Wednesday, November 27, 2019

QUIZ Which Type of Career Fits Your Personality Best

QUIZ Which Type of Career Fits Your Personality Best Is there such a thing where you can find a job that would best fit your personality? Well before you take that plunge in your new possible career you should know what job would best fit. Are you cut out to be in a 9 to 5 or are you meant to work on your terms and be your own boss? This quiz is the perfect opportunity to see if your personality matches your current career or if you’re thinking about switching this can help with your decision.  Source [Playbuzz]

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Health Care in Colombia Essay Sample

Health Care in Colombia Essay Sample Medicine in Colombia Essay Example Medicine in Colombia Essay Example Colombia is a developing country located in the northern part of South America. The country experiences regular social and economic difficulties such as the armed conflict in the 20th century and the current illegal drug trade. This state of affairs also contributes to high rates of disease transmission and health risks among the country’s major population groups. Colombia is selected for the analysis as it is reasonable to determine the impact of the above and other negative factors on the health condition of various gender and social groups. Moreover, it is necessary to examine the effectiveness of the governmental measures aimed at minimizing the transmission of diseases. Healthcare System in Colombia Finally, the relevant nursing implications should be formulated. This will allow determining the key health priorities and the corresponding interventions necessary for addressing the existing challenges. In general, the health situation in Colombia is very difficult, but it can be improved considerably if proper interventions are designed. Location/Geography Colombia is located in the northwestern part of South America. It borders with the following countries: Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. It also has maritime borders with other countries. There are six major environmental regions in the country. They are very different according to their climate characteristics. The regions include both the Andes mountain region and the Amazon rainforest one. Colombia also corresponds to the Ring of Fire – the region of the world where substantial volcanic eruptions occur regularly. It creates substantial risks for the population, and the government has to direct major resources towards preventing the potential negative consequences. There are many large rivers in the country. The main ones are Cauca, Magdalena, Atrato and Guaviare. The problem of deforestation also exists, but its scope is lower in comparison with other countries from this region. Population The current population of Colombia is approximately 48 million people. Colombia is the third most populated country in the region (after Brazil and Mexico). The country is characterized by the stable increase of its population over the recent years. Government Colombia is the traditional presidential democratic republic. This form of the government is included in the country’s 1991 Constitution. The usual division of powers into the legislative, executive and judiciary branches is present in the country. The President of Colombia performs the functions of both the head of state and government. In such a way, he/she utilizes the opportunities of the executive branch to the maximum possible extent. Congress represents the major element of the national legislative branch. It has two Chambers: the Chamber of Representatives and Senate. Four-year terms are used for selecting both representatives and the President. There are four high courts in the country that form the major element of the judicial branch. The country is divided into 32 administrative departments and one capital district. Local governments are organized in all departments, and concentrate on satisfying the needs of the local population. Economy The Colombian economy has demonstrated high rates of economic growth in the 20th century. The country has become much more urbanized and industrialized than in previous historical periods. The current national GDP is $377.7 billion (The World Bank, 2015). The country is characterized by stable and positive rates of economic growth. They are presented in Fig. 2 (Trading Economics, 2015). The country is characterized by a sustainable economic growth. Although the rates of economic growth are not significantly high (the maximum rate is 2.7%), the country has all chances to avoid recession as of the previous several years, and the overall standard of living tends to increase. The largest fraction of the country’s GDP is generated by insurance, finance, real estate, and business services. At the same time, the impact of manufacturing and construction industries is also considerable. Moreover, taxes in Colombia are high, and they do not allow actual and potential entrepreneurs to receive the desired amounts of profit. It also contributes to the growth of illegal drug trade in the country and similar problems. Despite these economic difficulties, the country’s GDP per capita has a stable and positive dynamics. It is presented in Fig. 3. The population’s standards of living tend to increase. Taking into account that the country’s population also increases, Colombia shows a very serious economic progress. However, the current GDP per capita is around $4,500, and it is a comparatively low level even for developing countries (Trading Economics, 2015). It means that Colombia should facilitate its economic development to reduce the gap between its economy and those of developed countries. Colombia enjoys a strong position in terms of developing alternative sources of energy. Renewable sources constitute the largest fraction of energy produced in the country. In particular, hydroelectric generation is well-developed in the country. Colombia has one of the most efficient green energy sectors in the world. However, the innovation potential in other spheres of the national economy is still low. Thus, the Colombian government tries to minimize the existing misbalances of the national economy through declining the fraction of illegal trade and balancing the interests of the private and public sectors. However, the substantial fiscal burden does not create favorable conditions for the national entrepreneurial development. Therefore, further reforms in this sphere as well as a more productive cooperation with international partners and organizations are required. State of Health The current state of health in Colombia is not optimal even in comparison with other developing countries. The current life expectancy in Colombia is equal to 78.1 years. More specifically, it is 81.0 years for women and 75.1 years for men (WHO, 2015). The major causes of deaths in Colombia include coronary heart disease (17%), violence (11%), stroke (8%), lung disease (6%), and influenza (5%). HIV/AIDS is the 19th cause of death in the country. The current healthcare expenditure per capita is $533 (The World Bank, 2015). Although it is much lower than that of the developed countries, it is better than in many neighboring developing countries. Colombia also has unsatisfactory rates of cancer development in the country. The most common types of cancer include prostate cancer (16%), breast cancer (13%), stomach cancer (13%), lung cancers (11%), and cervical cancer (9%) (WHO, 2015). In comparison with other countries, Colombia has a weak position in relation to diseases associated with other neoplasms (8.6%), and it is the third largest level of this disease in the world. Colombia has a strong position in relation to oral cancer (1.5%) and uterin cancer (1%) (WHO, 2015). The smoking percentage is 31% among males and 5% among females. This level is much lower than the average one in the world. Thus, the health state regarding smoking is satisfactory. The obesity percentage is 16.1% among males and 25.7% among females. These levels are also satisfactory in comparison with other countries of the world. However, the current happiness score based on people’s subjective assessment of their living conditions in Colombia is 6. 5, which makes it an average result compared to other countries of the world (WHO, 2015). The probability of dying between 15 and 60 is 148 per 1,000 for males and 73 per 1,000 for females. The life expectancy at birth is equal to 75 years for men and 81 years for women (WHO, 2015). In general, women have much better health in comparison with men. Malaria is a serious health problem in Colombia. The country’s population has the following epidemiological profile. 15% of the population are characterized by a high transmission (1 case per 1,000 people) and 8% of the population are characterized by a low transmission (1 case per 1,000 people) (WHO, 2015). Taking into account this situation, the national healthcare agencies should be more oriented towards preventing the occurrence of such epidemic threats in the future. Tuberculosis is also a serious problem in the country. Although its rates tend to decline, they are still below the satisfactory level. The dynamics of tuberculosis in Colombia is presented in Fig. 4 (WHO, 2015). The country has achieved a substantial progress for the previous 10 years, but the number of tuberculosis patients is still comparatively high. Violence is highly widespread in Colombia. It is the second major cause of death in the country. Moreover, the rates of violence are the seventh highest in the world (WHO, 2015). The annual number of deaths in Colombia caused by violence is equal to 18,075, and constitutes more than 10% of total deaths (WHO, 2015). The death rate is 37.6 per 100,000 of the population being among the highest in the world. One of the possible indirect causes of violence in the country is the illegal drug trade in Colombia. As the government is unable to reduce the distribution of drugs in the country, this social aspect remains almost unregulated. Criminals prefer using violent methods to achieve their objectives. Moreover, criminals often use Colombia as a center of the drug distribution to other countries and regions of the world. Road traffic accidents are also widespread in the country. They constitute the sixth major cause of deaths in Colombia. The annual number of deaths because of road traffic accidents equals to 7,813 (4.6% of the total number of deaths) (WHO, 2015). The age adjusted death rate in Colombia is 17.05 per 100,000, which makes it approximately the average level compared to other countries of the world. Culture/Traditional Medicine Culture is both diverse and well-developed in Colombia. Due to the country’s geographical location, it experiences the impact of many cultures and traditions. Both European and Native American views are widespread and coexist with one another. Moreover, in this environment, new cultural approaches are applied. The national Ministry of Culture is responsible for solving the most urgent problems in this area as well as promoting Colombian culture abroad. The national culture reflects the current social and economic trends such as globalization, migration and industrialization. Colombian culture both experiences the impact of other cultures and affects the global cultural environment. The most well-known writer from Colombia is Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He is a Nobel Prize winner and one of the most influential novelists of the 20th century. The most popular music genres in Colombia include salsa, pop, rock, cumbia, etc. Shakira is the most famous Colombian pop-singer. Colombian music is very popular in the world because an effective cooperation between the private and public sectors exist in this context. Colombian cuisine is very different from cuisines of other countries. It includes many tropical fruits, soups, unique desserts and beverages such as coffee, cholado, and juices. Football, motor racing and boxing are the most popular kinds of sports in Colombia. In general, the country is well-integrated into the global sports system. Traditional medicine is very popular in Colombia both for historical reasons and due to the comparatively low economic level of the population. Around 40% of the Colombian population relies on traditional medicine in various forms. It is the most popular kind of healthcare in the northern part of the country. Homeopathy has been recognized by the government as a legitimate system of medicine since 1905. The standardized requirements were implemented by the government in 1914 (WHO, 2015). In general, traditional medicine principles continue being highly popular in the country. They are of high demand not only among the members of the lower classes but also other social groups. Healthcare System and Delivery The healthcare system in Colombia is based on the close cooperation between the government and non-government agencies. The government performs the majority of controlling functions and organizes the work of other stakeholders. Non-governmental organizations are free to introduce innovations and realize independent projects as far as they do not contradict the existing norms and regulations. The general supervision of the healthcare industry is provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia. It aims at providing the universal access to healthcare services for all Colombian citizens. It participates in all social projects that are related to healthcare issues. It tries to organize the public policy initiatives in an optimal way. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is responsible for presenting and advocating for the national interests in the sphere of healthcare. The ministry investigates the long-term trends related to the quality of healthcare and life and designs the corresponding interventions. Colombia experiences problems with the availability of nurses in the country. The current ratio is 1 nurse per 1,000 people (The World Bank, 2015). As the Colombia’s population is equal to around 48 million people, the number of nurses is around 48,000 professionals, and this does not allow satisfying the total demand for nurses and care in the country. The fraction of physicians in the country is lower in comparison with nurses. This situation is typical for both developed and developing countries. There is no need to educate and train as many physicians as nurses due to the specific structure of demand for healthcare services. The current number of physicians is 0.7 per 1,000 people (The World Bank, 2015). It means that the current number of physicians is around 33,600 professionals in Colombia. It seems to be satisfactory and adequate regarding the existing healthcare issues and threats in the country. Colombia has a centralized system of nursing education. Licensure and similar functions are performed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection while the nursing education is mostly organized by the Ministry of Education. In general, the government is able to regulate the performance of both of these Ministries in a way to achieve the maximum possible synergic effect. Both Ministries orient not only to the current level of healthcare needs but also to the expected future state of consumer demand. The government tries to allocate the available scarce resources rationally to promote the social well-being of the population. Colombia does not have a well-established network of healthcare organizations and tries to integrate its operations in the global healthcare system through cooperating with international nursing organizations. These include the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, the Association of Child Neurology Nurses, the Emergency Nurses Association, etc. Colombia aims at expanding its cooperation with international nursing organizations. Health Priorities Colombia has several health priorities that should be addressed in the near future. It means that these issues require the close attention and the effective coordination of efforts between the public and private sectors. The first health priority is minimizing the spreading of coronary heart disease as it causes around 17% of all deaths in the country (WHO, 2015). It seems that the complex national strategy should be implemented to solve this problem. The government should increase its funding of healthcare initiatives related to dealing with the causes and effects of coronary heart disease. Consequently, healthcare providers should develop innovative mechanisms to address this problem. The second health priority is minimizing the scope of violence in the country. It is a very serious problem because violence causes around 10% of deaths in the country, and the scope of violence is among the largest in all countries of the world (WHO, 2015). This problem is not only related to health but also requires improving the existing situation with illegal drug trade and other similar problems. The third health priority is examining tuberculosis- and malaria-related threats. Currently, Colombia is able to control the transmission of these diseases, but the risk and potential social harm are very high. Therefore, close attention should be paid to the epidemiological situation in the country. The fourth health priority is addressing the problems related to men’s health as men experience higher health problems in comparison with women in all age groups (Semenic, DeBruyn, Ochoa-Marà ­n, 2014). The causes of this state of affairs should be specified (including broad econom ic and social factors), and the corresponding measures should be taken. Nursing Implications The stated health priorities will impact the overall national healthcare strategy. They are especially important for nurses as they are the ones who adjust the strategies accordingly. The first priority refers to helping patients cope with coronary heart disease. Nurses should both increase their qualification in this field and be able to identify patients’ symptoms at earlier stages. In this way, the treatment process can be improved substantially, and the overall mortality rates can be reduced. Nurses may also implement changes at the national level regarding a more active use of modern technologies. Currently, Colombia does not have the necessary amount of modern equipment especially in the northern regions of the country. If this problem is addressed, nurses may become more capable of minimizing the risks associated with coronary heart disease. The second health priority refers to violence-related issues. It seems that nurses cannot address this problem directly, but they can promote a more responsible attitude to one’s own health and that of others among the Colombian citizens. Nurses should focus on young people as they are often involved in the acts of violence (Mesurado et al., 2014). The third health priority is controlling the epidemiological situation in the country. Nurses should monitor the general epidemiological situation not only in Colombia but also other countries of Latin America (Caro Rios et al, 2014). In such a way, it is possible to identify the potential threats in advance and provide the corresponding preventive measures to the population. The fourth health priority refers to improving the health state of men as this gender group is in a disadvantaged position in the country. Nurses should identify the related problems and the ultimate causes of this tendency. In particular, drug-related issues should be addressed. Nurses should provide additional rehabilitative services for patients who require them. Thus, nurses should play a central role in addressing the selected health priorities. The close cooperation with international nursing organizations may contribute to designing an optimal long-term strategy that will take into account the interests of all parties involved as well as address all major risks and threats.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Does Iran have the capability to block the Strait of Hormuz Essay

Does Iran have the capability to block the Strait of Hormuz - Essay Example By using this large manpower, Iran could achieve temporary closure of the strait. The Iranian navy has bases all along the coast line of their country, together with a large naval air station and operative headquarters at Bandar Abbas situated on the north of the strait. The IRGCN has military outpost on the islands close to the straits such as Abu Musa, Larak, and Sirri.To protect all these straits along with establishing their strong hold over all these areas, Iran has also positioned pre-surveyed missile and air defence sites with satellite imagery of the southern coast of Larak, facing the strait.30In addition, Iran’s continuous effort to establish their rights over the islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, situated in between the channels in the west will help them drastically if they ever push any effort to closethe strait. So after analyzing all the above points, one can easily mentioned that Iran can afford to achieve a momentary closure of the strait. This temporar y closure of any such strait have a greater impact on the world politics and economy not only in terms of oil trading but at the same time if there are any kinds of military approach is implemented to reopen it. Although, there is a different set of argument posed by other schools of thought that even if Iran should accomplish a blockade on the strait it would be partial due to the fact that it would inviteintervention from the international powerhouses like, UK, USA, Germany and other top power houses, by using their technological power and military strength can easily resolve the situation within a shorter span of time as it was witnessed during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War.31 Although all the above mentioned points are true, it is also significant to consider the fact that as Iran has large number of sea mines under their control so one cannot overlook their

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Shopping the Smart Way Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Shopping the Smart Way - Essay Example Throughout our day to day lives, we perform and complete millions of tasks. We often go through the motions, not beginning to consider how many tiny steps go into all of the things we do during a given day. However, if we considered each of our activities as a process, we could see things in a whole new light. If we took the time to consider our day to day, we would realize that there are many careless errors involved in the tasks we perform, which sometimes even lead us to not complete these tasks. Even our completed tasks contain many errors. We could, perhaps, improve our efficiency as well as the amount of time spent on various tasks we perform throughout a day. By carefully observing a process step by step, you can see which of its components work and which do not. One such component that can be a part of anyone’s day to day life, one which can be improved upon, is going grocery shopping.... It’s a busy time of year for you at your job and you had to sacrifice your lunch hour and break in order to get your work done. You come home after this seemingly never-ending day, ready to fix yourself your favorite dinner before you turn in for the night. You reach your refrigerator only to find empty shelves and drawers. At this point, it seems like you don’t have very many options. You sigh, grabbing your keys and heading right back out the door you had just come through. As you’re getting in your car, your phone rings. It is your friend telling you he’s coming over. You offer to pick him up if he will help you with your grocery shopping. He agrees and you go pick him up. Once you have picked this friend up, you reluctantly drive to the supermarket. You look over at the checkout counters as you walk in and see the lines are very long. It’s dinner time and the supermarket is full of people getting last minute items they need. You decide you need to hurry up through the supermarket aisles so that you can get on line before it gets any worse. You and your friend devise a plan where you will split up and each start on a different side of the supermarket, meeting in one of the middle aisles Since you went there on such a whim, you have no list. You decide to go aisle by aisle, looking to see what you need in each. You walk up and down the aisles, looking at everything that meets your eye and finding some things you needed, but indulging more in things you don’t need, reasoning that you are allowed to splurge for whatever reason. You and your friend meet in the middle and put the contents of your separate baskets into a cart. You’re satisfied as you make your way down the last aisle toward the checkout counter, considering the fact

Sunday, November 17, 2019

International student essay Essay Example for Free

International student essay Essay The relations between the representatives of various cultures, either social or economical grow stronger with each passing year due to the globalization. In my opinion, the opportunity to get to know the other cultures and lifestyles through communication with its representatives is invaluable, as no books, movies or reports about the chosen country, can present such complete and accurate information, as people can. The circumstances were that China became the country were I got my first serious working experience, after graduating with a major in Chinese and English from the acclaimed Daewon Foreign Language High School. I spent two years working in this country, and that was when I became interested in China, in the opportunities that the diverse and multiple populations of these state presents to the businessman, in the peculiarities and technologies of its fast-growing economy. That was when I felt that Chinese economics was growing, and I realized it had the potential for becoming the worlds biggest and most powerful one. It was than that I felt I was interested in establishing business relationships and working in that country. Considering these facts, I feel I would like to study with a person who grew up in China, in a state, whose social system and economy are very different from that in my country of origin. My opinion is that for to work successfully in a foreign country, you should be well acquainted with its language, cultural patterns, and the way of life, as they influence business directly. Communication with the person who spent his/her childhood and youth in the country of my interest would help me to have an insight into the specifics of life in China. Unfortunately, in the present time I have little opportunities of practicing Chinese, and studying with a person of Chinese origin would also improve my language skills. I believe that people can and, moreover, should study from each other, share their experiences, as it is the most convenient way to get the most valuable practical knowledge. I hope that while studying in the University of Texas in Austin both my classmates and I will have a chance to benefit from communication with students with various cultural and academic backgrounds.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Symbolism and Devices in Stephen Cranes The Open Boat Essay examples -

An Examination of Symbolism and Devices in The Open Boat   Ã‚  Ã‚   The struggle for survival by mankind can be found in many different settings.   It can be seen on a battlefield, a hospital room or at sea as related in â€Å"The Open Boat†, written in 1897 by Stephen Crane.   The story is based on his actual experiences when he survived the sinking of the SS Commodore off the coast of Florida in early 1897.   â€Å"The Open Boat† is Stephen Crane’s account of life and death at sea told through the use of themes and devices to emphasize the indifference of nature to man’s struggles and the development of mankind’s compassion.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story’s theme is related to the reader by the use of color imagery, cynicism, human brotherhood, and the terrible beauty and savagery of nature.   The symbols used to impart this theme to the reader and range from the obvious to the subtle.   The obvious symbols include the time from the sinking to arrival on shore as a voyage of self-discovery, the four survivors in the dinghy as a microcosm of society, the shark as nature’s random destroyer of life, the sky personified as mysterious and unfathomable and the sea as mundane and easily comprehended by humans.   The more subtle symbols include the cigars as representative of the crew and survivors, the oiler as the required sacrifice to nature’s indifference, and the dying legionnaire as an example of how to face death for the correspondent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The opening paragraph of the story emphasizes the limitations of the individual’s vision of nature.   From the beginning, the four characters in the dingy do not know â€Å"the colors of the sky,† but all of them know â€Å"the colors of the sea.†Ã‚   This opening strongly suggests the symbolic situations in which average peo... ...and an equally indifferent relationship between humans.   These styles are blended in the story by Crane’s varied role of Nature and humans throughout the story and the use of symbols and different imagery.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The theme of this story is actually stated in the story if it is read carefully and Crane reinforces it innumerable times.   The theme of the story is man’s role in nature and is related to the reader through the use of color imagery, cynicism, human brotherhood, and the terrible beauty and savagery of nature.   The story presents the idea that every human faces a voyage throughout life and must transition from ignorance to comprehension of mankind’s place in the universe and among other humans. Works Cited    Crane, Stephen. â€Å"The Open Boat.† Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 6th ed. Vol. C. New York: Norton, 2003.   

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Changes to the set context due to the system Essay

There will obviously have to be some changes to how the cinema is run because of ICT and the system. The system will have to be maintained and it will also have to be prioritised over other methods of advertising. The reason for this is because, this will soon probably become the most efficient and most used method to find out facts about the cinema. This is going to change many things in the cinema. The cinema is going to hire people who can manage websites and know how ICT works and are willing t put in extra effort to improve and maintain their improvements to the system. It is likely that someone is going to loose their job because of the switch from so called analogue to technological devices. The new posts will require candidates who have had experience with basic technical devices and know how things work. Therefore I believe that when coming to choose these new candidates we will soon realise the difference in job profiles and the different experiences which the candidates will have. The switch to technological devices will most defiantly see new posts created and jobs lost, but this is for the advantage to some and the disadvantage to others. The new kind of devices which could be introduced to the set context could be things like; 1. New tills 2. Bar code readers 3. Bar codes 4. Printing machines 5. New computer systems 6. New programs These are just a few of the things which might be changed because of the effect of ICT. The old people may not know how to operate the new devices, and it will probably be more worth while for the company to introduce a fresh face to the cinema with new staff who can carry out the tasks which the old were performing and also have the advantage over the old ones because of their knowledge on technical devices. The old staff may be reliable and worthy of their job, so the cinema might decide to offer training to certain individuals. This is a possibility for the cinema if they don’t want to loose some of their employees. The cinema also has to think about the fact that training is more expensive then replacing the old staff with new staff. It would be easier to do this, but the cinema doesn’t know how reliable the new staff may be. This could be an issue to think about. They might have all the knowledge but they might not be willing to work as hard of as efficiently as the old staff. This could affect business in a strong way. There are two possibilities; 1. Replacing the current staff 2. Training the current staff The system which I my self have created is a major fact to be considered in this decision on what to do with the staff. It is more then likely that new staff will have to be introduced to maintain the site or staff can be trained to do it. The current staff may have a small amount of experience with computers and different types of systems, but I believe that the new system which I have created for advertisement is completely different. The kind of things which have to be done to maintain and update the system is completely different to using the current system. The staff needs to learn how to use new programs and operate FTP programs. It is possible to offer new posts for certain jobs and to keep some of the posts which are already at the cinema. The new posts could be offered to the people who can do things which others can’t. For example, maintaining the system. The kind of jibs which can be kept would be selling tickets and refreshments. These are just a few of the changes which can be made. Training can be offered to those on the tills so that they can adjust to the new system. The reason why it is a good idea to keep some of the old staff and to get some new staff is because, if the majority of your staff are dismissed because they don’t know how to use technical devices then there is going to be a certain amount of anger towards the cinema, and this could potentially ruin the name of the company.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

What is digital television?

Digital television offers a superior format by broadcasting sharper pictures and clearer sound. Also, digital television is versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes. Furthermore, with digital television, there is an efficient use of the spectrum for a variety of essential services such as police departments, emergency services, delivery companies, etc. This is because digital signals free up bandwidth and provide space. Jerome Adda and Marco Ottaviani write that, â€Å"Digital compression technology allows roughly six times as many channels to be broadcast with the same amount of spectrum used by one analogue channel.† (169)Digital television is a new advanced technology which is used to send and receive broadcast signals (both picture and sound). Digital television supports the following services: subscription TV programming, computer software distribution, data transmissions, teletext, interactive services and audio signals. Digital television is superior to analo g television because it is more accurate, versatile and compatible with other electronic media such as computers, satellites, mobile phones, etc. Digital television has certain technical specifications which set it apart.Joel Brinkley writes that these qualities of digital television have made it very popular and attractive. These are as follows: progressive scanning, square pixels, enhanced frame rates, added lines per frame, different aspect ratios, different aspect ratios, and clearer sound. Progressive scanning is a better technical format than interlaced scanning. The former allows for smooth sequence of video frames. With this, progressive scanning which is used in digital television allows for compatibility between digital television and computers.With square pixels, digital television has 1920 pixels per line and a total of 1080 lines per frame. This gives pictures on digital television a sharper resolution. With the enhanced frame rates digital television allows more frames per second. As a result motion portrayed on digital television is more realistic- the more frames per second, the more realistic motion will be. The aspect ratio for digital television is 16:9. This aspect ratio of digital television gives larger pictures and makes viewing more natural. Digital television produces clear sound because it uses five channels of discrete compact disc quality audio.Apart from the aforementioned, digital television presents a number of advantages which hitherto were unavailable with analog television. With digital television there is a wider choice of programs available for the audience to choose from. Digital television presents a large number of channels and this does not affect the quality of any the programs on the channels. Furthermore, on digital television, the audience is able to engage in other activities such as electronic shopping, betting, etc. Digital television is also a channel for reaching the audience with information services because th e medium is not restrictive.With digital television, the audience is able to browse the Internet. Also, digital television also provides telephone services and is compatible with computers and mobile phones. The technology of digital television is very compatible with many other digital devices. This ability makes it possible to achieve a high level of interactivity on digital television. Viewers are able to vote on digital television using remote controls, as well as achieve two way communication with the mother station for various purposes.In terms of income generation, digital television offers an efficient way of monitoring subscriptions and ensures that only people who pay receive the service. In this way digital television is very useful to manager so broadcast stations. From this time on, there has been steady growth in digital television. Toward this end, there has been a deadline set to ensure a transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting in the United State s. Other developed countries of the world have also set dates for this transition. Origin of digital television.Although digital television is often perceived as a recent phenomenon, the journey to where it is now began a long time ago. According to Alexander B. Magoun the first digital television system originated between 1956 and1961. It was started by Richard Webb, an ex RCA engineer, who was working on contracts for encrypted video communication contracts required by the military and National Security Agency in the United States of America. Magoun writes that Richard Webb was able to obtain digital signals when he â€Å"converted the analog brightness data from a monochrome video signal into a binary bitstream.†This binary bitstream was encrypted by the digital computers used by the US Military at the time. Webb based his work on the knowledge and experience of other engineers from other companies. Webb found the modulation technique of Frank DeJager (an engineer from Phi llips) very useful. Originally this modulation technique was used in sound recordings. Using the modulation technique, Webb and his team in Colorado encoded the relative brightness of each pixel (they did not encode the absolute brightness). In doing this, they saved significant bandwidth and created a single channel for data transmission.Thus digital television came into being. The first digital television station was established in the White house when President Dwight Eisenhower was in office. This system remained in place in the white house till 1979. What is Analog Television? Analog television encodes pictures using varying single voltage and radio frequencies. Analog television receives and displays broadcast signals that are transmitted using the radio waves. Alexander B. Magoun notes that in analog television, the video component is transmitted using amplitude modulation (AM) while the audio component is transmitted using frequency modulation (FM).Analog television is ineff icient because it is subject to interference. When this interference happens, the pictures become grainy and picture quality is greatly diminished. The quality of analog signals is dependent on the distance between the receiver and the transmitting station. On analog television, the broadcast signal continues to weaken as distance increase from the broadcast station to the receiver. When this happens, the pictures which appear on the analog television become ghosty with grains (it appears to be snowy). This is often referred to as a snowy, fuzzy or ghosted picture.However, digital television is able to overcome this shortcoming which plagues analog television. With digital television, distance does not matter. No matter how far the broadcast station is from the receiver, the picture quality does not diminish. As long as the digital signal is still being received, the picture quality remains the same. Digital television does not suffer from ghosting or noise that arises from weak sig nals. The converter boxes which are used by digital tuners receive numeric information from the antenna. This eliminates the possibility of interference in digital signals.Analog television signals are transmitted using and interlaced format. In this interlaced format, the odd number lines are transmitted first before the even number lines. Each of these sets of lines are referred to as fields. These two fields make up one picture frame, i. e. the video image. In a sense, analog television is restrictive. On the other hand digital television provides an opportunity for datacasting which enhances interactivity. In this modern age there is need to establish a two way relationship with the audience and this is what digital television ensures.The era of delayed feedback is no longer the case. Audience reaction can be measured with ease. However, it is important to state that analog television has been used before the advent of digital television. Although the former has its shortcomings it has served many uses in society to date. In the early days, according to American television standards, there the analog television was operated at 30Hz frames per second. This was in contrast to the 24 frames per second in the early days of motion pictures. However, with the introduction of color television there was a slight adjustment to 29. 97Hz frames per second.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Pro Nafta essays

Pro Nafta essays I believe that NAFTA should stay in Mexico. It is vital for the growth in the value of the Mexican peso. Not many people are sure what exactly NAFTA does. It reduced tariffs, opened previously protected sectors in agriculture, energy, textiles, and automotive trade. It opened up the U.S.-Mexico border to trade in services with specific rules in finance, transportation and telecommunication. It set rules on government procurement and intellectual property rights. As well as set specific safeguards, including how to deal with subsidies and unfair practices; it set up procedures for dealing with private commercial or agricultural disputes; and it set up a process for dealing with NAFTA implementation concerns. When in 1995, Mexico was forced to reduce the value of the peso by 50% causing a huge recession from its booming economy, but with NAFTA being instituted in earlier it muted the recession and the recovery was much faster. With the peso appreciating in value by  ¼ in terms agains t the dollar, all of this because of NAFTA and their involvement in Mexico. Not only has the peso increased in value but so has the two-way trade between the United States and Mexico, which has increased 113% in a 5-year time period. The whole reason for this debate is that the opposing side says that they dont want NAFTA to have any thing to do with Mexico. But NAFTA is publicly supported by the ruling party in Mexico and has the support of most members of the center-right political party (PAN) which now holds 6 of the 31 governorships. So now that you have heard our side you must consider the facts, the fact that without NAFTA, Mexico would be sunk. Consider all of the good things NAFTA has done form Mexico, and know in you heart that NAFTA is the best for Mecico. ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Learn About the Tarantulas Family Theraphosidae

Learn About the Tarantulas Family Theraphosidae Tarantulas look big and scary, but theyre actually rather docile and virtually harmless to people. Members of the family Theraphosidae exhibit some interesting behaviors and share certain traits. Description Chances are, you would recognize a tarantula if you came across one, without knowing much at all about the traits that define it as a member of the family Theraphosidae. People recognize tarantulas by their enormous size, relative to other spiders, and by their conspicuously hairy bodies and legs. But theres more to a tarantula than hair and heft. Tarantulas are mygalomorphs, along with their close cousins the trapdoor spiders, the purse-web spiders, and the folding-door spiders. Mygalomorphic ​spiders have two pairs of book lungs, and large chelicerae bearing parallel fangs that move up and down (rather than sideways, as they do in araneomorphic spiders). Tarantulas also have two claws on each foot. See this diagram of the parts of a tarantula for more information about the tarantula body. Most tarantulas live in burrows, with some species modifying existing crevices or burrows to their liking, and others constructing their homes from scratch. Some arboreal species climb off the ground, living in trees or even on cliffsides. Classification Kingdom – Animalia Phylum – Arthropoda Class – Arachnida Order – Araneae Infraorder - Mygalomorphae Family - Theraphosidae Diet Tarantulas are generalist predators. Most hunt passively, by simply lying in wait near their burrows until something wanders within reach. Tarantulas will eat anything small enough to catch and consume: arthropods, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and even small mammals. In fact, theyll even eat other tarantulas given the opportunity. Theres an old joke that tarantula keepers tell to illustrate this point: Q: What do you get when you put two small tarantulas in a terrarium?A: One big tarantula. Life Cycle Tarantulas engage in sexual reproduction, although the male transfers his sperm indirectly. When hes ready to mate, the male tarantula constructs a silken sperm web and deposits his sperm there. He then sucks the sperm back up with his pedipalps, filling special sperm storage organs. Only then is he ready to find a mate. A male tarantula will travel at night in search of a receptive female. In many tarantula species, the male and female engage in courtship rituals before mating. They may dance or drum or quiver to prove their worth to one another. When the female appears willing, the male approaches and inserts his pedipalps into her genital opening, and releases his sperm. He then quickly retreats to avoid being eaten. Female tarantulas usually wrap her eggs in silk, creating a protective egg sac which she may suspend in her burrow or move as environmental conditions change. In most tarantula species, the young emerge from the egg sac as bald, immobile postembryo, which require a few more weeks to darken and molt into their first instar stage. Tarantulas are long-lived, and typically take years to reach sexual maturity. Female tarantulas can live 20 years or more, while the males  life expectancy is closer to 7 years. Special Behaviors and Defenses Although people often fear tarantulas, these big, hairy spiders are actually quite harmless. They arent likely to bite unless mishandled, and their venom isnt all that potent if they do. Tarantulas do, however, defend themselves if threatened. If they sense danger, many tarantulas will rear up on their hind legs, and extend their front legs and palpi in a kind of put up your dukes posture. Although they dont possess the means to inflict much damage on their attacker, this threatening posture is often enough to spook a potential predator. New World tarantulas employ a surprising defensive behavior – they fling urticating hairs plucked from their abdomens at the offenders face. These fine fibers can irritate the eyes and respiratory passages of predators, stopping them in their tracks. Even tarantula keepers need to be cautious when handling pet tarantulas. One tarantula owner in the UK was surprised when his eye doctor told him he had dozens of tiny hairs lodged in his eyeballs, and they were the cause of his discomfort and light sensitivity. Range and Distribution Tarantulas live in terrestrial habitats throughout the world, on every continent except Antarctica. Worldwide, about 900 species of tarantulas occur. Just 57 tarantula species inhabit the southwestern U.S. (according to Borror and DeLongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition). Sources Bugs Rule! An Introduction to the World of Insects, by Whitney Cranshaw and Richard RedakBorror and Delongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. JohnsonTarantulas and Other Arachnids: Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Health, Breeding, Behavior (Complete Pet Owners Manual), by Samuel D. MarshallThe Natural History of Tarantula Spiders,  by Richard C. Gallon. British Tarantula Society website, accessed online December 26, 2013.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Collaborative Team Meetings and Collaboration Techniques Essay

Collaborative Team Meetings and Collaboration Techniques - Essay Example There are several elements that must be present in a collaborative team meeting. One of these elements is participation and leadership (Schied 2010). Members of the collaborative team must at all times view themselves as equals. This helps in encouraging and supporting participation. The person with the greatest expertise is normally assumes the role of leader or facilitator. In some cases however, leadership is held by the members in rotation. This is commonly the case when the tasks to be performed are repetitive with members holding responsibilities jointly. The facilitator must be unbiased in the meeting to avoid being regarded as a manipulator. Another element of the collaborative meeting is the establishment of collaborative strategies and goals according to Mcie (1999). Goals and strategies to be achieved by the team must be developed through cooperation. Ensuring that the members of the team understand the goals help in keeping the team on track and helps in directing the teams activities and decision making. Decision making is one thing that cannot be avoided in collaborative team meetings according to (Pascale, 2008). Decision making is a joint responsibility, such decisions being made by consensus. Having consensus as opposed to voting ensures that the decisions made by the team are agreed on by members of the group. Without good communication, decisions cannot be made in a group setting. Collaborative meetings involve communication in which cases members of the team are encouraged to open up and express themselves freely without regard to the extent to which other members will agree with their opinions (Mcie, 1999). Whenever the collaborative team is faced with an issue, brainstorming is applied to come up with possible solutions (Pascale, 2008). The ideas that members in the meeting come up with are noted down and discussed as the meeting progresses. Since

Friday, November 1, 2019

Designing a Team Strategy. Teaming Up for a Worthy Project Essay

Designing a Team Strategy. Teaming Up for a Worthy Project - Essay Example For instance, if the personality of A is extroverted and B is introverted, A should be able to use that engaging personality to draw B out of her shell, while keeping it tamer so that B will not be overwhelmed. On the other hand, B will just have to reach out a little more just so she gets to connect with A as a compromise. That is usually the dynamics of working to get along with others. In doing so, more productive relationships ensue and there is more likelihood of common goals being achieved. This paper will discuss how teams can work more effectively according to some theories and considering members’ personality profiles as analyzed from the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test. The team project to be discussed is the organization of a proposal to be presented for bidding for a special event. The team is composed of five individuals with varying backgrounds and skills. The members are tasked to work on organizing a seminar-workshop on Work-Life Balance for middle manag ement. The designated leader of the group has worked with various companies and has developed his network of credible resource people that he can invite as speakers for the seminar. Aside from the leader, the team is composed of an accountant, a mother, an artist and a researcher. The team members all work for an events management company. Working in Groups Collaborative work can bring about group process gains as well as group process losses (Thatcher and de la Cour, 2003). Group process gains are positive outcomes derived from working with other members. One such gain is the provision of synergy or a group member being creatively stimulated by the other members. Other benefits of working in groups are the efficient exchange of ideas and information, exposure to different views, collection of objective feedback and a host of other learning effects. However, groups may not always be as effective as expected, and group process losses negate the positive outcomes of group process gain s. Dominance is one such group process’ downside (Hiltz et al, 1986). This is because in groups discussions, only one person can talk at a time and this may block out, forget, neglect or not give enough time other members’ ideas if the speaker is dominant. Diehle and Stoebe (1991) also identify evaluation apprehension, which is the fear of members to be negatively evaluated by other members when they become more active and visible in the group participation. Social loafing may then be the result. This happens when an individual member feels less inclined to participate in the expectation that his efforts may not hold water with the group. Finally, free-riding is another group process loss. This happens when a group participant feels that his contribution may be dispensable (Barry & Stewart, 1997). Hence, he reduces his participation to just going along with the majority and exert less effort in contributing his share. Thatcher & de la Cour (2003) identify more group pr ocess losses that groups should be wary of in order to be more effective. These are cognitive inertia or getting stuck in usual patterns of thought and routine; information overload or coming up with too many ideas that focus on the main objective may be lost; and excessive socializing, that little time is left for actual