Decision Analysis Tasks Essay

I was asked to provide a distribution pattern that minimizes shipping costs and provides adequate availability and demand. I used transportation modeling to solve this problem. Transportation modeling is â€Å"an interactive procedure that finds the least costly means of moving products from a series of sources to a series of destinations† (Heizer & Render, 2011). This tool is used to determine the best distribution pattern for multiple locations. It is best for this problem because it allows for us to determine how many products can be held at each location to give Shuzworld the lowest shipping costs. The original setup had an optimal shipping cost of $13,600. It had 1300 pairs housed at the Shanghai warehouse. Shuzworld H had 300 pairs in Warehouse 1, 200 pairs in Warehouse 2, and 1800 pairs at Warehouse 3. Shuzworld F had 2200 pairs housed at 1 warehouse. The recommended plan lowered the optimal cost to $13,400. The Shanghai plant will house 1500 shoes in Warehouse 2, with an additional 1300 shoes held in case of increased demand. Shuzworld H will hold 300 shoes in Warehouse 1, 1800 shoes in Warehouse 3, and an additional 200 shoes will be held for increased demand. Shuzworld F will have 2200 shoes held in Warehouse 1. This will allow all of the warehouses to hold enough products to meet current demand, with additional products in short shipping distance. This cuts down on shipping costs as well as time waiting on the production of more shoes. As the market demand increases, additional shoes can be delivered from the holding warehouse. The next task is to find the most reliable machine set up for the computer-driven shoe machine process. â€Å"Reliability is the probability that a machine will function properly for a specified time† (Heizer & Render, 2011). In order to provide reliability, it is critical to provide backup systems for all computers. When operating computers fail, production can be slowed, or stopped altogether. The initial system had an overall reliability of 76%. There was no backups for any of the machines. Machine  1 had a reliability of 84%, Machine 2’s reliability was 91%, and Machine 3 had a reliability of 99%. The first possible setup, and ultimately the recommended setup, was to backup Machine 1. This led to an overall reliability of 84%. Backing up Machine 2 only gave a reliability of 82%. Backing up Machine 3 only gave a reliability of 76%. Therefore the recommendation is to backup Machine 1 and increase the reliability to 88%. The next task is to provide the optimum number of shoelaces to order, using appropriate cost balancing. The economic order quantity (EOQ) is the order amount that allows for an optimum level of materials at the lowest cost possible. There is a demand ofr 300,000 shoelaces per year. The setup cost is $125 per order. There is a $.10 holding cost per unit. The optimal order quantity recommended is 27,386.13 shoelaces per order, with a maximum inventory of 27,386.13. This means that we will order just the amount of shoelaces needed to fulfill current production orders. The average inventory is 13,693.06 shoelaces. There will be approximately 10.95 orders per year. The annual setup cost is $1,369.31, and the annual holding cost is $1,369.31. This makes the total cost per year $2, 738.61. This decision tool allows us to calculate the correct amount needed per order to ensure that we are lowering operating and holding costs, while keeping production properly stocked. The last task was to determine if Shuzworld would benefit from a one-cashier or two-cashier waiting line system. There is typically an average of 6 customers being serviced at any given time. There is typically a customer being services every 5 minutes, so the service rate is 12 customers per hour. One server is typically busy 0.5 of the time. There is usually 0.5 customers in the queue at any given time. There is 1 customer in the system at one time. This means that a customer spends 0.08 hours (5 minutes) in the store waiting to be serviced. A customer spends 0.17 hours (10 minutes) in the store making their complete purchase. This is too much time for a customer to wait and be serviced. This long wait time may dissuade sales, as customers do not want to wait to be helped or pay for their purchases. Using a two-cashier system is a more efficient option of Shuzworld. The average server utilization is 0.25, meaning that 75% of the  time, there is a server available to help customers. There is 0.03 customers in the queue at any given time, with 0.53 customers being served at one time. This means that the customer spends 0.01 hours (.33 minutes) waiting to be served, and 0.09 hours (5.33 minutes) in the store completing their purchase. This system allows the customers to get into the store, pick out their items, and pay in less than 6 minutes. This will definitely encourage future business with the company. Customers want to have the least amount of time spent in a store, and waiting for service may cause some to leave without making a purchase. This analysis tool allowed us to determine which system would provide the best times for the customers of Shuzworld. References Heizer, J., & Render, B. (2011). Operations Management (10 ed.). Prentice Hall.

Gender Issues Related to Intersection Theory Essay

The society we are living in strives to attain equality in all aspects. These include the people’s race, class, and gender. It is evident that most places in the world today would want equal treatment for everyone, no matter what color of skin you have, no matter what class you were brought up into, and no matter what your gender is. There still are obvious distinctions between people, but it is not much of a concern in today’s society. This is what most of us aims for, despite the obstacles getting in the way. Despite all the efforts towards breaking the barriers of inequality, it still remains a big problem for our society, as it is difficult to do away with the things that people have been accustomed to. The most prevalent of all are gender related issues, the superiority complex between men and women, who get to boss around and who get to follow. These gender related issues can be traced back in the early years of the world’s history, as it was the men who were deemed to be superior to women. They were the ones which held great positions in the society, while women were treated as an ornament or something material. Later studies in the interaction of people in the society came up with the concept of an â€Å"intersection theory. † The intersection theory is a concept which relates a person’s race, socioeconomic status, and gender to their personal constructs and perceptions of reality. There was a growing call for the consideration of various interactions and interrelations among the people’s races, classes and their gender. Aggregations between women or men are not enough to be able to describe an individual’s position in a society he or she belongs to. Those who advocate this intersection theory aimed to devise new research strategies wherein they could effectively incorporate all three dimensions of stratification (race, class, gender) simultaneously in just a single frame of analysis. According to an article, gender class, race, and culture are the essential or the core components of a person’s identity formation, and are interlocking categories of experience that affects various aspects of human life. This is from the article The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Class: An Overview and Guide to Teaching. According to this, throughout a person’s life, the factors which continually shape an individual’s image of himself and his place in the world are essentially the identity constructs of gender, race, class and culture. This article attempts to explore various multiple and dynamic intersections of one’s gender with race, culture, and class in the aspect of psychosocial identity formation. This is in order to reduce or minimize the risk from homogenizing or the polarization of the society’s understandings of these various characteristics. The goal was to be able to promote a dialogue among various helping professionals when it comes to the role of these simultaneous intersections, including its effect on the lives of clients, as well as address their problems, and to mainly empower them as individuals. This is much better than focusing on one aspect of identity only. In an article by Susanna George, she discusses about the intersectional approach which has been used for quite some time already, but is not duly recognized by many regarding concerns about gender, race, and class. The article Why Intersectionality Works talks more in terms of the positive consequences brought about by these identities. When it comes to the context of gender, George discusses that women continued to ponder on how gender affected their lives. But women are not the only ones involved with gender or sexism. Men as well, are driven towards an orientation towards success, competition, and the need to be in control because they are gendered beings, and were greatly influenced by these rigid and sexist discourses about how men should be and should not be. A series of seminars entitled Theorizing Race, Gender, and Class: A New Paradigm for Social Research, discussed how the society is slowly adapting towards the things being taught to a group of diverse audience. This is spearheaded by Dr. Bart Landry, wherein he talks about the emerging paradigm of Intersection Theory and Analysis. Through this, people are able to understand more about what is being taught, since their race, ethnicity, and gender are put into consideration. The problems regarding writing and teaching are being scrutinized so that the concern regarding the intersection of racial, ethnic, sexual, as well as the national origin diversities are being met and properly addressed. An article by the group, PeaceWomen: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom tackled about various relationships among women’s gender identity constructs, in line with the economic justice. The article Statement on Global Economy: Gender, Class and Racism hypothesized on various relationships regarding gender self-definition, as well as female identity development statuses and between gender self-acceptance and female identity development statuses. They also integrated feminist analysis of economic issues at a global level, where they intersected various elements of information that affects economy on the largest scale. Some of these hypothesis were supported and strengthened, including the finding which positively correlates gender self definition and self acceptance to ethnic identity. In David Levering Lewis Beyond Exclusivity: Writing Race, Class, Gender into U. S. History, the author discussed how scholars heavily relied on various images of race, class, and gender being viewed as â€Å"intersecting and interlocking† types of oppression and disempowerment mainly on women. This clearly defined how various feminists were able to come up with premises stating that race, class, and gender are social structural locations. These structural locations are the ones responsible for shaping up various perspectives. They also stated that there is no individual who is all-oppressed or all-oppressing, and that the meanings of race, class and gender are usually localized. These three all depend on and mutually constitute each other. In an article by Karen Hardee, there is a discussion on how gender, access and quality of care in reproductive services varied from different places. The factors include social categories of gender, sexuality, class and ethnicity including their relation to various subjectivities has attracted several theoretical attentions. The article The Intersection of Gender, Access, and Quality of Care in Reproductive Services: Examples from Kenya, India, and Guatemala, showed how the authors considered how these identities of class, gender and sexuality interrelate in practice. They achieved this b drawing and pondering on an empirical study of several women in the wine industry which they have undertaken, as well as the selection of some contemporary works which could be considered as links to multiple social categories. Conclusion Gender issues can be viewed from various perspectives. It could be from the point of view of the oppressed or from the vantage point of the oppressor. But looking closely at these issues, we could see that it is somewhat related to matters of equal importance. This includes concerns like race, class, or ethnicity, and no matter how one looks at it, there is truly a relationship between different identities. Because of this, it is important not to tackle one issue alone, instead take them as a whole, in order to better understand the matter. Gender issues are indeed, matters which should not be taken lightly. Quality of Sources: http://www. cofc. edu/~winfield/socy354/intersections. html This source is not biased because it demonstrated how intersection theory can be applied in various empirical studies through a series of testing. It is also from an educational institution which is why the information can be verified through an inquiry. http://www. isiswomen. org/wia/wiawcar/intersectionality. htm This source is biased because the author injected her own opinion regarding the concept of intersection of gender with other identities. This information is from a feminist organization, so the bias is clearly towards women. www. bsos. umd. edu/socy/People/Faculty/Syllabi/socy682_blandry. pdf This source is somewhat biased, as the author gave his perspective on the topic, injecting personal accounts and opinions in her discussions. But the credibility is still there, and it aims to educate people through a series of seminars. http://www. peacewomen. org/resources/Racial_Discrimination/csw2001race. html This source is somewhat biased, as it discussed various issues on gender and the global economy while addressing on the concerns of women empowerment. This information is also from a feminist organization so the bias would be towards women. silverdialogues. fas. nyu. edu/docs/CP/301/leveringlewis. pdf This source is biased as it offered the authors own perspective regarding the concepts of social inequality, including the various intersections of class, age, gender, ethnicity, and race. The content however, is credible, as it is supported by concrete information from other sources presented by the author. www. prb. org/pdf05/IntersectionOfGender. pdf The source is not biased and is credible because it illustrates various situations on the intersection of gender with other identities in the context of different countries. It is descriptive without the author injecting her personal views on the topic. http://www. classism. org/home_intersection. html The source is biased because it seeks to persuade people regarding the various identities, so its bias would be those who are negatively affected by this matter. http://gateway. nlm. nih. gov/MeetingAbstracts/102262300. html The source is not biased and is credible because it conducted a series of tests in order to arrive at a certain conclusion, without the author injecting personal opinion about the research and how it should turn out.http://he-cda. wiley. com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle/productCd-0787976636. html The source is biased because the article is highly opinionated, where arguments from the author are mainly her own perspective. www. courts. state. pa. us/Index/Supreme/BiasCmte/FinalReport. ch14. pdf The article is not biased, as it was able to arrive at a conclusion by means of a series of test regarding a certain concern. References: 2002. The Intersection of Racial and Gender Bias. www. courts. state. pa. us/Index/Supreme/BiasCmte/FinalReport.ch14. pdf. February 4, 2008. Classism. org. 2007. Intersections: Race, Class & Gender. http://www. classism. org/home_intersection. html. February 4, 2008. Susanna George. 2001. Why Intersectionality Works. http://www. isiswomen. org/wia/wiawcar/intersectionality. htm. February 4, 2008. Karen Hardee. 2005. The Intersection of Gender, Access, and Quality of Care in Reproductive Services: Examples from Kenya, India, and Guatemala. www. prb. org/pdf05/IntersectionOfGender. pdf. February 4, 2008. Bart Landry. 2003. Theorizing Race, Gender, and Class: A New Paradigm for Social Research. www. bsos. umd. edu/socy/People/Faculty/Syllabi/socy682_blandry. pdf. February 4, 2008. David Levering Lewis. 2001. Beyond Exclusivity: Writing Race, Class, Gender Into U. S. History. silverdialogues. fas. nyu. edu/docs/CP/301/leveringlewis. pdf. February 4, 2008 PeaceWomen. org. 2001. Statement on Global Economy: Gender, Class and Racism. http://www. peacewomen. org/resources/Racial_Discrimination/csw2001race. html. February 4, 2008. L. Roberts. 2003. The Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, Class and Gender in Adolescent Dating Relationships: An Exploratory Study of Intimate Violence and HIV Risk. http://gateway. nlm. nih. gov/MeetingAbstracts/102262300. html. February 4, 2008. Amy J. Schulz. 2005. Gender, Race, Class and Health: Intersectional Approaches. http://he-cda. wiley. com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle/productCd-0787976636. html. February 4, 2008. The Institute for Teaching and Research on Women. 2006. The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Class: An Overview and Guide to Teaching. http://www. cofc. edu/~winfield/socy354/intersections. html. February 4, 2008.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Essay

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances - Essay Example This special document, regarded supreme, provides the means by which each of the three branches can resist the incursions of the others. Drawing from a rich background of theories from scholars regarding a systematic order of governance, the framers of the US constitution drew up this basic charter conferring sufficient institutional powers to govern. While aware of the power of the masses, the charter had in it inbuilt safeguards.1 As such, the document withheld the principle of abridging the liberties of the citizenry.  Nevertheless, no one institution was to wield absolute power. Indeed as said by Madison, â€Å"the truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted†¦Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe, there are more abridgement of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power by violent and sudden usurpation†¦The accumulation of all powers; legislative, executive and judicial in the same hands, whether of one, few or many †¦..may just be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.†2 Referring to the works of Montesquieu, Madison alongside many other statesmen convincingly argued for the concept of separation of powers embedded with the safeguards of checks and balances within the three branches of government. The doctrine of separation of powers ingrained in the Constitution provides for the separation of government into three distinct branches; the legislative, executive, and the judicial branches. Each branch has unique responsibilities with functional separate powers. Despite the separation and functional autonomy, each branch was granted the capability to place limits on the powers exercised by the other two branches. In effect, no single agency was granted the power to exercise complete authority, thereby creating a system of interdependency. For purposes of clarity, separation of powers on one hand means that no one branch had the capacity to control the other two arms of government.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and How It Affected Education Essay

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and How It Affected Education - Essay Example The act suggested the following changes; Annual Testing: States were required to begin testing students from grades three to eight annually on reading, mathematics and science by 2008. These tests had to follow state academic standard. Moreover, in order to compare the states, every state was required to present a sample of fourth and eighth graders to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress testing program. Academic Progress: In order to monitor the progress of an educational institution, â€Å"states were required to bring all students up to the "proficient" level on state tests by the 2013-14 school year. Individual schools had to meet state "adequate yearly progress" targets† ("No child left," 2004). Report Cards: From the start of 2002-2003 school year, states were required to provide annual report cards of school districts that would show a wide range of information on the performance of schools and achievements of students. Teacher Qualifications: The qualification of teachers for schools was set on a standard basis and by 2005-2006 school year, all the teaching faculty hired had to have â€Å"completed at least two years of college, obtained an associate's degree or higher, or passed an evaluation to demonstrate knowledge and teaching ability.† ("No child left," 2004) Reading First: This act created a grant program called â€Å"Reading First† to help states organize â€Å"â€Å"scientific, research based† reading programs for children in grades K-3 (with priority given to high-poverty areas)† ("No child left," 2004). Funding: The act was primarily meant for school districts with higher concentration of underprivileged students. The states were given flexibility in allocating resources for the programs they were required to initiate. The act was subject to hot debate since its enactment as people from the education sector were concerned with its feasibility. The controversial debate rose to an iss ue that had to be addressed. The act has its ups and downs. The comparison of its pros and cons can enable us to critically analyze the depth of its impact. The act affected the education system in many positive ways. Factors that affected the US education system positively are the necessary components of a good assessment system. First and foremost is the accountability factor. The act held teachers and states accountable for the development and progress of the students. Report cards and Academic-progress monitoring were specifically conditioned for this purpose. The ultimate purpose of this act was to improve the education by bringing in the necessary reforms such as â€Å"reading first† and â€Å"annual testing†. This act provided equal opportunity to students, implying that every student could participate in his/her own intellectual development through the initiated programs. Another lucrative factor of this act was the standard for teachers to enter the teaching p rofession. Teachers have to pass a certified test (GACE) in order to teach. As a result of this clause the quality of teaching has improved. With the help of report cards, schools were graded relative to the adequate yearly progress target. If these schools fail to achieve the set target for two years straight, students would be offered choices of other public schools and if a school fails to achieve the set target for continued years than it can even face correctional measures. The last mentionable

Does Friedrich Nietzche say the Buffalo Story is true or not ( Based Essay

Does Friedrich Nietzche say the Buffalo Story is true or not ( Based on his idea of truth ) - Essay Example Nietzsche’s precepts can in fact be brought in directly to analyze the issues raised by O’Brien. The concept of truth remains an ambiguous one, even after centuries of introspective inspection on it from many philosophers. Friedrich Nietzsche, who scorned the abundance of European theories related to the nature of truth and reality that have come especially from England and Germany, tries to bring in some unique reflections on the topic in his essay. Defying the necessity to define truth, he rather deconstructs the concept of truth, emphasizing the deceptive, self-conceptual existence of humans and their understanding of the world. O’Brien’s attempt is to delimit his analysis of truth to war stories. He observes that â€Å"[I]n any war story, but especially a true one, it’s difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. What seems to happen becomes its own happening and has to be told that way†. Recounting the death of a young soldier named Curt Lemon and the responses to it by a few other soldiers, including his best friend Bob Kile y aka Rat, and comrades Mitchell Sanders and the narrator himself. What links O’Brien’s observations on the possible narrations of a true war story with Nietzsche’s views is the skepticism that prevails. Nietzsche develops in his essay the idea of human existence and survival in relation to the concept of the deceptive nature of truth, or reality, in the time-space configuration they inhabit. It begins with a putative reference to the diminutive, momentary, insignificant nature of the place human beings inhabit in this universe, which they ironically perceive to be a gigantic, everlasting, all-consuming one. The nature of truth, when one attempts to perceive it in a hypothetical stance that transcends the here and now is a relative one, always constructed in a subjective conceptual framework. The desperate attempts of those who try to narrate a true war story have to fight with

Critical analysis of the issues effecting global ecological integrity Essay

Critical analysis of the issues effecting global ecological integrity and how they impact on the health of populations - Essay Example Mcmichael (2001) defined the development of human frontiers geographic, climatic, and intellectual and technical has met many setbacks from disease, starvation and deteriorating resources. The communal and ecological revolutions wrought by agrarianism, industrialization, fertility control, social transformation, urbanization and mass utilization have intensely exaggerated patterns of health and disease. These days, as life expectancies rise, the planet's ecological units are being dented by the combined weight of populace size and exhaustive economic activity. Global warming, stratospheric ozone diminution and loss of biodiversity cause large-scale risks to human health and endurance. Human population and individual health eventually depend on the veracity of ecosystems and the ecosphere (i.e., without an environment competent of supporting life, no population and, hence, no health can exist). Healthy populations can subsist in restricted environments that have lost their ecological integrity such as most urban constituency only if healthy ecosystems subsist elsewhere to sustain them. This is a purpose of technology and trade and is a trait of human culture that exceptionally differentiates humans from other animal genus reliant on their local environments. That is, human health can be retained by healthy ecosystems (or, at least, productive ones) elsewhere. In this technique, the local population inflicts its ecological footprint on the global commons and on other regions or countries (Rees and Wackernagel 1996; Wackernagel and Rees 1996; Rees 1996, 1997; Pimentel et al. 2000). This interregional dependency can unclear the connection linking people and their health with the health of ecosystems. "To help define shared perceptions of long-term environmental issues and the appropriate efforts needed to deal successfully with the problems of protecting and enhancing the environment, a long-term agenda for action during the coming decades, and aspirational goals of the world community." (Bruntland 1987: ix). It is improbable that increasing "footprints" are sustainable in the long run. The ideas of global commons, ecological health, ecological health, ecology health, ecological integrity and disintegrity, and the like, usually relate to the situation of the biosphere that supports life. Indicators have been developed by agencies such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (WWF 1998) as standard measures that offer a sense of the health of environmental life support systems.

Creativity & Art Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Creativity & Art Education - Research Paper Example If one thinks of a new idea, he has to evaluate its feasibility or workability, convince those who are in charge of putting it into practice that it will work, and if they do not accept it persist with it in the face of opposition. Many people relate creativity to intelligence. Studies have shown that there is no direct relation between the two. Environment on the other hand may have an important part to play in creativity. There also seems to be a co-relation between creativity, spontaneity and freedom of thought. Creative people are usually found to be more impulsive and unafraid to experiment with new ideas and voice their opinions even if these go against the norm. Creating an environment for children where they have the freedom to experiment and are exposed to new experiences can nurture creativity in them. Can creativity be learned? Yes it can. All of us were very creative as children, till we learned that there were certain ways of doing things that are considered the right ways. If we can learn to question the way we think and try to stifle the idea that a new way of doing something must lead to failure, every one of us has it in us to be creative. Art education has long been associated with the notion of creativity. However the question remains of how we define creativity. Is it a sudden flash of inspiration or is it as Edison described it 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration? There was a time when art education focused on creativity, which in turn was linked to spontaneity and novelty. Hence the curriculum was designed to develop creativity in children rather than teach them skills. This was the model on which art teachers were trained. The four functions on which creativity depended were thought to be fluency, flexibility, originality and openness. Freud considered creativity as an unconscious primary process, and the prevailing thinking was that children were more creative when left alone and art should be fun and

Research on Tenured Teachers in the School System Paper

On Tenured Teachers in the School System - Research Paper Example Yet another essential detail to be considered is delivered through the understanding of cost as a relative good. Teachers with good reputation and solid experience are often expensive, which can be regarded by school administration as a shortcoming. Tenure protects experienced teachers from being dismissed for this reason. On the other hand, this same issue of protection becomes the primary disadvantage of tenure when doubts of the teacher’s competence raise. Due to tenure, it might become a problem to fire such a teacher without primarily addressing a lot of bureaucratic issues at hand. Moreover, another disadvantage that should be addressed here is that undergoing the legislatively fixed procedure of firing a teacher is costly and thus a lot of institutions might ignore the necessity of dismissing a teacher based on this consideration alone. In order to avoid this problem, some institutions are prone to secrecy by providing a teacher to dismiss certain sum of money (Mathis, 2010). This allows the schools to avoid disclosure and the expensive, long and difficult process of firing a tenured teacher. There is a set of other pros and cons that should be considered when talking about teacher tenure. Among the pros, there is a notion that tenure is actually quite a useful and beneficial instrument when used correctly (McGuinn, 2010, p. 26). Tenure can create the environment that allows the teachers to improve as it creates healthy competition and motivates teachers without tenure to work harder to get it.

To what extent do computational models support constructivist theories Essay

To what extent do computational models support constructivist theories of development - Essay Example On the other hand, few theorists declare it the outcome of child’s interaction with his environment, from where he learns how to act, react and behave at some specific situation. Several theories have been articulated on cognitive development, and researches have been made on different aspects of development in children; four of which have most significant influence on the language skill as well as kindergarten learning process during the initial years of children. These theories include Nativist, Maturationist, Environmentalist and Constructivists ones. Since the study of personality development is an exceedingly complex phenomenon, several theories have been articulated on the question of how a personality passes through different phases of growth from childhood to adolescence, and what are the components which determine transformations in a child from premature years to maturity. In addition, theorists analyse whether the behaviour in people is a learned one or man’s behaviours are due to uncontrollable genetic impulses. Also, variation in intensity of aggression and violence among people is due to difference in their hormones. â€Å"The only influence†, Cervone views, â€Å"which parents would have on their children’s personality is a biological one. They pass their genes on to their children. According to the trait theories, parents’ interpersonal interactions with their children would exert little effect on the child’s personality development.†(2001) Various cognitive theories have bee n articulated in order to examine the role of nature vs. nurture in the development of a personality. All the cognitive schools of thoughts have different views and ideas on child development process, though constructivist theory won imperative popularity and wonderful applause more than the comparatives theories. Piaget and Vygotsky are the pioneers

Repsitining for pressure ulcer prevention in Adult (review) Gilles Article

Repsitining for pressure ulcer prevention in Adult (review) Gilles BM,Chaboyer WB,McInnes E, - Article Example The objectives of the article were to; evaluate the outcomes of reposition in relation to prevention of PU, establish the most efficient repositioning schedules to prevent PU, and determine the incremental resource consequences and expenses connected with putting into practice various repositioning routines compared with alternating routines or standard practice. The author of the article has clearly stated the purpose of carrying out the research. The general purpose of the research was to examine effectiveness of repositioning as a technique to prevent PU. This condition occurs most to elderly patients who has reduced level of mobility. Another aim of the research was to establish a schedule that is most efficient to prevent the occurrence of PU. In addition, the researcher wanted to find out the incremental consequences on resources and costs associated with putting into practice a variety of repositioning regimens compared with alternating regimens or standard practice. This study was important because pressure ulcers has always remained a big problem to aged patients who spent most of their time at one point for instance on the hospital bed. The article has clearly highlighted how repositioning is useful to prevent development of Pus, which are very painful to the victims. The study is relevant and highly applicable to prevent pressure ulcers because they are painful, distressing, and dangerous to life through causing sepsis, infection, and sometimes death. Repositioning is an essential element of pressure ulcer prevention and management; it has a sound theoretical underlying principle, and is extensively suggested and applied in practice. The qualitative research method that was applied in this research was appropriate in addressing the research objective because it aimed to gather into depth information about how pressure ulcers occurs and how repositioning can be

Outline the Ways in Which Rubbish Can Be Said to Have Value in a Consumer Society Essay Example for Free

Outline the Ways in Which Rubbish Can Be Said to Have Value in a Consumer Society Essay Shopping is an important part of the modern consumer lifestyle. It is enjoyed as a social activity and is about identity and expression as much as the usefulness of the purchase. People define themselves not only by their jobs, but also by their possessions and the things they own. Rubbish is only considered rubbish because people disvalue it. People want it to be invisible; once the rubbish goes out for collection, it can be forgotten. However, consumer society does value rubbish as value is personal and is never fixed. It can change over time and become re-valued again whether economically or aesthetically or both. This essay will look at the ways in which rubbish is valued in a consumer society by outlining consumption and the increase in rubbish, Bauman’s theory of the seduced and the repressed; Environmental Economic value and Thompson’s Rubbish Theory. Rubbish per household has increased over the years. Between 1957- 2006, household rubbish had risen by 28%. (Brown, 2009, p.107) This could be attributed to a rise in affluence and the availability of credit, which enables more people to participate in consumer society. Disposable income increases the likelihood of people spending on luxury goods rather than just the essentials. Other possible factors are the increase in mass consumption during that period; shops offer lower prices and more choice. People also eat more; use more services; and buy more clothes and white goods. 9% of total expenditure was spent on services in 1957, compared to 25% in 2006 (which includes personal goods; household and leisure services) (Brown, 2009, p.110) and data collected by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) (Hetherington, 2009, p.23) shows that the average household spends more on recreation and culture (luxuries) than non-alcohol and food (essentials). Although the data cannot take every circumstance into account, it does suggest that as people became more affluent over the years, the amount of money spent on luxuries increased and with affluence and choice people tend to dispose of items more readily then they would have 50 years ago. Consumers can feel pressured to keep up with the latest trends. The constant changes in fashion and technology encourage people to upgrade their goods before the lifespan of the existing item has expired. It gives them a sense of worth in society, as it helps them to fit into a certain lifestyle. The data supports Bauman’s theory (Hetherington, 2009, p.26) that being a part of consumer society helps people to establish identity and self expression. It also reflects a lifestyle that others might aspire to. He calls these people the seduced, as they have the means and the desire to consume effectively and are therefore valued in society. In contrast, the repressed, who may not be able to consume as effectively due to a lack of income, age or disability for example; can feel excluded from the consumer society. However, these categories are interchangeable and people can move between the two categories. The result of consumption is waste, and increased consumption equals an increase in rubbish. It could be argued that the seduced, being the more active consumers, are more likely to create the most rubbish, due to their greater consumer habits. Regardless of this, eventually all of the items, food and appliances that we consume end up as rubbish and it needs to be dealt with. Despite rubbish generally being viewed as negative, some people view it positively. There are people whose business is rubbish and therefore, it is of value to them economically, such as, restoration and re-sale or a large company profiting from its disposal. Rubbish collecting can also be a resourceful hobby. A discarded item from a skip or the dump can be salvaged or restored and made into an item of value again, whether it’s use value, aesthetic value or both. Environmentalists also value rubbish by pursuing a greener lifestyle. Recently, the Government has put more emphasis on environmental issues and it has made people more aware of the impact they are having on the planet. Although reducing consumption would be the obvious answer; in the meantime, reuse recycling schemes and fortnightly rubbish collections have encouraged people to consider the value of rubbish and the environment. The UK is still a poor performer when compared with other European countries and although there is still a long way to go, recycling has increased. Information provided by Defra, 2007 (Brown, 2009, p.117) shows that the percentage of total rubbish recycled has steadily increased. In 1983/4 the rate of rubbish recycled was 1% compared to 31% in 2006/7. Although the total amount of rubbish also increased during earlier years, as of 2003/4, the amount of rubbish began to decrease as the rate of recycling increased. Due to the increase in environmental awareness, rubbish has become valued by people who want to contribute to a greener, more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Being environmentally friendly has also become about identity and image, and it has become a positive social attribute. However, it is not just environmental issues that give rubbish value. The downturn in the economy has prompted people to re-use and re-sell their unwanted items instead of throwing them away. Mobile phones can be recycled for money and various unwanted items can be sold on with the aid of local newspapers and internet auction sites. While one person is disposing of their rubbish for profit, someone else is gaining something that they value. In Thompsons Rubbish Theory (Brown, 2009, p.122) he explains how some items considered as rubbish can evolve and gain value again. He suggests that some items can move from the transient category (items produced for use) via rubbish (items that become of little or zero value) into the durable category (where value increases over time) and be valued again. When an object moves from transient to durable its value first drops before it begins to rise again. Thompson’s example of this would be Stevengraphs (Brown, 2009, p.124). Thomas Stevens made a profitable business by selling his silkworks in the 1800’s, but by the mid twentieth century, they had become almost valueless. Over time the items became collector’s pieces and their value began to rise. This example shows that value is not fixed; an item can lose or gain value over time. Thompson suggests that one of the reasons for this rise and fall is because of supply and demand (Brown, 2009, p.126). From a collectors perspective, buying a Stevengraph when the supply was plentiful compared to the demand, meant that it could be purchased relatively cheaply. As the supply diminished over the years, the remaining pieces became rare and therefore more valuable to the collectors. When the demand outweighs the supply, it results in an increase in price and value. To conclude, it can be said that rubbish has value in a consumer society. Although generally viewed negatively, it does have value to a number of different people. Rubbish is valuable to people who work in the waste industry and gain profit or wages from it. Environmentalists’ value rubbish as it helps them to contribute to an environmentally friendly lifestyle by reusing and recycling. And people suffering in the economic downturn have found a new way to value rubbish, by selling it on and buying items second hand in order to save money, which consequently, saves on waste. Finally, Thompson suggests that rubbish can be re-valued as items move from the transient category via rubbish, into the durable category where its value rises again.

The Sonyericsson Alliance Essay Example for Free

The Sonyericsson Alliance Essay In 2001, the mobile phone terminal market world was shaken by the announcement of the agreement between two  « giants  » of their respective worlds. On one side the telecommunication reference Ericsson, on the other the entertainment and communications company Sony. As the result of the strategic alliance, an agreement focused on their respective mobile phone terminals businesses bringing to life a new joint venture aiming to gain consistent market shares during the next five years of operations. In this analysis I will start from an introduction of the respective companies, a short overview of their market positioning and a brief historical overview of the birth of their joint venture. Further on I will use the tools taken from (Jolly, 2001) to analyze the conditions and strategic management (steering) of this alliance. 1. Introduction 1.1 About the partners Ericsson : Ericsson, a Swedish based company, is the world-leading supplier in telecommunications systems with the largest customer base, including the worlds top 10 operators. The company provides total solutions covering the whole range, from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. Ericsson has been active worldwide for over 1 century and today operates in more than 140 countries, with 95,000 employees based in 24 countries. Annual investments in technical development average 15 percent of sales. These investments contribute to Ericssons leadership in mobile infrastructure and mobile Internet, with nearly twice the size of the closest competitor. Four out of every 10 mobile calls are handled by Ericsson equipment. Ericsson has a strong focus on RD and has filed 1,300 patent applications filed during 2000. Ericsson has set several standards to the mobile communication market, like CDMA2000, WCDMA or Bluetooth technology (see Appendix 1). Ericsson is thus the world leader in broadband technology.2/2 Ericsson supplies operators and service providers around the world with  end-to-end solutions in mobile and broadband Internet. Ericsson supplies solutions for all existing mobile systems, including future 3G mobile systems, as well as broadband multi-service networks and broadband access. The solutions include network infrastructure, access equipment and terminals, application enablers and global services to support both business and private communications. (For details see : www.ericsson.com) Ericsson achieved Net sales of 31 bUSD in 2001, but achieved a negative Net Income of -2.8 bUSD. (Financial Report 2001, Ericsson) Sony Founded in 1946 as Tokyo Tsushin Kenkyujo (Tokyo Telecommunications Laboratory) by Mr. Ibuka , Sony has become the world-leading manufacturer of audio, video, games, communications and information technology products for personal and professional market. Sony has set several standards to the consumer electronics market and driven technology development (see Table 1).

Quantum Dots For Drug Delivery Biology Essay

Quantum Dots For Drug Delivery Biology Essay A drug delivery system can be defined as the mechanism for the introduction of drug and other therapeutic agents into the body for treating any disease. An ideal drug delivery system possesses two elements: (1) the ability to target -to ensure high efficiency and reduce the side effects, (2) controlled drug release (3) prevention of side effects [8]. Using nanomaterials for drug delivery NDD (nanoparticle drug delivery) has the following advantages: reduced drug toxicity better penetration of the particles different delivery routes minimizes the irritant reactions improved bio-availability and increased circulation time controlled drug release and targeting It is one of the Green Technology methods as the focus is on minimizing the hazard side effects and maximizing the efficiency of any chemical (drug) of choice and replacing the existing products with new nanoparticles that are friendly throughout their lifecycle[8],[7]. QUANTUM DOTS FOR NDDS: NDDS means Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System. A system with high sensitivity, large resolution, and low cost is needed for the maintenance of drug delivery i.e. to check the nanocarrier distribution, drug release and degradation inside the body. Quantum Dots are highly suitable for such systems.[1] The important characteristics of Quantum dots which make them suitable for drug delivery systems are: small size, versatility of surface chemistry to incorporate various drugs, unique optical properties for real time monitoring of drug transport and release both at systemic and cellular levels. These Quantum Dots can be used as carriers by integrating with many drugs and also used as tags for other drug carriers. [6] WHY QUANTUM DOTS One of the important reasons why Quantum Dots are preferred is that it can be used for the traceable drug delivery as it has the potential to elucidate the pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug) and pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body) of drug when it is introduced into our body [6]. Using QDs will be a combination of unique physical, chemical, and optical properties which helps to study the interactions of these nanocarriers with biological systems through real-time monitoring and calculating the biodistribution of nanoparticle, drug release, intracellular uptake and degradation [5]. Comparing to the conventional imaging techniques like MRI and PET, the optical imaging using Quantum Dots is highly sensitive with high resolution and at very cheap cost which will automatically lead to the reduction of time involved in the development of new drug and many discoveries in the field [6]. ADVANTAGES OF USING QDs Optical imaging with high resolution, high sensitivity, multiplexing, and low cost Small size which leads to less amount of drug usage and low drug toxicity Versatile surface chemistry, Improved bioavailability and delivery of drug in a controlled and sustained manner Decreased incidence of side effects and improve patient compliance Comparing other conventional probes, QDs are more resistant which allows tracking cell processes for longer periods of time and which will lead to discovery of new molecular interactions Quantum dots have size dependant emission which can be modified according to our requirement (from UV to IR range) Fluorescence is seen for longer time when compared to conventional dyes. The extremely small size gives them great flexibility by allowing them using different delivery routes eg. they can be injected as liquid mixtures, fabrics, and polymer.[7] PROPERTIES OF QDs Some of the properties of Quantum Dots that are used to examine nanocarrier behavior in biological systems are: ([2], [5],[7]) Small size: size maybe around 2-10 nm in diameter that enables tagging of drug/carriers. Single or multi-component systems can be labeled for tracing and monitoring Surface chemistry: compatibility with various drug carriers integrating a wide range of nanoparticle drug carrier system. Emission profile: identifying quantum dots by its sharp narrow emission peak allows simultaneous observation of multiple nanocarriers within a same system. High brightness: detection of QDs inside body facilitates the tracing of nanocarriers in vivo. High photostability: QDs are more resistant to photobleaching that enables long term real time tracking. QUANTUM DOTS AS NANOCARRIERS Quantum Dots are considered as carriers and the therapeutic drug molecules are directly linked to them to be delivered to the target sites. Here it serves as both vehicle carrying the drug and tracing probe used for the real time monitoring. In drug delivery, size of the Quantum Dots is considered as a very important parameter. The size of QDs varies from 2 10 nm, and it increases to 5 20 nm in diameter after drug encapsulation. It should be noted that QDs of size smaller than 5 nm are removed in the process of renal filtration and those particles bigger is size have problems in penetrating through the tissues and many bigger particles are wiped out before they could reach their destination. Another important characteristics of QDs to be considered for drug delivery is the ratio of surface-to-volume. If this ratio is high then multiple carriers can be linked on single QDs without changing the average diameter of the nanocarrier system. Thus the ratio of surface-to-volume should be high. Fig.1 A Multifunctional Quantum Dot coated with Amphiphillic Polymer [6] The above figure illustrates that QD acts as core structural hydrophobic scaffold and the amphiphillic polymer is coated outside the core. The drug molecules which are hydrophobic in nature are embedded between the core and the polymer coating. And those hydrophilic therapeutic molecules can be incorporated on the amphiphillic coating. Multiple layers of ligands can be linked in subsequent layers not directly linked to the QD core but to the previous layers of coating and is controlled by them. These nanocarriers also protect the therapeutic molecule or proteins used from the bodys own immune system defense mechanism by encapsulating them within themselves. [6] Yamomoto et al did research on using quantum dots to treat stroke in and reported that the nanocarriers QD captopril conjugates were capable of lowering blood pressure in rats. But it was not known whether the therapeutic effect of lowering pressure was due to the conjugate or the detached drug from the quantum dots. [6]. Not only drugs, other therapeutic molecules like small interfering RNA, oligodeoxynucleotide and biomolecules e.g. antibodies, peptides can also be incorporated into the nanocarriers. siRNA delivery using quantum dots was reported by Bhatia et al. siRNA moleculeas were successfully delivered using targeted nanocarriers because of the size similarity between QDs and siRNA. Whereas larger molecules like plasmid will require many QDs for successful delivery. [6] Mn-doped ZnS Qds encapsulated with glycopolypeptide were fabricated for the drug delivery. Characterization and in vitro studies were done to prove the low cytotoxicity of the nanocarriers and it was good effort for the targeted drug delivery [4]. QUANTUM DOTS AS TAGS FOR OTHER DRUG CARRIERS Due to the unique properties of Quantum Dots, they are used as tags to label other drug carriers and are used as traceable drug delivery. The high photostability helps in the real time tracking of the nanocarrier inside the body. Therefore strong fluorescence signal indicates higher uptake of drug by the cells. The wavelength of the emitted signal depends on the size of the Quntum Dots used. Thus it is very specific to the QDs and thereby simultaneous nanocarriers can be used and the signals can be easily identified. Chen et al. reported about their work of siRNA delivery with QD conjugated with Lipofectamine. The results showed that fluorescence intensity of QD is proportional to the degree of silencing i.e. if lipoplex uptake is more than the fluorescence will be stronger. [6] Another work done by Zhang et al. reported the synthesis of QD-chitosan conjugate nanobeads for the delivery of siRNA. It was successfully traced because of the conjugation with QDs. [6] Amphipol nanocpmplex were prepared for the real time imaging of siRNA by Lifeng et al. it was delivered intracellularly and imaged in a real time pattern. [12] SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION There are many ways of preparing Quantum Dots. Some of the noted process of fabricating QDs are Lithography, Colloidal synthesis, Epitaxial methods, some chemical methods [2],[10]. Generally NDDS is prepared in the following steps: Nowadays many non-toxic semiconductor QDs are used for the drug delivery. Consider for example ZnO. It is a non-toxic semiconductor when compared to other Quantum Dots such as CdS, CdTe. These QDs can be combined with biocompatible and biodegradable polymer to increase the stability and non-immunogenicity of the nanocarriers. It also shields the nanocarriers from the interference of other interacting molecules inside biological environment. Chitosan is a natural copolymer which on encapsulation enhances the quantum dots properties like solubility in water, metal chelation and easy processing and biocompatibility [3]. Characterization studies like TEM, UV-VIS, PL spectroscopy, FTIR, Drug release response test are done after the synthesis. TEM is used to find out the size range of the fabricated QD. PL and PLE spectra give information about the emission spectra. FTIR confirms the incorporation of the drug into the QD and Drug release response test gives the amount of drug released and tells about the type of drug delivery. [10], [3]. CONCLUSION: Quantum Dots will be the future of drug delivery systems if the only drawback has been eliminated. The only disadvantage in using Quantum Dots is their long term toxicity. This can be overcome by replacing the core of the QD with biocompatible agents like gold or magnetic nanoparticles which offers a unique combination of therapy like magnetofection and photothermal treatment. Recent studies show that quantum dots to be safe on primates [9]. Quantum Dots will be a powerful tool to diagnose and treat cancer [11]. Thus quantum dots will become the new era of drug delivery.

Negotiation and Decision Making: A Food Service Professional & Personal

Negotiation and Decision Making: A Food Service Professional & Personal View Negotiation and decision making offers a powerful perspective, a specialized language and a set of tools that can be used to address the most stubborn problems in everyday life and work. Effective negotiation and decision making is essential in a buyer and seller relationship as well as our personal lives. In an organization, colleagues may find themselves applying negotiation tactics daily. The rationale behind negotiation and decision making is critical in our lives and especially in organizational survival. Why is Negotiation and decision making critical? A well rounded decision can assist in designing smart and enduring solutions to short and long term problems. For example, negotiation and decision making gives you a more accurate picture of reality, so that you can work with a system's natural forces in order to achieve the results desired. It also encourages you to think about problems and solutions with an eye toward the long view. For instance, how might a particular solution you're considering play out over the long run? What unintended consequences might it have? Negotiation and decision making is founded on some basic universal principles. Some principles will most likely be identified in all areas of life once we learn to recognize the warning signs. In most food service organizations, warning signs are very evident, but sometimes ignored. Here are a few questions that can be considered when attempting to solve a problem. What is the underlying problem? Is the issue interacting, interrelated, and interdependent? Most leaders have an intuitive understanding of several negotiation and decision making types such as zero sum ga... ...t that a homogeneous change can provide new opportunities and possibilities, the change is well on its way to a successful implementation. The ability to reach a uniformed decision can create stronger values both professionally and personally for this is crucial in an increasingly turbulent world. Therefore, negotiation and decision making will become critical for survival. Works Cited Randers, J. (1980). â€Å"Guidelines for Model Conceptualization† in Elements of the System Dynamics Method. J. Randers, ed. pp. 117-139. Waltham, MA: Pegasus Communications. Reber, A. S. (1995). The Penguin dictionary of psychology (2nd ed.). Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books, Ltd. Scott, C. & Jaffe, D. (1995). Managing Change at Work: Leading people through. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp Publications. (Randers, 1980). (Scott & Jaffe, 1995). (Reber, 1995).

Using Childrens Books to Make Theory Accessible :: Graduate Admissions Essays

Using Children's Books to Make Theory Accessible I am a GSI for an undergraduate education course called "Current Issues in Education." This course, required for Education minors, is offered to help students think through and become involved in educational practice. In it, we look at how education impacts people's lives, their visions of society, and their social relationships. Over the course of a single semester we address deep educational questions that have no easy answers and that are subject to great debate within the territory of educational theory and practice. The problem I am addressing here is a straightforward, yet recurring one: How can students learn to read and think critically about deep theoretical issues and learn to clearly articulate their position, even to a layperson not familiar with their subject? This is an important skill for all students, but especially for future educators, who will be challenged to make subject matter clear to their own students one day. The teaching method I implemented to address this issue was to have students divide into teams and create a children's book that reflects the issues and concepts of one of the topic areas of the course. Each group was thus challenged to convey complex theoretical issues in simple and practical terms through developing a story (either fiction or non-fiction) that included a plot and illustrations. In addition, each group wrote a short paper to accompany the book that explained the significance and symbolism of the images and ideas employed. When I presented the assignment to the class, reactions were mixed. Some students thought it sounded like a challenge that might turn out to be fun; some thought it sounded too simplistic; others were surprised by such a wild idea. Each week, a student group presented its book to the rest of the class, allowing time for questions and comments. The response became enthusiastic, as presenters and their peers exchanged feedback and educated each other in terms with which they felt comfortable. One student wrote in her final class evaluation, "At first I thought the [children's book] assignment sounded tedious, but after my group and I finished ours, I realized what a great learning experience it was for us. It forced us to use simple language our brothers and sisters could understand, but it got across important ideas about multiculturalism, which is a complicated topic." By answering each other's questions and presenting the books to their classmates, we were able to assess the strateg y as a class and determine that it was helpful as a learning tool.