Free Essays on Formal Analysis Of Looking At Crab-apple Blossoms At Night

of Frank Lloyd Wright, â€Å"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.† This is the relationship of form to function found in the Southern Song court painting, Looking at Crab-apple Blossoms at Night. Painted on a silk fan with ink and color, the piece serves a purpose beyond its artistic worth by functioning as a fan. The content of the fan’s imagery is a representation of a poem composed by Su Shi for the emperor Lizong. Looking at Crab-apple Blossoms at Night is, therefore, uniquely able to forge a marriage between not just form and function, but also content. Because the fan was painted mostly in ink, the silk was most likely covered in a glaze to prevent a diluting of the boldness of the ink due to absorption by the silk. Conversely, sizing silk makes the surface slick and more difficult to paint on. Such a surface requires meticulous and deliberate strokes. Therefore, the artist undoubtedly put a great deal of effort into the composition and content while maintaining a clean and intentional brushstroke. The scene portrayed on the fan serves two purposes. It illustrates the patron’s poem by prominently displaying imagery from the poem such as the flowers and silver candles. The formal style used by the artist unites content and form. The pictorial imagery serves the dual purpose of creating a mood of serenity. The serenity of the scene lends to the function of the fan, which is to induce comfort. One typically uses a fan when the climate is hot and harsh. The imagery of Looking at Crab-apple Blossoms at Night depicts a cool, spring night at a peaceful and organic structure in the midst of a tranquil and scenic landscape. Anyone who requires the fan’s function is thereby transported to a cool and serene resting spot. The serene tone of the painting is achieved through the use of several formal techniques. Sharp and angul... Free Essays on Formal Analysis Of Looking At Crab-apple Blossoms At Night Free Essays on Formal Analysis Of Looking At Crab-apple Blossoms At Night In the words of Frank Lloyd Wright, â€Å"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.† This is the relationship of form to function found in the Southern Song court painting, Looking at Crab-apple Blossoms at Night. Painted on a silk fan with ink and color, the piece serves a purpose beyond its artistic worth by functioning as a fan. The content of the fan’s imagery is a representation of a poem composed by Su Shi for the emperor Lizong. Looking at Crab-apple Blossoms at Night is, therefore, uniquely able to forge a marriage between not just form and function, but also content. Because the fan was painted mostly in ink, the silk was most likely covered in a glaze to prevent a diluting of the boldness of the ink due to absorption by the silk. Conversely, sizing silk makes the surface slick and more difficult to paint on. Such a surface requires meticulous and deliberate strokes. Therefore, the artist undoubtedly put a great deal of effort into the composition and content while maintaining a clean and intentional brushstroke. The scene portrayed on the fan serves two purposes. It illustrates the patron’s poem by prominently displaying imagery from the poem such as the flowers and silver candles. The formal style used by the artist unites content and form. The pictorial imagery serves the dual purpose of creating a mood of serenity. The serenity of the scene lends to the function of the fan, which is to induce comfort. One typically uses a fan when the climate is hot and harsh. The imagery of Looking at Crab-apple Blossoms at Night depicts a cool, spring night at a peaceful and organic structure in the midst of a tranquil and scenic landscape. Anyone who requires the fan’s function is thereby transported to a cool and serene resting spot. The serene tone of the painting is achieved through the use of several formal techniques. Sharp and angul...

Italian Text Messaging - Italian SMS Abbreviazioni

Italian Text Messaging - Italian SMS Abbreviazioni Dm c sent x spr ki dv venr. Does that sentence resemble a message from extraterrestri telefonino Ideographic Italian accento acuto Italian SMS Abbreviations Italian SMS Standard Italian anche ci sentiamo comunque domani dopo dire dove sei destra forse che chi come con cosa mi manchi tantissimo numero non prossimo qualche qualcosa qualcuno quando quindi quanto questo rispondi scusa solo sempre messaggio sono sapere sinistra spero ti telefono tardi tranquillo troppo ti voglio tanto bene volevo perchà © percià ² per ora perà ² persona tanti baci meno male pià ¹ o meno per Did you understand any of this? Maybe its appropriate now to ask: Povera lingua italiana dv 6?

Program Budget Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Program Budget - Coursework Example The mission of the waste recycling unit is to be the leader in reducing the amount of waste that is disposed of in our landfill and other waste disposal facilities and to ensure that the environmental effects of waste disposal, treatment and storage are minimized. The mission of the waste treatment unit is to treat hazardous industrial and chemical waste in a way that is not harmful to the environment and in accordance with regulations. The waste treatment unit also seeks to ensure that employees are properly trained and compensated to carry out their functions efficiently and effectively. The mission of the waste disposal unit is to be a leader in ensuring the safe disposal of solid and liquid industrial and domestic waste in such a way that the all environmental laws and regulations are adhered to. The budget for the three service units is presented in a tabular format below in the Appendix. It shows the amount spent on employing people to carry out the duties mentioned. The budget shows that of the total projected expenditure of $1,922,000 budgeted, 23.52% will be spent on waste recycling service, 29.04% on waste treatment service and 47.44% on waste disposal service. In order to ensure quality service it is important to have measures for assessing performance. In assessing performance measures for each service, it is necessary to consideration the achievement of their goals. Therefore, the measures will be based on measurable goals and objectives. Performance measures for each department are as follows. The measurable goals of the recycling unit are to realize a profit margin of 40% and to increase revenue by 20% per year. These measures will determine if the service unit has achieved its measurable goals. Repeat customers can also be used to determine service quality as well as prompt request for service. The achievement of the units vision of reducing GHG’s from recyclable waste is possible. The measurable goals of the waste

The Ontological Argument for Gods existence Essay

The Ontological Argument for Gods existence - Essay Example Arguments for the existence of God are based on revelations of the Realized Souls. At their level everything is perfect, ever the same, and without any confusion or contradiction. All confusion and arguments arise, when mind-level intellectuals begin to interpret the revelations of the transcendental! Arguments for the existence of God based on general revelation are also called natural theology. Next to general revelations, is the special revelation and this is the area where the problems for the humanity begin due to their wrong understanding/interpretation. Those issues are: who God is, what God has done and will do and how He expects us to live. Such divine instructions are found in The Bible, Qur’an, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Vedas, etc. Natural theology based on reasoning is incapable of demonstrating God’s existence. Relying on one’s own thought and reasoning skills to reach God is full of pitfalls. Human beings are likely to confuse the limitations of their thoughts as the limitation of God. Arguments for the existence of God based on the appearance of design in the world again form part of the domain of reasoning and inductive logic. Design arguments are also known as teleological arguments. The perfect order in the universe is offered as the perfect reason for the existence of God. The perfect order seen in the universe cannot be a matter of c hance. If the watch needs the watch maker, the universe needs the universe-maker, so say the Creationists. The universe must be the product of intelligent design, they believe. Objections to the design arguments say that it is not necessary to depend upon a God-hypothesis to explain the orderly positioning of the things in the world. Science is capable of explaining everything, according to such votaries. They argue that life is created from the â€Å"Big-bang†, and one sees the natural evolutionary process in the things around. But these people

Effectiveness of Electronic Group Brainstorming Essay Example for Free

Effectiveness of Electronic Group Brainstorming Essay The first article reviewed was entitled â€Å"Improving Extreme-Scale Problem Solving: Assessing Electronic Brainstorming Effectiveness in an Industrial Setting† by Courtney C. Dornburg, Susan M. Stevens, Stacey M. L. Hendrickson, and George S. Davidson, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The paper was authored in June of 2009. The objective of this paper was to conduct an experiment and report the results of the efforts to compare the effectiveness of group electronic brainstorming versus individual electronic brainstorming to address difficult, real-world challenges (Dornburg et al. , 2009). Many such studies have been conducted over the years to determine if group brainstorming is more effective than individual brainstorming and the conclusion is that individual brainstorming creates more and better quality ideas. However, there are not many studies examining larger work groups, 30 or more, with diversity among skill and knowledge levels in an industrial setting. This article aims to determine the best way to leverage EBS (electronic brainstorming) methods within the setting of a national laboratory to evaluate performance within four industrially relevant areas. Because of the ever-increasing use of technology in the workplace, it is imperative that managers understand group dynamics to aid in solving industrially relevant issues and how to apply the right technology to the situation. The group of individuals conducting this research declares that electronic brainstorming has been proposed to reduce the negative effects of group brainstorming and help control costs. Electronic brainstorming should allow for shorter meetings, an increase in participation regardless of the participant’s location, a reduction in costs, and provide for better documentation. The experimental goals of this paper were as follows: 1. Measure idea quality as well as quantity 2. Examine larger work groups, up to 30 members 3. Solve a â€Å"real-world issue† 4. Determine how time and scheduling interact with EBS Participants in this study were randomly assigned to a group (one group of 39 and another group of 30) and were given instructions to log into a website and input their ideas at least once a day for 4 successive days. The availability of the website was not restricted to just working hours, thus participants could enter ideas either when working or at home, so whenever an idea came to them, they had the opportunity to log into the website and input their information. The nominal group participants only were able to see their own answers. The group-condition participants could see their own ideas as well as those of their group and could build on other ideas submitted by the rest of the group. The questions the participants were asked to respond to was a problem from the company president which contrasted two models of how organizations relate to their employees. The two questions were as follows: 1. How do employees establish an identity for themselves in relation to their work environment, i.e., how do they define their â€Å"we†, and 2. How to create the appropriate balance between the role of management and the sense of empowerment of employees (Dornburg et al., 2009). The results were generated and responses were evaluated based on originality, feasibility, and effectiveness. The results showed that nominal was superior to group brainstorming in at least some industrial contexts (Dornburg et al., 2009). In the nominal group responses, both average and maximum idea quality were considerably better than the group condition responses. The analysis proved that the nominal participants produced more good ideas than group participants; however there was not a major difference in the total number of ideas produced. This research proved to this group that large electronic groups are not inevitably the best option for solving industry related issues. If idea quality is the goal of the group, this issue can better be solved by collecting electronic individual responses rather than organizing an electronic group. Furthermore, the individual approach has the potential for cost savings. The second article reviewed was entitled â€Å"Social Influence Processes in Computer Brainstorming† by Paul B. Paulus, Timothy S. Larey, Vicky L. Putman, Karen L. Leggett, and Evelyn J. Roland, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington. This article was produced in March of 1996. This research project assumes the same findings of the first paper reviewed, that large group brainstorming is not always the best option for generating new ideas, and takes it one step further to study the social influences in effect during the brainstorming process. The first paper proved that individual group brainstorming was the superior process for electronic brainstorming and this paper is investigating what elements lead to the productivity loss that occurs between individual brainstorming and group brainstorming. The article claims that there are several social interaction factors that can be attributed to the productivity loss such as social interaction anxiety, social loafing, and blocking. Additionally, it is stated that there is no real motivation to be a high performer and individuals will match their performance to the lower performers. The purpose of this research project was to provide further evidence for the social influence model within the context of electronic or computer-based brainstorming (Paulus et al., 1996). For this study, participants were assembled into groups of 4 and were asked to generate ideas using personal computers. There were four different group conditions used. In the first condition, the participants generated ideas individually, with no comparison feedback or verbalization. In the second condition, the participants publicly announced the number of ideas they created in 5 minute increments (comparison). In the third condition, as they typed their ideas, the individuals would voice their ideas (verbalization). And finally, in the fourth condition, participants verbalized their ideas as they typed and announced the number of ides they generated every 5 minutes, therefore combining both the comparison and verbalization conditions (conditions #2 and #3). The primary dependent measures were the number of ideas generated and perceptions of individual performance (Paulus et al., 1996). Additionally, this study examined the independent role of verbalization and social comparison processes in both the generation of ideas and the perception of performance in computer-based brainstorming groups (Paulus et al., 1996). There were 136 participants in this study who were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental conditions and broken into groups of 4. All participants were contributing in a large room at the same time, except in the no verbalization-comparison condition, where those individuals participated alone in another room. The participants were asked to generate ideas on the pros and cons of having an extra thumb on each hand. At the end of the session, the participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire which asked them questions about their perception of their performance during the brainstorming session. This individual performance information was evaluated by the research team as well. The results of this study proved that by using the social comparison information, it increased the performance of the students generating ideas on the computer, meaning that giving the performance statistics of others can help increase the performance of the group. However in contrast, in the condition where the participants verbalized their ideas, this reduced the level of performance over the groups who did not voice their ideas. This is consistent with the idea that production blocking is a core reason for production loss of brainstorming groups, because the blocking occurs when the individuals in the group share ideas. Consequently, sometimes the performance comparison information can be helpful, but the verbalization of ideas most likely increases social anxiety and production blocking which will reduce the benefit of the comparison information. The more favorable individual performance perceptions were in the social comparison and verbalization condition groups. In summary, the findings of this study show that the perception of the participants in an interactive group is that they are more productive if they announce their ideas as they are generated during the group brainstorming process. In other words, typing ideas as they are being voiced during the group brainstorming process may be beneficial if oral interaction is preferred. Additionally, voicing ideas can help stimulate the individual thinking process and can create more confident feelings about individual performance. However, the actual performance of the group may be hindered when participants verbalize their ideas due to blocking and anxiety. Social comparison may increase the overall number of  ideas produced, but verbalization of ideas may hinder the number of ideas produced. One of the reasons why I chose this topic was that within my team at BJC, collaboration is highly recommended and expected. Brainstorming sessions are a regular occurrence and used frequently to generate new ideas in facilitation techniques, training material development, presentation techniques, and special project deliverables. So I determined that additional research on brainstorming would be interesting and beneficial to me to apply ideas to my working environment. The first paper I reviewed discussed the use of two different types of electronic brainstorming and which version was best for the brainstorming process. I have read many articles lately on brainstorming where they have indicated that due to personality differences, and being more introverted versus extroverted, idea generation is not a one-size-fits-all process. Using an individual electronic process can help those that are more introverted to give them time to think about ideas and write down ideas as they come to them, instead of putting them on the spot and asking them to generate ideas immediately and in a large group setting. I have personally not used the electronic method with regularity in a business setting. More often than not, we usually schedule a meeting and gain participation by having everyone together in one room and throw ideas around. I do feel that I can build off of others’ ideas easily in this type of setting, but I am more extroverted, so I tend to verbalize my thoughts easily and am energized by hearing others’ thoughts. I was surprised at the outcome of the first study where the nominal group generated more quality ideas that the group-condition participants, which supports the concepts from our Organizational Behavior textbook, in chapter 9. I personally am stimulated by other’s ideas and it helps me think more creatively if I can see or hear what others are thinking about the brainstorming topic, because as noted in the second paper, voicing ideas can be stimulating. I can see where individuals who are more introverted may be intimidated by the verbalization and comparison techniques as used in the second study. I also like the idea of having a standard website or shared electronic document to capture ideas when brainstorming is needed, as used in the first study. In my work environment, the most beneficial format would most likely be the group-condition because we tend to build off of each other’s ideas. We are a very interactive group, so the oral interaction, or visual interaction, would work well in our environment. I have experienced productivity blocking in brainstorming sessions previously where your brain has a tendency to to get stuck on one thought or idea and you have a hard time getting past that particular idea. However, again, probably because I am more extroverted, and am energized by conversation, I feel that I am eventually able to work through the brainstorming process and not get stuck in the blocking circle. Sometimes to get past the blocking, it just helps to build off of someone else’s idea, instead of coming up with your own original idea. The second pape r discussed that another reason for productivity loss was because there is no real motivation to be a high performer and individuals will match their performance to the lower performers. That’s not accurate in my case because I am also a very competitive individual. Even though there is no tangible reward for submitting as many ideas as possible, due to my competitive nature I would still try to submit as many ideas as possible so that I can be proud of my accomplishment. I would also perceive that my performance was better in the case that I was providing as many or more ideas as my colleagues, rather than submitting fewer ideas. In summary, I found both articles to be extremely beneficial on the topic of electronic brainstorming. I learned about new ways to brainstorm electronically and that there are many benefits, however with the social aspect, an organization needs to take into consideration the potential areas for productivity loss. Each organization should determine the best way to use electronic brainstorming for their environment based on their culture. Even though as the textbook states in chapter 9 that electronic meetings tend to lead to decreased group effectiveness and an increase in the amount of time it takes to complete tasks, technology continues to increase in popularity and it will be interesting to see how BJC decides to harness this technology to continue to generate quality ideas for the future of healthcare. REFERENCES Dornburg C, Stevens S, Hendrickson S, Davidson G. Improving Extreme-Scale Problem Solving: Assessing Electronic Brainstorming Effectiveness in an Industrial Setting. Human Factors [serial online]. August 2009;51(4):519-527. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 10, 2013. Paulus P, Larey T, Putman V, Leggett K, Roland E. Social Influence Processing in Computer Brainstorming. Basic Applied Social Psychology [serial online]. March 1996;18(1):3-14. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 10, 2013.

Lighting Advancements Essay -- essays research papers fc

Have you wondered why streetlights are yellow, or why the year 2000 cars have brighter headlights and they are a different color? Have you ever wondered how the indiglo light on your watch works, or why it glows green and not white? And did you know that same indiglo light can be used while frozen, dipped in water, bent in half, stepped on, or in hazardous environments. Lighting has changed over the last few years; there are advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of lighting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lighting has been around since time itself existed; the first kind of lighting was fire. Fire was used to warm the inhabitants, and to provide light; many primitive cultures would use burning torches to provide light for their excursions and pathways. Fire was the only true form of light they had other than the moon. Fire had many disadvantages, one was that fire depended on fuel and needed proper conditions to operate (no rain, minimal wind). Another disadvantage is that fire, if not handled properly, could result in a brush fire or even burn down their shelter. An advantage was it was efficient when conditions were correct. It provided an inexpensive form of lighting, and could be used for cooking and heating. Due to the persistent problem of limited fuel, inhabitants looked for a way to prolong the fuel. (Thwig 29-34)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next step in lighting that followed was a candle. Candles offered one main advantage over the fire by itself, fuel. A candle was able to provide a long burning light and was relatively inexpensive to produce. Candles were originally made from whale fat. The flame would burn and would slowly use the wick as a fuel and would burn much slower because the wax slowed the burning down. (Thwig 35-49)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next form of lighting that followed the candle was the oil lamp. The oil for the lamps was also made from whales. The oil was the primary fuel for the fire, it burned even longer than a candle, and was cleaner. The wick was submerged in oil with one side sticking out. The oil would travel up the wick to the exposed portion. When lit the wick would be saturated with oil and the fire would burn the oil on the wick. This form of lighting was a large improvement, many cites adapted to this technology. Cities would create streetlights from the lamps and they would be lit on a n... ...is not fully utilized yet. In the coming years we will see displays of light we cannot even imagine, displays we cant even think about in our wildest dreams. But one thing is for sure lighting has, and always will be a necessity of our culture. Works Cited “ The Design Guide.'; New Hampshire. Loctite Luminescent Systems Inc.1990, Revision 0490. “Edison, Thomas Alva.'; Frank & Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia. 1989 ed. “Electro-Luminescents.'; Memtonik Innovations. Online. Pacific Bell, 7 January 2000. N. pag. Hayward, Arthur H. Colonial and Early American Lighting. Canada; General Publishing Company, 1962. “Hubble Lighting'; Hubble. Online. Pacific Bell, 23 January 2000. N. pag. Available http://www.hubble-ltg.com. “Lighting F.A.Q.'; Rudd Lighting. Online. Pacific Bell, 22 January 2000. N. pag. Available http://www.ruddlighting.com/. Neitzke, Ron. Personal Interview. 16 Feburary 2000. Sabin, Louis. Thomas Alva Edison. New Jersey Troll Associates, 1983. Thwig, Leroy. Flickering Flames. Tokyo; Charles E. Truffle Company, 1962. “Why Electro-luminescent lamps.'; Industrial Tehcnology. Online. Pacbell, 7 January 2000.

“Budget Cuts” The leading problem facing our educational System Adriana Cruz

Budget cut has been the leading problem facing our educational system today. I think that students should be given top priority to learn, excel and benefit from school and not depriving them of their right to learn. Budget cuts in education will mean lesser funding for students in classrooms, the classroom will have a bigger student population and the school maintenance will have lesser spending. Budget cut in education in California will not benefit the students of California, and this will include my three school age children, who will suffer the consequences of such cuts. Each student is allocated a certain amount of money for one school year which includes reference materials like books and library materials. I started noticing how my kids had to share supplies such as books and little things as color pencils. Teachers were sharing supplies between them as well such as projectors, computers and television. I think that’s when I started to understand the big impact that the budget was having on schools. With a lesser budget, there will be limited resources for each student. We decided to move to South County, where according to the media, schools were given more funds than in the Northern part. We had to raise our expenses such as rent and food in order to give our children a better education. Unfortunately things are starting to look the same. I am mystified there is not more outrage about this issue. No money for counselors, paper or textbooks? No lunchtime aides, which means inadequate supervision? How can this even be legal? I hear all the people say the system is broken, and we need to fix it, but not on the backs of our children. Research shows that class size makes a huge difference in the quality of education for students for several reasons. Forcing educators to teach large classes increases the possibility of disruptions and decreases the ability of an educator to help struggling students. The current trend of using cooperative learning groups becomes hard to manage in large classes. I have a dyslexic child who really needs to be part of learning groups and a lot of support to succeed in school. . Unfortunately, these programs, which help keep educators abreast of new teaching methods and techniques, suffer from limited funds. As a result, students suffer too. It makes me really sad knowing that funding issues prevent districts from hiring more educators and many are providing less professional development opportunities. I have also noticed that school infrastructure showed to suffer the most in areas like restrooms, graffiti-covered walls, internal heating and cooling, classrooms and desks. I have to personally pay for sports uniforms more than other school items. With all these budget cuts I am sure that cleanliness, repairs of roofs and chairs, paints and classroom supplies will be most likely affected. They don’t seem to realize that a clean and safe surrounding will be very much conducive to learning because a student who is in this kind of environment will be able to concentrate more. There is a noticeable discrepancy between what us as parents and students think schools should cut versus what school officials have on their to-ax lists. The top three items we think schools should cut are school newspaper or broadcast outlets, summer school and field trips, in that order. The last items on students' â€Å"should-cut† lists, starting from the bottom, are teachers, administrators, guidance counselors and sports. All items that schools have shown to most commonly choose to cut first. As a mother of three, the education of my children is one of my highest priorities. Like every parent, I want the best for my kids. I want them in good classrooms with good teachers where they will flourish, and by the time they graduate high school, will be prepared for the challenges the future will bring them. I feel that student’s ability to reach their academic potential should not be determined by the school they attend, all schools should provide the same quality of education, regardless of the neighborhood or financial status of the parents. I think that education is the basis for future growth, protection, and development of any nation. I do not understand why school districts should take hits of cuts when we have legislators giving themselves raises. Every student, no matter their background, deserves a fully prepared and qualified teacher, a quality education with proper resources, and the right infrastructure.

Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ Health Care Delivery System

In the past few decades, the role of the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) as a health care delivery system has raised awareness among health care administrators, veterans, and policy makers alike. The core mission of the VA delivery system is to provide primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). Some of the most common medical benefits awarded under the VA are to veterans who have become disabled by illness or injury in the line of duty during military service. As a result, the VA health care delivery system serves as a safety net because many of the veterans served are psychologically and economically disadvantaged and have a high disease burden (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). In addition, veterans who use the VA health care system have a higher level of illness than the average population, and 60 percent have no private or Medigap insurance. The VA health care delivery system provides many services for veterans, and also contributes greatly in managing health care resources. Research indicates that the availability of federal, state and local government funds to subsidize the care of persons left without services varies by state and community and may not match community need (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). In this way, the VA health care delivery system contributes in managing health care resources because it takes on the strains of existing alternatives. Within this patchwork, the VA health delivery system stands out as a significant, coordinated, nationwide safety net for veterans (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). The VA also cares for small vulnerable populations for whom care is expensive but generally unprofitable in the private sector (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). In addition to veterans with service connected injuries, illness and exposures and former prisoners of war, the VA is legislated to treat veterans with special disabilities of spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, amputation, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse and homelessness resulting from mental illness (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). The VA headquarters manages its networks by setting goals and defining strategies to maximize health care value throughout the nation. Value is defined as balanced performance of five factors: cost, access, technical quality, patient functional ability, and patient satisfaction (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). The VA headquarters also focuses on developing a standardized management and monitoring system that supports risk adjusted comparative analysis among networks (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). These efforts are designed to assure that high quality care is consistently delivered. The VA health care delivery system also plays an important role in transitioning patients from one level to another level of care in the health care continuum. This transitional role can be illustrated through the VA's treatment of serious health problems such as Parkinson's Disease, which currently affects about 1. 5 million Americans who are diagnosed with the disease (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, with physical symptoms of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia (Mitchell et. al. , 1996). It can usually be diagnosed based on the medical history and physical findings. To better address the needs of veterans with Parkinson's disease, in February 2001 the VA announced the creation of six centers specializing in Parkinson's disease (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). The VA Parkinson's centers also develop training programs for patients, families, students and health care professionals. Additionally, each site conducts a clinical demonstration program for evaluating new models of care delivery for veterans with Parkinson's disease and movement disorders (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). Furthermore, the VA hospitals are devoted to new research on Parkinson's disease in the development of surgical treatment for late-stage patients for whom medical therapy is no longer effective and development of new medications, which are more effective and have fewer side effects (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). In this way the VA health care delivery system assisting in the transition of patients from one level to another level of care. Finally, the available research indicates that the VA health delivery system contributes well overall in providing services and managing health care resources. This health care system appears to spread itself over the areas where other health care services are lacking, thus enhancing the quality of care and services provided. As long as market forces dominate the health care industry and state and local funding vary, the stabilizing influence of a national safety net such as the VA health care delivery system becomes more crucial. As improvements in health care become more necessary and evident, the VA system will continue to improve the standards of health care for all veterans. Future analysis of the VA health care delivery system in comparison to other health care delivery systems will assist in evaluating the quality of care offered by the VA.

Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold

Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold Gold is an element that was known to ancient man and has always been prized for its color. It was used as jewelry in prehistoric times, alchemists spent their lives trying to transmute other metals into gold, and it is still one of the most prized metals.   Gold  Basics Atomic Number: 79Symbol: AuAtomic Weight: 196.9665Discovery: known since prehistoric timeElectron Configuration: [Xe]6s14f145d10Word Origin: Sanskrit Jval; Anglo-Saxon gold; meaning gold - also Latin aurum, shining dawnIsotopes: There are 36 known isotopes of gold ranging from Au-170 to Au-205. There is only one stable isotope of gold: Au-197. Gold-198, with a half-life of 2.7 days, has been used to treat cancer and other illnesses. Gold  Physical Data Density (g/cc): 19.3Melting Point ( °K): 1337.58Boiling Point ( °K): 3080Appearance: soft, malleable, yellow metalAtomic Radius (pm): 146Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 10.2Covalent Radius (pm): 134Ionic Radius: 85 (3e) 137 (1e)Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.129Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 12.68Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): ~340Debye Temperature ( °K): 170.00Pauling Negativity Number: 2.54First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 889.3Oxidation States: 3, 1. The oxidation states -1, 2 and 5 exist but are rare.Lattice Structure: Face-Centered Cubic (FCC)Lattice Constant (Ã…): 4.080Specific Gravity (20 °C): 18.88CAS Registry Number: 7440-57-5 Properties In mass, gold is a yellow-colored metal, although it may be black, ruby, or purple when finely divided. Gold is a good conductor of electricity and heat. It is not affected by exposure to air or to most reagents. It is inert and a good reflector of infrared radiation. Gold is usually alloyed to increase its strength. Pure gold is measured in troy weight, but when gold is alloyed with other metals the term karat is used to express the amount of gold present. Common Uses for Gold Gold is used in coinage and is the standard for many monetary systems. It  is used for jewelry, dental work, plating, and reflectors. Chlorauric acid (HAuCl4) is used in photography for toning silver images. Disodium aurothiomalate, administered intramuscularly, is a treatment for arthritis. Where Gold Is Found   Gold is found as the free metal and in tellurides. It is widely distributed and almost always associated with pyrite or quartz. Gold is found in veins and in alluvial deposits. Gold occurs in sea water in the amount of 0.1 to 2 mg/ton, depending on the location of the sample. Gold Trivia Gold is one of the few elements that can be found in its native state.Gold is the most malleable and ductile metal. One ounce of gold can be beaten out to 300 ft2 or stretched into a wire 2000 kilometers long (1 ÃŽ ¼m thick).The melting point of gold is an assigned value, which serves as a calibration point for the International Temperature Scale and International Practical Temperature Scale.The gold ion in the 1 oxidation state (Au(I)) is called the aurous ion.The gold ion in the 3 oxidation state (Au(III)3) is called the auric ion.Compounds containing gold in the -1 oxidation state are called aurides. (Cesium and rubidium can form auride compounds)Gold is one of the noble metals. Noble metal is an alchemical term for metals that do not corrode under normal conditions.Gold is the seventh most dense metal.Metallic gold has no odor or taste.Gold has been used as jewelry since prehistoric times. Today, gold in jewelry is not pure gold. Jewelry gold is made of many different gold alloys . Gold is resistant to most acids. The acid aqua regia is used to dissolve gold.Elemental gold metal is considered non-toxic and occasionally used as a food additive.Transmuting lead into gold was one of the major gold of the alchemists. Modern nuclear chemists have found methods to accomplish this historic task.​ References   Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952) International Atomic Energy Agency ENSDF database (Oct 2010)

Proofreading for Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement

Proofreading for Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement These two proofreading exercises will give you practice in applying the rules of subject-verb agreement. After completing the exercises, compare your responses. Proofreading Exercise #1: A Fluke of Luck The following paragraph contains five errors in subject-verb agreement. Identify and correct the faulty verb forms. The sheep-liver fluke is a parasitic flatworm with a very complex life cycle. The fluke start life by hatching inside a snail. The fluke is then ejected from the snail in a ball of slime. These balls of slime is eaten by ants. The fluke digs its way through the ants body until it reach the ants brain. There, the fluke takes control of the ant by manipulating its nerves, thus turning the ant into its personal robot. Under the command of the fluke, the ant climb to the top of a blade of grass. If the fluke is in luck, the ant is eaten by a passing sheep. From the sheeps stomach, the fluke work its way hometo the liver. The Answers The sheep-liver fluke is a parasitic flatworm with a very complex life cycle. The fluke  starts  life by hatching inside a snail. The fluke is then ejected from the snail in a ball of slime. These balls of slime  are  eaten by ants. The fluke digs its way through the ants body until it  reaches  the ants brain. There, the fluke takes control of the ant by manipulating its nerves, thus turning the ant into its personal robot. Under the command of the fluke, the ant  climbs  to the top of a blade of grass. If the fluke is in luck, the ant is eaten by a passing sheep. From the sheeps stomach, the fluke  works  its way hometo the liver. Proofreading Exercise #2: Life Forms The following paragraph contains seven errors in subject-verb agreement. Identify and correct the faulty verb forms. Anomie Plaza, like all shopping plazas, were designed for automobiles rather than human beings. All natural life has been extinguished; even the weeds along the curb appears artificial. But somehow, amidst all the plastic, steel, and concrete, a solitary shrub manage to survive. The shrub, not in vigorous bloom but certainly alive, stand a few yards away from the entrance to Huxleys department store. It grows straight up through the concrete. Now and then a shopper pause to examine this odd life form, not for sale in any of the 67 stores. Occasionally, someone will glance around furtively and then break off a twig, slip it into a shopping bag, and hurry back to the parking lot. Why people do this are a mystery to me. Are such people intent on preserving life or destroying it? Whatever the case may be, the shrub so far ​have managed to survive all assaults. The Answers Anomie Plaza, like all shopping plazas,  was  designed for automobiles rather than human beings. All natural life has been extinguished; even the weeds along the curb  appear  artificial. But somehow, amidst all the plastic, steel, and concrete, a solitary shrub  manages  to survive. The shrub, not in vigorous bloom but certainly alive,  stands  a few yards away from the entrance to Huxleys department store. It grows straight up through the concrete. Now and then a shopper  pauses  to examine this odd life form, not for sale in any of the 67 stores. Occasionally, someone will glance around furtively and then break off a twig, slip it into a shopping bag, and hurry back to the parking lot. Why people do this  is  a mystery to me. Are such people intent on preserving life or destroying it? Whatever the case may be, the shrub so far  has  managed to survive all assaults.

Adapting to ChangesSituational Leadership Assignment

Adapting to ChangesSituational Leadership - Assignment Example The situational model comes with a number of strengths and limitations as described below. The situational leadership engages supple approach to meeting the distinct demands of every situation and individual. This model offers a prescription of understanding the capabilities and the nature of subordinates to enable the provision of exact requirements for better performance of a task. For instance, pushing an individual forward on to a task may work if the concerned party is low on confidence other than the employee who lacks the necessary skills (Carew, Carew & Blanchard, 2008). Putting in mind that employees often present their strengths and weaknesses at work, situational leadership approach enables a leader to personalize his approach towards the employees. This model mainly dwells on the need for leaders to constantly understand the needs of their subordinates. To assess and develop a better understanding of an employee’s abilities and lead him/ her towards performing tasks effectively, it is paramount that communication is used. Thus, the situational leadership model enhances the levels of communication between the leader and the subjects hence increasing the levels of efficiency and productivity in the organization (Fernandez, Cho & Perry, 2010). Most leaders under the situational leadership model are often under constant pressure to analyze their situations prior to making decisions on any action. Other leadership styles emphasizing on leaders following their strengths and innate traits often present more instinctive reactions to problems. Other prominent situational leadership models propose that leaders ought to constantly establish the manner in which their actions offer immediate and long-term motivation to the employees. The major challenge to this question is that each response varies depending on the follower and the situation. Despite the effectiveness of the situational theories, they are always criticized for their rigidity. The

Writing a policy about Human Resources Security Assignment

Writing a policy about Human Resources Security - Assignment Example Cloud computing is today becoming business modernization’s fresh standards (Alali & Chia-Lun, 2012). The goal of the policy on external computing services is to secure human resources information. The policy also seeks to provide many enticing opportunities in the technology industry with several technology solutions being offered at very low costs. The policy on external cloud computing services will also make the foundation of pivotal improvements in the human resource information technology effectiveness. Given external cloud computing services are significant for human resource security (CHOI, 2013). The policy on external services is significant to the organization in terms of securing human resources information. It will assist in backing up confidential information from hackers and other unauthorized users. Retrieving information will also be easy as a result of implementing this policy. The objective of this policy is gain from external cloud computing services in terms of flexibility, efficiency, flexibility, and reduction in cost currently (Cross, 2012). As models of businesses change to be at par with the advancement in technology as well as the associated market shifts, organizations strive to build their strategies of cloud computing out of flexible components requiring interoperability among vendors (Cross, 2012). Another objective of the policy on external cloud computing services is to open opportunities by making technology and applications more accessible and minimizes the risk of having a significant data breach. Cloud computing is vital in safeguarding information. Many institutions have contributed to the marketing and development of platforms based on external cloud computing services policy. Some of the organizations already using external cloud computing services include Verizon, Oracle, Apple, VMWare, IBM, Google, Sony, Amazon, NetSuite, and Microsoft. Many other organizations are establishing all forms of