Data warehousing and storage systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Data warehousing and storage systems - Essay Example These types of warehouses help in attaining different range and level of storage of data in a computing device. A data warehouse is useful because it can maintain replica of information from the source. This architectural convolution provides the prospect to alleviate the problem of database isolation level lock conflict in operation processing systems that is caused by long or large running attempts and queries related to analysis in the processing database of transaction (Silvers, 2008). The uses of data warehousing is not just limited to one prospect it also helps in compressing data into a single source from multiple sources so that only one query engine can be used. Data warehousing increases the efficiency of working and it improves the data quality by maintaining data history accurately even when the source transaction is unable to keep the record. It helps in keeping information secure and also updates if any alteration is done on any data. This is very important because stor age of data should always be in a secured mode in order to avoid isolation of information. The concept of data warehousing was brought forward in the later part of 1980, in order to deliver an architectural model for flow of information from operational systems to decision support systems (Becker, 2002). Data warehouses in order to obtain analytical access patterns are optimized. They involve in selecting specific fields of function unlike operational systems that use a common type of access pattern. Due to these differences analytical databases get benefited from column-oriented data base management system and operational database get benefited from row-oriented data base management system. Operational systems only maintain a picture or frame of business related information however data warehouses maintain the entire history that is implemented from ETL processes. The evolution of data warehousing in organization use is very sophisticated. There are mainly four levels of warehouses.

The Motion Picture Association of America Essay Example for Free

The Motion Picture Association of America Essay American Psycho, A Clockwork Orange, Boys Don’t Cry, and Clerks. What do all these movies have in common? They were all rated NC-17 at first viewing. The reason why they were rated as such is the real issue. They were rated NC-17 for the sexual content, either shown or talked about. The way in which it was presented in these movies made the MPAA give it an NC-17 rating. The MPAA found it offensive and inappropriate. The violence, some of it quite gruesome, was seen as less offensive and inappropriate according to the MPAA. Despite their best efforts in trying to protect children and what they’re subjected to, the MPAA is utterly useless. The internet provides easy access to pornography and other sexual content by the click of a mouse. The boundaries made by the MPAA in regards to sexual content are unclear most of the time and the rating is inconsistent and gender biased. The MPAA has worn out its usefulness and should be entirely eliminated and replaced with a more democratic, fair and open rating system. A rating system for film has been around for quite a while. Since 1926, the film industry has been rated in some manner. Back in 1926, much more was banned sexually and in terms of violence. â€Å"For almost 40 years the US film industry was governed by the Motion Picture Production Code, which banned nudity, drug use, religious ridicule, disrespect for the law and other depictions in film that would have the effect of lowering society’s moral standards† ( Feiser, np). Many movies back them were quite subtle compared to today’s day and age. Many filmmakers didn’t get adventuress and stayed well within the parameters of the rules because our society was more modest and pure. There was a much harsher strain on sexuality. Romantic scenes were heavily scrutinized to uphold ‘the sanctity of the institution of marriage’ and ‘excessive and lustful kissing, lustful embraces, suggestive postures and gestures, are not to be shown’† (Feiser, np). Filmmakers had no option, they needed to comply with the code or their film would not be released. When the times changed, the rules needed to as well. â€Å"In 1966 the standards of the production code were relaxed, and two years later it was replaced with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) film rating system, which, in modified form, we follow today† (Fesier, np). However, with this rating sysyem, filmmakers have the option to not follow the guidelines set in place. â€Å"Filmmakers can opt out by not submitting their films for rating and accept an NR (not rated) designation. But by taking NR rating, a film will have less theatrical distribution and will attract fewer viewers to movie houses. Thus, for mainstream films, participation in the rating system is a practical necessity† (Fesier, np). Many filmmakers are stuck when it comes to getting their movie rated because the MPAA is the only company out there that rates films so what they say goes. Even though filmmakers can make their films NR, the film won’t get any publicity and will most likely fail. All filmmakers can do is hope for the best when they submit their film for rating. No filmmaker wants to receive an NC-17 rating because it would require severe editing and cutting of the film. Every filmmaker knows that sex is the only thing that will drastically effect a rating but the rules and guidelines of what sexual things are and aren’t allowed have never been stated by the MPAA and often times, it is shocking what is allowed in one film and not another. Let’s first discuss the issue of masturbation in films. For example, Kevin Smith’s film Jersey Girl, released in 2004, was made by Kevin Smith for his daughter. It’s about one man’s struggle to be a single father after his wife dies in childbirth. The movie contains no nudity or sex scene. When Kevin Smith gave it to the MPAA for rating, Kevin Smith said â€Å"The MPAA gave Jersey Girl an R rating for a scene where Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck’s characters discuss masturbation in a diner† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Kevin Smith, who disagreed with the film’s rating, talked to the head of the MPAA and her response was â€Å"It’s uncomfortable to think of my 16 year old daughter listening to this† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Kevin Smith then said in response, â€Å"Do you really think your daughter hasn’t masturbated? † (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Kevin Smith’s response, although quite brave, brings up quite a valid point. Masturbation is a natural part of life but the MPAA don’t want kids knowing about it. The MPAA is incredibly gender biased when it comes to rating a film that includes physically showing masturbation. For example, in the film But I’m a Cheerleader, in its original viewing, it received an NC-17 rating. The director Jamie Babbit said that â€Å"The MPAA told me that in order to get an R rating, I would have to cut a scene where one of the girls is touching herself fully clothed† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). The director, furious, then makes a great comparison when she uses the example of American Pie. Jamie Babbit says â€Å"In American Pie, Jason Bigg’s character masturbates in an apple pie not fully clothed and yet that only received an R rating† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). A scene much more vulgar and inappropriate receives an R rating because it’s a male and not a female that does the masturbating. A girl fully clothed rubbing herself or a male, with his pants down, masturbating in an apple pie. It’s almost as if the MPAA views guys masturbating as inappropriate but natural but a female masturbating is unnatural and worse. That is insulting to women and angering as a film watcher. The MPAA is also quite harsh in their issue of physical sex between two people and sex scenes in movies. There are many perfect examples of movies being rated harshly, including NC-17 simply for sexual content over extreme violence like blood and gore, and mutilation. One example is when Marry Harron, the director of American Psycho, sent her movie to the MPAA for a rating. She asked the MPAA why it was rated as such and she paraphrases, saying â€Å"It was rated NC-17 but not for a scene of brutal mass murder with a chainsaw. No brutal murder scene was the issue; the issue was a rear entry three way sex scene† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). One scene determined this movie’s harsh rating. One sex scene was enough to overlook several scenes of brutal mass murder. This is just one of many movies that have gotten an NC-17 for one sex scene and not for anything else. For example, Blue Valentine was rated â€Å"NC-17 for a scene of explicit sexual content† (Berkeley Library, np). Crash, as well, was given an NC-17 rating for â€Å"numerous explicit sex scenes (Berkeley Library, np). Even This Film Is Not Yet Rated was given an NC-17 rating due to â€Å"some graphic sexual content† (Berkeley Library, np). Maria Bello is an actress that was in The Cooler, which is another movie rated NC-17, this time because of Maria Bello’s pubic hair being shown in the sex scene. She gives her opinion in This Film Is Not Yet Rated when she says â€Å"I’ve always been such a fan of the way European filmmakers in the way they view sexuality which is real people and real bodies and it’s a way of life and human nature† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). She goes on to say that â€Å"We’ve desexualized sex because we’ve taken it out of being a day to day function. We’ve desexualized because we’re afraid of it† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). David Anser, a film critic for Newsweek says that â€Å"Europe has always found America odd in sexual matters† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Finally, Allison Anders, a director, says that the US has become so strict in their policies of sex that it’s become a â€Å"denial of women pleasure, but of pleasure in general† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Despite all of what is said, there are people who believe that movie censorship is a good thing. Jack Valenti, founder of the MPAA, has had to defend the MPAA and his opinion on censorship for years. He sent an article to the LA Times where he discusses why things are the way they are and why the MPAA is in fact successful. In the article, he states that â€Å"For the last 15 years, more than 70% of parents with children under 13 find the system to be Very Useful to Fairly Useful in helping them guide their childrens movie going† ( Valenti, np). He then mentions that the 2006 poll showed that â€Å"an increase in approval by parents with children under 13 to 80%. Those who said the rating system was Very Useful rose 10% higher than last year. This latest poll underscores my central theme that parents, for whom the system was designed, are highly approving of what it does they trust it† (Valenti, np). First of all, parents with children under 13 years of age are infected by the higher ratings because they can’t even be allowed into a PG-13 movie without a parent. The high ratings are the ones that affect ages 15-18. He should poll those parents and see how many parents agree with the R to NC-17 rating, or even the PG-13 to R rating. Secondly, Matt Stone, co creator of South Park states that â€Å"Valenti brings up these statistics that say that 70% of parents find the ratings useful. I always felt like that was because they’re the only game in town. As compared to nothing at all, they probably are useful† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Having no ratings board at all would be chaos. There needs to be a ratings board, there is no doubt about that. Having nothing at all would is not acceptable but since the MPAA is the only rating board that rates movies, they should be fair in their ratings as well as listen to directors arguments and try their best to accommodate. The MPAA refuses to ever change their minds or hear what anyone has to say. It’s their way or the highway. Unfortunately, the MPAA is not the end all be all in censorship. The internet, although a great tool, has little to no censorship and someone can find just about anything on the internet. As John Waters put it â€Å"All teenagers, because of the internet, have seen more hard core pornography then their parents have seen. They’ve seen the most hideous things you can find on the internet and they’ve all seen it. All kids have searched and gone deep into web porn sites† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Although film is a huge media outlet, kids aren’t seeing any less hideous things just because they’re not allowed to see this movie or an inappropriate sex scene was cut out of a movie. According to Internet Pornography Statistics, â€Å"The average age of a child’s first exposure to pornography is 11. A total of 90 percent of children ages 8-16 have viewed pornography online† (Ropelato, np). Another striking statistic is â€Å"15-17 year olds having multiple hard-core exposures is 80% and 8-16 year olds having viewed porn online is 90% (most while doing homework)† (Ropelato, np). Unfortunately, kids have so many options when it comes to pornographic sites. â€Å"There are 4. 2 million (12% of total websites) pornographic websites and 420 million pornographic pages† (Ropelato, np). By censoring or harshly rating films based on sexual content, all the MPAA is doing is forcing kids to go online to find pornographic material and as proven, it is as easy as the click of the mouse. â€Å"Encino, California inside the headquarters of the Motion Pictures Association of America, an anonymous group of parents gather to rate film G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17. But the MPAA won’t let anyone inside to see who these people are or how they make their decisions and among their most controversial decisions are the movies they rate NC-17† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). The MPAA has been anonymous and their members have been unknown since the MPAA’s inception. This has come under much scrutiny with filmmakers and film producers because they believe they have a right to know who these people are that rate their films. There are many opinions as to why the MPAA members are unknown and one opinion is by Kimberly Pierce, director of Boys Don’t Cry. She says â€Å"You’re dealing with a very powerful, cultural censorship group that doesn’t want to be disempowered. If you made those names public, you might disempower them† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Kirby Dick, the director of This Film Is Not Yet Rated asks John Lewis, author of Hollywood v. Hardcore â€Å"Is there any other review board in this country that you can think of in any industry besides the C. I. A. that is secret that operates in secrecy. † John Lewis’s simple is a simple but powerful â€Å"No. † The MPAA is the only other association besides the C. I. A. hat operates in secrecy. There is something seriously wrong with that picture. All the MPAA does is rate movies, the C. I. A. helps keep our country from being destroyed. The C. I. A. risks their lives every day to protect us and MPAA members sit in a dark room and rate movies. There is no good reason why the MPAA should be secretive. Naturally, Jack Valenti had something to say as to the reason why board members names are unknown. He told the L. A. Times â€Å"First, the Motion Picture Assn. f America withholds the names of the rating board members so they wont be harassed by disgruntled producers. Grand jury members names are withheld; so are criminal jury members, all for the same reasons. Theres nothing sinister about this. We convey to the press, upon request, a brief biography of each rater. We could make public their names, but if we did, how would that advance the quality of the ratings? † (Valenti, np). What Valenti doesn’t realize is that he has more disgruntled producers because the member’s names are unknown. Producers have the right to know who rated their movie. Kirby Dick said it best when he told Joan Graves â€Å"It seems like the raters who you are trying to protect from influence actually are in direct contact with the people who can influence them, the senior rater’s especially† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). The senior raters would, in all likelihood, have a huge impact in what rating a movie gets and the other raters would be more inclined to agree and give it the same rating as the senior rater did. This is probably due to the fact that the raters have the opinion that the senior raters would know more knowledge of ratings and have more experience so therefore their rating must be the best rating for the film. Senior raters wouldn’t be the only ones that would influence raters, other raters as well would be able to convince another rater to give a rating. Even though Valenti tried to avoid influence, influence is still a big factor in the MPAA. Valenti also told the L. A. Times about the guidelines required to be an MPAA rater. He told the L. A.  Times that â€Å"They are parents, who see a film through the eyes of a parent. We have three senior raters who give historical knowledge to the system, have administrative duties and whose children, young when they started, are now over 17. The rest have younger children† (Valenti, np). Kirby Dick, director of This Film Is Not Yet Rated, hired a private investigator to discover the identities of the MPAA raters and find out if what Valenti said about them is in fact true. The investigator figured out the names of the raters on the 2005 board and discovered that what Valenti said wasn’t 100 percent accurate. One rater was â€Å"Joan Worden, Age 56, Children: 18 year old twins† and â€Å"Howard Fridkin, Age 47, Children: none† (This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Dir. Kirby Dick, IFC Films, 2006, Film). Joan Worden has two twins who are old enough to see an NC-17 movie so how does she know what’s best for children to see? How is someone with no kids like Howard supposed to know what children should and should not see? Ultimately, it’s these factors that make the MPAA utterly useless and really more harm than good. The MPAA and the process of getting a game rated leaves many directors and producers frustrated. The MPAA should be replaced by a rating system which has clear rules and regulations when it comes to how movies are rated. It should also consist of members names that are known so as to give the producers and directors some idea who rated their movie and therefore can discuss easily what needs to be done to get a different rating. This system should also treat violence as being a serious factor, like sex, that determines a movie’s rating. These factors are essential for a successful movie rating system that will benefit not only the movie makers but the audience as well.

Essay --

INTRODUCTION The ocean contains 97 percent of the earths water, the residual 3 percent is fresh water that is relatively hard to access (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2013). There is a limited amount of this precious liquid that is essential to human life, and currently California is running out of it. California is the nation's most populous state, and debatably the world's eighth largest economy (Ball 2014). California's optimal geography and Mediterranean climate have helped the state become one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world (Department of Water Resource 2014). However, across the state farmers are ripping up the crops that have allowed for the states prosperous growth (Ball 2014). This is due to the fact that California is currently in a severe drought. Last year was the driest year on record, and this year is expected to be even worse (Ball 2014). Without conservation requirements Californias may continue to take this precious resource for granted. Voluntary conservation is not going to work, policy changes are required to solve this issue and end this crisis. Urban conservation practices are necessary. Although the majority of water useage is not in urban areas there is still drastic room for improvement. Too much of urban water use is unessential and unnecessary(Naughton 2014). Agricultural conservation is much more difficult. This is due to the direct correlation between water usage and yield (Department of Water Resources 2014). A decrease in water will typically decrease yield (Department of Water Resources 2014). Urban water use only accounts for about 12 percent of total freshwater withdrawals, whereas agriculture takes up about one third of consumption (Olmstead & Stavi... ...nia’s Water Future My recomended will have a positive impact on California's future. This policy will save California water, and therefore money. The implementation of this policy should be paid for by the money generated from the rate increases. This can be put to pay for the council, set up education programs, and even retrofit homes with low-flow appliances. Conclusions In the words of Olmstead & Stavins (2009) â€Å"using prices to manage water demand is more cost effective than implementing nonprice conservation programs.† Involuntary policy changes must be enacted if Governor Brown wants to see an increase in conservation. Excessive urban water use must be curbed, and through rate changes this can happen. By implementing my proposed policy, California will experience effective conservation while making a revenue to pay for education and the retrofitting of homes.

Agamemnon Essay -- essays research papers

In Aeschylus’ Agamemnon there are many different opinions about what kind of king and commander Agamemnon was. Some argued that he was good, while others dispute that his motives were wrong. Clytemnestra, Agamemnon’s wife, gained a strong hatred for him, after he sacrificed his own daughter so he could go to war. Many believe that this was not necessary and could have been overcome. The chorus seems to agree with this to an extent, and feels that Agamemnon could have prayed and requested that he not sacrifice his daughter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clytemnestra, after Agamemnon was at war for a few years, began to cheat on Agamemnon with his cousin, Aegisthus. When the two got word of Agamemnon’s return from Troy they began to plot against Agamemnon. Clytemnestra prayed to the Gods to let Agamemnon make it home because she wanted to punish him herself. Even though most of the other ships did not make it home after the storms, Agamemnon’s did. Many believe this is because of the prayer that was prayed by Clytemnestra.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Clytemnestra first set Agamemnon up by placing a purple carpet on the ground for him to walk on. By doing this Clytemnestra was hoping to get Agamemnon to upset the gods so it wouldn’t be a sin for her to carry out her plan. Agamemnon even acknowledges that he shouldn’t walk on the carpet saying that, were he to walk on it, he would display unseemly pride and incur the wrath of the gods: â€Å"Such state becomes the gods and none be...

Fine Sediment Analysis and the Impacts of Fine Sediment Pollution in Brampton Arm of River Nene

All right Sediment Analysis and the Impacts of Fine Sediment Pollution in Brampton Arm of River Nene Introduction:All right deposits are recognized as the most common and important beginning of pollution in the riverine system ( Robinson, 1973 ) . The sediment burdens delivered to watercourses starts from a figure of upstream primary and secondary deposit beginnings, including cultivated Fieldss and bank eroding ( Collinset Al.1997 ) . Erosion procedures and sediment bringing are the built-in portion of aquatic systems that influence the geomorphology, habitat distribution and H2O quality. The aquatic communities are besides extremely adapted and they are able to get by with the natural baseline deposit inputs. Whereas, the healthy fresh water ecosystems besides require the proper inputs of deposits into the system to keep the home ground and alimentary fluxes ( Collinset Al.1997 ) . At the planetary graduated table suspended solids concentrations in many rivers has increase dramatically in the recent old ages ( Walling, 2006 ) . Existing grounds suggests that natural deposit burdens have been well exceeded in many catchment countries in the UK, peculiarly since World War II ( Evans, 2006 ) . The deposit lading into the rivers and channels may be due to some natural procedure and some are due to anthropogenetic activities. The anthropogenetic activities which are majorly involved in the sediment pollution of the rivers are: addition in the countries of cultivable cultivation, taking to the greater countries of bare and exposed dirts susceptible to erodings by winter rainfall ( Greig,et Al.2005 ) ; mechanized farm patterns which compact the dirt increases overflow and dirt eroding ( McMellinet Al.2002 ; Bilotta,et Al.2007 ) ; Intensification of agribusiness patterns by the usage of multiple cropping on cultivable land technique ( Heanetet al. ,2001 ) and increased bank eroding due to the loss of natural hydrology. Excessive all right deposits in suspension or deposited can hold negative impacts upon all the life phases of fish, peculiarly salmanid in many parts of United Kingdom ( Collins and Walling, 2007 ; Collinset al. ,2008 ) . The impacts upon the ecosystems will depend on several cardinal factors like: the concentration of all right deposits in the suspension ; the continuance of exposure to the deposits ; and the chemical composing of the sediment atom size ( Bilotta and Brazier, 2008 ) . These all factors can do the finding of the impacts of mulct suspended atoms on the vegetations and zoologies of the river and watercourse. Effectss of Higher Fine Sediment contents:the relationship between the higher mulct suspended deposits on fish varies mostly, as it depends upon the life phase, clip of twelvemonth, size of the fish, and the composing of the all right deposits and handiness of off-channel home ground ( Bashet al. ,2001 ) . The exposure magnitude and the continuance and the frequence of exposures ( Servizi and Martens, 1992 ) are other countries of concern. For illustration, in reappraisal of the published literature the threshold degrees of the mulct suspended deposits are based on the dose-response experiments which examines the impaired growing, reduced eating and mortality, i.e. 27-80,000 mh/l for Mollusca and 4-330,000mg/l for assorted fish species ( Berryet Al.2003 ) . These scopes of the badness of consequence of SS concentration are map of associated stressors which includes atom size, species life, phase of life, temperature, the presence of certain deposit associated contaminations and the s ediment burden continuance ( Swietliket al. ,2003 ) . Due to the complex nature of the interaction of such stressors, it is improbable that a comprehensive list of genus-based critical suspended deposit concentration marks can be developed in the short term ( USEPA, 2003 ) . The higher content of the finer suspended can besides ensue in the decreased reproduction and the growing of the fish through the debasement of engendering home grounds and surrounding eggs and yolk-sac Fry. For illustration Salmonid eggs requires clean and good oxygenated environment during the embryologic development phase, so eggs are laid in permeable crushed rock beds with interstitial pore infinites which allow the transition of oxygenated H2O, inordinate all right deposits in the H2O can choke off these interstitial pores, blockading the circulation of the fresh oxygenated H2O, which may cut down the egg endurance ( Carling, 1984 ; Mageeet al. ,1996 ) . Furthermore, other effects of the higher all right deposit contents in the river watercourse on the fish biology includes: gill irritation/traumas, tumours and gill flaring ( Berg, 1982 ; Schleiger, 2000 ) ; addition in the plasma glucose in their blood systems ( Servizi and Martens, 1987 ) ; cut downing the migrating population of fish ( Newcombe and Macdonald, 1991 ) , the turning away reaction of the fish compels them to travel off from the country of higher pollution ( Sigleret al. ,1984 ; Bashet al. ,2001 ) ; all right deposits exerts an of import control on the transportation and destiny of a broad scope of agricultural and industrial contamination ( Warrenet al. ,2003 ) , so the deposits can act as vectors for the transportation of the pollutants in the H2O organic structures, many of the pollutants which are transferred by the all right deposits have abilities to poison the H2O system, and do it unsuitable for the aquatic life to last ( Nealet al. ,1999 ) The above treatment can be summarized by stating that the high concentration of the mulct suspended deposits can negatively impact the fish population by cut downing ; 1 ) the diverseness of sensitive species, 2 ) overall population copiousness, 3 ) the proportion of the omnivores within the overall population. All these factors can hold impacts even at sub deadly concentrations of the mulct suspended solids, cumulatively cut downing the resiliency of fish species and hence their opposition to environmental emphasiss including other signifiers of the H2O pollution, marauders, disease and over development. The cause and effects of biological and chemical debasement are good documented ( Fozzard, 1994 ) . Soulsby et Al. ( 2001 ) carried a prelimary survey on the engendering home ground utilized by Atlantic Salmon ( Salmon Alar ) and Sea Trout ( Salmo trutta ) . The high contents of the suspended mulct deposits in the crushed rocks provide cheques on the pink-orange productions in the low-land watercourse ( Sear, 1993 ; Brogan and Soulsby, 1996 ; Acornely and Sear, 1998 ) . The addition in the all right deposits in fresh water ensuing from the anthropogenetic activities and inordinate urban development is the possible stressor for fish and therefore may do population diminution. Additionally it can be said that the turbid H2O and to a great extent silted bed deposits can degrade the watercourse home ground for unattached immature salmonids in affected watercourses ( Lisle and Lewis, 1992 ) . The UK criterions for the mulct suspended deposits were set up by the EU Freshwater Fish Directive ( FFD ) . The FFD defined some bounds for the all right deposits in the fresh water i.e. the suspended deposits should non transcend the average one-year value of 25 mg/l ( EU, FFD ) . This was the lone criterion guideline which should be achieved where possible. No imperative criterions ( the criterions which must be met ) were in being for the all right deposits in the UK ( S & A ; T Briefing Paper ) . A assortment of sediment grain size fractions have been considered by the environmental directors and research workers in their attempts to place aquatic impacts in past. There is immense figure of documents published in past that gave different criterions of the all right deposit content in the aquatic systems, some of them are mentioned below: After the amendment of the British Columbia Water Quality Guidelines for turbidness, suspended and benthal deposits, the new guidelines recommended that streambed composing at Salmonid engendering sites should non transcend 10 % of & lt ; 2mm, 19 % of & lt ; 3mm, and 25 % of & lt ; 6.35mm ( Caux et al. , 1997 ) ; McNeil and Ahnell ( 1964 ) , they suggested that an addition in sediment volume of atoms less than 0.833 millimeter would ensue in both reduced permeableness and generative success ; Whereas, harmonizing to Chapman ( 1988 ) silver salmon and buddy salmon endurance was reciprocally relative to increase in particle size less than 3.3 m illimeter. Furthermore, he besides reported that any per centum of 6-12 millimeter atoms above 15 % or of atoms less than 6mm above 25 % reduces the opportunities of endurance of salmon eggs. Reasoning the above treatment, irrespective of the specific grain size of the deposits, it is readily evident that an surplus of all right grain deposit has possible to negative impacts on the biodiversity of the aquatic ecosystems. It has already been discussed that big figure or surplus of all right deposits would impair the reproduction behaviour of the fish and other life signifiers in aquatic ecosystems. Purposes of present survey:the chief purpose of the present survey is to happen out the all right deposit content of the Brampton Arm of the River Nene, and to compare the all right deposits in the watercourse with the above literature. The criterions proposed by Caux et Al. ( 1997 ) , would be used as mention for this survey. Furthermore, on the footing of the consequences of the experiment, we would hold a clear image of the all right deposit contents of the river watercourse under survey, to pull a decision whether the all right deposits would impact the fish biodiversity in the river watercourse or non. Methods:The method employed for the aggregation of the all right river bed deposits was simple Mac Neil Sampling technique. Three pails of the Mac Neil samples were collected at the site. The samples were dried and so sieved through the BS criterion screens in research lab to hold the clear image of the sediment contents of the subsurface river bed. For the surface grain size appraisal, Wolman technique was used to acquire an estimation for the surface grain size proportions. Consequences:the consequences are attached as graphs in annexures of this study. The analysis of the consequences which are attached asGraph 1shows that the riffle sample of the Bramptom arm of the river Nene was ill sorted ; the deposits were flaxen class crushed rock. It had big sum of class crushed rock and low measure of the really all right sand. The statistics of the sample are attached asTable 1in the annexures of this study. The measure of the really all right sand is below 2 % , whereas, it had big proportion of the medium crushed rock nowadays in it. The analysis of the ripple sample shows that the part of the river watercourse had really low all right deposits in it, which would impact the biodiversity and the fishing home grounds and angling community in the river. TheGraph 2,attached as an annexure, shows the consequences of the analysis of the 2nd sample which was attained at the Pool/Riffle Glide subdivision of the river watercourse. Again the sample was ill sorted and there was a loss of 1.2 % of the sample during the sieving operation. The sample showed the belongingss of sand crushed rock. There was a big proportion of the crushed rock nowadays in the sample, whereas, the sand is merely approximately 25 % . Further grain size distribution shows that the sample contained all right sand of approximately 2.9 % , and the really all right sand is below 1 % . As the sample can be classified as flaxen Gravel, it had major proportion of class crushed rock atoms, whereas, the all right crushed rock is non in important per centums. TheTable 2attached as the annexure shows the sum-up of the sample which was analyzed. Uniting both the samples, the loss of weight on sieving is 3.3 % . The comparative hapless sorting and the loss of weight of sample, h as decidedly impacted the consequences of the analysis. The loss may be termed as general sieving mistakes and mistakes related to the human carelessness. Discussions:on the footing of the consequences, certain decisions are drawn to acquire clearer image of the type of the river deposits present in the Brampton Arm of the river Nene. There was an overall loss of 3.3 % of the sample during the sieving operations. The mistake impacted the consequences of the analysis. Furthermore, the samples were ill sorted, which may be as a consequence of general human mistakes or deficient clip for screening operations. The tabular arraies and Graphs have been attached with this study to back up the treatment which was carried out in the literature above. As there are no perfect empirical criterions available by which we can compare the consequences of the experiment to happen out the measure of the all right deposits present in the river watercourse. For the interest of convenience, the criterions put frontward by British Columbia Water Quality Guidelines for turbidness, suspended and benthal deposits were used to compare the sum of all right deposits in the river watercourse. As mentioned above in literature part of the study, the all right deposits & lt ; 2mm should non transcend 10 % by proportion in the river watercourse. Sediments mensurating & lt ; 2mm if exceeds in the per centum proportion would hold hurtful impacts upon the fish home grounds and the other biodiversity nowadays in the river H2O. The overall consequences drawn from the experiments, and by graphs and tabular arraies, we came to a decision that the entire per centum of the atoms and the deposits less than 2mm were 12.2 % . The per centum is rather higher than the criterions proposed by the British Columbia Water Quality Guidelines. The dirt fish life in the country under survey may be held responsible for the addition in the all right deposits in the river system. Another ground behind this scenario may be that the country from where the Brampton arm of river Nene base on ballss had a big arable land around it, so any agricultural activity transporting out may be able contributes the all right deposit pollution in the river watercourse.

Free Essays on Sonnet 10, Adams Song, Jumper

Punk music, adult contemporary, and metaphysical poetry; it looks like these are all from different corners of the universe. Yet, â€Å"Sonnet 10† by John Donne, â€Å"Adam’s Song† by Blink 182, and â€Å"Jumper† by Third Eye Blind has a much closer relationship. These poems all agree that death can be an opportunity to a better life. John Donne (1573-1631) was one of the most renown, English poets of the Metaphysical period. An extremely religious man, Donne’s poems express his yearning for God and his obsession with salvation and death. These poems became known as the â€Å"Holy Sonnets.† For instance, Sonnet 10 emphasizes Donne’s belief in the immorality of the soul. Throughout the entire Sonnet, Donne speaks directly to death. Donne’s personification of death brings the ever so powerful and fearful being to a level equal of the common man. In the opening lines, Donne says â€Å"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee/Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;† Moreover, Donne believes that he cannot be killed; his body may be taken away but his soul will live on. â€Å"[P]oor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.† In the recent past, Blink-182 won a Teen Choice Award, a Blockbuster Music Award, and a MTV Award. In Europe they received an MTV Europe Award for Best New Act. They performed on Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show (twice), appeared in American Pie and opened the Billboard Music Awards. The band also graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Alternative Press (twice), Teen People, Teen and CosmoGirl, just to name a few. With a forum of the magnitude, it is quite easy for Blink 182 to express their ideas and opinions. â€Å"Adam’s Song†, in particular is considered the most provocative and serious song they had ever written. Known for their immature behaviour and amusing lyrics, â€Å"Adam’s Song† deals with the touchy issue of teen suicide. The song opens with the striking line â€Å"I never thought I’d d... Free Essays on Sonnet 10, Adam's Song, Jumper Free Essays on Sonnet 10, Adam's Song, Jumper Punk music, adult contemporary, and metaphysical poetry; it looks like these are all from different corners of the universe. Yet, â€Å"Sonnet 10† by John Donne, â€Å"Adam’s Song† by Blink 182, and â€Å"Jumper† by Third Eye Blind has a much closer relationship. These poems all agree that death can be an opportunity to a better life. John Donne (1573-1631) was one of the most renown, English poets of the Metaphysical period. An extremely religious man, Donne’s poems express his yearning for God and his obsession with salvation and death. These poems became known as the â€Å"Holy Sonnets.† For instance, Sonnet 10 emphasizes Donne’s belief in the immorality of the soul. Throughout the entire Sonnet, Donne speaks directly to death. Donne’s personification of death brings the ever so powerful and fearful being to a level equal of the common man. In the opening lines, Donne says â€Å"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee/Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;† Moreover, Donne believes that he cannot be killed; his body may be taken away but his soul will live on. â€Å"[P]oor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.† In the recent past, Blink-182 won a Teen Choice Award, a Blockbuster Music Award, and a MTV Award. In Europe they received an MTV Europe Award for Best New Act. They performed on Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show (twice), appeared in American Pie and opened the Billboard Music Awards. The band also graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Alternative Press (twice), Teen People, Teen and CosmoGirl, just to name a few. With a forum of the magnitude, it is quite easy for Blink 182 to express their ideas and opinions. â€Å"Adam’s Song†, in particular is considered the most provocative and serious song they had ever written. Known for their immature behaviour and amusing lyrics, â€Å"Adam’s Song† deals with the touchy issue of teen suicide. The song opens with the striking line â€Å"I never thought I’d d...

The Basics of Adult Learning

The Basics of Adult Learning Do you remember what it was like to sit in a classroom? Rows of desks and chairs faced the teacher at the front of the room. Your job as a student was to be quiet, listen to the teacher, and do what you were told. This is an example of teacher-centered learning, usually involving children, called pedagogy. Adult Learning Adult learners have a different approach to learning. By the time you reach adulthood, you’re most likely responsible for your own success and you’re perfectly capable of making your own decisions once you have the information you need. Adults learn best when learning is focused on adult students, not on the teacher. This is called andragogy, the process of helping adults learn. The Differences Malcolm Knowles, a pioneer in the study of adult learning, observed that adults learn best when: They understand why something is important to know or do.They have the freedom to learn in their own way.Learning is experiential.​The time is right for them to learn.The process is positive and encouraging. Continuing Education Continuing education is a broad term. In the most general sense, any time you return to a classroom of any kind to learn something new, you are continuing your education. As you can imagine, this encompasses everything from graduate degrees to listening to personal development CDs in your car. Common types of continuing education: Earning a GED, the equivalent of a high school diplomaPost-secondary degrees such as a bachelor’s, or graduate degrees such as a master’s or doctorateProfessional certificationOn-the-job trainingEnglish as a second languagePersonal development Where It All Happens The methods involved in achieving continuing education are just as diverse. Your school can be a traditional classroom or a conference center near a beach. You might start before dawn or study after a day of work. Programs can take months, even years, to complete, or last just a few hours. Your job can depend on completion, and sometimes, your happiness. Continuous learning, no matter how old you are, has clear benefits, from finding and keeping the job of your dreams to remaining fully engaged in life in your later years. It’s never too late. Should You Go Back to School? So what is it you want to learn or achieve? Have you been meaning to go back to school to earn your GED? Your bachelor’s degree? Is your professional certificate in danger of expiring? Do you feel the urge to grow personally, learn a new hobby, or advance in your company? Keeping in mind how adult learning differs from your childhood schooling, ask yourself some questions: Why am I thinking about school lately?What exactly do I want to achieve?Can I afford it?Can I afford not to?Is this the right time in my life?Do I have the discipline and the freedom right now to study?Can I find the right school, the one that will help me learn the way I learn best?How much encouragement will I need and can I get it? It’s a lot to think about, but remember, if you really want something, you’re likely capable of making it happen. And there are a lot of people available to help you.

Virtual Environments at a Geographical Scale, in either a Rural or an Urban The WritePass Journal

Virtual Environments at a Geographical Scale, in either a Rural or an Urban Introduction Virtual Environments at a Geographical Scale, in either a Rural or an Urban IntroductionReferences:Related Introduction To understand the word Virtual Environments, we have to go through the term Virtual Reality (VR). The term ‘VR’ means a computer simulated environments which can simulate the physical presence in places in the real world and also in the imaginary world. Most of the current virtual reality environments are firstly the visual experiences which are either displayed on the screen or through special additional sound effects. Now-a-days, these virtual environments are being employed in many areas such as gaming, computer science, geography etc. A good example in the context of geography is Virtual Globe. This is a 3D software model or just to say a representation of the Earth or another world. It provides the user, an ability to freely move around in the virtual environment. The viewing angle and position can be changed and provides a real virtual world. Different geographical features such as roads, buildings, and also demographic quantities such as population can also be vie wed in a very real virtual environment. On 20th of November, 1997, Microsoft released a very popular virtual globe in name of Encarta virtual Globe 98, which was followed by Cosmi’s 3D World Atlas in the year 1999. But the first publicized online virtual globes were NASA World Wind (mid-2004) and Google Earth (mid-2005). The application of the virtual environments, in the context of the geographical visualisation which is likely geovisualisation had many challenges that are involves in that. Working on this aspect, over the past decade had many successful results. Visualisation in scientific computing (ViSC) is one of the successful implementations in this area particularly. To be more successful in the visual presentation, one should take the fullest advantage regarding the cognitive systems developed for interacting with the real world. However the use of the virtual environments in the visualisation includes many challenges and poses many questions regarding these either i n a rural or an urban landscape. The special challenges in this are mainly with the kinds of information depicted, methods which are developed on this information over decades on depicting that particular information and then for what that information is applied was the problem. The virtual environments can be analysed by considering many aspects into consideration. The main thing is that â€Å"what may be meant by an environment†. Then comes â€Å"What is meant by the process of virtualization† and next is that â€Å"Some aspects of the human performances that constrain the environmental design†. These are aspects involved in analysing the VE’s. Any experiment that is likely to be conducted in the virtual environment comes very closer to the issue in the real environment. In Conroy, 2001 it was stated that the previous research investigating topological perception and the way finding in the virtual and real patterns has shown the movement patterns in rea l and virtual environments are very much alike. In the experiment conducted regarding the distance calculation through a virtual environment, by taking six urban areas in to consideration, there are many key points that were observed at the end of the experiment analysis. The one with more heights are more confusing, windows and doors doesn’t make any big difference, too much detail etc were the comments received after the experiment. In this experiment, in order to investigate the perceptive of the scale, the virtual urban environment’s were explored and navigated to observe this particular issue. Now, we will consider steamboat Chronicles, which is a game that represents a virtual environment. This is being discussed here because this also interestingly displays some similar characteristics to the urban landscapes. In this game, the player is likely to identify and discover the place by crossing the obstacles and boundaries same as in real life. It is necessary in th is game to stop at stop-signs, respecting the speed limits etc and which is similar to the facets of the urban structures that we generally experience in our own real urban landscapes. And now this leads a viewer to consider this system in our own real urban landscapes, which helps in improving the transportation facilities, helping the law enforcement agencies etc. The innovation in the transportation technology can be observed in this particular game. This is how, the virtual environments brings up the issues and will become as grounds for some new technological innovations. A great change in one system can reflect a change that is made in another system and finally that would reflect on the total system. This is a rapidly changing world with a rapidly increasing technology. Now-a-days, the computer power and graphical display capabilities are tremendously increased. This is why the virtual environments have now proven to be more and more powerful medium for visualising. The visua lisation of the spatial information and sharing these experiences regarding a common virtual study with other people is done through this medium. The combination of the virtual environments and the decision making practices for a good understanding of the real environments and its related dynamic natural processes. By this, these provide us a good opportunity for a greater involvement in the community decision making. When we consider a particular case study area â€Å"Tool bin catchment in Western Australia†, a Live Link provides a network link between some game engine and a GIS. By this action, it helps communities envision landscape changes and in evaluating the decisions made in association with the selected scenarios. Augmented reality usually refers to the technology that is being integrated with the human sensory input or output. There are many good examples for the virtual environments and their capability in the context of rural or urban landscapes. Mostly, when we c onsider some popular games such as final fantasy VII, Farmville etc they present themselves as best examples for the virtual environments and we all know how addicting those games are. We will be in a different environment which provides reality with non-reality. To conclude, the virtual environments provides best ways in visualisation as a good medium for communicating as well as several other purposes in the context of geography. References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_globe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_environment#VR_reconstruction geovista.psu.edu/publications/NPIVM99/ammNPIVM.pdf sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL_udi=B75C5-48TN3T9-1_user=10_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1991_rdoc=1_fmt=high_orig=gateway_origin=gateway_sort=d_docanchor=view=c_acct=C000050221_version=1_urlVersion=0_userid=10md5=1bdd9ec15514f2be59913321de9ed895searchtype=a spacesyntaxistanbul.itu.edu.tr/papers%5Clongpapers%5C105%20-%20Mavridou.pdf http://blogs.utexas.edu/gamegeog/springerlink.com/content/m6542k3nnrm44kgr/ sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL_udi=B6V9K-4DDXMB2-2_user=10_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2005_rdoc=1_fmt=high_orig=gateway_origin=gateway_sort=d_docanchor=view=c_acct=C000050221_version=1_urlVersion=0_userid=10md5=18c35dfff1c4c7c51ec78f0190bac901searchtype=a   http://books.google.com/books?hl=enlr=id=M3rAuvR-o-gCoi=fndpg=PA26dq=Virtual+Environments+at+a+Geographical+Scale,+in+either+a+Rural+or+an+Urban+Landscapeots=T-Wfg3hln8sig=vZwcvZYMj3t_twfxRaxG9PZc-34#v=onepageqf=false mrl.nottingham.ac.uk/~cmg/cgreenhalgh-thesis-singlespaced.pdfhttp://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=331781 mightystudents.com/essay/Navigation.Virtual.Environment.160463 geovista.psu.edu/publications/ica/ica99/ http://people.plan.aau.dk/~lbo/SIM/Geoviz_06/19-bodum.pdf

Cardboard Sculpture Diary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cardboard Sculpture Diary - Essay Example Additionally, after initial discussions with my partner, cutting away the crust of the thick sheets of cardboard to make it paper thin was considered which would allow for more flexibility of design; perhaps abstract in nature. We further proposed using shredded pieces of cardboard, either by use of scissors or a shredding device, to create human hair as an organic component. Finally deciding on the use of the human hand, it was determined that the best course of action would be to use adhesives and cutting tools to make deliberate right angles needed for the inorganic device: The chosen television. The hand required glue and adhesive to shape paper-thin fingers with less-obvious angles. Organic, in artistry, represents a natural context, such as what exists in the biological environment such as animals, plants, or even the use of rocks and soil as a complement to sculpture. More abstractly, organic artistry can entail mimicking natural phenomenon, such as using pleasing lines and shapes that might represent a river’s flow or cosmological elements like the orbit of planetary bodies. Organic shapes and designs are often characterized by being more feminine or nurturing in design. Inorganic is characterized by more sharp angles in sculpture and artistry, using sharper lines and exact geometric patterns, reminiscent of Picasso’s abstract paintings. In relation to objects, inorganic might represent the representation of a building or other man-made structure which is illustrated by definite angles. The television shape chosen for this project is inorganic in design. At the same time, the hand which will burst through the television could also be categorized as inorganic as it suggests a powerful, masculine activity: Rebellion and strength. Synthesis appears to have many different meanings, however it appears to be the careful thought and consideration which goes into a piece of work, such as determining form, style, theme, and

Two Great Gothic Cathedrals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Two Great Gothic Cathedrals - Essay Example In history, everyday buildings have always been made of materials that are readily to hand. This is the principal characteristic of all vernacular architecture. In an area where stone is widely available, that becomes the usual building material; where it is not, or is too difficult to work, brick or timber buildings will be found. Where good clay exists tiled floors will be common elsewhere they will be made of stone flags. Where timber is widely available joinery sections will be lavish; where it is scarce and costly to import they will be mean. Comparing the two cathedrals, we see that they are made of the same materials: stone, mixed with brightly colored stained glass, each depicting a religious story or a time-line of Jesus' life in great detail. Moreover, the floor-plans are almost the same. Both the Chartres Cathedral and Saint Patrick's Cathedral are centrally planned, entered through a narthex, followed by a long nave, with side aisles, leading to the transept crossing, and then culminating into the apse, reminiscent of the shape of a cross.

CYBER ATTACKS ON ENERGY AND FINANCIAL SECTOR Thesis Proposal

CYBER ATTACKS ON ENERGY AND FINANCIAL SECTOR - Thesis Proposal Example US Financial sector is largest in the world and billions of dollars are transacted through this system not only within US but also across the border. The relative penetration of the financial system into the very fabric of American society therefore gives financial sector a more critical place within the modern American society. With the advances in technology, most of the transactions in the financial sector take place online with the help of the internet and other information technology tools. Such high dependence on the information technology therefore makes the system highly vulnerable to the external threats including the cyber attacks. Similarly, the energy sector is critical for the survival of the country because most of the manufacturing and our daily activity is supported by this sector. A complete collapse of this system therefore will put the country as stand still and probably no economic activity can be conceived without the support of the energy sector. Another important dimension of the cyber spying on the energy sector is basically to extract important information regarding the potential energy deposits which US companies explore all over the world and a systematic attack on this information therefore can cost Billions to US economy if it goes into wrong hands. It is believed that Chinese hackers are trying to intrude into the systems of the energy companies with specific target of extracting the important data on the oil and gas exploration. (Yemma, 2010) These arguments therefore indicate that any type of cyber attacks on these two sectors can be significant from the point of view of the homeland security. Easy access to technology and significant improvement in the knowledge base of the cyber criminals and terrorists, it is really easy to conceive a cyber attack of any magnitude on both these sectors. It is therefore, really critical a pro-active approach to be adapted by the security agencies of US including homeland

Participation or Non-Participation for a Tennis Professional Essay

Participation or Non-Participation for a Tennis Professional - Essay Example Given the magnitude of the tournament, it would present the best platform to sensitize the World and Americans on my stance and to make them join me in fighting this course. Participation is better given that a large number of people gather to watch this tournament and that the competition attracts people from various countries. Further, several broadcasting channels televise the Indianapolis tennis tournament that will enable my position to reach a large number of people (Durst 1). For a professional tennis player, participation presents the best way of putting forth one's opinion. Just like evidenced in other sports activities, best players choose to participate and put forth their stance concerning an occurrence in the course of their participation. For instance, when a police officer shot a teenager named Garner, and people were of the opinion that the Jury’s decision did not provide justice to the deceased. There were increased protests among the public and LeBron James an NBA star sought to oppose the decision in a game scheduled for Brooklyn. Before the game, LeBron wore a T-shirt with inscriptions showing support for young Garner (Bondy 1). A professional tennis player would pass his stance against the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts via pre-match or post-match interviews. In addition, a professional player can bring forth their position by wearing T-shirts with inscriptions of the stand they take concerning the decision. Finally, given the lar ge social media following that professional sports personality have in these media; the professional tennis player can post his stance on his wall. Despite the lack of participation in the Indianapolis Tennis Championships being impactful, participation and making one’s stance known through various means is the best option. Given the large following, that tennis professionals receive worldwide, failure of involvement would not go well with all the fans. Some fans of the professional tennis player would be so devastated by the failure of the occurrence of the event that they would stop focusing on the issue that led to the decision.  Ã‚  

Finance discussions1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finance discussions1 - Essay Example Ford, on the other hand is healthy enough to withstand short term payments without liquidating its inventories. General Motors again has a problem with a large amount of inventory and slow processes that take almost double the time to convert inventory into sales. Low inventory figures for Ford facilitate a high inventory turnover. Ford has the worst accounts receivable with only 0.62 days of sales outstanding, well below General Motors 23 days. This means that receivables are not being collected on time. Ford, with relatively lower sales and higher fixed assets, also utilizes its assets efficiently. Both companies seem to be generating a sufficient volume of business given their total assets. Ford has a slightly higher profit margin on sales than General Motors’ even though both have approximately the same net income. This is attributed to higher sales of General Motors. In terms of the overall return on the investment earned by both companies, they are neck to neck with General Motors out performing Ford due to large asset holdings of the latter. Ford’s negative equity results from the large amount of retained earning deficit and accumulated comprehensive loss over the years. This has resulted in a negative return of 974% to common stockholders. The recent years of more than 100% debt ratio, have eaten into the equity of the company. General Motors is doing well in this regard with a decent return to its common stockholders of 18%. Ford is highly leveraged with almost 100% debt. It has however, brought this figure down from previous years. Compared to that, General Motors even though highly leveraged itself, seems to be in a safer position with 78% debt. This high amount of debt is affecting Ford’s performance as it lowers its ability to cover its fixed financial charges and bogs down its income, adversely affecting the equity. Overall, Ford has taken more debt than it can

Participation or Non-Participation for a Tennis Professional Essay

Participation or Non-Participation for a Tennis Professional - Essay Example Given the magnitude of the tournament, it would present the best platform to sensitize the World and Americans on my stance and to make them join me in fighting this course. Participation is better given that a large number of people gather to watch this tournament and that the competition attracts people from various countries. Further, several broadcasting channels televise the Indianapolis tennis tournament that will enable my position to reach a large number of people (Durst 1). For a professional tennis player, participation presents the best way of putting forth one's opinion. Just like evidenced in other sports activities, best players choose to participate and put forth their stance concerning an occurrence in the course of their participation. For instance, when a police officer shot a teenager named Garner, and people were of the opinion that the Jury’s decision did not provide justice to the deceased. There were increased protests among the public and LeBron James an NBA star sought to oppose the decision in a game scheduled for Brooklyn. Before the game, LeBron wore a T-shirt with inscriptions showing support for young Garner (Bondy 1). A professional tennis player would pass his stance against the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts via pre-match or post-match interviews. In addition, a professional player can bring forth their position by wearing T-shirts with inscriptions of the stand they take concerning the decision. Finally, given the lar ge social media following that professional sports personality have in these media; the professional tennis player can post his stance on his wall. Despite the lack of participation in the Indianapolis Tennis Championships being impactful, participation and making one’s stance known through various means is the best option. Given the large following, that tennis professionals receive worldwide, failure of involvement would not go well with all the fans. Some fans of the professional tennis player would be so devastated by the failure of the occurrence of the event that they would stop focusing on the issue that led to the decision.  Ã‚  

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Strategic Management - Essay Example ALDI opted for conservative methods to offer better quality and reduced prices. The strategy is presented to hold numerous benefits in expansion and retention of an increased market share. Furthermore, ALDI utilizes cheaper measures in advertising as compared to Amazon that spends majority of finances in marketing. This places ALDI at a paramount position to expand and increase the profits with increased income and reduced expenditure, especially in marketing (Stubblefield, 2006). The post critics on the shopping trends of consumers and the focus placed on the comparison of Aldi and Amazon. The German Aldi stores stock mostly their products and offer lower cart value at $0.25. The company saves money through failing to accept credit cards. This includes increased purchase of the cheap products to generate revenue. Amazon offers value in products through the online stores. This generates easier measures in shopping to offer the convenient sopping measures. These are the differences in the two stores with the consumers offered cheap expenses in Aldi and the convenient Amazon. These stores may serve as supplements in their positioning since they satisfy consumers in varied manners. The post offers the challenge on the preference of a company based on the strategies that they incorporate in their marketing

Excel Logistics Case Essay Example for Free

Excel Logistics Case Essay Purpose To introduce participants to the supply chain concept and to the effects decisions along the chain have on inventory levels and costs. Introduction In this game the retailer sells cases of beer to a consumer and orders cases of beer from the wholesaler; the wholesaler sells cases of beer to the retailer and orders cases of beer from the distributor; and the distributor sells cases of beer to the wholesaler and orders beer from the factory (brewery). The factory brews the beer. The beer supply chain is shown below: Players of the game each take on a different role in the supply chain. The roles are the Factory, Distributor, Wholesaler and Retailer. Each position is directly linked, and beer cannot skip the adjacent position. For example, the Wholesaler orders beer from the Distributor, and ships beer to the Retailer. An important consideration in making decisions is the delay in the movement of beer through the supply chain. It takes three periods to move an order of beer between each player in the supply chain. If during period 3 the Wholesaler decides to ship 10 cases of beer to the Retailer, the beer would take periods 4 and 5 to move to the Retailer and then would be available for sale by the Retailer at the beginning of period 6. Similarly, orders are not visible to the upstream player for one period. For example, if the Wholesaler places an order in period 3, the order is received by the Distributor at the beginning of period 4. For each period of play, every participant follows the same cycle: 1. The system is updated by your instructor where new orders and shipments are received, shipments enroute are advanced, and inventory levels and backorder positions are calculated (these tasks are done automatically by the server program. 2. The player updates the status screen and reviews current position. 3. A shipping decision is made according to new orders and backlog, subject to inventory availability, 4. An ordering decision is made for more beer. There are only two costs involved in this simplified version of a logistics  supply chain: inventory holding cost ($1.00/case/period) and back order costs ($2.00/case/period). Each team has the goal of minimizing the sum of these costs by balancing the cost of having inventory (inventory holding cost) with the cost of being out of inventory when a customer orders beer (back order cost). The server program keeps track of the costs incurred by each team. At the end of the game, the total game cost for the distribution system is the sum of the four individual participants total costs (retailer cost + wholesaler cost + distributor cost + factory cost). The goal is to minimize team costs. Action The game begins with a fully-loaded pipeline of cases of beer: 16 cases of inventory in each positions current inventory, 4 cases in each of the production delay pipeline, 4 cases in each of the shipping delay pipeline, each position has an initial order for 4 cases of beer. Definitions The following terms are used in the status report: Current Demand This is the demand for the current period at this position. For the Retailer, this demand is determined by an external demand stream. For all other positions, this demand reflects an order placed by the downstream position in the supply chain during the previous period. Backorder This is the demand that has not been met to date at this position. When a position does not meet demand by shipping cases of beer, the backorder amount is increased. This amount does not include the demand during the current period. Current Shipment This is the amount that is being shipped to the downstream position during the current period. After the ordering and shipping decisions have been made, the status button can be used to update the status report. The status report will reflect the current order and shipment decisions. Remember that after the instructor has updated the system, the status button should be pressed again to receive a report that reflects the execution of the decisions for the previous period. On Hand This is the current amount in inventory at the position. This is the total amount that can be shipped this period from this position. Due Next Period This is the number of units that are scheduled to arrive at this position next period. Due In Two Periods This is the number of units that are scheduled to arrive in two periods. Current Order Release This is the number of units that are being ordered from the upstream position. The  upstream position will not see this order until after the system has been updated to the next period. Inventory Cost This is the cumulative inventory cost for this position. This is calculated from the actual inventory balance at the end of each simulated period. During the update process, the system first ships material to the downstream position, updates the cumulative inventory and backorder costs based on the inventory and backorder levels, and then receives new material into the position. Backorder Cost This is the cumulative backorder cost for the position. Total Cost This is the total cumulative co st for the position.

Effects of Level of Nutrition on Milk Yield and Composition

Effects of Level of Nutrition on Milk Yield and Composition Effects of Level of Nutrition on Milk Yield and Composition of Cows Fed Natural Grazing and Offered Different Supplements, in South Kordofan, Sudan ABSTRACT: Three feed ingredients that were locally used as supplements and fed to dairy cattle were offered to three groups of dairy cows while one group was considered as control and left on the natural grazing only and another one was offered a ration formulated to meet maintenance and production requirements. Milk quantity and its composition were monitored for 40 days. The results showed that supplementation of cows with 1.5 kg of any feed ingredient resulted in increment of milk production compared with those left on the natural grazing alone. Supplementation with oil seed cakes or cotton seeds was better as supplements than sorghum grains in promoting milk production. The highest performance was achieved with the group was fed 1.0 kg of formulated ration. The milk yield increased linearly (p

Negative Aspects of Cell Phone Use :: Cellular Telephone

Many Americans enjoy the sense of security and organization that they feel their cell phones give to them. They like being able to change their schedules on the go, to have a phone in case of emergency, to have a guide in case they get lost, and to take part in the upcoming technological wave that our world is enduring. People like to be up with the times, and always enjoy having a new toy. The only problem is, most people overlook the potentially serious outcomes stemming from cell phone use and abuse. According to researchers, ?there are currently eleven million cellular uses in the United States and another 500 million world-wide?. Although cell phones are so popular, there is still a small population of people who believe that cell phones are more of a burden than they appear to be. Some people believe they leave their lives and schedules open for constant change and nagging, almost like a telemarketer calling during dinner time. Cell phones can become problematic when they intrude at movies, at the opera, at restaurants, and in other socially unacceptable places. Teachers now worry that students are distracted at school, and can even use their phones to help them cheat on exams and chat privately with other students. Cell phones have surely taken away a certain quality of life that many Americans remember- a time when your schedule was set in a stone, a time when it was quiet in the movies, and a time when people had more actual face-to-face communication. I can even remember what it was like before a had a cell phone, and sometimes miss those simple sincere human communications. Text messaging has now become a way to flirt, gossip, and has replaced simple every day communication. Some people even prefer it to actually speaking, due to the fact that they feel less pressure and do not have to actual be subject to responses. There are also actual life and death situations to consider in terms of cell phone dangers. I have heard that talking on a cell phone will driving a car is like having three alcoholic beverages and then driving. The National Highway Safety Administration admits that nearly 85 percent of cell phone owners use them while driving. Many states have been working to ban cell phone use for motorists, and the fact that people are outraged by this is somewhat disturbing.

Feminist Criticism of Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare And Fe

Many literary critics have presented theories on the meaning of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, ranging from claims of Oedipal Complexes to insinuations of homosexuality. Though most such interpretations can be considered true at some level, there seems to be some basic theme - some driving force - that underlies all other interpretations. While most criticisms focus on individual characters, a more insightful criticism of the true nature of Hamlet can be drawn simply by analyzing the key relationships in play. These relationships - especially those dealing with women or issues of femininity - allow a level of interpretation that examines not merely the events of the play, but the true underlying significance of gender both to Shakespeare and to the characters he presents. In order to interpret the significance of the feminine within the relationships in the play, one must first understand precisely the nature of 'feminine.' Though this term is typically associated only with women, Hamlet in many regards breaks down these barriers. While women are almost always feminine in some respect, the male characters in Hamlet are often embodiments of feminine virtues, such as female sexuality, motherhood, or sisterly love. As one author states, "thanks to feminist criticism, gender is not indissolvably fixed in Shakespeare. Male characters can profitably incorporate female characteristics, and women characters can assume masculine ones" (Kolin 5). While the women of Hamlet are the bearers of individual and unique feminine qualities, a feminist interpretation of the work also reveals the broader ideals of femininity within many of the male characters. The first of the truly significant women in Hamlet is Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. ... ...nd Feminist Criticism: An Annotated Bibliography and Commentary. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1991. Erickson, Peter. Patriarchal Structures in Shakespeare's Drama. Paraphrased in Philip Kolin, Shakespeare and Feminist Criticism: An Annotated Bibliography and Commentary. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1991. Klein, Joan Larsen. "'Angels and Ministers of Grace': Hamlet, IV, v-vii." Paraphrased in Philip Kolin, Shakespeare and Feminist Criticism: An Annotated Bibliography and Commentary. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1991. Kolin, Philip C. Shakespeare And Feminist Criticism: An annotated Bibliography and Commentary. New York: Garland Publishing. 1991. Web. 26 May 2015. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0895769X.1995.10545153 Watts, Cedric. Twayne's New Critical Introductions to Shakespeare. Boston: Twayne Publishers. 1991. Â  

Characterstics of Laptop

Answer: Portability is usually the first feature mentioned in any comparison of laptops versus desktop pcs. Physical portability allows that a laptop can be used in many places† not only at home and at the office, but also during commuting and flights, in coffee shops, In lecture halls and libraries, at clients' location or at a meeting room, etc. The portability feature offers several distinct advantages: a.Productivity: Using a laptop in places where a desktop PC cannot be used, and at times that would otherwise be wasted. For example, an office worker Is managing heir e-mails during an hour-long commute by train, or a student doing his/her homework at the university coffee shop during a break between lectures. b. Immediacy: Carrying a laptop means having instant access to various Information, personal and work files. Immediacy allows better collaboration between coworkers or students, as a laptop can be flipped open to present a problem or a solution anytime, anywhere. . up- to-date information: If a person has more than one desktop PC, a problem of synchronization arises: changes made on one computer are not automatically propagated to the others. There are ways to resolve this problem, Including physical transfer of updated files (using a USB flash memory stick or cdrs) or using synchronization software over the Internet. However, using a single laptop at both locations avoids the problem entirely, as the files exist in a single location and are always up-to-date. d.Connectivity: A proliferation of WI-FI wireless networks and cellular broadband data services (HSDPA, EVDO and others) combined with a near-ubiquitous support by laptops means that a laptop can have easy Internet and local network connectivity while remaining mobile. Wi-Fi networks and laptop programs are especially idespread at university campuses. [ Other advantages of laptops: e. Size: Laptops are smaller than desktop pcs. This is beneficial when space is at a premium, for example in sm all apartments and student dorms.When not In use, a laptop can be closed and put away. f. Low power consumption: Laptops are several times more power-efficient than desktops, A typical laptop uses 20-90 W. compared to 100-800 W for desktops. This could De partlcularly DeneTlclal Tor Duslnesses (wnlcn run nunareas 0T personal computers, multiplying the potential savings) and homes where there is a computer running 2417 (such as a home media server, print server, etc. g. Quiet: Laptops are often quieter than desktops, due both to the components (quieter, slower 2. -inch hard drives) and to less heat production leading to use of fewer and slower cooling fans. h. Battery: a charged laptop can continue to be used in case of a power outage and is not affected by short power interruptions and blackouts. A desktop PC needs a UPS to handle short interruptions, blackouts and spikes; achieving on-battery time of more than 20-30 minutes for a desktop PC requires a large and expensive UPS. i. Al l-in-One: designed to be portable, laptops have everything integrated into the hassis.For desktops (excluding all-in-ones) this is divided into the desktop, keyboard, mouse, display, and optional peripherals such as speakers. 2. Characteristics of Super Computer: A) A supercomputer is the fastest type of computer. Supercomputers are very expensive and are employed for specialized applications that require large amounts of mathematical calculations. The chief difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that a supercomputer channels all its power into executing a few programs as fast as possible, whereas a mainframe uses its power to execute many programs concurrently.B) Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems involving quantum mechanical physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling (computing the structures and properties of chemical compounds, biological macromolecules, polymers, and crystals), physical simulati ons (such as simulation of airplanes in wind tunnels, simulation of the detonation of nuclear weapons, and research into nuclear fusion), cryptanalysis, and many others. Some supercomputers have also been designed for very specific functions like cracking codes and playing chess; Deep Blue is a famous chess-playing upercomputer.Major universities, military agencies and scientific research laboratories depend on and make use of supercomputers very heavily. C) A supercomputer generates large amounts of heat and therefore must be cooled with complex cooling systems to ensure that no part of the computer fails. Many of these cooling systems take advantage of liquid gases, which can get extremely cold. D) Another issue is the speed at which information can be transferred or written to a storage aevlce, as tne speed 0T data transTer wlll Ilmlt tne supercomputers performance. Information cannot move faster than the speed of light between two arts of a supercomputer.E) Supercomputers consum e and produce massive amounts of data in a very short period of time. Much work on external storage bandwidth is needed to ensure that this information can be transferred quickly and stored/retrieved correctly. 3. Characterstics of Main Frame Computer? a. Modern mainframes can run multiple different instances of operating systems at the same time. This technique of virtual machines allows applications to run as if they were on physically distinct computers. In this role, a single mainframe can replace higher-functioning hardware services available to conventional servers.While mainframes pioneered this capability, virtualization is now available on most families of computer systems, though not always to the same degree or level of sophistication b. Mainframes can add or hot swap system capacity without disrupting system function, with specificity and granularity to a level of sophistication not usually available with most server solutions. c. Modern mainframes, notably the IBM zSeri es,System z9 and System ZIO servers, offer two levels of virtualization: logical partitions (LPARs, via the PRISM facility) and virtual machines (via the zPv'M operating system).Many mainframe customers run wo machines: one in their primary data center, and one in their backup data center †fully active, partially active, or on standby†in case there is a catastrophe affecting the first building. Test, development, training, and production workload for applications and databases can run on a single machine, except for extremely large demands where the capacity of one machine might be limiting. Such a two- mainframe installation can support continuous business service, avoiding both planned and unplanned outages.In practice many customers use multiple mainframes linked either by Parallel Sysplex and shared DASD (in IBM's case)[citation eeded], or with shared, geographically dispersed storage provided by EMC or Hitachi. d. Mainframes are designed to handle very high volume i nput and output (1/0) and emphasize throughput computing. Since the late-1950s, mainframe designs have included subsidiary hardware (called channels or peripheral processors) which manage the 1/0 devices, leaving the CPU free to deal only with high-speed memory. It is common in mainframe shops to deal with massive databases and files.Gigabyte to terabyte-size record files are not unusual. [7] Compared to a typical PC, mainframes ommonly have hundreds to thousands of times as much data storage online, and can access it much faster. [citation needed] Other server families also offload 1/0 processing ana empnaslze tnrougnput computlng. e. Mainframe return on investment (ROI), like any other computing platform, is dependent on its ability to scale, support mixed workloads, reduce labor costs, deliver uninterrupted service for critical business applications, and several other risk- adjusted cost factors. . Mainframes also have execution integrity characteristics for fault tolerant comput ing. For example, z900, z990, System z9, and System ZIO servers ffectively execute result-oriented instructions twice, compare results, arbitrate between any differences (through instruction retry and failure isolation), then shift workloads â€Å"in flight† to functioning processors, including spares, without any impact to operating systems, applications, or users.This hardware-level feature, also found in HP's Nonstop systems, is known as lock-stepping, because both processors take their â€Å"steps† (i. e. instructions) together. Not all applications absolutely need the assured integrity that these systems provide, but many do, such as financial transaction processing.

Mentoring and Assessing Essay

Over the last decade the National Health Service (NHS) has continued its drive to optimise health outcomes, reduce health inequalities and conform to nationally agreed best practice in order to provide a more patient centred service. Accordingly, the present culture needed to adapt in a way as to encourage and strengthen clinical leadership and develop a workforce seeking to innovate and continuously improve through learning and research (Department of Health, 2005). Such a projected change within the health service has had a direct impact on nursing careers and nurse education both pre-registration and post-registration and has implications not only for those receiving education but also for those providing education. Through review of nursing education literature, this assignment intends to critically analyse the accountability of mentors in practice, looking at how their role as facilitators of learning and assessment is utilised within my own clinical setting, and how we, as nurses, assess a student’s competence. Furthermore discussions will focus around its impact on pre-registration students, identifying limitations mentors have in applying and reinforcing its importance in current practice. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2008a:p19) define the term ‘Mentor’ as a registrant who has successfully completed an NMC approved mentor preparation programme and becomes responsible and accountable for organising and co-ordinating student learning activities in practice. This includes, supervising students in learning situations and providing constructive feedback, setting realistic learning outcomes and monitoring achievement, assessing total performance including skills, attitudes and behaviours as well as providing evidence and liaising with other colleagues if concerns are identified about the student’s achievement. Literature suggests that using of mentors in clinical placements can assist in the learning process and is it beneficial when a good mentor/student relationship has developed with mutual respect, consistency and partnership (Andrews and Robert 2003, Pulsford 2002). The success of any nursing student within a clinical placement is multi-faceted. This is further enhanced by the complicated nature of education and the perception of competencies to be achieved whether mentee or mentor. The process of moving forward with the knowledge and skill-sets must be supported and nurtured in order to facilitate a standard of care that is deemed safe, competent and most importantly accountable. If as nurses, we are to standardise the learning environment and assessment in practice, then the responsibility and accountability as facilitators of learning is of great importance. The Nursing and Midwifery Council monitor current nursing practice. Its main aim is to protect the public by ensuring that high standards of care are maintained through approving and monitoring the educational programme used to train pre and post-registration nurses (Quinn and Hughes, 2007 p67). Such standards within the nursing profession are set and maintained by documents such as the Code of Professional Conduct (NMC, 2004) and Standards of Proficiency for pre-registration nurses, which need to be met in order to ensure nursing students enter the profession providing safe and effective practice for patients (NMC, 2004). In terms of pre-registration nursing, it has become a crucial role for clinical settings such as my own to ensure that standards of proficiency are met and that student nurses gain a wide variety of experience on clinical placement during their training. The principles behind effective mentoring and effective student learning involve a number of factors, which the NMC incorporates into eight domains that provide standards for supporting learning and assessment in practice (NMC 2008b, Ali and Panther, 2008). These include; establishing effective working relationships, facilitation of learning, assessment and accountability, evaluation of learning, creating and environment for learning, context of practice, evidence-based practice and leadership. This has great implications for mentors as they will assess student’s competence in practice and decide whether they are capable of safe and effective practice (NMC, 2006). Within my own area of clinical practice, consideration of time management, leadership and effective working relationships are deemed particularly important for students to become competent practitioners and enjoy a positive learning experience. Caldwell et al, (2008 p39), suggests that the pressures of clinical commitments and lack of available time effects both the organisation and supervision of students during their clinical placements. Other challenges faced may include inconsistency of nurse educators and performance (Duffy and Hardicre, 2007a p28) and students who do not comply despite support (Duffy and Hardicre, 2007a p 29). Further challenges faced within my own practice a rea and indeed many areas of practice are reluctance to fail a failing student due finding the failing process too challenging or to limited and poor assessment. Studies have shown that students appreciate mentors who are positive and supportive and the relationship that develops between mentor and mentee can be central to the success of the clinical placement (Neary, 2000 and Pulsford et al, 2002). However, it is important to identify that other factors such as, the clinical environment, the complexity of the ward and psychological factors such as anxiety can have an impact on the quality of the student support received together with relationships developed (Andrews and Roberts, 2003, Hand 2006). Whilst mentors face many key professional challenges surrounding the facilitation of learning and assessment within the clinical placement the NMC framework to support students and mentors, by the nature of the document, is not deemed comprehensive enough to consider all aspects of competence assessment (Cassidy, 2009 p46). Research highlights that there are some levels of assessment that remains subjective despite the framework, simply due to the inherent nature of those involved and the variation of the skills to be assessed (Freshwater and Stickley 2004, Clibbens et al 2007). However, further support can be given to the NMC standards to support learning and assessment in practice by documents such as ‘Guidance for mentors or nursing students and midwives; (Royal College of Nursing (RCN), 2007). This toolkit is frequently used in my own practice area as it assists nurses to provide support and strategies. Levett-Jones, Tracy, Lathlean et al (2009, p316) suggest that mentor-mentee relationships are an important influence on students experiences of belongingness and their clinical learning. Notwithstanding, the clinical placement experience accounts for 50% of the pre-registration course, the role of the mentor in facilitating learning and educating is therefore optimised, assessing and supporting learners’ throughout their clinical experience. Neary (2000, p467) in his 1997 study, suggested that students described a mentor as someone to ‘emulate, a person of contact, have a chat with, teacher and guide, assessor and supervisor’. Morton-Cooper and Palmer (2009 p42-43) define the role of a mentor as Advisor, Coach, Counsellor, Guide, Role Model, Sponsor, Teacher and Resource Facilitator. Such essential attributes of the mentors role will enhance the learners’ experience of clinical placement, exert a powerful influence on their thought processes, emotions, behaviour, health and happiness in order to achieve the optimum level of success of experience of learning. Dolan (2003 p141) states that the role of an assessor and facilitator of learning is complicated by the balance and demands of every day duties within the clinical placement, this, in turn leads to the learners’ experience of assessment being fragmented and not prioritised. The supportive role of mentoring is to be objective and unbiased. Quinn and Hughes (2007: p300) note that in assessing the learner, caution should be taken in not feeling that our care is solely to the learner by being generous in assessment and evaluation and conversely not underrating the learner with the perception of the general characteristics of the learner. There is considerable opportunity for the mentor to gain knowledge about the learners’ learning needs, previous experience in order to form strategies to aid further learning, Wallace (2003 p36). Kolb (1985 p38) suggests, knowledge of an individuals’ learning style will enable learning to be effective. If a learning style was identified such as Honey and Mumford’s (1992) which defines learner’s into categories such as Activist, Reflector, theorist and Pragmatist, this might determine how the mentor might choose to teach a skill by either teaching theory first (theorist) or letting the learner experiment (activitist) with a skill first, (Hand, 2006). However, Hand (2006) suggests that only learning which incorporates knowledge and skills will inform practice, and that if there is a lack of knowledge then practice will become unsafe as will lack of skill lead to incompetency. Healthy mentoring relationships often involve some form of accountability and for many, whilst this is great in theory, it remains confusing in practice but makes a healthy contribution to mentoring relationships. Phillip and spratt (2007 p55) suggests that accountability should be based on clear terms, specific goals, objectives and good communication. An open and safe atmosphere will contribute to trust and moves us away from defensive, self-justification or unnecessary self-condemnation attitudes. Accountability should focus on growth, not merely preservation and protection; whilst these are crucial, they can make us more susceptible to failure. Healthy accountability should focus on motivation, helping to visualise growth and take responsibility for modelling and mentoring. Assessment decisions must be evidence based, as mentors, we are accountable for decisions made to either pass, defer or fail a learner, (NMC 2008a:p32). Assessment is defined as the action of evaluating, estimating the nature, ability or quality (Oxford Dictionary 2011). Rust (2002) suggests that assessment includes judgement, which will hold an element of subjectivity; therefore it must be objective, fair and transparent. The mentor is assessing the learners competency which the NMC (2008a) defines as ‘having skills abilities to practice safely and effectively without the need for direct supervision’, this being achieved through periods of clinical experience during the learners’ programme. Practice based assessment is a core method of assessing knowledge, skills and attitudes of students (Wallace, 2003 p 36). Dolan’s study of 2003, (p37) identified that learners’ need to gain the holistic experience of clinical practice in order to achieve some level of competency. The method of assessment must be considered in terms of reliability, validity, acceptability, educational impact, cost effectiveness in order to evaluate the suitability of the assessment itself (Chandratilake et al, 2010). Exposure to a holistic experience gives opportunity for the learner to achieve all aspects of the domains of professional and ethical practice, care delivery, care management and personal and professional development, (NMC, 2004). Assessments may be made by anyone with the clinical placement which could involve the multi-disciplinary team, patients, peers as well as the learners’ self- assessment through reflection, (Gopee 2008:p135). The NMC (2008b) recognise that working with the inter-professional team can offer opportunity for the learner in the formative episodes of assessment. Neary (2000 p474) points out that, skilled practitioners in the clinical setting are dealing with intended and unexpected situations, which will enhance learning and provide opportunity for formative assessment. This illustrates what Quinn and Hughes (2007;p346) describe as an ‘effective’ learning environment in order to develop learning and foster behaviour where the learner may make the most of opportunities for learning and critical judgement. Direct observation is the assessment in which the NMC (2008a) identifies as greater evidence of competency. A formal assessment strategy for direct observation, which is utilised in this author’s clinical setting, is the use of a performance criteria, often Trust wide guidelines and policy, which is a list actions to be demonstrated based on knowledge and skills attained from theory which is evidence based from research and may come from organisations such as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Institute for Innovation and Improvement, (Gopee 2008a: p 106-107). When assessing students, it is important to establish four key areas (Hinchliffe, 2009); knowledge skills, performance and motivation. Checklists or performance criteria can service as a useful tool in establishing a level of observational assessment, Quinn ad Hughes (2007). Cassidy (2009 p46) documented that this performance is a list of behaviours which the learner can demonstrate but it does not indicate how well that behaviour was demonstrated. However, this method of using a set criteria to reference against offers, an opportunity to ensure consistency in the mentor’s assessing role in alignment with other mentors’ consistency, otherwise defined by Goppee (2008) as ‘intra- and inter-mentor reliability. Another assessment strategy partly adopted in my own clinical setting is that of continuous assessment. The use of continuous assessment gives the mentor an opportunity to make a cumulative judgement of the learner’s progress and level of knowledge and competence, (Gopee 2008 p40). Neary (2002 p473) suggests that continuous assessment allows the dynamism in the behaviour of the learner in any given situation which may be expected or unexpected. However, Price (2007 p41) suggests that continuous assessment does have its limitations with regards to validity and reliability for numerous reasons including; stress and anxiety for the learner; they may feel that they are constantly being scrutinised by patients, family, relatives and other professionals within the clinical placement. Additionally, Price (2007) notes that at the summative stage of assessment and through the accumulation of information, could influence the assessor to ‘average out’ the learners’ performance leading to an allowance made for weaker performance. To some extent, this author suggests that this strategy of assessment is utilised because the assessor’s role is balanced with dealing with every day duties such as care management and care delivery or liaising with the multi-disciplinary team. However, caution should be taken as this use of assessment may leave the learners’ time fractured and not a priority, (Rutowski, 2007 p40). Indeed, the high demands on day to day role of the assessor nurse was finding by Phillips et al (2000) study which determined that time factor was a dilemma in the assessor making valid or reliable assessments. Another dimension of continuous assessment is self-assessment by the learner. This is what Gopee (2008:p135) suggests is one of the most valuable forms of assessment at the formative stage of learning as it may include informal learning as well as formal learning through the use of reflective diaries. However, while it is recognised as an important part of assessment, Fordham (2005) suggests that the learner may exaggerate or manipulate their evidence of learning which may go unchallenged, especially by a novice mentor, therefore rendering the learning as unreliable. In Neary’s (2000) study, it concluded with a suggestion to a new approach to assessing clinical competence through utilising what she describes as ‘Responsive Assessment’ which offers the learner and mentor opportunity to identify competency through written reports of assessment and judgement within the situational context. This same study suggests that may incorporate views and opinions from other service users including patients and help the assessor and learner identify current learning, acknowledge necessary adjustments and stimulate reflection to aid future learning. From this study, Neary (2000), established that the participating 80 assessors preferred this approach, as it gave flexibility and enabled them to report learning alongside the pre-set academic objectives. This might suggest that this form of assessment might provide support for effective evaluation of learning assessment and judgement. An important aspect of assessment is regular feedback which needs to be organised by the mentor on a regular basis in order to discuss with the learner the outcomes of pre-planned opportunities of learning, discuss situational learning and reflection retrospectively, discuss the learners’ commitment and self-assessment in order to ensure validity of the assessment process, (Wallace 2003). This will also facilitate an opportunity to discuss limitations and remedies such as the difference in aborting assessment as opposed to failing an assessment or whereby it has been identified that the placement has a lack of capacity for certain assessment which can be remedied by arranging with practice educators for clinical experience elsewhere to fulfil this gap, (Price 2007 p41). Failure to discuss and evaluate learning on a regular basis could ultimately result in problems for the learner not being addressed early enough in the placement resulting in mentors’ giving the student the benefit of doubt in certain situations, (Duffy, 2004). The benefactors of competent mentorship are everyone. Government benefits from improved patient care with improved outcomes. The nursing profession benefits as continuity and quality of care is ensured through sound practice founded through supportive and evidence-based learning, thus promoting a better image and greater emphasis on trust. Patients and their families benefit as the mentored nurse provides the best possible care and treatment ensuring best possible outcomes. Achieving standardised, high quality practitioner in student mentoring has long been a priority for the NMC and will continue to do so.