English literature Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

English literature - Term Paper Example In the 18th century American literature, the autobiography as a literary genre has attained immense popularity which is illustrated by the notable 18th-century autobiographies in English such as Edward Gibbon’s autobiography and Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography. During this period, a more intimate form of autobiography which explores the subject’s emotions came to being, due mainly to the influence of Romanticism, which greatly emphasized the role and the nature of the individual, and Rousseau’s Confessions. From the writer’s perspective, an autobiography is the best means to express one’s individuality in all its components and it helps one in establishing one’s ideas and concepts explicitly to the readers without any mediocrity. The â€Å"self-life-writing† qualifies of an autobiography offer great scope for the writer’s role in literary activity and these qualifies also bring out the advantages and disadvantages of th e autobiography genre. Thus, from the writer’s perspective, autobiographies offer the writer the scope to include anything from human geography to reproach, leave out anything they wish, etc and they can turn their books into a litany, a confession, an apology, a cathartic act, an anthology of anecdotes or gossip, or a space to wash polluted laundry. From the reader’s perspective, the autobiography is an important literary genre which offers the possibility of realizing the inner aspects of a writer without confusion and it helps the readers understand the concepts and ideas that the author emphasizes in his writing. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography offers one of the best illustrations of the meaning, characteristics, purpose, advantages and disadvantages of the autobiography as a literary genre and this paper makes a reflective analysis of the autobiography. Autobiography as a literary genre has been a popular means to express one’s emotions and

Major problems Facing Christianity Essay Example for Free

Major problems Facing Christianity Essay All world religions face unprecedented times in the 21st century. The challenges are diverse and do not have easy solutions. The modern world has seen an amalgamation of global value systems and a similar confluence of socio-political ideologies and philosophies because of advances in information technology and the increased mobility made possible by modern day technology. It is feasible to find a representative of all the world major religions in each country. This has meant that the observance of each religion is no longer a mystical matter left for the convents and monasteries, but has become one that can be easily and readily scrutinized and compared with alternatives which by the way do not have to be religious. In considering these challenges, those that affect Christianity can represent to a fair degree the struggles the others are facing and can provide a platform for the discussion of these forces. Christianity is by design an expansionist religion. Jesus sent out his disciples with the express command to evangelize all the nations. It is therefore the core duty of every Christian to spread the faith. Globalization is probably the most significant force affecting world religions, both serving and limiting the. Many technological changes took place in the closing half of the 20th century epitomized by the rise of the internet symbolizes the rise of the global village. Substantial changes include increasing ease of commercial travel by jets and high-speed trains, efficient telephone systems and powerful radio’s, the television set and a very efficient and diversified print and electronic media. The world has enjoyed many benefits because of these and indeed, even Christianity has had powerful tools to take its message across the world. Many a televangelist and bible teachers go on air in daily or weekly broadcasts, some with a global audience. Taped messages are downloadable from the internet as podcasts. Even if it is not possible to get the message in real time, it remains available for anyone to get it and watch or listen to it at their convenience. As commercial empires have grown into multinationals, so have efficient delivery networks, which now ensure the timely delivery of CD’s and DVD’s, magazines and newspapers to a global audience. However, these means for dissemination of information have not been available to just the Christian enterprise, they have also available to other establishments that have competing interests, usually commercial, and at times ideological that have employed them to good effect. A Christian watching television is not only watching popular televangelists preach the gospel, but at the comfortable press of a remote button, can watch virtually anything else. These options do not always complement the message heard but at times even go against the Christian value system. A Christian therefore is under immense pressure to conform to the prevailing worldview, as he does not live in a shielded Christian community, but rather in an information razzmatazz for which he has to sift through consistently, if he is to retain and spread the Christian message. As Smart (2000) puts it, â€Å"Even if each tradition stays true to its own message, it will have to operate in a context of this federal world civilization. † Secularization, which is a force to reckon with, has made it more difficult to proselytize. Faith is regarded as a personal issue and hence attempts to discuss faith in non-Christian settings with the hope of making disciples have become an uncomfortable, if not offensive undertaking. Decisions about what faith to ascribe to are made personally and increasingly, privately. After all, isn’t Christianity just one of the options? As Smart (2000) explains, â€Å"Making religion a private matter can also lead to a religion’s becoming just a minor element in a total fabric of living†. Smart (2000) adds, â€Å"Just as a person belongs to the golf club, so that person may join a church.† New age thinking has also made its blow on Christianity. Christianity claims exclusivity of access to salvation, and an exclusive personal God. One of the key new age values is tolerance to all religious beliefs and belief systems. Christianity therefore finds itself in a place where it must find a means of relating with the rest of the world religions, violating the fundamental belief in a single way to salvation. In addition, some of the practices of other religions meet the Christian threshold for classification as idolatry. This just serves to multiply the points of conflict. Further on, the modern world, especially those parts where democracy is dominant, acceptance in matters such as homosexuality is encouraged. This becomes a difficult undertaking for a traditional Christian, as it is excruciating for them to reconcile the practice of the Christian faith with homosexuality and therefore will demand a renouncement of the practice of homosexuality before Christian fellowship can commence. Another area of difficulty for the Christian faith has been the place of women in leadership. Feministic influence has pervaded traditional Christian leadership set up where formal overall leadership was the preserve of men. The Catholic Church still holds to this ideal, while the Anglican Communion has opened its priesthood in women. Protestant congregations and denominations seem to have much more flexibility in the matter, with a large number of women pastors and bishops, in some cases as the overall head of a denomination. Radicalization of faith has brought its share of problems to the world in general. Smart (2000) says, â€Å"Other sects are, in principle or in practice, at odds with society, and seek to change it radically, possibly by rebellion and upheaval. † Many people view Christianity as a western religion. Those who have any disagreements with the west therefore consider Christianity as a legitimate representative of the west. In countries where Christians are in the minority, militant religious fundamentalists have attacked them or their institutions as revenge against the west. State control has also had its punch at the Christian faith. Most of the socialist states such as the former USSR and China have had a very rigid stance against religion in general and Christianity has suffered as one of them. In others, proselytizing is illegal and attracts severe penalty. The spread of the Christian faith remains impeded thus. The Christian message along with that of other world religions has become more difficult to sell in a materialistic society. People do not see why they should wait for a coming glory when they can have the good life now made possible by modernization, which has generally increased the living standards in the world, most pronounced in the western world. â€Å"Then again, the new forms of social and economic organization promised a richer life here and now† (Smart, 2000, p. 138) It will be interesting to see how Christianity evolves in the coming age when each of these forces will have had sufficient time to unleash their full impact.

Exploring the Role of Marriage in Paradise Lost Essay -- Religion God

Exploring the Role of Marriage in Paradise Lost In his epic poem, Paradise Lost, John Milton addresses the role of woman and man within the institution of marriage. More specifically, he explores why such a bond is considered sacred within the context of his Protestant religion. The book of Genesis offers two guidelines for an ideal marriage, both exemplified in the relationship between Adam and Eve. The first account states, â€Å"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh† (Gen. 2.24). A contextual reading gives the reader the impression that God encourages man and wife to pursue a spiritually enriched relationship, in which they share such intimate feelings that they seem to become a single person. The second account translates the word of God, â€Å"Be fruitful and multiply† (Gen. 1.28). This statement asserts that procreation is an important aspect of an ideal marriage. Milton’s own account of Genesis within Paradise Lost, supp orts the first account, but does not discount the latter. Adam and Eve are the original parents of mankind, and do procreate within the Garden of Eden. However, Milton chooses to focus much more on the bond shared between them, instead of the results of their sexual relationship. Adam and Eve maintain a partnership that involves deep friendship and understanding for one other. Connecting with one another allows them to maintain a structured relationship without any confusion as to each role within the relationship. Concentrating on the bond between one another allows them this clarity, much like, in Protestant religion, a strong devotional relationship to God allows clarity within one’s life. In emphasizing the importance of t... ...: A Study of the Divorce Tracts and Paradise Lost. Yale University Press. Conn.: New Haven, 1970. 3. Marilla, E.L. Milton & Modern Man. University of Alabama Press. Alabama: University, 1968. 4. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. The Riverside Milton. Ed. Roy Flannagan. Houghton Mifflin Company. Mass: Boston, 1998. 5. Nyquist, Mary. â€Å"The Genesis of Gendered Subjectivity in the Divorce Tracts and in Paradise Lost.† Critical Essays on John Milton. Ed. Christopher Kendrick. G.K. Hall & Co. New York, 1995. 6. Samuel, Irene. â€Å"The Dialogue in Heaven: A Reconsideration of Paradise Lost.† Milton, Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Arthur E. Barker. Oxford University Press. New York, 1965. 7. â€Å"The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis.† Handout. 9 October 2003.

MRP (Materials Requirements Planning)

From reading about material requirements planning (MRP), I deciphered that this is a manufacturing planning and inventory control system that helps manage manufacturing procedures. MRP systems ideally have three main purposes.The first is to make sure that all materials are obtainable for manufacturing and the products are accessible to deliver to the buyers. The second purpose is to uphold the low inventory in store, and the third is to design manufacturing actions, delivery agendas and purchasing actions.The simple purpose of MRP system is to regulate the inventory. The use of MRP assists companies in keeping their inventory as low as possible while helping plan manufacturing, purchasing and delivering functions.Businesses need to regulate the kinds and amounts of supplies that they buy, strategize which products are to be made and how much of it and confirm that they are capable of meeting existing and upcoming consumer requests, while sustaining the lowest price for the company. Making a bad decision in any of these areas will make the company lose money.Not planning accordingly within this criterion could cause the company to lose a lot of capital. MRP can help you know what resources are needed and how many, as well as when you will need these materials.MRP can be used for materials that are bought from external sellers as well as those made in-house. You need to keep in mind what materials you are making, how much of it do you need, how long they can be stored for. For the planning portion, you need to know what limitations you may have for producing the materials as well as how to make them.For the outputs and reports part of MRP, you have output 1 which is the â€Å"Recommended Production Schedule†. What this does is that it gives you a thorough schedule of the dates that you need to complete the task along with how many to fulfill the call from the Master Production Schedule.Output 2 is the â€Å"Recommended Purchasing Schedule†. This ou tput gives you the dates you will get the materials bought and the dates that the purchase orders should transpire to equal the production schedules. Like with any other system, there are problems that evolve from using theMRP system. The main issue with MRP systems is the integrity of the data. If for some reason there are any mistakes in the inventory data, the bill of materials data, or production schedule, then this would make the output data wrong.To rectify these issues however, some businesses use pull systems and bar code scanning which makes it more accurate. A big concern with the MRP systems is the fact that they are mandated to state the length of time that a manufacturer will need to make a product.The system assumes that this time in manufacturing won’t change every time the item is produced, with no concern as to how many are made, or other things that may be made at the same time. Regardless of some of the issues that the MRP system may have, it does help comp anies reduce cost and inventory on hand.It helps companies produce what they need, when they needed to meet any demands that any consumers may have as well as deadlines etc. This system works well with many different types of companies and it seems to be fairly efficient.

Résumé Essay

The first thing you will need to do before signing up for a job is writing u p a CV. Overall, a CV should be neat and typed if possible. Most libraries now have public computers, if you do not have your own. It should also be short, usually no more than two sides of A4. It should be positive, stressing achievements and strengths, and make a good impression in a clear and positive way. The basic format for a CV includes: Personal details, including name, address, phone number, email address and possibly any professional social media presence. You no longer need to include your date of birth, owing to age discrimination rules Career history, starting with your most recent job first. Include dates and temporary or voluntary jobs if appropriate. A personal profile which sells yourself and your qualities, tailored towards the job you are applying for Achievements from previous jobs that is relevant Qualifications and training from previous jobs, with the most recent first Interests, if they are relevant and especially if the skills or teamwork concerned are relevant for the job. Any extra information, such as reasons for a career change or reasons for gaps in career history, such as caring duties References, ideally two or more and including a recent employer. Below I shall show you an image of my cv. Finding a job in this day and age to apply for is not hard, in nearly every borough there is a job centre were they will be able to find you a suitable job base on your work information, previous jobs and your qualifications. So when you get a job you will need to be aware of whom you are working for before the interview. Before you go on a job interview, it’s important to find out as much as you can about the company. That way you’ll be prepared both to answer interview questions and to ask the interviewer questions. You will also be able to find out whether the company and the company culture are a good fit for you. Take some time, in advance, to use the Internet to discover as much information as you can about the company. Spend time, as well, tapping into your network to see who you know who can help give you an interview edge over the other candidates. Here’s how to research a company. How to write a Covering Letter: Writing a cover letter often seems like a particularly daunting task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you’ll soon be an expert at writing cover letters to send with your resume. A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resume ignored, so it makes good sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters. A cover letter should complement, not duplicate, your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.

Hardware and software Essays

Hardware and software Essays Hardware and software Essay Hardware and software Essay Essay Topic: Hard Times Keyboards: The keyboard is the most common used input device, and it is used to enter commands and key in data. The keyboard is divided into four parts; -The function keys over the top -The letter keys in the main section -The numeric pad on the right : -and finally the cursor movement and editing keys. Mouse: The mouse enables you to move the arrow cursor all over the page it is much easier to use the mouse then using the keyboard, you position the arrow on the item of your choice and press. Scanner: A scanner reads words, and pictures and then translates it into the pattern of light and dark into a digital camera and the computer stores it. The best type has to be the flat bed scanner which works in similar ways that to a photocopier. You put the page flat on the bed and then the sensor that like a photocopier, passes it translate into the computer. Digital camera: A digital camera is similar to a normal camera but thats only looks. The digital camera, instead of recording It, the camera converts light intensities into digital form that can be stored on a disk as a data file. Microphones: The microphones of a computer are just the same as of normal microphones. They are used with voice recognition or simply for the Internet so you can speak to the person on the other side. It takes spoken words and translates them into digital signals. Joystick: The joystick is used for playing games. It is used to move the (car, plane or person). Buttons on top and the side are used to perform such other moves of the (car, plane or person). They cant be used in programs like word-processing, spreadsheet or database, but are used in CAD (computer aided design) software. MAIN PROCESSOR UNIT: CPU: The central processing unit or (CPU) for short or microprocessor, is the computers main component that interprets and carries out the commands that are given to it. It can fetch, decode and execute any instruction, and transfers data from one computer to another. Memory: Memory is used to store the programs you use and is the working area that processes the current data (e.g: the letter you write or word-processing). It also comprises of ROM(read only memory) and RAM(random access memory). Storage: The size of data or (storage) capacity of a computer is measured in bytes. One byte contains 8 bits. Bits stand for binary digits and is the smallest unit of data that can be stored. There are six types of storage; Bit: Smallest unit of data with value of 1 or 0. Byte: Equal to 8 bits-approximately equivalent to one character. The letters a, b and c are represented in binary code by 0110 0001, 0110 0010 and 0110 0011. Kilobyte (kb): Equal to 1,024 bytes or 2 10. Megabyte (Mb): Equal to 1,048,576 2 20 (equivalent to approximately 500 double spaced pages of text). Gigabyte (GB): Equal to 1,073,741,824 bytes or 2 30 (equivalent to approximately half-million double spaced pages of text). Terabyte (TB): Equal to ~1,099,000,000,000 bytes or 2 40 Motherboard: The motherboard is the main printed circuit board of the computer, which usually forms the floor of the system. All the other parts of the computer like the CPU and the memory, these components are linked by buses which are etched into the motherboard. Ports: Ports are the sockets at the back of the main processor casing, which are used attach the peripheral devices (printer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc). Modem: Modem come built in computers mostly. If you want to use the internet or if you want to e-mail the modem helps to run both. A modem, or modulator/demodulator allows two computers to communicate through telephone lines. Network: Networks allow the sharing resources and data by users and, to access the network, each PC should be fitted with a network card. STORAGE DEVICES: Hard Drive: The hard drive is the storage area where all the applications software you use and documents you create are kept. It is also called the main memory of the computer. Floppy Drive: The floppy drive is a removable storage area which enables you to save files on to a floppy disk so that you can take data files between home and work etc. They are flat and are made of a substance called mylar. They have a magnetic surface which allows the recording of your data. Zip Drive: A zip drive is similar to a floppy drive but a zip drive works faster then a floppy drive a holds 100mb of data, thats 70 times more faster then a floppy drive. DVD Drive: DVD-ROM or (digital versatile disk, or disk read-only memory) is the same diameter as a CD but holds nearly 10 times the data. A DVD can hold between 4.7Gb and 15.9Gb data and, while it requires its own drive, the DVD drive can run the existing CDs. They have provided a way of watching digital-quality films or other entertainment. Backing up: Even if you save your work in a computer drive, you should keep the back-up copy. Most organisations would agree because they have large amounts of work to store so they do this process of backing up. OUTPUT DEVICEES: VDU: VDUs display images (characters or graphics) generated by the computers video adapter. The image on the screen is referred to as soft copy-you will lose it when the computer is turned off. Most VDUs use a cathode ray tube (CRT) which accounts for their size. Printers: when you need a hard copy of information on screen you will need a printer. The quality (or resolution) of the image is measured in dots per inch (or Dpi). The more dots per inch the more detailed the output. Laser printer use lasers to produce an image on an electrical charge and this is fixed by heat. Speakers: All computers come with speakers. The speaker will make a small beep to draw your attention e.g. when you have a error of some kind the computer will send this signal through the computer and you will see a message and a little beep to tell you whats happened. CABLES AND CONNECTORS: CABLES: The different components of a computer system are connected by the cables. CONNECTORS: Computers have connection signs to show the person where to put the wire in, e.g. if you were to look behind a tower case you can see the mouse sign to where you put in. SOFTWARE: Software is the set of instructions that run hardware, without it the hardware wont run. That is the difference between hardware and software. BOOTING: When we switch on a computer, we need to wait until it boots up before we can use it. The old saying is pull yourself up by your footsteps. OPERATING SYSTEMS: Operating systems (OS) are the software programs that control the use of hardware resources. For example; Central processing unit (CPU) time. The allocations and use of memory The allocation and use of disk space. The operation of peripheral devices, such as printers. APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE: Application are sometime referred to as packages or the programs that are used to run the computer. Word processing: Word processing enables you to manipulate text-based documents for example, you can enter text, edit and format it, change the presentation, etc. Spreadsheet: Spreadsheets are used to enter only numerical data like numbers, it is used to process numbers in a similar way to the word processing. They are used to enter formulaes into cells, they can also be used to make graphs. Databases: A database can contains data but produces information from this data as a result of the processes carried out within it. Foe example the data in a library would contain the names, addresses of all the members that is a example of data. Desktop Publishing: Purpose-written desktop publishing (DTP) software is more sophisticated than the word processing software. For example, the text for inclusion in a newsletter would be created in a word processing application, spell checked, edited and saved. Graphics: Graphics are computer-generated images, such as pictures or illustrations. The range of graphics software is extensive and you have probably come across images stored in word processing software (e.g. Clipart) and images created on the computer using lines and shapes (e.g. circles, rectangle, or square). Personal Organisers: Personal organisers are now useful tools in big organisations, they can be set up to offer prompts automatically to remind you of important dates and events and can also provide an easy reminder of your most used telephone numbers. E-mail: E-mail has gone popular as now people use it even more then before. It enables people to communicate over the globe. It has been designed so that people dont have to waste time writing a letter when they can easily send through the E-mail. E-mails are known to be legal documents, you can be prosecuted if you write something that could be construed as libellous. Utilities: These programs provide diagnostic and measurement routines that check the performance of your computer. An e.g. of this is Anti-virus software which is a utility program that can scan any files for any virus, it can also detect a virus as well. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES: Computers software is written in a programming language. Some are very complex and may require experts to use them. The two e.g. of these are C++ and Java. There are those languages which are produced by the computer automatically when writing macros. STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT: Before you can design or write a computer program, there are many stages of development that you must go through when doing this process, these are as follow; Analysis of the requirement what does the computer program need to achieve? Design of solution. Development of the program probably broken down the into small subprograms. Implementation and testing of the program, including training of the eventual users of the program. Preparation of documentation, which will include documentation relating to the actual program and documentation for the users (i.e. a users guide or manual). Ongoing maintenance and development of the program.

C. A. Tripps Book Asserts Abraham Lincoln was Gay

C. A. Tripp's Book Asserts Abraham Lincoln was Gay Was Abraham Lincoln gay?  In his  book The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln, historian C.A. Tripps  makes the case that Abraham Lincoln  was indeed gay and had several homosexual relationships throughout his life. However, the controversy surrounding the book overshadowed an important fact that Tripp revealed a fact even his harshest critics accept as true Ann Rutledge was not the love of Lincolns life. Tripps extensive new research proves it simply could not have been the case. And many experts, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln historian David Herbert Donald now concede it is so. A Firestorm of Debate As you might expect, Tripps book created a firestorm of debate most of it predictable along political lines. The left proclaimed a curious victory saying incorrectly that the book shows beyond all doubt that Lincoln was gay. The right responded angrily that Lincoln could not have been gay since he fathered four sons and they dismissed his so-called encounters as false and malicious. Tripp could not respond. He died two weeks after completing his book and one of the key elements of his work, proving that Lincoln and Rutledge were not star-crossed lovers, is in serious danger of being  ignored. Tripp told a friend shortly before he died that he knew the work would be controversial and that, while he believed he had made his case, he wanted each reader to draw his or her own conclusion. As the books editor, Lewis Gannett puts it: You get to a point where you just shake your head and say, How the hell did [Lincoln] do it? How did he save the union, survive the challenges of his troubled wife Mary, endure the deaths of two sons, preside over the bloodiest era of American history, all the while fending off widespread contempt, and in the end emerge a hero? A secretive, enigmatic, genius hero? With a manic and dirty sense of humor? Who had close and controversial relationships with other men his entire life? Lincoln is far from solved and probably never will be satisfactorily explained but Tripp has made the picture less murky. His accomplishment is stunning. Lincoln Loved Only One Woman And She Was Not Mary Todd For years, historians have assumed that Lincoln loved only one woman, Anne Rutledge and courted Mary Owens before marrying Mary Todd, whom he avoided whenever possible. Tripp, however asserts that Lincoln actually loved none of these women and has sex – though reluctantly only with his wife and mother of his children, Mary Todd. While it has never been proven, several historians contend that Mary Todd suffered from mental illness. â€Å"And it is true that Mary Lincolns actions, as reported by newspapers, often invited criticism from the public,† writes About 18th Century History Expert Robert McNamara. â€Å"She was known to spend money extravagantly, and she was often ridiculed for perceived haughtiness.† Intimate Relationships With Men Tripp contends his research into Lincoln’s private life suggests that his relationships with several men were more intimate  and possibly more sexual than those he had with any of the women he supposedly â€Å"loved.† For example, Tripp asserts that Lincoln shared a narrow  bed with Joshua Speed for at least four years  and that as president, he often shared the presidential bedroom with another man during the many times Mary Todd was â€Å"away.† Early Lincoln biographers, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, called Speed â€Å"The only as he was certainly the last intimate friend that Lincoln ever had.  In their analysis letters from Lincoln to Speed before and after Speed’s eventual marriage in 1842, Nicolay and Hay described Lincoln’s tone as â€Å"fretful,† like that of a military commander before a risky battle. Several of Lincoln’s letters were signed â€Å"Yours forever.†Ã‚   Through a plethora of letters and other personal data, Tripp’s book at least leaves the interpretation that Lincoln might have been gay. The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C.A. Tripp was published by the Free Press, a division of Simon Schuster.

How to Test for Protein in Food

How to Test for Protein in Food Protein is an essential nutrient that builds muscle in the body. Its also easy to test for. Heres how: Protein Test Materials Calcium oxide (sold as quicklime in building supply stores)Red litmus paper (or another method to test pH)Â  WaterCandle, burner, or another heat sourceEye-dropperTest tubeMilk or other foods to test Procedure Because milk contains casein and other proteins, its a good food to start your testing with. Once you understand what to expect from testing milk, you can examine other foods. Add a small amount of calcium oxide and five drops of milk to a test tube.Add three drops of water.Dampen the litmus paper with water. Water has a neutral pH, so it should not change the color of the paper. If the paper does change color, start again using distilled water rather than tap water.Carefully heat the test tube over a flame. Hold the damp litmus paper over the mouth of the test tube and observe any color change.If protein is present in a food, the litmus paper will change color from red to blue. Also, smell the test tube: If protein is present, you should be able to detect the odor of ammonia. Both of these indicate a positive test for protein. If protein is not present in the test sample (or is in insufficient concentration to produce adequate ammonia during testing), the litmus paper will not turn blue, resulting in a negative test for protein. Notes About the Protein Test Calcium oxide reacts with protein to break it down into ammonia. The ammonia changes the acidity of the sample, causing a pH change. If your food is already very alkaline, you wont be able to use this test to detect protein. Test the pH of food to see if it changes the litmus paper prior to performing the protein test.Milk is an easy food to test because its a liquid. To test solids, such as meat, cheese, or vegetables, you must first grind the food by hand or by using a blender. You may need to mix the food with some water to make a sample you can test.The test registers a change in pH, which is the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous or water-based solution. Most foods contain water, so they work fine for the test. However, oily foods may not work as well. You cant test pure vegetable oil, for example, because it doesnt contain any water. If you test greasy foods, such as french fries or potato chips, youll need to mash them up and mix them with a bit of water first.

Retail Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Retail Marketing - Essay Example Any organization works within the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental frameworks. ASDA operates in mature markets like US or UK. UK political environment is considerably stable and market is mature. In the mature market it becomes very crucial for the marketers for serving consumers in the best possible way so that consumer does not switch to competitors. Competition is high for the organization. As the figure below is drawn based on the data of MINTEL Tesco is leading market with  £ 29.99 bn sales. It is followed by Sainsbury and ASDA. ASDA according to the data is third in the row of Food retail market. This poses a challenge in front of it to reach at top level. Consumer has ability to pay and they are willing to pay. This is another important aspect of UK economy and market. â€Å"Food, drink and tobacco remain the core supermarket products, even though larger stores have expanded far beyond such basics. Spending on food, drink and tobacco in 2005 was  £95.1 billion (incl. VAT – around  £92.7 billion excl. VAT). Other important areas for the supermarkets are health & beauty ( £12.2 billion excl. VAT) and cleaning products ( £3.1 billion, excl. VAT).† (Mintel) Social-cultural factors are important as it describes the products and services which will be demanded. Technologically environment for UK market is one of the best markets in the world. All the new and latest technologies are available for food storage facilities, preparation and others. Food retailing requires meeting the legal perspectives and government guidelines of selling eatables and food items such as Food Standards Agency (FSA), UKs Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995 and others. Environmental factors have become one of the major concerns of UK society. Due to this factor it is a pressure on organisations as well to keep their operations not only be take care of environmental

The Management of The Hotel Olympia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Management of The Hotel Olympia - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the management in the hotel will improve on the existing accounting systems as well as be coming up with a work breakdown structure (WBS) in order to define the employees discrete work elements in such a way that it will help organize as well as define the total work scope of the project. The management as part of the project will also apply the top-down strategic planning to ensure that the hotel can compete effectively in the global market. The hotels back office accounting systems had been computerized years ago for the effective functioning of the business and this needs a number of improvements. The front desk functions like the reservations check in and check outs are a mixture of word processor template to produce bills as well as spreadsheets for room bookings and they are usually printed manually every day. The management, therefore, feels important to integrate more systems to avoid manual work and increase efficiency. When ord ering food from the restaurant and drinks from the bar and restaurant, it becomes quite unreliable. With advanced knowledge of bookings would try to ease ordering and booking and with a computerized ordering system which would allow stocks of food to be minimized would reduce food wastage and allow for considerable savings. The Olympia games will be held in the region in three months time and we should take advantage of this great opportunity to expand the ordering and bookings systems since most of the customers would like to book for our services online. The hotel will triple its residency for the period of the games and for several months afterward. Extensive marketing will also be done and the following include the marketing strategies the management will apply.

Design and analysis of lean maufacturing Case Study

Design and analysis of lean maufacturing - Case Study Example The reputation for quality is what keeps Elba afloat with a select base of customers, albeit with those customers increasingly coming from remote areas relative to the location of the plant. It is the remoteness of the current remaining customer base that has caused the company to incur a growing cost base in inventory as well as in distribution. These two items have grown by 12 percent and 10 percent respectively over the past three years. In absolute terms too, distribution has come to almost equal labor costs and has come to account for the second largest share of costs after labor, and only marginally smaller than labor costs at $11.1 million. Inventory costs, meanwhile, have come to equal materials costs, and with the rate of growth of inventory costs is poised to overtake materials costs. On the other hand, the move to Southeast Asia would chop 30 percent from distribution costs, and 60 percent from labor costs. Assuming all other costs remain the same, that would translate to savings of about $7 million in labor costs yearly and $3.33 million in distribution costs per year. Given though that clients are distributed in equal measure by volume outside of Asia, there might be minimal to no savings in distribution costs. ... It is likely that Elba will lose more customers with the move, and may continue to suffer from a profit squeeze as they lose the quality differentiation. The question is whether this planned move is wise, or whether a justification can be made to retain the plant that does not entail preserving the status quo but going about rejuvenating the product lines and making use of the available skilled and experienced talent to innovate and come up with higher-margin products (â€Å"Case Study 4.8 Elba Electronics† 128-129). II. Background Information From a financial point of view, the current state of affairs at Elba Electronics is unsustainable, and is ripe for change. That, or the trajectory is for Elba to continually grow its costs for distribution and inventory and therefore go deeper in the red. Earnings have shrunk by five percent over the past three years, and is already thin as of the time of the planned closure of the plant. The move would significantly bolster margins by r educing the biggest cost items in labor and in distribution as stated in the case, by 60 percent and 30 percent respectively, The FCP seems to have established a good case for the plant closure, but their analysis also seems to suffer from a blindside, and that is with regard to the effect of the move on demand, and on margins. This is an opening that John James can analyze and exploit, to bolster the case for a different kind of plan that does not entail moving manufacturing to Southeast Asia but doubling down on innovation to produce higher margin products (â€Å"Case Study 4.8 Elba Electronics† 128-129). III. Problem Statement Does the move to Southeast Asia and the closure of the Elba plant justified by financial and non-financial considerations? How does

High school graduation student commencement speech Essay - 1

High school graduation student commencement speech - Essay Example Does it really matter whether you realized your dream even after sleeping it all? Not at all, do not be caught unawares but go for what you desire. There is nothing more important that planning for the futures’ uncertainty. Time to act is today so act today leap tomorrow. You are the only person you will spend most of your life with, not your spouse or guardian, prepare your joy, hate yourself and you will spend a lifetime with yourself as your own enemy. I will echo what most prominent people have been telling you and again, it is very challenging to remain alive and conscious in the wider world in our daily routines. The most curious and great truth in an individual’s experience is no other but that selflessness becomes the best reward you can grant your personality. Get the full experience and give it your full attention by doing each thing at its own and appropriate time. Note, I am not a prophet but I urge you to desist from distraction from sounds or sights, tasks and thoughts, instead, redirect your consciousness to the initial activity. Your frustrations must always meet the scales of a high threshold, fight on. When you want anything gather determination, don’t stop knocking on all necessary does even way after your knuckles bleed. Let them slam doors in your faces. Keep the smile high above your head. I does not matter where you fell or when but what caused it and how you plan to recover. Stand up shake off that dust and knock once more. That is the only way man will beat the odds in this life. Stay true to your passion and yourself, define your path and avoid those drafted for you by others, it is your life. Action is my word for the day. Choose either to be tagged as circumstance’s passive victim or an active hero to yourself. Had I not shed a tear of joy before I got here this morning, I would shed it again here. It has come the time that I cannot avoid any longer; I am now expected to

How privatization of police and community policing have changed law Term Paper

How privatization of police and community policing have changed law enforcement - Term Paper Example With no rules to govern them, private police also become intrusive. In order to achieve law enforcement without compromising on right to security and without intrusions, extensive propagation of community police model can help. Many people consider law enforcement as synonymous with policing. In the late 20th century, the systems of law enforcement and crime control in many modern nations have undergone a paradigm shift. For many centuries, government employed police had the responsibility of enforcing law. Early 1980s saw the evolution of pluralized policing; apart from government employed police or public police, private security personnel, and communities started offering paid and voluntary police services, respectively (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). They have affected law enforcement to such an extent that many new definitions of the word police include these forms of police service as well. In order to understand how these systems have changed law enforcement, we shall consider the evolution of these systems, law enforcement in these systems, their limitations, and possible solutions. Private police or private security is not a new concept — since ancient times groups of mercenaries have been selling their services, be it as guards, as warriors, or as bounty hunters. Before World War II, this system had an unfavorable reputation, viewed as motley gangs of heavies hired either to spy or to use illegal force. Both civilians and the police considered them a "dangerous and unauthorized intrusion by private interests into a government preserve" (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). With increasing crime rates in the 20th century, overburdened police forces and the public began to consider them a necessity. Since 1980s, many governments have started to outsource to private security agencies (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). Today, private police outnumber public police in many nations, including in the United States. Community policing on the other hand is a

'How has the study of literature changed over the last 100 years' Essay

'How has the study of literature changed over the last 100 years' - Essay Example Literature had and always will define the life style of people in any nation at all. It used to be written by people who felt for the society, who wanted to improve the society or define the society’s good points and bad points. They were also the ones understood the need of the society. The people of the societies, usually American, and English in general were the ones who used to like parties, and social dinners. They usually were people who lived in the countryside, were ruled by the kings and queens, fought wars on the horses, were pirates, sailed in ships for long journeys lasting for days, liked romance, long walks on the grass in the evening, horse-riding, playing the piano, writing and reading poetry, and dancing. They were also the people who ballet danced. Quite a handful was able to go to educational institutions – colleges and universities. War was prevalent in most of the countries and continents over the capture of land power and wealth. These wars were fo ught on horse- backs, with swords and spears, and took days and days on end to end. The people who went to war had little or no hope of returning. And the people who stayed back awaited their return without hope. There was no contact or correspondence during that time-frame. People had to wait days for a letter to arrive. And to feel connected many wrote and read literature which described to them, battles and sea, and different places, just so they would feel connected and belonging. All these events gave rise to the fashion of writing and reading literature and poetry, ads the society was taken over by pain, loss, hurt, wait, anticipation , romance, tranquility, so almost of the accounts were written down so people would entertain themselves in time of loneliness and pain. These account of literature and poetry defined it all to them. The lonely housewives and the growing up teenage girls used to read romance novels and it used to help them fantasize about a prince charming that w ould come one day and lift them off their feet and sweep them away with him. The sailors used to study literature on their time away from home so that they didn’t feel the absence of home and their wives. All this was provided to them via literature. With the passage of time the people who went to the universities and colleges discovered new ways of communication. The telephone was discovered and was becoming common-place. People now did not have to wait for days o talk to loved ones. Literature was now only left to describe places and romance and battles. Soon the telephone turned into hand held cell-phones, and alongside, the computer technology came into being. People relied less and less on literature to tell them about battles. The computer became abundant and the people found it easy to what videos from all around the world, instead of reading them from a book. Social parties were growing lesser as the class of rich people started to fall in number and blended into the middle class. People did not go for long wars, too far off places. Wars were also not fought on horse backs and certainly not with any swords and knives, but instead with nuclear numbs. These were, very literally, machines of death. So much so that people did not like to write or read about it. Literature was now only limited to romance. By the turn of the century, electronic media became the soul of the people. Whatever was required was found either on a computer, or on a high-speed internet cable, or in a smart-phone. People who liked to

How privatization of police and community policing have changed law Term Paper

How privatization of police and community policing have changed law enforcement - Term Paper Example With no rules to govern them, private police also become intrusive. In order to achieve law enforcement without compromising on right to security and without intrusions, extensive propagation of community police model can help. Many people consider law enforcement as synonymous with policing. In the late 20th century, the systems of law enforcement and crime control in many modern nations have undergone a paradigm shift. For many centuries, government employed police had the responsibility of enforcing law. Early 1980s saw the evolution of pluralized policing; apart from government employed police or public police, private security personnel, and communities started offering paid and voluntary police services, respectively (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). They have affected law enforcement to such an extent that many new definitions of the word police include these forms of police service as well. In order to understand how these systems have changed law enforcement, we shall consider the evolution of these systems, law enforcement in these systems, their limitations, and possible solutions. Private police or private security is not a new concept — since ancient times groups of mercenaries have been selling their services, be it as guards, as warriors, or as bounty hunters. Before World War II, this system had an unfavorable reputation, viewed as motley gangs of heavies hired either to spy or to use illegal force. Both civilians and the police considered them a "dangerous and unauthorized intrusion by private interests into a government preserve" (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). With increasing crime rates in the 20th century, overburdened police forces and the public began to consider them a necessity. Since 1980s, many governments have started to outsource to private security agencies (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). Today, private police outnumber public police in many nations, including in the United States. Community policing on the other hand is a

Iron Mineral Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Iron Mineral - Essay Example The test should be conducted when symptoms of either an overload or deficiency of iron are noted. Iron-deficiency (anemia) symptoms include weakness, headaches, dizziness, tiredness (chronic fatigue) and pallor/pale skin. On the other hand, iron-overload symptoms include loss of sex drive, weight loss, and abdominal pain, loss of body hair, fatigue, heart problems, and joint problems It measures the iron-binding capacity. It is not a commonly used method because it requires immunologic measurement, a costly and time-consuming procedure that most clinical laboratories cannot afford. It arises when there is an iron overload in human being’s body. Ferrous iron has toxicity effect that varies largely in line with the integrity of gastrointestinal lining. The amount consumed gives clue on the potential of toxicity. If a person takes an elemental iron ingestion of more than 50mg/kg, severe toxicity is bound to arise. When blood values are taken, levels exceeding 1000 Â µg/dL are a clear indication of severe iron poisoning while those between 350-500 Â µg/dL are considered toxic. c) After a length of more than two weeks since poisoning, damage to stomach, liver and central nervous system may occur. Adverse effects of iron poisoning include diarrhea, constipation, gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, and vomiting. To avoid iron poisoning adhere to the following tolerable levels. Reference/Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) is a system that outlines the daily intake levels of nutrients, minerals and vitamins to match the requirements of 97-98% of healthy individuals (National Research Council, 2009). RDI recommends intake of sufficient amount of iron equivalent to 18 grams per day based on diet of individuals because iron is a crucial element in the body. RDA (recommended dietary allowances) and AI (adequate intake) are reference values provided by RDI. RDA gives the daily dietary intake level of a mineral/ nutrient that

Describe the performance of characteristics of eggs Essay Example for Free

Describe the performance of characteristics of eggs Essay Egg white and yolk contain protein. Ovalbumin is present in egg white, however globulin and albumin are also present in a very small amount. Whereas egg yolk contains protein in the form of lipoproteins, which are a combination of proteins and lipids. The most important complex lipid in egg yolk is lecithin. Lecithin gives the egg yolk the properties of a stable emulsion. The fat molecules in the egg yolk are held in an emulsion by lecithin. Eggs have three main performance characteristics and they a coagulation, which includes setting, binding, coating, thickening, enriching and glazing, secondly they can be whisked to create foams and aerate mixtures and called aeration and lastly emulsifiers. Coagulation is the process in which proteins change from their natural liquid state into a gel or a solid. This happens because each protein molecule is constructed from long chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. The bonds are weak and when heat, acid or mechanical action is applied they start to break. The changes are permanent. When the protein changes it physical structure when it coagulates is called denaturation. Syneresis can occur when the egg is overcooked. This is when the texture becomes porous as the protein shrinks and pockets of water are left in the product. Between 60-65C is the temperature which egg whites start to coagulate and the result of this the egg white changes appearance from transparent like to white and the texture will be from gel like to solid texture. Egg yolk starts to coagulate at a higher temperature than egg white, it begins coagulating at 65C and finish at 70C. From the darker yellow appearance of the egg yolk it will turn into a lighter yellow yolk and from runny yolk it can go to powdery solid yolk. There are a number of factors that will affect coagulation. A firmer set can be achieved at a lower temperature if an acid such as lemon juice is added. A looser set and higher coagulation temperature is achieved by the addition of sugar to the mixture. The quantity of egg yolk determines the strength of the set mixture. A higher proportion of egg yolks or whole eggs will produce firmer or thicker custard. A low heat achieves gentle heat transference, which produce perfect conditions for a coagulation. Aeration is when egg white is whisked. Foam is formed when air is dispersed through the liquid egg white. Egg whites can be aerated due to the ability of the ovalbu, in to stretch and hold air. When egg whites is whisked the proteins are denatures and uncoil. This forms a 3D air / liquid structure that can hold air when folded into food mixtures. The foam is stable but its properties can be affected by the use of additional ingredients or conditions. First factor that can affect foam formation is salt. It decreases the pH of the egg white and this increases the resistance to foam, so the time taken to foam is increased. It gives the foam more stable and it enhances the flavour. Second factor is sugar. Sugar interferes with the bonds that form as the egg whites uncoil. Therefore the whisking time is increased and the resulting foam is denser, however the foam is more stable. This factor is commonly used for meringues. Fat affects foam formation. Fat such as egg yolk prevents new bonds being formed in the structure. Fourthly alkalis will increase the pH of the foam, decreasing the foaming time but making the foam stable. Lastly will be acids. Acids such as tartaric and acetic will soften the foam. Because the fat in the egg yolk, it inhibits the aeration recipes are usually for egg whites. However sponge cakes do use whole eggs. They are whisked with sugar over a pan of hot water (double boiler method) it works because the whisking action causes the proteins to denature and the heat causes coagulate resulting in stable form. Emulsion is formed when one liquid is dispersed in the small droplets into a second liquid with which it will not normally mix. Egg yolk has emulsification properties, which means it has the ability to hold large quantities of fat in an emulsion. Lecithin is present in egg yolk, which has a hydrophobic (water hating) component and hydrophilic (water loving) component. Eggs have many other functions. An egg can give additional thickness to sauces; it can also be use as binding and coating agent. Eggs can also be used as an egg washed or sometimes called glazing and commonly used for the top of pastries and breads. It also add colour and enrichment.

The Acid Rain Issue Essay -- essays research papers fc

Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with, but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being done to help to stop this problem. This topic is very important because acid rain effects everyone everywhere all over the world.I. What is acid rain?Acid rain is the combination of two chemicals released into the atmosphere. These chemicals are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox). Natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation and plankton are all contributors to acid rain, but burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil which are referred to as dry emissions are largely to blame for more than half of the emissions into the world. 2 Nationally, one hundred and twenty tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted into the air each day.4A. How is acid rain formed?When the sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. It then becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and falls back down to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog. 1 Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, converting more sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid. The following are the stoichiometric equations for the formation of sulphuric acid:S (in coal) + O2 ? SO22 SO2 + O2 ? 2 SO3SO3 + H2O ? H2SO4Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from power stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulphur dioxide, these nitrogen dioxides also rise into the air and are oxidized in the clouds to form nitric acid. Through this diagram you can better understand how acid rain is formed and emitted into the earth:II. Effects of acid rainAcid rain causes problems in almost every aspect of the environment. Acid rain can have a devastating effect on aquatic life, crops, forests, buildings, and also human life. A. The human environmentAcid rain has a multiplicity of effects in the human environment. The corrosion of limestone buildings in towns ... ... Pennsylvania. These and thousands of other organizations strive to educate the community about the acid rain problem and would be more than happy to send you information about what you can do to help. BibliographyLeslie R. Alm, "Scientists and the Acid Rain policy in Canada and the US." Science, Technology, and Human Values, 1997, 349"Acid Rain: Bad News About The Good News" Business Week, 25 October 1999, 95Anne E. Smith, Jeremy Platt, A. Denny Ellerman, "The cost of reducing SO2: It’s (higher than you think)" Public Utilities Fortnightly, 15 May 1998, 22"Acid Rain-A Definition" <a href="http://www.qlink.queensu.ca">http://www.qlink.queensu.ca"Whats being done? What is Europe and the UN-ECE doing?" <a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain">http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain"Acid Rain: The Facts" <a href="http://www.brixworth.demon.co.uk">http://www.brixworth.demon.co.ukDepartment od Enviormental Protection, "Acid Rain In Pennsylvania" <a href="http://www.dep.state.pa.us">http://www.dep.state.pa.usChuck, "Acid Rain" ChuckIII’s College Resources

A Good Man is Hard To Find: “Good” When Faced With Conflict Essay examp

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there are eighty-one entries for the small and seemingly simple word, â€Å"good.† The first definition given defines â€Å"good† as an adjective meaning â€Å"of a favorable character or tendency† ("Good"). In this case a â€Å"good person† must be someone who exhibits those qualities of â€Å"favorable character.† In the world of today, a subject of much debate has been the concept of what qualifies a person as a â€Å"good person.† In Flannery O’Connor’s short story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† the unnamed grandmother struggles to discover an individual with the traits of a â€Å"good person† both in others and ultimately, in herself. This is apparent when the grandmother suddenly repents and her â€Å"good† qualities show when the Misfit has a gun pointed to her head. â€Å"Good† qualities are found in a person if he is faced with a confli ct. Flannery O'Connor uses dark humor, grotesque characters and situations, and religious themes to lead the readers to an epiphany about their faith and their belief in God. Flannery O'Connor uses dark humor and grotesque situations to grasp the reader’s attention. O’Connor was born into a Catholic family in the predominantly Protestant Georgia. She learned shortly after her college education was complete that she suffered from lupus, an autoimmune disease that had killed her father ten years earlier (Meyer). She uses the dark humor and the grotesque characters and situations because she felt that people were actually truer and became â€Å"good† people when faced with conflicting situations. Her characters experience horrific moments that eventually leads to an epiphany. The belief in miracles and the â€Å"good† in people is what all people want to discover in others, but for many ... ...rary Journal 36.1 (2003): 46+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. "Good." 1a. Merriam-Webster. Online ed. 2012. N. pag. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. Hendricks, T.W. "Flannery O'Connors' 'Spoiled Prophet'." Modern Age 51.3-4 (2009): 202+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. Meyer, Michael. Introduction. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. 362-67. Print. O'Connor, Flannery. "A Good Man is Hard to Find." The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. 367-77. Print. Owens, Mitchell. "The Function of Signature in 'A Good Is Hard to Find.'." Studies in Short Fiction 33.1 (Winter 1996): 101-106. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 61. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Mar. 2012.

Case Study: of Nike Company Ltd: Question 1

Question 1 a) In the late 1990s Nike found itself in a serious situation with its manufacturing approach in Asia. -Select and apply one of Porter’s models of strategy to explain why Nike were manufacturing in Asia? Michael Porter, leading author on company strategy and competitive advantage, has developed several generic strategies which, according to Porter, are the driving force behind any given company’s success. These strategies comprise of Cost Leadership, Differentiation and Focus. It is Porter’s view that any company that positions itself in at least one of these categories or striving to achieve one of these strategies should be able to attain and maintain competitive advantage, ceteris paribus. Nike Inc. has enjoyed a great deal of success in the Global Sports and Clothing Industry. One may even go as far to say it is the â€Å"cream of the crop† or â€Å"a cut above the rest†. One may also wonder if any of Porter’s strategies can be applied to explain or justify Nike’s competitive advantage. The Strategy of Cost Leadership is most applicable to Nike. It is also safe to say that this strategy was the deciding factor behind its’ manufacturing operations in Asia. Nike has no factories. It does not tie up cash in buildings and machinery. The evolving design and style of its products does not warrant this type of investment. Instead, it outsources labour. Nike has manufactured wherever it can produce high quality products at the lowest possible price. This makes a very lean organization and paves the way for the achievement of ultimate cost effectiveness. If prices rise, and products can be made elsewhere at a cheaper rate, to the same or better specification, Nike will move production. Porter’s cost leadership strategy concentrates on aiming to become the lowest cost producer in the industry through economies of scale. The cost leader aims to drive costs down while it targets a broad market, so sufficient sales can cover costs. Figure 1. is a representation of Porter’s matrix which has been applied to the Nike Inc. By manufacturing in Asia, Nike was able to capitalize, not only on the availability of cheap labor, but also the availability of a wide range of materials required for production. The abundance of raw materials would mean large quantities of high quality purchased at wholesale prices. This enabled Nike to have tremendous purchasing power in Asia due to the high value of the US dollar. Nike also benefited from the relatively low tariffs associated with leather olded footwear. Nike would have never enjoyed these luxuries if its manufacturing was conducted in its homeland Another factor to consider is the size of the labor force. Nike, through contracts, indirectly employed thousands around the world. This would ultimately result in the manufacturing of massive quantities in quick time. The higher the product turnover, the higher the returns. All these ingredients are paramount and will inevitably yield a cost leader, a. k. a. , Nike Inc.

Why I Love South Africa

South Africa bubbles with wonderful, culturally diverse people. A colourful array of different foods, religions, beliefs and traditions are blended together to make up the amazing nation of the republic of South Africa It is, arguably (and ironically), one of the most liberal, free, and constitutionally healthy democracies in the Western World – and, most certainly, in Africa. To have achieved this after hundreds of years of the most brutal repression and trashing of human rights – 15 years of true democracy, is nothing if not a monumental achievement. Then there are the challenges – yes, South Africa has many. But that’s what makes it exciting to be here. To be part of facing these challenges and (re)building a country . The people – ALL the people – are just great. There are simply no sacred cows in South Africa any more. Anything and everything can and is being discussed openly. Only once you have been to a South African braai, the beach in December, the bustling cities zig-zaged by taxis, a game park and met our vibrant inhabitants can you under. Where else in the world can you go from Oceans and Mountains, through beautiful vinyards and into arid desert, from open bushveld, to tropical forest. Where else can you find such a diversity of people that 11 official languages are required. South Africa is a country rich with resources, cultures and geographies and few countries the size of South Africa can boast such diversity. But none of this matters, if it doesn’t feel like home, and thats why I love SA. Its home. This is the home of ubuntu. For those of you who don't know, it basically means a spirit of community and sharing and kindness. Here’s to the glorious South African sunsets and the great blue African skies. Here’s to the rich wildlife and the friendly, happy people. Here’s to melktert and koeksusters, mampoer, bobotie, sosaties, amasi, isidudu, chutney and bunny chow, vetkeok and malva pudding. Here’s to a melting pot of cultures, coming together in one home under one roof – Indians, Chinese, Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Afrikaans, the San bushmen, English†¦ Here’s to Shaka Zulu, Nelson Mandela, Charlize Theron, Freek Robinson, Riaan Crywagen, Natalie du Toit, Makhaya Ntini and the man on the street. Here’s to the Drakensburg, Table Mountain, The Tsitsikama forests in Knysna, the Garden Route, the warm Indian ocean intermingling with the cool Atlantic, the dry escarpment of Gauteng and the Great Karoo. Here’s to every different season and landscape contained in one immensely beautiful country.

Communication and Young People Essay

1. Explain why effective communication is important in developing positive relationship with * Children * Young People * Adults Communication is the basis of any relationship, without it we could not obtain or relay information to overcome any conflicts or get anything done. To have effective communication we must treat everyone as individuals and adapt accordingly. Not just verbal communication but tone of voice, body language and eye contact are all important. When communicating with children and young people it important to come to their level as this will make them feel more comfortable and that you are not dictating down to them. It is important to listen to what the child or young person has to say, and if a question was asked respond correctly, as this allows them to feel accepted and valued. This encourages them to trust you and then they will more likely to confide in you. It is also important for kids that we model effective communication skills and we check are behaviour even at stressful times, this encourages them to behave the same way and helps them understand what is expected of them. Positive relationships with adults are important to create good learning environment, and therefore obtain the children full potential. In order to create this the staff member must communicate with each other about lessons, activities and pupil’s progress; this will ensure each pupil receives the best possible care. Communicating with parents is essential as this enables you to obtain information that may affect the child .It is also essential to keep parents up to date with upcoming events with the school, great way to do this is weekly newsletter and more recently sending text messages as reminders. Also parents that have a positive experience in the school are more likely to give support. 2. Explain the principles of relationship building with * Children * Young people * Adults When building relationships with others it is important that they feel comfortable in our company, as they are more likely to communicate effectively. We normal build relationships without even thinking about it, a great way to undertake effective relationship building is to take time to listen to other people, show that you are interested in what they are saying and respond appropriately. Remember issues which are personal to them and always be considerate and show respect ensuring that you acknowledge their views. Make sure that you be clear on key points when giving other information, but always maintain a sense of humour as laughter can be a great icebreaker and a good way to relieve stress. When building relationships with child and young people it is important we are good role models as positive interactions encourages the child to demonstrate positive behaviour also. These positive interactions also allow the child to feel settled and therefore will find it easier to learn. In order to create these positive relationships each child need to feel special  this involves Security, Praise, Encouragement, Communication, Interaction Acceptance and Love. We must encourage children and young people to recognise and express their feelings in a constructive way. Children often have conflicting situations such as wanting the same toy or choosing team members, we must try and overcome these by being assertive as this helps children and young people understand how they would be able to resolve their differences amicably. Building relationships with adults is important we must make them feel welcome and be approachable; we must be respectful of their cultural and religious differences and beliefs and use words and expression they understand and be considerate of any personal issues and always make sure that you take time to listen and respond appropriately. 3. Explain how * Social background * Professional background * Cultural background Affect relationship and the way people communicate. When we are faced with a different situation we adapt our communication accordingly, most people do this automatically, and the more we deal with different situations the better we become at alternating our behaviour to help communicate positively and effectively. When communicating with others we have many factors and difficulties to overcome. We have to adapt our skills to overcome these difficulties; as if they were not conquered they may affect relationship building. Each relationship is individual, which is the reason why they take so long to form as they have to be worked upon to gain mutual respect and trust. When outside factors within society affect communication, we need to respect the values and principles of each person, we must ensure we do not stereotype the individual regardless of their social professional and cultural background. Language is not the only form of communication, it the way we respond to others through electronic mail or phone messages, how attentive we are and also how we dress and present ourselves. When in a more formal setting for example attending a meeting we should use more formal language and behaviour. When communicating with other staff about pupils it must be given in a professional matter and in an appropriate place away from others. Difficulties may arise when communicating with parent that have hearing impairment or physical disability that could affect their hearing ability, you should ensure that you face them and talk slowly and clearly so they can lip read or have a staff member that can sign language. Another difficultly that can arise is if the parent speaks little or no English, when communicating you must talk slowly clearly and ensure that you don’t use local dialects or expression that they may not understand, if that does not work having a bilingual staff member to translate so that they can feel included. If the area is multi-cultural we must consider their beliefs and norms which includes of eye contact, body language and gestures as these could lead to misinterpretation concerning cultural difference. 4. Explain the skills needed to communicate with * Children * Young people When communicating with anyone it is important that they are being treated as an individual and that their contribution is valued otherwise they are less likely to initiate a conversation. Some children and young people are lacking confidence when speaking to adults therefore finding sufficient time to allow them to talk. We must use eye contact and actively listen, making sure they are getting attention. With young children it’s a good idea to come down to their level, use body language such as smiling and nodding and reacting positively to what they are saying. We should encourage the children to keep talking by responding or asking questions, this will also show them how to have further two way conversations and may encourage them to ask more questions as this is how they learn. When communicating with children and young people we must ensure that we use appropriate languages; words and sentences they will understand. We must make sure that we are giving a clear message and check that they understand. If your asked a question you must answer to the best of your ability and to suit the age of the child or young person .Alternatively if the answer is unknown you could suggest alternative method of finding out for example internet or book, and you could help them to find it out. 5. Explain how to adapt communication with children and young people for * Age of the child or young person * The context of the communication * Communication differences When communication within the school you will deal with children and young people of all ages, cultures and abilities, they need to feel valued and your interaction should this. In order to accomplish this we must adapt our communication and behaviour, through positive communication and behaviour with classroom assistants and other staff member it shows them they are a part of the school community. We are required to adapt our vocabulary depending on the age of the child or young person. The level of attention will vary with their age. With younger children, especially when starting school more reassurance is need, however as they mature they may need to talk through problems and identify feelings. When asked a question we must consider how simplified it must be for them to understand, the context of the answer will vary depending on this. The older they are the more technical answer is normally required. In different situation the way in which we communicate will vary, when working on learning activity it is important to get children to focus, this will enable them to learn new things efficiently, any distractions need dealt with before they become an interruption. When in the playground or more social environment it can be used to develop positive friendly relationship while still maintaining professional carer to child relationship. Children and young people may have some difficulties when communicating with others, we must ensure care and sensitively is used when dealing with these situations and the child or young person feels unpressured and they will take their time. If the child or young person has difficulties communicating we must find a way of dealing with it for example if they are hearing impaired, face them directly and talk slowly and clearly. If English is not their first language talk slowly and avoid using local dialect.

On the debate surrounding legislation for same-sex couples Essay

On the debate surrounding legislation for same-sex couples - Essay Example From the research it can be comprehended that a same-sex partner residing with his/her partner is considered to be a cohabitee. Such an arrangement causes the person to have no rights invested in the property and the risk of homelessness is very real should separation occur. Cohabitants possess no statutory rights to occupation; such rights are only claimable through the use of equitable principles such as trusts or proprietary estoppels. The court indeed has shown a desire to rule in a manner that prevents injustice, though this is a far cry from the positive rights that are granted to married couples. The courts have indeed expressed a need as well as a desire for Parliament to reform the law in cases such as Hammond v Mitchell and Stack v Dowden. Many ask why, if the law is prepared to assign the same rights to same-sex couples and married couples, it does not simply allow the former to enjoy the institutions of marriage. The same need for reform is evident in the law in relation to children. While the Children Act 1989 defines parental responsibility in a gender-neutral manner, it is most often the case that the mother of a child born out of wedlock is given automatic parental rights. How does this fare when applied to same-sex couples who are parents? It is clearly recognised that â€Å"the legal definition of families has changed over time†. This is evident in, as has been stated, the change in social attitudes towards the institution of marriage, the birth of children out of wedlock, and the rights of unmarried couples. The law, although it has greatly moved forward in relation to heterosexual partnerships, has been reluctant to codify any such similar approach to same-sex couples. The courts have attempted as far as is possible to interpret the law in a manner that allows unmarried couples (heterosexual and same-sex) to be granted the same, or similar rights to married couples. In other decisions, the court has clearly expressed a desire for legi slation which gives them the freedom to positively grant same-sex couples the same rights as married couples, recognising that this needs an extension of the law of civil marriage to same-sex couples. In the case of Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association (2000), the House of Lords recognised that the definition of family has increasingly become a legal concept. While the couple in the case were not married, the court could not class them as family, yet it expressed a need to reform the law to allow

Trade Theories assignment How Trade Shaped the World

Trade Theories How Trade Shaped the World - Assignment Example The policies that government made to protect business came in many forms and in varying degrees. State could use their power to finance new business, permit or disable monopolies, impose tariffs, prohibit a wide range of contraband, control labour, and if necessary blockade competing nation. The Europeans, the Asians and the Arabs all recognized the importance of shipping as a means to promote and protect export, though none took it as such an extreme as the European powers. On export power, the mercantilist policies were based on the notion that if a nation could expand its imports of gold by exporting goods, it would thereby deprive its rival nation of gold needed to protect a nation commerce, gold simply bought more protection. The argument persisted in Europe into 18th century until the convincing argument of Adam Smith and David Ricardo demonstrated the values of specialization and comparative economic advantage. A number of factors led to the decline and end of the great period of mercantilism. By 1860, England had dismantled its mercantilist legal structure and risen to power as the undisputed ruler of both the newly industrialized world and its seas. In the modern age, the mercantilist spirit has re-emerged in the form of numerous non-tariff barriers that the free market nation employ to protect very specific industries. The export/import licensing, quarantines, and trading blocs are now manifesting as mercantile protectionism. In many of the closed and semi closed economies of the world e.g. Cuba and China protection of domestic producers is still very strong (Bernstein, 2012) Free trade principles were broadly appealing in an export-driven colonial economy long before publication of Adams Smiths Wealth of Nation revolutionary patriot who mobilized against British imperial trade regulation. Dismantling colonial monopoly would

Reducing Juvenile Delinquency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Reducing Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example This paper seeks to illustrate various aspects associated with juvenile delinquency and measures taken to lower the prevalence rates. Juvenile delinquency illustrates a violation of the law committed by a person under the legal age, but surpasses parental control, and thus is subject to legal action. Such violations of the law are not punishable by death or life imprisonment, but dwell on rehabilitating the offenders to become law-abiding citizens. Institutions such as juvenile detention centers and courts assist in dispensation of legal interventions based on specified procedures in the legal system. Furthermore, a juvenile delinquent is an under aged person who has been found guilty of a crime, and is protected by the law as a minor; hence cannot bear the responsibility for the crime (Snyder and Sickmund, 2006). The age of criminal responsibility may be lowered in accordance with the nature and seriousness of the crime. This would imply that the individual could be tried as an adult. Negative behaviors among children and young adults translate into juvenile delinquency. Juvenile delinquency has the potential of creating significant social disorder. Past and recent surveys have indicated that a high percentage of children and adolescents engage in activities that are in violation of the law. The reality of the situation is illustrated in the drop in the average age of first arrests made among young people. This can be attributed to the common notion that juvenile offences are normative adolescent behaviors. However, repeated or chronic offenders are most likely to carry on with the trend away from adolescence and turn into criminal elements or outlaws. At a tender age, delinquent behavior involves minor theft, but can evolve to violent acts involving the use of weapons as the individual nears the statutory age. Other delinquent behaviors include bullying, truancy,

A chance meeting and exciting news Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

A chance meeting and exciting news - Essay Example In addition, there new partnership opportunity offers Per Diem expenses and travel allowances that are paid by the client, meaning that the there will be minimal or even no business expenses that the partners will have to meet at their personal cost. While this opportunity seems to be very promising, there is one major worry though. The fact that the new prospective engineering consulting company has secured a contract for 12 months only poses the danger of the likelihood of a future job and financial crisis, on the event that the contract is not renewed. This would mean that the three partners would be left jobless and without a source of finance to support their lives. Consequently, it is important that a concrete plan is laid down to ensure that the new engineering consulting opportunity goes beyond the single contract that has been secured into a fully-fledged engineering consulting entity that will obtain more contracts from different clients. This way, the future of the new opportunity will be secured, which means that the business opportunity will become sustainable. Therefore, the plan for developing new partnership firm will entail: The opportunity cost analysis assesses the value of the opportunity than an individual has to forego, in order to pick on an alternative opportunity (Lauer, 14). On the other hand, the Cost Benefit Analysis is applied towards assessing the benefits and the costs that the new opportunity has to offer, and then comparing between the costs and the benefits, to determine whether to take the new opportunity or not. Where the costs are more than the benefits, then the new opportunity should not be taken. However, where the benefits of the new opportunity supersede the costs, then the new opportunity can be taken. In this respect, the first stage in the process of developing new partnership firm entails a personal reflection in relation to the question; what is my ultimate goal for my career and

International business management and strategy Essay

International business management and strategy - Essay Example The car industry is buoyant. Recent data from Centro Studi Promotor (CSP) notes that the sale of new cars in Italy in 2005 totaled 2,234,174.This reflects the general buoyancy considering the increased gasoline prices, the weak economic situation and the fiscal burden on car ownership. This is the ninth consecutive year that new car sales in Italy have exceeded 2,230,000 which proves that the market is relatively stable. Italian brands lost 1.46% while foreign brands lost 1.30%.Italian brands (the dominant Fiat Auto Spa) claimed 28.04% of the market share and manufactured four out of every ten best selling cars. The main international brands included-GM (Opel and Chevrolet), Ford (Ford+Mazda+Land Rover+ Volvo), Volkswagen (Volkswagen+Audi+Skoda). The fiscal burden on the ownership of cars is a stark reality. In 2003, the Government hiked taxes on luxury cars and sports utility vehicles in a bid to reduce the deficit budget and control pollution. Vehicles weighing more than 2600 kilos were subject to higher taxes. The chief components of the generic strategy are-cost leadership, differentiation and market segmentation.

Impact of Peers and School in Middle Childhood Essay Example for Free

Impact of Peers and School in Middle Childhood Essay Middle childhood is a stage in growth where the members age between six and twelve years. Sigmund Freud defines this as the latency stage where aggressive and sexual urges are introverted. Others theorists have highlighted this stage as very crucial in the development of personality, cognitive skills, inter-personal relationships and motivation. Furthermore, it is at this growth stage that peers and school have great impacts, either positive or negative, to the individual. Schools do promote the children’s competence and self-esteem since they are enthusiastic to learn and work. This enthusiasm plays a great role since it acts as a motivating factor. Due to their development in competence in social and interpersonal relationships as aforesaid, they also undergo an experience in peer orientation. If they interact with the best peers, they create a strong foundation for future adult rapports that will be healthy. The diverse relationships may lead to increased violence in schools, drug use, depression and eating disorders that negatively affect the students in the upper elementary education (Blume Zembar, 2007). In schools, the children also learn and develop interests in other co-curricular activities such as sports, arts and music. However, as they grow, the necessary skills for achieving success in academics tend to become more sophisticated. Those who overcome these challenges end up being academic conquerors but those who are overwhelmed perform poorly in the subsequent years. One’s family at this growth stage also plays an important role especially in socialization. The parents, for instance, have the responsibility to make negotiation with the socialization agents on behalf of the child. This kind of socialization that is family-based is directly linked with the child’s deviance, either in the current life or in the future. It may lead to the child indulging in alcoholism, aggression or delinquency. However, through various reinforcement and disciplinary methodologies, the parents teach their middle-aged children on the behaviors to adopt and those to refrain from (Collins, 1984). Academically, parents motivate their children to be performers. This influences them to embrace reading and more often than not, require them to come out directly from school.

Luminescence in Low-dimensional Nanostructures

Luminescence in Low-dimensional Nanostructures NANO AU RSY Luminescence in Low-dimensional Nanostructures: Quantum Confinement Effect, Surface Effect Whenever the carrier localization, at least in one spatial direction, becomes comparable or smaller than the de Broglie wavelength of carriers, quantum mechanical effects occur. In this limit the optical and electronic properties of the material change as a function of the size and the system is called a nanostructure. As the size is reduced the electronic states are shifted toward higher energy and the oscillator strength is concentrated into few transitions. Nanostructures are classified by the number of dimensions in which the carriers are confined or, alternatively, free to move. In case of confinement in only one spatial direction, the nanostructure is named a quantum well (QW). The carrier motion is frozen in one dimension but electrons and holes can still freely move over the other two directions. Therefore the QW is a quasi two-dimensional (2D) system. A structure which provides carrier confinement in two directions, allowing the motion along the remaining dimension, is calle d quantum wire (QWR) and it is a quasi 1D system. In the case of confinement in all three spatial coordinates, the nanostructure is denominated quantum dot (QD). QDs are 0D systems since the carrier motion is completely frozen. The physics of the quantum size effect relies on the Heisenberg uncertainty principle between the spatial position and kinetic momentum of a quantum particle. It is not possible to measure both the momentum and position of a particle to an arbitrary precision. The product of the standard deviation in space and momentum satisfies the uncertainty relation: à ¢- ³x.à ¢- ³p ≠¥ à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ /2 (1.26) This equation means that the smaller is the carrier localization in the nanostructure, the larger is the spread in the momentum p, or, better said for semiconductor systems, in the crystal momentum à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ k. The energy may still be well defined, but the momentum is not well defined. In bulk systems, for states around the edge of conduction and valence band, the dependence of the energy on the wavevector k is quadratic, Where m* is the carrier effective mass. Following this equation, the spread in the momentum à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ k gives minimum kinetics energy to the localized particle. This is in contrast with the classical physics, where the lowest energy state in whatever potential corresponds to no kinetic energy. The uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics imposes a positive zero-point energy, which is approximately inversely proportional to the square of the nanostructure size. Therefore, the energy of theground state of electrons and holes in semiconductor nanostructures not only depends on the materials but also on the dimension of the confinement region. Nanostructured materials with a size range of 1-100 nm have been the focus of recent scientific research because of their important optical properties, quantum size effects, electrical properties, chemical properties, etc. The low-dimensional materials have exhibited a wide range of optical properties that depend sensitively on both size and shape, and are of both fundamental and technological interest. The ability to control the shapes and size of nanocrystals affords an opportunity to further test theories of quantum confinement and yields materials with desirable optical characteristics from the point of view of application. The exciting emerging important application of low-dimensional nanocrystals is in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and Displays. Recently, there has been much recent interest in low dimensional systems such as quantum well (two dimensional system), quantum wire (one dimensional system) and quantum dot (zero dimensional system). Optical properties of low-dimensional systems are substantially different from those of three-dimensional (3D) systems. The most remarkable modification comes from different distributions of energy levels and densities of states originating from the spatial confinement of electrons and holes. The simplest model for two dimensional (2D) systems is that of a particle in a box with an infinitely deep well potential, as shown in Figure 1.6. The wave functions and energy levels in the well are known from basic quantum mechanics and are described by: ÃŽ ¨n(z)=(2/Lz)1/2 cos ( nÏ€z/Lz ) (1.28 ) n = 1,2,3,†¦. (1.29) Figure 1.6: A particle in a box made of infinitely tall potential barriers In semiconductor quantum wells (two dimensional (2D) systems such as layered materials and quantum wells), both electrons and holes are confined in the same wells. The energy levels for electrons and holes are described by [1.8]: (1.30) (1.31) Where and are the effective masses of electron and hole, respectively If electric dipole transitions are allowed from the valence band to the conduction band, the optical transition occurs from the state described by nh , kx , and ky to the state described by ne, kx and ky . Therefore, the optical transition takes place at energy: (1.32) Where ÃŽ ¼ is the reduced mass given by ÃŽ ¼-1 = The joint density of states Ï 3D for the 3D for an allowed and direct transition in semiconductors is: (1.33) The joint densities of states for 2D, 1D and 0D systems are: (1.34) (1.35) (1.36) Where ÃŽ ¸ is a step function and ÃŽ ´ is a delta function. The sum of quantum confinement energies of electrons and holes are represented by El , Em and En ; where El , Em and En refer to the three directions of spatial confinement Obviously the physics of the nanostructures strongly depends on their dimensionality (Figure 1.7). In a semiconductor structure a given energy usually corresponds to a large number different electronic states resulting from the carrier motion. In a bulk material where the motion can occur in three different directions the density of states increases proportionally to the square root of the energy. In quantum wells the motion in the plane gives a staircase DOS, where each step is associated with a newstate in the confining potential. In quantum wires a continuum of states is still present, but strong resonances appear in the DOS associated with the states in the confining potential. Finally in quantum dots only discrete energy states are allowed and the DOS is therefore a comb of delta functions. The possibility to concentrate the DOS in a reduced energy range is extremely important for a large variety of fundamental topics and device applications. It is at the base of the quantum Hal l effect in quantum well (QW), of the quantization of the conductance in quantum wire (QWR), and of the single electron tunnelling in QDs. In the case of lasers the presence of a continuum DOS leads to losses associated with the population of states that do not contribute to the laser action. Conversely, the concentration of the DOS produces a reduction of the threshold current and enhances the thermal stability of the device operation. Clearly this property is optimized in QD structures. Due to the three-dimensional carrier confinement and the resulting discrete energy spectrum, semiconductor QDs can be regarded as artificial atoms. Figure1. 7: Density of states of three-dimensional ( 3D ) bulk semiconductors, a two dimensional ( 2D ) quantum well, a one dimensional ( 1D ) quantum wire, and zero dimensional ( 0D ) quantum dots. The most striking property of nanoscale semiconductor materials is the massive change in optical properties as a function of size due to quantum confinement. This is most readily manifest as a blue-shift in the absorption spectra with the decrease of the particle size. The blue-shift in the absorption spectra with decrease of particle size in semiconductor nanoparticles is due to the spatial confinement of electrons, holes, and excitons increases the kinetic energy of these particles. Simultaneously, the same spatial confinement increases the Coulomb interaction between electrons and holes. The exciton Bohr radius is a useful parameter in quantifying the quantum confinement effects in nanometer size semiconductor particles. The exciton Bohr radius is given by [1.8]: (1. 37) and an inequality holds. Here and are defined as: and (1.38 ) Where ÃŽ ¼ is the reduced mass given by are the effective masses of electron and hole, respectively. And also ÃŽ µ is the dielectric constant, à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚  is the Planck constant. As the particle size is reduced to approach to the exciton Bohr radius, there are drastic changes in the electronic structure and physical properties. These changes include shifts of the energy levels to higher energy, the development of discrete features in the spectra (Figure 1.8). Figure 1.8: A schematic models for the energy structures of bulk solids, nanoparticles and isolated molecules. The quantum confinement effect can be classified into three categories: the weak confinement, the intermediate confinement and the strong confinement regimes, depending on the relative size of the radius of particles R compared to an electron , a hole , and an exciton Bohr radius , respectively. In strong confinement (R , ), the individual motion of electrons and holes is quantized and the Coulomb int eraction energy is much smaller than the quantized kinetic energy. The ground state energy is [1.8]: (1.39) Where the second term is the kinetic energy of electrons and holes, the third term is the Coulomb energy, and the last term is the correlation energy. In intermediate confinement ( ), the electron motion is quantized, while the hole is bound to the electron by their Coulombic attraction. In weak confinement ( ), the center-of-mass motion of exciton is quantized. The ground state energy is written as: (1.40 ) Where is the translational mass of the exciton Figure 1.9: Size dependence of band gap for CdS nanoparticles. In strong confinement, there is appearance of an increase of the energy gap (blue shift of the absorption edge), which is roughly proportional to the inverse of the square of the particle radius or diameter. For example, it can be observed from Figure 1.9 that the strong confinement is exhibited by CdS particles with diameter less than ~ 6 nm (R ~ 3 nm), and this is consistent with the strong confinement effect for particles with The luminescence dynamics in low-dimensional nanostructures also deals with the interaction of light with the material. The interaction of light depends strongly on the surface properties of the materials. As the size of the particle approaches a few nm, both surface area to volume ratio and surface to bulk atom ratio dramatically increases. The basic relationship between the surface area to volume ratio or surface atoms to bulk atoms and the diameter of nanoparticles can be seen in Figure 1.10. Figure 1.10: Surface area to volume ratio and percentage of surface atoms (%) as a function of particle size. It is observed that the percentage of surface atoms in corner and edge vs. Particle sizes display dramatic increase when the size is decreased below a few nm, whereas percentage of face atoms decreases. For particles of ~1 nm, more than 70% atoms are at corners or edges. This aspect is important because light interaction with material highly dependent on the atomic scale surface morphology. As in nanoparticles, a large percentage of the atoms are on or near the surface, therefore, surface states near the band gap can mix with interior levels to a substantial degree, and these effects may also influence the spacing of the energy levels. Thus in many cases it is the surface of the particles rather than the particle size that determines the optical properties. Optical excitation of semiconductor nanoparticles often leads to both band edge and deep trap luminescence. The size dependence of the excitonic or band edge emission has been studied extensively. The absence of excitonic or band edge emission has attributed to the large non-radiative decay rate of the free electrons trapped in these deeptraps of surface states. As the particle size becomes smaller, the surface to volume ratio and hence the number of surface states increases rapidly, reducing the excitonic emission. The semiconductor nanoparticles exhibit broad and Stokes-shifted luminescence arising from the deep traps of surface states [1.25 – 1.27].