the skills to make good choices further on in life. They also want to help find good ways for them to participate in their community. Examples of this are joining a sport team or a YMCA club. Guidance will help these children not harsh punishments. Teens need to be protected from harsher consequences. Why? Well because teenagers have a lower-level of maturity. They also have a rapid fluctuation in hormones which is usually accompanied by irritability, recklessness, aggression and depression. All of these things could have been a starting point for the crime the young offender has committed. We cannot be harsh on them for something they cannot control. Teens are also rebellious. Statistics for boys show that teenage criminal behaviour tends to begin around 13 and reach its highest point at age 17 and then almost disappear in early adulthood. Teenagers have not developed the ability to think things through this is also known as their brain’s late development. The late brain development is a big contributor to all the risks teens take so how can we turn around and blame the whole thing on them by giving the harsher consequences? I believe that the YCJA is doing everything that needs to be done. By helping the teen they are improving their decisions. Therefore lessening the chance of having the teen be a repeat offender. I would like to state once again that harsher consequences will not do anything for these teen offenders. GUIDANCE IS THE WAY TO GO!

Equipment for Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic

Equipment for Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic A cosmetic dermatology clinic differs from the traditional dermatology clinic in terms of the requirement of a wide range of equipment to perform various aesthetic procedures. In the past, the only instrument associated with dermatology practice was a magnifying glass. It then progressed to equipment’s such as Woods lamp, electrocautery, radiofrequency, cryotherapy and phototherapy units. Beyond these tools, the cosmetic dermatologists’ armamentarium includes various basic and specialized equipment’s to carry out a multitude of dermatological treatments and cosmetology procedures. (Box 1) In addition to the treatment equipment, photo documentation devices are also essential. These devices record the results and changes for analysis and prognosis of the treatments and can actually document the percentile UV damage, wrinkle score etc. The cosmetic clients (internet savvy) are aware of the equipment usage in various procedures and check for clinics offering faciliti es with the latest equipment and low downtime. The cosmetic dermatologist not only needs to be updated about the latest equipment’s but should also be aware of its management and maintenance needs. Poor maintenance leads to financial losses for the physician and compromises on efficacy and safety issues for the patient. This chapter gives a brief outline of equipment management and maintenance aspects which would enable the physician to provide safe, effective treatments and sustain the financial aspects of his/ her practice optimally. Box 1: Basic and Specialized equipment in a cosmetic clinic Basic Equipment Microdermabrader Radiofrequency and cautery Cryotherapy Mesotherapy Jet Peel or hydrafacial Microcurrent Electroporation Dermatoscope and photography equipment ( detailed in chapter 5) Phototherapy Units Specialised Equipment- LASERS and Light Systems Intense Pulse Light LASER Hair Reduction- Long Pulse Alexandrite, Long Pulsed ND YAG, Diode Pigmentation- Q Switched ND YAG Fractional and Ablative LASERS Hair Restoration- Low Level Lasers and lights Skin Tightening- LASERS and Radiofrequency, Micro needling Radiofrequency Vitiligo and Psoriasis- Excimer lamp and LASER Body contouring- Radiofrequency, cryolipolysis, ultrasound cavitation, low level laser therapy,etc. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT The basic requirement from any machine/ equipment is its longevity and optimal usage. This can be achieved by effective equipment management procedures [1] (Box 2) Box 2: Effective equipment management procedures Equipment Purchase Installation requirements (storage and space electrical supply, air-conditioner) Standard Operating Protocols Training of the staff Quality control checks (cleaning, safety devices, consumables, regular inspections) Maintenance and servicing (Daily, Preventive, Annual ) Equipment/ Accessories modification Equipment Purchase: The following checklist should be kept in mind during purchase of the equipment. This helps to trouble shoot maintenance issues effectively. Always buy from a certified company or a certified official dealer Check with the dealer for skilled technicians for installation and troubleshooting Sign the maintenance contract with the company (No machine is zero maintenance) Establish the warranty period (details and time lines) Note of the date of manufacture and the numerical code unique to each equipment. Installation Requirements Space and storage Requirements of the equipment and accessories should be taken into account prior to installation. Electrical connections and stabilizers: This has been detailed in Chapter 60. Special sockets and high voltage breakers, stabilizers and UPS (uninterrupted power supply) should be provided. Air conditioner: Most of the LASER machines generate heat and require certain temperatures to be maintained while in operation. An air conditioned environment is preferred as it remains closed, relatively dust free and is useful for machine longevity. Smoke evacuators Fragments of skin, hair and aerosols can damage LASER lenses or light based equipment due to physical interference with transmission. Smoke evacuation systems may be used to reduce the plume debris and limit the harmful effects on the staff, patients/clients and the laser equipment. Standard Operating protocols (SOPs) SOPs regarding usage of the machine are provided by the manufacturer. Indications and Specifications are provided in the operator manual and should be adhered to. Based on the patient requirement, if modifications are made in the SOPs, these should be documented and informed to all the staff. Training of staff (machine operators or staff responsible for maintenance) All the staff members in the cosmetic dermatology set up should be trained to follow the SOPs, understand the need and importance of equipment maintenance for the smooth functioning of the clinic. Quality control checks (cleaning, safety devices, consumables) In addition to the daily cleaning; regular weekly or fortnightly check of each machine, safety devices and consumables should be done. This helps to prevent emergency maintenance issues and financial losses. Maintenance and servicing (Daily, Preventive, Annual) A record should be maintained of all planned and unplanned maintenance and services, including any problems or modifications. The service contract records, contact details of service personnel should be documented well. Equipment/ Accessory modification Any modification to the equipment or accessories; or change in its operational usage may have safety implications associated with it. Hence, whenever any modification is done, appropriate documentation is mandatory. Standard accessories should be used. STANDARDISED AND EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT A standardised form, including all the aspects detailed above for equipment management should be kept with individual machines. A soft/ hard copy of this format for all machines should be catalogued and serve as a ready reckoner to the concerned staff. A basic outline of the form has been provided in Box 3. The salient aspects for effective equipment management have been included in Box 4. Box 3: Standard form for individual machines Name of the machine Indications Standard specifications (usually provided by manufacturer) Storage specifications: Equipment/ Accessories Space: Table mounted/ Floor mounted Electricity: Earthing/ UPS requirement AC requirement Consumables Safety devices- Goggles, cooling devices, smoke evacuators Cleaning Techniques Maintenance- Daily, Preventive, Annual or comprehensive maintenance services ( AMC/ CMC) Special tips do’s and don’t’s Installation date Operator Training: Names/ Dates Contact details for Maintenance services: Phone/ Mail id/ Website address/ Personnel Warranty details: Equipment/ Accessories, along with datelines Services Contract: AMC/ CMC, Renewal along with Dates Service done: Dates/ Done by whom/ Supervisory staff Box 4: General Tips for effective equipment management Keep a standardised form with individual machines. Train the staff to handle the equipment carefully Understand the Operators manual Take care of all the parts of machine. Hand pieces are the most important part. Place them in a protective box or on the machine as instructed Keep a check list of the consumables Keep all the machines covered and in a dust free environment Contact technical personnel for preventive machine maintenance at regular intervals Check for contraindication in case of all clients BASIC EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE The general principles of basic equipment maintenance (as per the standardised form) has been outlined in Table 1. Modifications can be done based on individual machines and clinic requirements. Table 1: Basic Equipment Management Equipment Crystal Diamond- USG, Cleanser, head Salt – cartridges Microcurrent Diamond Pro Lift Radiofrequency /Cautery Mesomate/Dr Injector Injector MesoGun-Manual-Automatic Jet M Machine Indications Exfoliation gently removes the outermost dead skin cell layer for the epidermis. Reduces pigmentation and tanning Improves Acne scars Reduces fine lines and wrinkles Reduces pore size and age spots Facial lift Muscle lift Body Contouring Iontophoresis-Product penetration Disencrustation- Deep cleansing Dermatoses papulosa nigra (DPNs) Warts Skin tags Moles Seborrheic Keratosis Granuloma pyogenicum Xanthelesma Rhinophyma Dull skin Irregular texture Uneven skin tone Hair loss Cellulite Lymphatic drainage Exfoliation Infusion Standard operating protocols Available Available Available Available Available Storage Temperature:20 -600 C Humidity Space Table mounted Table mounted Table mounted Table mounted Dr. .Injector has its own Trolley Table mounted or specially designed trolley Electric/ UPS/ AC Earthing + UPS/ AC- Earthing + UPS/ AC- Earthing + UPS/ AC- Earthing + UPS/ AC- Consumables Hand piece depending on the type of machine Nozzles of two different sizes small for face and neck and big for the body parts Aluminium oxide crystals Two long metal probes, one small probe with sponge for earthing , two sets of coloured wires, one metal roller, sticky pads and big pads. Hand piece Wire loop electrode and pointed electrode Disposable as well as reusable tips are available Kinked wires may need replacement Safety devices Foot pedal Air tubing Triple nozzle handpiece Safety goggles (during peel infusion ) Vitamins Cleaning The jar has to be cleared of all the crystals after every service and cleaned. Hand piece needs to be cleansed with alcohol swab before use. Tissue residue should be removed from the active electrode (Rf power ON) with a sterile moist gauze (water only) No scalpel scissors or any sharp objects should be used as it may lead to tissue adherence Disinfection All commercially available disinfectants may be used to disinfect the electrodes. Electrodes should be immersed in fresh cidex solution .then they must be washed and under tap water , dried and Placed in the supplied box Sterilisation All non- disposable hand pieces, cables, plugs and electrodes are autoclavable to 2500 F or 1210C. Steam cleaning of electrodes must be done just before use. Sterilize the guard with alcohol swab prior to the service Regular cleaning of hand piece Maintenance Jar needs to be replaced every fortnight for smooth functioning of the machine Spare hand pieces should always be available Replace filter and nozzle after every 15 bottles Daily Maintenance: Clean hand piece with alcohol swabs or SPCL cleaning Solution. Straighten the tubes. AMC Preventive maintenance should be done at an interval of 1-2 months Preventive machine maintenance at an interval of 1-2 months. The electrodes should be dipped in dilute H2O2 solution so that debris gets cleared, before washing AMC Preventive machine maintenance should be at an interval of 6 months. Daily Maintenance Clean the gun exterior with spirit. Do not allow spirit to enter the interiors. Charge the Gun daily AMC Preventive machine maintenance should be at an interval of 6 months. AMC Preventive machine maintenance should be at an interval of 6 months. Special Tips: Do’s and Don’ts Do’s- follow the instructions mentioned in the user manual Don’ts – do not place anything on the machine Don’ts- Coloured wires should always be tied up and placed on the machine when not in use Do’s- The only way the radiosurgery can create tissue damage is if the heat is allowed to accumulate in the tissue to the point where it can lead to excessive dehydration and hence tissue destruction. Preventing accumulation of such heat is the basic objective of radiosurgery technique and hence one should practice 10 seconds ON and 30 seconds OFF. Don’ts – Do not Use any inflammable anesthetics or cleaning agents. Use the injector and needle that meets the international and domestic standards. SPECIALISED EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE Specialised equipment’s such as Lasers, lights, radiofrequency based machines are now an integral part of cosmetic clinics. Most of these equipment are expensive and have specific maintenance issues. In addition, the optical radiation emitted by lasers, IPLs and LEDs has potentially hazardous effects on patients, clients and equipment users. There can be direct damage to eyes or skin. A potential risk of fires or explosions from lasers igniting gases or fabrics and the problem of smoke inhalation exist. Engineering (in- built safety measures provided within the laser machine), procedural (policies and practices followed at the cosmetic clinic) and administrative (review by health department) control measures are needed to prevent exposure to potential laser hazards. [2] Effective equipment management procedures as outlined in Box 2 should be followed for each of the specialised equipment in the clinic. The most important aspect of maintenance is simple prevention. This can be achieved through the following measures: Routine inspection, of the laser system and the surroundings (Daily/ weekly checks) Periodic inspection and maintenance of optical components and critical subassemblies (Preventive and annual maintenance checks) Documentation and Record keeping Few examples for daily/ weekly/ preventive checks for laser equipment are outlined in Box 5 [1] Box 5: Examples for daily/ weekly/ preventive checks for laser equipment Examples for daily checks: Check whether the laser output terminates on release of foot/ hand switch Check the device’s alignment of the aiming beam with the therapeutic beam Check device’s filters/ tips for scratches or dirt. Check all system alarms and lights are operating appropriately Assess all device accessories including cables and connectors are clean and functioning. Examples for weekly checks: Inspect protective eye wear for lens scratches or general damage Check all protective blinds, windows and doors, are dust free and functioning appropriately Check that electrical system connections/ UPS, warning lights are functioning correctly Examples of annual/ preventive checks: Electrical safety Device calibration checks Output measurements Beam alignment Shutter operation Accuracy of timer Filters The general tips for effective and safe laser equipment management are outlined in Box 6. The general principles of specialised equipment maintenance (as per the standardised form) has been outlined in Table 2. Modifications can be done based on individual machines and clinic requirements. Box 6: General tips for effective and safe laser equipment management Laser Room (details in chapter 60) Restrict entry to the room when the system is in use; put laser warning sign Do not include any light reflecting objects such as mirror, Provide rubber mat flooring ( prevents damage and losses in case of accidental fall of hand pieces, goggles, etc) Services/ Maintenance checklist Maintain a logbook of regular maintenance check and calibration Maintain detailed information about service centre/ personnel Check for engineers training certificate. Calibration must be checked by authorized personnel with calibrated power meter. Always check for calibration certificate when under AMC/ Maintenance Deionized (DI) water is needed for cooling in some machines. Check levels 1-3 monthly and change Check fire safety measures Check for Electromagnetic immunity and declaration compliance. Check for recommended separation distances between portable and mobile RF communications equipment and laser Equipment Use Check the power supply/ UPS before the machine is switched on. If the machines need to be moved to a different room, do it carefully and avoid jerky movements Always place the tips or hand pieces in the designated box so as to avoid any accidental fall or damage to the same Optical lenses, fibre optic cord, some hand pieces contain lasing medium are expensive, hence handle all equipment parts with care Never leave the system in ready mode unattended Practice use of hand switch as much as possible Most laser screens have a touch screen. Be sure not to point on the screen while firing the laser shot ( Can inadvertently happen with the foot pedal) In event of any emergency use the emergency shut –off knob Use colourless gels for lasers Use Skin markers and colours for demarcating areas. Skin markers should be preferably white or appropriate colour depending on the laser absorption spectrum or else they can act as chromophores and cause burns Cleanse and dry the area to be lased thoroughly Inspect the laser tip always before treating the patient. Do not use if damaged. Make sure the correct eye wear is used (Different protective eyewear is indicated for different wavelengths) Do not treat eyebrows eyelashes or other areas surrounding the eye orbit with Nd: YAG or Er: YAG lasers. The light emitted by these can cause serious eye damage or blindness. Use corneal shields especially in cases of direct touch lasers being used in the orbital area. Gas based and pulse dye lasers (Example- Excimer, Pulse dye lasers) Switch ON everyday Cleaning of hand piece with alcohol swabs. Gas bottles used as consumables are very expensive Mirrors needs to be cleaned by engineers every 3 months. Calibration of voltages is very important. Dye needs to be replaced after 50000 shots Body shaping and contouring machines: All hand pieces need to be cleaned daily Better to use specific oils or gels, otherwise ultra-sonography gel can be used; may be glycerine based. The emitted sounds should be perfect Phototherapy units Check lamp power every month and calibrate if needed Clean fans every quarterly Table 2: General principles of specialised equipment maintenance ( separate doc- horizontal chart) CONCLUSION Equipment management and maintenance is an integral part of the cosmetic practice set- up. Specialised equipment such as lasers and radiofrequency based devices are expensive and have specific maintenance issues. In addition to the financial implications for the practice, the safety and efficacy of the treatments provided by the physician are chiefly dependent on well managed equipment. SUMMARY A cosmetic dermatology clinic differs from the traditional dermatology clinic in terms of the requirement of a wide range of equipment to perform various aesthetic procedures. It is a good practice to employ equipment management and maintenance measures. The effective equipment management procedures include checklists and processes for purchase, installation, developing standard operating protocols, staff training, quality control checks, maintenance and servicing (daily, preventive, annual ) and modifications in equipment/ accessories. Good equipment management and maintenance practices have healthy financial implications for the practice. It assures optimal usage and longevity of the machine life, along with safe and effective treatments for the patients/ clients.

Five Burning Lights in a Dark Universe :: Women Feminism Rights Essays

Five Burning Lights in a Dark Universe The present just as the past did holds innumerable obstacles for women in search of a professional career. However, as a woman of the 20th century, I am glad to say that the obstacles have decreased through time thanks to the voices of courageous women who dare to talk when everyone else held silent. Many changes occur from the 17th century on, economically, politically and socially; the scientific revolution, the end of monarchy and absolute power, the emergence of democracy, and capitalism are only a few of those changes. This changes also brought changes in peoples attitudes, specially the attitude about women. Since the Greek times, society has underestimated women's potential. However, through history women have dared to challenge the world, and have spoken up to show the world that women are as capable, and talented as men. Aphra Behn, Anne Finch, Margaret Cavendish, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Mary Shelly are five of these women from the 17 and 19-century who dared to speak up, and raise their voices to let the whole world know about women's situation and solutions to it. Aphra Behn, born in 1640, was England's first professional woman writer. Behn was a middle-class widow who mainly wrote for TIME and CLEOS, in Greek or fame and fortune for us. In a time where women were suppose to be silent, pure, and in the private sphere or homes taking care of the children and their husbands, a woman dared to challenge society. Behn, challenged society not only by stepping into the public sphere, publishing her writings, but also by writing about women's feelings, desires, dreams and realities. Behn wrote great poetry and we can see her challenging ideas in the title of her poems most of the time, and this challenges become more obvious as we read her poems. "The Willing Mistress," was a vivid example of this, since in its verses Behn writes about a woman's sexual desires and wiliness to have sexual relations with a married man. We can also see a reflection of her ideas, in her speech titled "Mrs. Gwin," where she criticize the gender ideology of the time, and also exposes women's situation. She argues that no reason existed for men to prevent women from writing, governing and fighting, with the excuse that women were weak and inferior, because women have had done it before.

William Wordsworths The World is Too Much With Us :: World Is Too Much With Us

The World is Too Much With Us Poem  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   William Wordsworth’s poem is a statement about conflict between nature and humanity. The symbolism in his poem gives the reader a sense of the conviction and deep feelings Wordsworth had. Wordsworth longs for a much simpler time when the progress of humanity was tempered by the restrictions nature imposed. Wordsworth gives a fatalistic view of the world, past and future. The words â€Å"late and soon† in the opening verse describe how the past and future are included in his characterization of mankind. The author knows the potential for humanity, but the mentality of â€Å"getting and spending† clouds the perspective of humanity. Wordsworth does not see us as incapable, in fact he describes our abilities as â€Å"powers†. â€Å"We lay waste our powers† is blamed on the earlier mentioned attitude of â€Å"getting and spending†. The appetite mankind has for devouring all that is around clouds our perspective as to what is being sacrificed for the progress. The â€Å"sordid boon† we have â€Å"given are hearts† is the materialistic progress of mankind. Humanity has become self-absorbed and can no longer think clearly. The destructiveness society has on the environment will proceed unchecked and relentless like the â€Å"winds that will be howling at all hours†. Unlike society, Wordsworth does not see nature as a commodity. The verse â€Å"Little we see in Nature that is ours†, shows that coexisting is the relationship envisioned. This relationship appears to be at the mercy of mankind because of the vulnerable way nature is described. The verse â€Å"This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon†, gives the vision of a woman exposed to the heavens. The phrase â€Å"sleeping flowers† might also describe how nature is being overrun unknowingly and is helpless. Wordsworth seems to be the only enlightened one who is able to foresee the inevitable. He sees himself as one with the environment. The verse â€Å"I, standing on this pleasant lea, have glimpses that would make me less forlorn†, show Wordsworth as a visionary who is not responsible for the destruction of nature. This destruction is not seen stopping as a result of any act by mankind. The change Wordsworth is hoping for will come in the form of a mighty revolt by nature. Wordsworth reaches back into ancient Greece for their gods who symbolize nature and strength to make the change. Proteus is seen rising from the sea, facing the injustices inflicted upon nature, placing the cycle of life back in balance.

Symbols and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

Symbols in The Great Gatsby      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Great Gatsby is based on a man named Jay Gatsby and his idealistic infatuation to a girl named Daisy that he met while he was young.   Gatsby was not of a wealthy family and therefore Daisy would not marry him. Gatsby devoted his life to getting what he needed to win Daisy.   After the war Gatsby became a bootlegger to attain what he needed to win Daisy.   In the Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses various colors, objects, and gestures as symbols to portray the lack of moral and spiritual values of people and the different aspects of society in the 1920's.   The colors which are spread throughout the novel are green, white, gold, and others. F. Scott Fitzgerald provides a social commentary on the 1920's in this novel.   The Great Gatsby is an important American novel and not just a mere historical document depicting life in the 1920's.   Like other writers of the 20's   Fitzgerald was fascinated by the spectacle of what had become of the American Dream and how it had become corrupted by greed andmaterialistic possessions.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the end of Chapter One, Nick catches Gatsby stretching his arms out towards a green light. At the time it is not revealed to us that this is the light at the end of Daisy's dock.    he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling.   Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.   (Fitzgerald 26)      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the novel Fitzgerald emphasizes the color green as a promise of hope.   Through Gatsby this promise is corrupted by the means that he tries to attain it.   By attaining material wealth to win Daisy, Gatsby also shows the corruption of the American Dream.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the beginning of Chapter Two, Fitzgerald describes the huge billboard that watches over the Valley of Ashes.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic---their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose.

Rizal Life Reaction

One of the strengths of Jose Rizal is the incorporation of the characters of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the life of Rizal and of the Filipinos in general. This only shows that the two books are reflections of the lives of the Filipinos during the Spanish regime. But the thought and noble ideas of the book do not only live in the past but also in the present manifesting the universality and immortality of Rizal's ideas. The beautiful transition of Rizal's time and the setting of the two novels is really impressive. One must have really read the books to better appreciate the movie Jose Rizal. While watching the film, I cannot help but relate Rizal to Crisostomo/Simoun, Leonor to Maria Clara. Rizal and Crisostomo both came from a well-off family. Both of them studied in Europe. Both have dedicated their life to free their people from oppression. And then there's a scene where Leonor was walking down the aisle and Maria Clara singing in the nunnery. Both were locked up-the former to a person whom she does not love; the latter to a place, which seems to be a dead end. Maria Clara jumping off from the bell tower is her way to get out, her way towards salvation. The film also works through a series of flashback showing Rizal as a genius, a writer, a doctor, an artist, a lover, a friend, a brother and a son, thus giving a rich texture of Rizal's character. I also commend the film for its bravery in showing the evil tyranny of the Catholic Church during that time. Considering that the Philippines is a Catholic nation, that is like butchering a sacred cow but alas, Abaya works her magic in depicting the suffering of the Filipinos because of the friars. I particularly love the last scene of the film when Rizal, excellently played by Cesar Montano by the way, fell in the ground facing the sky, having his last breath looking at a beautiful sunrise- a metaphor depicting that Rizal did not die in vain. He did not die defeated because his death is the torch that lights Philippine independence, that ignites Philippine Revolution. This is more apparent in the scene where Simoun (a character in El Filibusterismo) appeared to Rizal telling him to rewrite the story. Rizal wrote and an imaginary explosion happened. A burst of light and flame overwhelmed the screen. In a way that has been the legacy of Rizal-bringing light to the Filipinos. He died victorious because in the end his memory and legacy remain forever.

Cwts Experience

Hard to believe that that was the last session for our tutorial. Everything will fall back to where they used to be. No more Saturday bondings in the jeep with my fellow blockmates, no more exhaustion due to the long smoke-full travels to the location, and sadly, no more one on one moments with our tutees. Time really is passing in a fast pace. During that particular session, we were assigned to give our tutees an assessment test to make a conclusive report with regard to the improvement of our tutees.I prepared a compressed exam for Ar-ar which was composed of three different subjects: Math, English, and Reading. Ar-ar is very much having a diifficulty when it comes to reading. Well, a grade four student is commonly expected to have the capability of reading a simple passage. However, in Ar-ar’s case, his reading ability is not well-suited to the grade he is in. I am very much worried that he will have a hard time as he advances in the learning process due to his incompetency in reading. Comprehension is also his waterloo.This comes after reading so Ar-ar has a difficulty in understanding the meaning of sentences because his vocabulary skills is insufficient to supply him the meaning of words. Reading and comprehension are two of the most basic things that one must master because they are basically the groundwork of education. Mathematical problems will require reading and comprehension skills as scientific concepts and principles also do. But I believe that with great determination, he will still be able to improve his reading and comprehension skills.It’s never too late. Next week will be a culminating activity that will serve as a farewell activity for all of us. Though it will be a relief for us to have free weekends, I’ll miss this Saturday sessions without a doubt. Not only did my tutee learn from me, but I also learned from him. I learned so much about teaching as well. Patience, determination and confidence are three of the most im portant ingredients in teaching. It does not only entail the effort of one person.Effort must come from both the student and the teacher in order for a successful learning to come in. I am so much anxious with the last exposure next week. It really is saddening that everything is to come to an end. I wish I could guide Ar-ar all throughout his venture in learning however that can’t be a forever case because he has to learn things on his own. My only hope is that he will always put in mind everything that I taught him and that he will continue to possess the same passion for learning.

Program Design and Narrative Essay

To achieve the objectives for our Healthy Pomona Kids Partnership program, the city of Pomona will utilize the methods outlined below. These methods have been proven effective by the Healthy RC Kids Partnership for the city of Rancho Cucamonga, where their client population is Latino. Representatives from this organization assisted in the development of this project and we have also provided an in depth timeline to this proposal. Objective One See more: how to start a personal narrative essay examples Ensure that children from low income families have access to fresh and nutritious foods in before and after school programs. †¢Healthy Pomona Kids Partnership will hire a program supervisor and two fulltime bilingual program assistants to establish a community outreach committee. †¢Appoint four community outreach committee leaders that are culturally competent, with two of the leaders needing to be bilingual. †¢Staff will develop a plan for local farmers markets and community gardens. Objective Two Educate families on the importance of good eating habits and the dangers or risks pertaining to childhood obesity; to promote healthy eating and reduce childhood obesity. †¢Staff will coordinate weekly health classes to educate and promote healthy living. †¢Staff will develop a formal feedback system so voices and concerns can be heard. †¢Staff will track participant’s progress on a weekly basis. Objective Three Engage community leaders and local police to help residence feel safer in their community to encourage exercise. †¢Staff will develop group walks within the community to meet three times a week. †¢Encourage local leaders to build walking trails.  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Meet with local schools to educate students about the benefits of exercise.

Symphony no.7 in A major. Opus 92, second movement by Ludwig van Beethoven

This four-part symphony by German classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in 1812 in Teplice when the composer was regaining his health. The symphony is arranged for strings, woodwinds (2 oboes, 2 clarinet), brass (2 bassoons, horns and trumpets), and percussion (timpani) and divided into four movements – Poco Sostenuto – â€Å"Vivace, Allegretto, Presto, and Allegro con brio† (Beethoven).The second movement contrasts sharply from the first, as the second movement’s flow and theme is much more expressive than the first.This expressiveness comes in form of subtle elegance mingled with a hint of sadness, though it still maintains its dance-like rhythm. The second movement acts as the antithesis to the somewhat glorious mood of the first and also in consideration with its tempo. The movement is ‘slow’ compared to the first, though the movement is in Allegreto form; meaning, it is to be played in a lively manner. The transition from the first movement is punctuated by its sad theme, yet the mood is counterbalanced with the Allegreto form.The ostinato in the piece is prevalent in the whole movement, acting as a support for the main theme played in succession by the brass and string sections. As evident in most of Beethoven’s works, there are parts in the movement that the theme starts from a quiet and small accentuation into a strong and sudden emphasis. The dance-like rhythm of the first movement is maintained through the Allegretto tempo while maintaining its tonal change from the first. Work Cited Symphony no. 7, A Major, op. 92, Second Movement. By Ludwig van Beethoven. Cond. Carlos Kleiber. Perf. Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Vienna, 200

Reaction Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Reaction Paper - Essay Example Barber’s argument has attracted criticisms from democratic and capitalistic due to the insufficiency of evidence in support thereof. However, it is necessary to tame the pressures of Jihad and McWorld – as Barber argues – for democracy to thrive. Capitalism is a system of economics grounded on the private ownership of production inputs and capital. Goods and services are produced principally for profit. Goods and services are produced based on the demand and supply in the market (market economy) as opposed to central planning (planned economy). Competition between producers is the main characteristic of capitalism. Barber conducts an examination of the pressures of capitalism, communication systems, and advertising campaigns on the global scale. The world has become such a small village that governments have lost their authority to regulate the affairs of citizens. Barber uses the term â€Å"McWorld† to describe the scenario. Transactions today are concluded with such amazing efficiency and speed that no government of the present day can purport to control (Barber 4). Alongside these international pressures exerted by capitalism and associated practices, individual nations have suffered pressures from within as groups struggle to break free from the regimes in place. Determinism is at its peak in individual nations. The author gives the example of Quebec that has struggled for a long time to break out of Canada. Barber uses the term â€Å"Jihad† to describe this scenario. This term includes both religious factions determined to exert influence in certain regions and ethnic groups struggling to break free from nation-states to whose regimes they are subject. Rebellious movements with no political or religious ambitions are also included in the term. The two terms – McWorld and Jihad – are unbearable forces that the author believes are spirited attempts by the individual to define his or her place in a

Transaction cost theory and resource-based theory to explore the Essay

Transaction cost theory and resource-based theory to explore the argument that big business has lost some of its competitive advantage in recent years - Essay Example In the context of globalisation, the ability of firms to compete their rivals has been related to their size; indeed, large firms have been often considered as having a competitive advantage towards the small and medium enterprises.Transaction cost theory and resource-based theory to explore the argument that big business has lost some of its competitive advantage in recent years.In practice, the above view seems to be invalid; more specifically, the expansion of large firms geographically is not an indication of these firm’s financial strength or highly competitiveness; on the contrary, these firms are often exposed to high operational costs and to increased risks regarding the management of their resources. The above issue is examined in this paper; the transaction cost theory and the resource-based theory are used for exploring and justifying the potential limitation of the competitive advantage of large firms in recent years. Both these theories indicate that the potential s of big businesses to compete in the global market have been limited; this outcome has many different aspects, which are explained and critically discussed used the transaction cost theory and the resource-based theory, at the level that these theories can be used for the evaluation of competitiveness of big business. The understanding of the potential role of the transaction cost theory and the resource-based theory in the identification and evaluation of the loss of competitive advantage of big business requires the reference... Through the views presented above it is made clear that the involvement of the transaction cost theory in the identification and the evaluation of the loss of competitive advantage of big business can have different aspects: a) as noted above, the transaction cost theory is based on the view that all organizational activities are based on a specific cost; therefore, the lack of funds for covering these costs would lead to the limitation of organizational activities – at the level that they cannot be fully funded by the organization; in this way, the firm involved can lose its competitive advantage towards its rivals, b) the precise estimation of costs in large firms is a challenging task; since the operations of these firms are expanded the estimation of the cost involved can be quite difficult; this problem could be effectively resolved by using the organization’s reports – in which the activities and the resources of the firm are analytically described; c) larg e firms can be differentiated from firms of other sizes in regard to its potentials to promote and support its products/ services; regarding the level of costs also, a large firm is highly differentiated from small/ medium firms; however, under certain cases, the financial status of a small/ medium firm can be quite satisfactory allowing the development of various organizational projects – which in large firm may not be feasible because of the lack of the relevant funds, d) transaction costs in large firms – as also in small/medium firms are not standardized; they may change under the influence of the market pressures; this fact could lead to the following problem: a large firm which has no financial problem might become liable to

Contract Safety Improvements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Contract Safety Improvements - Essay Example At some point we have been forced to take loans so as not just to maximize on the level of income earned but also, to ensure we do not disappoint our consumers (who are found all over the world) by proving sub-standard services contrary to the high expectations they having. Additional paperwork Unlike in the case of other businesses, it is quite tasking at Exelis due to extra paperwork which is actually brought forth by; proper handling of tax return files, bank account records, auditor’s reports, report creation, detailed books and finally, taking minutes during the frequent meetings. It is important to note that these two challenges are not as severe as the safety challenge facing the company at present. Accidents are becoming a threat to the contracts signed by Exilis. ITT Exelis reported that it had been given a U.S Army contract to go on with maintenance support and providing IT technology operations in the U.S Army in the Middle Eastern countries, specifically SouthWest and Central Asia. The Company signed this contract which had a potential value of $790 million including all options exercised. However, an accident happened while the company equipments were being shipped to the destination. An increase in accidents could possibly cost the company one of its Middle Eastern government contracts One of the latest and most hectic or rather breath-taking challenges I have never encountered since I started working at Exelis is the one pertaining the latest ship accident in the Indian Ocean while transporting electronic warfare. It has been the newspaper cover story for a whole week now. Exelis Incorporated successfully finished producing release systems as well as launchers and was now doing the delivery when the ship sunk. The sinking of the ship has remained a mystery, since for 7 days since the incidence occurred; the cause of the same has not yet been ascertained. The intensity of the worry of Exelis is increasing each passing minute, since the rema ining period of time is too short to make the transportation of the equipments a success, even if the ship was found this minute. This therefore means the contract may be terminated and also, the partnering of Kuwait in the military weaponry production and the electronic attack and supply systems sector, which will perhaps just remain a dream. Kuwait had started showing interest of partnering with Exelis in the industry by serving as vehicle fuel suppliers for Exelis for a very subsidized cost. Alternative solutions to increased accidents in Exelis Inc Increase safety awareness with weekly safety stand downs This is a selected time for the CEO, senior managers, and other executive managers to discuss about safety issues in a direct way with frontline workers. The move can be achieved by setting up goals to be achieved every week to combat the increasing accident reports in the company (LeBoeuf, 1985). For instance, in every first week, the goal may be for managers, supervisors, and crews to spot out hazards associated with the tasks of employees, establish their risks, in this context the risk of losing contracts in the Middle East, and come up with possible solutions. Procedures and methods to complete the work of employees should be identified, and determine the obstacles that may hinder the crews from solution

How the financial crisis will affect the ship repair yards and Article

How the financial crisis will affect the ship repair yards and shipping business - Article Example A typical argument put forward by shippers is that cyclical fluctuations in the shipping industry are typical because booms are followed by recessions. However the current financial crisis in the world has affected the industry so badly. Demand factors such as prices of other goods, production costs, demand for those other goods and the availability and the cost of finance have played a very significant role in the current decline in demand for shipping and freight services, including the decline at shipping yards for repairs. (Guironnet, Peypoch & Solonandresana, 2009). On the other hand supply factors are determined by the demand for shipping and freight services along with the prevailing interest rates. Suppliers went on accumulating excess capacity by ordering new ships and containers to meet the rising demand then. However the demand trend did not continue as was anticipated. The financial crisis has hit hard not only ship repair and building yards but also all connected services as well. Shippers in North America, Europe and Asia have been hit so hard by it. For instance the contracted tonnage of containerized cargo has declined by several millions of cubic feet. The annual decline has been one of the worst that industry has witnessed in the past. According to industry watchers there would be a further fall in demand for containerized cargo shipping till a few more months have lapsed. The existing contractual obligations are less likely to be honored by the buyers because losing what has already been paid is better than taking charge of a new or a repaired ship which would not be put in to service in the foreseeable future. The current financial crisis is inevitably the result of the global economic downturn. As early as 2008 the first major signs of a global economic crisis were seen though shippers did not pay heed to advice by economists that the crisis would engulf the

Students will analyze a problem in policing. It may be a problem that Essay

Students will analyze a problem in policing. It may be a problem that any level of law enforcement faces. This includes feder - Essay Example A variety of approaches put in place to the precise configuration of both governance and oversight regimes (McKenna, 2000). Governing in the police has two categories; the internal and external governance that has differences in the management of police, categorized into several sections (McKenna, 2000). The sections are internal & external governance, political, managerial, legal and procedural consequential (McKenna, 2000). Governance in police; politically it includes constitutional, decentralization and consultative sections. In managerial, it includes commercial, resource and professional sections. In terms of legality, it includes judicial, quasi-judicial and regulatory sections within the legal regime. All the sections and departments mentioned above establish a police organization that makes it complex and difficult to manage the governance of the police organization due to the difference in the management practices and ideas (McKenna, 2000). Causes of the Problem External go vernance fully depends on the functions of internal governance. The differences experienced in the two organizations create bigger, unbearable blocks that prevent the proper functioning of the police organization (McKenna, 2000). The internal and external governance practices have created discrepancies. ... The senior management level of police has also failed in educating its personnel, enlighten them and enabling them to function as a central component of the governance enterprise. That makes it difficult for the civilian governance to operate its operations as a public policing (McKenna, 2000). Previous Interventions The police organizational unit formed a professional body to curb this problem in the 1960s and 1970s. Police were removed and unresponsive measures taken due to the public demand; which accused them of not attending to issues that affect the public. They were supposed to deal with the main issues affecting the public in their operational roles. A gap was established between the police and some of the various publics sworn to serve and protect the public demand. The police unit conducted a research and found out that the professional module created was not meeting the needs of the society. Its negligence was so intense to the development of security and proper mechanism established to deal with the crimes and disorders that were far much of the high level due to poor practices of the professional police unit created. Reforming and restricting the professional model of policing leads to the establishment of a reform called community policing (McKenna, 2000). The intelligence has established new sectors in the police organization that deal with the police organizations. This enables them to work actively and effectively incorporating society, shareholders, colleagues and governing organizations in the private sector. As the need to reform the police has been on the major world events, police organizations have moved away from

From Englightenment to Romantisicm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

From Englightenment to Romantisicm - Essay Example Mozart’s oeuvre often focuses on these subjects – he revolutionised traditional operas by making a member of the serving class the hero of one of his masterpieces in â€Å"Le Nozze di Figaro†, where the popular figure of Figaro (a barber) triumphs over his social superiors because of his higher moral values, and because of his wit. The play by Beaumarchais on which the opera libretto was based was banned in Vienna in the times just before the French Revolution, as the content was deemed too inflammatory. The opera â€Å"Don Giovanni† remains to this day one of the most often performed operas worldwide. This paper will explain the particular fascination this opera still holds today by demonstrating the complexity of two of the main characters of the libretto, Leporello, Don Giovanni’s valet, and Don Ottavio, the fiancà © of Donna Anna, one of the women Don Giovanni tried to seduce. As in the comic opera â€Å"Le Nozze di Figaro† Mozart and Da Ponte sketch a two-tier society and the characters in Don Giovanni are either members of the aristocracy or the serving class comprised of servants and peasants. Again, moral values are not identical with class and rank, but low morals can be found in the aristocracy (Don Giovanni) and high morals can be found in the peasant class (Zerlina, Masetto). Leporello appears to be a case of his own - in the first Act we find Leporello in the garden owned by the Commendatore whilst his master, Don Giovanni, is attempting to seduce Donna Anna, the Commendatore’s daughter and fiancà ©e of Don Ottavio. Leporello, although a loyal servant, is dissatisfied with his employment and with his master. He complains that he is kept busy day and night, as expressed in his aria â€Å"Notte e giorno faticar† which could be translated as â€Å"day and night nothing but work†. The close proximity to his master and the knowledge he has therefore gathered about his master’s life

Paper on Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paper on Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong - Essay Example War breaks out because of questions regarding the legitimacy of succession. As a consequence China subdivides into three major branches with Cao Cao reigning in the north, Sun Quan ruling in the south, and Liu Bei controlling the west sector of China. The Romance of Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong is a classic historical novel dealing with the power struggles within the Han dynasty which inevitably precipitate its collapse. An intricately woven book integrating historical accurate events merged with creative fiction, this book centers on themes such as brotherhood, art of war and religion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This novel also weaves in elements of Confucianism whose doctrines are based principally on The Mandate of Heaven. The Mandate of Heaven marks the transition from the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BCE) to the Zhou dynasty (1122-256 BCE) violation of the macrocosmic concepts: through corruption, immortality, and misrule led to Shang's deposition from power by the Zhou Dynasty, Hea ven reserved the right to interpose in the microcosm especially when discord threatens. Political corruption made the emperor, also called the son of heaven unfit to rule therefore, the Mandate of Heaven can be legally transferred to another who was better and morally qualified. The Mandate of Heaven encapsulates the main principles of principles of Confucianism : ren (benevolence), xiao (filial piety), and li(propriety and convention), which secured harmony and equilibrium with the macrocosms (nature and heaven) and the microcosm (man's affairs). It is through application of the principle of the Mandate of Heaven that the Han dynasty is overthrown. Zhang Jiao was the catalyst in the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184 A.D. Jiao began the revolution to undermine and collapse the Han Dynasty due to social injustices experienced by citizens.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Daoism constitutes a large part of the novel since its ideals and teachings are practiced by the characters of The Romance of Three Kingdoms. Daoism is a pacific religion which stands for order and harmony with nature and with man. This concept is mirrored in the affirmation that that state of being "in accord with nature is (being) in accord with Dao." There exist compatibility, coexistence and harmony with opposite natures and this relation is called harmonious dualism. Zhuge Liang is an educated Taoist scholar who personifies some of the principles of Daoism. Dao which is "divine and everlasting" means "the way of nature and the cosmos" thus one sees the bond between the universe and man. Zhuge acts as an emissary, diplomat and successful martial strategist to Sun Quan.   Zhuge Liang, as a Daoist peacekeeper, pacifies several warlords in the South, at the same time, he spearheads the Shu Han forces on expeditions to strengthen the Han empire. He never dies on the battle field but succumbs to tubercolosis. Zhuge Liang's strategies always triumphs as he continually foils the plans of his adversaries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Romance of Three Kingdoms incorporates tenets from another Chinese classical text, The Art of War written by Sun Tzu, a notable Chinese general who explains the importance of the war to the state and gives pithy advice on martial techniques on how to maneuver one's army to secure victory. The Battle of Xiaoting, the Battle of Red Cliffs and the Battle of Wuzhang Plains are noteworthy collisions in the novel in which various arts of war are implemented. Lu Bu observes that "Cao Cao knows something of the art of war" (Guanzhong 90). In the Art of War, moral

Network Typologies Essay Example for Free

Network Typologies Essay A network is a system of two or more computers that are connected in some manner. Each computer on the network has access to the files and peripheral equipment (such as printers or modems) on all the other computers on the network. The origin of local area networks can be traced, in part, to IBM terminal equipment introduced in 1974. At that time, IBM introduced a series of terminal devices designed for use in transaction-processing applications for banking and retailing. What was unique about those terminals was their method of connection: a common cable that formed a loop provided a communications path within a localized geographical area. Unfortunately, limitations in the data transfer rate, incompatibility between individual IBM loop systems, and other problems precluded the widespread adoption of this method of networking. The economics of media sharing and the ability to provide common access to a centralized resource were, however, key advantages, and they resulted in IBM and other vendors investigating the use of different techniques to provide a localized communications capability between different devices. However, Datapoint Corporation began selling its Attached Resource Computer Network (ARCNet), considered by most people to be the first commercial local area networking product. Since then, hundreds of companies have developed local area networking products, and the installed base of terminal devices connected to such networks has increased exponentially. They now number in the hundreds of millions. Designing a manageable network One of the most important considerations in designing a network to be manageable is deciding how and where to connect the network-management equipment. Is there a separate network-management center to accommodate? Do nonoperational staff members like the network designer sit in a different area? Do they require access to the network-management centers equipment through the network? In general, the design should include a separate virtual local area network (VLAN) just for network-management equipment. The management VLAN was used to access management functions on remote network equipment. This network management-equipment VLAN houses servers and workstations used to manage the network. Design Types A large-scale network design is composed of several common building blocks. Every LAN, of whatever size, has to have an access system by which the end stations connect to the network. There are several inexpensive options for LAN connections, such as Ethernet and Token Ring. As a philosophical principle, the network should be built using basic commonly available technology. The design shouldnt have to reinvent any wheels just to allow the machines to talk to one another. So, just as basic commonly available technologies exist for connecting end stations to LANs, there are common methods for interconnecting LAN segments. Once again, these technologies and methods should involve the most inexpensive yet reliable methods. But in this stage of interconnecting, aggregating, and distributing traffic between these various LAN segments, the designer may run into some serious hidden problems. There may be thousands of ways to connect things, but most of these methods result in some kind of reliability problems. Network topology The topology of a local area network is the structure or geometric layout of the cable used to connect stations on the network. Unlike conventional data communications networks, which can be configured in a variety of ways with the addition of hardware and software, most local area networks are designed to operate based on the interconnection of stations that follow a specific topology. The most common topologies used in LANs include the loop, bus, ring, star, and tree, as illustrated in the figure below Loop As previously mentioned, IBM introduced a series of transaction-processing terminals in 1974 that communicated through the use of a common controller on a cable formed into a loop. This type of topology is illustrated at the top of Figure below. Local area network topology. The five most common geometric layouts of LAN cabling form a loop, bus, ring, star, or tree structure. Because the controller employed a poll-and-select access method, terminal devices connected to the loop require a minimum of intelligence. Although this reduced the cost of terminals connected to the loop, the controller lacked the intelligence to distribute the data flow evenly among terminals. A lengthy exchange between two terminal devices or between the controller and a terminal would thus tend to weigh down this type of network structure. A second problem associated with this network structure was the centralized placement of network control in the controller. If the controller failed, the entire network would become inoperative. Due to these problems, the use of loop systems is restricted to several niche areas, and they are essentially considered a derivative of a local area network. Bus In a bus topology structure, a cable is usually laid out as one long branch, onto which o ther branches are used to connect each station on the network to the main data highway. Although this type of structure permits any station on the network to talk to any other station, rules are required for recovering from such situations as when two stations attempt to communicate at the same time. Ring In a ring topology, a single cable that forms the main data highway is shaped into a ring. As with the bus topology, branches are used to connect stations to one another via the ring. A ring topology can thus be considered to be a looped bus. Typically, the access method employed in a ring topology requires data to circulate around the ring, with a special set of rules governing when each station connected to the network can transmit data. Star The fourth major local area network topology is the star structure, illustrated in the lower portion of Figure 1. In a star network, each station on the network is connected to a network controller. Then, access from any one station on the network to any other station can be accomplished through the network controller. Here, the network controller functions like a telephone switchboard, because access from one station to another station on the network can occur only through the central device. In fact, you can consider a telephone switchboard or PBX as representing a star-structured LAN whose trunks provide connections to the wide area network telephone infrastructure. Tree A tree network structure represents a complex bus. In this topology, the common point of communications at the top of the structure is known as the head-end. From the head-end, feeder cables radiate outward to nodes, which in turn provide workstations with access to the network. There may also be a feeder cable route to additional nodes, from which workstations gain access to the network. One common example of a tree structure topology is the cable TV network many readers use on a daily basis. With the upgrade introduction to networking of many cable TV systems to two-way amplifiers and the support of digital transmission, the local cable TV infrastructure can be considered to represent an evolving type of tree-structured local area network. Mixed Topologies Some networks are a mixture of topologies. For example, a tree structure can be viewed as a series of interconnected buses. Another example of the mixture of topologies is a type of ethernet known as 10BASE-T. 10BASE-T network can actually be considered a star-bus topology, because up to 16 or 24 devices known as stations are first connected to a common device known as a hub, which in turn can be connected to other hubs to expand the network. Transmission Medium Used in LAN. The transmission medium used in a local area network can range in scope from twisted-pair wire, such as is used in conventional telephone lines, to coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, and electromagnetic waves such as those used by FM radio and infrared. Each transmission medium has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The primary differences between media are their cost and ease of installation; the bandwidth of the cable, which may or may not permit several transmission sessions to occur simultaneously; the maximum speed of communications permitted; and the geographic scope of the network that the medium supports. Twisted-pair wire In addition to being the most inexpensive medium available for LAN installations, twisted-pair wire is very easy to install. Since this wiring uses the same RJ11 and RJ45 modular connectors as a telephone system, once a wire is cut and a connector fastened, the attachment of the connector to network devices is extremely simple. Normally, a screwdriver and perhaps a pocket knife are the only tools required for the installation of twisted-pair wire. Anyone who has hooked up a pair of speakers to a stereo set has the ability to install this transmission medium. Unshielded twisted-pair Although inexpensive and easy to install, unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) wire is very susceptible to noise generated by fluorescent light ballasts and electrical machinery. In addition, a length of twisted-pair wire acts as an antenna; however, the twists serve as a mechanism to partially counteract this antenna effect. Unfortunately, due to the law of physics, the longer the wire length, the greater the noise it gathers. At a certain length, the received noise will obliterate the signal, which attenuates or decreases in strength as it propagates along the length of the wire. This noise can affect the error rate of data transmitted on the network, although lead-shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable can be employed to provide the cable with a high degree of immunity to the line noise and enable extended transmission distances. Examining a building cabling standard and the various categories of twisted-pair that can support different transmission rates which, in turn, enable different types of Ethernet networks to be supported. Because the bandwidth of twisted-pair cable is considerably less than coaxial or fiber-optic cable, normally only one signal is transmitted on this cable at a time. Although a twisted-pair wire system can be used to transmit both voice and data, the data transmission is baseband because only one channel is normally used for data. In comparison, a broadband system on coaxial or fiber-optic cable can be designed to carry voice and several sub channels of data, as well as fax and video transmission. Other constraints of unshielded twisted-pair wire are the rate at which data can flow on the network and the distance it can flow. Although data rates up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) can be achieved, normally local area networks employing UTP wiring operate at a lower data rate. In addition, UTP systems normally cover a limited distance, measured in terms of several hundred to a few thousand feet, while coaxial and fiber-optic cable–based systems may be limited in terms of miles. Extending transmission distances over twisted-pair wire requires the periodic insertion of repeaters into the cable. A repeater receives a digital signal and then regenerates it; hence, it is also known as a data regenerator. Coaxial cable At the center of a coaxial cable is a copper wire, which is covered by an insulator known as a dielectric. An overlapping woven copper mesh surrounds the dielectric, and the mesh, in turn, is covered by a protective jacket consisting of polyethylene or aluminum. The figure below illustrates the composition of a typical coaxial cable; however, it should be noted that over 100 types of coaxial cable are currently marketed. The key differences between such cables involve the number of conductors contained in the cable, the dielectric employed, and the type of protective jacket and material used to provide strength to the cable so it can be pulled through conduits without breaking. Two basic types of coaxial cable are used in local area networks. The type of cable used is based on the transmission technique employed: baseband or broadband signaling. Both cable types are much more expensive than twisted-pair wire; however, the greater frequency bandwidth of coaxial cable permits higher data rates for longer distances than you can obtain over twisted-pair wire. Normally, 50-ohm coaxial cable is used in baseband networks, while 75-ohm cable is used in broadband networks. The latter coaxial is identical to that used in cable television (CATV) applications, including the coaxial cable used in a home. Data rates on baseband networks using coaxial cable range from 50 to 100 Mbps. With broadband transmissions, data rates up to and including 400 Mbps are obtainable. A coaxial cable with a polyethylene jacket is normally used for baseband signaling. Data is transmitted from stations on the network to the baseband cable in a digital format, and the connection from each station to the cable is accomplished by the use of a simple coaxial T-connector. Because data on Coaxial cable. baseband network travels in a digital form, those signals can be easily regenerated by the use of a device known as a line driver or data regenerator. The line driver or data regenerator is a low-cost device that is constructed to look for a pulse rise, and upon detecting the occurrence of the rise, it will disregard the entire pulse and regenerate an entirely new pulse. Thus, you can install low-cost line drivers into a baseband coaxial network to extend the distance over which transmission can occur on the cable. Typically, a coaxial cable baseband system can cover an area of several miles, and may contain hundreds to thousands of stations on the network. Obtaining independent sub channels defined by separate frequencies on coaxial cable broadband transmission requires the translation of the digital signals from workstations into appropriate frequencies. This translation process is accomplished by the use of radio-frequency (RF) modems, which modulate the digital data into analog signals and then convert or demodulate received analog signals into digital signals. Because signals are transmitted at one frequency and received at a different frequency, a head-end or frequency translator is also required for broadband transmission on coaxial cable. This device is also known as a demodulator, as it simply converts the signals from one sub channel to another sub channel. Fiber-optic cable Fiber-optic cable is a transmission medium for light energy, and as such, provides a very high bandwidth, permitting data rates ranging up to billions of bits per second. The fiber-optic cable has a thin core of glass or plastic, which is surrounded by a protective shield. Several of these shielded fibers are bundled in a jacket, with a central member of aluminum or steel employed for tensile strength. Digital data represented by electrical energy must be converted into light energy for transmission on a fiber-optic cable. This is normally accomplished by a low-power laser, or through the use of a light-emitting diode and appropriate circuitry. At the receiver, light energy must be reconverted into electrical energy. Normally, a device known as a photo detector, as well as appropriate circuitry to regenerate the digital pulses and an amplifier, are used to convert the received light energy into its original digital format. The figure below provides an illustration of the cross sectio n of a single-strand fiber cable. The cladding that surrounds the core of the fiber can be considered to represent a cylindrical mirror whose job is to ensure light stays in the core as it flows along the fiber. The Kevlar fibers add strength to the cable, while the outer jacket, which is commonly colored orange, represents a polymer-based shield that protects the cable from the elements. There are two key factors that govern the manner by which light flows through a fiber-optic cable. Those factors are the diameter of the core and the light source. The first type of fiber-optic cable developed had a relatively large diameter that ranged from 50 to 140 microns, where a micron is a millionth of a meter. The original light source used to transmit information was a light-emitting diode (LED). Horizontal cross section of a single-strand fiber cable The coupling of an LED to a large-diameter optical fiber results in photons flowing along multiple paths through the optical fiber, resulting in the transmission referred to as multimode, which is also the same name used to reference the type of optical fiber. There are two types of multimode fiber, referred to as step-index and graded index. A step-index fiber has a core with a uniform refractive index, resulting in the different components of a light signal in the form of modes or rays flowing in a non-uniform manner through the optical cable. The top portion of the figure below illustrates the flow of light through a step-index, multimode fiber. In a graded-index multimode fiber, the refractive index is varied from the center to the edge of the core to minimize modal dispersion. The middle portion of the figure below illustrates the flow of light through a graded-index, multimode fiber. This type of fiber minimizes model dispersion and supports higher data rates than a step-index multimode optical fiber. A third type of optical fiber has a relatively small core diameter, typically between 7 and 12 microns (10−6 meters). This type of optical fiber permits only one path for the flow of light due to the small diameter of the core. As a result of the lack of modal dispersion, single mode supports a much higher data rate than multimode fiber. Because of the small diameter of single-mode fiber, lasers are used as the light source instead of LEDs. Both the core thickness and the cladding of an optical fiber are measured in microns. The three major core thicknesses used in optical fiber are 50, 62 and 100 microns. The associated claddings for those core diameters are 125 and 140 microns, respectively. Light flow in multimode and single-mode optical fiber. Computer networks are everywhere; from a simple two-node home setup to the vast number of computers on the internet. However, any computer network includes certain basic components, regardless of which operating system one is running. Network scope refers to the extent to which a network provides coverage. There are two major divisions of network scope; Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks. †¢ A Local Area Network (LAN) consists of any number of computers that are linked directly together and are housed in a clearly defined geographic area, such as in a single building or campus. A LAN can only be as large as the physical limitations of the cabling you use which also depends on the cabling type. Usually the computers linked together in a LAN are workstations that can access data on computers on the same LAN, and use devices like printers that are connected to the LAN. †¢ A Wide Area Network (WAN) can span large geographic areas like countries and continents. WANs often contain two or more LANs. At least some of the connections used in WAN rely on long distance communications media such satellite links, long distance fiber optic cable, or specialized high speed telephone lines. WAN technology is essentially used to link all the computers in a multi-site or multinational enterprise in a reliable way Note that the key characteristic of a LAN or WAN is not how big it is, but rather the technologies used to connect the computers. There are other more specialized scopes used to describe networks. These include: †¢ Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN): this is a mini-wan or a giant LAN that is confined to a single municipality. A company might use a private MAN to link different offices together within the same compound. Computers on a MAN are linked using high-speed media like fiber optic or dedicated digital lines. This is the typical description of the IITA Ibadan network as will be discussed later. †¢ Storage Area Network (SAN): A specialized LAN linking several network servers that are dedicated to storing large amounts of data in a centralized secure repository. †¢ Personal Area Network (PAN): This is a connection you personally have with the technology that is around you (within your body) e.g. the way your cell phone communicates with your Bluetooth headset and your laptop. Bluetooth and infrared are currently the major types of PAN. Network Topology A network topology refers to the layout of the transmission medium and devices on a network. Topologies use either a point to point or multipoint connection scheme. A connection scheme indicates how many devices are connected to a transmission media segment or an individual cable. An example of point-to-point connection scheme is a printer or modem connected to your computer. Another is two computers connected directly to each other to use file transfer software like windows i.e. the network computer communicates with other network devices via direct cable connection between them. An example of a multi point connection scheme is a star or bus topology network. The entire physical structure of the network is called its physical topology. Star topology: This is a local area network topology where all the nodes are connected individually to a central connecting device called a hub. Signals travel from the nodes to the hub which then sends signals to other nodes on the network. A star topology network is easily scaleable – nodes can be added and removed fairly easily- and if a computer fails, none of the other nodes are affected. However if the hub fails the entire network fails. A hub does not perform any type of filtering or routing of the data. It is simply a junction that joins all the different nodes together.