Containment Essays - Soviet UnionUnited States Relations

Containment James Livingstone Critical analysis of Americas policy of Containment Block:A History 12 America's Policy of Containment was introduced by George Kennan in 1947. This policy had a few good points but many more bad points.Kennan's depiction of communism as a malignant parasite that had to be contained by all possible measures became the basis of the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, and National Security Act in 1947. In his Inaugural Address of January 20, 1949, Truman made four points about his program for peace and freedom: to support the UN, the European Recovery Program, the collective defence of the North Atlantic, and a ?bold new program? for technical aid to poor nations. Because of his programs, the future of mankind will be assured in a world of justice, harmony and peace. Containment was not just a policy. It was a way of life. In 1945 the United States saw the Soviet Union as its principal ally. By 1947, it saw the Soviet Union as its principal opponent. The United States misunderstood the Soviet regime. .Despite much pretence, national security had not been a major concern of US planners and elected officials. historical records reveal this clearly. Few serious analysts took issue with George Kennan's position that it is not Russian military power which is threatening us, it is Russian political power ; or with President Eisenhower's consistent view that the Russians intended no military conquest of Western Europe and that the major role of NATO was to convey a feeling of confidence to exposed populations, which was suposed to make them sturdier, politically, in their opposition to Communist inroads. the US dismissed possibilities for peaceful resolution of the Cold War conflict, which would have left thepolitical threat intact. In his history of nuclear weapons, McGeorge Bundy writes that he is aware of no serious contemporary proposal...that ballistic missiles should somehow be banned by agreement before they were ever deployed, even though these were the only potential military threat to the US. It was always the political threat of so-called ?Communism that was the primary concern. Of course, both the US and USSR would have preferred that the other simply disappear. But since this would obviously have involved mutual annihilation, the Cold War was established. According to the conventional Western view, the Cold War was a conflict between two superpowers, caused by Soviet aggression, in which the U.S. tried to contain the Soviet Union and protect the world from it. If this view is a doctrine of theology, there's no need to discuss it. If it is intended to shed some light on history, we can easily put it to the test, bearing in mind a very simple point: if you want to understand the Cold War, you should look at the events . If you do so, a very different picture emerges. On the Soviet side, the events of the Cold War were repeated interventions in Eastern Europe: tanks in East Berlin and Budapest and Prague. These interventions took place along the route that was used to attack and virtually destroy Russia three times in this century alone. On the US side, intervention was worldwide, reflecting the status attained by the US as the first truly global power in history. On the domestic front, the Cold War helped the Soviet Union entrench its military-bureaucratic ruling class in power, and it gave the US a way to compel its population to subsidise high-tech industry. It isn't easy to sell all that to the domestic populations. The technique used was the old stand-by-fear of a great enemy. The Cold War provided that too. No matter how outlandish the idea that the Soviet Union and its tentacles were strangling the West, the Evil Empire was in fact evil, was an empire and was brutal. Each superpower controlled its primary enemy its own population by terrifying it with the crimes of the other. In crucial respects, then, the Cold War was a kind of tacit arrangement between the Soviet Union and the United States under which the US conducted its wars against the Third World and controlled its allies in Europe, while the Soviet rulers kept an iron grip on their own internal empire and their satellites in Eastern

The scope of Egyptian Mathematics essays

The scope of Egyptian Mathematics essays Mathematics is an advanced science that is connected to all other sciences and branches of study. The ancient Egyptians were possible the first civilization to practice the scientific arts. Ancient Egyptians had an advanced understanding of mathematics, because there are overwhelming examples in engineering, astronomy and administrators would not have been possible. Classical Greeks believed mathematics to have been invented in Egypt. (Fauvel 14) There are many different views on the origin of Egyptian mathematics believed to be practical need rather than intellectual interest. One classical Greek point of view is from Proclus fifth century AD: According to most accounts geometry was first discovered among the Egyptians, taking its origin from measurement of areas. For they found it necessary by reason of the rising of the Nile, which wiped out everybodys proper boundaries. Nor is there anything surprising in that the discovery both of this and of the other sciences should have its origin in a practical need, since everything which is in process of becoming progresses from the imperfect to perfect. Thus the transition from perception to reasoning and from reasoning to understanding is natural. Just as exact knowledge of numbers received its origin among Phoenicians by reason of trade and contracts, even so geometry was discovered among the Egyptians for aforesaid reason.(Fauvel 21) Therefore, the scope of ancient Egyptian mathematics must have been great by example of their architecture, government, economics, their design of extensive irrigation canals, the organization of their armies, the building of seagoing ships, the levying and collection of taxes and the proper organization of a civilization that existed successfully, virtually unchanged, for centuries longer than that of any other nation in recorded history. Our first knowledge of the mathematics of ancient Egypt, comes from two primary ancien...

(The topic of the article) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

(The topic of the article) - Essay Example The Samsung phones although not as technologically superior, advertise the pros they have very well and thus get due recognition. Secondly, another difference is that Samsung invests a lot in and makes its phone launches a large, flashy party of sorts which serves to attract more customers. HTC on the other hand, although has joined this trend with the launch of the One x, is not doing its launch on the scale and with all the glitter and glamour that Samsung uses and which attracts potential consumers. Thirdly, HTC really needs to pick up its sales figures. Because Samsung is a larger company, it is able to meet sales quotas, unlike HTC which is smaller and had to â€Å"roll out† sales when the HTC One x was launched. HTC’s inability to meet production and sales quotas also means that it gets left behind in the race to capture more market share. Lastly, but importantly, the success of an android phone also depends on how well it collaborates with network carriers. Samsu ng beats HTC here as well and is featured prominently on the marketing efforts of all prominent carriers in the USA and HTC remains over shadowed by it. Since network carriers get consumers on long term contract basis, HTC loses out on a considerable market share as the carriers promote Samsung more and customers are thus diverted away from HTC and onto Samsung phones. Personally, I am in complete agreement with the points of view provided in this article comparing HTC and Samsung. The average customer does indeed not realize nor use the full feature capacity that phones like the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One x offer, however this does not mean that HTC takes a step down from its vantage point of technological superiority. To play this subtle strength to their advantage, the only thing they need to do is step up their advertising. Increased marketing budgets and efforts and generally more prominent advertisement of HTC’s superior features will help the customers realize its super ior capabilities and maybe this will help in shifting the trend away from Samsung and towards HTC. There are a number of people who are tech savvy and realize and appreciate the superior quality and features that HTC offers them; however the challenge is to spread this trend in the entire market. Although Samsung is using more or less the same amount and types of features in their phones compared to HTC, they put in a handful of flashy features which although not very function add to the glitter and over all appeal of the Samsung phones. Furthermore, companies like HTC need to realize the changing market dynamic and implement the changes they will need to incorporate to adapt to these changing market dynamics and manipulate them to their advantage. Secondly, the issue of not collaborating will with the network carriers is an important aspect of gaining market share for android phones in the market. HTC particularly has a reputation of being a hassle for network carriers to deal with and thus the business relationship cannot be characterized as friendly and is terse at best. Due to this negativity, carriers are not inclined to push HTC’s phones in their advertising campaigns or otherwise to their competitors. In the same vein, when the supply of HTC’s phones is so unstable in the market, consumers who originally wanted an HTC will sometimes settle for competitors’

Not sure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Not sure - Essay Example This is based on the fact that it is the responsibility of leaders to protect and care for their subjects, failure to do so, they desist from becoming leaders. Laozi on the other hand believes on a cautious approach, insisting on taking a spiritual approach in problems of governance within a state (Raz, 91). Looking at these different approaches in their philosophical views, this paper analyzes their differences, similarities, and concludes by taking a position on which is the best form of Daoism. Laozi believes that it is impossible to see, hear, feel or name the Dao. He believes that Dao existed before the earth and heaven ever became, and it is the foundation of all laws operating under the sky, on earth, and amongst human beings. According to Laozi, Dao is impartial, and everyone is equal under it. It is the source of everything, and it can be found anywhere under the earth, on earth, at the sky, even in the heaven (Raz, 31). On this basis therefore, Dao is beyond word, descripti on or any form. This argument advocated by Lao, is similar to the argument advocated by Mencius. Mencius equates Dao, with destiny. According to Mencius, destiny is unseen, and natural, and no one can rebel against it, and succeed. To him, destiny shapes the life of mankind, and it is different from fate (Palmer, 31). Analyzing these sentiments closely, one would denote that destiny, according to Mencius existed before life, and it is a factor that shapes the life of mankind. These are similar arguments taken by Laozi, and on this note, there philosophical arguments are similar. Laozi and Mencius take a different approach in identifying the characteristics of human lives. They have different definitions of the aspect. For instance, Laozi denotes that human beings who identify with Dao are not selfish, because they put their self-interests as the last option. They are ignorant and non-attached to the conditions of their lives (Palmer, 29). This people do not discriminate any situatio n in their lives, and welcome anybody who wants to associate with them, without prejudicing or discriminating them. According to Laozi, an individual has so much, but he doesn’t need excess (Palmer, 63). He just needs what he can use for the moment. Laozi denotes that all human beings are ordinary; despite this they are still important and precious. On this note, they must endeavor to seek the Dao with passion and diligently. On this basis therefore, human beings who identify with Dao will manage to live in peace, in health, and in happiness. Mencius on the other hand believes in the class system, and categorizes people into gentlemen, and ordinary people (Raz, 93). He denotes that ordinary people can be influenced by material things, while gentlemen cannot be influenced by material things. Mencius believes that for leaders to rule, they must look for ways of satisfying the material needs of people. By doing this, they won’t live in fear of wars, or assassinations. Men cius believes that an individual does not need to be spiritual in order to achieve peace, happiness, harmony and health. To him it is a matter of good governance, and stable leadership that is centered on serving the people, and founded on a strong family values and backgrounds. For instance, Mencius believes that the family is a unit that measures the prosperity and stability of a state (Palmer, 28). To him, if a family is materially and physical successful, then the state will

Information and Communications Technology in Children Development Essay

Information and Communications Technology in Children Development - Essay Example A computer has always been a tool with great problem-solving potential. Regardless of how computers are used, people find an increased need to share information with others. This desire for information sharing involves the communication of electronic messages over a long distance and shaped the world into an information society. According to several historians, the Information Revolution is the third revolution in the history of the world after agricultural and industrial revolutions. The information age is the time, which brought fundamental changes in intellectual, social, philosophical and cultural aspects of the world. Some historians opined that actually information revolution was the first revolution ever occurred and the agricultural and industrial revolutions were caused due to the information revolution. To prove their claim they said that when civilization started, travelers and traders traveled from one place to another, as they have access to many cultures and traditions, they shared information and this information was actually the beginning of civilization as well as led the humanity towards the agricultural and industrial revolutions. Today information is the largest export of most News services, banks, insurance companies, television stations etc. these all organizations collect data, process it into information, distribute it, and store it as a major part of their business. As the world is an information society now, Information and Communication technology also become an active part of education and electronic classroom has evolved. Computers are found in grade schools, high schools, and colleges, as computer literacy becomes a graduation requirement. According to an official report, 98% of the schools of the United Kingdom alone are connected to the Internet (Rao, Mehta and Crishna, 1999). 1.2 Statement of the Problem This study will discuss the importance and benefits of Information and Communication Technology in the learning of Key Stage 2 children. It also attempts to determine the limitations and barriers to use information system in education. 1.3 Significance of the Study The importance of Information and Communication Technology in education has been thoroughly studied and explored in different researches and studies. However, the significance of this study lies in the researcher's aim to study the benefits of ICT in the learning of Key Stage 2 children. The intention is to look at the use of Information and Communication Technology in the learning of Key Stage 2 children.  

Importance Of Using Self Compacting Concrete Construction Essay

Importance Of Using Self Compacting Concrete Construction Essay 10 weeks Civil Engineering M.Sc. Civil Engineering: Structural Engineering Permission given to use this project Word account: 3185 The Importance of Using Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) in Engineering Applications 2 September 2011 Abstract The self-compacting concrete (SCC) was first produced and developed in Japan in 1988 to achieve durable concrete structures. Since it was produced in Japan, self-compacting concrete has been used in Japan, Europe and the United State of America because it has many benefits. This project will firstly be aimed to gain understanding more about SCC. Secondly, its importance uses regarding civil engineering fields and finally, it shows some advantages and possible disadvantages or drawbacks of using SCC. The main conclusions from this study is that using of SCC can reduce the production time period of project effectively, increasing the efficiency of the project production and improving work environment. Based on researches, it can be expected that using SCC will be increased progressively. CONTENTS Abstract Introduction 1 1. Historical reasons for development of SCC 3 2. Ingredients and requirements of SCC mixture 4 3. Mechanism for achieving self-compactability of fresh concrete 6 4. Some applications of SCC 8 5. The advantages of using SCC in engineering implementations 10 6. Disadvantages and obstacles for the implementation of SCC 13 Conclusion 15 References 16 Introduction Concrete has become one of the most popular construction materials in worldwide, this because its raw materials can be provided widely in different places around the world and it is considered as the man-made material. Moreover, it has a key role to play in sustainable construction, since it needs less effort in its manufacture. These facts have not only led to many inventions in the field of concrete but have also led to many studies in order to improve its quality, reducing the cost of implementation and make the concrete friendly with the environment; besides, amending its aesthetical appearance when it is used as a structural construction members. Nowadays, It can be seen that as a result of the research progressions concerned the concrete technology, various types of concrete such as High Performance Concrete, Ultra High strength concrete, Light Weight Concrete, Architectural Concrete and Self compacting concrete (SCC) are commonly heard not only among engineering Society but ordinary people also. In this prospective, the awareness and more knowledge regarding the concrete types should be considered. In fact, civil engineers should have more awareness and information about concrete types so as to be able to keep themselves abreast with the most recent developments, new technological innovations and future prospects. Regarding the SCC, it can be considered as a one of the recent developing types of contemporary concrete. It is an innovative concrete mixture that can be mold into place without the use of vibrators to form a product free of empty spaces within the formwork. It is commercially known by various names such as self-consolidating concrete, self-compacting concrete, self-leveling concrete, or rheoplastic concrete (Mehta and Monteiro 2006: 476). The Prototype of (SCC) was first developed in 1988 in Japan, by Professor Ozawa in 1989 at the University of Tokyo (Okamura and Ouchi 2003).However; the name of SCC was given to this Prototype by Okamura of the University of Tokyo. The aim of this project is to review or gain understanding about SCC in terms of its ingredients, mixture requirements and mechanism for achieving self-compatibility depending on previous researches. It also evaluates the results of using this type of concrete in some modern implementations. Finally, it demonstrates the benefits and potential disadvantages of using SCC in terms of safety, economy, and construction quality. 1. Historical reasons for development of SCC According to Goodier (2003:405), the initial emergence of Self compacting concrete was in Japan in the late 1980s and its subsequent introduction into Europe through Sweden in the mid- to-late 1990s. In the 1980s, the problem of the durability of concrete structures and acceptable compaction were the main subject that was considered in Japan; meanwhile, the skilled workers were required in order to achieve durable concrete and acceptable compaction. It seems to be the lack of the numbers of skilled workers in Japans construction industry at this time was the main reason for decrease in the quality of construction work. One solution for achievement of durable concrete structures was the using of self-compacting concrete, which can be compacted into every corner of a formwork, completely by means of its own weight and without the need for vibrating compaction. This means that it can be gained sustainable concrete structures and acceptable compaction by using minimum number of workers and equipment (Fig.1).Moreover, the use of SCC was also implemented to provide economic, social and environmental benefits over conventional vibrated concrete construction. (Okamura and Ouchi, 2003:5)The conception of this type of concrete was proposed by Professor Hajime Okamura in 1986 who Studied the development of self-compacting concrete and comprised a fundamental study on the workability of concrete (Okamura and Ouchi 2003). 2. Ingredients and requirements of SCC mixture With respect to its composition, SCC includes the same components as conventionally vibrated normal concrete, which are cementitious materials, different sizes of aggregates, and water, additives and admixtures. On the other hand, in the SCC, high volume of super plasticizer for reduction of the liquid limit and for better workability, the high powder content as lubricant for the coarse aggregates, as well as the use of viscosity-agents to increase the viscosity of the concrete have to be taken into account (Dehn et al. 2000). Regarding to the requirements of SCC mixture, a concrete mix can only be classified as SCC if the requirements for all the following three workability properties are fulfilled which are filling ability, Passing ability, and Segregation resistance (Abdul Hameed 2005). Filling ability or flow ability means that, the SCC must have the ability of to fill a formwork entirely under its own weight. According to the European Guidelines for Self Compacting Concrete (2005: 20), the tests that are used for assessing filling ability of the fresh SCC are Slump-flow, and Kajima box. Passing ability means that the SCC must have the ability to flow through restricted places, such as spaces between steel reinforcing bars, sharp corners, and small openings, without using any means of vibrators (to flow by its own weight), also without produce any blocking or hindrance during its use. According to the European Guidelines for Self Compacting Concrete (2005: 20), the tests that can be used to determine passing ability are U-box, L-box, Fill-box, and J-ring test methods. Segregation resistance means that the SCC must meet the filling ability and passing ability with Homogeneous composition during and after the process of transport and placing. It is generally accepted that the three main properties of fresh self-compacting concrete must then be maintained for required period of time after mixing. 3. Mechanism for achieving self-compact ability of fresh concrete Okamura and Ouchi (2003:5 ) suggested that In order to achieve self -compact ability of fresh concrete, deformability of past ( mortar) and resistance to segregation between aggregate particles and mortar when the concrete flows through the restricted zone of reinforcing bars, have to be considered. Okamura and Ozawa (1995) have utilized the following methods to achieve self-compact ability of fresh concrete. Firstly, they limited the amount of aggregate content (coarse aggregate  ­ 50% of the concrete volume and sand ­ 40% of the mortar volume).Secondly, they used low water/powder ratio, with higher dosage of superplasticizer admixture. According to SHETTY (2005:573), using superplasticizer which is used with concrete components as an essential chemical admixture, leads to increase the workability of fresh concrete without regard to reducing water content in the concrete mixture. When concrete is placed in to the formwork, the relative distance between the concrete particles will decrease. As a result, the frequency of collision and contact can increase and consequently, internal frictions between concrete particles also increase, especially near hindrances. Research has found that the energy which is required for flowing the concrete during the casting is consumed by the increased internal friction between particles, and resulting in blockage of aggregate particles to flow through confined places. For this reason, limiting amount of coarse aggregate, whose consume more energy, to a level lower than normal will increase the efficiency of concrete flow ability and avoid concrete particles from this kind of blockage. To prevent the interlocking (blockage) incidence of coarse aggregate when the concrete is poured through obstacles, highly viscous past is required. Since the concrete which has a high viscosity prevents localized increases in internal stress as a result of the approach of coarse aggregate particles (Okamura and Ouchi 2003:6). 4. Some applications of SCC Based on the researches which have been performed on SCC over the last two decades, it can be said that the use of SCC has been increased dramatically. It is commonly used in place of traditional concrete not only to reduce time of construction projects but also to reduce the cost of construction projects. According to Okamura, Whatever conventional concrete can do, SCC can do better, faster, and cheaper, especially for concrete elements with special textures, complex shapes, and congested reinforcements (Mamaghani et al. 2010:5). It can be seen that there are a range of using of SCC around the world. Many researches show that this type of concrete is commonly used within cast-in-place (in field) and precast construction. Furthermore, it is also used in the structural and architectural concrete sections where the tightness of steel reinforcement and /or surface quality is required. However, other implementations of SCC include drilled piers, caissons, bridge abutments and walls. In Japan, the first use of SCC was in 1991 for the construction of bridge towers (Daczko and Vachon, 2006:638). While the first large-scale project using SCC was the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which completed in 1998. It is estimated that the construction time of this project was reduced by 20%, from 2.5 to 2 years due to the use of SCC (ibid.). A second implementation was performed, in 1998, for the building of the walls of a natural gas tank for the Osaka Gas Company. The estimated amount of SCC that was been using during the construction is approximately 12000 m3. It was observed that the construction time of the project was also shortened from 22 to18 months meanwhile; the number of labours worked in the project was reduced from 150 to 50 (ibid.). In Sweden, the Sodra Lanken Project (SL) was one of the largest infrastructure projects that were implemented by using SCC. The total cost of this project was estimated at approximately 800 million USD. Ouchi et al. (2003) point out that the SL project included seven major junctions, with bridges, earth retention walls, tunnel entrances and concrete box tunnels; the overall length of the rock tunnels were 16.6 kilometers. Also, the volume of concrete used in the project estimated at 225,000 cubic meters. It was observed that SCC was used in the project because it included structural sections that were required high demands on aesthetics, and at the same time they were difficult to compact by normal vibration. Recently, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has used significant amounts of SCC. Mamaghani et al. (2010: 5) report that the current projects in the New York State include the use of SCC for prestressed, high performance concrete bridge beams on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway from 61st Street to Broadway in New York City. According to a NYSDOT official, The performance of SCC has been excellent. NYSDOT is achieving very good quality with a minimum of defects. There has been a slightly higher cost for admixtures, but NYSDOT saves on labor. It can be anticipated that, in the future, concrete elements or buildings will be designed considering SCC from the start with shapes, textures, and structures that would be impossible to achieve with normal concrete. 6. The advantages of using SCC in engineering implementations Improved concrete construction environment The SCC is considered an environmentally friendly material. Firstly, regarding the construction site, the SCC can eliminate the need for vibration to compact the concrete; since SCC has ability to fill the form work completely under its own weight. The compaction of fresh concrete by vibration is generally recognized as a heavy physical job and an unpleasant activity in the concrete construction process. Moreover, using the vibration can also cause high noise levels which are not good for public health; especially the health of the operators. Secondly, the acceleration generated by vibrators can reach 0.70 to 4m/s2 and has potential to injure the vibrator operator. Hence, eliminating the vibration significantly improves health and the environment on a concrete construction site (Li 2011). It can be said that some skills and experience are needed for vibrator operators in compacting fresh concrete in order to gain a satisfactory concrete. Lack of experienced workers in many regions ma y lead to decline the quality of concrete. It is generally accepted that the application of SCC can solve this problem and ensure consistent high quality for concrete structures. Cost-efficient production With respect to the required number of labours on the construction project compared with conventional (normal) concrete types, the SCC needs less number of workers and shorter times for placing (casting). It is generally believed that by using SCC, the process of production can be accelerated, and the quality of concrete structures can be improved as well. According to Peterson (2008:66), the elimination of vibration means rationalised casting technique with less need of personnel and/or more rapid production cycles and thereby presumptively reduced production costs. New opportunities with respect to architectural and structural applications SCC benefits structural and architectural applications. New types of structural elements, which were not possible to be produced by traditional concrete, can be produced by using SCC because these types of structural elements include different types of steel or concrete structural elements with more complex shapes, which are thinner with a much heavier reinforced cross section. With regard to the construction of heavy structure (mega structure) fields such as multistory building, high rise building or ultra-high rise building, since the SCC does not need any vibrators and finishing surface tools, it means that it reduces lifting of heavy equipment and reduces handling of fresh concrete by labours. Also, there is no need of repairs to hardened concrete as there are no chances for producing any remarkable voids. With respect to construction consideration, Ouchi et al. (2003:18) found that When placing a new layer of SCC on old SCC, the bond between the old and new SCC is equal to or better than in the case of conventional vibrated concrete. On this basis it may be inferred that the normal vibrated concrete needs vibration to provide well compacted concrete, while SCC will not need the vibration and consequently it will not destroy the concrete. Regarding the durability of SCC, researches have shown that ingredients of SCC and the avoidance of using vibration have a significant role in improving the microstructure of the concrete (Holton 2004). The ingredients and avoidance of using vibration acquires the concrete many benefits. First, they gain the concrete lower surface permeability and absorption against harmful chemical materials such as chlorides and carbon dioxide which have a negative effect on the durability of concrete. Second, they improve the resistance of the concrete against freezing- thawing which the concrete may be subjected during different seasons. Finally, they play a key role in producing a good bond between the concrete materials and the steel reinforcement after the concrete hardening. Another advantage of the SCC is that, it can be used when the normal placement of concrete is difficult e.g. tunnel linings, heavily reinforced structures, prestress concrete structures and other inaccessible places. One example is the design of the Millennium Tower in Vienna, which is described as it had been impossible to build without using SCC (Peterson 2008:66). Moreover, Using SCC for the construction of tall building, bridge tower, and tunnels leads to increase the use of concrete pumping. Nowadays, by using special high- pressure pumps, SCC can be pumped distance as far as 1400m horizontally or as high as 420m vertically (Li 2011:130). 7. Disadvantages and obstacles for the implementation of SCC Absence of acceptance SCC Despite the fact that the SCC has a great numbers of stunning and successful applications; it was only hesitantly accepted by the industry. This could be attributed to a number of reasons (Holton 2004).First of all, the standard specification tests that were used for testing and evaluation conventional concrete was no longer useful for SCC. As a consequence, it was very difficult to smoothly put SCC into practice; also, before using SCC, the intensive preparation efforts were required in the laboratory in order to achieve an appropriate quality. Second, the sensitivity of SCC is increased proportionally with change of its mix proportions (particularly the water content) or with change of the environment such as temperature variations. This increased sensitivity produces an extra hindrance to the wider use of SCC as it puts a prices working at the production field (ibid.). Potential disadvantages and obstacles of using SCC Based on the recent studies, despite the possible benefits of SCC compared to normal concrete, it can be seen that the implementation of the SCC is still noticeably limited. According to Peterson (2008:67), the obstacles for increased application of this type of concrete can be attributed to technical and non- technical aspects. In the SCC, the quality of mix design and the conditions of casting concrete should be considered; slight differences in mix proportions or during its casting may cause a number of technical quality problems that may pose as hindrances for future use of SCC. Despite of the intensive and extensive studies on SCC, it can be seen that there are still some unsolved technical problems and a great number of technical difficulties related to SCC. Peterson (2008:67) described these problems in many aspects; such as the problems related to the quality production of the ready-mix design and the Problems related to the hardened SCC especially when there is a low surface quality which leads to reduce fire resistance due to spalling, increase cracking owing to early shrinkage. It is widely accepted that SCC tends to dry faster than traditional concrete, since there is slight or no bleeding water at the surface before it is hardened. For this reason, SCC should be cured when it is practicable after placement to avoid the incidence of surface shrinkage cracking. Moreover, Peterson (2008:71) indicates that although the SCC has been considered as one of the main important invented technology for a more rational way of building with cast in-situ concrete; there are some projects where SCC has led to create technical problems such as concrete segregation with non-acceptable surfaces, concrete cracking owing to plastic shrinkage and formwork failure due to the high form pressure that may be produced as a result of the flow ability feature of SCC. It would appear that further studies are required to achieve a durable and fully satisfying concrete product. Conclusion It can be concluded that SCC helps to improve the environment of the construction locations (reducing noise produced in the plants and construction fields) and reducing the exposure of labours (Reduction manpower) where concrete is being casted. In the other word, the SCC is an ideal type of concrete that can be used for narrow spaced of reinforcement and architectural demanding sections, or, in more general , for all structural applications where require higher efforts in order to gain sufficient compaction. Furthermore, it can be seen that SCC offers many other benefits for the precast, prestressed concrete sector and for cast-in-place construction such as eliminated problems related to vibration, faster construction, gaining higher strength and better quality for the concrete after hardening. On the other hand, Although SCC can have many advantages and significant effects on the engineering applications such as its importance role in reducing the project construction time period, it can be said that special attention should be concentrated on particularly, in terms of selection the suitable ingredients of SCC mixture before the production (mix design of SCC). It can still be expected that, in the future, using SCC will help engineering designer (architects and structural engineers) to design concrete sections or structural elements which would be impossible to achieve with conventional concrete. Based on these facts it can be said that SCC will have a bright future.

Braveheart Movie Summary :: essays research papers

In 1280 A.D. Edward I of England, known as "Longshanks," has occupied much of Scotland, and his oppressive rule there leads to the deaths of William Wallace's father and brother. Years later and after Wallace has grown up with his uncle outside of Scotland, the Scots continue to live under the harsh thumb of Longshanks' cruel laws. Wallace returns, intent on living as a farmer and avoiding involvement in the ongoing "Troubles." Wallace rekindles a romance with his childhood friend Murron after showing her the carefully preserved thistle she gave him as a child, and the two marry in secret to avoid the primae noctis decree the King has set forth. After Wallace beats up a group of English soldiers attempting to rape Murron, the village Sheriff publicly cuts her throat before Wallace is able to save her. An enraged Wallace, with the assistance of his fellow townsmen, slaughters the English soldiers at the encampment, killing the sheriff in the same manner that Murron was killed. He then orders the burning of the local English fort, and unintentionally kindles a Scottish rebellion. News of the rebellion spreads quickly, and hundreds of Scots from the surrounding clans volunteer to join Wallace's militia. Wallace leads his army through a series of successful battles against the English, including the Battle of Stirling and sacking the city of York. However, he is betrayed by the Scottish nobility and defeated at the Battle of Falkirk. He goes into hiding, fighting a guerrilla war against English forces and personally executes two Scottish nobles who betrayed him. Meanwhile, Princess Isabelle, whose husband Prince Edward (Longshanks's effeminate son and heir) ignores her, meets with Wallace as the English King's emissary. She and Wallace share a tryst, during which she conceives Wallace's child. Still believing there is some good in the nobility of his country, Wallace eventually agrees to meet with the Bruce. He is caught in a trap set by the elder Bruce and the other nobles, beaten unconscious, and handed over to the English Crown. Robert the Bruce is enraged b y his father's treachery, and disowns him forever. In London, Wallace is brought before the English magistrates and tried for high treason. He denies the charges, reasoning that he had never accepted Edward as his King. The court responds by sentencing him to be "purified by pain." Later, in a London square, William Wallace is brutally tortured to death, being alternately hanged, racked, and finally disembowelled alive.

Executive ad legislative department Essay

In the Philippines the executive department is the most essential core of the government. Governance is achievable even without assembly or legislature but ruling with no executive is near impossible. The executive is headed by a president, it is a department of government charged with the administration or implementation of a policy or law. In presidential system it is viewed as a weakling form of government in at least some Latin American countries like Costa Rica, Chile and Venezuela. In this countries, it is argued that the position of the presidency is always challenged. Presidents to succeed in Latin American democracies must mobilize popular support not only from the people but also from other branches of government. As one of the writer concluded: â€Å"presidential rule is not often equated with strong government. Effective executive power is almost indispensable if democracy is to thrive, yet the history of presidential democracies in Latin America has often been one of the immobilized executives. Many strong men ended their careers as weak presidents† (Mainwaring cited in Haque, 2001). In the Philippines alone, elected presidents have experienced difficulty in party legislation, without getting political support among members of Congress. So most often, elected presidents would always establish strong liaison or following from members of the legislative branch to the extent of supporting and financing the candidacy of potential legislative partners. Still yet, the President is the most important and influential leader of the country. The success of the state depends on how effective the President has become in manipulating other branches of government, albeit public criticisms and the intimidating presence of pressure or interest groups. DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT The structure of the Philippine government is divided into three branches: the Legislative Department (Article 6); the Executive Department (Article 7 )7); and the Judicial Department (Article 8). The Legislative Department was placed ahead of the executive department because it is the repository of the people’s sovereignty. It is composed of the Senate, which is the Upper House and Congress, being the Lower House. THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS The powers of the government, by virtue of this principle are divided into three (3) distinct classes: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. They are distributed, respectively among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches or departments of the government. Under the principle of co-equal and coordinate powers among the three (3) branches, the officers entrusted with each of these powers are not permitted to encroach upon the powers confided to the others. If one department goes beyond the limits set by the Constitution, its acts are null and void. The adoption of this principle was motivated by the belief that arbitrary rule would result if the same person or body were to exercise all the powers of the government. PRINCIPLE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES The three co-equal departments are established by the constitution in as balanced positions as possible. To maintain this balance or to restore it if upset, each department is given certain powers with which to check the others. Checks by the President Checks by the Congress Checks by the Judiciary may veto or disapprove bills enacted by the Congress (Sec. 27:1) through pardoning power, he may modify or set aside the judgments of courts (Art. VII, Sec 19) Congress may override the veto of the President (Sec. 27:1) Reject certain appointments of the President (Art. VII, Sec. 16) Revoke the proclamation of martial law or suspension of the writ of habeas corpus by the President (Art. VII, Section 18) Amend or revoke the decision of the Court by the enactment of a new law or by an amendment of the old The power to impeach the President and the members of the Supreme Court. the Supreme Court as the final arbiter may declare legislative measures or executive acts unconstitutional (Art. VIII, Sec 4:2) determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the Congress or President (Art. VIII, Sec. 2:2)

Performance Indicator Ball Market

Performance Indicator Ball Market Free Online Research Papers The widespread adoption of the technology would change several aspects of the new ball market. Analyzing form the Value Creation point of view, we can anticipate the following changes. Consumer benefit (B) will increase, by a limited amount, as the consumer will now be able to identify the degradation level of each ball. They will not have to rely on visual assessment of the ball which was highly unreliable. They will also be protected from degraded balls that are sold in the used balls market. However, it is debatable if the consumer base will be able to recognize this newly created value that adds quality to their game, since the perception is that the ball quality can be judged visually. In essence, there is value creation but the customers may take time to recognize it. The cost of producing one unit(C) would increase slightly, though not by a very large amount. There would also be a surge in the demand for new balls because of the reduction in the supply of used balls. This is an impactful change as it modifies the market structure and changes the demand curve. First let us look at what happens in the used ball industry. Here, the value proposition of final product goes up significantly. Before the introduction of PI technology if you bought a dozen used balls, you would probably end up with a mix of degraded, partially degraded and good quality balls. Now, if degraded balls start turning grey then you are in fact sure that the balls you are buying are not degraded. There is a significant customer value addition to the industry product, or a spike in B. But there is a reduction of the supply of used balls as fewer balls are now to be found on the courses. This simply reduces the size of this used ball industry by almost half. Also, the cost of each old ball found of the course will go up due to the reduction in supply. Thus C increases. Als o, this combination of added consumer surplus and less supply would make the demand curve steeper and more inelastic. The only logical choice for maintaining revenues for used ball manufacturers would be to increase price (P) to capitalize on the new value proposition and increase margins to make up for lost volume (Q). Coming back to the new ball market, there would be fewer substitutes in the market, and these would be more expensive and more reliable than before. Also, the overall size of the new ball industry would increase. The demand curve would slope steeper decreasing price elasticity, and shift outwards to reflect a total volume increase and increased consumer surplus. Thus the new ball manufacturers would be able to increase prices (P) without decreasing their volumes (Q) (perhaps even increasing their volumes at the same time). They will be able to thus CAPTURE a. the value created by the new technology and b. the new demand created by reducing the value of competing product(used balls) The overall volumes of the firms and the profit per unit both are likely to go up after widespread adoption. Research Papers on Performance Indicator Ball MarketThe Hockey GameDefinition of Export QuotasBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductTwilight of the UAWGenetic EngineeringHip-Hop is ArtIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Project Managment Office System

Lord of the Flies by William Golding - Book Review

'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding - Book Review Lord of the Flies, a 1954 story of savagery and survival by  William Golding, is considered a classic. Modern Library rates it the 41st best novel of all time. The story, which takes place during an undefined war, begins when a group of English schoolboys survive a plane crash and find themselves stranded on a desert island without any adults. This might seem like an enticing opportunity for any teen seeking freedom, but the group soon degenerates into a mob, terrorizing and even killing each other. The Plot Without the usual authority figures to direct the boys, they must fend for themselves. Ralph, one of the boys, takes on a leadership position. He knows little more than any of the others, but he manages to gather them in one place and is voted leader. At his side is the compassionate, clever, but fatally clumsy Piggy, a nicely rendered character who serves as Ralphs conscience.Ralphs election is contested by Jack, a cool customer with his own squadron of followers, a former choir under his leadership. Jack is a force of nature with intentions of leading hunting parties deep into the primordial jungle. With Piggys planning, Ralphs reluctant leadership and Jacks energy, the castaways establish a successful, thriving village, at least for a day or two. Soon, the few sensible efforts such as keeping a fire burning at all times fall by the wayside.Jack grows bored, restless and resentful of Ralphs leadership position. With his hunters in tow, Jack splits off from the main group. From there, the rest of the book consists of the descent of Jacks tribe into base brutality. As Jack successfully recruits more boys, Ralph becomes more isolated. Then, Jacks tribe kills Piggy his glasses smashed in a moment of symbolism, signaling the end of rational thought and civilized behavior. Pig Worship Jacks tribe hunts and kills a real pig, and sticks the head of the animal on a spear. Group members paint their faces and begin a frenzied worship of the pigs head, including sacrifices to the beast. Golding later explained that the pigs head the lord of the flies is literally translated from the biblical Hebrew, Beelzababug, which is another name for Satan. During this satanic worship, the boys kill one another of their own, Simon. The Rescue Jacks troop having honed their hunting skills move in on Ralph. There is no use appealing to their better nature now. They have abandoned all compassion. Ralph is cornered and seems a goner when suddenly an adult a naval officer arrives on the beach, with his uniform gleaming. His appearance puts everyone in a state of shock. The officer is disgusted with the savagery of the boys, but then he eyes his cruiser in the distance. He has saved the children from their violent world, but hes about to pile them onto a military vessel, where savagery and violence will ostensibly continue. Goldings description on the final page of the novel clarifies the symbolic overtones: The officer ... prepares to take the children off the island in a cruiser which will presently be hunting its enemy in the same implacable way. And who will rescue the adult and his cruiser?

Health & Spa Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Health & Spa Tourism - Essay Example Health Spa over the years has proved to be extremely effective in treating disorders. However the health spa tourists are not essentially people with health problems, it also includes people who seek mental peace and tranquility. 2. Identify the reasons for the growth of your example of SIT. Link your discussion to factors such as trends in consumer behaviour and the tourism industry's search for competitive advantage. (3-4 reasons) By the year 2025 it is expected that the health spa tourism industry will become one of the most important and largest industries of the world. This sudden rise in popularity of health spa industry can be explained by analyzing the trends in the consumer behaviour and the tourism industry's search for competitive advantage. Across nations and across races, there has been an increasing awareness for fitness and healthy living. Among everything else today's consumers attach maximum priority to health and this trend is likely remain the same in the times to come. Awareness has struck the masses at a time when greater income and employment opportunities have given them enhanced purchasing power and disposable income. This has also resulted in the emergence of newer and better health care products and services. ... Awareness has struck the masses at a time when greater income and employment opportunities have given them enhanced purchasing power and disposable income. This has also resulted in the emergence of newer and better health care products and services. When discussing trends in consumer behavior and the subsequent rise in the health spa tourism business, mention of today's working environment and sedentary lifestyle is imperative. Today's men and women work under increased stress levels and an lead extremely sedentary life devoid of physical exercise and that leads to increased demand for health and relaxation related products and services. Health awareness among the masses coupled with rise in the pensionable population has made health spa tourism even more attractive. Unlike earlier days, today aged people want to stay fit, remain healthy and enjoy the benefits later in life. http://www.heartofenglandtouristboard.co.uk/uploads/file/Spa%20tourism.pdf Every firm or industry to sustain itself and make it viable in the long run, strives to identify its competitive advantages and thus strategise them to further their business. Similarly health spa tourism provides the tourism industry with the much desired competitive advantage among all the Special Interest Tourisms. Health Spas offer a host of services that leave the customer with excellent experience and craving for more. Spa tourism at the present times focuses more on relaxation and beautification rather than healing and treating diseases. Quality and excellence are two parameters that have helped the health spa industry to retain its competitive advantage over the years. 3. Who has responsibility for providing this particular type of product or service and to whom' Role of entrepreneurs and small

Analysis Of The Switzerland's Economic Assignment

Analysis Of The Switzerland's Economic - Assignment Example The country’s environment is peaceful and conducive for both local and international investments. The labor force in Switzerland is highly skilled thus has contributed to the high employment rate. The economic performance of the country as measured by the gross domestic product is among the leading worldwide. The high economic growth in the country is boosted by the service sector of the economy. Switzerland is amongst the top performing and highly competitive countries in the world due to its transparent legal systems, well-organized capital markets, low tax rates on corporations and outstanding infrastructural development.In order to fairly compete in the Euro zone, Switzerland has aligned its economic practices with those of other countries in Europe. Almost half of its total exports have their destinations within Europe. The country’s economy is more stable than for most of the countries in the Euro zone. The condition has led to an increase in the value of the Swis s Franc against other currencies in the Euro zone. A stable currency is an indicator of a viable investment opportunity. The economic indicatorsIn order to conform to the requirement of this report, factors influencing the following three economic indicators are to be discussed: economic growth, the inflation rate, and the exchange rate. The economic growth of a country is the rise in the market value of outputs (goods and services) that are produced in a country within a period, usually one year (McDowell 2012).