Friday, November 29, 2019

Smart Textile Essay Example

Smart Textile Essay Smart textiles is the modification of fibers, fabrics and special articals which is produceing day by day in different way and different techniques. Many intelligent textiles already feature in advanced types of clothing, principally for protection and safety and for added fashion or convenience. Smart materials or textiles can be defined as the materials and structures which have sense or can sense the environmental conditions or stimuli, whereas intelligent textiles can be defined as textile structures which not only can sense but can also react and respond to environmental conditions or stimuli. These stimuli as well as response, could be thermal, chemical, mechanical, electric, magnetic or from other source. Classification of Smart Textiles: According to functional activity smart textiles can be classified in three categories: ? Passive Smart Textiles: The first generations of smart textiles, which can only sense the environmental conditions or stimulus, are called Passive Smart Textiles. ? Active Smart Textiles: The second generation has both actuators and sensors. The actuators act upon the detected signal either directly or from a central control unit. Active Smart textiles are shape memory, chameleonic, water-resistant and vapour permeable (hydrophilic/non porous), heat storage, thermo regulated, vapour absorbing, heat evolving fabric and electrically heated suits. ? Ultra Smart Textiles: Very smart textiles are the third generation of smart textiles, which can sense, react and adopt themselves to environmental conditions or stimuli. A very smart or intelligent textile essentially consists of a unit, which works like the brain, with cognition, reasoning and activating capacities. We will write a custom essay sample on Smart Textile specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Smart Textile specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Smart Textile specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The production of very smart textiles is now a reality after a successful marriage of traditional textiles and clothing technology with other branches of science like material science, structural mechanics, sensor and actuator technology, advance processing technology, communication, artificial intelligence, biology etc. Smart textile in Medicine: Due to astounding technological developments, technical textiles are extensively used in the healthcare industry today. In the field of medical application, technical textiles are not just used in contact with the skin, but also fulfill important functions within the body (intra-corporal applications like implants). Technical textiles offer medical and hygiene industry with unparalleled protection, comfortable. These highly specialized and bio- compatible technical textiles, used for medical and hygiene applications are called â€Å"MEDTECH. † The characteristics required of MEDTECH vary depending on the task for which they are to be used. Some applications demand a protective function, others a high absorptive capacity and some other others impermeability. characteristic of these textiles Depending on the nature of application; most of the medical products are disposable in nature and are made of nonwoven fabrics. In global markets disposables are fast replacing non-disposable health care textiles. Some areas of usage are: * Healthcare/ hygiene products- Include bedding, clothing, surgical clothes, products for feminine hygiene like sanitary napkins, baby and adult diapers etc. Non-implantable materials- For wound care that includes absorbent pad (wound contact layer, base material viscose, plastic film) and bandages (simple inelastic/elastic, orthopedic, plasters, gauzes, lint, padding) * Textiles in Extracorporeal devices- Like artificial kidney, liver and lungs. * Implantable materials- Like sutures (biodegradable and non-biodegradable), soft tissue implants, artificial tendon (meshes), artificial ligament, artific ial cartilage, orthopedic implants artificial joint, cardiovascular implants vascular grafts, heart valves. Agro Textiles: Agriculture has been amongst the most primal occupations of the humankind and is still a major industry, globally. In this era of modernization and high technological advancements, it has spread its horizons and started using man-made, non-conventional textiles, called â€Å"technical textiles†. Tapping the potential of technical textiles and putting their vital properties to an advantage; agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fishing segments (all the four sectors combined together are popularly called as â€Å"Agrotech† sector) are increasingly using them for equipment development and other applications. This textile sector comprises of all textiles that are used in growing, harvesting, protection and storage of either crops or animals. It includes diverse items such as fishing nets and fish-lines, ropes, shade fabrics, mulch mats, woven and non-woven covers for crops, bird protection nests, etc. These textiles are driving the sector profitably by improving the productivity and reducing the need for chemicals. Some of the purposes for which these textiles are being increasingly used are as follows: * Preventing erosion and paving way for a forestation. In greenhouse cover and fishing nets. * For Layer separation in fields. * In Nets for plants, rootless plants amp; protecting grassy areas. * As sun screens (since they have adjustable screening) and wind shields. * As packing material and in bags for storing grass (that has been mowed). * Controlling stretch in knitted nets. | Home Textiles: Seen as a mightily expanding and changing sector in the global textile industry, the presence of technical textiles is not merely confined to industrial applications and is becoming a ubiquitous phenomenon in our day to day activities as well. The new promise of technical textiles is generation of products (by combining the latest developments in advanced flexible materials with advances in process technologies) that eventually have a direct impact upon all sorts of consumer textile markets, including both clothing and furnishings. These are called â€Å"HOMETECH†. One of the largest technical textile markets, this sector comprises household textiles, furnishings (used in contract applications) and upholstered furniture industry (including fiberfill and wadding applications in bedding, cushions, sleeping bags and furniture backings). Some of the highly useful applications of HOMETECH include: * Woven amp; knit wipes (cleaning wipes for domestic applications) * Nonwoven wipes (floor mops) * Ticking’s (for filled products like pillows, duvets, cushions) * Mattress components (Flanging and quilt backing, spring wrap) * Spring insulators Flat fabrics ( used to cover springs in beds or upholstery) * Platform cloth (fabrics used as a base for cushions on upholstered furniture) * Dust cloths Fabrics attached to base of furniture Skirt linings and other fabrics for use in upholstered furniture, bedding etc * Carpet backings (used as primary as well as secondary backing for tufted carpets) Construction Textiles: Civil engineering and building industry are an integral part of the development of human society as they involve the planning, design, building, operation and maintenance of infrastructure. The venturing of technical textiles or high-performance textiles in this sector has given a great impetus to the quali ty of construction. These textiles are used in the construction of buildings, dams, bridges, tunnels and roads and collectively comprise the â€Å"Buildtech† sector. They offer mechanical properties such as lightness, strength and resilience as well as resistance to many factors such as creep, degradation by chemicals and pollutants in the air or rain and other construction material as well as the effects of sunlight and acid. These textiles play an important role in the modernization of infrastructure. Some of the major products covered under this sector are used in; * Hoardings and Signage’s. * Scaffolding Nets. * Awnings and canopies. * Tarpaulins. Architectural membranes. Transport Textiles Among other sectors, the automotive industry is one of the largest single markets for technical textiles and one of the most diverse as well. This market comprises of automobiles, trains, marine vehicles and planes. Technical textiles that are used in this automotive or transport sector are called à ¢â‚¬Å"MOBILTECH. † The latest developments in aircraft, ship building as well as motor vehicle and train manufacture, all can be largely attributed to MOBILTECH, a non apparel textile. Mobiltech today covers not only isolation and safety aspect but also focuses on comfort and style. The customers look for aesthetically pleasing interiors, great comfort and fuel economy. Textile components in automobiles consist of either visible component like upholstery, carpets, seat belts, headliners etc. or concealed components like tire cords, hoses, belts, airbags etc. Military: One of the main reasons for the rapid development of Smart textiles is the important investment make by the military industry. This is because they are used in different projects such as extreme winter condition jackets or uniforms that change colour so as to improve camouflage effects. Nowadays, the military industry has become aware of the advantage of sharing knowledge with the various industrial sectors, because with joint collaboration far better results can be obtained through team-work. Georgia Tech was the pioneering institute for the development of SFIT that integrates electronics. During a project funded by the US Naval Department in 1996, they have developed a Wearable Motherboard (GTWM commercial name is Smart shirt) [38-39], which was manufactured for use in combat conditions. The garment uses optical fibres to detect bullet wounds and special sensors that interconnect in order to monitor vital signs during ombat conditions. Eco Textiles: Environmental threats loom large on almost every nation in the world today. With this threat gaining its stature day by day, Eco Textiles gain utmost importance as one of the most useful resources that help promote new innovations, in an eco-friendly manner. OEKTECH is the term used for technical textiles that are used for environmental protection. It stands for new ideas and interesting concepts in the area of environmental protection, waste disposal (including innovative filtration media) and new recycling technologies. It is opening up new avenues for environmental engineers, safety engineers and personnel in environmental protection agencies. These eco- friendly textiles provide a range of environmentally responsible alternatives to other resource hungry materials. They tap into both post-consumer and post-industrial waste streams amp; scrap and reuse them for manufacturing an extremely durable and eco-friendly textile. They not only lead to reduction of waste but also more importantly, save the rapidly depleting natural resources. Some of the features of these textiles are: * They utilize ecologically grown fibers. They are processed with less damaging inputs. * The processing units are equipped with good sewage treatment. * The fabrics are of good quality and long lasting. Geotextiles: Geotextiles are smart textiles that consist of a stable network that retains its relative structure during handling, placement and long-term service. A Geotextile can be defined as â€Å"permeable geosynthetic co mprised solely of textiles. † Geotextiles are special fabrics made for use in geological situations. They are rot-proof and permeable to water. They can be heavy duty or light duty, black, white or colored. Available in woven and non-woven forms, they apply to a broad range of civil engineering construction, paving, drainage and other applications. Geotextiles are extensively used with soil, rock, earth or any other geotechnical engineering-related material, as an integral part of human-made project, structure or system. These engineered Geotextiles perform three basic functions: separation, stabilization and filtration. Many application areas: * Roadways, parking lots, loading areas and construction sites * Prevent drainage systems from clogging with fine particles * Filtration, Protection and separation function * Fluid transmission For waterway erosion control * Reduce soil piping and embankment erosion * Prevention of weed growth (in horticulture applications) * Moisture conservation (in horticulture applications) Packaging Textiles: Packaging textiles include all textiles packing material for industrial, agricultural and other goods. The demand for packing material is directly prop ortional to economic growth, industrial production and trade as goods are produced and then distributed both locally and internationally. The growing (environmental) need for reusable packages and containers is opening new opportunities for textile products in this market. Sacks and bags made of traditional jute, cotton or natural fiber are gradually casting way for modern synthetic fibers. These technical textiles, used in packaging and subsequent transportation are called â€Å"PACKTECH. † It is well known that these fabrics are ideal for many kinds of packaging. At one end, PACKTECH includes heavyweight, dense woven fabrics (used for bags, sacks, flexible intermediate bulk carriers and wrappings for textile bales and carpets) and on the other end, it includes lightweight non woven’s used as durable papers, tea bags and other food and industrial product wrappings. The use of textile materials in consumer packaging is exhibited in the following products: * FIBC big bags (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers),for powdered and granular materials * Laundry bags and other bulk packaging products * Sacks for storage etc * Twine and string for tying packages, etc (excludes agricultural applications) * Non-paper tea bags and coffee filters * Food soaker pads * Net packaging for storing, packing, transporting, retailing foodstuffs, toys, * Woven fiber strapping, lightweight mailbags. * Soft luggage Sport tech: Today’s sports demand high performance equipment and apparel. The light weight and safety features of Sport tech have become important in their substitution for other materials. These high-functional and smart textiles are increasingly adding value to the sports and leisure industry by combining utilitarian functions with wearing comfort that leads to achieving high level of performance. A few areas where these textiles are being increasingly used are- Material technology and design, of equipment, Biomechanics and the engineering aspects of sports machinery, Surface treatment of equipment, Sportswear, Sports footwear, Artificial turfs, sleeping bags, ballooning and parachute fabrics. Solar sale Applicable textile: The main application of solar cells in textile is the electric alimentation of integrated electronic devices, e-textile. The alimentation could be made directly from the solar cell to the devices but the majority of encountered solutions are using of solar for charging batteries that could deliver energy to the appropriate device. Example: recharging mobile phone, Mp3 player etc. . Uses of solar cells on textile substrate Modern Computing: In our society communication tools, interactivity and portable devices are one of the largest sources of innovation and represent a tremendous market. The integration of portable electronics devices in textiles appeared as a natural market. The first innovation was a keyboard made in a single layer of fabric using capacitive sensing, where an array of embroidered or silk-screened electrodes make up the points of contact. A fingers contact with an electrode can be sensed by measuring the increase in the electrodes total capacitance. It is worth noting that this can be done with a single bidirectional digital I/O pin per electrode, and a leakage resistor sewn in highly resistive yarn. Capacitive sensing arrays can also be used to tell how well a piece of clothing fits the wearer, because the signal varies with pressure. Several versions of capacitive or flexible keyboards in textile materials Conductive materials: There are two strategies to create electrical or thermal conductive fabrics and two types of materials, the metals and the polymers. The same materials could be used for the both conductivity (thermal and electric), because the two processes are similar and results of an electronic agitation/conduction. The first strategy uses high wicking finishes (ink) with a high metallic content that still retains the comfort required for clothing. With the addition of nickel, copper, silver or carbon coatings of varying thickness, these finishes provide a versatile combination of physical and electrical properties for a variety of demanding applications. Examples of conductive inks used in textiles The second strategy consists in the direct use of conductive yarns. The yarn could constitute metal such as silver, copper, etc. or conductive polymer such as polythiophene, polyaniline, and their derivatives although there are many different trademarks commercialising these materials, they all have the same main properties. Examples of conductive yarn used in textiles Conclusions A few years ago, smart textiles were presented as imaginary products and as a non competitive market. After scientific efforts and development phases, nowadays SFIT are an implanted customer interest and are presented as the future of the textile industry. A lot of commercial products are available and, as it was presented during this document; a lot of scientist is developing new solutions, ideas and concrete products. Some approximations announce a market of 1 billion dollars by 2010 which certainly explains the current passion for these news topics.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Writing a Character Reference Full Template

Writing a Character Reference Full Template SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Thoreau once wrote, â€Å"The language of friendship is not words but meanings.† In the case of a character reference, the language of friendship involves both words and meanings. If you’re tasked with writing a character reference, then your mission is to write about your friend and all her amazing qualities. How exactly can you fulfill this mission of writing an outstanding character reference? This guide will help you through the writing process with a template for your letter. To begin, let’s go over the purpose of a character reference. What’s the Purpose of a Character Reference? You might have a friend, relative, or neighbor ask you to write a character reference. You usually base this reference on your personal, rather than professional, relationship with the subject. There are a few different reasons why someone might need you to write her a character reference. In the Professional World... Some people need a character reference for a job. Hiring managers could ask for one as a way to get to know the candidate on a more personal level. They might also want to make sure the candidate is trustworthy, particularly if the job calls for a high level of ethics. My friend, for instance, recently provided a referencefor his friend applying to the U.S. State Department. If the applicant didn’t provide at least three great character references, then there was no way he was gettinghigh level security clearance. Another reason that a job candidate might seek a character reference is to use it as a supplement to her application. If she’s young and hasn’t had many jobs before, then she may add a personal letter to support her cause. Outside the Professional World... Outside of job applications, there are other circumstances that call for a personal recommendation. Someone might be applying to a position in the community, like membership in a local club. Students could need a character reference as they apply to scholarships or awards. People looking to adopt or provide foster care for a child often need character references. They also seek them when trying to buy a house or condo. Finally, character references can also be used to support someone in court. The purpose of your letter will shape what you say to some extent. For this article, I’ll focus on a character reference that gives insight into someone’s personal attributes and could most realistically be used for a job or volunteer-type position. In a general sense, all character references share the same mission: to reveal the subject’s personal strengths and to show support. If you’ve taken on this mission, how can you produce a memorable character reference? This guide will lead you through the writing process, step by step. Whether your friend wants to get a job, buy a house, or go on the next mission to Mars, your character reference should explain why she's the best person for the role. Writing a Character Reference: 4 Steps While there are several ingredients that go into producing a strong letter, there are two in particular that stand out. The first is organizing your thoughts in a clear and meaningful way. The second is giving specific examples to paint a picture of the subject. These are two of the most important lessons in crafting a strong letter, but also two of the most challenging to carry out. To help you meet this challenge, I’ve broken down the writing process into four steps. The first, you might be happy to hear, doesn’t require you to do any writing yet! Step 1: Speak to theCandidate The responsibility for this first step of the letter writing process actually falls on the shoulders of the person asking for the letter. She should share details of the letter’s purpose, whether it’s for a job, community position, or house, for example. She might have ideas for qualities or stories you could share in your letter. If the position seeks someone with a strong code of ethics, then the candidate should let you know to highlight instances when she showed honesty and integrity. The subject of your letter might also share her resume or any other relevant materials. By getting all the important details, you can make sure your character reference is customized and relevant. You both might brainstorm ideas together, too, which brings us to the next stage of the reference writing process. Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas for Your Reference This second stage of your character reference writing process is all about preparation. Take a few moments to gather your thoughts and sort through your ideas for the letter. What qualities jump out when you think about the candidate? What anecdotes could you share to support your evaluation? Why does she deserve to get the position or move into the neighborhood? Some qualities that could jog your thinking include, Ethical, honest, trustworthyDetermined, goal-oriented, hard-workingFair, honestGenerous, giving, helpfulCreative, curiousConsiderate, empathetic, kindLoyal, committed, reliableResponsible, matureCharming, funny, lighthearted, charismaticEasygoing, lightheartedIntelligent, studiousOrganizedPatient, supportive, sensitiveGood listenerGood communicator, well-spokenIndependentResilient Once you’ve brainstormed qualities, pick out three or so to highlight. These should really capture the subject, as well as be relevant to the situation. If you’re writing a letter for a babysitting job, then you might want to zoom in on the candidate’s caring and responsible nature. If you’re supporting someone’s application to buy a house, then you might focus more on her reliability or neighborlyqualities. Once you’ve chosen your top three, think about specific anecdotes you could share when the candidate demonstrated those qualities. As you’ll see in the template below, you should share two to three specific examples to really illustrate the person and validate your description. Once you’ve thought of some ideas, you’re ready to start drafting! Ready to start drafting? Use the roadmap below to reach your destination! Step 3: Draft Your Character Reference with this Template Once you’ve arrived at the drafting stage, you should have some idea of what you want to say in your character reference. You know what the letter is for and have thought of some ways to describe your friend. Once you have yourideas, you can follow a pretty straightforward structure for producing your letter. The following template will go over this structure, piece by piece. To begin, let’s start with basic contact information. Insert Contact Information at the Top Ideally, you can address your reference to a specific person. Writing to a specific person is more personal than, â€Å"To Whom It May Concern.† If it’s not possible, though, then a more generalized greeting is fine. If you have official letterhead with your contact information at the top then you should go ahead and use it. If not, then you might write out your contact information on the top left margin, followed by the addressee’s contact information. Your contact information could look something like this: Joe SmithSchool DirectorFun Among Us Daycare5 Main St.Anytown, CA 90210 Below your contact information, insert the details for the person to whom you’re writing, like this: Stella McKayDirectorA+ Tutoring60 School St.Booktown, TX 73344 Below this contact information, start your letter with a salutation of, â€Å"Dear [name].† Once you have your contact information set, you can start in on the introduction. Paragraph 1: The Introduction Now you’re ready to start your letter. You should start out strong with a statement of support. Some positive phrases include, I am honored to support...I am pleased to provide a reference for...I am delighted to be called upon...I am happy to recommend...I have no hesitation in recommending...It’s my pleasure to recommend... Here are a couple examples for starting your letter: 1. It’s my pleasure to recommend Jackieto the position of Intelligence Operations Officer with the U.S. Secret Service. 2. I’m very happy to recommend Aaronfor membership in the Hometown Community Service Club. 3. I’m pleased to provide a reference for Alishaas she seeks a nannying position with your family. In addition to starting out strong, you should also explain who you are and how you know the candidate. Qualify the nature of your relationship so that the reader understands why your opinion is a valuable one. Here are a fewexamples for your next sentence. 1. I met Jackie, my assigned roommate, on the first day of college, and we continued to live together for the next four years. Despite living in different cities aftergraduation, we've remained close friends. 2. Aaron and I developed a strong friendship since he moved in next door four years ago. 3. As Alisha's aunt, I've watched her grow up into a mature and responsible young woman who's always her cousins' first pick for Saturday night babysitter. Once you’ve introduced yourself, you could give a brief summary of what qualities you’ll touch on in the rest of your letter. For example, these lines set up the content in the next couple of paragraphs: 1. Jackie inspiredme with her ethics, intelligence, and ambition throughout our college years and beyond. 2. Aaron's an exceptional neighbor and friend whoactively contributes to the well-being of our community. 3. Alisha's a reliable, warm, and creative person who's skilled atcaring for children of all ages. Overall, your introductory paragraph should consist ofthreeto five sentences. Show your support right off the bat, and make sure to explain who you and why your reference holds weight. Indicate the reason for the reference, and give a brief description of the candidate. Then you can flesh out this description in two to three body paragraphs. Body Paragraphs You couldinclude two to three body paragraphs, depending on what qualities you want to touch on. Each paragraph should have a specific focus; for instance, you could highlight one facet of the person’s character and pair it with an anecdote. You should order the body paragraphs starting with the most relevant point. Consider what qualities the reader of your letter is looking for. What will be most helpful and impressive? Put that quality first. Here are a couple examples for body paragraphs. 1. Jackie is a person of high moral character. Her strong sense of ethics came through in discussions in and out of our political science classes. A real-life ethical test came along junior year, when she found a wallet with hundreds of dollars of cash outside. Keeping any of the money didn’t seem to occur to Jackie for a second, and she tracked down its owner and mailed it back first-class. She’s always someone I can trust to do the right thing and is the first person I think to call when confronted with my own moral dilemmas. 2. Aaron is motivated by a strong sense of social responsibility. He makes a difference everyday in his position as physical education teacher at the middle school and volunteer coach of the soccer and wrestling teams. Last year, the district recognized his contributions with the Coach of the Year award. One of his soccer players, who’d been identified as an at-risk student, said a few touching words about how Aaron believed in him and helped him feel reconnected to school. Aaron's a much-lovedteacher and coach who’s committed to the well-being of his students. 3. Alisha is a creative person who’s able to keep even my energetic kids engaged and happy. She’s chock full of ideas for art projects, sports competitions, and make-believe games. Last time she watched her cousins, they ended up putting together and acting out their own production of Frozen. She’s great at devising activities that are fun, safe, and surprisingly effective at getting kids active and away from their iPads. Of course, your body paragraphs will be customized to the individual. The basic formula of â€Å"description + anecdote† is useful to keep in mind as you draft these. You’ll find a summary of a basic template for the body paragraphs of your character reference below. First, though, let’s consider the final paragraph of your letter, the conclusion. Conclusion and Signature After wrapping up the body paragraphs, you’ve reached the end of your character reference. Your conclusion can just be three to five sentences long, and its content is pretty straightforward. First, you can reiterate your support or high opinion of the candidate. Here are a couple examples of how to do this: 1. In closing, I'd like to reiterate my unequivocal support for Jackie as she seeks appointment to the Secret Service. 2. As you can tell, I think the world of Aaron and recommend him for membership in Hometown Community Service Club without hesitation. 3. Alisha has my highest recommendation as a childcare provider and all-around great human being. Then, you might summarize the points you’ve made or add a few more descriptive words. Remember that the conclusion is your final chance to communicate your recommendation, so you want to leave the reader with a lasting good impression. For instance, you might say something like this: 1. Jackie is not only brilliant,but also a highly ethical person and loyal friend. 2. Aaron's made countlesscontributions to our community and will be able to extend his reach as a club member. 3. Alisha is responsible, patient,and sensitive to the needs of children. Finally, invite the reader to contact you for any further information. Show that you’re happy to confirm your character reference or add anything else via email or phone. You can also thank the reader for her time. 1. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Thank you for your time. 2. Please feel free to get in touch with any questions. Thank you. At the end, sign your name and print it beneath, perhaps with your phone number and email if they're not at the top of your letter. Then, you’ve reached the end of your character reference! To review, let’s put all the pieces together into this final template. Use the template below to shape your letter from a rough ball of clay to a polished final product. Drafting your Character Reference: Final Template The personal recommendation letter template below reflects the above structure, including the contact information, introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion, and final signature. YourNamePosition [if relevant]Workplace [if relevant]Street AddressCity, State, Zip Code Addressee's NamePosition [if relevant]Company [if relevant]Street AddressCity, State, Zip Code Dear [Addressee'sName], It's my great pleasure to provide this character reference for[name] for [purpose of letter]. I've been close friends with[name] for the past [number of years]. [Name of candidate] is [two to three descriptors], and I have no doubt that he/she would make an outstanding addition to [company, club, etc]. Please allow me to give threeexamples of her personalstrengths. Body Paragraphs 1 - 3: [Name] stands out for his/her [quality]. Last year, for example, he/she [specific example]. He/she consistently [description of personal attributes]. [Name] is uniquefor his/her [specific qualities].* *Present 2-3 main characteristics of the candidate in the body paragraphs, each with a specific example if possible. Put them in order of importance andrelevance. Usestrongly positive language, but try not to soundover the top. In closing, I'd like to restate my wholeheartedsupport for [name's] as she seeks [purpose of letter]. He/she is [most important qualities]. I have no doubt that she will continue to have great success with [company, club, etc]. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any further information. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Signature] NamePosition [if relevant]EmailPhone Number Of course, the body paragraphs leave a lot of space for customization. This space allows you to make your personal recommendation letter unique to the candidate. Once you’ve drafted your letter, you just have one more important step in the writing process. Step 4: Edit for Clarity Before sending off your character reference, take a few minutes to edit and revise. First, make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. Beyond fixing any mistakes, take a look at your writing and make sure it’s clear. Whoever’s reading your letter may not have a ton of time to look closely at every word. Your letter should leave a powerful impression without requiring a big time commitment from the reader. In other words, your goal isto be concise. If you can make the same impact with fewer words, do so. Eliminate unnecessary adverbs and adjectives that add bulk but not meaning.If a sentence feels cluttered, try your best to clean it up. Once you’ve tightened up your writing, your letter is ready to submit! You’ve produced a well-structured reference that compliments the candidate and gives specific examples that speak toher character. In closing, let’s review the key points to remember about drafting a character reference. This wary cat has no reason to worry. Her canine roommate just finished writing an excellent character reference. He didn't even mention her habit of clawing the couch or knocking over glasses of water. Key Points: Writing a Character Reference If you’re writing a character references, chances are you’re writing about a friend, neighbor, or relative. Your task is to write about this person’s favorable attributes and describe what makes him/her special. The content of your letter will largely be shaped by what it’s being used for. If you’re writing for a job, then you may want to shed light on the subject’s personality and relevant qualities, like ethics and trustworthiness. If you’re writing for membership in a community club, then you might talk about the subject’s community connections or leadership. Whatever your letter’s purpose, it should be strongly positive and use specific examples. Rather than turning into a list of adjectives, your letter should have anecdotes that reveal positive things about the subject. By telling stories and using a clear and concise structure, you can produce a stand-out character referenceandimpress yourreaders! What’s Next? Are you interested in professional letters of recommendation for jobs? This guide contains a recommendation letter template to help you through the writing process. Ready to read some referenceletter samples? This article has nine free samples of recommendation letters, including a character reference! Interested in recommendation letters for college? This guide has four amazing recommendation letter samples written by high school teachers.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Monetary Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Monetary Policy - Essay Example The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is group within the Fed that meets several times a year to adjust the interest rates. Lower interest rates will increase demand for products and can stimulate the economy. For example, a decrease in interest rates lowers the cost of borrowing which leads to an increase in investment spending. It also leads families to buy automobiles, houses, and durable goods (Federal Reserve Board). Lowering interest rates is an approach taken when the economy goes into a period of recession. Lower rates may induce banks to lend to businesses and households. This will increase spending and stimulate productive output .It should be noted that the change in interest rates has only a short term effect of returning inflation or employment to its long term objectives (Federal Reserve Board). By setting interest rates, the FOMC is able to indirectly control the money supply. Lower interest rates alter the total of amount of loans, bonds and shares issued. According to the quantity theory of money, as the money supply increases the inflation rate rises ("The Quantity Theory of Money"). Setting the interest rate becomes a task of stimulating economic output while keeping inflation under control. The effects of interest rate changes may take from three months to two tears to show an effect. Chart 1 in

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The brand positioning of an Audi advertisement Essay

The brand positioning of an Audi advertisement - Essay Example This essay will argue that the ad is brilliant in conception, optimal in its audio-visual expression and delivers a powerful message to the audience. The ad runs for a mere 30 seconds but it encompasses layers of meaning and connotations. Using four car keys as the only props, the ad illustrates or interprets the meaning of the logo of Audi. The four inter-locked circles that form a chain is Audi’s logo and it is reminiscent somewhat of the Olympic Games logo. These days, marketers do not look to specify the technical attributes of a car, but instead use attractive captions and images to create a feel-good response from the potential customer. This observation can be extended to the Audi ad, for in its brief time span, it does not address core specifications. Instead it talks about generalized perceptions and popular impressions of Audi and its competitors. What the ad competently achieves is to convert the logo into an emblem. Lexically, a logo is a graphic illustration of a company’s name or brand. It need not stand for a deeper meaning. On the other hand, an emblem is like a talisman. It encompasses or represents a set of values and virtues. In this sense, the ad succeeds in showcasing the logo of the Audi as an emblem. Whenever people come across the logo in the future, these added meanings to it will come to mind for the audience. By associating strong ideas behind the ubiquitous logo of the brand, a strong relationship between visual perception and emotional recall of the symbol is achieved.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Brief Case Studies - Week 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Brief Case Studies - Week 7 - Essay Example They are listed in different stock exchanges of the world as well. Under such circumstances, it becomes quite complicated as well as costly to prepare the financial statements under different reporting requirements. IFRS issued by IASB provides the treatment of fair value accounting of property, plant and equipment which is currently not supported US GAAP issued by FASB. However, with the increasing adoption of IFRS, it is very likely that US GAAP will also add the similar treatment for fair value accounting of Property, Plant and Equipment. b) Fair value accounting has the biggest disadvantage of valuing property, plant and equipment on the basis of subjectivity. When measuring fair values of the property, plant and equipment, several subjective assumptions are taken by the evaluators which pose question marks upon the objective approach towards financial statements. Thus, the financial statements become less attractive to be compared with other financial statements of other entitie s due to lack of objectivity element. c) The fair value accounting for property, plant and equipment has the similarity with that of investment accounting. Under both types of accounting, if the fair values of the asset are increased, then stockholders’ equity is also increased directly such that it has no impact on the net profit of the entity. However, in case of decrease of the fair value of property, plant and equipment, and investment, the amount of decrease is expensed out in the income statement which directly decreases the profitability of the entity. After that the decreased amount of net profit is credited to stockholder’s equity. This mechanism is set out in order to apply the principle of conservatism which states that the entity should not anticipate any profits but it must anticipate all the losses. The fair value accounting for property, plant and equipment and investment accounting consider this principle as the unrealized gains are credited directly to equity whereas unrealized losses are charged as an expense in the income statement thus reducing the profitability of the entity. Analysis of Statement of Cash Flows (Case 16-3) a) 1. As far as depreciation is concerned, it is an item of non-cash expense. To make it very clear, it is not a cash flow. However, the reason behind including depreciation in cash flow statements is the elimination of effect of depreciation from calculating net cash flow increased or decreased. In order to arrive at the corrected figure of cash flows, the depreciation amount needs to be added in the net profit as it was deducted previously when calculating net income in the income statement. Since it is a non-cash expense, therefore, it does not decrease the cash flows. Because of this, it is added in the cash flow statement in order to provide the correct amount of cash flows. 2. Even though share issued for acquiring land is not a cash transaction, however, the substance of this transaction is based on share. If the company is going to buy back these shares, it would have to complete this transaction by providing consideration in cash. Under existing scenario, cash is not directly involved, but a significant investment is made, therefore, this transaction is shown as a separate schedule in the cash flow statement and not included in the mainstream working of calculation of cash flows. 3. Gain on sale of investment is also non-cash income therefore its treatment is similar to that of depreciation. Since the amount

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Acute Exacerbation Of A Diabetic Foot Ulcer Nursing Essay

Acute Exacerbation Of A Diabetic Foot Ulcer Nursing Essay This paper will critically analyse the care of a patient with an acute exacerbation of a long term condition. It will address the importance of carrying out a holistic assessment and will seek to justify the care plan put in place to manage the patients condition. Confidentiality has been maintained in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery guidelines (NMC 2008). Tom is a 72 year old gentleman who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 15 years ago. He was started on medication to manage his diabetes 7 years ago but due to his worsening blood glucose control he has since been converted to insulin one year ago. Tom had been independent with the management of his diabetes with support from his local GP surgery. Recently he developed an ulcer on his right foot with resultant wound infection which made him unable to attend his surgery. Due to the wound infection he had been finding it difficult to keep his blood sugar levels within acceptable limits so he was referred to my caseload for diabetes and wound management. Managing long term conditions has become a priority in healthcare particularly due to the increasing prevalence of diseases such as diabetes which requires a heavy use of resources (DoH 2007a, Singh Armstrong 2005). There is a need to encourage patients to be as active as possible in their care which will help reduce the need for hospital admission through empowering patients and promoting self care. There is evidence that patients who understand their condition through support from healthcare professionals and are allowed to contribute fully in their care will result in less incidence of acute exacerbation (DoH 2006). However there has been difficulty in providing the on-going support and care co-ordination in the community that could prevent crisis events from occurring in the first place. This has lead to a key focus on the ways that this can be achieved in practice through such services as community matrons, rapid response and 24 hour district nursing services (DoH 2007b). Relating this specifically to diabetes; the implementation of expert patient programmes and DESMOND (Diabetes education and self management for ongoing and newly diagnosed) have sought to reduce the incidence of acute exacerbations and diabetes related complications through patient education and empowerment (NHS Choices 2011a, DoH 2001a). The government have placed the care required for those with long term conditions into three main groups; case management, disease management and self care (DoH 2007b). In this case, Tom required disease management of his diabetes and self care interventions. Acute exacerbation can be defined as a medical crisis of a chronic illness (Strauss et al 1984). More recently it has been described as an acute presentation of an existing major illness (The Kings Fund 2010). In this situation Toms existing illness was diabetes and the acute presentation was the development of a diabetic foot ulcer that had become infected and affected his blood sugar control. Recent statistics show that the number of people with diabetes has risen from 1.4 million to 2.9 million since 1996 and it is expected to rise significantly over the next 15 years (Diabetes UK 2011). The research also shows that diabetic foot problems account for more hospital stays than all other diabetic related problems put together and affect between 4-10% of diabetics (NHS Diabetes 2012, DoH 2001). Preventing foot problems in diabetics has been a priority in the UK over the past 10 years which has been highlighted in government publications such as NICE guidance and the National Service Framework for Diabetes (NICE 2008, NICE 2004, DoH 2001a). Despite these publications a survey carried out in 2007 found that 23% of diabetics did not receive a foot check which has contributed to the introduction of the Putting Feet First Framework emphasising the need for appropriate assessment and management of diabetic feet (Diabetes UK 2011b). Mason et al (1999) indicate that patients who are at high risk of foot complications must be identified. The National Service Framework for Diabetes supports this view and indicates that patients must have annual foot checks and access to specialist foot care clinics with timely referrals (DoH 2001b). In my area of practice we have an integrated care pathway in place for diabetic foot wounds that aims to provide the patient with optimal care. An integrated care pathway involves a multidisciplinary approach for a specific condition that aims to ensure a seamless approach to care and helps healthcare professionals make clinical decisions (Middleton, Barnett Reeves 2001). As soon as Tom was under my caseload, I referred him straight away to the local diabetic foot clinic as the NICE guidance for foot care states that patients with an ulcer should be referred within 24 hours (NICE 2004). It was important that Tom received specialist input quickly as he currently had a localised infection which placed him at risk of systemic infection and amputation if the infection was not resolved (Edmonds Foster 2006). The foot clinic consisted of a team of podiatrists, Clinical Nurse Specialists in Diabetes, a Dietician and a Diabetologist. When Tom came back from his first appointment, he had already started on the integrated care pathway which we used as our primary documentation between services. This benefited Toms care as it improved the continuity and quality of the documentation (Roberts Middleton 2000, Renholm, Leion-Kilpi Suominen 2002). Also, due to having diabetes nurse specialists at the clinic this meant that his medication regime could be reviewed a s well as receiving specialist foot care. The aim was to reduce his blood sugar levels as the hyperglycaemia was preventing his ulcer from healing and there is a general consensus that improving glycaemic control improves wound healing and prevents the risk of acute complications (Mcintoish 2007, Meyer 1996). Through Tom seeing the multidisciplinary team in one environment and by utilising the ICP, this prevented his care from becoming fragmented. Also due to having access to specialist clinicians in the field of diabetic foot management this enabled him to receive expert advice and care. This was evident in the management of his wound infection where judicious prescribing of antibiotics took place by specialist clinicians (Timmons et al 2009). This was vital in preventing any further deterioration in Toms health and managing the acute exacerbation. Tom visited the foot clinic once a week and a wound care plan was constructed until a review needed to be carried out. This is where the importance of a holistic assessment took place taking into consideration the social, physical and psychological factors that impacted on the situation (Higgleton et al 1999). The research also indicates that the quality of holistic assessment is enhanced by ensuring the patient participates at all times (RCN 2004). By allowing Tom to contribute to the assessment process it enabled the care provided to become personalised and reflected his needs and not what we assumed them to be. Firstly it was vital that we carried out a physical wound assessment on each visit to Tom using the assessment tool in the integrated care pathway. It was important that we used the same assessment tool with an effective understanding of its use as studies have shown that nurses fail to assess wounds effectively (Dowsett 2009, Mcintosh Ousey 2008). Through using the integrated pathway it meant that all nursing staff were using the same assessment tools which ensured effective continuity of care. Nixon et al (2006) found that those who had a diabetic foot ulcer were 5.1 times more likely to have been wearing poorly fitting shoes and this was evident in Toms assessment with the Podiatrist. In the integrated pathway it was documented that he had a high degree of peripheral neuropathy after an assessment was carried out and his shoes were ill fitting. The presence of neuropathy had contributed to the formation of the ulcer as Tom was not able to feel the damaging pressure on his foot caused by inappropriate footwear. This situation needed intervention so he had full assessment of his feet and given choices on available footwear that took into account his preferences. Holistic assessment was a key factor in ensuring concordance as the footwear that the Podiatrist wanted him to wear may not have been agreeable to Tom and he may have refrained from wearing them continuously as directed. This would have lead to a further deterioration in the ulcer condition but through effective par tnership working they were able to come to a joint decision that was acceptable to Tom and the Podiatrist. This ensured that the assessment took into account his physical, social and psychological needs. Preventing deterioration in the foot ulcer had started with the assessment of his feet and footwear but it required more intervention in the form of patient education. Valk et al (2005) found that providing patients with information and education positively influences their behaviour to take responsibility for their foot health. This meant ensuring that Tom carried out things such as regular skin care and nail care and empowered him to take ownership of his care (DoH 2001).The only difficulty with checking his feet daily was that he was unable to bend down to apply any moisturising cream to his feet which was dealt with by assessing his social support network. He did not have any close relatives but he made the decision to obtain a private carer to help him with this twice a week. Toms current active foot ulcer and increased education from the multi-disciplinary team on the high risk of amputation had enabled him to make an informed decision to prevent further deterioration. Central to promoting the healing of diabetic foot ulcers is ensuring adequate nutrition (Thompson Furhrman 2005) but often the quality of nutritional assessments carried out in practice are poor (Johnstone 2006, Cartwright 2002). NICE guidance clearly states that diabetics with foot problems should receive specialist dietary advice (NICE 2008). In the foot clinic Tom was able to be seen by a dietician who was able to carry out a comprehensive assessment and plan of care that would help improve his dietary lifestyle with the aim to improve his blood sugar control. A significant factor in the nutritional assessment was that it was ongoing whereby he would see the dietician every other week to determine his progress. Tom had been managing his diabetes independently prior to his foot ulceration and it was vital that he carried on doing so where possible. Promoting self care was not simply providing Tom with relevant information and education about his condition; it was also about increasing his confidence (DoH 2009). Due to the uncontrolled blood sugars he had to be started on new insulin and he felt that he needed some support and supervision. A survey found that only 38% of diabetics received any psychological support during their care (DoH 2008) so it was at this point that we needed to provide him with the psychological and social support to sustain his self care. Together we were able to form a care plan that would be reviewed on a weekly basis. The district nursing team would visit him when his insulin was due to provide support and ensure he was injecting correctly. The support given to Tom needed to be tailored to his requirements by ensuring that information was given in the correct format (Mcintosh 2008). Those patients who have lived with diabetes for many years often have some form of reduced eyesight secondary to diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy (NHS choices 2011b). In Toms care he had reduced eyesight but he was still able to read with prescription glasses. This assessment showed that he would benefit from written leaflets but this needed to be followed up with verbal consultations. I gave him the necessary leaflets on diabetic foot care but ensured that we enabled him to ask questions if he felt this was necessary when we visited him at home. The primary aim was to meet his needs effectively and create optimal self care through education and empowerment. This assignment has critically examined the management of an acute exacerbation of diabetes with the assistance of a specialist foot clinic. Through timely referral processes, multidisciplinary input and the use of an integrated pathway it allowed the exacerbation to be controlled and managed in the community without the need for hospital care. This is particularly pertinent when the research describes the prevalence of diabetes and the intensive resources it frequently requires from secondary care to manage the acute complications of this condition. This episode of care has shown the positive effects of a specialist diabetic foot clinic which emphasises the need standardised care and access to this service across the UK. It has demonstrated how joined up care in the community helps to ensure a seamless approach to patient care in relation to a long term condition. This paper has also identified the importance of holistic assessment in the management of diabetic foot ulceration which ensures patients needs are fully addressed and assists them in achieving optimal self care. There needs to be an emphasis on educating and empowering patients but this must be provided in the correct format taking into account the patients requirements and literacy needs at all times.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay --

Foreign scholars had many empirical studies on the price level and price dispersion in the E-commerce market. They were as the follows: 1) In 2000, Brown and Goolsbee had discovered that the insurance price became lower and the dispersion degree varied from high to low with the gradual perfection of the selling channel on the internet. Morton, etc. (2000) had studied the vehicle price and found out that the vehicle price online was lower than the price offline and the price dispersion varied from high to low. Erevelles, etc. (2001) took a research on the price of vitamin (health products) and discovered that the price was lower online and the price dispersion was lower than that of the traditional market. Durisin and Carimarti (2003) inspected the price of books and CDs and they came to a similar conclusion that the price of these products was lower on the internet. These scholars had taken researches on the price of books, CDs, medicine, vehicle and insurance and they observed that the utilization of internet had not only reduced the market price but also the price dispersion in E-commerce market. 2) Clay, etc.(1999) had collected the prices of over 100 kinds of books in 13 online bookstore and 2 traditional bookstore and the study results revealed that even though the average price of online bookstore and traditional bookstore were basically the same, there was an obvious price dispersion among the online bookstores[11]. Brynjolfsson and Smith (2000) had studied the prices of books and CDs online and in the entities stores and they concluded that the price in the E-commerce marker was lower than that that of the traditional market and the price dispersion degree was higher. To further their study, Clay and Tay (2002) had made a... ...led the multi-channel retailers. Many scholars had compared and studied the price and price dispersion of Dotcoms and multi-channel retailers. Pan, etc.(2002) observed that Dotcoms’ prices of CD, DVD, desktop computer and laptop were lower than that of the multi-channel retailers; Dotcoms’ prices of books and software were higher than that of the multi-channel retailers; Dotcoms’ prices of PDA and electronic products were similar to that of the multi-channel retailers. What’s more, the price divergence of these eight kinds of products declined as time went on but it always existed. Pan, etc.(2002) took another research and it illustrated that Dotcoms’ prices of clothes and ornaments, presents, flowers, health care, beauty treatment, gardening, sports, computer hardware, electronic products and the office products were lower than that of the multi-channel retailers.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Legal Requirements for Employee Benefits Essay

As we discussed earlier in this chapter, some benefits are required by law. This requirement adds to the cost of compensating employees. Organizations looking for ways to control staffing costs may look for ways to structure the workforce so as to minimize the expense of benefits. They may require overtime rather than adding new employee, hire part-time rather than full-time workers(because part-time employees generally receive much smaller benefits packages),and use independent contractors rather than hire employees. Some of these choices are limited by legal equirements, however. For example ,the Fair Labor Standards Act requires overtime pay for nonexempt workers, as discussed in chapter 11. Also,the Internal Revenue Service strictly limits the definition of â€Å"independent contractors,â€Å" so that employees cannot avoid legal obligations by classifying workers as self-employed when the organization receives the benefits of a permanent employee . Other legal requirements involve tax treatment of benefits ,antidiscrimination laws, and accounting for benefits. Tax treatment of benefits A modern, flexible benefit plan provides a number of potential tax advantages to employees and employers. Employees A flexible benefit plan allows employees to choose to swap some of their existing benefits or purchase benefits from a menu of options. Payments in excess of the employees spending allowance are normally collected via a gross salary adjustment. If employees exchange salary for tax exempt benefits (pensions, life cover, childcare vouchers, mobile phones, etc. ), they do not pay tax or National Insurance on the amount exchanged. This gives a basic rate tax payer earning less than the National Insurance (NI) Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) a saving of 33% compared to receiving the money as salary. For example, an employee that exchanges ? 200 per month of their salary for childcare vouchers and additional pension payments will save ? 792 in tax and NI compared to taking the money as salary. Even if the benefits are not tax exempt, employees can still exchange salary for employer provided benefits and, whilst they will be charged income tax, they save NI as their salaries have been reduced by the value of the benefit. This gives employees earning under the UEL an 11% saving. Employers Employers participating in a flexible benefit plan do not pay employer’s NI on payments on payments to exempt benefits. If these payments have been exchanged from salary by employees then the employer will save 12. 8% employers NI on the amounts. For example, an employee that exchanges ? 200 per month of their salary for childcare vouchers and additional pension payments will deliver an annual NI saving to the employer of ? 307. Antidiscrimination Laws  Legal treatment of men and woman includes equal access to benefits, so the organization may not use the employee’s gender as the basic for providing more limited benefits. That is the rationale for the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which requires that employers treat pregnancy or childbirth, the employee needs time off for conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, the employee would receive whatever disability benefits the organization offers to employees who take disability leave for other reasons. Another area of concern in the treatment of male and female employees is pension benefits. On average, woman live longer than men, so on average, pension benefits for female employees are more expensive (because the organization pays the pension longer), other things being equal. Some organizations have used this difference as a basis for requiring that female employees contribute more than male employees as a basis for requiring that female employees contribute more than male employees to defined benefit plans. The Supreme Court in 1978 determined that such a requirement is illegal. According to the Supreme Court, the law is intended to protect individuals, and when women are considered on an individual basis ( not as averages ), not every woman outlives every man. Age discrimination is also relevant to benefits policies. Two major issues have received attention under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and amendments. First, employers must take care not to discriminate against workers over age 40 in providing pay or benefits. For example, employers may not set an age at which retirement benefits stop growing as a way to pressure older workers to retire. Also, early retirement incentive programs need to meet certain standards. The programs may not coerce employees to retire, they must provide accurate information about the options available, and they must give employees enough time to make a decision. In effect, employees must really have a choice about whether they retire. When employers offer early retirement, they often ask employees to sign waivers saying they will not pursue claims under the ADEA. The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 set guidelines for using these waivers. The waivers must be voluntary and understandable to the employee and employer , and they must spell out the employee’s rights under the ADEA. Also , in exchange for signing the waiver, the employee must receive â€Å"compensation† that is , greater benefits than he or she would otherwise receive upon retirement. The employer inform employee that they may consult a lawyer before signing, and employee must have time to make a decision about signing-21 days before signing plus 7 days afterward in which they can revoke the agreement. The Americans with Disabilities Act imposes requirements related to health insurance. Under the ADA, employees with disabilities must have â€Å"equal access to whatever health insurance coverage the employer provides other employees. â€Å"Even so, the terms and conditions of health insurance may be based on risk factors -as long as the employer does not use this basis as a way to escape offering health insurance to someone with a disability. From the standpoint of avoiding legal challenges, an employer who has risk-based insurance and then hires an employee with a disability is in a stronger position than an employer who switches to a risk-based policy after hiring a disabled employee. Accounting Requirements Companies’ financial statement must meet the many requirements of the Financial Accounting standards Board ( FASB) . These accounting requirements are intended to ensure that financial statements are a true picture of the company’s financial status and that outsiders, including potential lenders and investors , can understand and compare financial statements . Under FASB standards, employers must set aside the funds they expect to need for benefits to be paid after retirement, rather than funding those benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. On financial statement, those funds must appear as future cost obligations. For companies with substantial retirement benefits, reporting those benefits as future cost obligations greatly lowers income each year. Along with rising benefits costs. This reporting requirement has encouraged many companies to scale benefits to retirees. Summarize the regulation affecting how employers design and administer benefits program. Employers must provide the benefits that are required by law, and they may not improperly classify employees as â€Å"independent contractors† to avoid paying benefits. Tax treatment of qualified plans is favorable, so organizations need to learn the requirements for setting up benefits as qualified plans-for example, ensuring that pension plans do not discriminate in favor of the organization’s highly compensated employees. Employers may not use employees’ gender as the basis for discriminating against anyone, as in pension benefits on the basis that women as a group may live longer. Nor may employers discriminate against workers over age 40 in providing pay or benefits, such as pressuring older workers to retire by limiting retirement benefits When employers offer early retirement, they must meet the requirements of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers must give disabled employees equal access to health insurance. To meet the requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, employers must set aside the funds they expect to need for retirement benefits ahead of time, rather than funding the benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis

Saturday, November 9, 2019

LAN Topology Design and Cabling Specifications

LAN Topology Design and Cabling Specifications Free Online Research Papers In networking terms, topology refers to the virtual design of network. It tells us how the computers will be connected to each other using cables. To create an office LAN (Local Area Network), we can consider following one of the LAN topologies: Bus Ring Star Tree Bus Topology: Simplest of all LAN topologies, which have single cable to connect multiple computers in a network. If this cable fails, the entire network crashes. Ring Topology: All communication amongst computers travel through a ring in same direction. If any of the cable fails, the look breaks and thus make network unusable. Star Topology: Require more cable than Bus topology. Failure in one cable only makes one cable inaccessible and not the entire LAN. Tree Topology: Tree topology is nothing but multiple star topologies. Requires a lot more cables than star topology but is extra safe when one of the cables fails. After considering the vulnerability and cost of network it is recommended that star topology is selected for the office LAN. This choice for the network is made based on requests that physical aspects of the network are easy to manage. The star topology uses a hub as a central point of connection for the computers or other devices on the Local Area Network (LAN). These devices that are connected to the network are connected to the hub with their own separate cable. The star topology allows the network to be expanded without difficulty. This depends on how many ports are on the hub that is being used. â€Å"If more ports are needed on the hub, two hubs can be linked together to provide more connectivity (Habraken, Joe, 2004)†. Adding additional computers to the network will be easy. This is done by simply connecting the desired computer or computers to the port on the hub. This is an advantage of the star topology because it allows you to expand the network with out interfering with the other devices. This topology relies on a lot of cabling that can sometimes result in cost issues but if planned correctly it can fit within any reasonable budget. Cables Specification Cables are most important part of any network, if not wireless. It is always advisable to consider factors like cost, durability and speed before selecting cable for the network. Following are common types of cable which includes twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable. Twisted-pair cables: Twisted pair cables are most common types of cables which are used in telephone communications and also in almost all modern Ethernet networks. Twisted pair cables are made of pair of wires and are twisted to provide protection against crosstalk – When electric signals flow through the wire it makes a small circular magnetic field around the wire, and thus twisted pair cables are made in such a way to minimize this disturbance. There are basically two typed of twisted-pair cables: 1.) Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) 2.) Shielded twisted pair. (STP) Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable are composed of pairs of wires, and has eight individual copper wires which are covered by insulating material to reduce ‘disturbance’. The twisted wires pairs in UTP reduce signal degradation caused by electromagnetic interferences. UTP cables have inexpensive, and has small diameter which makes it easy during installation. And as it’s easily available and can be used with major networking architecture, UTP put forth itself to be a strong contender when choosing cables for networks. Characteristics of UTP Speed and throughput- 10 to 1000 Mbps Average cost per node- Least expensive Media and connector size- Small Maximum cable length- 100 m (short) Shielded twisted-pair (STP) has four pairs of wires. Each pair is wrapped in metallic foil, and this four pair is again wrapped in metallic braid or fail. STP cables are designed to decrease electrical disturbance within the cable and/or external. STP cables prevents disturbance better than UTP cables but are more expensive and difficult to install. Because of its cost and difficulty in installation, STP cables are generally not preferred. Characteristics of STP Speed and throughput- 10 to 100 Mbps Average cost per node- Moderately expensive Media and connector size- Medium to large Maximum cable length- 100 m (short) Coaxial Cable: Coaxial cables has hollow outer cylindrical conductor that surrounds a single inner wire made of two conducting elements. One of the elements (metal) is located in center of cable and is generally copper which again has a layer of flexible insulation. There is a woven copper braid or a metallic foil which acts as shield to reduce outside interference or a second wire if primary wire is defected. Coaxial cable can be used over longer distance than twisted-pair cables but are more expensive than UTP. As coaxial cables can transmit through longer distance, it decreases the number of repeaters to be installed within a broader network which helps bring down the cost. But because of the thickness of coaxial cables, it is difficult to install in some situations, and difficultly in installation means expensive to install Characteristics of Coaxial Cable: Speed and throughput- 10 to 100 Mbps Average cost per node- Inexpensive Media and connector size- Medium Maximum cable length- 500 m (medium) Below is a short table which can be referred to while choosing the type of cables in any network topology. Media Type Maximum Segment Length Speed Cost Advantages Disadvantages UTP 100 m 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps Least expensive Easy to install; widely available and widely used Susceptible to interference; can cover only a limited distance STP 100 m 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps More expensive than UTP Reduced crosstalk; more resistant to EMI than Thinnet or UTP Difficult to work with; can cover only a limited distance Coaxial 500 m (Thicknet) 185 m (Thinnet) 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps Relatively inexpensive, but more costly than UTP Less susceptible to EMI interference than other types of copper media Difficult to work with (Thicknet); limited bandwidth; limited application (Thinnet); damage to cable can bring down entire network Fiber-Optic 10 km and farther (single-mode) 2 km and farther (multimode) 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps (single mode) 100 Mbps to 9.92 Gbps (multimode) Expensive Cannot be tapped, so security is better; can be used over great distances; is not susceptible to EMI; has a higher data rate than coaxial and twisted-pair cable Difficult to terminate Although, fiber optics and wireless network can be used for networking, we are not considering it in this paper as fiber optics is too expensive to implement it practically in office generally, while wireless network is too slow and vulnerable to implement either. References: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/networkdesign/a/topologies.htm ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=31276seqNum=1 Research Papers on LAN Topology Design and Cabling SpecificationsBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfThe Project Managment Office SystemOpen Architechture a white paperRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresHip-Hop is Art

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Ignorance Of Nuclear Weapons

Ignorance of Nuclear Weapons By Mark Schells Have you ever seen a kid with a bunch of fire crackers? They are amazed at the power of them and at how they can blow up there toys. Then it happens, it only takes once, without even knowing it the child closes its hand around one. Then they loose a thumb or a finger, and have learned a lesson they will remember for the rest of there lives. All we have to be concerned about is what country is going to be the hand that wraps around the fire cracker, and will we learn our lesson to late? We face this decision because of the sheer ignorance that the world and especially the US has presented in result to the production of Nuclear Weapons. Nuclear explosives, on the other hand, involve energy sources within the core, or nucleus, of the atom. The A-bomb gained its power from the splitting, or fission, of all the atomic nuclei in several kilograms of plutonium. A sphere about the size of a baseball produced an explosion equal to 20,000 tons of TNT. The A-bomb was developed, constructed, and tested by the Manhattan Project, a massive United States enterprise that was established in August 1942, during World War II. Many prominent American scientists including the physicists Enrico Fermi and J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the chemist Harold Urey, were associated with the project, which was headed by a U.S. Army engineer, Major General Leslie Groves. After the war, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission became responsible for the oversight of all nuclear matters, including weapons research. Other types of bombs were developed to tap the energy of light elements, such as hydrogen. In these bombs the source of energy is the fusion process, in which nuclei of the isotopes of hydrogen combine to form a heavier helium nucleus. This weapons research has resulted in the production of bombs that range in power from a fraction of a kiloton (1000 tons of TNT equivalent) to many megatons (1 million t... Free Essays on Ignorance Of Nuclear Weapons Free Essays on Ignorance Of Nuclear Weapons Ignorance of Nuclear Weapons By Mark Schells Have you ever seen a kid with a bunch of fire crackers? They are amazed at the power of them and at how they can blow up there toys. Then it happens, it only takes once, without even knowing it the child closes its hand around one. Then they loose a thumb or a finger, and have learned a lesson they will remember for the rest of there lives. All we have to be concerned about is what country is going to be the hand that wraps around the fire cracker, and will we learn our lesson to late? We face this decision because of the sheer ignorance that the world and especially the US has presented in result to the production of Nuclear Weapons. Nuclear explosives, on the other hand, involve energy sources within the core, or nucleus, of the atom. The A-bomb gained its power from the splitting, or fission, of all the atomic nuclei in several kilograms of plutonium. A sphere about the size of a baseball produced an explosion equal to 20,000 tons of TNT. The A-bomb was developed, constructed, and tested by the Manhattan Project, a massive United States enterprise that was established in August 1942, during World War II. Many prominent American scientists including the physicists Enrico Fermi and J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the chemist Harold Urey, were associated with the project, which was headed by a U.S. Army engineer, Major General Leslie Groves. After the war, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission became responsible for the oversight of all nuclear matters, including weapons research. Other types of bombs were developed to tap the energy of light elements, such as hydrogen. In these bombs the source of energy is the fusion process, in which nuclei of the isotopes of hydrogen combine to form a heavier helium nucleus. This weapons research has resulted in the production of bombs that range in power from a fraction of a kiloton (1000 tons of TNT equivalent) to many megatons (1 million t...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Apocalypse Now, by Francis Ford Coppola (War in Vietnam) Movie Review

Apocalypse Now, by Francis Ford Coppola (War in Vietnam) - Movie Review Example ion concerning the realities, which the members of the American armed forces had to undergo during the Vietnam War and the actions which they took to ensure that they survived it and returned home. Throughout the film, one will find that all of the actors have become absorbed into their roles and because of this absorption; they are able to depict the events of the war in a manner which is as close to reality as possible. There are instances in the film when the scenes become extremely emotional, as some of the characters have to deal with diverse issues that affect their lives during the war. It is during these moments that the audience gets a picture of how the soldiers who were involved directly in Vietnam were forced to undergo psychological torment over the various actions which they had to carry out, however futile, in order to ensure that the war was won. One of the themes that one finds in the film is that of depression and war weariness and some of the characters in various scenes depict this during the course of the film. In the film, the American soldiers are depicted as having to live lives in a manner which is not relaxed and that they have to constantly be on the look out to ensure that they do not fall victim to enemy attacks. For the most part, the film shows these individuals as having to live their lives on edge, not knowing whether they will be attacked in the next minute or not and having to either fight off or run away from the constant dangers that they encounter in the jungles of Vietnam. The result of living such lives is that it begins to take a toll on the way that they associate with each other and how they perceive the world around them. The result is that some of the characters, such as Chef and Lance undergo such mental strain that they are more often than not shown being under the influence of drugs. A scene i s depicted where due to Chef’s craving for mangoes; he and Willard go to the jungle where they encounter a tiger that

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Choose a critical perspective to analyse a current approach to Essay

Choose a critical perspective to analyse a current approach to leadership and present an argument to justify your choice - Essay Example Good leadership is likely to inspire others to take on attitudes, values, goals and make them behave in such a way that is good for the wellbeing of the group. In other words individual action could be transformed into group action with help of effective leadership (Zanna, 2003). As far as the definition of leadership is concerned different experts have defined leadership differently. According to John C Maxwell leadership is nothing but influence. On the other hand Warren Bennis said that "Leadership is a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership potential."(Oklahoma State University, n.d.). In a broad perspective it can be said that leadership is essential for directing a team or management towards the accomplishment of objectives and goals. So a generally accepted definition would say that leadership is the ability of influencing a team or group in the directi on of accomplishing a set of objectives or goals. There could be several approach of leadership such as charismatic leadership, transformational leadership and transactional leadership. This paper provides an in-depth critical analysis of transformational leadership approach. The paper includes a critical perspective of the chosen approach as well as the main reasons of choosing this for analysis over the other approach. Transformational leadership is one of the most popular and most recent approaches of leadership. It has been a common topic of leadership theory. Since 1980 it has been researched by the management experts. Transformational leadership is an important part of the paradigm of â€Å"New Leadership†. According to Bass and Riggio the main reason behind the popularity of transformational leadership is its emphasis on the follower development and intrinsic motivation. Transformational leadership is the most relevant leadership approach in today’s uncertain