Tuesday, August 6, 2019
The Processes Of Social And Family Relations Essay Example for Free
The Processes Of Social And Family Relations Essay Culture refers to a set of attitudes, values, systems and traditions that are shared by some common people in the society. It is what defines a set of people and distinguishes them from another. There is a correlation between culture and behavior. The social upbringing of a child in a family set up would influence her future behavior. The child would recognize that way as the most appropriate one of doing things. On family relations, individualists would become emotional and aggressive. On the ether hand, Collectivists would be emphatic and tolerant people. Career development strategies would influence oneââ¬â¢s self confidence or lack of it. Uncertainty of a career of oneââ¬â¢ choice may lead to aggression, drug abuse due to frustration and other deviant behaviors in the society. Various stakeholders are involved in career development. These include parents, teachers and counselors. How they approach career development would affect oneââ¬â¢s behavior. The difference between individualist and collectivist cultures is that whereas individualists believe in independence, collectivists believe in externality and group work. Political organization is a set / system of the body politic and the government. Within the political environment, there exist checks and balances whereby certain interested parties/groups like the human rights activists and trade unionists keep the government on its toes. This would lead to a reduction of deviance and other social injustices in the community. But depending on whether one is an individualist/ collectivist, political organization would determine how he/she would react to the changes in the political environment. In career development, people with individualist cultures tend to follow what they deem best. Collectivists would consult and their conclusions would encompass external opinions and ideas. Individualism makes one independent-minded who in addition is mesmerizedà à in eigocentricy. For a collectivist, he is a humble and accommodative person. Advantages of individualism are that one makes autonomous decisions. Decisions are made after they have been widely thought out. However, no single individual is perfect in all aspects. People need each other in society. Internality breeds selfishness and societal discrimination. A collective culture is advantageous in terms of problem solving especially those that determine oneââ¬â¢s future trait/behavior. Conflicts are well solved through consultation. One also learns other peopleââ¬â¢s cultures and this brings about cultural fit in the society. However, collectivism has its own drawbacks. People are different and one may not make concrete judgments and/or resolutions when he/she engages others. This can lead to confusion and lack of independence when solving problems. REFERENCES Clyde Klukholm, Culture and behavior, Free Press of Glencoe, 2006
Monday, August 5, 2019
Bangladesh Liberation War: Conflict Analysis
Bangladesh Liberation War: Conflict Analysis Conflict Analysis Case Study ââ¬âBangladesh Liberation War Background and Internal Factors West Pakistan had four provinces: ââ¬Å"Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and the North-West Frontier.â⬠Province number 5 was East Pakistan, and it was the largest province out of all. West Pakistan had control over all the provinces, and used up most of the resources. ââ¬Å"Between 1948 and 1960, East Pakistan made 70% of all of Pakistans exports, while it only received 25% of imported money. In 1948, East Pakistan had 11 fabric mills while the West had nine. In 1971, the number of fabric mills in the West grew to 150 while the number in the East went down to 26. About 2.6 billion dollars of resources were also shifted over time from East Pakistan to West Pakistan. Although East Pakistan had the largest population among all the provinces, it had much less political power than West Pakistan. Although the economy was an issue, there was also the issue of language that caused East Pakistan and West Pakistan to have dispute for several years.â⬠(bdallinone) In 1948, Mohammad Ali Jinnah announced that Urdu was the official language for Pakistan. However, this was not fair because only the people in the West and the Bihariââ¬â¢s in the East spoke Urdu. Majority of the West Pakistanis spoke Punjabi and Sindhi, while East Pakistanis spoke Bangali. Therefore, East Pakistan was against the movement of Urdu being the official language for Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the Awami League (top political party in support of East Pakistan), wanted more economic and political power, all of these political changes resulted in the war of independence. The war involved two parts of Pakistan: East Pakistan VS West Pakistan in a war for liberation and freedom from West Pakistan. The war lasted throughout March 26th ââ¬â December 16th 1971. The Pakistan Army began a genocide called ââ¬Å"Operation Searchlightâ⬠by attacking the innocent Bangaladeshiââ¬â¢s of Dhaka city (Dhaka is the capital city of the province Bengal). The Pakistani army massacred 40,000 Bengali people, whether they be poets, teachers, police officers, etc and ignited a brutal war against the Bengalis of East Pakistan to stop them from being independent. They also invaded homes and held families on gun point, burned down schools, destroyed sacred architecture and purposely ruined 80% of agriculture lands, which caused Bangladesh to be in a famine. They killed sons and daughters and raped women and the West Pakistani army got away with ALL these crimes, and nothing was accounted for until at least 30 years ago, when activists convinced the police department to open up old cases. East Pakistan didnââ¬â¢t have an army since it was not yet officially a country, so they were just a group of freedom fighters. Eventually, India joined in to support East Pakistanââ¬â¢s Freedom Fighters, and then they formed the Mukhti Bahini, which translates to The Liberation Army. They used the guerrilla method and just basic armed forces, which they got from the support of the Indian Army, and through a lot of gruesome war, they eventually fought until they gained their liberation, and Bangladesh was declared an independent nation. The West Pakistani government was not willing to make peace with the East Pakistani government due to political differences such as political power due to economic, language and racial issues, since West Pakistan was considered one large province, the politicians that were on the West Side did not allow East Side of Pakistan to develop their own stable government since the East Side always got outweighed. External Factors Throughout the war, there was involvement from several other countries such as India. India played an active role. Indira Gandhi (Prime minister of India) wanted to protect Bangladesh. Since India had a lot of protection (bombs, nuclear weapons, great military), they ââ¬Å"mounted a three-pronged movement on Dhaka from the Indian province West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. The Indian soldiers, Air Force, and Navy defeated the Pakistani army, while the Bangladeshi Navy helped India. On the ground, three groups of Mukti Bahini and Indian forces fought the Pakistanis. The Pakistanis attempted to fight back and they did not give up, but failed to resist them and ended up surrenderingâ⬠(Murtala Sadeh) This surrender was the largest surrender from an army since World War 2. This was not a proxy war because the East Pakistan and West Pakistan communicated directly with each other, and did not use any other source to have the war fought for them; they fought on each otherââ¬â¢s land. International Response: United Nations Pakistanââ¬â¢s plan to invade and bomb Indiaââ¬â¢s land got the United Nations involved, and they stepped in and tried to force India to agree to a cease-fire. The ââ¬Å"UN Security Councilâ⬠came together on December 4 1981 to talk about the situation and find any possible way of making peace. After much convincing and long discussions, on 7 December, the United States came up with the idea for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops. Stalinist Russia rejected the resolution twice. In light of the Pakistani atrocities, Britain and France restrained and kept their distance from the situation. The Indian army quickly overran the country. Pakistani forces were unable to effectively fight the brutal attacks, since ââ¬Å"they had been deployed in small units around the border to counter guerrilla attacks by the Muhkti Bahini. Unable to defend Dhaka, the Pakistanis surrendered on 16 December 1971, the largest surrender since the Second World War. Bangladesh gained adm ission to the UN with most voting in its favour, but China rejected this as Pakistan was its key ally, as was the United States, which was one of the last nations to accord Bangladesh recognition. United States of America ââ¬Å"The US administration feared that an Indian invasion of West Pakistan would mean the domination of the region by Stalinist Russia. That, in turn, would seriously undermine the global position of the US and the regional position of Americaââ¬â¢s new tacit ally, China. In order to demonstrate to China the reliability of the US as an ally, and in direct violation of the US Congress-imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Nixon sent military supplies to Pakistan, shipping them through Jordan and Iran. China was encouraged to increase arms supplies to Pakistanâ⬠. (Wikipedia) The Nixon government completely uncared for the reports it received of the genocidal and brutal activities that the Pakistani Army was getting involved in (to dominant the Bengalis), including all the deaths of innocent Bangaliââ¬â¢s and all of the rapes. However, Russia supported the Indian army and Mukti Bahini during the war because they knew that the independence of Bangladesh would make their rivals weaker. It also assured India that if the US or China tried invading India, Russia would have their back. Therefore, the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty was signed in August 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. When Pakistanââ¬â¢s defeat was obvious, ââ¬Å"Nixon sent the aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, to the Bay of Bengal, a move which ratcheted up nuclear tensions in the region. USS Enterprise arrived on station on 11 December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, the Russian navy sent out two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, from Vladivostok. They trailed the US task force in the Indian Ocean from 18 December until 7 January 1972. At the end of the war, the Warsaw Pact countries of Central and Eastern Europe were the first to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country.â⬠(Wikepedia) Stalinist Russia gave credit to Bangladesh on 25 January 1972. The United States also eventually gave them credit in April. ââ¬Å"On 2 July 1972, the Simla Accord was signed between India and Pakistan, which stated the goal to normalise relations between India and Pakistan, including the return of Pakistani prisoners of war. Pakistan officially recognised Bangladesh in 1974â⬠. (Wikiped ia) China Since China is an ally of Pakistan, the Peoples Republic of China reacted with productively towards situation in East Pakistan and the prospect of India invading West Pakistan. They know that an Indian attack was about to happen, so Richard Nixon (President of U.S.A) encouraged China to gather together its armed forces along Indiaââ¬â¢s border. The Indian Army was prepared and had deployed eight mountain divisions to the ââ¬Å"Sino-Indian border to guard against such an eventuality.China instead threw its weight behind demands for an immediate ceasefire.â⬠(Wikipedia) When Bangladesh wanted a place to get involved in the United Nations in 1972, China rejected their application because of two United Nations resolutions regarding the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war and civilians had not yet been implemented.â⬠(Wikipedia) China was one of the last countries to recognise the liberation of Bangladesh and denied to until 31 August 1975. Effect of Temperature on Plant Physiology | Experiment Effect of Temperature on Plant Physiology | Experiment Abstract The physiological processes of many organisms are sensitive to temperature. In order to see this effect of temperature, we examined the heart rate of a Daphnia magna over a range of different temperatures. Being an ectothermic animal, the Daphnias body temperature is dependent on water temperature. It was hypothesized that since most physiological processes are faster at higher temperatures, the Daphnias heart rate will be faster at higher temperatures and slower at low temperatures. This was, in fact, true and a pattern was evident which showed that heart rate increased as temperature increased. The Q10 was high at higher temperatures which show elevated sensitivity at higher temperatures. Clearly, Daphnia have an optimal temperature range outside which they do not function to their full potential. A Daphnias heart rate, then, was proved to be dependent on temperature. Introduction Daphnia magna is a widespread freshwater zooplankton. Since Daphnia are ectothermic animals, their body temperature fluctuates with environmental temperature. Hence, these animals are ideal to study the effects of temperature. Most such animals function well at certain specific temperatures. They have an optimal temperature range, outside which they are unable to perform physiological processes effectively (Lamkemeyer et al. 2003). It is believed that most physiological processes take place more rapidly at higher temperatures and that changes in temperature can influence physiological rates (Ziarek et al. 2010). In order to investigate this, we questioned whether the heart rate of a Daphnia is different at different temperatures. Q10, which is the temperature sensitivity of a reaction, was a useful tool. We hypothesized that the Daphnia will have different heart rates at different temperatures and hence that temperature will affect heart rate. It was also hypothesized that Q10 will d iffer at different temperatures. This hypothesis was tested by exposing the Daphnia to different water temperatures, letting it equilibrate to the water temperature and counting its heart beat in a systematic way. Since most physiological processes increase at higher temperatures, we predicted that if the temperature is higher (close to 35à °C) then the heart rate of the Daphnia will be faster and if the temperature is low (close to 5à °C) then it would be slower. In addition, we predicted that Q10 will be higher at low temperatures and lower at high temperatures. In view of the fact that Daphnia had an optimal temperature range, it would be understandable if the Daphnia was more sensitive to temperatures outside this range and consequently reacted by altering its heart rate. Methods A Daphnia was placed on a small smear of Vaseline on the bottom of a culture dish (Olaveson and Rush 2011). Aged water at room temperature was added to the dish. Five minutes were allowed for the Daphnia to adjust to the water temperature and the temperature of the water was measured and recorded. Under a dissecting microscope, the Daphnia was placed and the 4X lens were used to locate the heart and count the heartbeats. The number of beats was counted over a 10 second period which was followed by a 10 second pause in counting and then 10 seconds of counting again. In order to get 9 measurements of the heart rate, this pattern was repeated for 3 minutes. Then, ice and water were mixed in a beaker to make a water mixture between 5à °C to 10à °C. To replace the tap water in the culture dish with chilled water, a Pasteur pipette was used. Five minutes were allowed for the Daphnia to reach equilibrium and then the heart beat was counted to obtain 9 measures of heart rate (heartbeats/ 1 0 seconds). The values were recorded. The temperature was then increased in 5à °C increments till 35à °C and heart rate was measured at each point. Small amounts of the colder water were replaced with the warmer water (obtained from a water bath) till the desired temperature had been reached. Five minutes were always allowed for equilibration and using the same method, 9 measures of heart rate were recorded. The 9 estimates of heart rate taken at each temperature were used to find the average heart rate at each temperature. These values were entered into an excel document by all students and later used for analysis. Results Statistical analysis and data processing shed light upon the effect of temperature on the heart rate of a Daphnia. The Statistical t test analysis proved that the Ho could be rejected for all the three tests proving that temperature does have a significant effect on the heart rate of a Daphnia. The Q10 as well as the average heart rates at different temperatures provided evidence that supported the hypothesis that temperature would affect Daphnia heart rate too. At the temperature interval of 4à °C to 14à °C, the Q10 was found to be 1.31 (Table 1). Although this was not the highest Q10 value and hence not the most sensitive temperature interval, a decrease in heart rate was evident at the lower temperature of 4à °C compared to other higher temperatures (figure 1). The heart rate at 4à °C was found to be 106.74 beats per minute where as the heart rate at 14à °C was 140.10 beats per minute. The significant decrease in heart rate at 4à °C compared to heart rate at the ambient temperature (24à °C) was supported by the t test analysis (sample t statistic: 14.3938; critical t statistic:1.978; df:136; p = 0.05). The temperature interval from 14à °C to 24à °C showed increased sensitivity (Q10:1.40). This indicated the increase in heart rate at 24à °C compared to lower temperatures (figure 1) and was supported by the t test analysis as the Ho (hypothesis that no change in heart rate would be evident) was rejected (t statistic: 8.6519; criti cal t statistic:1.978; df:136; p = 0.05). During the temperature interval from 24à °C to 34à °C, the highest Q10 was noted (table 1). This sensitivity to high temperatures was obvious when heart rates at the two temperatures were compared (heart rate at 24à °C: 196.32 beats/min; at 34à °C: 277.92 beats/ min). The H0 was hence rejected (t statistic: 9.7792; critical t statistic: 1.978; df: 136; p = 0.05). All the three tests provided evidence that suggested that temperature had an effect on the Daphnias heart rate. At higher temperatures, the heart rate was faster and at lower temperatures, it was slower. Generally, as temperature increased so did the Daphnias heart rate (figure 1). Discussion All organisms have an optimum temperature range over which they function best. Consequently, at certain temperatures, the physiological processes of a Daphnia magna are at its utmost potential. Some hypothesized that Daphnia optimize their fitness by allocating the time spent in the different habitats depending on the temperature gradient (Kessler Lampert, 2004). Hence, evidently temperature has an effect on the performance of a Daphnia. Specifically, as hypothesized, temperature affected the heart rate of Daphnia. It was noticed that the Daphnias heart rate increased at higher temperatures (close to 34à °C) and decreased at lower temperatures (close to 5à °C). Since Daphnia are ectothermic, their body temperature varies with environmental temperature. Since Daphnia cannot thermoregulate, their body temperature experiences variance following à ¯Ã ¬Ã¢â¬Å¡uctuations in the environment (Ziarek et al. 2010). Hence as the temperature of the water increased, so did the Daphnias heart rate. The data supported this prediction. This is simply because most physiological processes take place more rapidly at higher temperatures. In addition, research has shown that increases of heart rate by significant values were measured in D. Magna as a function of temperature (Paul et al. 2004). One reason why the heart rate of Daphnia increases with temperature would be because less oxygen is present in the warmer water. Consequently, lack of oxygen could result in insufficient amount of oxygenated blood and hence the heart would have to work harder to pump blood around the body. For this purpose, it makes sense that the heart rate would increase. Very little research has been done about oxygen levels at different temperatures and Daphnia heart rates and perhaps more such research will provide more clarity on this topic. The little research that has been done, though, suggests that a reduced aerobic scope allows only time-limited survival at temperatures outside the optimal ran ge (Lamkemeyer et al. 2003) in organism such as Daphnias. Other research has also shown that high temperatures increase a Daphnias metabolic rates by increasing their heartbeat rates (MacArthur Baittie, 1929), and consequently their oxygen demands (Ziarek et al. 2010). It is also important to note that although it was predicted that Q10 would be higher at low temperatures and lower at high temperatures, the data did not support this prediction. The opposite, in fact, was evident. At higher temperatures the Q10 was higher and at lower temperatures it was lower. This could be possible merely because the Daphnia was more sensitive to changes in temperature at higher temperatures. It could also be possible that Q10 was higher at higher temperatures because of other errors. For instance, when the ice was added to the water in order to obtain low water temperatures (5à °C), it was difficult to obtain the exact temperatures. Although the temperature obtained (about 8à °C) was lower than room temperature (or ambient temperature), it is possible that it wasnt low enough to trigger major physiological changes. A significant fact to keep in mind is that since temperatures are increasing due to global warming, water temperatures are going to increase as well . This could lead to problems for organisms such as Daphnia which cannot function well outside of their optimal temperature range. It has been suggested that rising temperatures associated with global warming present a challenge to the fate of many aquatic organisms (Doorslaer et al. 2009) In conclusion, Daphnia heart rate is affected by temperature and tends to increase at high temperatures and decrease at low temperatures.
The Benefits Of Bim Challenges Information Technology Essay
The Benefits Of Bim Challenges Information Technology Essay On January 21, 2008 the stock markets around the world tumbled. No one has felt the effects of the recession more than here in the United States. Many have compared these events to as the worst economical events since the great drepression. Thousands of companies have had to close doors because of the lapse in the economy. Construction type companies are some of those companies that have struggled emensly during the recession. Construction companies have had to do many things they would normally not do just to keep the doors open. Many cconstruction companies have had to look at inovaitive stratagies just to stay ahead of the competition. Companies such as J.F. Ahern Co., have began to use one strategy that that has cost them both time and money. Innovative stratigies are risky, they dont always work. However in this case the J.F.Ahern Co. has use this stategy to not only improve the product side of there product, but has also used this strategy to help inprove the experience for the customer. J.F.Ahern Co. has introduce the use of building information modeling as a strategy to keep them ahead of the rest. Body The use of BIM (building information modeling) has started to become very popular in the construction industry. It is being utilized by all parties involved in current building projects including architects, engineers, contractors, and even owners. BIM started out as a design tool as preliminary ideas but is now implemented into all the project phases from initial design to final completion. The questions about BIM in todays industry is, are contractors utilizing BIM to its full potential and is it worth the cost of implementing BIM? Its seems that larger contractors will be able to make the transition to BIM more easily than smaller subcontractors or specialty contractors. J.F. Ahern Co. is a mechanical and fire protection contractor that has been using BIM since 2003. What caused J.F. Ahern Co. to start using and continue using BIM during these challenging and tough economic times? They were using BIM before contractors were taking fewer profit margins on projects and prior to the building industry slowing down. J.F. Ahern Co. described the implementation of BIM in their company by saying we will continue to use it because it is the way the industry is going. Embrace it or be passed up by the competition. (Eichers) This shows that the industry is evolving into one that will be dependent on BIM in the near future. As a company if your competitors are utilizing BIM it will cause you to adapt in the same way. This means that small and large contractors will be caused to shift to using BIM practices sooner or later. The case study is to determine how contractors are affected by BIM and the cost to benefit. J.F. Ahern Co. has decided to be a leader in the industry regarding BIM so they can use it as a marketing tool to acquire more work. This would be worth the cost of implementing BIM because they are obtaining more work as a result of its use. They have continued to invest time and money to become knowledgeable and trained in order to better utilize BIM. J.F. Ahern Co. explained that many architectural and engineering firms are using 3-D modeling software like Autodesk Revit to model buildings and systems or equipment. The challenge is using the Revit models and converting them into usable models for design fabrication without having to completely redraw everything. Some contractors are hiring design technicians to work with 3-D model s and make them functional. This requires extra labor and is a cost of BIM that some contractors are willing to pay while others are not. J.F. Ahern Co. has not needed to hire staff for this position but they are keeping up with training due to changing technology and software. Another cost of using BIM technology for a contractor is the equipment needed to run the software. In their case they had to invest in computers capable running multiple 3-D programs at one time, RAM space, video cards and more. In their company not everyone needs to be BIM technology savvy. Only the CAD mangers of each disciplin e are the people directly working on BIM and the 3-D models. It seems the future of BIM is already here in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. In the summer or 2009 Wisconsin became the first state to require architect and engineers to use BIM on large public buildings explained by Jeff Brown in the article Wisconsin Bets on BIM. The Wisconsin Division of State Facilities (DSF) is the authorities who issued the requirements and guidelines on public projects. BIM will be required in all phases of design and up to date models will be provided throughout the construction process. The owner will receive a finished model at project completion. This shows that contractors of all disciplines and size will need to adapt to the changing industry. Companies like J.F. Ahern Co. are already ahead of the curve and seeing the benefits of using BIM. When asked about their company being ahead or behind the curve in the use of BIM they said Just ahead but everyone is catching up. At least everyone that wants to be a player in the industr y. (Eichers) They see that BIM is a vital part in the industry and will soon be a must. Large Contractors like Barton Malow Co. has been one of the leaders in the industry coordinating subs to work with BIM. They have seen some disciplines in the industry adapt to using BIM but others are behind. Alex Ivanikiw of Barton Malow Co. says The steel fabricators are clearly out in front of all other trades. The mechanical and electrical specialty contractors are getting on board, particularly the HVAC and their shop drawing guys. The ones behind the curve are the architectural trades. The concrete, curtain-wall and interiors people are well behind in adopting and implementing BIM stated in the article Subcontractors Take Their Time Adoption Follows Uneven Paths by Tom Sawyer. BIM has been utilized in the most costly part of construction projects. 3-D modeling software can be expensive and using the software can be difficult and timely. J.F. Ahern Co. uses several softwares including Autocad, Bentley Autoplant (industrial piping), Cad Mech (HVAC piping and plumbing), Cad Duct (HVAC Ductwork), Revit, and Navisworks. They use these 3-D modeling tools every day in many aspects. Each project is unique and requires different practices in utilizing BIM. They represent HCAV systems for design, coordination, and fabrication. BIM is a commonly used term in the industry and may refer to different things as contractors will use it for various benefits. J.F. Ahern Co. uses Building Information Modeling as a process of embedding information in the model that will be useful at a later date such as shop drawings, manufacturer data, service manuals and more. Contractors have only begun to use BIM as a project tool. When used effectively contractors can visualize and track other project data such as submittals. With better collaboration and co mmunication among party members in the project change orders and requests for information may be reduced. Another reason why contractors will need to transition into using BIM is the utilization in all construction phases. J. F. Ahern Co. uses BIM in design, pre-construction, coordination, fabrication, and installation. As a mechanical and fire protection contractor J.F Ahern Co. uses BIM for fabrication purposes. Prefabrication is the process of assembling systems and equipment in the shop and transporting them to the site for installation. BIM can be a great tool for prefabricated components in construction. There are many advantages of prefabrication including quality control, less construction waste, reduced labor in the field, and construction time is reduced. All these advantages can drive project costs down and lower the contract price. J.F Ahern Co. does a lot of prefabrication on the plumbing side that issued directly from the fabrication shop from the 3-D coordinated drawings. They do some prefabricated work on the duct side when it is possible to logistically get prefabricated items into the building. Their goal is to greatly increase the amount of prefabrication in the future. Using BIM and 3-D modeling enables J.F. Ahern Co. to make the installation of their systems and equipment go more smoothly. This is one of the aspects where BIM offers a great advantage over contractors who dont have the same technology. BIM offers various advantages throughout a construction project form initial design to final completion. The use of BIM allows J.F Ahern Co. to identify problems much earlier in the project and hopefully get the issues worked out before anything goes to fabrication and causes costs impacts due to changes that have to be made. The use of BIM also allows them to identify areas where architectural changes may have to be made to accommodate the mechanical systems. The earlier these changes can be made the less of a cost impact they have for the owner. J.F Ahern utilizes BIM as a quality control issue to make sure there are no mistakes that drive up costs in the end. This will increase the cost to benefit ratio because it will help keep clients and obtain work in the future. This requires coordination between multiple members on a project to ensure the entire project as a whole is problem free. Dave Morris is director of virtual construction for EMCOR Construction Services and on the Asso ciated General Contractors BIM forum subcommittee. In an article by Tom Sawyer Subcontractors Take Their Time Adoption Follows Uneven Paths, Morris explains that risk and liability to all parties can be eliminated by brining all trades early in the project phases to ensure constructability. Problems exist when underperforming subcontractors dont implement BIM when all other parties on the project do. This is when special coordination and collision problems arise causing delays and inefficiencies in projects. Morris explains that these types of problems have led to a recommendation by the AGCs BIM subcommittee to add protocol to contracts in an appendix or instruction to bidders that anything a subcontractor decides not to model cannot be installed until all modeled components have been. This is a sign that BIM will be mandatory on future projects. Companies like J.F. Ahern Co. are already ahead of the curve using BIM technology and will only benefit more as the industry changes. The y already have the infrastructure in their company and will keep seeing the benefits in the future. BIM can be used as a project management tool among other purposes. The question is how effective is it in a project being completed more smoothly with better coordination and communication among project participants. BIM is intended for everyones use from the general contractor to the smaller subcontractors. With better collaboration on a project there would be a lower number of requests for information and change orders. J.F. Ahern Co. hasnt seen a reduction in change orders or request for information but issues are identified much earlier in the project and reducing cost impacts. They feel in the future when BIM becomes more common in the industry they will see a reduction in change orders and requests for information when implemented as its intended use initial concept and design stages. BIM also offers much improved communication between the owner and project participants. Communication between subcontractors and general contractors is more efficient on BIM utilized projects. J.F Ahern Co. thinks it helps communicate a lot of the information in a much clearer venue. The information was always available but there was never a good way to convey it unless you were dealing with someone that understands the industry and construction. BIM is a great visual representation and easy to understand. It is a great tool to present to owners because they can understand how the construction process will work very easily. This is a great benefit of BIM and makes it worth the costs and time used to implement it. J.F Ahern Co.is maximizing its use for profit. The real question behind BIM is the cost to benefit ratio. J.F Ahern Co. wasnt able to quantify this in a number but the perception is that it does save money. Their process of design and installation gets done sooner, smoother with fewer problems so one would think that cost savings have occurred. They have seen savings in field labor on previous projects with the upfront work done correctly. Other subcontractors and specialty contractors do report savings in regards to BIM. Form the source of Ghafari/Barton Malow subcontractors report BIM savings in these categories: fabrication cost (3%), overall schedule (21%), shop drawing time (14%), installation cost (12%), material cost (11%), field supervision (10%). These are all substantial costs on a project and the argument would be that investing in BIM is worth its costs. Return on Investment Between Project Participants Return on BIM Investment Architects Engineers Contractors Owners Over 100% 5% 4% 10% 11% 50-100% 7% 2% 8% 2% 25-50% 14% 6% 11% 7% 10-25% 19% 11% 27% 34% Less than 10% 13% 22% 17% 16% Break Even 23% 22% 16% 25% Negative 19% 32% 13% 5% Source: ENR: Engineering News Record The above table shows the perceived return on overall BIM investment. The numbers in the table represent the percentage of respondents from the various disciplines of the construction industry. The information in the table was taken from the article Market Study Finds Engineers Get Lowered Return From BIM by Nadine Post. This information shows that contractors and owners benefit the most by using BIM. This is evident with J.F. Ahern Co. that they do save money and generate profits because of BIM. Larger contractors are able to invest more in BIM while medium size and smaller contractors have to make a financial decision based off of the return on investment. According to the market report, The Business Value of BIM issued by ENR showed that nearly 50% of the contractors who responded say BIM utilization increased profits. On another positive note about BIM is that 63% of participants say they see a positive return on BIM investment. Contractors of all disciplines and sizes should inv est in BIM and there are numbers to back it up. Even in the tough economic times contractors are finding ways to gain an advantage over competition. BIM and 3-D modeling is a great way to acquire future work and stay profitable. Its worth the cost to use BIM because even owners see a return on investment. Conclusion Even though the economy and the times have been tough, companies like J.F. Ahern Co. have used innovative strategies to help grow their business. They have seen quantitative benefits to their efforts of introducing strategies such as BIM. The widespread use of programs such as BIM can be seen throughout the construction industry and the results seem to vary. However, companies that are using BIM and using it well seem to be a cut above the rest. Its not easy for companies to begin new and expensive strategies during hard time, but J.F. Ahern Co. have seemed to have made the most of the opportunity. In the end, innovate strategies very well might be the piece of the puzzle that keeps midsized construction companies alive. The economy and construction industry might not see the immediate end to their struggles, however companies that are willing to adapt to new innovate strategies continually place themselves in positions to succeed.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Comparing Sexuality in Greys Riders of the Purple Sage and Doctorows
Sexuality of the Frontierswoman in Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage and Doctorow's Welcome to Hard Times The presentation of femininity in Doctorow's Welcome to Hard Times is a strong departure from the heroine of Zane Grey's Riders of the Purple Sage. Through the metaphor of the gun as the embodiment of masculinity, both authors closely examine the complexities of the sexualized relationship of a frontierswoman to the men of her society. Doctorow mirrors the tensions present in Grey's novel though Molly acts as an extraordinarily different vision of what the West required of a woman than Jane Withersteen. Both novels reach a sexual climax as the heroine engages the men of her society in a violent action of blood and birth. Though it is a more desolate and harsh portrayal of a woman's station, Doctorow places Molly in a similar situation as the victim of her society to the more traditional Riders of the Purple Sage. While Jane Withersteen is certainly not subjected to violence in the same way that the Bad Man from Bodie raped, beat and nearly killed Molly, Jane is still victimized by her community. Doctorow's portrayal of the conflict is abstracted in ways that Grey's is not. In choosing to call Turner "The Bad Man from Bodie" for the majority of the novel, Doctorow makes him more an abstract notion of violence rather than the more human figure of jealousy Mormon Elder, Tull. However, in spite of the abstractness in Doctorow's characterization, Jane is presented as an outsider in her community and is offered up as a sacrifice to the peace, much in the same way that Blue exhorts Molly to reenter Avery's saloon. From this communal point of victimization, however, Doctorow departs from the gender conventions es... ... Pass. The falling rubble acts as the hymen restored, preserving Jane and Lassiter and Fay inside the womb, inside Eden. Thus, both novels examine the highly sexual tensions between the predominate female figures and the idea of masculinity as encapsulated by the gun, or more abstractly a weapon. Doctorow, though the tensions parallel Grey's, counters the older work on nearly every point, finally culminating in a recognition of the horror that frontier society creates. Much like the action of his novel, Grey retreats into a more idyllic vision of the West. However, he does admit the complexity of the gendered roles in the Western, though not to the extent that Doctorow casts the action in an Oedipal drama. Works Cited Doctorow, E. L. Welcome to Hard Times. New York: Penguin, 1998. Grey, Zane. Riders of the Purple Sage. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
We Must Promote Literacy in Florida :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays
We Must Promote Literacy in Florida Should more be done to promote literacy in the state of Florida? The ability to read and write effectively is the most efficient tool a person can have. Out of all the subjects in school, reading should be emphasized above all. Children are spending too much time in front of the TV and not enough time in front of a book! According to the TV Turnoff Network, the average child watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV a day, thatââ¬â¢s more than 52 days of non-stop TV watching per year! Actually, the average child spends more time watching television than in school. Yes, children today are not spending nearly as much time reading and writing as they should be, but why is this a problem? Studies from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that the average child, between the ages of two and eighteen, spends almost twenty hours a week glued to the television screen, compared to the five hours he/she spends reading for fun. More than 60% of American families have more than three TVââ¬â¢s in their household, encouraging their children to grab the remote instead of a book. In the United States, the number of videos rented daily is six million, whereas the number of public library items checked out daily is three million, as said by the TV Turnoff Network. What did people do for fun before televisions could be found in every room? They read! Because of recent technology, the emphasis has been put on reality TV shows and computer games, rather than a good book. Although technology is very beneficial to todayââ¬â¢s society, a plan must be devised to promote literacy in the state of Florida. Something must be done to promote literacy in the state of Florida! In todayââ¬â¢s world, where the television and computer consume people, children should read more novels, which help to develop the brain.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Jane Austen Essay
MAHA DOSTMOHAMED Maha Dostmohamed Ms. Jalaluddin ENG3U1 September 16th, 2011 Behind the Success of Jane Austen ââ¬Å"In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. â⬠(William Shakespeare). In this quote, William Shakespeare is talking about the different ways that one becomes great. To be born great, for example, is comparable to someone born into a royal family, one who did not have to do anything to become great. To achieve greatness, one must do something great, such as winning a Nobel Prize. For one to have greatness thrust upon oneself occurs when one does not pursue greatness; however, it is greatness that comes to find them. Some of the greatest people in the world did not take or receive credit or achieve fame for their greatness. Jane Austen is an example of this. Although Jane Austenââ¬â¢s books are widely known and loved, they initially failed to make her name world renown since they were originally published anonymously. Jane Austenââ¬â¢s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice was the biggest contributing factor in Janeââ¬â¢s journey to success since the book has enjoyed endless amounts of adoration from fans and is what gave Jane Austen the recognition she receives today as an established author. Jane Austen was a literary phenomenon due to her interesting portrayals of families of various classes, her comical renditions of the mercenary of people in the 18th century, and her original and refreshing take on romance. MAHA DOSTMOHAMED It is arguable that a large percentage of Jane Austenââ¬â¢s success comes from her relatable, entertaining, and insightful portrayals of families of various classes. Firstly, Janeââ¬â¢s portrayals of families in Pride and Prejudice are relatable because they put emphasis on family aspects that occur in many different kinds of families and cultures. In her the book, Mrs. Bennet, the mother of the five Bennet sisters, is eager to have all of her daughters marry wealthy, suitable men. In modern day, this is comparable to an arranged marriage, a tradition that takes place in many families of different cultures and classes. Furthermore, Jane Austenââ¬â¢s portrayal of families also keeps her novels entertaining. The character of Mr. Bennet, for example, from Pride and Prejudice, adds comic relief to the novel because of the entertaining way he reacts to the actions of his wife and daughters. When the news of Mr. Bingleyââ¬â¢s arrival to town comes, for instance, Mrs. Bennet is over-excited with the high hopes of marrying off one of her daughters, while Mr. Bennet finds that his wife is being silly, but agrees to meet with Mr. Bingley for the sake of his daughters anyway. Moreover, Jane Austenââ¬â¢s creations are insightful because she doesnââ¬â¢t take the usual, too-familiar path of writing, but instead takes readers for a walk down a brand new, unfamiliar, yet interesting road. This is seen through the character Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, and the way that this character fits into her family. Elizabeth is a charming, witty girl whose character in most stories would be the most loved in her family; but in Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen shows the upsetting but realistic truth of how many a time in families, the more attractive child is loved over the child with the better personality. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabethââ¬â¢s sister Jane is loved by the family more than Elizabeth, and it is arguable that this strong adoration for Jane comes from the fact that Jane is the most beautiful of all the sisters. Finally, it is for MAHA DOSTMOHAMED all of these reasons that Jane Austenââ¬â¢s portrayals of families in Pride and Prejudice brought her success. Secondly, Jane Austenââ¬â¢s Pride and Prejudice brought her success because her comical renditions of the mercenary and ignorance of people in the 18th century were exhibited thoroughly in the book. One of the comical aspects of Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austenââ¬â¢s audacity with exhibiting the greed and mercenary of people in the 18th century, which was clearly seen through the characters of Mrs. Bennet and her neighbor, Lady Lucas. The way Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas are obsessed with the idea of having their daughters marry into wealthy families clearly shows the mercenary of people in the 18th century. Jane Austen exposed the morals of people in the 18th century as she displayed their ability to make important decisions such as finding a suitor for their daughters. She showed how they make marriage decisions based on how much money a possible suitor has to his name versus more personal and redeeming qualities. Furthermore, this money-based life in the 18th century is further exhibited through the character of Mr. Darcy, who along with his sister, is known to be very proud of his wealth. Furthermore, their pride revolving around their money made the book more popular because it was relatable since everyone knows of someone whose arrogance about their material items or money overpowers their more appealing qualities. In addition to that, the role money played in the lives of the characters also had an effect on their ignorance, another relatable subject. Mrs. Bennet is ignorant of the fact that instead of allowing her daughters to fall in love, she is only interested in finding husbands for her girls who have a lot of money, which can not only be related to the idea of an arranged MAHA DOSTMOHAMED marriage, but also how parents pressure their children when making career choices. Parents want their kids to pursue careers in which they will make a lot of money, rather than doing something with their life that they enjoy. This can be related to the way Mrs. Bennet wants her daughters to marry into wealthy families, although she believes she is doing what is in best interest of her girls, the girls may or may not see it the same way. Finally, Jane Austenââ¬â¢s renditions of 18th century people made Pride and Prejudice successful. Thirdly, Pride and Prejudice brought success to Jane Austen because of the original, refreshing perspective she had on romance, which was shown through the relationship between the novelââ¬â¢s two main characters, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Firstly, the originality of this romance can be seen from the start of their relationship, from their first impressions. The first impressions these two characters develop of each other are so important to the themes of this novel that Jane Austenââ¬â¢s original title for the book was ââ¬Å"First Impressionsâ⬠. What is original about their first impressions is the fact that the romantic story that Jane Austen is telling is not the usual, too-familiar story of ââ¬Å"love at first sightâ⬠, but rather the story of how two people who at first loathed each other, could fall in love. This brought popularity to the novel and to Jane Austen because readers loved the way that Elizabeth and Darcy went from hating to loving each other. In addition to that, the fact that a man like Mr. Darcy, a wealthy man with a vast amount of pride had the ability to fall in love with a girl like Elizabeth, rather than a girl more like her sister, Jane Bennet made readers fall in love with the story. In the novel, Elizabeth, although witty and lovable, is not the most beautiful of girls. In fact, when Mr. Darcy initially sees MAHA DOSTMOHAMED Elizabeth, he says that her appearance is nothing but ââ¬Å"tolerableâ⬠, making it obvious that he sees her beauty miniscule when compared to that of her sister, Jane. The fact that Mr. Darcy acknowledges that Elizabeth is not the most beautiful of her sisters, knowing that if he had her he would not have the ââ¬Å"bestâ⬠, yet falls in love with her, is what readers fell in love with. Finally, Jane Austenââ¬â¢s novel Pride and Prejudice was a big factor regarding Jane Austenââ¬â¢s success because it highlighted Janeââ¬â¢s unique, original, and refreshing take on romance, which is a big part of what made readers love her. In conclusion, Jane Austen was a phenomenon and her success in writing is owed to her novel Pride and Prejudice which made readers fall in love with her interesting portrayals of families of various classes, her comical renditions of the mercenary and ignorance of people in the 18th century, and her original and refreshing take on romance. Jane Austenââ¬â¢s writings were comic, relatable, realistic, tasteful, refreshing, and original, all things that contributed to the rise in her success. Last of all, Jane Austen was a worldrenowned author whose creations have always been, and always will be, treasured and loved by many and most parts of the world for their excellence.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Planning And Threat Assesment Essay
Abstract à à à à à à à à à à à à When one is determining the credibility and seriousness of a threat, then he is engaged in the process known as Threat assessment. A threat may be individual security threat, a group security threat, a bombing threat or even a fire setting threat. Threat assessment also investigates the probability of theà peril being carried out. Once a potential threat has been assessed and is seen as serious, prevention and mitigation steps are carried out. The context of threat is very important when interpreting risks (Feher, 45). à à à à à à à à à à à In order to evaluate threat, some questions should be addressed. Some of the question is the character of the threat, what is the objective of the threatener, what does the threatener want to put across, the victimââ¬â¢s sensitivity to the threat, how credible is the threat, the threatenerââ¬â¢s aim, isà there a secondary gain targeted by the threatener? When addressed the questions will help in evaluating the threat; the threatââ¬â¢s credibility and chances of its occurring (Dietz, 129). à à à à à à à à à à à In threat assessment, planning is imperative because it reduces the chances of the threat occurring. It also mitigates the effects of the threat, resolve their implications, and insulate the fallout and builds confidence of the parties involved. Threat assessment is not solely about security concerns although it is its primary concern (Borum, 335). à à à à à à à à à à à A general framework of threat assessment should incorporate the identification of threat or emergency, estimate of probability, development of prevention and mitigation strategies and resource allocation of which should be based on evaluation of likelihood of occurrence and impact. à à à à à à à à à à à Planning should be dynamic and contextual since one strategy will not fit all the threats that may concern an individual detail, planning must reckon with the context. Planning also needs continued evaluation of likelihood of occurrence and effect of prevention and mitigation of the effects and of changing context. Planning is a fact (Boon, 77). Planning and threat assessment: Case study of a white supremacist principal à à à à à à à à à à à When planning the detail of security for the principal, it is imperative to identify the threat at hand. My principal is a white supremacist and has many enemies. He cannot defend himself when confronted with a threat since is confined to a wheelchair 24 hours a day. His security detail must also be inclusive of a nurse who may not know how to handle precarious situations and may be under threat herself. She must be protected from harm at all cost because the principal is dependent on her. à à à à à à à à à à à Being a white supremacist, he is under threat of other races especially the blacks and Latinos. They both have a history of violence especially when racially discriminated against. The have access to sophisticated weapons and they are capable of planning an ambush on the highways. There have been rumors circulating around Los Angeles that black supremacists have put a figure on the principalââ¬â¢s head. They are known to possess a lot of money and influence in the Los Angeles Ghettos. à à à à à à à à à à à Apart from the Blacks and Latinos, the principal has other enemies as well. Apart from other races that would have all the motivation to eliminate him, he also has white enemies as well. Some of them are said to be connected to the mafia and so they could attack anywhere and anytime. They can also use the government officials to accomplish their desires. à à à à à à à à à à à One of the other threats is that a rival white supremacist group is suspected of being behind a series of murders and the recent brutal beating of the principalââ¬â¢s assistant chief. The media has already speculated that they are fighting for political power in the State of California among the white supremacists movement. à à à à à à à à à à à The main threat is outside the courthouse. He is to defendant to charges of murder and civil rights violation, especially to the non-whites races. This is because the many of the rival groups and extremists will be attending the hearing. These include fundamentalistââ¬â¢s religious groups, civil rights activists, and other white supremacist groups among others. It is anticipated that the hearing will be very emotional and might spark off anger that could turn out to be violent. à à à à à à à à à à à One concern that the security detail of the principal has is the withdrawal of police from his security detail. The chief of police has said that his men will not be responsible for the principalââ¬â¢s security. It is a concern because the principal want to make a grand entry to the court and also want to talk to the press. This is a major threat because the principal might spark off anger before entering the court, plus putting his numerous enemies on the picture, his life would be at a threat of gunning down by a sharp shooter placed anywhere in the surrounding court environment. It is particularly hazardous because the court is surrounded by skyscraper buildings. Mitigation of threat à à à à à à à à à à à In order to mitigate the chance of the threat that is currently facing the principal, it is important to note what could be done to avoid the threat from occurring at all. It is also important to note that at our disposal we have only eight security men covering the principal, and this against the very large force of enemies is a very little number of security details. à à à à à à à à à à à First we have to avoid the highways whenever possible. This is because the Blacks and Latinos have the tendency to lay an ambush on the highways and this may also be an incentive for other rivals to Lay ambush on the principalââ¬â¢s motorcade. An alternative means of transportation is paramount to evade the risk of the highways. It would be prudent to hire a helicopter for the principal, the nurse another security man and to oversee that the principal travel from home to the courthouse grounds without the necessity to go through the highways. à à à à à à à à à à à Since it is not practical for all the security detail to go with the helicopter, prior arrangement must be done so that the rest of the security detail get to court on time. It must be before the principalââ¬â¢s helicopter reaches court. They will be responsible for determining the threat that will be facing the principal and organizing for the general security of the principal when he arrives in court. à à à à à à à à à à à There will also be the need for acquiring vehicles for the rest of the security detail. There will need to be enough vehicles for the transport of the entire security detail so a minimum of three vehicles will be needed. The vehicles should be parked in strategic places for the immediate departure should a necessity occur after the hearing. The same should apply to the helicopter. These vehicles will need to be unmarked and cannot by any chance be linked to the principal as this may compromise the security detail. If possible the vehicles should be new. à à à à à à à à à à à Communication should be of high quality so that the security detail on the ground monitoring the situation should in contact with helicopter at all time. The communication gadgets should be free off interference from outside parties and should be very alert of outside parties listening in. State of the art communication systems will be employed when à à à à à à à à à à à In order to minimize the occurrence of threat, the security detail should be very particular on timing. Regardless of the principal wanting to make a grand entrance to the court, little contact should be encourage between the principal and outside parties particularly the press. More time being afforded to the principal and the outside parties increases the occurrence of threat. The timing should be that the time of arrival of the principal will minimize the time of contact with the outside parties. After hearing all the security detail should be on hand to ensure the minimal contact of the principal to the outside parties. I being the head of the security detail will explain the importance of this to the principal should he need any explanations as to why he was not allowed maximum contact with the outside parties and press. à à à à à à à à à à à More security details need to be hired to help the strained security details. There will be need to look for capable men of handling this assignment and so as to enhance the security of the principal. à Resource Allocation à à à à à à à à à à à After threat assessment, it is necessary to allocate some resources so that they can be used to avoid the threat from happening. à à à à à à à à à à à In our case of the principal, there will be need to hire a helicopter but it would be more economical to buy one because the principal will need to be traveling so more after the trip to the court. This will reduce the risk of being ambushed by the enemies on the highways. à à à à à à à à à à à There is also the need to invest on new vehicles for the security detail. This is because the vehicles will need not to be linked to the principal as this could jeopardize the safety of the principal and the security detail as well. à à à à à à à à à à à There is also the need for the investment in state of the art communication devices. This will enhance the effective security monitoring and the communication of possible threat from the ground to the helicopter. à Conclusion à à à à à à à à à à à Considering all the threats that face individuals and given the concern for public safety, there is a public wish to establish a threat assessment program for the pubic as well as individuals. Most prone to these threats are public figures, celebrities, leaders of all sorts including fundamentalists and supremacists and witnesses among many more members of the public (Baxter, 194). à à à à à à à à à à à Such programs require preparation, knowledge and deverness in order to be capable of identifying serious threats as well as intervening and addressing them in public. These should be done in such a manner as not to inappropriately heighten public fears and thus causing overreacting of the public. References Baxter, V. Margavio, A. (1996). Assaultive violence in the U.S. post office. Work and Occupation, 177 ââ¬â 196 Boon, J.C.W. Sheridan, L (2001). Stalker typologies: A law enforcement perspective. Journal of Threat Assessment. 75 ââ¬â 79 Borum, R, Fein R, Vossekuil, B Berglund, J. (1999). Threat Assessment: Defining an approach for evaluating risk of target violence. Behavioral Sciences and the Law. 323 ââ¬â 337 Dietz, P. E., Martell, D. A. (1989), ââ¬Å"Mentally Disordered Offenders in Pursuit of Celebrities and Politicians.â⬠National Institute of Justice: Washington D.C. 125 ââ¬â 150 Feher, B. A., et al.(2002). Studies of U.S./ Navy Air Defense Threat Assessment: Cue, Information Order, and Impact of Conflicting Data. San Diego, U.S. Navy Air Defense. 32 ââ¬â 57
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