Complexities of farming essays

Complexities of farming essays The complexion of farming is changing radically. The land cannot support as many farm families as it did in an earlier time. Small farms are being consolidated into larger ones. General farms, with several kinds of crops and a barnyard of farm animals, are yielding to specialty farms that concentrate on a single major crop. Family farms are declining; corporate farms are increasing. Efficiency is growing. Crops are changing. Techniques are improving. Just as the train, tractor, truck, and airplane changed farm life in the past, the computer and robotics are expected to change farm life in the future (AOL, 1997). And the outcome of this is that during the early 1980's and continuing, the farmer's source of income is indeed being stripped from him. What was once the only means of survival for these farmers, has now become distant memory. Farming techniques are undergoing tremendous changes. Farming will surely become more efficient throughout the world. It will also become more scientific and, in the process perhaps lose some of its romance. People who formerly lived on farms and have fond memories of their rural childhood will barely recognize the new farms. For farmers of the future, it will not be enough to know how to drive a tractor and plow a straight furrow. Farmers must change with the industry, as it becomes increasingly more sophisticated. The farmer must become more of a specialist to compete in the marketplace. This is a reason why many of today's farm families are on a decline; that is, that today's farmers are not able to purchase the latest machinery or equipment, for they have to be cautious about where they put their money. The 1980's sometimes referred to as the "farm crisis" decade of the 1980's, while the 1970's were referred to as the "boom years". It was in this time period that farms expanded in size and farm numbers dropped. But in the 1980's, two unusual things happened. First, older farmers seemed to stay...

The Ionic Order essays

The Ionic Order essays Temples, palaces and other buildings make use of columns and entablatures as decoration and minimalist structure. Columns are vertical, cylindrical structures that help support the entablature. An entablature is a horizontal beam, consisting of several segments, that attaches to the pediment surrounding the gable of a temple. The combination of a column and entablature is known as an order. Different orders have certain characteristics and follow specific decoration specifications. Ancient Greeks developed three orders: the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The Ionic order evolved and elaborated on characteristics of the Doric order and paved way for the intricacies of the Corinthian order. Ionic design was found on islands in the Aegean Sea and along the coast of Asia Minor. Temples utilizing the Ionic order were commonly built on low wetlands. Details of the Ionic order design are elegant and more effeminate than the solid, plainer look of the Doric order. Ionian columns are taller and more slender. Deep grooves decorate the surface of the column shaft. These grooves are known as flutes (24 flutes being a standard on Ionic columns), and they are connected by thin, flat sections known as fillets. This element of design creates a smoother, subtle look as opposed to the sharp edges formed by the connection of flutes on a Doric column. The width of an Ionic column was one-eighth of its height. Its base is wider and molded with simple curves that add to the graceful aesthetics of the column. The most identifiable features are found on the capital, located at the top of the column above the shaft. The bottom of the capital is perhaps the most ornamented part of an Ionian column. One may sometimes find simple depictions of plants and above the decorated band, or neck molding, lays the echinus. Most echini on Ionic columns use an egg-and-dart pattern. The pattern is modest but adds more elegance t ...

Finite Element Analysis of a Stainless Steel Research Paper

Finite Element Analysis of a Stainless Steel - Research Paper Example Therefore, this report describes the numerical analysis, conducted using the commercially available finite element solver, ANSYS, and then recommendations are provided as to whether testing or redesign should be the next step. The finite element method (FEM) is a numerical procedure used for finding approximate solutions of partial differential equations (PDE). A partial differential equation is a differential equation containing derivatives involving two or more independent variables. In engineering science, many phenomena are described by partial differential equations, such as displacement or temperature as a function of time and space. Problems involving PDEs are usually too complicated to be solved by classical analytical methods. Solving PDEs with the method of finite elements is possible today due to rapid solving capabilities of computers. Finite element analysis (FEA), originally used to solve stress analysis problems, is an approach which is used today in many branches of engineering including heat transfer and fluid flow. The material of the part is 2.5 mm stainless steel plate with a Young's modulus of elasticity of 206 GN/m2, a Poison's ratio of 0.3, and a yield strength of 580 MN/m2. It is assumed that the material has linear elastic properties and is both homogeneous and isotropic (although in reality this is not exactly true for cold-rolled sheets where grain orientation may vary). In addition, it was assumed that no discontinuities or residual stresses are originally present in the material due to manufacturing processes such as forging, rolling and welding. The thickness of the part is assumed constant and is believed to be small enough compared to its width such that shell elements can be used for adequate accuracy in modelling. Figure 1 shows the buckle modelled in ANSYS. The part is symmetric in two directions and has been separated in the model for simplification. Figure 2 shows the original drawing of the buckle and its symmetry. It is assumed that the geometry of the part is adequately represented by the finite element model developed. Displacements are expected to be relatively small such that a linear approximation will be valid. Figure 1 Figure 2 The solution of a finite element analysis is only so good as the quality of the mesh. The smaller the element size, the better the mesh should represent the geometry of the part. For this analysis, two mesh sizes were used: a smaller one where the highest stress concentrations were expected, and a larger one throughout the remainder of the model. The curved sections of the two slots were expected to receive the greatest stresses and were thus meshed with a value of 0.25, while the remained of the buckle was modelled with a 0.51 mesh size. The element type used was the PLANE82, which is a 2D structural solid element with eight nodes. Eight-noded elements are more accurate for modelling curved boundaries. The PLANE 82 shell element type also allowed for a thickness value in its input properties thus facilitating a 2D problem. In terms of boundary conditions, it was assumed t

ACL Injury Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ACL Injury - Research Paper Example There are other knee ligaments injuries but the most common injury associated with instability at the knee is ACL injury (Chaudhari, 2008). Perhaps this is because of the fact that ACL injury presents quite a number of ways through which it can suffer tears. Research has shown that the most common ACL injury occurs when the knee is bent exceedingly to the or to the sides more than it is used. Such scenarios are highly likely to occur amongst sports persons during trainings when they engage in activities aimed at making them flexible. In other instances, ACL injury may also occur when there is a direct pressure exerted on the thigh at a time when a person is standing on one leg (Tiidus, 2008). Studies have also revealed that ACL injury may also occur when a victim makes abrupt stop from a significantly highly speed, or attempts to make a sudden turn to the side while on a significantly high-speed motion. In all the above instances, one may observe that they all tend to exert pressure to the sides or on the ligaments at the back of the leg as had been noted. It is not a straightaway guarantee that any of such movements will result in ACL injury, but that they put a person at a highly risk of suffering from ACL injury. Therefore, there is a need to advise persons that take part in physical activities quite often on how what precautions to take during active periods of activities (Chaudhari et al., 2008). However, many physiotherapists and health professions have researched and proposed various ways for recovery and rehabilitation for detected cases of ACL injury. The thesis statement of this research shall be: Appropriate response to ACL injury should be case specific rather than universal approach for recovery and rehabilitation. This research shall assess various cases and analyze each depending on its magnitude. This is because prevalence of ACL injury has revealed that each case

Hydrochloric acid Essay Example for Free

Hydrochloric acid Essay Prediction I predict that the more marble chips there are, the faster the rate of reaction, because there is more marble for the hydrochloric acid to react with, I predict this because in previous experiments when working with the same equipment I found that if you put a lot of marble in the acid, the levels of water in the burette go down very quickly, compared to when you only put a little bit of marble in the acid and the levels of water go down much slower. I also predict that the hotter the temperature of acid, the faster the rate of reaction, because heat often works as a catalyst in experiments with acid. Increasing the temperature of the acid will increase the rate of reaction because particles move faster and collide more vigourously at higher temperatures. Plan I will fill a burette with water, and then turn it upside down in a beaker full of water. I will then put a tube into the bottom of the burette and attach it to another beaker using a bung to stop any air from leaking. I will then calculate the rate of reaction between the marble chips and hydrochloric acid by measuring how much the levels of water in cmi drops every 10seconds. So that it is a fair investigation I will make sure that I always start with 50cmi of water in the burette, and 1000cmi of acid in the beaker. I will also make sure that I take readings every 10 seconds, because otherwise my results would be invalid, or have results missing. The factors that I will investigate to see if they cause change are temperature of the acid, and amount in weight of marble chips. I will test 0. 5g and 1g of marble chips at every temperature, and will try and repeat every experiment twice so that I will be able to see whether any results seem totally inaccurate. I will test the rate of reaction at three temperatures, firstly I will cool the acid to 6i C. I will do this by putting the beaker of acid in a larger beaker of water and ice. This will ensure that no ice comes into contact with the acid so the water wont dilute it. I will then add the marble chips. I will then test the rate of reaction at room temperature, and after that I will test the rate of reaction at 55i C by heating the acid with a Bunsen burner and then adding the marble. I will set up the apparatus as below: Results: The rate of reaction for 0. 5g marble chips at 6 degrees C. Time (seconds) Level of water in burette (cmi ) 0 50 10 49. 4 20 49. 4 30 49. 4 40 48. 5 50 47. 6 60 46. 3 70 44. 1 80 43. 4 90 42 100 41 110 39. 9 120 38. 8 130 37. 6 140 36. 5 150 35. 8 160 34. 9 170 33. The rate of reaction for 0. 5g marble chips at room temperature. Time (seconds) Level of water in burette (cmi ) The rate of reaction for 1g marble chips at room temperature. Time (seconds) Level of water in burette (cmi ) The rate of reaction for 0. 5g marble chips at 55 degrees C. Time (seconds) Level of water in burette (cmi ) The rate of reaction for 1g of marble chips at 55 degrees C. Time (seconds) Level of water in burette (cmi ) 0Conclusion I conclude that my predictions that the hotter the acid, the faster the rate of reaction, because the particles move faster and collide more at higher temperatures, and the more marble chips there are, the faster the rate of reaction, because there is more marble for the acid to react with to be true. I can prove this because using my line of best fit on the averages graphs, I calculated the rate (by using the formula: Level of water/ Time (seconds)), at about 60 seconds in all but the hot acid experiments, where I worked out the rate at 40 seconds. I chose these times because at about these times the experiment was well underway, so the rate would be accurate, and it wouldnt be too late that the reaction was slowing down. I worked out that the rates were: Evaluation I think that the experiment went quite well overall, and we got some quite good results. I think if I did it again I would work with a weight of crushed marble chips instead of just a set weight of random sized marble chips, because the larger the surface area of something, the shorter length of time it takes to dissolve, and this could have effected the results of these experiments because the reactions that took longer may have taken longer because the marble was smaller in surface area than in other experiments. This is because the larger the surface area, the more particles that are in contact with the acid at any one time, so it will be able to react faster. I might also use different strengths of acid to see whether the stronger the acid is, the faster the rate of reaction. A stronger concentration of acid will increase the rate of reaction, because more collisions of molecules are possible in the same amount of time, because there are more particles available in the same volume of acid.

A New Era of Terrorism Essay example -- Terrorism

Since September 11th, when the Twin and Pentagon towers were hit by planes, controlled by Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists. The perception toward Muslims being violent has been spread throughout the world. Innocent people who have never been involved in any crime act are being limited in practicing their religious duties. To be more exact, Freeman vs. Florida case ruled that Freeman has to take her veil off when taking a photo for a state driver’s license. The State argued that it had a compelling interest in the full-face photograph requirement because promotes safety and security, combats crime, and protects interstate commerce. The importance of a driver’s license is clearly known, not only for driving matters, but also identification document even when using a credit card. Freeman claimed that, wearing a veil is a Muslim woman’s duty, as well as driving for her is a must because of her daily routine. Freeman suggested that the free exercise of religion is pro tected under Article I, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution, which grounds the right to religious freedom. Cases like this have allowed the Criminal Justice System to give birth to other ways of identifying people. Today’s generation of portable electronic measurement devices offer new possibilities. A routine police patrol pulls over a vehicle for traffic violation. Instead of asking for driver’s license, the officer snaps a digital picture of the drivers face and transmits it back to the localization via a wireless link in the patrol vehicle. The picture is compared against a facial image database, a match found, and the identity of the driver flashed up on the officer’s in-car terminal; without needing the cooperation of the driver, who may be incapacitated or abusi... ...o accommodate individual beliefs. Thus, until biometric identification has been fully studying and implemented, the utmost importance is public safety. Public safety should continue to outweigh those feeling that showing your face for a driver’s license is a blow to their religious freedom. Works Cited Armstrong, C. (2003, June 12). Freedom Line. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from CFIF.ORG: http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/guest_commentary/sultaana_freeman.htm Retinal Scan. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinal_scan Sultaana Freeman. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultaana_Freeman Zalman, A. (n.d.). Biometrics: Retinal Scanning. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from About.com: http://terrorism.about.com/od/controversialtechnologies/g/RetinalScans.htm

The Kite Runner Redemption

What is the worst thing you have done to a friend or family member? Have you lied to them? Stolen from them? After the dreadful deed, did they forgive you? More importantly, did you forgive yourself? Regret and redemption are very important themes in the book The Kite Runner. Having regret for something can affect your whole life, as seen with the character, Amir. Through the development of Amir and his childhood friend, Hassan, Amir has to live with his regret and hope for redemption for the rest of his life. From the beginning of the story The Kite Runner, it is apparent that Amir did something wrong from the very first page. Amir says, â€Å"Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I knew it wasn’t just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins. † (1). The reader understands that Amir had done something wrong in the winter of 1975. Later, we figure out what this â€Å"something† was; he watched Hassan get raped. It was after Amir had just won his kite race and Hassan had gone to fetch the winning kite. He then came across the bullies of the neighborhood: Assef, Kamal, and Wali. Assef tried to take the kite, but like a loyal friend, Hassan would not let him. Assef then let Hassan keep the kite, but only to pay the price of being raped. Amir stood behind a wall and watched it all happen without saying one word. This is probably one of the most important scenes in the whole book; Amir’s actions from this shaped how he grew up and lived the rest of his life with regret. After Amir watched Hassan get raped, nothing was the same. He was filled with guilt and regret. He felt like a coward. â€Å"I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. † (77). He could not turn and help his friend because he was scared, and he wanted the approval of his father for once; he thought bringing home the kite would win Baba over. Little did he know that he ruined the rest of his life by doing this. Amir was filled with such regret that he had to get rid of Hassan one way or another. He could not stand the secret that he had from that night and wanted the pain to go away. Amir changed his and Hassan’s relationship that night. Even after Amir framed Hassan and got him to leave, Amir’s guilt did not go away and he was forever regretting all the decisions he had been making up to this point. Amir and Baba ended up going to America to try to get away from their past and get the redemption they both were longing for. After living life in America, Amir received a phone call from his old friend, Rahim Khan. Rahim Khan had been looking for some redemption of his own because he had been keeping a secret from Amir his whole life; Hassan was actually Baba’s son and Amir’s half brother. Hassan had died and Rahim wanted Amir to retrieve Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Amir still carried around the guilt from the winter of 1975 and decided this was his chance to redeem himself. As Rahim Khan said, â€Å"There was a way to be good again. † (2). This was Amir’s way to be good again. Amir had been looking for redemption his whole life. Retrieving Sohrab would rid himself of this. Amir also outstepped his coward personality when he was faced to a battle with Assef. This part of the book was one of the other most important scenes. Amir came out with Sohrab and he finally got the redemption that he was seeking for since the day he watched Hassan get raped. Throughout the book there were many examples of redemption. It mostly occurred in Amir as we saw his relationship with Hassan grow throughout the book. Amir had such guilt that he had to drive Hassan away; this proved how much of a coward he really was. After that day, he always carried around the guilt of betraying his friend and finally absolved himself by finding his redemption when retrieving Sohrab. Even though his decision of being a coward affected his life miserably, it still shaped him into the man that he was at the end of the book. Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books, 2003.

Kudler Fine Foods Service Essay

Service Request The manager of Kudler Fine Foods, Kathy Kudler, has requested the development of a system to track customer purchases through a Frequent Shopper Program to award loyalty points for redemption. (Apollo, 2011) Key Stakeholders The key stakeholders are the individuals that are directly involved with Kudler Fine Foods and will have a direct effect on the overall project. These individuals will be the main source of information in the analysis, design, implementation and testing phase of the systems upgrade. Kathy KudlerProject Manager The Frequent Shopper Program for Kudler is specific in addressing current and future customers by rewarding them for shopping with the company. Both business and technical functions will be addressed as well as improved communication between the sales and marketing and purchasing departments. The goal is to provide better response to customer demands while rewarding the customer and accomplishing this in an efficiently fast manner. A marketing plan must be developed to inform current and potential customers of the program and encourage them to participate and take advantage of the benefits offered by the program. In utilizing an outside source for the program, Kudler will be able to provide a good relationship between the IT resources of the outside source and the internal sales and inventory  systems. There is also a need to modify the two different databases and the GUI in order to allow for smooth data transfer and communication. Kudler’s specific goals are to improve customer satisfaction in order to increase brand loyalty, cut costs by increasing supply efficiency, and increase sales which will result in higher revenue and profits for the company. In order to ensure success of this project, certain aspects will be monitored throughout the duration. This will allow Kudler to view what aspects are successful and what aspects are not. The main aspects that will be monitored are: new customer enrollment into the program, tracking of purchases from current and repeat customers, tracking of customer reward points, duration of participation from customers in the program, and total customer redeemed points, and difference in cost of redeemed items versus wholesale/supplier costs. Supporting Measures and Project Feasibility In order for Kudler Fine Foods to continue growth and experience profitability, the design and implementation of a Frequent Shopper Program must be accomplished. The program will need to utilize the best available hardware and software to accomplish their goals and to promote growth as well. The chosen system will need to address both short and long term needs and problems that could arise. This is done through a development phase that will combine all aspects and products that Kudler wishes to incorporate into the program. This phase must address the current budget allocated by Kudler for the implementation of the program while incorporating all needed requirements. Current Business Process Summary Proposed System Requirements The proposed new system must be capable of meeting the requirements set forth by the key stakeholders within the company. This list of requirements will be presented, discussed, and then edited based on what is needed, what is within budget constraints, and what is decided on by the stakeholders. This list of functional requirements proposed to Kudler is below. Functional Requirements System is capable of new customer enrollment System is able to track purchases for all customers System is able to track and store rewards points for individual customers System allows for rewards points to be redeemed System allows for viewing of customer rewards points on POS terminals System allows input changes from POS terminals System will sync with company website for tracking of rewards points System allows for data from each location to be stored and accessed in a central location System must be compatible with current system in place for easy transition. Determine Requirements The determination of the requirements for this system is a key part in the development of the Frequent Shopper Program (FSP). There are many methods that can be used to properly determine the requirements needed for an efficient system. These can range from simple observation of current processes and interviews with employees and management, to Joint Application Design (JAD) procedures. The commonly used methods of observation, interviews, etc., can help analysts pinpoint exact requirements based on user input and business processes. According to Charvat (2003), â€Å"One of the biggest benefits of a proper user requirements specification is that you’ll be able to plan and estimate your project correctly, decreasing the chance of cost and time overruns.† The analyst must listen to the employees and gain a thorough understanding of all business processes before establishing the new system requirements. The Joint Application Development (JAD) is a newer and more organized means of gathering information to base requirements on. This process is conducted by holding sessions in which key stakeholders and other key members of management are present and work together in the outline of the possible requirements. This allows for input from all levels within the organization and can yield better results than other commonly used methods. While this process can be lengthy, it keeps all key members involved up to date on the status of progress during the development phase and analysis. List of Confirmed Requirements System is capable of new customer enrollment Mandatory System is able to track purchases for all customers Mandatory System is able to track and store rewards points for individual customers Mandatory System allows for rewards points to be redeemed Mandatory System allows for viewing of customer rewards points on POS terminals Mandatory System allows input changes from POS terminals Mandatory System will sync with company website for tracking of rewards points Mandatory System allows for data from each location to be stored and accessed in a central location Mandatory System must be compatible with current system in place for easy transition Optional Proposed System Process View Functional Allocation Modeling This aspect is very important in ensuring all software and hardware utilized for the new system is up to date and current as of the time of this service request. Since technology advancements are made almost every day, it is important to stay on the cutting edge. This is why the use of computer systems with an Intel core i7 processor is being chosen. The hardware that will be used wil1l be purchase directly from Dell. This will give Kudler piece of mind with all hardware and full technical support with the warranty provided from Dell. The systems chosen will have 8GB of RAM (memory) and will include 22† LCD monitors, core i7 processors with 4.5GHz speed, and come preloaded with Windows 7.. Each system will also be equipped with 10/100 ethernet capabilities to meet the standards of the current network in place at Kudler. The current server in place at Kudler will be replaced by Unix servers by SPARC Enterprise Software SAP system for retail environments. The POS terminals will be replaced by NCR RealPOS 82XRT terminals which offer scanners, cash drawers, touch screen displays, and built in printing capabilities. VOIP phone systems and HP M521dn and HP 8015 printers will replace the outdated ones currently in use. Logical Model of System Preliminary Design Model Design Trade-off In order for Kudler Fine Foods to have a successful program, an examination of product roll out methodology must be performed. There will need to be a specific balance in regards to the mixture of cost, schedule and performance. It is understood that a program cannot incorporate all three aspects at once which then leads to deciding what the appropriate trade-offs shall be within the requirements. The following depict possible scenarios of combining two aspects but foregoing a third possible requirement. Cost and Schedule By having a program that is inexpensive and keeps to the specified timelines the company will end up with one that is affordable and able to start up right away. If the schedule is large for integration of the system with the current system then the time to capitalize on the customers data would take time. The downside is that cheap is not always best and can result in a low performance record that is fraught with hardware and software failures. If the program cannot function properly there is a decent chance that it will fail outright due to customers not wanting to take part in it. Schedule and Performance Creating a program that is scheduled to finish on time and functions to specified standards will allow Kudler customers to enjoy the program’s rewards with little to no problems. In this instance the design trade-off is cost. The cost of the new proposed system would be quite moderate to high. The cost to get the correct and reliable information at every instance of time is the biggest challenge over the cost incurred in the infrastructure. Not keeping up with costs for the creation though will result in a project that has a finishing cost much higher than was originally budgeted for. The result can pull funding from other much needed programs or can cause the program to change such as the customer receiving rewards that are of a lower  quality than originally promised. Cost and Performance If the project team is able to create the program at manageable costs while maintaining a high quality performance status the customers will be able to enjoy the benefits of the rewards while allowing the company to stay within appropriate budget levels. All the previous customers ‘ data would be inputted and further processed , which would take time The implementation of the new system would reduce costs of data transfer and catering the customers in a suitable manner. The performance of the system would improve with enhanced ability to track information about customers , their preference pattern and any change in their behavior In addition to all the above , the company can reduce the extra cost of hoarding of goods and can only customers preferences. The possible tradeoff is that the program may not be finished as scheduled. This can result in a backlog for future projects. In addition, if the project takes an exceedingly longer amount of time than originally thought, it may become scrapped so a new plan can come in its place. Detailed Design Process The prototype will drive the design of the forms and reports. The forms need to document predefined data in a clear and concise manner. Forms are typically based on one database record and have a stylized form. Reports are business documents that contain predefined data and data from many unrelated transactions or records used for reading or reviewing information. The forms and reports need to be end user friendly and clear to understand. They should not have simple rows or columns. The forms and reports can be designed using online graphical tools. This will help standardize them with other organizations. The forms and reports should have a transparent human computer interface. In designing a form or report there are some fundamental questions that need to be addressed: who will be the form/report user, the purpose, when will they be needed, who should have access to them, and who does it need to be delivered to? Answering these questions will allow the programmer to produce an effective form/report. The hardware and networks used should be consistent with what is already in use throughout the organization. Kudler Fine Foods uses UNIX operating system, HP blade server system and SAP as their software. The UNIX server needs to be upgraded to UNIX SPARC Enterprise software. The organization should upgrade their current version of SAP Retail SW to SAP for Retail. The HP Blade server should be upgraded to a Dell PowerEdge M620 blade server. The HP blade server is obsolete and this may create problems if future support or maintenance is needed. The CM2320nf printer is obsolete and should be upgraded with the HP M521dn printer. The HP 3015 printers, VOIP phones, APC Smart UPS, POS terminals, 22† screens, and the NAS 10 TB storage server should all remain. If the organization is going to upgrade their software they should upgrade their hardware as indicated. This will allow the organization the ability to use state of the art hardware with state of the art software and get the most out of the system. They will be able to utilize the most current technological features currently available and extend the life of their infrastructure. Human Computer Interface The human computer interface should be designed with Microsoft Visual Basic. Net. Microsoft is a universal program that employees are familiar with. Using Microsoft will allow end users to feel comfortable with the software because the commands for Microsoft can be applied. Training is easier for employees using Microsoft because so many of them are familiar with it. Microsoft reports can also be imported and exported to other mediums making it possible for end users to review the information in detail. They currently use Microsoft Windows 7. Using the most current version of software will extend the life of the system. Using outdated software will hinder the use of the most current applications and can make the program prematurely outdated. The organization should continue using Dell computers but they need to upgrade them to Dell XPS 8700 with an i7 processor, and 4.0 GHz. CD drives are no longer necessary, most information is transferred or stored via a memory stick. Physical System Model What are information architecture diagrams? â€Å"A diagram architecture is not necessary an architecture produced through diagrams†¦. Instead, diagram architecture is an architecture that behaves like a diagram, indifferent to  the specific means of its realization.† (Par. 13) When it comes to these diagrams you are taking the knowledge of the architecture and molding it into a visual and understandable aid laid out in sequence like patterns that show direction. And when these diagrams are designed of information architecture the process usually ends up back where it started making a loop back to the requirements. Producing this process of creating an information architecture diagrams can be a bit confusing and people end up getting information confused rather easy. Until a man named Philippe Kruchten came up with a brilliant way to look at the diagram. He introduced the concept of viewing the diagram through the eyes of the stakeholders. This process became known as the 4+1 information view model. The 4 is for the several views in which he describes as the Physical view, Logical view, development view and the process view. And the +1 is added to describe the scenarios. Modeling the architecture of a software system can be presented in two areas known as the High level design and design patterns. High level is the use of the core components who work together for the one mission of fulfilling the requirements. And depending on if the system is large enough it is possible that each component will sustain its own high level setup that will provide descriptions of its smaller parts. Design patterns are used here and there in the particular designs of each of the components. A pattern is a waypoint that will direct you to the end solution of the program in which it is accommodating. If the same pattern is used through the design of separate programs it will act as a money saver as it saves in the purchase of new software and saves time in the design process. Testing Process Summary This phase will be somewhat similar to the installation and implementation phase in some ways. The overall functionality of every aspect within the system must be tested to ensure it meets the requirements of the original project plan. All new software and hardware must go through thorough examination and a system of checks to accomplish this. This phase must be continued throughout the life cycle of the system to continuously check for errors and bugs to keep the system performing at optimum capacity. To properly complete this phase there are guidelines to follow for testing that will cover all aspects of the system. Hardware and Software Installation Process/Training Plan In order to accomplish the implementation of the Frequent Shopper Program Successfully Kudler will need to implement the POS Server database flawlessly into the system in order to avoid data loss or corruption of data. The online Cash Registers and the in-store cash registers will be communicating to the same database and a seamless integration of these three components is crucial during the early implementation phase of the installation. The challenge during this phase of the installation is the software that will be used to bring these three components together. Continuous testing of the POS, The CMS, and the store website are needed to ensure that any bugs in the system are pointed out early. Once this is complete the Kudler will be able to focus on the smaller aspects of the program such as ensuring that all merchandise are coded correctly and the scanners are properly transmitting the data. The timeline for the implementation of this project is 2-3 months. The company should take measures during the implementation and installation regarding marketing to  maintain the competitive edge and afford customers needed time to adjust to the idea of this new system. Time will be needed to train staff on the proper procedures for issuing and Frequent Shopper Cards, and the support teams will need training on how to troubleshoot system errors. The cashiers will need training on methods of marketing the programs and procedures for how to use, issue, and reissue cards to customers enrolling or already enrolled in the program. One of the keys to success of the program is ensuring the cashiers have a clear understanding of how to market the program. Failure to ensure marketing or the cards is upheld and train employees on how to properly process cards will be counterproductive to the program and could lower customer value. Installation Process Installation is the organizational process of change over from the current information system to the new one. â€Å"Managing the change to a new system—whether or not it is computerized — is one of the most difficult tasks in any organization† (George, Hoffer, & Valacich, 2012). After system construction, final acceptance tests performed during systems installation and evaluation ensures the development team has completed all tasks for the project. After determination that system operations are fully functional, the system is ready for installation. During the installation process, the old system becomes disabled and subsequently, the new system activated. The project manager and developers assemble the resources required for installation as the work begins. Resources required for installation of the system includes development team members and their various programming tools, including software. Project constraints in this instance have a comparatively narrow degree because of the streamlined and limited changes. The installation team begins by changing the modems over to broadband, and activating broadband connections at each store. At this stage, the installed applications including updates to the Point of Sale system software, the database management system, credit card interface software, and printer applications undergo testing for appropriate functionality. The entire system is then tested, and confirmed successful for use (George, Hoffer, & Valacich, 2012). The installation of the Kudler Fine Foods Frequent Shopper Program and related plans for training will correspond with the timeline illustrated. Training Plan The training and installation timeline provides a sufficient and organized schedule for installation and system testing, also providing an expedient finish to the system implementation processes. The project team develops training materials and documentation for training classes. The next step in the implementation phase is training system users, managers, and IT staff. Diagram 1: Installation and Training Timeline User training and training documentation should include an overview of system features, capabilities and limitations, data entry and menu screen options, contents, and processing instructions, and procedures for requesting changes and reporting problems. Other important inclusions are troubleshooting examples and error situations including resolutions, and a section on frequently asked questions (Cashman, Rosenblatt, & Shelly, 2013). As illustrated, Frequent Shopper Program System Training, the specific details for training specific groups vary according to employee function and extent. Documentation Plan Summary Documentation needs to be accurate and will also be a determining factor on the software’s success or failure. Documentation needs to include how to work the system, navigate it, its potential, how to use the data, and reporting methods. This should be done early on so the end user has reference materials. The documentation process should begin when developing the system. This will provide supporting material for developers and help develop future training materials. If the end user does not understand how to use the system or recall information for reporting purposes, the software is not serving its purpose. Most systems in place today are for information gathering and storage. If the end user can’t access the collected information, then the software will be rendered useless. The system will need to be maintained so a maintenance manual should be available to guide developers on how to make fixes and update the system. An operational manual should be available for the subject material expert, designers and users. This manual will help when they have questions on a process or how to get a certain part of the program to produce or collect  the proper data. A technical manual will be necessary so the technical writers can refer to the system structure when they have questions. The technical manual should include drawings, flowcharts, and the database structure. The system should have a training manual that has step by step instructions that a user can follow. It should also have a list of any codes, available reports, system outputs, a troubleshooting guide, work a rounds, and be current on updates. The Training manual or user manual will help the user by providing a guide for future reference and for training. The training manual will help decrease questions and improve efficiency. The more information that is available for the user the more proficient they will be at using it. Training end users is very important. This could mean the difference between an efficient and easy flowing system or a cumbersome, difficult to use nightmare. Visuals should be used to make training easier and provide future training material references. If there are inquiries that are not frequently performed, the end user might not recall how to initiate the inquiries and having a visual to refer to, might help the end user be more efficient when conducting these inquires. Support & Maintenance Plan It’s not enough to just implement a system and fully integrate it into the new business system. There must be a support system that covers common mistakes and helps people locate answers to their technical questions. And along with the system support there also must be some type of maintenance schedule that keeps the system healthy, like frequent updates to keep the system up to date and as free from bugs as possible. Software Support In order for a system to operate at full potential the software must remain up to date with all of the bug fixes and security issues that comes with having software. Having your software up to date could very well be the lifeline of your company. If your software fails, then the work production conducted on that system will also fail. Hardware Support Just as important as software support is hardware support. Hardware consists of several critical and physical components of an IT system. These components include but are not limited to; servers, systems used to store data, personal computers (PC) and the networks that tie them all together. When it comes to business communication is the key, and this doesn’t exclude the communication of the IT systems. Network Support Like previously mentioned, networks are the communication for IT systems. Keeping your network up and running can be a little difficult to deal with. When a network goes down then every piece of hardware on that network has no communication. Unfortunately network issues usually get dealt with as soon as they happen. What is recommended is to have a preventative maintenance schedule in increments of monthly, bimonthly, semiannually, annually or biannually to periodically check the condition of the network before it fails resulting in a downed network. When software is merged over into a company system there are user manuals and lists of known and unknown bugs for the system. Each member should have been briefed on the new software and also provided the information included in the user manuals and the known and unknown bug reports. For the hardware and network, preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid a downed asset. And a well maintained support system with frequent updates will ensure your software stays up to  date with the latest security and bugs fixes. Conclusion This thorough analysis and all aspects carefully and fully examined, the proposed project will not only meet, but exceed the request of Kudler Fine Foods for implementing a rewards program. The use of cutting edge technology in both hardware and software aspects will ensure a smooth running system for years to come. The incorporation of the rewards program and the system upgrades should not only increase profitability, but brand loyalty from customers as well. The system meets all required needs of Kudler Fine Foods to include time scheduling, budget, and both short and long term goals. References Apollo Group Inc. (2011). Kudler Fine Foods. Service Request SR-kf-013. Retrieved from: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/ServiceRequests/index.asp#Kudler Fine Foods Cashman, G. B., Rosenblatt, H. J., & Shelly, G. B. (2013). Systems Analysis and Design (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Thomson – Course Technology. Charvat, Jason. (June 30, 2013). Determine User Requirements Now to Avoid Problems Later. TechRepublic. Retreived from: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/determine-user-requirements-now-to-avoid-problems-later/ Dennis, A., Wixom, B. H., & Roth, R. M. (2012). Systems analysis & design (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Federal Bureau of Investigation (2013). The Insider Threat: An introduction to detecting and deterring an insider spy. Retrieved from: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/counterintelligence/the-insider-threat George, J. F., Hoffer, J. A., & Valacich, J. S. (2012). Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design. Retrieved from: http://www. bau.edu.jo/inst/hamza/SAbook.pdf Riordan Manufacturing Intranet Website (2014). Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/Business/Riordan/ (2010, 05). Diagram Architecture. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 05, 2010, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Diagram-Architecture-63657523.html

The History of the City of Antigua, Guatemala

The History of the City of Antigua, Guatemala The city of Antigua, the capital of Sacatepà ©quez Province, Guatemala, is a charming old colonial city that for many years was the political, religious and economic heart of Central America. After being destroyed by a series of earthquakes in 1773, the city was abandoned in favor of what is now Guatemala City, although not everyone left. Today, it is one of Guatemala’s top visitor destinations. The Conquest of the Maya In 1523 a group of Spanish conquistadores led by Pedro de Alvarado swept into what is now northern Guatemala, where they came face to face with the descendants of the once-proud Maya Empire. After defeating the mighty K’iche kingdom, Alvarado was named Governor of the new lands. He set up his first capital in the ruined city of Iximchà ©, home of his Kaqchikel allies. When he betrayed and enslaved the Kaqchikel, they turned on him and he was forced to relocate to a safer area: he chose the lush Almolonga Valley nearby. Second Foundation The previous city had been founded on July 25, 1524, a day dedicated to St. James. Alvarado thus named it â€Å"Ciudad de los Caballeros de Santiago de Guatemala,† or â€Å"City of the Knights of St. James of Guatemala.† The name moved with the city and Alvarado and his men set up what essentially amounted to their own mini-kingdom. In July of 1541, Alvarado was killed in battle in Mexico: his wife, Beatriz de la Cueva, took over as Governor. On the unlucky date of September 11, 1541, however, a mudslide destroyed the city, killing many, including Beatriz. It was decided to move the city once again. Third Foundation The city was rebuilt and this time, it prospered. It became the official home of the Spanish colonial administration in the area, which covered most of Central America up to and including the southern Mexican State of Chiapas. Many impressive municipal and religious buildings were built. A series of Governors ruled the region in the name of the King of Spain. Provincial Capital The Kingdom of Guatemala never much in the way of mineral wealth: all of the best New World mines were in Mexico to the north or Peru to the south. Because of this, it was difficult to attract settlers to the area. In 1770, the population of Santiago was only about 25,000 people, of which only 6% or so were pure-blooded Spanish: the rest were mestizos, Indians and blacks. In spite of its lack of wealth, Santiago was well-located between New Spain (Mexico) and Peru and developed into an important commercial hub. Many of the local aristocracies, descended from the original conquistadors, became merchants and prospered. In 1773, a series of major earthquakes leveled the city, destroying most of the buildings, even the ones which had been well built. Thousands were killed, and the region was plunged into chaos for a while. Even today you can see fallen rubble at some of Antigua’s historical sites. The decision was made to move the capital to its present location in Guatemala City. Thousands of local Indians were conscripted to move what could be salvaged and to rebuild on the new site. Although all of the survivors were ordered to move, not everyone did: some remained behind in the rubble of the city they loved. As Guatemala City prospered, the people living in the ruins of Santiago slowly rebuilt their city. People stopped calling it Santiago: instead, they referred to it as â€Å"Antigua Guatemala† or â€Å"Old Guatemala City.† Eventually, the â€Å"Guatemala† was dropped and people began referring to it as simply â€Å"Antigua.† The city rebuilt slowly but was still large enough to be named the capital of Sacatepà ©quez Province when Guatemala became independent from Spain and (later) the Federation of Central America (1823–1839). Ironically, â€Å"new† Guatemala City would be hit by a major earthquake in 1917: Antigua largely escaped damage. Antigua Today Over the years, Antigua retained its colonial charm and perfect climate and is today one of Guatemala’s premier tourist destinations. Visitors enjoy shopping at the markets, where they can purchase brightly colored textiles, pottery and more. Many of the old convents and monasteries are still in ruins but have been made safe for tours. Antigua is surrounded by volcanoes: their names are Agua, Fuego, Acatenango and Pacaya, and visitors like to climb them when it is safe to do so. Antigua is particularly known for Semana Santa (Holy Week) festivities. The city has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How Animals Interact in an Ecosystem

How Animals Interact in an Ecosystem Animals interact with each other in numerous, complex ways. However, we can make some general statements about these interactions. This enables us to better understand the role that species play within their ecosystems and how individual species can positively or negatively affect the species around them. Of the various types of interactions between species, most involve resources and consumers. A resource, in ecological terms, is something (such as food, water, habitat, sunlight, or prey) that is required by an organism to perform a vital function such as growth or reproduction. A consumer is an organism that consumes a resource (such as predators, herbivores, or detritivores). Most interactions between animals involve one or more competitor species vying for a resource. Species interactions can be categorized into four basic groups based on how the participating species are affected by the interaction. They include competitive interactions, consumer-resource interactions, detritivore-detritus interactions, and mutualistic interactions. Competitive Interactions Competitive interactions are interactions involving two or more species that are vying for the same resource. In these interactions, both of the species involved are negatively  affected. Competitive interactions are in many cases indirect, such as when two species both consume the same resource but do not  directly interact with each other. Instead, they affect each other by  reducing the availability of the resource. An example of this type of interaction might be seen between lions and hyenas. Since both species feed on the same prey, they negatively affect each other by reducing the amount of that prey. One species may have trouble hunting in an area where the other is already present. Consumer-resource Interactions Consumers of consumer-resource interactions include predator-prey interactions and herbivore-plant interactions. These consumer-resource interactions affect the species involved in different ways. Usually, this type of interaction has a positive impact on the consumer species and a negative impact on the resource species. An example of a consumer-resource interaction would be a lion eating a zebra, or a zebra feeding on grass. In the first example, the zebra is the resource, while in the second example it is the consumer. Detritivore-detritus Interactions Detritivore-detritus interactions involve a species that consumes the detritus (dead or decomposing organic matter) of another species. The detritivore-detritus interaction is a positive interaction for the consumer species. It has no impact on the resource species since it is already dead. Detritivores include small creatures such as millipedes, slugs, woodlice, and sea cucumbers. By cleaning up decomposing plant and animal matter, they play an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. Mutualistic Interactions Mutualistic interactions are interactions in which both speciesresource and consumerbenefit from the interaction. An example of this is the relationship between plants and pollinators. Nearly three-quarters of flowering plants rely on animals to help them pollinate. In exchange for this service, animals such as bees and butterflies are rewarded with food in the form of pollen or nectar. The interaction is beneficial for both species, plants, and animals.

Healthcare Plan Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Healthcare Plan Issues - Essay Example nds in the economy have added to the woes of the masses and created a vulnerable segment in the society whose healthcare has become a major concern for the government. President Obama’s national healthcare plans have been hailed as a major initiative in the field. While it is true that the healthcare system of the government has come under lot of threat from various factors like recessive economy, changing socio-economic pattern and increasing pluralistic society, the most damaging has been the insurance sector that has increasingly become market driven. Healthcare plans have just become insurance products and the common man as their consumer. In such a scenario, the poor have no choice but to compromise on their insurance package that may not fully meet their health requirements. The prices and the level of services or healthcare modules become have become crucial factors in the delivery of healthcare insurance. The plans introduce stringent measures to control discrimination based on gender, age and existing illnesses, thereby ensuring limit to the escalating insurance premium. There is protection for senior citizens and extra expenditure on flu shots, mammogram, diabetes tests etc. have now been incorporated within the insurance package so as to improve healthcare delivery and reduce extra burden on the common man. The plans also initiate various fringe benefits like tax credit for individuals and small businesses to get insurance with a ‘real choice’. Public health insurance provides cover to people who cannot afford and has made provisions to protect people with pre-existing condition by creating national ‘high risk’ pool. The cost would be met through savings and extra expenditure, if incurred, would be addressed through cuts and austerity measures. The hospital, doctors, specialists and physicians would be given incentive for improved quality in healthcare delivery. There would be special team of experts that would overseas the waste, fraud and

Legal Aspects of Health Care Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Legal Aspects of Health Care - Case Study Example Dr. Andrews (doctor) owed the duty to Bobby with regard to treatment of his left hand (amputation). He amputated the wrong hand, thus violating his duty; which also led to Bobby's loss. In addition to elements of negligence, the action by Dr. Andrews is res ipsa loquitur (that is, it speaks for itself). So there can be no two opinions that the doctor committed negligence while treating Bobby; and can be held liable to pay the damages. The actions of Nurse Williams at City General Hospitals can be reviewed using EMTALA (Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act). EMTALA was passed in 1986 to prevent hospitals from refusing to treat a patient coming to their emergency room; on grounds of not having enough money or insurance to pay for the treatment. The Act places two main obligations on hospitals (Lafferty, 2000): 2. If it can be established that the patient's condition is in fact, an emergency; the hospital must take steps to 'stabilize' the condition before the patient can be asked to contact any other hospital for detailed treatment. In the given case, a screening examination was not conducted to determine the severity of wounds. Although, Nurse Williams attended Bobby immediately and put towels on his wound, probably to stop the flow of blood; and may be this would be presented by the hospital in defense. Yet there is no evidence that any screening examination was carried out to ascertain if the condition can be classified as emergency; and any attempt to 'stabilize' the emergency condition other than above which can hardly be classified as an attempt to stabilize Bobby's condition. The delay thus caused, resulted in deteriora36tion of the injury, which ultimately resulted in amputation. Bobby and his parents can sue