Global Network Strategies (Geography of Transport Systems) Essay

Global Network Strategies (Geography of Transport Systems) - Essay Example However, this does not mean that regional and national centers will cease to exist. Some products still require a three-tier distributing that consists of regional, national as well as international centers. Network structure is adapted in order to meet the requirements of IFT demand. This can adapt numerous forms operating at various scales. There are various strategies employed in distribution networks. The choice of one strategy over the other mainly depends on the nature of the cargo and the environment it is operated from. They include point to point distribution, corridor structures of distribution, hub and spoke networks, fixed routing networks and Flexible Routing networks. This is usually used when there is need for satisfaction of specialized and specific one time orders. This often leads to the creation of empty return problems and less than full load. This structure requires minimal logistics but the efficiency is compromised. A good example of point to point network is the point to point transportation system. This system transports containers from one location to a second address. It consists of a transport channel, propeller, operator, numerous containers and an operative communication. The controller is configured to receive instructions for transport between the locations. The controller instructs the operator, who then communicates with the propeller. The propeller moves the cargo to move from the first location to the second. It is important to have a way to between two addresses by use of a channel type system with containers moving rapidly and directly between start points and finish points. It is also important to have a way of monitoring the movement of the cargo in the system and rerouting cargo should there be any delays arise in any section of the system as well as any other complications. Moreover, it is vital to have a system which can allow various container sizes. This is what point to point distribution network offers. The size of the containers can be selected. This helps in meeting traffic and cargo constraints. A system to transport cargo within various containers from the first address to the second consists of various tracks between these addresses to engage and support plurality of the containers. The invention of point to point transportation enabled cargo transportation by the use of containers. Corridor structures of distribution These usually help in linking services, like land bridge that connect container trains to seaboards, with high density agglomerations. Loading and unloading of traffic along the corridors can be done at local and regional distribution centers that act as sub hubs in the distribution system. This is especially applicable in large transport and logistics companies (Rodrigue et al, 2006). Hub and spoke networks These have come with high throughput distribution centers and the emergence of air freight distribution. These are in great favor of parcel services. This structure is only possible if the hub is capable of handling big amounts of consignments where time is important. It requires logistics that are extensive since efficiency comes from the terminal of the hub. A main distribution cente

Edgar Allan Poe Essay Example for Free

Edgar Allan Poe Essay Although not originally well received, Edgar Allan Poe, became one of the most influential literary writers in American history. As a child, he wrote numerous poems, many which were later published. As a young adult he focused much of his attention on short fiction. He was credited with creating the detective story and known for his psychological and often violent thrillers. He is also known for his macabre themes and for having a fascination with death. Literary students should recognize these characteristics associated with Poes writings were shaped by many tragedies in his life, such as abandonment of his father, untimely deaths of his mother, brother, wife, and other loved ones, and the problems he faced with his adoptive father. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to New York where his father, David Poe, resumed his acting career. David soon quit acting and abandoned his family. He died a short time later (Harrison 22). Soon afterward, Edgars mother, Elizabeth, became ill and died (Nilsson). A young woman named Frances (also known as Fanny) and her husband, John Allan, took in Edgar. Soon thereafter, John, a tobacco trader, moved the family to England. There, Edgar began his first formal education. In 1820, when the tobacco market in London collapsed, the Allans returned to New York (Benfey; Nilsson). Edgar continued his education, excelling in Latin and French. During this time he was also in search of a maternal figure. Although fond of Fanny Allan, her poor health limited her ability to fulfill a motherly role. Edgar found a substitute in Mrs. Jane Stanard, a mother of one of his classmates. Unfortunately, she died a year later at age thirty-one (Nilsson). After her death, John Allan described Edgar as sulky and ill tempered to all the family (qtd. in Thompson). Mr. Allan felt insulted by Edgars behavior, especially when considering all he had done for Edgar. This was the beginning of the deterioration of the relationship between Edgar and John Allan that would provide conflict in Edgars life for many years to follow (Thompson). In 1826, Edgar attended the University of Virginia. He was an outstanding student and excelled in various languages, debating, writing, and athletics.  At age sixteen he fell in love with and became engaged to a girl named Elmira Royster. While away at college, he wrote her frequently but her father intercepted the letters (Thompson). Edgar was upset when he did not receive any replies. In addition to this disappointment, life at the school was chaotic and dangerous (Benfey). There were fights with students throwing bricks and bottles at professors and problems with students gambling. Edgar described one situation in a letter to John Allan in which he stated that one student was struck on the head with a large stone and in response he pulled a pistol. On another occasion he wrote about a student that bit another student, which Edgar described as, it is likely that pieces of flesh as large as my hand will be obliged to be cut out (Carlson). While away at school, Poe obtained large gambling debts and blamed John Allan for not providing proper financial support. When, Poe returned to Richmond during a school break, Allan reportedly broke off Poes engagement to Elmira (Carlson). He (Allan) then sent Edgar to work at his company instead of sending him back to school (Thompson). In 1827, Edgar and John Allans relationship completely fell apart. Poe wrote, Ive heard you say. . . that you have no affection for me (qtd. in Nilsson). Edgar moved out and while on the streets developed a problem with alcohol. Before long he obtained employment with a small newspaper and provided the printer with some of his early manuscripts. This resulted in a booklet entitled, Tamerlane and Other Poems. The main poem is a story about a warrior who returns home to find his childhood love has died and all his dreams gone. The writing was clearly influenced by Poes own plight in life and his failed relationship with Elmira Royster (Nilsson). Shortly thereafter, Poe lied about his age and used a fictitious name to enter the United States Army. In 1829, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major, the highest rank for a noncommissioned officer (Thompson). Meanwhile, Fanny Allan became seriously ill and died. Edgar arrived home after her burial. Feeling guilty for leaving Fanny, he wrote, I have had a fearful warning and have hardly ever known before what distress was (qtd. in Nilsson). After Fanny died, John Allan decided to forgive Edgar for their past problems and support his decision to leave the army to get into West  Point Military Academy (Nilsson). In April 1829, Edgar left the army, returned to Richmond, Virginia, and waited to be accepted as a cadet at West Point. During this time, John Allan became impatient and accused Edgar of being lazy. Their relationship became worse when Edgar requested financial assistance. As he waited for admittance, Edgar returned to Baltimore and continued writing poetry. There, a company named Hatch and Dunning printed his writing Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems. This literature centers on the ideas associated with the concept of life after death and ideal love, an obvious reflection on Poes relationships with loved ones. In 1830, Edgar finally entered West Point. He climbed to the top rankings in his class. However, John Allan remarried a much younger woman and sent Edgar a letter stating he had no interest in further contact with him. This resulted in Edgars desire to leave West Point. When Allan did not assist Edgar with his plans to leave the academy, Edgar began to get into trouble. By January 1831, he had committed enough offenses that he was court-martialed and dismissed from the military. He left West Point in February and traveled to New York City before eventually returning to Baltimore (Thompson; Nilsson). While in Baltimore, he met many of his biological relatives for the first time. He also became very close with his brother, Henry. Unfortunately, Henry died six months later due to alcohol poisoning. After his brothers death, Edgar began to write seriously again. Hoping to earn more money, he changed from writing poetry to writing fiction. He wrote his first published story, The Dream, which encompassed much of Edgars past and was thought to have been inspired by his brothers death (Nilsson). In this writing, the narrator dreams that a person he killed has come back though an opening in the sky. As the terrifying character approaches, the narrator awakes. He also wrote a Gothic tale, Metzengerstein, about a feud between a count and a baron. The count eventually is burned in a fire and transforms into a horse. The baron captures the horse and when a fire breaks out in the barons castle the horse carries him into the fire. As the smoke rises upward, a figure of a horse becomes visible (Poes Tales 213-221). Next, Poe published four short stories all concerning the subject of surviving  death. In one story, A Decided Loss (later titled Loss of Breath), the narrator, lost his breath, got his skull crushed, was hanged, had his ears cut off by a coroner, gets cut up and is still alive although repeatedly killed (Nilsson). Edgar continued to have financial problems and in 1833 he moved in with his aunt, Maria Clemm, and his cousin Virginia (Thompson). In 1834, John Allan died. Although Allan was worth about three-quarters of a million dollars, Edgar received nothing (Nilsson). After Allans death, Edgar moved to Richmond and began work for Thomas Willis Whites new magazine, The Southern Literary Messenger. Edgar had fallen in love with Virginia and planned to have her and Maria reside with him in Richmond (Nilsson). Maria, however, intended for her and Virginia to move in with another relative, Neilson Poe (Thompson). Neilson had offered to remove them from the poverty they experienced with Edgar. Edgar was upset and threatened suicide if they left. He was devastated by the prospect of losing Virginia. After they left, Poe quit his job and returned to Baltimore. In September, he and Virginia obtained a marriage license and may have been privately married (Nilsson). Poe returned to work for White, and brought Virginia and Maria back to Richmond with him (Thompson). Poe advised White on articles, proofread for the magazine, and wrote some short stories. During this time his writings centered on gothic fiction. His writings were strongly influenced by, German romantic writers who gave the English Gothicism their own twists and, disregarding probability, greatly exaggerated elements of the horrible and the supernatural (Nilsson). Poe was especially fond of the kind of personal narration called tale of sensation where the persons are usually solitary victims of a life-threatening predicament, about to be executed, or about to have a fatal accident (Nilsson). One of his stories, Loss of Breath, clearly demonstrates these characteristics. Poe took over the official position as editor for the Messenger and turned the magazine into a popular and well-respected regional journal. In 1836, Poe was officially married to Virginia. Although steadily employed, after  the marriage Poe continued to incur debts. In the fall of 1836, his editorial qualities began to suffer. Alcohol abuse was suspected and White removed Poe as editor. Poe soon completely left the Messenger and moved briefly to New York before settling in Philadelphia. (Nilsson; Thompson). After almost three years of free-lance writing, Poe accepted a job as assistant editor for Burtons Gentlemans Magazine. There, he wrote ninety-eight book-reviews and produced large number of articles on other topics. He also wrote, The Fall of the House of Usher, one of his famous gothic horror stories. This is a complex story about a bother and sister (twins) from a cursed family who share a soul with the decaying mansion they reside in. Poe includes the idea of moral decay by hinting at incest, burial alive, and a return from the grave in this thriller about the forces of life and death (Poes Tales 128-144). He also wrote about William Wilson, a man that kills himself but does not die (Poes Tales 3-21). In June 1840, Poe left the magazine due to low pay and a desire to start his own magazine. Poe was unsuccessful with his own magazine and eventually accepted a position for $800 a year working for George Rex Graham who purchased Burtons Gentlemans Magazine and renamed it Grahams Ladys and Gentlemans Magazine. Poe conducted proofreading, wrote reviews, and sometimes engaged in editorial work. He also did some writing but was better known as a critic than as a poet during this period. In the April 1841 issue of Grahams, Poe published The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Nothing similar to this work had ever been published and it has been credited as the first modern detective story. In fact, this work influenced the evolution of stories and the future of movies ever since it was published. An example of how Poes stories influenced future writers include the use of private detectives in contrast to police detectives, the narrator whom is not the main detective in the story, and the analytic process of crime solving techniques. Poes work helped increase the circulation of Grahams from 5500 to 40,000. Though he was successful, he became bored with his position and resigned in July 1842 (Nilsson). Meanwhile, Virginia became very ill with tuberculosis. Her illness hit Poe  hard and he did everything possible to help ease her suffering. The influence of her illness can be seen in his writings of this time. Poe wrote Life in Death and The Masque of the Red Death while taking care of Virginia (Nilsson). Life in Death is about a painter and his sick wife. Ironically, as the painter completes his portrayal of his wife, she dies. The Masque of the Red Death is about a prince trying to save his diseased country from the figure called The Red Death (Poes Tales 201-207). This story was derived from Poes knowledge of both the bubonic plague and the Philadelphia cholera epidemic. As Virginias condition grew worse, Poe suffered and again turned to heavy alcohol consumption. During this time Poe published a few revisions of older poems as well as a few new ones. He also published The Pit and the Pendulum, a tale of a man tortured by the Spanish Inquisition (Poes Tales 221-234). He also worked on his crime and detection stories which include The Mystery of Marie Roget, The Black Cat, and The Tell-Tale Heart. The Mystery of Marie Roget is the first true detective story to try to solve a crime. The Tell-Tale Heart is a tale about the murder of an elderly man whose heart continues to beat as police question the narrator. The beating heart eventually drives the narrator to his confess his crime (Poes Tales 289-293). In The Black Cat, the narrator kills a cat but it keeps coming back to life. While again attempting to kill the cat, he slices his wifes head in two with a cleaver. He hides her corpse in a wall but the cats howls lead the police to the location of the body (Poes Tales 518-527). In November 1846, Poe published one of his best short stories, The Cask of Amontillado. This short story is similar to Poes other crime fiction however there is no confession by the perpetrator. The narrator completes his revenge by capitalizing on his opponents prideful nature and lures him into a catacomb where he is sealed inside. The narrator hints at a feeling of guilt but since the story is told as a reflection of the past, it is clear that no one else knows of the crime (Poes Tales 207-213). In January 1847, Virginia finally died from complications of tuberculosis. Although he was devastated, Poe continued to write and lecture. He also reportedly found romantic relationships with several women, including the  former Sarah Elmira Royster, his first love who since had been married. On October 7th, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was found unconscious on a street in Baltimore. He died three days later in a local hospital (Nilsson; Thompson). His death has been attributed to alcoholism, however some researchers at the University Maryland Medical Center suspect he might have died from rabies (Shea). Edgar Allan Poe faced numerous obstacles during the course of his life. Although raised by a family with some wealth, Poe was always in a state of financial crisis. Among the relatives and friends of the Allans, Poe was an outsider and maintained a low socio-economic status. In addition, his losses include almost all the people who ever demonstrated any kind of love for him. An analysis of his writings reflects the psychological trauma that he obtained throughout his life. Although these problems kept Poe from immediate success, they had a profound effect on his style and the subject matter of his published works, which eventually made many of his writings popular in and out of the classroom today. Works Cited Benfey, Christopher. Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance. The New Republic 24 Feb. 1992. Carlson, Eric W. Edgar Allan Poe. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 74 American Short-Story Writers Before 1880. 1988 pp. 303-322. The Gale Group Harrison, James A. Life of Edgar Allan Poe New York: Haskell, 1970. Nilsson, Christoffer. Qrisses Edgar Allan Poe Pages 1996-1998. 29 Nov. 1999 Poes Tales of Mystery and Imagination. London: Dent, 1963 Shea, Christopher. Researcher Says Rabies, Not Alcoholism, May Have Killed Poe Chronicle of Higher Education Sept. 1996. 2 Dec. 1999 Thompson, G.R. Edgar Allan Poe. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 3. Antebellum Writers in New York and the South. 1979. pp. 249-297. The Gale Group Note: In addition, the following source was indirectly used: Edgar Allan Poe. Encarta 1999. CD-ROM. Redmond: Microsoft,1993-1998

Population Genetics (Molecular Epidemiology) of Eukaryotes

Population Genetics (Molecular Epidemiology) of Eukaryotes INTRODUCTION The study of the molecular epidemiology of parasitic infections and their vectors is meant to answer the same kinds of questions as those of bacterial or viral infections. As with bacteria, the molecular epidemiology of eukaryotic infections follows the distribution and dynamics of microbial DNA. The key difference, however, is precisely this biology, which defines a distinct approach to molecular epidemiologic investigation of infections caused by eukaryotic organisms. In bacterial reproduction, each individual passes down an identical copy of all the DNA to the next generation. Some eukaryotic pathogens behave reproductively in similar ways to bacteria and reproduce asexually, while others have sexual reproduction for at least part of their life-cycle. The individual is able to generate a clone of itself by binary fission to produce two identical organisms, and if successful, will produce large numbers to the detriment of its host. Asexually reproducing organisms can also exhibit p romiscuous horizontal gene transfer, which can be a major source of variation and adaptation (19), but this is not sex. Sex is the biologically necessary programmed recombination (crossing over) and random shuffling (reassortment) of chromosomal DNA in the process of reproduction. This results in an enormous reservoir of variation. Bacteria in nature are heterogenous conglomerates or communities (13, 19), but when they cause disease, especially in epidemics, it is generally a clone that is responsible and that we track (Chapter 2). Sexual reproduction in some protozoa, many parasitic worms and most vectors, however, never results in a clone with the exception of identical twins. There is genetic conservation, however, within a group of organisms that tends to breed together. In genetics, this is the working definition of a population. For sexually reproducing organisms, the population is the epidemiologic unit to track. Within the group, allele frequencies and thus traits are conser ved under well-defined conditions. The unique power of the genetics of populations is that it reflects not only present individuals but also the populations past and the future potential for subsequent generations (5). Many parasites exhibit both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction, but these life stages are distributed in different hosts. Treatment of their molecular epidemiology is doubly complex, but can be simplified for some questions by considering their biology just in the human host. The whole field of population genetics is perhaps the most complex area of genetics, but it arises from simple precepts. This chapter will outline the basic models used in population genetics and are directly applicable to problems of public health epidemiology. KEY POINTS Asexual reproduction usually produces a clone; sexual reproduction never does. A population is a group of organisms that tends to breed together Allele and genotype frequencies describe populations Allele frequencies and traits tend to be maintained within groups of interbreeding organisms (derived from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) Allele and genotype frequencies can be used to infer population histories Indices and statistics can be used to compare assess population history and to project population dynamics DEFINING GENOTYPE IN EUKARYOTIC ORGANISM   Ã‚   Some terms may not be familiar to some readers, so it is important to define these early. One of the dividing lines between bacteria and sexually reproducing parasites and vectors of human disease is their physical structure and organization. Sexually reproducing organisms will pass some portion of their life cycle where their chromosomes (Figure 5.1) exist as nearly identical pairs (diploid). Some organisms, malaria in particular, also have only one copy (haploid) during their asexual stage, and this is the stage that infects humans. A similar location on each of the chormosomes is a locus, and differences between loci are alleles. The geometry of DNA also strongly differentiates bacteria from eukaryotes (Figure 5.2). Prokaryotes have a single[1], circular chromosome whereas even the simplest eukaryotes, yeast, have at least 16 linear chromosomes. A specific marker on a bacterial chromosome will always be transmitted at reproduction together with any other marker or trait. The same also occurs with an asexually reproducing eukaryote despite having multiple linear chromosomes. A marker on the genome of a sexually reproducing eukaryote, by contrast, will have a 50% chance of being transmitted away from any marker it is not very close to. The labeling of each allele present at the same locus on each chromosome constitutes the genotype. A locus with the same polymorphism at the same site on each of the chromosome is homozygous, and with a different polymorphism is heterozygous. Figure 5.2 OPTIONS FOR MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF EUKARYOTES Study asexual parasites Use a marker close to the trait of interest (if known) Use many markers throughout the genome or sequence Study the whole group of organisms in which the trait is present (population) HARDY-WEINBERG EQUILIBRIUM: THE POPULATION NULL HYPOTHESIS Populations have a mathematical definition based on allele frequencies, which ultimately contributes to the development of tools for key measures of differentiation and diversity. Allele frequencies can differentiate populations, and genotypic frequencies can do so with even greater resolution. The relationship between allelic frequency and genotypic frequency has a simple mathematical relationship which is the definition of a population. If we use the letters A and a to represent different alleles at a single diallelic locus and p and q to represent their respective frequencies, a population with p=0.8 and q=0.2 is clearly different from a population where p=0.2, q=0.8, especially where this kind of result is found at multiple loci. Allele frequencies are not always the most sensitive measure of differentiation. The same allele frequency may still be found in what are clearly distinct populations if assessed for genotypic frequencies. Alleles combine to form genotypes, so the genoty pic frequency is a function of the allelic frequencies. For a diallelic locus where we know the frequency of each allele, the sum of these frequencies is 1 or (p + q = 1). For sexually reproducing organisms the next generation arises from the combination of alleles from a pool of males with alleles from a pool of females. If we imagine that individuals from these pools will pair at random, the subsequent distribution of alleles in genotypes is equivalent to rolling a pair of dice. For independent, random events the probability of 2 events occurring simultaneously is the product of their frequencies [(p + q)female à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ (p + q)male = 1]. The genotypic frequencies of the offspring for such a population should be p2 + 2pq + q2, if all assumptions are met, where p2 and q2 are the frequencies for the homozygotes and 2pq the heterozygotes. This is the well-known Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). This simple quadratic equation is the basis for all population genetics even when it is not measured directly. It represents the expected genotypic frequencies from a given set of allelic frequencies. It is one of the most stable mathematical relationships in nature. It is so much the expectation that when not observed in sequencing projects, it can suggest sequencing errors. It is the null hypothesis and mathematical definition of a stable population. The relationship HWE describes is true under a set of 5-10 assumptions that represent the most important factors that influence population genetic structure. The 5 most common assumptions are that there is: 1) Random mating (panmixia, assortative mating) 2) No selection 3) No migration 4) An infinite population 5) No mutation It is rare to have any of these assumptions met in nature, but the proportions are so resilient that the assumptions have to be severely violated to disturb this relationship, and even so, the proportions will be reestablished within 1-2 generations once the population is stabilized. As with most models, the underlying assumptions are the most important aspects. They are the basis for most conversations in population genetics. MARKERS Microsatellites, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sequencing are currently the genetic elements most employed in population genetics. Microsatellites are short tandem repeats of 2-8 nucleotides (reviewed in [Ellegren, 2004 #128]).  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Microsatellites have fallen out of favor in studies of statistical genetics or gene finding, since SNPs and sequencing provide better resolution at the level of individuals. Microsatellites, however, remain important in population genetics since they are mostly neutral for selection and have higher allelic richness and information content. Their rapid mutation rate (10-2 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ Ã¢â€š ¬ 10-5 per generation) and step-wise mode of mutation can limit their application to questions that extend over short time scales and to certain statistical approaches. SNPs have lower rates of mutation (10-8) in eukaryotes, often are diallelic, are ten times more abundant (10, 22) and have high processivity and scorability. Sequencing essentiall y provides a very dense panel of SNPs and identifies rare variants as well as structural polymorphisms. Mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA markers are much less abundant, less polymorphic and thus less informative than microsatellites or SNPs. Some are under selection and in the case of mitochondrial DNA, the genome is haploid (only 1 copy of chromosomal DNA) and may or may not have sex-specific inheritance depending on the species. They are useful for phylogeny studies, may be more economical to use in laboratories with limited capabilities and are sometimes combined with other markers. MEASURES OF DIFFERENTIATION AND DIVERSITY Areas most often addressed using population genetics are evolution and conservation. These two areas deal with essentially the same phenomenon, but at different time scales, thus the questions, the approaches and the interpretation will differ depending on the nature of the problem. The relevant public health questions in population genetics focus on identity and dynamics of the group rather than individuals over short time scales and directed at the control or extinction of a parasite or vector. Whos sleeping with whom, modes of reproduction, evolution or the last common ancestor are all important in different contexts. They may be useful to help explain anomalies and can influence interpretation, but they are rarely answers to issues of control or intervention. Understanding how diverse a population is or the degree of difference between populations combined with good study design will contribute directly to determining the impact of control measures, host or parasite demographics, resistance, risk and resilience or fragility of the population. The field of population genetics depends heavily on mathematical analyses, some simple and some very sophisticated, to answer these questions. Mathematical treatments of all of the indices and statistics of differentiation and diversity can be easily obtained from textbooks or publications and will not be included here. Fortunately for the mathematically challenged, many open source, individual computer programs are available as well as modules in R. The risk that goes with all readymade programs is a failure to understand what is being asked or the assumptions and limitations of the approach being taken. A list of some frequently used programs is provided at the end of this chapter (Table 5.1). POPULATIN DIFFERENTIATION FST, GST, GST: In addition to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, populations can be further differentiated by other statistical tests.   This is a family of statistics developed as the fixation index (FST) in the 1950s by Sewell Wright and Gustave Malà ©cot to describe the likelihood of homozygosity (fixation in the terminology of the time) at a single diallelic locus based on heterozygosity of a subpopulation compared to the total population. Theoretically, values should range from 1 (no similarity-every individual is genotypically different) to 0 (identity-every individual is genotypically same). Nei (16) extended the FST to handle the case of more than two alleles and developed the GST[LR1]. Although the term FST is often used in the literature, formally most studies today will employ the GST. When highly polymorphic loci, such as microsatellites, are genotyped, the GST severely underestimates differentiation and will not range from 0 1. Hedrick (11) adjusted the range of va lues for the GST by dividing it by its maximum possible value given the markers used. This is the GST. The GST makes possible the full range of differentiation. FST and GST relate to inherent properties of populations and contain evolutionary information lost by the GST transformation. FST-like measures have been and continue to be widely used to describe population structure, and their characteristics and behavior are well-known. There are additional related statistics (e. g. à Ã¢â‚¬  ST (4), AMOVA, RST (20), ÃŽÂ ¸ (25)), that address other aspects of differing genetic models, unequal sample sizes, accounting for haploid genomes, mechanism of mutation and selection. D. [LR2]This is sometimes referred to as Josts D, since there are numerous other Ds related to genetics and statistics. There can be logical inconsistencies for estimating differentiation based directly on heterozygosity. Ratios of pooled subpopulation to total population diversities tend toward zero when the subpopulation diversity is high (12). Josts D is based on the effective allele number (see below). Unlike those based directly on heterozygosity, it has the property of yielding a linear response to changes in allele frequencies and is independent of subpopulation diversity. Unlike FST, GST and similar indices, Josts D does not carry information relevant to the evolutionary processes responsible for the present composition of a subpopulation. It is described by supporters and detractors as purely a measure of differentiation (26). It was never meant to do more. Whitlock provides one of the best comparisons of these 2 approaches: This (Josts) D differs from FST in a fundamental definitional way: FST measures deviations from panmixia[2], while D measures deviations from total differentiation. As a result, their denominators differ, and thus, the two indices can behave quite differently. D indicates the proportion of allelic diversity that lies among populations, while FST is proportional to the variance of allele frequency among populations. D is more related to the genetic distance between populations than to the variance in allele frequencies; it may be preferable to call D a genetic distance measure (26). There has been controversy about the use of these different types of indices. There should not be. They clearly address different questions and resolve different analytic problems. It should be recognized that the GST and Josts D yield fairly similar results when the number of populations is small and the markers have a small number of alleles. The GST and Josts D have given similar results in our own studies using microsatellites (2) and in simulation (26) with GST values slightly higher than those of Josts D. Some authors recommend calculating both GST and Josts D, in part to satisfy everyone and in part to obtain the useful information about population diversity their departure may provide. In relation to public health, most questions about parasites and vectors deal with near term events of DIVERSITY Diversity like differentiation has myriad formulations and interpretations. The simplest expression is mean heterozygosity (H). For microsatellite data this is usually high due to the intrinsically high mutation rate of these markers, and markers with higher variability are usually selected. Allelic richness (Ar) is simply a count of the number of alleles at each locus. Differences in sample size will necessarily result in differences in allele number. This is usually adjusted for by statistical methods such as rarefaction (15) to standardize sample sizes between comparison groups. The effective allele number (Ae) is also a measure of diversity, but is already adjusted for sample size. It represents the number of alleles with equal frequencies that will produce the same heterozygosity as that of the target population. The most informative measure of diversity is the effective population size (Ne), a concept also introduced by Sewell Wright. It is designed to address the essential reason that diversity is important, namely, it reflects the strength of genetic drift. Genetic drift is the effect of random transmission of alleles during reproduction to succeeding generations. When numbers of reproducing individuals are small, the genetic composition of the population of offspring can differ by chance from what is expected given the composition of the parents. If two coins are flipped, it would not be that unusual for both to come up heads. If a thousand coins are flipped, the ratio of heads to tails will always be very near the expected 50:50 ratio. Genetic drift is stronger when populations are small or reduced, and weakens the strength of adaptive selection. Like differentiation, there are several formulations for Ne that can provide different values and are designed to measure different aspects of the population. The breeding Ne is the probability of identity by descent for two alleles chosen at random. It is a retrospective assessment of population diversity. The variance Ne assesses the variance of the offsprings allele frequency, and is thus forward looking. It measures recent population changes that affect its genetic composition. Ne can represent the number of actively breeding individuals in the population or the number of individuals in an ideal population needed to reconstitute the diversity in an actual population. It is almost always less than the census population (Nc). It is a key value in conservation genetics and population genetics in general, since it reflects the history and future potential of a population. Increasing drift (decreasing Ne) tends to neutralize the force of directional selection, permits retention of del eterious mutations and hampers the ability of populations to adapt to stresses (9). Despite its importance, Ne can be difficult to estimate in wild populations due to uncertainties of the demographic, genetic and biological context (17, 24). It can be affected by sample size, overlapping generations, sampling interval, sex ratios, gene flow, age-structure, variation in family size, fluctuating population size or selection. Increasing the numbers of markers is less important than large samples for accurate estimates; as much as 10% of the Ne has been recommended [Palstra, 2008 #84]. Its interpretation can also be uncertain. Estimated Ne has been used as an aid in predicting extinction using the concept of a minimum viable population size. Some have suggested that at an Ne of 50-500 a population will experience extinction in the short- or long-run (7). Others have argued that this might occur at Ne = 5000 (14). While it is clear that lack of diversity has an impact on extinction (21), it is also clear that there cannot be a universally accepted number for the minimum viable population size (6, 23). In any case, theory suggests that there is a number defined by the amount of genetic drift below which populations are likely to go extinct on their own. The range for this number is context-specific and will require multiple species-specific studies under multiple conditions. This kind of analysis might contribute to developing a stopping rule as control measures approach elimination.         Ã‚   [1] Leptospira spp. are an exception with 2 circular chromosomes. [2] The condition where all individuals have an equal opportunity to reproduce with all other individuals [LR1]G? [LR2]Does it stand for something?

I Wanted to Share My Father’s World Essay -- Literary Analysis, Jimmy

Although single parenthood is on the rise in homes today, children still often have a father role in their life. It does not matter who the part is filled by: a father, uncle, older brother, grandfather, etc...; in almost all cases, those relationships between the father (figure) and child have lasting impacts on the youth the rest of their lives. In â€Å"I Wanted to Share My Father’s World,† Jimmy Carter tells the audience no matter the situation with a father, hold onto every moment. As Carter opens the poem, he tells how at this point in his life, he still has this essential want for things his own father presented him growing up. In the beginning, he expresses he has this â€Å"†¦pain [he] mostly hide[s], / but [that] ties of blood, or seed, endure† (lines 1-2). These lines voice how he longs for his father and just how painful it is without him at his side. In addition, he still feels â€Å"the hunger for his outstretched hand† (4) and a man’s embrace to take [him] in† (5). Furthermore, Carter explains how this â€Å"pain† he â€Å"feel[s] inside† (3) are also due to his â€Å"need for just a word of pr...

Bill Ryan

Some of the information he knows off the top of his head and other information he has to search for the correct response before he answers the customer question. He states this when he makes te comment about his favorite customer questions is the ones he have to do deep research for. Factor 2, Supervisory Controls Level 2-5 650 points. The supervisor provides administrative direction with assignment in terms of broadly defined mission or function. The employee has responsibility for independently planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies or other work.The reason why I picked Level 2-5 is because Mr. Ryans supervisor is never mentioned. The general mission of giving customer service is mention. Mr. Ryans explain how he handles his day , he independently planed, designed, and carried out programs, projects, studies or other work. He does not deal with his supervisor on a consistent basis throughout the day. Factor 3 Guidelines Level 3-1 25 points. Specific, deta iled guidelines covering all important aspects of the assignment are provided to the employee.The employee works in strict adherence to the guideline; deviations must be authorized by the supervisor. The reason why I choose Level 3-1 is because Mr. Ryan refers to policy and procedure several times in the case. There are obviously guideline he must follow when it comes to his work. Whether it be the 24 hours the company has to reply to a customer’s email or, the guidelines for handling a dispute. These guideline have been set for MR. Ryan and his colleagues to follow so the know how to handle the customer and their situation properly.Factor 4, Complexity Level 4-2 75 points. The work consists of duties that involve related steps, processes, or methods. The decision regarding what needs to be done involves various choices that require the employee to recognize the existence of and difference among a few easily recognizable situations. Actions to be taken or responses to be made differ in such things as the source of information the kind of transaction or entries, or other difference of a factual nature. The reason why I chose Leve; 4-2 is because Mr.Ryans work is semi repetitive, like he stated he may not get the same question 50 times in a row but his question do repeat themselves every couple of emails. The only factors that differ are† sources of information the kind of transaction or entries, or other difference of a factual nature† other then those factors the questions are â€Å"easily recognizable situations† Factor 5 Scope and Effect Level 5-2 75 points The work involves the execution of specific rules, regulations, or procedure and typically comprises a complete segment of an assignment or project of broader scope.The work product or service affects the accuracy, reliability , or acceptability of further processes. I choose level 5-2 because Mr. Ryan job is to handle the customer service aspect of Half. com. He executes specifi c rules, regulation and procedures to complete the service for half. com. His customer service position is often in the middle of customers having a pleasant experience with half. com and continuing to shop from their website or it can make the customer experience worst and the customer can decided to never use their services again. Factor 6 Personal ContactsLevel 6-1 10 points . The personal contacts are with employees within the immediate organization, office , project, or work unit, and in related or support units. Beside dealing with the customers, Mr. Ryan mostly deal with the different department that handle customer issues. In one of the paragraphs Mr. Ryan explains how he had to get in touch with Matt Walsh who is in charge of fixing catalog errors. This is the only time he speaks about contacting someone other than his buyers or sellers, and the person he contacted was in his immediate organization.Factor 7 Purpose of Contacts Level 7-1 20 points. The purpose is to obtain, clarify or give facts or information regardless of the nature of those facts. Mr. Ryan may contact other department to obtain information for his customer service issues. The issues can range from easily understood to highly technical and the information obtained is to answer his customer questions that they emailed in. Factor 8 Physical Demands Level 8-1 5points. The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. We know this is a fact about Mr.Ryans job because he talks about how sitting down all day bother some people but it doesn’t bother him because he works out after work. Factor 9, Work Environment. Level 9-1 5 Points The environment involves everyday risk or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, residence, or commercial vehicles. We already know that Mr. Ryans work in an office sitting at a cubicle. His environment involves everyday risk or discomforts t hat require normal safety precautions. Total points 2115 GS Grade 10

How to Celebrate Even the Biggest Mistakes!

How to Celebrate Even the Biggest Mistakes! Big Mistakes in Big Companies In a famous 2010 tale, Zappos’ CEO Tony Hsieh chose not to fire an employee who had made a $1.6 million mistake. In another story, a CEO actually thanked the IT guy who caused the company’s site to go down (causing a loss of thousands of dollars per hour) for uncovering a systematic weakness that needed to be fixed. See Top 5 Reasons to Celebrate Mistakes at Work. My Blog Mistake I did not know these anecdotes until I sat down to write this blog about mistakes. Last week, as many of you are aware, I wrote a draft of my blog and sent it to my assistant with a request that she come up with an appropriate title for the article. She offered six suggestions, with her top pick being â€Å"3 Trends Effecting LinkedIn That You Need to Know.† I wrote back the following: I chose #3 [3 Ways LinkedIn Times are a Changin’] and updated the title on WordPress. Note it would be Affecting not Effecting!! The next thing I knew, the blog had gone out to my e-list with the original subject line, the word â€Å"Effecting† intact. Oops. The emails rolled in: I noticed a spelling mistake in your subject title. It should read 3 Trends Affecting LinkedIn†¦. I see this error a lot, but thought you might want to make a note of it. It should be 3 trends AFFECTING Did you use effecting rather than affecting on purpose? Living â€Å"Above the Line† My first response was â€Å"This is bad.† I mean, here I was, a writer and editor, making an error that I’ve actually blogged about in the past! See Top 7 Grammatical and Spelling Errors of 2012. But as I aim to do in my life, I looked at where the opportunity was in the face of this breakdown. I’ve taken plenty of personal growth courses where we are coached to say things like â€Å"Yay! I made a mistake!† So how could I, dare I say, celebrate this initially embarrassing mistake in my blog title? I issued a correction as soon as possible, thanking my readers for their eagle eyes and explaining what had happened. I did my best to convey an understanding that mistakes happen, and that I probably need another round of editorial proofing before sending out my blog. One message from a reader confirmed I had done the right thing: Love the graceful save you did on this you got it goin on, as they say, girl. Always a fan. When I can ever get a moment I want to work with you to update my LI profile! In the grand scheme of things, this was a small mistake. While I feared I might lose clients over it, since people count on me to know English grammar and spelling, I hope my correction set the record straight. No one was injured or taken advantage of as a result of this mistake. Celebrating Mistakes! Mistakes are the way we learn most in life. Looking back, I can see that my mistake last week was a testament to my ability to trust another person to do work for me! It would not have happened if I had not expanded my business to the point where I need an assistant. The mistake also showed me that many of my readers care and are paying attention. And I was given the opportunity to â€Å"play above the line,† issuing a correction that was gracious and non-blaming. I got to show my commitment to quality, and that I was unwilling to let something like this error go unaddressed! I recently spoke with someone who told me about a $250K mistake she once made at work. When she went to her boss expecting to be fired, she had another thing coming. He appreciated her honesty and let the monetary loss roll off his back. As he said, he could always make another $250K, but he would not be able to get her back. That’s how I feel about what happened with my assistant. I wouldn’t let this one mistake color my undying appreciation of what she does for me and how responsible she is when she does make a mistake! In fact, in the midst of writing this blog, I took a break to apologize to her for my initial â€Å"This is bad† response. I have a lot to learn about celebrating my own mistakes and the mistakes of the people around me. And I’d love to hear what you have learned in your life! How have you celebrated mistakes? How could you or someone around you have done better in their response to a mistake? I look forward to hearing what you have to share!

New Product Development Process

New Product Development Process Introduction Strategic realignment is often perceived as a requisite ingredient for survival in a tumultuous environment. Hence, all aggressive organizations strive to capitalize on their potential and amass a large market share while retaining the existing customers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on New Product Development Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ideally, many firms opt to design new product as a competitive tool. Thus, most innovative firms find it easier for them to out do their rivals. Although innovation is vital for success, the process adopted to develop new product has bearing on the final product. Most organizations and firms use varied processes in developing a new product. The method used depends on the level of technology that is available. When producing a simple product a simple procedure is adopted compared to the procedures used when developing sophisticated products. This report will therefore compare the process that is used by Nokia Company against the process that was proposed by Crawford (1994). Crawford (1994)’s New Product Development (NPD) process is perceived as a universal one upon which other manufacturers derive their processes. Objectives This report provides information on how Nokia develops its new products. Therefore, the objectives of the report include; To understand the method used by Nokia in developing new products. To evaluate the existing gaps between Nokia NPD process and the Crawford (1994) process. To evaluate Constraints that influences an organisation’s NPD procedures. To understand the adjustments that Nokia can employ to improve its production. Research Methodology The research methodology is a comparative analysis of the procedure that is used by Nokia Company against the processes that are suggested by Crawford (1994). Both processes are or present some similarities as well as differences that characterize the dive rse perspectives employed to meet similar objectives. The data from Nokia’s RD is supplemented with information obtained from secondary sources to decipher the approaches that are assumed by the organization. This report is a comparative case study that covers the Nokia new product development process against a Crawford (1994) process. A case study was opted for since it provides in-depth information pertaining internal operations of the organization. Since the information that is needed is confined in a single organization, a cases study helps narrow the focus and scope hence enhancing a speedy achievement of the results. Many scholars have used this method in assessing the internal welfare of the organization as well as comparing some competencies.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More All the data that has been used in this report is obtained from secondary so urces. The main source of data was the internet, books and journals. It is widely known that some information that is deemed as organization’s secrets are withheld from the public and therefore it was difficult to obtain the fine details of each process. This limitation was circumvented by consulting divergent sources. Literature Review Many academicians and scholars have suggested criteria, which organizations should use to develop new products. The process of developing a new product begins when a firm identifies the need to generate a new product line to meet the needs of the customers. Chesbrough (2003) asserts that all firms operating in an open innovation paradigm are compelled to always produce superior products compared to their rivals. They do this to acquire or to maintain their market share. With such aspirations, organizations devise ways and means to meet the existing gaps by producing new products. Management in most organizations bases their new product develop ment strategies on process described by Crawford (1994). Below is an elaboration of the linkages existing between Nokia’s eight tier models compared to Crawford (1994)’s five tier NPD processes. Idea Generation Nokia has well elaborated NPD process that commences with ideal generation. The Research and Development (RD) department has the responsibility of generating ideas deemed relevant in generation of new ideas. Since obtaining information is such a tedious task, the RD engages in brainstorming session to obtain internal information (Cravens, 2000). On the other hand, where need arises, the organization carries out outreach information collections to obtain the ideas of suppliers and customers. This process is a rigorous activity that requires enormous information to design the best product. Nokia’s three-fold information is more reliable given that different ideas are incorporated in the project. Hence, deficiencies of staff’s ideas are supplemented b y customers and suppliers ideas and, therefore, the RD has a better beginning point. Bruce et al (1995) contend that the RD need a large pool of information to begging with in order to accommodate a diverse scope of customers needs. On the other hand, Crawford (1994)’s NPD process commences with overview and opportunity identification. This approach stems back from where the Nokia process starts. Nokia overlooks this stage since it first identifies the problem and immediately it starts directly working the solution. The Crawford (1994) approach is a step behind the Nokia’s approach in almost all the steps but the ultimate model is similar.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on New Product Development Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Idea Screening Once the ideas are generated, the RD assesses the suitability of the ideas obtained to eliminate the less useful ones. It is worth highlighting the value of information simply because inclusion of erroneous information would spoil the final product (Cravens, 2000). Therefore, the RD needs to work tirelessly to eliminate any unwanted information from leaking to the product development process. Idea screening is done by appraising each concept against criteria, less fit information are dropped while the most viable information is considered for the next step. Crawford (1994) asserts the importance of working with less but useful information rather having voluminous and less important data. Nokia incorporates external partners as well as experts in screening information to ensure only the most important information is considered. Conversely, Crawford (1994)’s second step entails concept generation and it requires obtaining of relevant information from all viable sources. Once the concept is generated the information is subdivided to form several alternatives. Each alternative is then evaluated to asses its usefulness. He further proposed the use of analytical method in evaluation of information to ensure a scientific measurement is used to weigh the outcome. Concept Development and Testing Kuczmarski (1988) contends that all information needs to be tested against the predetermined goals and expectations. Nokia meets this obligation by ensuring that all information and ideas are expressed in a meaningful end user terms. Stating concepts according to the consumer terms not only retain the product focus but it also enhances a mental picture of the product design (Bruce, Leverick and Littler, 1995). At this level, Nokia uses some target customers to assess the product concept. Customer inclusion plays a vital role in maintaining the product development retails customers’ satisfaction. At this stage, Crawford (1994)’s approach coincides with the Nokia concept but with few inclusions. According to Crawford (1994), once information and concepts are assessed against expectations. The valid concepts ar e screened against the market factors to ensure compliance and validation. Moreover, the focus shifts to sale projections to assess the expected outcome. Once the marking evaluation is done, the organization should strive to extract projected financial reports to determine the worthwhile of the project. Finally, the product protocol is determined to make sure prior marketing and distribution channels are set in place. Marketing Strategy Development To avoid a marketing dilemma, Nokia makes prior arrangement on the marketing criteria that would best suite the new product. At this point, the target market is determined and at the same time, the distribution channel is set. Burt (1992) argues prior marketing arrangement enhances competitive advantage over competitors who may opt to make replica of the product.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, Burt (1992) points out that a competitive organization should always maintain a visionary eye to be able averse risks while capitalizing on future opportunities. Nokia has done well in meeting this expectation as it usually set prices in advance as well as carrying out projected market survey both in the short run and in the long run. Precautionary measures are also set in place in case the actual marketing fails to match expectations. This is done by designing a marketing mix to sell the products. Business Analysis Business analysis is a deliberate act that developers take towards understanding the scope and challenges that awaits the new product. At this point, the management should endeavor to pinpoint all the challenges and limitations that face the new telephony products. Suggestions on how to cope with such limitations are also recommended. In addition, an in-depth assessment of the costs and sales are projected to help meet the future demands. Finally, the organi zation keeps a profit margin as the target for the future sales. Thomas (1993) supports prior planning as a means of avoid shocks and surprise turn of events. All these projections allow the management to evaluate the progress of the market according to the estimated product sales. Product Development Both Nokia and Crawford (1994)’s processes have project development in their NPD process. This highlights the importance and the significance of this stage. The Nokia Company develops prototypes before producing commercial products. Urban and Hauser (1993) postulate that prototype is the best way of actual market test since it also allow fine adjustments of the product before the commercial release. For Nokia, prototypes are used to measure product acceptability and final customer observation about the product. The prototype is also used to test the functionality of the products to evaluate how well it meets the predetermined goals and objectives. However, in Crawford (1994) NPD process, prototype is placed in the third step. According to Crawford (1994), prototype is used to assess the market situation as well as determining the quality of the product. Once the prototype is evaluated, the Nokia Company makes fine adjustments to ensure that the final product is ideal. All the amendments are based on the feedback received from the consumers, suppliers, distributors; as well as ideas generated from within the organization. However, in case the discrepancies between the actual performance and expected performance should surpass the set limit; the management may opt to restart the entire process. Test Marketing Nokia carries out three types of market testing; standard test markets, controlled test markets and simulated test markets. Standard test market is the natural market that is governed by market forces of demand and supply. When testing by this method, the product is subjected to the stiff competition that would affect any normal product. Once the produc t is assessed under natural conditions the management can be able to evaluate the way of improving product. The second market testing is done under the controlled environment. One way of doing this is by eliminating competition and assuming a monopolistic atmosphere. The third test market i.e. the simulated market testing is done where customers are exposed to stage advertising and then their purchasing decisions are monitored. For accessing a new market, Nokia’s quest to include collaborations from partners is an added advantage. Hamel and Prahalad (1994) gave a similar opinion or suggestion of strategic alliances and partnership as a means of reaching out to the unexplored territories. This market testing method is only applied to new products. Urban and Hauser (1993) have reiterated the need to conduct market tests to evaluate the behavior of consumers toward the new product. Nokia has been using these three tests to most of its new product. Before launching any product, a n intensive market promotion is usually conducted to popularize the product before the actual production. Conversely, Crawford (1994) has set the market-testing phase as a constituent of the final phase. Nokia decided to carry out market testing as a strategy for promoting the products. Commercialization Commercialization is the last step that Nokia uses in developing a new product. This phase involves large-scale production of new products. Since all the amendment and fine-tuning have already been done, the organization expects minimal obstacles limiting the products limitations. However, according to Crawford (1994) the final stage is dubbed the launch phase. This step encompasses several activities such as market testing, the launch strategic planning as well as public policy issue. By setting the commercialization process independently, Nokia concentrates all the efforts in commercializing the product without having any competing priorities as is the case in Crawford (1994) syst em. Existing Gaps Although both processes bear some similarities, some sharp differences exist. In Crawford (1994) model, five processes are used whereas Nokia uses a more elaborate process that comprises of eight steps. The two approaches harbor all the steps in new product development but Nokia model is a more elaborate hence reducing chance of errors occurring in the process. However, the Nokia model is time consuming due to the large number of participants that are involved, which delays agreement. Therefore, it is upon the organization to reconsider altering the NPD process; focus should be on reducing the duration that it takes. Conversely, its worth to critic Crawford (1994)’s final step i.e. the launch phase, which has so many things that ought to be done in preceding the stages. Testing market with the final product may prove a misplaced action especially when the action fails to meet the expected result. Such a backfired mission would force the organization to start the entire process from the scratch. Results and Discussion The adoption of an eight-tier production generation system, by Nokia, has proved clearer, more inclusive and accommodating format as compared to the Crawford (1994)’s five-tier model. The Nokia model disintegrates the several processes into distinct activities hence making it easier for the management to deal with each item with the overlapping effect as in the case of Crawford (1994) model that overcrowds. When items are evenly spread, the management is able to analyze each item exhaustively without being force to subdivide their focus on competing opinions. The flexibility of Nokia model to accommodate networks has helped the organization in reaching out to the marginalized groups hence increasing chances of product acceptability. The Nokia model consumes more time before the final product is generated compared to the Crawford (1994) model that takes relatively shorter time. Since the need to develop a new product emanates from customer survey reports, delayed production of the product is likely to get a negative response from the market. Thus, the organization strives to merge several activities or reduce the time that each activity takes. It also worth noting that since Nokia operates in a perfect market, some of its competitors may realize to produce telephony with features that are needed in the market only for Nokia to realize the market is already occupied. Core competencies The terms core competencies are repeatedly used in business writings although few authors give adequate definitions of the same (Duysters Hagedoorn, 2000). According to Nokia management, there are three main competencies that the organization is anchored on; the handsets, network technology and middleware. As the organization develops new products, it is always important to maintain a clear consideration on the three issues. This is where the firm uses an elaborate intermittent process to ensure adherence to its c ore principles. Since Nokia is a world leading telephony producing firm, the management and the RD department enjoys the liberty of operating without pressure in terms finances and technology. Hence, the organization has ample time to carry out intensive research as well as forging partnerships with other members to ensure quality in the product development process. However, longevity in the product development process has often affected the products produced negatively. On the other hand, Crawford (1994) process is a congested approach and may be difficult to be followed by ordinary managers. This problem can be addressed by further subdividing these activities into independent sub-activities to enhance clear understanding as well as reducing mystification. Giving clear-cut sub-activities facilitates easier identification of the problem and this may save the management the agony of tracing the problem. Recommendations It is important to an organization to keep re-inventing its new product development processes and procedures. Such re-invention is important because competition is only best handled with through product offering. A product offering is only enhanced through innovation and product development. Innovation helps towards meeting customer desires or needs as expressed through feedback on existing products. Further, it helps create new markets as new products attract new clientele. Finally, innovation keeps organizational brand fresh and appealing. After a critical analysis of all the steps that Nokia follows in New Product Development, a number of issues that are worthy addressing. The following recommendations are suggested for future considerations. There is need to keep improving the process so that the organization benefits from having a reliable product development process. The kind of products developed is largely dependent on the process employed. Therefore, improving the process would definitely translate into improving the new product develop ment exercise and final products developed. Nokia should consider reducing the time that is used in idea generation but increase more time in developing the product. A lengthy process means responding to market characteristics too late. It also means organization has to do much forecasting given product launch is only possible after a long time. Nokia should also encourage out sourcing of some phases of product development to competent product developers to enhance faster development of new products. Outsourcing can come in handy, or as it has done elsewhere, bring on board independent developers with creative ideas. Using independent developers or scouting for creative works by such and adopting them can shorten new product development in the organization. Finally, the RD should also consider carrying out benchmarking activities to identify the criteria used by its main rivals to understand the strategic adjustments that can be applied. Conclusion From the comparative analysis that was carried on Nokia’s new product development procedure and the one presented by Crawford (1994), it is clear that Nokia’s trajectory process is more superior and more conclusive. The entire processes are systematic in nature and well interlinked thus covering any loophole that may exist between one phase and the other. However, Nokia’s processes are time consuming due to the many parties involved in the decision-making process. On the other hand, Crawford (1994)’s new product development process is a well-designed process that expertly interlinks some processes to reduce the duration required before the final product is launched. From this research, it is clear that Crawford (1994)’s process serves best as a benchmark tool against which organizations may design their NPD processes. Finally, the stiff competition, which firms across the globe are currently facing, requires that firms improve their new product development mechanisms in order to fi t in an open innovation paradigm. References List Bruce, M. Leverick, F. Littler, D. (1995). Product Development; Meeting the Challenge of the Design and Marketing Interface. New York: Willey. Burt, R. S. (1992). Structural Holes: The Social Structure of Competition. Cambridge (MA): Harvard University Press. Chesbrough, H. R. (2003). Open Innovation. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press. Cravens, W. D. (2000). Strategic Marketing. 6th Ed. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. Crawford (1994), M. (1994). New Product Management. Chicago: Irwin. Duysters, G. M. Hagedoorn, J. (2000). Core Competence and Company Performance in the Worldwide Computer Industry. The Journal of High Technology Management Research, 11, 75-91. Hamel, G. Prahalad, C. K. (1994). Competing For the Future. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press. Kuczmarski D.T. (1988). Managing New Products. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Thomas, J. R. (1993). New Product Development; Managing and Forecasting for Strategic Success. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons Inc. Urban G. Hauser, J. (1993). Design and Marketing of New Products. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.

Camaro vs Mustang essays

Camaro vs Mustang essays Ask any avid Camaro or Mustang fan about the original ponycar era, and you're bound to feel their pain. They'll describe cars that lit the tires on fire, floor it and hang onto the wheel excitement. When people utter the words, "American Muscle Car," two distinctive cars come to mind. The Camaro SS and the Mustang GT. Both of these cars have been around for generations on end and loved by all types of people. It has been only recently that both cars have battled head to head so fiercely. You are either a hard core Chevy fan or a hardcore Ford fan, most everybody picks either Chevy or Ford. There are many similarities and differences in both of these cars. The Camaro SS has leaps and bounds of muscle car DNA. It's there in numerous ways: overhead valves, V-8, and a stick shift transmission to get you where you want to go, just like the Z28's and SS's of thirty years ago. No gizmo-actuated variable-valve timing, no overhead cams, and no independent rear suspension, just a 320 horsepower monster V-8. The SS turns 0-60 times in the low five second range with 0-100 approaching in the low thirteens. There has been little change in the SS's from last year to this. The addition of audio controls on the steering wheel, an optional 12-disc CD changer, new interior fabrics, and new alloy wheels (available on all Camaro's). The Mustang GT is also a great "American Muscle Car." The GT produces a low but above average 260 horsepower, this will you from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and 0-100 in 14.1 seconds. The base price of the Mustang is a respectable $22,870 but can be built up to a $25,000 kick-ass sports car easily. A $2,270 in essential options is a must if you are really after the all American Sports car: 17-inch alloy wheels with high performance rubber, black leather sport bucket seats, stereo upgrade, all speed traction control (defeatable), and convenience package. The grand-total including destination is a reasonable $25,140...

It's a history class (Final Exam (Take Home), 30%) Essay

It's a history class (Final Exam (Take Home), 30%) - Essay Example In his book, he claimed that Africa had no future of its own yet, but only that of Europeans in the continent (Trevor-Roper et al 72). After much research into the past of the African people before colonization, it has been found that the views of these two men were to say the least, misplaced, deceitful and unfounded. A critique of Hegel’s and Hugh’s comments Before the coming of the white man, the continent of Africa was home to the native Africans who possessed their customs, politics and economies. Through the passage of time, these factors remained of their own making. Their history was marked with events of peace, strife, ceremonies and rituals, and as barbarous or primitive as it seemed, it was their own history with no external influences (Nnoromele 43). When the Europeans arrived to Africa, they denied it a place in world history. Georg Hegel, Hugh Trevor Roper and other Western philosophers called it a land without norms that needed to be cultured. In other wo rds, they viewed Africa as a wild beast that possessed no knowledge of right and wrong or his identity and his interests. According to them, he was occupied with nothing else but the instinct of daily survival from factors like hunger and other beasts. For this reason, he needed some taming with religion and domestication with civilization, both of which, they believed he lacked (Rodney 43). To the whites, Africans had no religion and thus no idea of God. To them, their belief was fetish that is the belief in inanimate objects. For this reason, African religious objects were stashed as myths and artifacts in boxes then ferried away to the Western museums as a nagging reminder that they might never learn. Prior to the Europeans, Africans were engaged in various traditional religions. The generalization of these religions is difficult due to the diversity of Africa’s pre-colonial cultures, but they had some similar characteristics. These similarities included the belief in a su preme being, spirits and other various divinities, the use of magic, the veneration of ancestors, the use of traditional medicine and an oral basing rather than a scriptural one. Another major generalization was the belief that humanity existed to harmonize the physical world with the supernatural one. These religions were passed down from one generation to the other through art, festivals, rituals, word of mouth, songs and dances, names of people, proverbs, myths, beliefs and customs. Upon entry of the Europeans, Africans did not just sit back and allow the dissolution of their religious institutions. In southern Nigeria, for example, opposition from highly organized traditional religious institutions met the Christian missionaries. Religious societies like the Okigwe and the Obgunorie clashed with the missionaries in several occasions. Another resistance to religious colonization was the maji maji (sacred water) revolt of 1905-1907, which took place in Tanzania. The movementâ€⠄¢s leader, Kinjeketile, convinced his fighters that he possessed some sacred water, which, upon drinking, would make one invulnerable to bullets from the Europeans. However, just as many other African revolts, they lost the battle and had to adhere to the white man’s demands. To end the strife and come to a standpoint, the missionaries in many African lands sat with the indigenous leaders to come up with the African

Discussion respond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion respond - Essay Example The writer states that the HRD is supposed to realize that the policies are outlined should be successful. They are also supposed to question the evidence and reasoning that supports such solutions. However, the writer emphasizes that HRD is expensive for any organization and in most cases; the return on investment aspect is not immediately discernible. It is the job of the executives to change the perspective with an aim of ensuring that individual focus on the reliability of the implemented programs. The writer discusses an article from the Adult Education Quarterly titled, The Impact of National Culture on Informal Learning in the Workplace. The author discusses diversity in cultures and the effects of informal learning in workplaces. Informal learning is an important manner of acquiring knowledge and skills in a workplace. The author differentiates informal learning as a on-the-job training while formal is learning in an enclosed area such as a classroom. From the article, formal learning is important although informal learning has captured the attention of many people in a work place. This is based on culture diversity and its effect on an individual’s culture. Organizations view culture diversity differently and it has an impact on adult

Why 70s generated and accepted new definitions for family structures Essay

Why 70s generated and accepted new definitions for family structures and gender roles - Essay Example This meant that even servants were part of the family (Ellwood and Christopher, 34). In the present structure, even the non-parental adults qualify as family members as long as they are actively involved in the upbringing of the children of others. The implication of this is that there is no universal definition of family. One of the reasons is the fact that the family has evolved over the years. In the middle ages, the nuclear family was the most common family setup. Ideally, a nuclear family consisted of the father, the mother and the children. However, there were some instances around the same time where sets of nuclear families resided together. The family in the United States has also seen a high degree of evolution. The evolution was mainly as a result of the changing perceptions in the culture of marriage starting from as early as the 18th century (Furstenberg, 34). Most views on family change are usually not representative of the facts on the ground. For instance, there has been a general increase in single-parent situations since the 1970s. This is mainly attributed to out of wedlock and fatherless children. The American society largely views the changes in gender roles as well as the new family definitions to be mainly caused by three factors namely, economic factors, development factors and last but not least, moral factors (Furstenberg, 40). The economic problems of single motherhood are mainly stemmed in the fact that very few single moms can actually get a good wage. In addition to this, they have to juggle between their professional deities as well as their role of upbringing their children. This ultimately reduces the amount of money they make at the end of a typical month. The government often offers some financial support to single mothers but the money is not usually substantial. These are the main reasons why the issue of

Galatea and the Swing paintings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Galatea and the Swing paintings - Essay Example The essay "Galatea and the Swing paintings" analyzes the paintings of Raphael Santi, Galatea and the Swing. Raphael Santi is one of the most outstanding representatives of High Renaissance art style. He is considered to be the one of the most gifted painters and architects in the world. The gift of Italian painter was recognized not only by his contemporaries, but also in the next centuries. According to experts, this painter is an absolute authority in the area of classical art and the most famous picture galleries try to get his paintings. It is essential to consider the fresco of Raphael Galatea. It was created in 1512 and represents a part of wall-painting of the villa, which belonged to one of the richest men of that time. If to look at the painting, it is possible to notice that it is a typical representative of high Renaissance art. â€Å"It is perhaps no accident that the factuality of the Italian Renaissance has been most vigorously questioned by those who are not obliged t o take a professional interest in the aesthetic aspects of civilization—historians of economic and social developments, political and religious situations, and, most particularly, natural science—but only exceptionally by students of literature and hardly ever by historians of Art†.The main distinguishing features of High Renaissance were glorifying human body and the resurrection of antiquity ideals (Reynolds and Wilson 15). Galatea was based on the Ancient Greek myth about the theft of Galatea. The fresco shows the beautiful Galatea.

Why 70s generated and accepted new definitions for family structures Essay

Why 70s generated and accepted new definitions for family structures and gender roles - Essay Example This meant that even servants were part of the family (Ellwood and Christopher, 34). In the present structure, even the non-parental adults qualify as family members as long as they are actively involved in the upbringing of the children of others. The implication of this is that there is no universal definition of family. One of the reasons is the fact that the family has evolved over the years. In the middle ages, the nuclear family was the most common family setup. Ideally, a nuclear family consisted of the father, the mother and the children. However, there were some instances around the same time where sets of nuclear families resided together. The family in the United States has also seen a high degree of evolution. The evolution was mainly as a result of the changing perceptions in the culture of marriage starting from as early as the 18th century (Furstenberg, 34). Most views on family change are usually not representative of the facts on the ground. For instance, there has been a general increase in single-parent situations since the 1970s. This is mainly attributed to out of wedlock and fatherless children. The American society largely views the changes in gender roles as well as the new family definitions to be mainly caused by three factors namely, economic factors, development factors and last but not least, moral factors (Furstenberg, 40). The economic problems of single motherhood are mainly stemmed in the fact that very few single moms can actually get a good wage. In addition to this, they have to juggle between their professional deities as well as their role of upbringing their children. This ultimately reduces the amount of money they make at the end of a typical month. The government often offers some financial support to single mothers but the money is not usually substantial. These are the main reasons why the issue of

Coffee Processing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Coffee Processing - Essay Example However, you will enjoy coffee more if you learn how to process it. It is even a good idea to process your own coffee at home and indulge in your coffee creation. Though the process is requires a lot of time, effort and complicacies, it might be worth it. The basic steps in home coffee processing are picking, pulping, fermentation, drying, hulling, and roasting. The first step in coffee processing is picking the ripe cherries. Before embarking on this task, you need to know to be able to identify and differentiate the ripe from the unripe berries. Ripe berries are deep red in color. The rationale in picking coffee cherries when they are ripe is their relatively higher aromatic oil, lower organic acid content, more fragrant, smooth, and mellow. You must manually hand pick the fruit in order to choose only the ripe ones. This is an essential step in coffee processing as classification of the handpicked fruit often determines the quality of the end product. The next step is known as defruiting or pulping which is done immediately after picking the cherries in order to preserve quality. In this stage, you now separate the coffee bean from the coffee cherry. This can be done in two ways: first, you can individually squeeze the berry by hand or you can use you can use a piece of wood to compress the berries in the container until all the seeds are removed. Afterwards, you need to fill the container with water for the seeds and the removed skin to float. The skin and the seed should be removed before they settle. You then repeat the process until the all the seeds and skin are eliminated. In order to ferment the coffee beans, they should be put in a plastic bucket filled with water. Fermentation is done in around 18-48 hours depending on the temperature of the surrounding. To test if the fermentation is complete, you should take a handful of beans and wash them with water. If the beans are already clean and not slippery, enough fermentation has already bean achieved. You can now wash the beans in running water and drain, repeating the process until the water becomes clear. Drying is the process wherein the coffee beans are spread out on a wide concrete or rock and is exposed to air or sunlight to eliminate excess moisture. You can either sun dry or use a home food dehydrator to adequately remove the moisture. To enhance effectiveness, you should see to it that the beans are stirred three times a day in the entire process. Before roasting, hulling should be done in order to remove the tough thin parchment from the beans. You can do this by placing the beans, a small quantity at a time, in a food processor with plastic blades. You need to blend the coffee beans at slow speed for about thirty minutes. A hair dryer can also be utilized to blow away the unwanted lighter parchment from the beans. After hulling, you can now store in the store the beans in jars as they are now ready for roasting. Roasting is one integral step in attaining a savory coffee. You can roast the coffee beans by baking them in the oven. Spread the coffee beans thinly in a large baking, ensuring to stir frequently to prevent burning and facilitate an even roast. It is estimated that a single layer of beans will roast in 12 minutes at 230-250C. Your personal preference should be your guide in coffee roasting. Stronger flavor is achieved by roasting a little longer than usual. After the aforementioned processes, the coffee is now ready for grinding, brewing, and

Galatea and the Swing paintings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Galatea and the Swing paintings - Essay Example The essay "Galatea and the Swing paintings" analyzes the paintings of Raphael Santi, Galatea and the Swing. Raphael Santi is one of the most outstanding representatives of High Renaissance art style. He is considered to be the one of the most gifted painters and architects in the world. The gift of Italian painter was recognized not only by his contemporaries, but also in the next centuries. According to experts, this painter is an absolute authority in the area of classical art and the most famous picture galleries try to get his paintings. It is essential to consider the fresco of Raphael Galatea. It was created in 1512 and represents a part of wall-painting of the villa, which belonged to one of the richest men of that time. If to look at the painting, it is possible to notice that it is a typical representative of high Renaissance art. â€Å"It is perhaps no accident that the factuality of the Italian Renaissance has been most vigorously questioned by those who are not obliged t o take a professional interest in the aesthetic aspects of civilization—historians of economic and social developments, political and religious situations, and, most particularly, natural science—but only exceptionally by students of literature and hardly ever by historians of Art†.The main distinguishing features of High Renaissance were glorifying human body and the resurrection of antiquity ideals (Reynolds and Wilson 15). Galatea was based on the Ancient Greek myth about the theft of Galatea. The fresco shows the beautiful Galatea.

Coffee Processing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Coffee Processing - Essay Example However, you will enjoy coffee more if you learn how to process it. It is even a good idea to process your own coffee at home and indulge in your coffee creation. Though the process is requires a lot of time, effort and complicacies, it might be worth it. The basic steps in home coffee processing are picking, pulping, fermentation, drying, hulling, and roasting. The first step in coffee processing is picking the ripe cherries. Before embarking on this task, you need to know to be able to identify and differentiate the ripe from the unripe berries. Ripe berries are deep red in color. The rationale in picking coffee cherries when they are ripe is their relatively higher aromatic oil, lower organic acid content, more fragrant, smooth, and mellow. You must manually hand pick the fruit in order to choose only the ripe ones. This is an essential step in coffee processing as classification of the handpicked fruit often determines the quality of the end product. The next step is known as defruiting or pulping which is done immediately after picking the cherries in order to preserve quality. In this stage, you now separate the coffee bean from the coffee cherry. This can be done in two ways: first, you can individually squeeze the berry by hand or you can use you can use a piece of wood to compress the berries in the container until all the seeds are removed. Afterwards, you need to fill the container with water for the seeds and the removed skin to float. The skin and the seed should be removed before they settle. You then repeat the process until the all the seeds and skin are eliminated. In order to ferment the coffee beans, they should be put in a plastic bucket filled with water. Fermentation is done in around 18-48 hours depending on the temperature of the surrounding. To test if the fermentation is complete, you should take a handful of beans and wash them with water. If the beans are already clean and not slippery, enough fermentation has already bean achieved. You can now wash the beans in running water and drain, repeating the process until the water becomes clear. Drying is the process wherein the coffee beans are spread out on a wide concrete or rock and is exposed to air or sunlight to eliminate excess moisture. You can either sun dry or use a home food dehydrator to adequately remove the moisture. To enhance effectiveness, you should see to it that the beans are stirred three times a day in the entire process. Before roasting, hulling should be done in order to remove the tough thin parchment from the beans. You can do this by placing the beans, a small quantity at a time, in a food processor with plastic blades. You need to blend the coffee beans at slow speed for about thirty minutes. A hair dryer can also be utilized to blow away the unwanted lighter parchment from the beans. After hulling, you can now store in the store the beans in jars as they are now ready for roasting. Roasting is one integral step in attaining a savory coffee. You can roast the coffee beans by baking them in the oven. Spread the coffee beans thinly in a large baking, ensuring to stir frequently to prevent burning and facilitate an even roast. It is estimated that a single layer of beans will roast in 12 minutes at 230-250C. Your personal preference should be your guide in coffee roasting. Stronger flavor is achieved by roasting a little longer than usual. After the aforementioned processes, the coffee is now ready for grinding, brewing, and

Young Modulus of Copper Essay Example for Free

Young Modulus of Copper Essay Theory The following quantities is important for the experiments concerns: Stress is defined as ? =Force / Cross-sectional area ( F/A ) Strain is defined as ? = Extension / Natural length ( e/l ) The ratio of Stress to Strain, is the Young modulus (E= ?/?) Since a stiffer material requires larger stress to produce the same strain , a stiffer material would have a greater Young modulus ( a greater slope in a graph of ? against ? ) . For a non brittle material, usually there are two stages of deformation before breaking. Stage 1 : Elastic deformation In this stage, the wire would return to its natural length when the stress is removed. Hookes law is usually obeyed in this stage, therefore the graph is almost a straight line. When the wire is further stretched, it reaches the elastic limit and get into stage 2. Stage 2 : Plastic deformation In this stage, the stress is not directly proportional to the strain and and a small amount of stress can produce a large strain. If the wire passes the yield point, its will have permanent extension and will not return to its original length. Finally, when the wire is kept to stretched, it will break at the breaking point. Procedure Experiment 1: Study the stress-strain behaviour of a copper wire 1.A micrometer screw gauge was used to measure the diameter of the copper wire at several points. Mean value was taken and the cross-sectional area of the wire was calculated. 2.A pulley was mounted on one side of the table. A 2 m segment of the wire was cut out and was clamped firmly by using a G-clamp which was at a distance about 1.5 m form the pulley. 3.The wire was placed over the pulley. Some newspapers were put one the ground below the pulley. 4.A label marker is sticked on the wire at a distance about 0.5 m from the pulley. A metre rule was placed below the wire and was fixed on the table by sticky tape. 5.A 100g hanger was tied to wire. 6.The length between the G-clamp and the sticker, which represents the natural length, was measured. 7.100g load was added to the hanger one by one , and the extension was recorded each time. 8.Load was kept increasing until the wire broke. Experiment 2 : Elastic deformation and Young modulus 1.A new wire of the same length and thickness was used and steps 1 to 7 in experiment 1 were repeated. 2.Load was added to the hanger carefully. All the load were removed each time to check whether the wire would return to the original length. Results were recorded. 3.Step 2 was repeated until the elastic limit was just exceeded. Precautions 1.The hanger should be more than 0.5 m above the newspapers. This allows the wire to get enough space for extensions before it breaks. Also it should not be kept too high from the ground, this may cause the tiles of the floor to break. 2.The sticker should not be placed too close to the pulley. If not the wire may touch the pulley when the wire is extended. A distance of 0.4 m is preferred. 3.The load should be added to the hanger slowly and carefully. This is to avoid exerting impulse to the wire and making the masses to oscillate. Otherwise the wire may get extra extension and make the records not appropriate. 4.Records should be taken only after the sticker stops moving. This is because the wire takes time to extend itself, especially at the later stage when the wire passed the elastic limit and was near breaking. Results Diameter of the copper wire: D1 D2 D3 D4 Mean Value (in à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½0.005mm) 0.370 0.365 0.670 0.370 0.3688 Natural length of the wire=1.15m Experiment 1: Load(kg) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 Extension(10^-3 m) 0 0.5 0.5 1 1 1.5 1.5 2.0 Load(kg) 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Extension(10^-3 m) 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.5 4.0 5.5 12 Load(kg) 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Broken Extension(10^-3 m) 19 34 46 60 77 98 125 / Maximum load for elastic deformation=1.3 kg Load for breaking the wire=2.3 kg Experiment 2 : Load(kg) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 Extension (10^-3) 0 0.5 0.8 1 1.2 1.5 1.5 2 Load(kg) 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 Elastic limit exceeded Extension(10^-3) 2.5 2.5 3 3.5 / / / Calculations Graphs Maximum possible error of metre rule = 0.1 cm=0.01m Maximum possible error of micrometer screw gauge =0.005mm=510^-6 m Cross-sectional area of the wire = 1.06810^-7 m^2 Percentage error = 26.77810^-3 =1.3557% ?Cross-sectional area = (1.071 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 0.01)x10^-7 m^2 Experiment 1 Stress Strain relationship: Stress (M Pa) 9.345 18.69 28.03 37.38 46.73 56.07 65.42 74.76 Strain (10^-3) 0 0.4348 0.4348 0.8696 0.8696 1.304 1.304 1.7392 Stress (M Pa) 84.11 93.45 102.8 112.1 121.5 130.8 140.1 149.5 Strain (10^-3) 2.174 2.174 2.609 2.609 3.043 3.478 4.783 10.44 Stress (M Pa) 158.9 168.2 177.6 186.9 196.3 205.6 215.0 Broken Stress (10^-3) 16.52 29.57 40.00 52.61 66.96 82.61 108.7 / Stress at elastic limit=124 M Pa Percentage error=Percentage error of the area of the wire =1.3557% ?Stress at elastic limit=(124 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 2)M Pa Breaking stress=(215 Pa à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 3)M Pa Experiment 2: Stress Strain relationship up to elastic limit: Stress (M Pa) 9.345 18.69 28.03 37.38 46.73 56.07 65.42 74.76 Strain (10^-3) 0 0.4673 0.7477 0.9346 1.121 1.402 1.402 1.869 Stress (M Pa) 84.11 93.45 102.8 112.1 Elastic limit exceeded Strain (10^-3) 2.336 2.336 2.804 3.271 / / / Mean of the stress=60.7 M Pa Mean of the strain=1.5610^-3 Slope of the best-fit line=38.9 G Pa Maximum slope=42.2 G Pa Minimum slope=30.0 G Pa Mean error=(38.9-36.1)=2.8 G Pa ?Young modulus of the copper wire=(38.9 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 2.8)G Pa Errors and Difficulties 1.There were systematic errors in this experiment. The masses were not weighted to check what its actual weight is. The wire may not be made of pure copper. The air temperature may vary due to air-conditioners. Besides, gravitational acceleration is taken as 10ms^-2 instead of 9.8ms^-2 2.There was a random error in viewing the sticker. Since the sticker had a few distance from the ruler, errors due to parallax would arise if we view form a little bit right or left. So it is difficult to obtain the precise value. To improve this, a nail can be added onto the sticker. The nail was more stable and gave readings very sharply. 3.At the beginning of the experiment, the wire is very uneven. The first few extensions we taken may be only due to the reform of the wire into a straight shape.(just like stretching a spring into a straight wire) Discussion 1.Near the breaking point, the shape of the wire is very narrow. 2.During elastic deformation, the hanger falls and loses gravitational potential energy. This energy change to elastic potential energy. If the wire is unloaded, the energy will be restored to GPE and the wire will return to is original length. 3.During plastic deformation, the loss of gravitational potential energy becomes the work done to increase the length of the wire (increase the separations of the particles in the wire). This energy would not be restored even the wire is unloaded. 4.Double of the amount of the load is required to break the wires. Conclusion To obtain the Young modulus of the copper wire by this experiment is convenient. A few apparatus and steps are needed, and it only involves easy calculations. But by comparing to the actual value(124G Pa), the result we get (38.9 G Pa) has a great difference from it. This may due to the experiment is done in several assumptions and estimations. We assumed g=10ms^-2 and the wire is made of pure copper. We neglected environmental factors and assumed the wire was stretched evenly in every parts. In short, although the experiment is not accurate enough, it provides a good chance for students to practice what they have learned. It is quite shocked that a very thin and long wire can withstand more than 2 kg load.