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 Candles were originally made from whale fat.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