Australian capitalism and GST essays

Australian capitalism and GST essays On the 13th August 1998, the Prime Minister, The Hon John Howard MP held a press conference at Parliament House to launch the Federal Government's tax plan for Australia's future. The plan incorporates significant historic changes to the Australian taxation system, which are to be guided by five key principles. The key principle of the Federal Government's tax reform proposal that is creating speculation and debate is the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, commonly known as GST. This consumption tax has come under intense public and political scrutiny and questions have been raised as to the economic fairness of this proposal. According to Macionis and Plummer (1997, p.420) "capitalist economies produce a higher overall standard of living but also generate greater income disparity." The inequity of Australia's current economy is evident from the media release issued by the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) 4pm Wednesday 17 March 1999 in response to the taxation statistics that were released the same day. Michael Raper, President of ACOSS stated that the taxation statistics revealed the gross inequalities in the distribution of wealth in Australian society today with "The top 10% of Australians owning 52% of the nation's wealth, while the bottom half owns a paltry 3%." On balance, does a capitalist economy promote a fair distribution of wealth and social power? I say not. Political support is gained by appealing to members of society with promises to act in their interests, more often directing this appeal to those individuals with wealth, social power and influence. The multi-million dollar advertising campaigns supporting the Federal Government's tax reform package and in particular the proposal of the Goods and Services Tax is funded by big businesses. The same big businesses that will benefit from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax and that will benefit from the 30% cap on the Capital Gains T...

Anatomy of the Human Stomach Essay Example

Anatomy of the Human Stomach Essay Example Anatomy of the Human Stomach Essay Anatomy of the Human Stomach Essay The stomach is divided into five sections, each of which has different types of cells and functions. The stomach lies between the esophagus and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). It is on the left side of the abdominal cavity, the fundus of the stomach lying against the diaphragm. Lying beneath the stomach is the pancreas, and the greater omentum hangs from the greater curvature. Like the other parts of the gastrointestinal system, the stomach walls are made of a number of layers. Starting inside the stomach (the lumen) going out, the first main layer is the mucosa. This consists of an epithelium, the lamina propria underneath, and a thin bit of smooth muscle called the muscularis mucosa. The submucosa lies under this and consists of fibrous connective tissue. It separates the mucosa from the next layer, the muscularis externa. The muscularis in the stomach differs from other GI organs in that it has three layers of muscle instead of two. Under these muscle layers is the adventitia, layers of connective tissue continuous with the omenta. The epithelium of the stomach forms deep pits, called fundic or oxyntic glands. Different types of cells are at different locations down the pits. The cells at the base of these pits are chief cells, responsible for production of pepsinogen, an inactive precursor for pepsin, which degrades proteins. The secretion of pepsinogen prevents self-digestion of the stomach cells. Further up the pits, parietal cells produce gastric acid, which kills most of the bacteria in food, stimulates hunger, and activates pepsinogen into pepsin. Near the top of the pits, closest to the contents of the stomach, there are mucus producing cells called goblet cells that help protect the stomach from self-digestion. The muscularis externa, as previously mentioned, is made up of three layers of smooth muscle. The innermost layer is obliquely oriented, this is not seen in other parts of the digestive system, this layer is responsible for creating the motion that churns and physically breaks down the food. The next muscle layers are the circular and then the longituditinal, which are present as in other parts of the GI tract. The antrum has thicker muscle in its walls and performs more forceful contractions than the fundus. The pylorus is surrounded by a thick circular muscular wall which is normally tonically constricted forming a functional (if not anatomically discrete) pyloric sphincter, which controls the movement of chyme into the duodenum.

Reflect on Vygotskian Adolescense Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflect on Vygotskian Adolescense - Assignment Example During the age of adolescence, Vygotsky attributed the changes to sexual maturation and other forms of physiological maturation. In this case, sexual maturation refers to the emergence of new stimuli and needs. This refers to the aspects that determine change in a system of interests. Vygotsky also emphasized on the fact that the development of interests is dependent on the content of social-cultural development. There are a number of shortcomings of using this theory. Vygotsky does not outline the reason for the occurrence of the new motives in adolescents. According to Vygotsky, change in motives results from the reconstruction of adolescent sexual desires and needs. This occurs because adolescents have the ability to operate at levels of formal logical thought. However, he does not explain the mechanisms used during the reconstruction (Karpov, 2009). Additionally, the idea of motives contradicts his earlier theoretical notions. This theory can be criticized based on the fact that Vygotsky leans on the mental development of the motives. The second Neo-Vygotsky’s area of research that will be analyzed is idea of development through social interactions. According to Neo-Vygotsky, adolescents learn through their interactions with their environment or society. Their interactions with their environment enable them to learn about moral norms and values. However, the transformation of social consciousness to self-consciousness is not a passive process of adoption. Neo-Vygotsky theorists argue that the components of social consciousness are internalized and mastered through the application of problem solving strategies. In this case, adolescents test their moral norms and values based on their interactions with their peers. These are also based on their ability to internalize mental processes and make small variations to original processes. Social interaction during the period of adolescence

The role of social media in managing customer relationship Essay

The role of social media in managing customer relationship - Essay Example The essay will encompass the role of social media in managing customer relationships. At the current epoch modern business firms face cut throat competition among themselves. Most of the contemporary economies in the world abide by the free market principles. ‘Consumerism’ is the pivotal goal or motto of almost all the enterprises in the modern world. Business firms can never be successful in generating economic surplus without enhancing and modifying customer relationships. Buyers view for a commodity or a service manufactured by a business firm largely influences the brand loyalty and image of the company. This in turn affects the gross turnover of the organization. Thus, implementing strategies to win over customer relationships is the primary success factor for any corporate business organization. With the progress and development of Information Technology, business firms have enjoyed substantial economic surplus with the help of the modern marketing methodologies. S ocial Media is a tool that has upgraded and modified itself over time to help business organizations built efficient and good customer relations. Social media involves certain internet sites that help the people freely communicate with each other through writings, videos and pictures. With the advantages of social media, constrains like distance and time differentials have reduced to a large extent. Modern individuals can never think of a life without the social networking sites. In the late 19th century, the CompuServe was the first social network site available in United States. Over the time, the percentage of internet users has significantly increased. The modern social networking sites like YouTube have 4 billion viewers per day. Facebook users are as high as 1.11 billion. 255 million users for LinkedIn, 87 million members for Flickr, 500 million users for Twitter shows the gross popularity of social networking sites in the modern world. Such sites are used for both economic an d non economic purposes. Modern business firm’s uses social networking sites for marketing their manufactured products and achieving customer’s loyalty. Customer Relationship Management is a pivotal theory of consumer behaviour management. Social media has largely helped the corporate retail firms to anticipate the requirements and demands of the contemporary potential customers. Thus, at this juncture it is highly rational to analyze the role of social media in facilitating corporate customer relationships. This essay will enumerate the various aspects and perspectives of social media. It will also throw light on the superior and inferior outcomes generated by social media over time. The learnt from this academic based essay would surely enable readers to acquire an implicit knowledge about the benefits and problems of social media augmenting customer relations. Critical analysis Impact of social media on customer relations The discussion presented above shows that th e social media is a platform that is rising in importance among the marketers. In this context, it must be understood that the social media has both positive and negative impacts on consumer relationship. The positive impacts have been discussed below followed by the negative impacts. Social media as a public forum provides a strong way to establish customer relationship and increasingly engage them into the process of designing, producing and distributing products. There is a huge difference between social media and other forms of communication, such as telephones. The difference is that telephones provide one to one communication among the people that are participating in the conversation, but the social media is such a forum in which a very large number of people that are virtually present in the forum can participate in the conversation. This allows all customers to review the opinions of other consumers. Thus, it makes the information conveyed across the target population very fast and also allows the companies

Gender differences in communicating relationship expectations Research Paper

Gender differences in communicating relationship expectations (interpersonal communication) - Research Paper Example When we communicate with other people, we do not just say words but we say it with different tone of voice and sometimes, actions. This is what interpersonal communication is all about. With just a different tone of voice, the meaning differs. Our facial expression also is an important factor in the interpersonal communication. How we look in conversing with others will mean differently. Our gestures as well as our body language also affect our communication with others. Because of gestures, the other person might understand what we mean in a different way. It is very important that we study the aspects of interpersonal communication because we surely want to convey the message the way we want to be understood. Since everyday of our lives, we communicate, we have to communicate effectively and efficiently. The first principle of interpersonal communication is it being inescapable (King, 2000). A person cannot â€Å"not† communicate. We cannot escape from communication even if we try to. Though we might not talk or use words to converse to others, our gestures, facial expression may do it for us. We must always remember that people cannot read our minds, thus whatever we put in words or show in our body language, will be understood as such by our receivers. It is our behaviour that is understood by people (King, 2000). Interpersonal communication is irreversible (King, 2000). We cannot take back something what we already said. For example, because of our anger, we might burst out words we really do not mean to say to someone. But we know that these words are really not meant to hurt the person we are talking to, but the words already pained the other person. Even if we wanted to take back everything that we have said, the hurt and pain it has caused will not be taken away from that person. The third principle is interpersonal communication being complicated (King, 2000). According to King (2000), theorists

The Challenges And Opportunities For The Pacific Islands Politics Essay

The Challenges And Opportunities For The Pacific Islands Politics Essay When hearing the word Pacific Islands our minds wander off and mirror images of swaying palms, idyllic beaches, tranquil waters, cheap holidays and smiling locals. Beyond these characterisations, the Pacific island region is also known for its immense complexity and intriguing diversity. This is partly symbolised by the areas landmass fragmentation into thousands of scattered islands spread over the South Pacific. In line with this, my essay assesses some challenges to and some opportunities for the Pacific Island states since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Prior to this assessment, a regional profile is presented. Secondly, there is a brief explanation of the Pre- and Post-Cold War Pacific Island history. Thereafter, this essay addresses its core issues through the identification and assessment of some relevant Post-Cold War challenges to and a number of opportunities for the Pacific island region. To conclude I reiterate the essays major points of analysis. Pacific Island states in the post-Cold War World Regional Profile The Pacific Island region, which consists of 14 Island states and 21 political entities, is unique in many ways. Firstly, the South Pacific, which stretches from Australia and Papua New Guinea in the West to South America in the East, makes up one third of the earth. Simultaneously, this massive area is only home to 0.5% of the world population. Secondly, the region shows its uniqueness in a political sense through its distinctive cultures which gravely impact national and regional Pacific politics. This cultural diversity is reflected in the regions 3 main cultural groups: Melanesia in the West, Americanised Micronesia in the North and Polynesia in the South and East. Finally, according to Graham this aid dependent region, is exclusive and unseen due to its vast distance from global metropolitan centres, fragile ecosystems, limited resource base and the cultural clash between traditional lifestyles and the individualistic orientation of cash economies. The Pacific Islands in the pre and post-Cold War era Pre-Cold War era In the early twentieth century, the Pacific Island region entered a new era after its colonisation by the Western Powers. Over the next 50 years, the region, which was subjected to various territorial power shifts and the Japanese Invasion during World War II, remained under control of the Western nations. These latter established the South Pacific Commission, an advisory body on economic and social matters and more importantly a first form of regional cooperation, in 1947. Despite their decolonisation in the 1960s and 1970s, the newly emerged fully independent or self-governing island nations, maintained close connections due to a lack of economic self-sufficiency with their former Western colonisers, in particular Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In the early 1970s, the regional cooperation was further expanded through the establishment of the South Pacific Forum, a 16-member consisting advisory body on political matters. In the same decade and basically throughout the Cold War the aforementioned 3 regional powers used a strategic denial tactic against growing Chinese and Russian regional interests. While those three external regional powers were able to rebuff Soviet and Chinese overtures as well as control the region through the provision of development and financial aid assistance in the 1970s, the Pacific Island nations became more unsettled as a myriad of conflicts emerged in the following decade. Hence, the volatile 1980s, which resulted in increased domestic and regional political instability, were characterised by a series of illustrious events: military coups in Fiji, New Caledonian violence, temporary cession of the NZ-US ANZUS relationship, lawlessness in Papua New Guinea, a civil war on Bougainville and so forth. Post-Cold War era Since the end of the Cold War and the disappearance of the superpower rivalry by around 1990, the Pacific Island region has been confronted with numerous changes. For instance, the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in an increasingly multi polar world and made international and regional organisations more influential. Furthermore, the economy started to play a pivotal role in international affairs. Contrastingly, the strategic value of the region for superpowers such as the US and the UK dwindled at first. However, after a growing Chinese interest, in particular the United States reviewed its regional strategy and policies. Some of these changes also created tensions and fuelled political instability at times. Corollary, the end of the Cold War also gravely affected the interests of the ANZAC countries. Due to the global emphasis on economic rationalism, the regions largest aid donors were pressured to lessen their unilateral involvement. After signing a number of agreements in t he beginning of the new millennium, the Pacific Island forum leaders implemented The Pacific Plan for strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration in 2005. Overall, these numerous changes, which not only had a great impact on the region, have resulted in a series of challenges and opportunities for the Pacific Island nations. Challenges Environmental One of the key challenges for the Pacific Island environment is the issue of Climate Change. In an era characterised by increasing sea levels and the warming of the globe, the world was forced to commit itself to sustainable development. In response to the looming scenarios and dire implications of this phenomenon, international and regional organisations have prioritised the Pacific Island situation due to its above average rising sea levels. This latter has placed more stress on systems already under a lot of pressure. For instance, as a result of global warming, in the short term, the pacific islands could become prone to devastating storms. This could then lead to the contamination of the regions drinking water by sea water and ultimately to the inundation of many Pacific Island entities. Being fully aware of this, the South Pacific Forum has lobbied to raise international awareness and has aimed for the implementation of a framework convention on climate change. Unfortunately, a t present the involved small island states have yet to reach a consensus due to a negative cost-benefit analysis. However, unless a large-scale cooperation is established, the further existence of many low-lying islands will indeed be at stake. Another important environmental and economic issue concerns the resource management of Fisheries. In particular the Pacific Island tuna fishery, one of the worlds largest, is of vast importance to the region. Despite the region having a rich and extensive marine life, its lack of funds to develop and protect its 200 mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) has created a major regional challenge. While having ensured the property rights over its marine resources, due to poor management and lacking funds, the island nations only receive a small proportion of the tuna fishery revenue. Moreover, tuna stocks face depletion due to unregulated fishing and open access. This results from the fact that the commercial fishing industry in the region is in hands of transnational companies and foreign fishing fleets. Therefore, to maintain this major source of income for future generations, it will be vital to safeguard a fairer distribution of the tuna fishery benefits and to prevent the depletion of its marine resources. Some of the other important regional environmental challenges are coastal area management, forestry, biodiversity, unregulated mining and domestic waste and problems of sanitation and water pollution. Political One of the main political challenges is to establish good governance to eliminate or at least minimise internal and external conflicts. Unfortunately, due to its late decolonisation from the Western Powers and its current heavy dependency on foreign aid the regional island states lack political and constitutional tradition. As a result, the Pacific Island region has an abundance of young island states facing internal instability. Furthermore, given the withdrawal of most Great powers from the region, the island states face a tremendous task of dealing with plentiful political challenges: high crime rates, numerous ethnic conflicts, corruption, drug trafficking, border disputes and so forth. Physical/Economic The Pacific Island region has a relatively weak economy. It is generally believed that the areas geographic remoteness, small size and small population base are the main reasons for this feat. Furthermore, its poor transport and communication links, heavy dependence on foreign states and limited resources have further affected the regions low economic growth. This latter has a clear impact on the regions low levels of employment which has led to poverty, social instability and crime. Furthermore, the employment challenge faced by the region is massive due to the rapid population growth in Micronesia and Melanesia. In order to overturn this doom spiral, higher economic growth will need to be created by adequate government spending on healthcare, urban infrastructure, waste management and environmental adaptation systems. Opportunities While the region faces a high number of challenges, one can be optimistic as there are definitely some growth opportunities for the region. One of these is the effect current Chinese investment has on the Pacific Island economy. Ever since the late 1990s Chinas influence in the South Pacific has grown rapidly. Regardless what Chinas motivations are, from the Pacific Island nations point of view any financial assistance can be an opportunity for the region. At present, China has already offered high amounts of financial and development assistance to enhance trade, improving local infrastructure, develop natural resources such as mining and petroleum and so forth. Another regional opportunity for growth lies in the regions tourism industry. Despite its high potential, the regions weak infrastructure, costly transportation, social and political instability, high crime rates and disease risks have slowed down tourism growth. To overcome these obstacles and truly capitalise on this massive opportunity, local governments and regional mechanisms need to address these above mentioned external constraints, develop national tourism policies in terms of its environmental impact, invest in tourism-related training to boost employment and improve marketing and data. Politically, establishing effective political leadership resulting in sustained growth is considered as a regional opportunity. This latter can only be accomplished through reforms. For instance, if one can strengthen the electoral systems and parliaments and involve the civil society in politics it will have a hugely positive effect on the government performance which will reverse the current doom spiral by minimising the numerous challenges the region is currently facing. In conclusion, it is evident from the above analysis of the Pacific Island region that due to slow growth various challenges are looming for the South Pacific nations. While there are a multitude of opportunities and despite foreign financial and developmental aid, without rapid economic growth the island nations will be unable to meet the various regional economic/physical, political and environmental challenges. Besides creating economic growth, it will be vital to manage its resources such as fishery, forestry, mining and tourism. In order to do so, vast and dramatic changes in political governance will be required. It remains to be seen though whether a combination of regional cooperation and local political stability through good governance will result into a major turning point in the Pacific Island history.

Soil Erosion and The Erosion of Civilizations :: Soil Erosion

Soil erosion began with the dawn of agriculture, when people abandoned their hunter-gatherer lifestyles and began using the land for intensive agriculture, thus removing the protective vegetation cover and growing food crops on disturbed soil surfaces. For many civilizations, it is believed that surface wash erosion, that can occur unnoticed until it is too late, was a main contributing factor for their demise. Soil erosion and other degradative processes have destroyed, over the millennia, as much arable land as is now cultivated. The Phoenicians, the Roman Empire, Mesopotamia, and ancient peoples of present-day Syria and Lebanon are all believed to have collapsed as a result of deforestation, erosion, and salination in the Middle East. In the Indus valley civilizations have suffered the same fate. The collapse of a 1700-year-old Mayan civilization in Guatemala around 900 A.D. is also attributed to accelerated soil erosion. Mollisols developed on limestone bedrock were easily eroded when the forest was cleared. As the population increased, soil depletion set in and the Maya culture rapidly declined. Soils of south and Central America supported thriving civilization long before the European settlers discovered the â€Å"new world†. Incas conserved soil and water by constructing stone-walled bench terraces such as those at Machu Picchu, Peru. The thin topsoil was rapidly washed away, however, once maintenance of the terrace system was neglected. Much of Latin America’s export-oriented economy was imposed by violence at the time of conquest.

Project Scope and Charter Essay

The first phase of any project is the initiation phase. This phase commences when some type of business issue or opportunity is identified bringing about a proposal project to solve or address the issue or opportunity. The main deliverable of this phase is the project charter, which contains a broad view of what the project is about, who is involved, why the project is being conducted and how & when the project will be carried out. (Hughes Lecture, 2013) Once the charter is approved the project can move into the planning phase, which is where the charter is used to identify the scope of the project. This paper will examine the relationship between project scope and charter and highlight the benefits of each. Project Charter The project charter is a short document that serves as an informal contract between the project team and the sponsor of the project. (Kloppenberg, 2012, pg 84) This document contains only enough detail to get the project approved so it can move into the planning phase. Project Management Professional, Ritchie Hughes describes the charter as a representation of the â€Å"view from 3000 meters†. The project charter is usually drawn up by the Project Manager and team, or, in instances where a Project Manager has not yet been assigned, the project sponsor will complete the charter. Hughes explains that the functions of the â€Å"why† section of the charter are to ensure: the correct individuals will be consulted (e.g. stakeholders and governance), projects that are linked or dependent on the project in question are identified, the organization has enough resources (internally or externally) to complete the project, a business case for the organization is conveyed and that all the information is provided to support the executive team. (Hughes Lecture, 2013) Approval of the charter grants authority to the project manager to go through with the project and utilize the allotted budget or resources for the project activity. As the charter approval is the â€Å"Go/No Go† decision for the project, a non-approval means termination of the project. (Hughes Lecture, 2013) Scope Approval of the project charter signifies the transition into the planning phase of the project. A critical part of the planning phase is identifying the scope of the project. Project scope is defined as â€Å"the work that must be performed to deliver a product, service, or result with the specified features and functions.† (Kloppenberg, 2012, pg. 142) Ritchie Hughes explained that scope can also mean â€Å"the sum of products, services and results to be provided as a project.† The benefits of scope are that the work to be performed is clarified, listed and any work not to be completed (outside the project’s scope) is identified. Scope is also a useful tool in managing expectations and avoiding assumptions among stakeholders and the project team. (Hughes Lecture, 2013) Scope Creep A common issue when managing a project’s scope is dealing with scope creep. Scope creep can be defined as â€Å"the extra deliverables that can creep into a project.† (Collegiate Projects, 2013, pg. 1) These â€Å"project improvements† can be very hard to avoid but may have a major effect on the project’s budget, timing or quality. Projects that may be susceptible to scope creep should have a scope change management plan that contains: a definition of scope change for the project, a process for submitting and reviewing scope changes, documentation needed for the change process and a tool to track change requests and their resolutions. (Collegiate Projects, 2013, pg. 2,3) An understanding by both parties (project team and sponsor) of scope creep and its effects on the project, and an organized management plan will help avoid scope creep that may negatively affect the project’s success. Conclusion In the early stages of project management, two very important aspects are the project charter and scope of the project. Not all projects need a charter but understanding and managing the scope of a project will help the project team effectively complete the project in time and budget without â€Å"Gold Plating†. References Kloppenborg, T. J. (2012). Contemporary project management: organize, plan, perform (2nd ed.). Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. (2013). Managing Scope Creep. Collegiate Project Services, 1, 1-3. Hughes, R. (Director) (2013, January 31). Project Initiation: Scope & Charters. Bus 427. Lecture conducted from Tom Rippon, Victoria.

Facilities Management Case Study Essay Example

Facilities Management Case Study Essay Example Facilities Management Case Study Essay Facilities Management Case Study Essay Biotech Case Study: Implementing Predictive Maintenance for Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers Submitted By: Regina Gracia E. Sandoval Carolyn Pulanco Glaiza Bustria Joyce Domingo Jeralyn Barrios Arabelle Loresto OM4A RND Biotech Case Study: Implementing Predictive Maintenance for Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers October 2008 CHALLENGE: * RND Biotech operates 300 ultra-low freezers (-80 °C) that frequently fail, even though maintenance activities are performed on a quarterly basis. RND Biotech is currently replacing freezers as they fail, rather than trying to repair them, to keep up with the required freezer capacity. * When freezers fail, RND Biotech potentially loses product development samples that represent months of research. * RND Biotech would like to implement a predictive maintenance strategy and continuously monitor freezer function, which they believe will improve uptime, and free up skilled labor for other tasks. * However, they have not found a comprehensive method that is cost-efficient and non-invasive to implement a predictive maintenance strategy. Most alternatives only monitor freezer temperature which is not enough for predictive monitoring. SOLUTION: RND Biotech installed a new automation technology which did not incur any disruption to ongoing processes and required minimal installation cost. The solution, a non-invasive wireless sensor system, allowed RND Biotech to monitor multiple freezer data points, including chamber temperature and compressor amperage. RESULTS: * RND Biotech immediately found distressed freezers and were able to prevent failures. The freezers were able to be repaired, as opposed to replaced, saving approximately $7,000 per freezer. RND Biotech is now able to implement a predictive maintenance strategy for their freezers. Challenge RND Biotech is a biotechnology research and development company. The company has 300 ultra-low freezers (-80 °C), used to store research samples. These freezers are critical to RND Biotech because the samples stored in them represent ongoing research that comprises the co mpany’s product pipeline. Failures of these freezers could potentially result in a loss of years’ worth of research for new products that could be worth billions of dollars in revenue. The facilities group reports that it spends a significant amount of time addressing freezer failures. Records show that approximately twenty work orders per month are freezer related. Additionally, researchers complain that frequent freezer failures impact their ability to focus on their research. When a freezer fails, researchers have to scramble to find space in other freezers to store samples. If the failure occurs during non-working hours, both facilities and research personnel have to come to the facility in order to address the failure. If the failure is not addressed in time, the freezer contents critical research samples or products are lost. The empty freezers have to be defrosted and decontaminated before they can be moved to the maintenance area for troubleshooting and repairs. This process alone can take up to a week. Failures have occurred frequently enough that it is now more convenient for RND Biotech to simply replace the freezers as opposed to repairing them, even though it is not a cost efficient solution. The primary failure mode on ultra-low freezers is at the compressors. The ultra-low freezers each have two compressors. Failure of either compressor directly impacts the freezer’s ability to maintain temperature. Simply monitoring the temperature of the freezer is not enough to preventatively catch failures. By the time the temperature rises, everyone has to react to the impending failure as opposed to preventing it. The primary function of the preventative maintenance procedures is to ensure that the compressors are functioning efficiently. To accomplish this, specific maintenance activities include: * measuring compressor amperage on a quarterly basis to ensure that the compressors are operating within specification and are not overworked * de-icing the door gasket on a quarterly basis so that the freezer chamber is properly sealed * maintaining the filters on a semi-annual basis so that proper air flow and temperature is achieved around the compressors * defrosting and de-icing the freezer on an annual basis to prevent ice buildup in the freezer chamber Even with such rigorous maintenance of the ultra-low freezers, there are still a significant number of failures occurring and disrupting operations. The facilities group is looking for a way to be able to detect potential problems with freezers before they fail so that the impact on operations is minimized. Implementing Predictive Maintenance RND Biotech would like to implement a predictive maintenance strategy for their ultra-low freezers. Their goal is to get ahead of their failures and maximize equipment uptime. In order to accomplish this, the facilities group would need to be able to monitor the freezer compressors on a frequent and regular basis, in order to observe the normal mode of operation of the freezers. Current preventative maintenance procedures only allow facilities to take a snapshot of compressor operation at the time the maintenance is performed. The Cypress Solution Cypress Systems offers a Wireless Freezer Monitor (WFM) designed to check the overall health of the freezers. This battery operated device can be installed on a freezer to monitor compressor amperage and freezer temperature on pre-defined intervals. The data is wirelessly transmitted back to the Cypress server, where it can be trended via a web interface. Wireless data collection allows the freezers to be moved if needed without reinstalling hard-wired sensors. The battery operated device eliminates the need to have additional power available for monitoring tools. Results RND Biotech tested the Cypress wireless freezer monitor solution and installed WFMs on a pilot of twenty freezers, at a cost of $2000 per freezer. At the onset of the project, the expectation was that 10% of the freezers were not performing optimally. RND Biotech immediately found 20%, or four, of their freezers that were now monitored were not functioning optimally. Problems they saw included compressors not cycling off or compressors cycling on and off too frequently. Both situations indicated that the freezers were working harder than they should and needed to be repaired. All four freezers were all eventually repaired rather than replaced. The replacement cost per freezer would have been $12,000. The repair cost was approximately $5,000 per freezer. RND Biotech was able to save $28,000. Additionally, if a researcher had to reproduce lost samples, it could potentially cost $7,000 or more in labor and material costs. The initial investment in the Cypress solution for the twenty freezers was $40,000. The financial payback was under two years. RND Biotech was greatly impressed with the ability they gained to coordinate the repair activities without having to scramble. Value of Predictive Maintenance for Freezers The immediate benefit of the Cypress Wireless Freezer Monitor system was that the facilities group could plan their repair activities with research, rather than have to scramble to find freezer space for their samples. They were able to prioritize which freezers were more critical to address. Financially, the project had an immediate payback, based on the number of freezers that were in distress and the new capability for RND Biotech to coordinate repairing their freezers before they fail as opposed to purchasing new ones. The value that they see includes: reducing the frequency of freezer failures nd emergency response situations mitigating the risk of loss in RND Biotech’s product pipeline troubleshooting freezer work orders more easily by viewing amperage and temperature trends and even reducing the number of work orders submitted for freezer problems minimizing required maintenance activities, reducing maintenance time having the ability to plan maintenance and repair acti vities around research activities becoming more â€Å"green† by replacing fewer freezers saving energy by repairing compressors as soon as problems becomes evident, rather than only observing problems during maintenance or when failures occur Based on these overall benefits and proven utility, RND Biotech now plans to install the Cypress wireless freezer monitors on all their ultra-low freezers.

Alexander Pope and the Scientific Revolution Essays

Alexander Pope and the Scientific Revolution Essays Alexander Pope and the Scientific Revolution Essay Alexander Pope and the Scientific Revolution Essay In the seventeenth century many scientists and philosophers strayed away from the church’s way of thinking and began to seek out their own explanations of the world around them. Scientists questioned, even opposed theories the church had been teaching for centuries. Alexander Pope, a philosophical poet, wrote a very controversial poem that changed a lot of people’s views on God’s divine role in human kind, as well as inspired people to think for themselves. What made Pope’s ideas so unique? How did Pope incorporate the belief of God with the new scientific discoveries of his time? Exploring these questions gives a better understanding of the conflict between science and religion in the seventeenth century, and insight on a man who believed everyone should accept the world as they find it. The scientific revolution was a time of dramatic change. People began asking questions of the world around them, and instead of looking to the church for answers as they had for many years, started coming up with their own theories. Alexander Pope was very interested in the scientific discoveries of his time, particularly those of Sir Isaac Newton, and tried to incorporate them into his faith. This was dangerous however, because the Church opposed all of the new ideas being brought forth, as they felt it was challenging their beliefs. Pope’s main intent was not to oppose the Church; instead, he sought to build a bridge between religion and the new scientific discoveries as a way to glorify God. By writing â€Å"An Essay on Man†, Pope wished to present a God that was different from those in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The faith that he presents in his poem is similar in that it is monotheistic; however, the new ideas he offers on humanity’s role in the universe was incomparable to any other religion at the time. This was just one of many examples of the critical thinking that was beginning to be used in the scientific revolution, and encouraged others to seek out their own explanations of the world around them. For centuries it had been common belief that the earth was the center of the universe and humans were God’s greatest creation; therefore, new discoveries in nature and the universe generally contradicted the Church’s teachings and beliefs. In Pope’s poem â€Å"An Essay on Man†, he explains God’s relationship to the world in a Newtonian way. Pope tried to use the new scientific discoveries in nature and the universe as a way to glorify God, showing that He was everywhere and a part of everything. The poem states that no matter how complex or evil the world seems to humans, it follows the natural order of God, and therefore should be accepted. Pope believes that the ignorance of people to the world around them inhibits their relationship with God. It was this kind of thinking outside of the norm that was present among many philosophers during the scientific revolution. The most important aspect of the scientific revolution is people began to ask questions of the world around them, and sought the answers for themselves. Instead of looking to the church for answers, they began to observe, examine and explore for themselves. Alexander Pope was one of many , who instead of accepting the Church’s beliefs, interpreted the universe and God’s place in it all in his own perspective and encouraged others to do the same.

Judaism 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Judaism 1 - Essay Example This statement fits a theological statement since logic and theology clash with each other. This statement is inclined towards faith rather than a legal statement. The second key element commandment is to learn Torah and to teach it to others. No doubt, Torah is a vital book in Judaism as it tells Jews about past events. For Jews, there is no â€Å"old testament,† as the New Testament is no part of Jewish scripture. With any sacred text, interpretations vary as Jews from traditional to modern. For instance, the concept of interest, can very amongst scholars on what interest really is defined as. Is it consider to be interest to charge money on money or making a profit through a product? This is again is a theological statement since Torah is a sacred text that is not considered as law or implemented as law. It is not an educational context text per se, but is regarded highly in Judaism as a sacred and the only true text. Hence, it’s a theological statement and not a mor al or a logical statement. Another key component that is part of 613 Commandments is being keen in prayers. For observant Jews, prayer is vital in their religion. Prayers should be done with right intention, clarity and observance. The law means that a Jew who is keen in his prayers will reach salvation in my opinion. The law means that Jews to acknowledge the bounties of God, must be engaged in his remembrance.

Given the recent ethnic violence in Myanmar, how can ASEAN enhance its Essay

Given the recent ethnic violence in Myanmar, how can ASEAN enhance its cooperation with a view to avoiding or mediating ethnic tensions in its member states in the future - Essay Example This study attempts to take an in depth analysis of this issues so as to explain the root causes of such conflicts, reviews the policies available and generate the possible alternative policies which can address this issue. The prevailing policies do not address the issues of how the member governments of ASEAN should resolve or avoid conflicts within their states (MacQueen, 2012). The Burmese government has tried to curb these conflicts by coming up with â€Å"seven steps road map† but this has proved not to work since the ethnic clashes are still ongoing (Lall, 2009). The Myanmar’s government needs to come up with alternative policies which will enhance cohesion among the member communities. Some of these alternatives include steps like encouraging dialogue among all the stake holders in the Burma state. It may also involve power sharing among the ethnic communities, enhancing democracy and justice to all with absolute fairness. This can be achieved through a genuine devolved system of governance that enhances autonomy to all the ethnic communities in Myanmar (Bray, 1992) I recommend the policy of establishing a devolved government. Burma has been in the military rule for over two decades. All the ethnic communities need to feel included and accepted in the government, they need to feel part of the policy makers and patriotic in the way they relate among each other at a national level. These ethnic groups need an assurance that their autonomy and identity will be upheld by supporting the government rather than opposing it (Brown, 1999). Myanmar has just recovered from the military rule that has been in control for over two decades (Lall, 2009). The new president Thein Sein will help the country to grow economically at a great pace. However, the ethnic conflicts are posing a serious challenge to the nation’s economic growth (Smith, 1994). The most recent is where the government forces conflicted with