Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Final Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Final Assignment - Essay Example The definition of terrorism varies from state to states and also among individuals. Notably, many definitions suggested cover the three aspects of terrorism including the causes, perpetrators and the means of attack.1 Defining terrorism is very difficult because the meaning of the term has changed frequently since its inception, that is, it was initially seen as a positive, politically focused and state-sponsored activity but with time, it has been largely associated with violent non-state actors and criminal implications. Secondly, terrorists never admit being terrorists and they never accept being violent and a threat to the international community but they perceive themselves as focused individuals participating in legitimate struggle using the only available means to them. In addition, the use of neutral names such as Al Qaeda attracts different public opinions. For instance, the victims of terrorism perceive the perpetrators as criminals and while majority firmly opposes terrori sm, some individuals offer sympathy and support to them. Therefore, conflicting views makes it difficult to come up with a universally accepted definition. Uncivil network are seen as the drivers of the conflict as they encourage individuals to cause violence and engage in activities that disrupt peace.2 In most cases, uncivil networks are formed for political reasons. They are fraud to acquire power or political influence. In addition, they are formed to challenge the legal rules and they are mostly associated with illegality or criminal activities. Human trafficking is a process whereby individuals are transported from their communities or countries via the use of threat or deception and forcing them into unfavorable work conditions and dehumanizing activities. Agreeably, it is mainly done to exploit individuals, for instance, it includes sexual exploitation, forced labor and marriage, and removing organs from individuals among others. It is a violation

Monday, October 28, 2019

History of Ergonomics Essay Example for Free

History of Ergonomics Essay Ergonomics refers to the study of the interaction between humans and the environment. This study is aimed at understanding mechanisms that are necessary in order to improve the working conditions of humans. Such working conditions include health, performance and comfort. The study is intended at enhancing strategies that optimize the performance of humans at work. This implies that it focuses on techniques that are required to restructure office etiquette and procedures in order to improve the overall productivity. However, ergonomics is not necessarily limited to office environment as it also encompasses other fields of human life. In a practical perspective, ergonomics is a science concerned with the design of office equipments and artifacts in order to improve the comfort of workers and improve the overall productivity and effectiveness (Gilmore et al. , 1998). An ergonomicist is interested in the study of the interaction between humans and the tools they use in their working environments. The study of ergonomic includes the design of office equipments and space, and the positioning of switches in control rooms. It additionally includes the study of the interaction of the human behavior and their surrounding. This study originated form Greece where the term ergonomics was derived from ergon meaning work and nomos meaning natural law in Greek. Later on a 19th century sociologist Fredrik Taylor invented the term ‘Scientific management’ to gain maximum results in the factory work. Since then, the practice of ergonomics has tremendously developed over time. As the age of space approaches, new factors continue to emerge such as weightlessness and gravitational force. As the modern world progresses into the future, the field of ergonomics continues to become more sophisticated. In the United States, an army personnel known as Alphonse Chapanis in 1943 explained that plane accidents caused by pilot errors could be significantly be reduced by using a more simple and rational cockpit instead of the common control layout (Jubel, 2007). Institutional ergonomics is concerned with the socio-technical aspects of the work environment which refers to the amalgamation of structure, process and organizational strategies. Cognitive ergonomics deals with the psychological perspectives of the workplace which involves the study of ideas, opinion and memory. In academic viewpoint, the study of ergonomics would comprise the knowledge of psychology, engineering and health science. It is therefore necessary for an ergonomicist to possess a bachelors or masters degree in these disciplines. The practice of ergonomics can find use in several aspects of human life such as workplace, home setting, education and sports. The practical study of ergonomics involves the design of working equipments such as computer chairs or keyboards. Other ergonomic discipline involves the study of the environment of the world as is referred to as quantum ergonomics (Gilmore et al. 1998). History of ergonomics In the United States, the field of ergonomic is believed to have originated during the period of the Second World War (Wickens Hollands, 2000), even though developments that led to its inception can be traced back to the 20th century. Before the Second World War, the main focus of the work place was designing humans to adapt to the machines used at work basically referred to trial and error method as opposed to designing the machines used at work to match the requirements of humans. This can be observed form the study conducted by Taylor in which the selection criteria, time and motion studies, training and work rest programs were examined (Taylor, 1911). This study of time and motions was expounded by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth (Gilbreth Gilbreth, 1917). Majority of the ergonomic developments were necessitated by military requirements. With the commencement of the First World War, which was the first conflict where airplane was used in combat, there emerged the need to adequately train pilots new mechanisms of war. This necessitated the development of new aviation technologies based on psychology. In addition these trends prompted the emergence of aeromedical research studies. Even though progress was made during this period, the momentum for developing and exploring the discipline further was no achieved since there was lack of vital technological advancements and personnel due to the ongoing Second World War (Meister, 1999). The period between the First World War and the Second World War recorded a significant decline in research, however, some success were realized during this period. Aeromedical research work did not stop during this time which realized advances in several laboratories built across the United States such as the Brooks Air Force Base located in the city of Texas and the Wright Field situated in Ohio. These laboratories were significant in the development of ergonomics. Their study was focused on identification of attributes of successful pilots and establishing the impacts of environment stressors on the performance and productivity of flights. Furthermore, the study of anthropometry which is a field concerned with the measurement of the human body was considerably employed in designing airplanes during this period. Other researches were also being done in the private sector such as the automobile behavioral studies (Forbes, 1939). The emergence of the Second World War, and its accompanied needs, formed the driving force behind the development of the field of ergonomics. First, the demand of mobilizing and recruiting substantial numbers of people both men and women made it very difficult for individuals to specialize in a particular job. Therefore, there was a shift in focus where individual’s capability was designed in order to reduce the negative impacts of their shortcomings. Secondly, the period of the Second World War witnessed the turning point in terms of technological advances. The rapid development of technology outpaced the capability of human to adapt and offset poor designs. This was particularly observed in airplane accidents experienced by vastly trained pilots as a result of problems witnessed with the configuration of the control systems and the instrument displays (Fitts Jones, 1947). In addition, enemy targets were unfortunately missed by machine controlled radars (Wickens Hollands, 2000). Psychologists were employed to experiment and study these emerging issues by employing laboratory mechanisms in order to solve these problems. As a result, the discipline was ergonomics emerged despite the fact that the people involved in its development failed to realize it during this period (Meister, 1999). The two subsequent decades immediate after the Second World War witnessed a growing military research catalyzed largely by the emergence of the cold war. Military research institutions developed during this war were enlarged and new ones created. The private sectors also continued to develop ergonomic groups mainly in aviation and communication, and digital Industry. The Human Factors Society, a professional body mandated to study ergonomics in the United States was established in 1957 and had an approximate of 90 members then who attended the first inaugural meeting. This name was later abolished in 1992 and replaced with the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Currently, this society boasts of over 4500 people, majority of who are participants in the technical groups established under this society, student bodies and attend the yearly meetings. Beginning in the 1960s, the field of ergonomics continued to expand especially in the previously identified areas. This development expanded into new fields such as computer architecture and software, nuclear weaponry, internet technology among others. In the recent past, new areas of study have emerged which includes neuroergonomics and nanoergonomics (Jubel, 2007). Conclusion A persistent premise that has been developed over several decades is the ever increasing center of influence that ergonomics has attempted to encompass, as technological advances continue to emerge. What simply began as a mere detachment of experimental psychology focusing on the interaction and relationship of people with machines in the work place has tremendously expanded to cover almost all aspects of interaction of individuals and their environment. Several researchers have hypothesized about the future of human factors and ergonomics. With the speedy technological advances in such areas as biotechnology and nanotechnology, it would be very exciting to speculate the emerging problems that ergonomics would be called upon to solve in the future (Vicente, 2008). In the today’s modern world, as it was the case during its inception, human factors and ergonomics has still remained a multi disciplinary field of study. In the United States for instance, this discipline has expanded from behavioral sciences including empirical psychology, and some engineering fields of study. Among the countries in the European block, the discipline of human factors and ergonomics has found its stronghold in physical science disciplines such as human physiology. Currently, people from diverse educational backgrounds and disciplines varying from physiology, engineering and psychology have focused their exclusive skills and knowledge in the study of the interaction and relationship of people with systems.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

tom :: essays research papers

The Prince What is Machiavelli's view of human nature? While reading The Prince, I have come to a conclusion that Machiavelli demonstrates a view of governing a state that is so different from that of humanists of his time thought. The humanists of Machiavelli's time believed that an individual had a lot to offer to the well being of the state and should be able to help in whatever way necessary. Humanists also believed that an individual grew to maturity through participation in the state and understanding in what was taking place in the state. Machiavelli strongly promoted a secular society and felt morality was not necessary but in fact stood in the way of an effectively governed principality. Machiavelli believes the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy which would serve his best interests. These interests dealt with gaining and expanding his political power. In other words, he felt the best and appropriate w ay to live was how the prince wanted us to live. Just to point this out (so I get the whole 2.5 this time) Machiavelli did not feel that a Prince should mistreat the citizens. Machiavelli goes on to talk about honor and how one can gain such an element (hanging out with me and Derek will help out, but then again, we weren't around during that time). He suggests that a prince must be readily willing to deceive the citizens, afterall, he is the head honcho. Machiavelli also brings up the point that a prince must also deceive those who attempt to make him feel good (Maybe because they were trying to take advantage of him). As I stated previously, he promotes a secular form of politics. His views were to the benefit of the prince, in helping him maintain power rather than to serve to the well being of the citizens.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

“How Valid Are Rizal’s Political, Educational and Socio-Economic Reforms Today?” Essay

  I think that Rizal’s reforms are still valid today. A great man he is, surely his philosophies involved something that of future because great figures always think ahead of time. Moreover, one can hail Rizal as a teacher and so the influence of his teachings is unimaginable. As Henry Adams said, â€Å"A teacher affects eternity; no one can tell where his influence stops.† Indeed, no one can tell, since we are still influenced by his teachings- the idea that the youth is the hope of our nation is still instilled in our minds. In politics, he believed the extension of human rights, the training for self-government and the arousing of spirit of discontent over oppression, brutality, inhumanity, sensitiveness and self-love. These reforms signify the rights of the people. Surely, these rights should be implemented not only in his time but for all seasons, be it now or in the future. In his reforms regarding education, Rizal focuses on the improvement in schools and methods of teaching. This is surely applicable today since we have been aiming to be globally competent and many Filipinos have become aware of the importance of education. It seems like it has even become a prerequisite of life. Lastly, his idea about socio-economic prospect involves that of nation building and not individual social problems. The main point of his philosophy covers the problems of the whole race, with every problem having a distinct solution to bolster the people’s social knowledge. Though people now have becoming less patriotic and have been neglecting the freedom that has been given to them, Rizal’s teachings are still great reminder that we’ve been really lucky to have our own nation and so we must work together in order to build a better nation for the future generation. They have done theirs by giving us freedom, thus, we must also do so. Fortunately, these reforms of Rizal about politics, education, and socio-economic are little by little taking into effect for this generation. Citizens have been aware of their rights and their practicing it now. They also learned the value of education and the advantage they’ll acquire if they practice a healthy economic and social life with other people.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Internal Business Process Perspective

Internal Business Process Prospective BUS 499 – Strategic Management Module 3 Case February 1, 2013 Duke Children’s Hospital fell into a crisis within the mid-1990s. Expenses were rising while dramatic reductions in net margin were occurring. Staff productivity fell and staff satisfaction was at an all-time low. They overcame the crisis by implementing the balanced scorecard. Their way of designing their scorecard catered to their business in healthcare. The higher officials of Duke Children’s Hospital made a three-step process in designing their balanced scorecard. The three steps of proven rapid-fire approach are to: get connected, get results, and get smarter† (Meliones, 2001). Step one consisted of establishing key linkages. By linking the mission, strategy, objectives, targets, key performance indicators, and initiatives across the organization, stakeholders within the hospital were able to stay on the same end goals. Each stakeholder was given informa tion to diagnose opportunities for improvement. There were three vital areas that helped the scorecard stay connected. Key performance indicators linked the business and clinical aspects of healthcare.Staff satisfaction was related to preserving or increasing quality of care. Regulatory area maintained the compliance of laws and procedures within the organization. Step two consisted of analyzing performance to get results. Data was collected to enhance the productivity and satisfaction of stakeholders within the hospital. The goal was to â€Å"improve performance in stakeholders while enhancing quality† (Meliones, 2001). This affects the customer perspective by increasing customer satisfaction. The key factor to help analyze data and improve efficiency was to implement new technology.By supplementing telephone calls with fax and email and setting up automated notifications, the â€Å"total denials decreased from fifteen percent to less than one percent† (Meliones, 2001 ). Step three consisted of gaining knowledge and strategic control of your organization by getting smarter. New ideas and approaches result in making new connections. The scorecard was updated accordingly to maintain the key goals. By implementing the balances scorecard, the hospital was able to track stakeholder’s performance data while keeping an eye on the effects of the business process.Each stakeholder was analyzed with their own data instead of looking at the department as a whole. This stopped stakeholders from pointing fingers at one another when a mistake within the department was made. Physicians, clinicians, and nurses were tracked in an integrated matrix to optimize performance. The balanced scorecard focused on the internal business process of â€Å"operations management, customer management, innovation, and regulatory and social clusters† (Niven, 2010). By making certain stakeholders adjust their performance according to data, an increase in productivity was accomplished in an intelligent matter.By increasing efficiency without compromising quality, cost per case was reduced and patient satisfaction increased. Duke Children’s Hospital became a well-known treatment center for children. Within the customer management, prospective patients were wooed by the increase in acknowledgements and success of the hospital. This may have helped gain and attract new customers. Innovation was a big factor within Duke Children’s hospital. Officials implemented â€Å"the use of technology to turn data into information† (Meliones).By updating their system of keeping track of financial and customer data, shareholders performance and satisfaction increased while gaining efficiency throughout the internal process. The regulatory and social perspective was readily focused in their step one of implementing their balanced scorecard. The hospital was ready to â€Å"facilitate regulatory compliance as a collateral benefit of routine cli nical practice† (Meliones, 2001). Employees of Duke Children’s hospital were the main characters affected within the change of the internal business perspective.Before the balanced scorecard was implemented, staff productivity was in decline and staff satisfaction was at an all-time low. The positive shift in staff satisfaction and productivity was seen after the step one and two of implementing the scorecard. Employees were connected with the same mission and strategy of the whole organization. After analyzing their performance results, stakeholders were able to improve the way they work and handle patients. Clinicians, physicians, and nurses were able to provide quality clinical care without dramatically affecting the financial performance.This aligned each stakeholder within the system into a single platform. The key was â€Å"to identify the key drivers of their performance and implement initiatives to optimize them† (Meliones, 2001). The customers of Duke Ch ildren’s hospital saw a major change in efficiency within the organization. Without cutting staff, the hospital was able to â€Å"improve their performance while enhancing quality† (Meliones, 2001). By implementing a new system of records, patients were able to pay bills on time without suffering through denial claims. Automatic reports gave patients the qualitative data they needed to for physicians and nurses to evaluate.The hospital was able to work in sync to provide excellent care for new patients. Duke Children’s hospital did a superb job in implementing, planning, and executing their transition to the balance scorecard. Officials of the hospital knew they had a crisis within their hands. If they did not change their ways, the future of the hospital would be at stake. By planning a three-step process of shifting their strategic management, officials were able to improve all perspectives within the hospital. â€Å"The cost per case was reduced from $14,889 to $10,500† (Meliones, 2001).This resulted in a $30 million reduction in cost within four years. The net margin shifted into the positive by $4 million from a previously negative $11 million, all within four years. Productivity and staff satisfaction grew to elevating levels. The significant transition of the hospital is clear evidence that the implemented scorecard positively changed the hospital. The three-step process was the framework that guided their goals. The strategy of Duke Children’s hospital should be guidance for all businesses in any industry to accept and try the balanced scorecard management system. ReferencesCQI (2012) Introduction to Quality. The Chartered Quality Institute. Retrieved August 24, 2012, from http://www. thecqi. org/Knowledge-Hub/Resources/Factsheets/Introduction-to-quality/ Meliones, Jon N. ; Ballard, Richard; Liekweg, Richard; & Burton, William (2001, April). No mission () no margin: It's that simple. Journal of Health Care. 27(3): 21- 30. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from the library: https://coursenet. trident. edu Niven, P. (N. D. ) Internal Process perspective. EPM Review. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from http://www. epmreview. com/Resources/Articles/InternalProcess-Perspective. html

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

SAT and TOEFL What You Need to Know About Each Test

SAT and TOEFL What You Need to Know About Each Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Is English your second (or third or fourth) language? If it’s anything but your first, then you may have to take the TOEFL to get into universityin the United States. The TOEFL is an English language test that shows you have the language skills to succeed in college. As another admissions test, the TOEFLshares some similarities with the more ubiqutous SAT. This guide will compare the two tests, as well as give you some tips for preparing for both. If you’re a non-native English speaker planning to apply to a U.S. college, then read on to learn the ins and outs of your testing requirements. What Tests Do Colleges Require? Most four-year colleges require that all applicants, domestic and international alike, take the SAT or ACT. Forthis article, we’ll focus on the SAT as your admissions test of choice. You should note, though, that either test is fine, and colleges consider both equally. You should choose the one on which you can gain higher scores for your college applications. If English isn’t your first language, then you’ll likelyalso have to take the TOEFL to apply to college. Colleges want youto show that you have the English language skills to succeed at the college level. By the way, you also have some choice when it comes to the TOEFL. Most colleges will equally accept the IELTS or PTE too. The TOEFL is the most popular option, though, so we’ll focus on that for now. Good to know you always have options! So who should take the TOEFL? Pretty much any student for whom English isn’t his/herfirst language. For students who are fluent, this TOEFL requirement can get a little murky. Usually, if you’ve taken at least one ESL class in high school, then colleges want you to take the TOEFL. A few colleges, however, won’t require this test if you’ve been in English classes for the past two or three years. There’s one other circumstance when a college would waive its TOEFL requirement. If you score highly enough on the verbal section of the SAT or ACT, then you might not have to take the TOEFL. Since colleges vary in their policies, how can you find out more about your testing requirements? Get out your trenchcoat, magnifying glass, and deerstalkercap. It's time to do some detective work. How Can You Find Your Colleges' Testing Requirements? While many colleges share the same requirements, some have their own additional policies, especially when it comes to the SAT and TOEFL for international students. To ensure that you understand exactly what you need, I highly recommend researching the stances of eachcollege that you’re interested in. You should be able to find this information on each college’s admission website, specifically in a section for international applicants. Even if you’re a U.S.citizen, this section is usually the one that contains instructions for ESL speakers. For instance, Tufts has a page called The Admissions Process for International Students with the following information: â€Å"Students for whom English is not the primary language, or not the language of instruction in their secondary school, should take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in addition to the options listed above. A minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the Internet-based test is recommended.† As you research your colleges’ requirements, remember that each college is unique, so each college’s admissions website is too. Some are easier to navigate than others, so if you can’t find the information you’re looking for, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact the admissions office. Since prepping for and taking the SAT and TOEFL takes several months, if not years, you’d be best served to start this research early. Once you find the international applicants section of your prospective college’s admissions site, what specifically should you look for? Bring it in, team. What score do we need to win this college admission game? What You Need to Know About TOEFL and SAT Requirements There are three main pieces of information that you should seek as you research your school’s testing requirements. 1. What Tests Are Required? Of course, the first piece of information you’ll look for is what tests you need in order to apply. Most websites will have step-by-step application instructions and/or a checklist of application requirements. They'll also tell you the school code to use in order to add it as a score recipient through your College Board (administers the SAT) or ETS (administers the TOEFL) account. Check to see whether your school requires applicants to send SAT scores, TOEFL scores, or both. 2. Does Your School Have a TOEFL Cutoff? If your school requires the TOEFL, check to see if it posts a cutoff score, like Tufts did above. Most schools don’t publicize a minimum SAT score, but they do have a minimum for TOEFL. Northeastern, for example, requires a score on the TOEFL iBT of 79-80, while more selective schools like NYU, American University, and Harvard require a minimum of 100. Once you know the cutoff, you can set your target score about tenpointshigher to be a competitive candidate. 3. Will High SAT Scores Get You Out Ofthe TOEFL? Finally, the third question you should ask during your research is whether your school waives the TOEFL if you achieve a certain score on the SAT verbal. In previous years, students wouldn’t have to take the TOEFL if they achieved a certain score on the Critical Reading section. Since the Critical Reading required such a strong understanding of vocabulary and reading comprehension, it could replace the TOEFL as a demonstration of English language skills. For example,Columbia and Brown didn'trequire the students to take the SAT if they achieved a 650 or higher on SAT Critical Reading. Johns Hopkins set the bar even higher, requiring a minimum of 670. There werea few schoolswith lower requirements, like the University of Massachusetts system with a 450 and American University with a 530. With the redesigned SAT, the Reading and Writing sections are now combined into one Evidence-based Reading and Writing score. While colleges haven’t updated their policies yet, you can estimate that the minimum EBRW score needed to waive the TOEFL will be similar to the one for Critical Reading in past years. Just as you should feel free to contact admissions offices for more information, you might ask them over the next few months whether they’ve reframedthis minimum score in terms of the new SAT scoring system. Some schools link your performance on SAT verbal with TOEFL because it shows your English language skills, but the two tests still have a lot of differences. Let’s take a closer look at these two exams, along with what skills they test and how. You’ll notice that they’re distinct enough to require their own unique prep methods and materials. First, let’s examine the TOEFL. How's your vocabulary? The TOEFL is all about your English language skills. The TOEFL: Structure, Content, and Prep The TOEFL is a test of your English language skills. In most countries, it’s given on the computer. There’s also a paper-based test, but it’s being phased out and is only offered in countries where testing online isn’t available. Unless you’re taking the TOEFL by paper, you’ll want to look for your college’s TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) cutoff. Let’s take a closer look at how the TOEFLtests your English level, starting with its overall format. TOEFL Structure: What the Test Looks Like The TOEFL has four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, in that order. The Reading and Listening sections can actually vary in length, depending on whether or not you get an exam that features extra questions. Not to worry - these extra questions will be unscored. Unfortunately, they will also be unidentified. In other words, if you get experimental questions, you won’t know which ones they are. This chart shows the length of and number of questions ineach TOEFL section, along with a brief description of tasks. Experimental questions, you’ll notice, can make the Reading and Listening sections significantly longer than normal. Order Section Time Limit Questions Tasks 1 Reading 60–80 minutes 36–56 questions Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts and answer questions. 2 Listening 60–90 minutes 34–51 questions Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations, then answer questions. Break 10 minutes - - 3 Speaking 20 minutes 6 tasks Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. 4 Writing 50 minutes 2 tasks Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing. Total: 3 hours, 20 min - 4 hours, 10 min (break included) Source: ETS Each of the four sections on the TOEFL is scored between 0 and 30 points. Your overall scores reflect the sum of your section scores and will fall at or between 0 and 120 points. Now that you have a sense of the test’s overall format, let’s take a closer look at exactly how it tests your Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing skills. Bookworms rejoice! The first section on the TOEFL's all about reading. TOEFL Content: Questions and Skills As you see in the chart above, the TOEFL tests your English language level across all important skill areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Read on for a closer look at what you’ll be expected to demonstrate in each section, starting with Reading. You can find the examples in their entirety on the TOEFL iBT practice questions provided by ETS. TOEFL Reading The Reading section contains 3 or 4 passages, usually selected from college-level textbooks. The passages may be expository, argument-based, or historical. Each is followed by multiple choice questions that ask you about elements like themain point, important details, relationships between ideas, and vocabulary. The following examples, which are based on a passage, ask about a supporting detail and a vocabulary word in context: According to paragraph 3, how did scientists determine that a large meteorite had impacted Earth? A. They discovered a large crater in the Yucatn region of Mexico.B. They found a unique layer of sediment worldwide.C. They were alerted by archaeologists who had been excavating in the Yucatn region.D. They located a meteorite with a mass of over a trillion tons. The word â€Å"excavating† on line 25 is closest in meaning to A. digging outB. extendingC. destroyingD. covering up In addition to these multiple choice, there are a few "sentence insertion" questions that ask you to add a sentence into the text where it would fit best. The following is an example of a sentence insertion question. Look at the four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage in paragraph 6. This is the criterion emphasized by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Where would the above sentence best fit? Impacts by meteorites represent one mechanism that could cause global catastrophes and seriously influence the evolution of life all over the planet.(A) According to some estimates, the majority of all extinctions of species may be due to such impacts. (B) Such a perspective fundamentally changes our view of biological evolution. (C) The standard criterion for the survival of a species is its success in competing with other species and adapting to slowly changing environments. (D) Yet an equally important criterion is the ability of a species to survive random global ecological catastrophes due to impacts. Choose the place where the sentence fits best. Option A Option B Option C Option D There are also a few â€Å"Reading to Learn† questions that contain several correct answers. To answer these, you must sort the information into a chart, often placing each piece of information into a category or chronological order. Since these questions are more involved than other types, they’re often worth several points andhave the potential for partial credit. The following is an example of a Reading to Learn question on the Reading section of the TOEFL. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Write your answer choices in the spaces where they belong. You can write in the number of the answer choice or the whole sentence. Scientists have linked the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous with a meteorite impact on Earth. Scientists had believed for centuries that meteorite activity influenced evolution on Earth. The site of the large meteorite impact at the end of the Cretaceous period was identified in 1990. There have also been large meteorite impacts on the surface of the Moon, leaving craters like Tycho. An iridium-enriched sediment layer and a large impact crater in the Yucatn provide evidence that a large meteorite struck Earth about 65 million years ago. Large meteorite impacts, such as one at the end of the Cretaceous period, can seriously affect climate, ecological niches, plants, and animals. Meteorite impacts can be advantageous for some species, which thrive, and disastrous for other species, which become extinct. As you’ll see below, the multiple choice questions that ask you to interpret the main point, details, and vocab words in a passage resemble the Reading questions on the SAT. The sentence insertion questions share some similarity with certain SAT Writing questions. Reading to Learn questions, though, are unique to the TOEFL. Now that you have a sense of how the TOEFL tests your reading skills, let’s take a closer look at how it tests your English listening comprehension. TOEFL Listening The Listening section asks you to listen to academic lectures and/or conversations between students or a professionaland a student. You can take notes as you listen to prepare for the questions that follow. Some of these questions will be straightforward multiple choice, on which you’ll choose one answer that best describes the main point or important details of the listening. For instance, this is a straightforward listening question about the main point of a conversation between a student and her basketball coach: What are the speakers mainly discussing? A. How the woman should prepare for the next gameB. The woman’s responsibilities as team captainC. Things that happened while the woman was awayD. The style of the new team uniforms Other multiple choice questions ask you to choose two correct answersout of four choices. Like in the Reading section, there are a few questions that ask you to list events in a process or place answers into certain categories. These various question types test your basic comprehension of the listening. They also want to make sure you understand the speaker’s purpose, sometimes even asking how certain he/she is about what he/she’s saying. Questions may ask about cause and effect or the organization of ideas in a lecture. All of these questions are meant to ensure that you’d be able to comprehend a lecture or class discussion in a university setting. After Listening, you’ll get a ten-minute break to stretch and regroup. Then it’s on to Speaking. For the third section, beprepared to speak. You'll actually be speaking into a computer, as your graders willprobably be somewhere in New Jersey. TOEFL Speaking The Speaking section is much shorter than the previous two at only 20 minutes. You’ll get two â€Å"independent speaking† tasks and four â€Å"integrated speaking† tasks. Questions 1 and 2 are independent speakingtasks. They'llask you to speak for 45 seconds on familiar topics. You can talk about your own ideas, opinions, observations, or experiences. You’ll have 15 seconds to prepare your answer. Here’s an example of an independent speaking question: Question: Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous; they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why. Questions 3 and 4 are integrated speaking tasks. They'll ask you both to read a short passage and listen to a related lecture or conversation. Then you’ll speak for 45 seconds using information from both sources. You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare. Questions 5 and 6 are similar, but they only involve a listening, no reading. You’ll prepare your response for 20 seconds and speak for 60 seconds. This example is based on a conversation between two students about their calculus class. Question: Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which solution you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation. As you can see, the Speaking section tests your ability to speak on your own opinions and experiences, as well as your ability to summarize information and main ideas from readings and listenings. These Speaking tasks are unique to the TOEFL; you won’t find them on the SAT. Finally, you’ll round out your demonstration of English language skills on the TOEFL Writing section. Unlike the handwritten SAT essay, you'll type your responses on the Writing section of the TOEFL iBT. TOEFL Writing You’ve read, listened, and spoken your way through this challenging exam. Now it’s time to write! You’ll get two prompts, one that’s calledan integrated writing task and the other labeled as an independent writing task. Like with the integrated speaking task, the integrated writing task asks you to read a short passage and listen to a lecture or conversation. Then you’ll get a question that asks you to summarize the main points of what you read and heard and perhaps compare or contrast the two. You’ll get 20 minutes, and your response should be 150 to 225 words. The integrated writing task often looks like this: Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage. The independent writing taskresembles the independent speaking task in that it asks you to express your personal opinion and support it with examples. Your essay should be at least 300 words, and you’ll have 30 minutes to write it. Here’s one example of an independent writing task: Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A teacher’s ability to relate well with students is more important than excellent knowledge of the subject being taught. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Since you’re typing on the computer, there will be a counter below the text box for both tasks that tells you your total word count. Both essays are initiallygraded between 0 and 5, and you can consult the rubric to see what you need to accomplish to score at each level. A strong grasp of grammar, word choice, and organization is important for doing well on the Writing section. Once you’ve finished the Writing section, you’re all done with the TOEFL. You’ll get your scores online about ten days after you take the test. Before moving onto the SAT so you can compare the two tests, let’s briefly discuss the importance of test prep for succeeding on this challenging exam. You'll need to practice saying your responses, not just writing them. Sadly, there are no bonus points for singing them. Prepping for the TOEFL Even if you have an advanced level of English, you’ll need to prep to do well on the TOEFL. It’s a unique test with strict time limits, and anyone who’s taken it will tell you that you should show up equipped with knowledge of the question types and strategies for time management. The Speakingsection is especially atypical with its oral essays. While 45 to 60 seconds may not sound like a lot, it’s actually a big challenge for most students. Learning to structure your oral responses with an introduction, supporting details, and a conclusion just like you would a written essay is an unusual task that requires serious preparation. It’s a good idea to give yourself several months to prep for the TOEFL. You might start with a timed practice test to diagnose your starting level. Then you can analyze your results, find your weaknesses, and figure out what you most need to study from there. The test-makers recommend that you’ve studied English for at least two years before taking the test. Since the readings are taken from university textbooks, most students need to be at a high intermediate or advanced level to do well on this test. You can find several TOEFL preparation books online, but make sure to incorporate official questions from the testmakers into your prep, as these will be the best representation of the actual test. You can find sample questions on the TOEFL website, as well as official ETS TOEFL books and an online prep program. Just like with the SAT, you should start several months before your test date. If possible, you might also leave two or more available test dates after your first one in case you want to retake the TOEFL to improve your scores. Now that you have some insight into the TOEFL, let’s take a closer look at the SAT. Beyond this overview, you can learn more about the SAT by exploring our articles on test content, strategies, and preparation, including a full overview of its 2016 redesign. As you read about each section, pay attention to the ways in which it’s similar to the TOEFL and the ways in which it's different. While the TOEFL's all about your English language level, the SAT is more concerned with your reasoning and problem-solving skills. SAT: Structure, Skills, and Prep While the TOEFL tests your English language skills, the SAT is concerned with testing your reasoning and problem-solving skills. It’s scored based on two main areas: Evidence-based Reading and Writing and Math. You also have the option of taking an essay section, which is scored separately. Students should take the essay section if their prospective colleges want to see it. Read on to learn more about the overall structure of the SAT. SAT Structure: What the Test Looks Like The SAT, which is scored on a scale from 400 to 1600, has four sections, Reading, Writing and Language, Math No Calculator, and Math with Calculator, in that order. If you choose to take the SAT with Essay, then the essay will be your fifth section. This chart gives an overview of the test’s structure: Order Section Time in Minutes # of Questions 1 Reading 65 52 2 Writing and Language 35 44 3 Math No Calculator 25 20 4 Math Calculator 55 38 5 Essay (optional) 50 1 Total: 3 hours, 50 minutes (3 hours without essay) 154 (+ 1 essay prompt) You’ll get a five-minute break after about every hour of testing. That means you’ll have a short break after Reading, after Math No Calculator, and, if you choose to take it, before the Essay. We have several comprehensive guides that dig deeply into the content and question types of each section. For the purposes of this article, let’s briefly review the content and skills of each section. The SAT doesn't just ask about reading and writing. It tests you on a lot of math, too. SAT Content: Questions and Skills The SAT is half verbal and half math. The verbal sections include a Reading and a Writing and Language section, and the math is split into a calculator prohibited and a calculator permitted section. Below, you can read more about what skills each section tests and the question types it uses to do so. You can also find the sample questions in College Board's official SAT practice tests. SAT Reading SAT Reading shares some similarities with TOEFL Reading. You’ll also have to read passages and answer multiple choice questions about their main idea, supporting details, and vocabulary. On the SAT, you’ll get five passages, one from literature, two based on history/social studies, and two from science. While you won’t get any prose selections on the TOEFL, you will get one on the SAT Reading. The questions will test your comprehension, and because it’s strictly timed, you’ll mostly need to skim the passages for important details. Some of the questions will be evidence-based, meaning they’ll ask you to locate evidence in the text that serves as the reason for your answer to a previous question. For instance, here’s a detail-oriented comprehension question followed by an evidence-based question: 1. The passage indicates that, after a long day of work, the narrator sometimes found his living quarters to be A) treacherous. B) dreary. C) predictable. D) intolerable. 2. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? A) Lines 17-21 (â€Å"I should... scenes†) B) Lines 21-23 (â€Å"I should... lodgings†) C) Lines 64-67 (â€Å"Thoughts... phrases†) D) Lines 68-74 (â€Å"I walked... gleam†) All of the questions will be multiple choice with four answer choices. A few of the questions will ask you to interpret a graphic, like a chart or table, often asking how it relates to the text in the passage. Your Reading performance will be combined with your Writing and Language performance to give you one Evidence-based Reading and Writing score between 200 and 800. Read on to learn how the Writing and Language section, which will be your second section on the SAT, differs from Reading. SAT Writing and Language The SAT Writing and Language, often referred to as just SAT Writing, tests your knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. It also asks about theorganization of ideas and paragraph structure. The entire section is multiple choice, and every question is passage-based. Writing questions ask you to be an editor. They’ll ask whether or not a word, detail, or organization scheme is correct, and, if not, it asks you to choose a better option. You’ll basically work to improve the grammar, punctuation, style, and structure of a paragraph. These next few questions, for example,ask about grammar (subject-verb agreement) and inserting a sentence to clarify meaning: There are a few questions in the TOEFL Reading section that ask you to insert a sentence in a passage to improve its meaning. As you see in the example above, SAT Writing asks similar questions. It also goes one step further by asking you why you would insert a sentence into a passage. For students whose native language is not English, the Writing section, along with the Reading section, can be especially challenging. Once you finish up this section, you’ll move immediately onto a math section. For this 25-minute section, you’re not allowed to use a calculator. For one of the two SAT math sections, you'll have to keep your calculator packed away in your bag. SAT Math No Calculator The math sections are where the SAT completely diverges from the TOEFL. These sections are meant to ensure that students have the conceptual and problem solving skills to do well in college. Most of the questions are based on algebra, but there are a few that incorporate geometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers. International students often have an easier time on the math sections since they don’t have as much emphasis on advanced English language skills. The redesigned SAT, however, incorporates several word problems. Some reading comprehension, therefore, is still important on the math section, as you can see in this sample SAT word problem: A musician has a new song available for downloading or streaming. The musician earns $0.09 each time the song is downloaded and $0.002 each time the song is streamed. Which of the following expressions represents the amount, in dollars, that the musician earns if the song is downloaded d times and streamed s times. 0.002d + 0.09s 0.002d - 0.09s 0.09d + 0.002s 0.09d - 0.002s On this shorter math section, you can’t use a calculator. Most questions won’t require complex calculations. Rather, they’ll test your conceptual understanding. You’ll find more questions that call for calculations on the next math section. SAT Math with Calculator You’re allowed to use a calculator on the longer of the two SAT math sections. Not all problems, however, will necessarily require one. It’s your job to figure out when a calculator’s useful and when it would just slow you down. Like the other math section, the Math with Calculator asks a lot of algebra questions, along with a few geometry and trigonometry. It also has a strong emphasis on Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions, which ask you to work with rates, ratios, percentages, and data from graphs and tables. Here’s one example of a Problem Solving and Data Analysis question on the SAT Math with Calculator: Number of hours Tony plans to read the novel per day 3 Number of parts in the novel 8 Number of chapters in the novel 239 Number of words Tony reads per minute 250 Number of pages in the novel 1,078 Number of words in the novel 349,168 Tony is planning to read a novel. The table above shows information about the novel, Tony’s reading speed, and the amount of time he plans to spend reading the novel each day. If Tony reads at the rates given in the table, which of the following is closest to the number of days it would take Tony to read the entire novel? 6 8 23 324 Unlike the TOEFL, math is an important part of prepping for and taking the SAT. In fact, your performance on math will make up half of your total SAT score. As mentioned above, the Essay section is optional, and as such, it won't count toward your total score. Let's briefly review the SAT Essay section. Make sure to notice how much it differs from TOEFL Writing. The (optional) SAT essay asks you to unfold an author's argument and analyzeexactly how she puts it together. SAT Essay The SAT essay is 50 minutes and asks you to analyze an argument presented in a passage. While some of the TOEFL promptsallow you to draw on personal experience, the SAT essay does not. It wants you to present a thesis-driven analysis of the techniques and devices an author uses to present his/her argument. The following is an example of an SAT prompt. If you want to check out the passage to which it refers, you can find it at College Board. Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society. In your essay, analyze how Gioia uses one or more of the features in the directions that precede the passage (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Gioia’s claims, but rather explain how Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience. The SAT essay prompt resembles the analytical essays that many students write in English class. It differs from the TOEFL essays, which tend to ask more for a summary or opinion. Your writing skills, especially grammar, word choice, and structure, are important for doing well on both tests. As with the TOEFL, the SAT requiressignificant preparation to achieve your target scores. Luckily, there are lots of practice materials that can help you succeed. Prepping for the SAT The SAT is a challenging test for all students, including native English speakers. Developing strong English language skills is an important part of doing well, as is familiarizing yourself with the test content, question types, and strategies for answering questions and managing your time. An important first step is getting to know the structure and format of the test. You should explore the types of question that will pop up in the Reading, Writing, Math, and, if applicable, Essay sections. Using high-quality practice materials is also key. Make sure yours review exactly what will appear on the test and pair content review with realistic practice questions. Just like the TOEFL, you might start your prep with a diagnostic practice test. Root out your weak spots, and target them with your studying. Non-native English speakers might especially focus on strategies for reading the passages in Reading and Writing and studying rules of grammar, usage, punctuation, and structure. ESL students should also practice word problems in math. A third important area to study is the data interpretation questions that will show up on all four sections of the SAT. How long you prep for the SAT depends on your starting level, and you should define your target scores by researching your prospective colleges’ expectations. It’s best to start several months before your first test and to leave yourself additional testing dates in case you want to retake it and improve. Many colleges will take your highest section scores and recombine them into the best possible total score, so taking the SAT more than once, if possible, is usually in your best interest. Now that you have a sense of both tests, let’sreview their similarities and differences. Comparing the SAT and TOEFL reveals some similarities, but in other ways, it's like comparing apples and oranges. SAT vsTOEFL: Similarities and Differences The TOEFL and SAT are largely different tests, but there are a few areas in which they overlap. For one thing, they’re both required for international or (some) ESL students applying to college in the US. As admissions tests, they demand a good deal of preparation and planning. Before even preparing to take the tests, you need to understand their scoring scales and what scores you need to get into college. Since both tests require an advanced level of English, any preparation you do for one will help you to some extent on the other. The Reading sections especially have some overlap, requiring you to read college-level passages and comprehend their main idea and details. Both tests also ask you to edit the structure, flow, and meaning of a passage. As you read above, this commonality means that some colleges will waive the TOEFL requirement if students can demonstrate their English language skills by scoring highly on SAT verbal. The TOEFL is especially unique due to its Listening and Speaking sections. These two sections are specifically geared to measure the English language level of test-takers. While the TOEFL is all about the English language, the SAT is half math. It wants to make sure you meet certain benchmarks as a math student and can demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Both the SAT and TOEFL are fast-paced, timed admissions tests that are essential to realizing your college goals. For the most part, you should treat them as separate exams that call for their own study plan and test-taking strategies. In closing, let’s review the main points that non-native English speakers should remember about these two important exams. The SAT and TOEFL take a lot of prep and planning, but in the end, they're your passport to the college of your choice! What to Remember Aboutthe SAT and TOEFL Most non-native English speakers applying to college in the U.S.will be required to take the TOEFL and the SAT (or ACT, if you prefer). The TOEFL shows that you have the English language skills to succeed at the college level. The SAT is meant to test all students on an equal playing field and evaluate their reasoning and problem-solving skills. Since the SAT requires advanced English language skills, it may be cause to waive the TOEFL requirement. You should check with your prospective colleges early in the college planning process to learn about their policies. Unless you’re scoring very highly on SAT practice tests, I wouldn’t suggest ignoring the TOEFL on the assumption that you won’t have to take it. You wouldn’t want to put it off and then run out of time to prep or test dates to improve your scores. Even though you probably won’t apply to college until senior year, you should start preparing for and taking the SAT and TOEFL much earlier. By readying these components of your application early and achieving your target scores, you’ll have a huge number of options when it comes time to apply to college. What’s Next? Are you an international student applying to college in the US? Checkout our complete guide on how to apply to college as an international student, step by step (coming soon). Are you wondering where to apply? This article will help you research colleges and find the ones that are the best fit for you. Another key factor in planning your tests and other parts of your application are college deadlines. This article discusses the important college deadlines you can’t miss. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Monday, October 21, 2019

Crossing Over Lab Genetics Activity

Crossing Over Lab Genetics Activity Genetic diversity is a very important part of evolution. Without different genetics available in the gene pool, species would not be able to adapt to an ever-changing environment and evolve to survive as those changes happen. Statistically, there is no one in the world with your exact same combination of DNA (unless you are an identical twin). This makes you unique. There are several mechanisms that contribute to the large amounts of genetic diversity of humans, and all species, on Earth. Independent assortment of chromosomes during Metaphase I in Meiosis I and random fertilization (meaning, which gamete fuses with a mates gamete during fertilization is randomly selected) are two ways your genetics can be mixed during the formation of your gametes. This ensures that every gamete you produce is different from all of the other gametes you produce. Another way to increase genetic diversity within an individuals gametes is a process called crossing over. During Prophase I in Meiosis I, homologous pairs of chromosomes come together and may exchange genetic information. While this process is sometimes difficult for students to grasp and visualize, it is easy to model using common supplies found in pretty much every classroom or home. The following lab procedure and analysis questions can be used to help those struggling to grasp this idea. Materials 2 different colors of paperScissorsRulerGlue/Tape/Staples/Another attachment methodPencil/Pen/Other writing utensil Procedure Choose two different colors of paper and cut two strips out of each color that are 15 cm long and 3 cm wide. Each strip is a sister chromatid.Place the strips of the same color across each other so they both make an â€Å"X† shape. Secure them in place with glue, tape, staple, a brass fastener, or another method of attachment. You have now made two chromosomes (each â€Å"X† is a different chromosome).On the top â€Å"legs† of one of the chromosomes, write the capital letter â€Å"B† about 1 cm from the end on each of the sister chromatids.Measure 2 cm from your capital â€Å"B† and then write a capital â€Å"A† at that point on each of the sister chromatids of that chromosome.On the other colored chromosome on the top â€Å"legs†, write a lowercase â€Å"b† 1 cm from the end of each of the sister chromatids.Measure 2 cm from your lower case â€Å"b† and then write a lower case â€Å"a† at that point on each of the sister chromatids of that chromosome.Place one sister chromatid of one of the chromosomes over the sister chromatid over the other colored chromosome so that the letter â€Å"B† and â€Å"b† has crossed over. Be sure the â€Å"crossing over† occurs between your â€Å"A†s and â€Å"B†s. Carefully tear or cut the sister chromatids that have crossed over so that you have removed your letter â€Å"B† or â€Å"b† from those sister chromatids.Use tape, glue, staples, or another attachment method to â€Å"swap† the ends of the sister chromatids (so you now end up with a small part of the different colored chromosome attached to the original chromosome).Use your model and prior knowledge about crossing over and meiosis to answer the following questions. Analysis Questions What is â€Å"crossing over†?What is the purpose of â€Å"crossing over†?When is the only time crossing over can occur?What does each letter on your model represent?Write down what letter combinations were on each of the 4 sister chromatids before crossing over happened. How many total DIFFERENT combinations did you have?Write down what letter combinations were on each of the 4 sister chromatids before crossing over happened. How many total DIFFERENT combinations did you have?Compare your answers to number 5 and number 6. Which showed the most genetic diversity and why?

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Florida Cop Killer Shot 68 Times by SWAT Team

Florida Cop Killer Shot 68 Times by SWAT Team On September 28, 2006, Angilo Freeland, 27, a suspected drug dealer, fled from Polk County, Florida, police after he was pulled over in a routine traffic stop by Deputy Douglas Speirs. The deputy called for backup and Deputy Vernon Matthew Williams answered the call with his police dog DiOGi. As they followed the suspect into the woods there was a burst of gunfire and Deputy Williams, a father of three, and his dog were killed and Speirs was wounded in the leg. An autopsy report revealed that Williams, 39, was shot eight times. He was shot once a close range behind his right ear and again in his right temple. Officers also noted that Williams gun and ammunition were missing. After a massive manhunt for the fugitive through the night, a SWAT team surrounded Freeland in a thickly wooded area hiding under a fallen tree. When he failed to show the officers both hands and they spotted a handgun in one of his hands, they opened fire. Freelands autopsy showed that he was shot 68 times. An investigation of the scene revealed that police fired 110 rounds. Thats all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters. Who Was Angilo Freeland? Investigators later learned through Freelands hand-written journals   found in a search of his home  and interviews with family members, that he was an alleged drug smuggler who often traveled throughout Jamaica and South and Central America.   Born December 25, 1978, in a West Indies island of Antigua, Freeland shared many Rastafarian religious and political beliefs. He was a skilled survivalist with hand-to-hand combat and had extensive weaponry training. Through using several aliases he managed to come and go out of the U.S. at will. Criminal Background On April 24, 1999, Freeland was arrested after refusing to show his hands during a traffic stop within miles of where the 2006 deadly incident took place. According to arrest reports, Freeland was pulled over for speeding by the Florida Highway Patrol. After refusing to show his hands, he fled the scene, and then later ditched his truck and took off on foot. When the troopers searched the truck Freeland had abandoned, they found a loaded .380-caliber handgun and a pawn shop receipt that led them to where Freeland lived. He was arrested on charges of not having a valid drivers license, reckless driving, aggravated fleeing to elude, resisting arrest without violence, and carrying a concealed weapon.   Freeland was released on bail,  but failed to show up for his trial. A warrant was issued, but authorities were unable to locate him and in 2005 it was deemed stale and the case was dropped by the state attorneys office. Operation Sea-O-Pea An investigation into Freelands suspected drug trafficking activity in Florida led to a task force made up of federal, state and local-law-enforcement drug agencies. The investigation  called Operation Sea-O-Pea a.k.a. Diogis Revenge uncovered a drug and weapons connection between Latin America and Florida.   According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, informants told investigators that Freeland acted as the enforcer of a drug-trafficking ring that dealt in cocaine, cannabis and weapons. He was the alleged rings hit man and suspected of killing up to 15 people who might have been informers or owed money. The investigation resulted in 10 arrests and the confiscation of six firearms, $500 in counterfeit US currency,   and approximately 3.5 pounds of cannabis along with information about two unsolved homicide cases in Orange County, Florida. FBI Investigation Into the Shooting In November 2006, the Department of Justice (DoJ) requested that the FBI investigate the conduct of the authorities involved in the shooting after the Florida Civil Rights Association filed a complaint stating that the incident showed extreme force and a disregard for human life. In June 2008, the DoJ announced that the Polk County Sheriffs Office was cleared of any wrongdoing and that the investigation was closed.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Industrial Activity and the Environment Article

Industrial Activity and the Environment - Article Example Besides some economic benefits, industrial revolution produced much environmental impacts in a shorter period of time. However, it will be impossible to close all the industries to cut down the pollution. There is a need to find some ways to enable economic growth as well as reducing the environmental pollution. The article that I have selected is â€Å"Industrial Activity and the Environment in China: An Industry-Level Analysis† written by Matthew A. Cole, Robert J.R. Elliott and Shanshan Wu. The article discusses the economic aspects with respect to the environmental perspective. However, China is considered as the reference country to depict the industrial growth and the concentration of different harmful pollutants to the atmosphere. As China has the world’s biggest population, the number of industries in China is increasing day by day and with the increase China has become the biggest producer of carbon dioxide. It is estimated that with this massive amount of air pollution about 300, 0000 people die annually. There is a need to consider the environmental health with the economic growth. Despite the fact that the China has the world’s biggest population, the average air pollution decreased due to the certain efforts of China’s environmental regulatory authorities. Results show that the average atmospheric SO2 levels decreased around 1997 to 2002, while, a little increase was seen in 2000. However, an increase in the average atmospheric SO2 is seen around 2002 to 2004. Similarly the average level of soot emission also decreased around 1997 to 2002 and a minor increase was seen around 2002 to 2004. The similar case is with the dust emissions from industries. These are the three major components of air pollution. The decrease in these three components consequently lowered the pollution intensity, which was at the recorded level in 1998 and now it is on the lowest level. The major producers of the pollutants are the China’s m anufacturing industries like the steel/iron industries in China. Thus the industries are considered as the dirtiest industries among all other. Besides the Steel and iron manufacturing industries, chemical industries, Non-Metallic Mineral producers and Paper and Products industries are also considered as the industries that are producing risk for the environment. It can be noticed that Iron and steel industry, which is considered as the dirtiest industry, is growing with a rapid pace. However, the intensity of the SO2 emission decreased, the similar case is seen with dust and soot emissions. There are several determinants of industrial pollution in China, the first and the most important is the Pollution demand that may involve the energy use, factor intensities, size, efficiency, vintage and innovation. As the demand for energy is rising day by day there is need to generate more energy and generation more energy may involve the utilization of more fossil fuel resources and thus emi tting more pollutants into the atmosphere. Factor intensities of an industry may influence the emissions of more pollutants into the atmosphere. Factor may involve the material and human factors. Size of industry may have some relation with the production of the pollutants. As, more productions may give rise to more pollution emitted into the atmosphere. The other important factor that may have inverse proportion with the amount of pollution is the efficiency of the industry. More efficiency means more products utilizing less amount of energy. Newer

City Tourism Management and Marketing Research Paper

City Tourism Management and Marketing - Research Paper Example The London governing bodies has distinctive bodied identified with specific brand projection for the tourism promotion of London and its major attractions. The Greater London authority (GLA), The London Development authority and the Visit London campaign defined their working areas to collectively promote tourism in London. The GLA, the LDA and the visit London has formulated strategies keeping in view of the 2012 Olympics. The previous results show that the cities that hosted Olympics projected an increase in the tourism revenues and the tourist arrivals. The "Totally London" campaign was major success as the number of tourist arrivals has increased from the year 2003. An effective contingency management plans were drawn to cope with the adverse incidents like the SARS, the mad cow disease, the terrorist attacks at London. One of the largest tourism marketing campaign (Totally London) was rolled out in 2003 by the Mayor and London Tourist Board. The campaign entailed-national press advertsing, promotional offers and discounted holiday packages. The key target markets were USA and the European countries. The tourism in France has centuries of tradition with grandeur of the attractions imbibed in the country. The state governments were provided with the freedom to implement the policies suitable to their region. The central government has initiated many important decentralization programs to streamline the ground realities of developing tourism with key target on implementing regional plans locally. The French authorities organized programs like "experience the Parisian lifestyle" to elevate the perceptions regarding the Parisians and awareness campaigns to enhance the tourist experience (Arrogant paris on tourist charm offensive, 2007). The researcher has asserted more on the development of the rural areas and highway zones to generate revenue and create employment opportunities. The developments plans in the mountainous regions "Snow plans" in the 1960s' and 70 and establishing ski resorts along the sea banks were major initiatives. Dubai has strengthened its position as the tourism capital of the Gulf region working out rapid strides in the areas of real estate and the massive construction spree. The Government has been working on economic development of not entirely dependant on oil. The government was proactive in agressivley promoting Dubai as an dream destination in every sector. As a result of these initiatives there has been an incredible boost in the revenues of the tourism industry in UAE.The World Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC) in its global travel forecast has suggested that UAE's revenues from inbound tourism are likely to grow at 7.2% annually till 2015.The tourism sector revenues account for 15% of Dubai's GDP.Furthermore,over the last decade Dubai has evolved as a global hub, climbing fro the 26th to the 10th international hub in terms of the volume of international traffic. Airlines have taken advantage of the city's strategic location, attracting flyers on their way from Europe, Asia and Afric a. (khaleej times) City Infrastructure and Destination Appeal: The Dubai International Airport is one of the world's fastest growing airports. It registered a

Friday, October 18, 2019

(Ethical considerations and Data analysis) which are two parts of my Essay

(Ethical considerations and Data analysis) which are two parts of my full proposal - Essay Example This is important because the research would be conducted among members of this faculty and permission is required from the relevant authority. In asking for the permission to conduct the research, a letter will be sent which articulates crucial details of the various reasons why we have chosen that particular department to conduct our research there. Consequently, the letter also addresses issue of approval to conduct the study through the questionnaire and interview primary methods. Confidentiality in data collection will be applied through anonymity or use of letter symbols like letter b. Part of sample consists of a dean and five heads of departments who are all leaders. In this regards, it will be easy to conduct interviews or collect data through questionnaire in anonymity and the ensuing data will be used in the study without infringing any legal rights of the respondents in the research. Data analysis alludes to different methods that help to describe facts, tests hypotheses, detect patterns and develop explanations. It is applied in many areas of research and it does not necessarily involve numbers because it may be either qualitative or quantitative. After data collection, the next logical step is to analyze it because it will help the researcher to edit the information on the questionnaires and interviews. After refining of the questions and editing the already available ones, new questions for the interviews and questionnaires will be appearing in the next interviews for response by the respondents. This means that the data analysis process is interactive and in participatory way which will continue until consistent results are gotten (Pidgeon & Henwood, 1996). The research will involve both qualitative as well as quantitative data analysis. In qualitative data analysis method, there are five main steps to be followed for its accomplishment. The first step is taking enough time to read and review the data which has been gotten from

Securing Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Systems Assignment

Securing Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Systems - Assignment Example rrespondence to securing our cyberspace will eventually affect how safe and secure we are as a country and the benefits our country will reap from this digital era. Infrastructure control systems face risks because of system vulnerabilities, cyber threats and grave probable effect of attacks as displayed by reported incidents. Cyber threats can be targeted or untargeted, intentional or not and come from numerous places. Control systems are nowadays more vulnerable to cyber-attacks because of numerous reasons, counting the increased connectivity of systems through the internet. From evidences of past control attacks, it is clear that effect on critical infrastructure is vast. In 2003 for instance, a computer virus shut down the train signaling system all through the East Coast. In 2006, a foreign hacker planted malicious software that had the ability of affecting a water treatment plant’s operations. Infrastructure owners face organizational and technical challenges to securing control systems. Technical challenges include restricted processing abilities, design constraints and real-time operations all of which deter the owner’s ability to implement information technology security processes. Organizational defies which include difficulty in coming up with convincing business case for capitalizing in security and contradictory priorities of information security personnel and engineers. Numerous private sector acts such as standard setting associations and trade associations are putting up efforts to aid in securing control systems. The efforts put forth by the private sector entities include, providing guidance to members, developing standards and hosting workshops on security of control systems. For instance, the electricity industry recently advanced standards for the cyber security of their control systems and a trade association (gas) is in the process of developing gu idance to members to use encryption as a security measure to protect control

Thursday, October 17, 2019

The Internet Decreases Socialization Research Paper

The Internet Decreases Socialization - Research Paper Example They are extremely tempted by the numerous ideas, ideologies, and options, to which they are exposed over the Internet. This pushes those young people to spend hours and hours either to navigate the Internet, searching for ideas, news, and products, or chatting with their friends as well as strangers. Therefore, young people may spend a lot of time online without they feel tired or bored. However, the long time spent on the Internet is seen by many people as a disadvantage, because this time is usually taken from the actual time spent face to face with other people. That is, the Internet leaves its negative impact on the experience of social interaction. In this context, many modern social analysts argue that "today, people spend more time using communication technology than they did twenty years ago" (Degord). Accordingly, a heated controversy has started to emerge about the probable negative impacts of the Internet over the process of socialization of young people. While some socia l analysts undermine the negative effects that may be caused by the relatively long time spent on the Internet, there are other analysts who raise serious concerns regarding the minimization of physical socialization because of the Internet. In spite of the various advantages of the Internet, yet it minimizes social interaction and promotes isolation among young people. Undoubtedly, the Internet has revolutionized the lives of people in many aspects. The Internet represents an open window on the world for young people, through which they can do a variety of activities, such as reading news, chatting with friends, and learning new ideas and opinions. Some of the significant activities that young people can do online include reading books and articles, looking for information about any topic, and being involved in discussions on newsgroups and billboards. In this regard, a professor in the School of Law, University of Glasgow, called Thomas B. Riley, claims that "the Internet is a rev olutionary medium that has afforded the opportunity for millions of people to open themselves to a rich panoply of information and services" (Riley). Consequently, the Internet has become a significant source of information for all kinds of people, especially young and educated ones. The Internet plays an important enlightenment role for navigators and researchers, especially those who work or study in the academic field. In additions, some social and political analysts believes that the Internet can also create a net of social relations among users. For instance, Jeffrey Boase, professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto, argues that â€Å"the internet and email play an important role in maintaining the dispersed social networks† (Boase). Thus, if used properly and insightfully, the Internet can be a valid important technology that may widen the scope of our knowledge and prepare young generations for their future careers in their lives. Nevertheles s, the excessive use of the Internet by young people may minimize physical social interaction, negative impact the process of socialization, and promotes isolation and loneliness among people. Those who spend hours and hours chatting with other people over the Internet are actually getting away from their social surrounding and creating a lonely world of their own (Snook). This is mainly because they do not physically and socially interact with other people and involve

Project Statistics Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Statistics Project Example The base cost is inclusive of all cost that are associated with making the machine operational and they include purchase cost, set up cost, installation cost, tax, shipping and freight among others. The residual value is the value the firm expects to sell the asset after its useful life and is also referred to as scrap value. The estimated useful life is the period the asset is expected to be used by the firm (Kimmel and Jerry, 35). a) Assets tend to loss value faster in their first year of operation hence the net book value of the asset in the initial years may not be a true reflection of its market value. If the asset is used as collateral for a loan, the bank may value it differently and hence there will be a variance in value assigned. Depreciation of the asset will be based on usage of the asset or the units being produced per period. Therefore, in the year where the asset will be used extensively, the depreciation allocation will be higher and will be low when production is low. The depreciated value is calculated based on the expected total amount of units it can produce in proportion to the cost basis less residual value. No depreciation is charged the year, which the asset is not in use. This will provide the depreciation of the asset per unit produced. The expected units multiply this for each period to find the amount of depreciation to charge that year and less from the current net book value to find the end year book value of the asset (Kimmel and Jerry, 36). It is an accelerated depreciation method where the majority of the depreciation is allocated in the first years of the asset useful life. It is most appropriate for charging depreciation to asset that loss value fast during their first years and when the company want to shift profit recognition to the future. The depreciation is calculated by multiplying the rate of straight-line depreciation by two and then this is multiplied by the net book value

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Internet Decreases Socialization Research Paper

The Internet Decreases Socialization - Research Paper Example They are extremely tempted by the numerous ideas, ideologies, and options, to which they are exposed over the Internet. This pushes those young people to spend hours and hours either to navigate the Internet, searching for ideas, news, and products, or chatting with their friends as well as strangers. Therefore, young people may spend a lot of time online without they feel tired or bored. However, the long time spent on the Internet is seen by many people as a disadvantage, because this time is usually taken from the actual time spent face to face with other people. That is, the Internet leaves its negative impact on the experience of social interaction. In this context, many modern social analysts argue that "today, people spend more time using communication technology than they did twenty years ago" (Degord). Accordingly, a heated controversy has started to emerge about the probable negative impacts of the Internet over the process of socialization of young people. While some socia l analysts undermine the negative effects that may be caused by the relatively long time spent on the Internet, there are other analysts who raise serious concerns regarding the minimization of physical socialization because of the Internet. In spite of the various advantages of the Internet, yet it minimizes social interaction and promotes isolation among young people. Undoubtedly, the Internet has revolutionized the lives of people in many aspects. The Internet represents an open window on the world for young people, through which they can do a variety of activities, such as reading news, chatting with friends, and learning new ideas and opinions. Some of the significant activities that young people can do online include reading books and articles, looking for information about any topic, and being involved in discussions on newsgroups and billboards. In this regard, a professor in the School of Law, University of Glasgow, called Thomas B. Riley, claims that "the Internet is a rev olutionary medium that has afforded the opportunity for millions of people to open themselves to a rich panoply of information and services" (Riley). Consequently, the Internet has become a significant source of information for all kinds of people, especially young and educated ones. The Internet plays an important enlightenment role for navigators and researchers, especially those who work or study in the academic field. In additions, some social and political analysts believes that the Internet can also create a net of social relations among users. For instance, Jeffrey Boase, professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto, argues that â€Å"the internet and email play an important role in maintaining the dispersed social networks† (Boase). Thus, if used properly and insightfully, the Internet can be a valid important technology that may widen the scope of our knowledge and prepare young generations for their future careers in their lives. Nevertheles s, the excessive use of the Internet by young people may minimize physical social interaction, negative impact the process of socialization, and promotes isolation and loneliness among people. Those who spend hours and hours chatting with other people over the Internet are actually getting away from their social surrounding and creating a lonely world of their own (Snook). This is mainly because they do not physically and socially interact with other people and involve

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

SLP2 599 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SLP2 599 - Coursework Example Review of Joe Schome’s Strategies Joe did not change prices and research and development allocations for the products for a period of over six years. The strategy adopted was effective in that the company did not make losses. Products X5 and X6 registered profits for all the years. Product X7 made losses for the first three years. However, it improved in performance as the years progressed. Nonetheless, the strategy could not move the company to the next level as expected by Sally Smothers. Moreover, the sales, revenues earned and profits made by the products declined after two years. On the other hand, prices and total costs were maintained for all the years. This means that from the beginning, the profits and sales increased at declining rates. The price for X5 was maintained at $285 and there existed approximately six million customers. Additionally, market saturation was only 15%. However, performance declined and as competition increased, the profitability of X5 declined. By 2015, competition was stiff and market saturation was 94% (Mahajan, Yoram and Eitan 99). The profitability of X5 was only 17%. The price of X6 was also maintained at $430 for all the years. However, X6 also faced stiff competition and by 2015, market saturation was 93%. ... Moreover, it has a lower production cost when compared to the X5 and X6. It also improved in profitability. However, its improvement in performance was at a slow rate. Joe should have encouraged vigorous product development so that the company specializes in production of X7. Generally, Joe’s strategy did not consider the value of customer retention. Hence, first time customers for all the products are high yet repeat sales are low. This also shows that the research and development strategy was not very effective. Proposed Strategies For the first year, the price for X5 should be maintained at $ 285. The research and development allocation should also be maintained at 33%. This would enable the company to make a profit of 16%. In the second year, the company can maintain the price and X5 can be 30% profitable. In 2013, the company can reduce the price as competitors enter the market. This would assist the company to increase sales. The assumption is that the competitors also c harge $285 for X5. The company can charge $280 with the hope of increasing sales from 2,145,622 to 2,500,000. In 2014 and 2015, the company can reduce the price of X5 with the hope of increasing sales. It can also reduce the research and development allocation as it seems to be ineffective. The production of X5 should be discontinued in case customers do not respond positively to the reduction in prices by the end of 2015. This is because there would be stiff competition in 2016 and the number of customers would not be adequate to ensure recovery of production costs. Furthermore, X5 has a very short life cycle. The price of X6 should also be maintained at $430 in 2011and 2012. This would ensure

Monday, October 14, 2019

Characteristics of Interviewing Essay Example for Free

Characteristics of Interviewing Essay When Susan conversed with Leslie and Scott, she was talking with an eye contact and moving her hands and other body parts. She moved her head whenever she wanted to express that she was able to understand. Susan succeeded while maintaining her eye contact and stopping at interval whenever she felt was the right time to allow the thinking procedure. She demonstrated the pair that she was paying attention to what they were saying by using small phrases like I see, and oh hmm. Her hand movements also helped. Open ended question Susan asked Leslie many open ended questions such as, Assist me, how was it helpful? How do you feel about that? She intended to know about Leslies sentiments and thoughts. She wished to view things from Leslies prospective. Susan succeeded while asking such questions. Leslie gave answers openly and gives details about her feeling under given circumstances. It helped in creating fruitful discussion. Closed ended question There are few queries which have restricted replies like Susan asking sealed ended queries to Scot, Can you show me the evidence? This resulted in a yes or no conversation with Scott. There are not proper details or sentiments required to reply such queries. It finishes that particular section of discussion. Reflection of content or paraphrase Susan applied the instance of extraction of text and interpretation in the film by stating, In my opinion, I am listening to and she moves on with  Leslies statement by briefing the details. Leslie then let Susan know if she is right. Reflection of feeling A sample of reflection of feeling is when Susan asks Scott, and thats difficult for you Scott? She also states, I couldnt hear when your wife said that, are you stressed about what she thinks of you? Susan succeeded with the consideration of Scotts sentiments and what he feels about Leslie. Reference: Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, in Couples Therapy with the Experts 7, Governors State University. Communications Services. (Psychotherapy.net, 2009), 115:26 min.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Racism, Prisons, and the Future of Black America Essay -- essays resea

Racism, Prisons, and the Future of Black America I came upon an article bearing the above title after entering the word ‘race’ into my web browser search bar. After skimming through the article, I became interested in the topic and decided it would be worthy for using in my Race in the Media Analysis. The topic mentioned is that of the staggering number of Blacks within American prisons. In the year the article was published (2000), the number of incarcerated Blacks were slightly over half of the entire American prison population of roughly 2 million. According to the author, Manning Marable (a black man), that meant that 1 out of every 35 blacks are in prison. These figures astonished me and made me curious as to the cause of such disturbing statistics. However, I had a notion of possible causes. I would expect to find that the reason for such large numbers is based upon poverty, and the amounts of Blacks that grow up in ghettos. If blacks make up the majority of inhabitants of America’s poorest neighborhoods, than that would be an obvious answer. It is my belief that people are more or less products of their environments, and if you grow up where there is poverty and crime, you are likely to remain poor and become a criminal. If a man or woman feels that there are no opportunities for them to make a decent living through an ethical job, then they will naturally look towards crime as a solution. It is simply a survival instinct. After reading the article, it became appare...

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Urging Educators to Accept the Internet as a Valuable Research Tool for Students :: Teaching Education

Urging Educators to Accept the Internet as a Valuable Research Tool for Students On the evolutionary scale of importance, minnows occupy a seemingly menial state: they are small, they are unimposing, they are relatively slow, and they are inept. In the face of danger from larger and more physically dominant fish, minnows flee. When a fisherman’s net scoops them from their environment, they are defenseless. Even as the fisherman grasps a minnow’s meek body, and plunges a hook into its back, the best a minnow can do is stare vacantly. Despite these ostensibly inauspicious characteristics, however, minnows do possess some value. If they are physically adept, and fortunate enough to not succumb to the aforementioned hazards, they develop into larger fish, which are capable of avoiding the more mundane dangers of their environment. Still, a minnow would not be the ideal choice for a fresh body if one exalted the forces of reincarnation. Plus, in our secularized state, most creatures do not admonish the minnow as a divine creature worthy of respect. Humans especially do not lavish the minnow with attention: not in art, not in literature, nor in religious lore. After all, images of Moby Minnow eluding an enraged Ahab would probably not wet the tastes of dilettantes or casual readers of literature. Yet, all kidding aside, the minnow evokes a fabulous metaphor for educators imploring their students to learn. Although teachers by no means â€Å"hook† students and use them for â€Å"bait,† they do have the ability to educate their students about the dangers of the real world. Physical dangers, albeit different from the perils faced by minnows, do pose threats to students in obtrusive and visible forms: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, peer pressure, and violence amongst other things. To exacerbate matters more, some of these dangers overlap each other, which makes the job of adult intervention even more irksome and problematic. Moreover, another danger exists for students: the Internet. Suddenly red flags and whaling klaxons emerge in the minds of some readers! This paper does not purport to advocate a fundamental rationale for adolescent Internet use; nor does this paper unleash philippics about the immoral decadence attributed to the Internet. Urging Educators to Accept the Internet as a Valuable Research Tool for Students :: Teaching Education Urging Educators to Accept the Internet as a Valuable Research Tool for Students On the evolutionary scale of importance, minnows occupy a seemingly menial state: they are small, they are unimposing, they are relatively slow, and they are inept. In the face of danger from larger and more physically dominant fish, minnows flee. When a fisherman’s net scoops them from their environment, they are defenseless. Even as the fisherman grasps a minnow’s meek body, and plunges a hook into its back, the best a minnow can do is stare vacantly. Despite these ostensibly inauspicious characteristics, however, minnows do possess some value. If they are physically adept, and fortunate enough to not succumb to the aforementioned hazards, they develop into larger fish, which are capable of avoiding the more mundane dangers of their environment. Still, a minnow would not be the ideal choice for a fresh body if one exalted the forces of reincarnation. Plus, in our secularized state, most creatures do not admonish the minnow as a divine creature worthy of respect. Humans especially do not lavish the minnow with attention: not in art, not in literature, nor in religious lore. After all, images of Moby Minnow eluding an enraged Ahab would probably not wet the tastes of dilettantes or casual readers of literature. Yet, all kidding aside, the minnow evokes a fabulous metaphor for educators imploring their students to learn. Although teachers by no means â€Å"hook† students and use them for â€Å"bait,† they do have the ability to educate their students about the dangers of the real world. Physical dangers, albeit different from the perils faced by minnows, do pose threats to students in obtrusive and visible forms: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, peer pressure, and violence amongst other things. To exacerbate matters more, some of these dangers overlap each other, which makes the job of adult intervention even more irksome and problematic. Moreover, another danger exists for students: the Internet. Suddenly red flags and whaling klaxons emerge in the minds of some readers! This paper does not purport to advocate a fundamental rationale for adolescent Internet use; nor does this paper unleash philippics about the immoral decadence attributed to the Internet.