The beginning of Modernization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The beginning of Modernization - Essay Example In addition, railroads improved the transport of goods and people, which reduced operational costs and boosted industrial growth. The effects of the Industrial Revolution are changes in work attitudes (i.e. use of rules system to impose new work schedules that changed laidback work attitudes into a more productive-schedule-based thinking), population growth, urbanization (i.e. growth of cities), new social classes (i.e. industrial middle class and the proletariat or working class) and the growth Great Britain (which became the world’s richest and first industrial nation). The Second Industrial Revolution refers to the Technological Revolution. It is called the Technological Revolution because of innovations in electricity, communication, and steel production. The main ideas of Karl Marx are the concept of the class struggle and its predicted outcomes of open revolution and a classless society. These ideas shaped the politics and the union movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century through influencing socialism and the rise of socialist parties (e.g. in Germany) and trade unions (especially in Britain). Conservatism, liberalism and nationalism shaped Europe. Conservatism supported obedience to political authority, asserted that organized religion was essential to social order, and was reluctant to accept demands for civil liberties and nationalistic aspirations. Liberalism supported the protection of civil liberties through a Bill of Rights, separation of Church and State, right of peaceful opposition to the government, and right to vote and hold office for men of property. Nationalism believed that every nationality should have its own government. The causes of the revolutions in 1848 were dissatisfaction with their state of civil rights and freedoms and nationalistic endeavors. These revolutions failed because of internal factions within the revolutionaries themselves and support of other

Appeal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Appeal - Assignment Example Constant alertness and hard work is required to carry out the job efficiently and competently. However, my accident has resulted in some serious and complex outcomes which have made me incapable of performing these tasks. My life has been shattered following the accident and I am physically as well as psychologically unfit to proceed with my job in a normal way. It was a road traffic accident which occurred on the highway 401 east. My car was hit as I made a turn on the highway. The collision was of a huge magnitude and I hit the front of my car with great amount of force. I immediately lost my senses and was unconscious for a continuous 5 minutes. I was rushed to the hospital emergency and since that accident I have been a victim of complicated and severe symptoms of various disorders. Post-concussion syndrome, whip lash and bilateral lumber strain are the major diagnosis made by the doctors which have been caused by the car accident. Because of the accident I have not been affected only physically but also emotionally and psychologically. Because of the deep impact the accident had on my senses and mind, I have also been suffering from depression and difficult mood problems. Because of these problems I have been referred to the psychiatrists and psychologist many times due to the emotional turmoil I am going through. They have diagnosed P ost Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety on the basis of my signs and symptoms. I have a plethora of disease outcomes that I have to deal with throughout the day. Because of the injury, I have bilateral lower discomfort in my lumber region and lumber pain. Whiplash was caused by severe neck distortion during the accident and now I have neck stiffness and pain because of it. The post-concussion syndrome has resulted in not only physical problems but also behavioral problems. I have severe headache, difficulty in concentrating at work

How football Clubs Utilise B2B

How football Clubs Utilise B2B How football clubs utilise B2B to create strong business relationships Introduction The Cambridge dictionary defines B2B (Business to Business) as business arrangements or trade between different businesses, rather than between businesses and the general public (Cambridge Dictionary, 2017). This report will outline how football clubs have used B2B to improve their infrastructure by linking with other businesses that can offer services to the club, and also receive some provision in return. The decision-making process will also be looked at to identify how clubs decide to choose new B2B partners. Influences of buyer behaviour will also be examined. Current B2B deals in the football industry will also be looked at and the potential benefits of sponsorship. B2B is a great way for businesses to set up long standing relationships that can be in place for many years and be of use on multiple occasions. Businesses make purchases to address problems within the company. For example, if Manchester United sold out of replica shirts in the club shop, they would have to order new stock in to replace the previously sold items. They would contact their kit supplier Adidas and order more stock. B2B agreements are very important for football clubs who want to outsource work that they do not have the staff or infrastructure to deal with onsite. An example of this would-be security and stewarding on match days. Rather than the club having to employ and take responsibility for hundreds of stewards, many employ an agency who would hire and manage the stewards for everything from employment contracts to their working hours. This means the club would only have to approve them to work on any given match day. When looking to identify potential B2B opportunities, companies can use segmentation to narrow down a list of suitable businesses to start a working relationship with. One category would be location. For example, when Manchester City were building the Etihad Campus, they chose to work with nearby companies that sourced building materials locally. Thus, they strengthened their ties within the community by accessing local services (Premier Construction, 2015a). Because Manchester City made a conscious effort to work with local companies, they now have built and maintained B2B relationships with hundreds of local companies. This was done due to them handing out 883 contracts to local businesses (Premier Construction, 2015b). An example of B2B in the football industry are sponsorships. Sponsors offer clubs a significant amount of money to use their name on their kits or even stadiums. Sponsors are willing to pay millions of pounds so they can expand their consumer market by tapping into a football clubs fan base. The benefits of having a sponsor are the clubs brand being linked with a company in a different market, which could help attract more consumers to the club. One potential influence on B2B deals are the owners of football clubs. They tend to have preferences on what companies they like to work with and those they would rather avoid. Mike Ashley, the owner of Newcastle United changed the name of their stadium, St James Park to the Sports Direct Arena. As he was the owner of Sports Direct, he saw this as a good way of investing money into the club while also increasing brand awareness of Sports Direct. Unfortunately for him he was influenced by Newcastles biggest stakeholders, the fans. They would not accept the name change and after 11 months the sponsorship was removed from the stadium (Daily Telegraph, 2012). One example of a sponsor who uses football as a major advertisement opportunity is Emirates. Emirates are an airline based in the United Arab Emirates who have millions of customers in Europe. In football, they sponsor Arsenals Stadium, known as the Emirates Stadium and are their shirt sponsor. They also sponsor European giants Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and A.C. Milan (Emirates Group, 2016). Another example of B2B in English football is Manchester Uniteds deal with Chevrolet. This deal is more interesting since one of the contract stipulations is that Man Utd officials drive Chevrolets on club business. This was the case when Manchester United signed Paul Pogba for a world record fee. He was spotted being driven in a Chevrolet by Man Utd staff when having his medical (Bywater, 2016). Manchester United have a staggering 64 business partners (official Manchester united Website, 2016). These businesses range from deals such as their record kit deal with Adidas to smaller regional companies such as Chi, a soft drinks company based in Nigeria. Manchester United have 11 regional partners. They are mainly based in Asia and Indonesia. This is because Manchester United realised there was great demand for football in Asia which was at the time a completely untapped market. Manchester United also have a sponsorship deal with Nissin Food Groups. They are the official global noodle partner of Man Utd. As part of this deal Man Utd players have starred in adverts for the brand aired on Chinese television. This helps the Man Utd brand expand into areas of the Asian market where there is a lack of competition from fellow clubs. In 2016 Manchester Uniteds value grew by 7% from the previous year (Jefferson et al., 2017). This is attributed to their  £950m, 10-year deal with Adidas that started in July 2015. There are many positives for both businesses in this deal. Adidas pay for the right to make Manchester United merchandise and distribute it worldwide, this is great exposure for Adidas as anyone who buys Manchester United merchandise is also buying Adidas merchandise. A partnership between 2 giants of sport is mutually beneficial for both parties as the size of the 2 brands combined can reach a global audience. The decision-making process is a time-consuming necessity when starting a new B2B partnership. The first stage of the process is the club recognising the problem that needs to be solved. For example, the IT technology used by the club could be breaking down due too it being considered out of date. The next stage would be to identify what they specifically require to solve the problem. They would need to obtain replacement computers for their head offices. The next stage would be to start a search for a supplier that specialises in IT solutions for businesses. Once potential suppliers have been sought out by the club, they will offer proposals to the club on what they will deliver and what sort of price they are looking for. This is a vital stage of the process as it gives the club a chance to evaluate all their options on the table. Plus, the offers that have been presented are open to negotiation, so they can get the best deal possible. After they have negotiated with each of the companies, they will make their selection based on the proposals offered to them. Once the selection is complete, the club will put in their first order of equipment from their new supplier. Several months into their new B2B deal, the club will evaluate whether it has been successful so far. If they are satisfied with the supplier, they will look to maintain the B2B partnership over a longer period (Kotler and Armstrong, 1998). There are many influences on organisational buyer behaviour. One such influence are economic issues such as the price of the product, the reliability of the supplier and the product specification. An example of this would be if the supplier of the product is unreliable, then the organisation is less likely to purchase the product from that company. Or if the supplier has increased the price of the product, then the company will probably look at other suppliers with a lower price. Conclusion Overall B2B has a very important role in the football industry providing services and financial backing to football clubs. A long process is undertaken to start a B2B partnership which can be from a local company or from a business based on the other side of the world. Many influences effect the behaviour of potential buyers which could result in any deal not taking place. While sponsorships are the biggest B2B in football, that doesnt stop other companies from taking advantage from this method. Manchester United have proved that any company worldwide can have a relationship in the football industry whether they are based in the USA, Nigeria or China. B2B will only grow in the sports industry and plays a key role in the financial development of football. Word count: 1399 References Bywater, A. (2016) Paul Pogba jets in for Manchester united medical. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3729304/Paul-Pogba-jets-Manchester-United-medical-world-record-110million-Juventus-inches-closer-completion.html (Accessed: 28 February 2017). Cambridge Dictionary (2017) B2B meaning in the Cambridge English dictionary. Available at: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/b2b (Accessed: 27 February 2017). Construction, P. (2015a) Football academy is worlds best. Available at: http://premierconstructionnews.com/2015/03/16/football-academy-is-worlds-best/ (Accessed: 28 February 2017). Construction, P. (2015b) Football academy is worlds best. Available at: http://premierconstructionnews.com/2015/03/16/football-academy-is-worlds-best/ (Accessed: 28 February 2017). Emirates Group, T.E. (2016) Emirates sponsorships | football. Available at: https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/about/emirates-sponsorships/football/football.aspx (Accessed: 28 February 2017). Jefferson, R.S., Henry, J., Hynes, C., Wood, T., Campbell, R., Mourdoukoutas, P., Seymour, L., Levy, P., Setaro, S., Fisher, D., Kruger, D., Saunders, P. and Connolly, M. (2017) Manchester united on the Forbes soccer team valuations list. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/teams/manchester-united/ (Accessed: 28 February 2017). Kotler, P. and Armstrong, K. (1998) Principles of marketing: European edition. New York: Financial TImes Prentice Hall. Newcastle united remove sports direct arena branding on stadium to make way for the return of st James park (2012) Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9610091/Newcastle-United-remove-Sports-Direct-Arena-branding-on-stadium-to-make-way-for-the-return-of-St-James-Park.html (Accessed: 28 February 2017). Official Manchester united club partners official Manchester united Website (2016) Available at: http://www.manutd.com/en/Partners.aspx (Accessed: 27 February 2017).

PaceMaker Essay -- medical health heart disease

The PaceMaker I. Introduction Heart disease is among the leading causes of deaths each year. However, many people with heart problems are increasing their longevity with pacemakers. A pacemaker’s main purpose is to keep the heart from beating too slowly thereby preventing the problems associated with slow heart rhythms (passing out, congestive heart failure, and death). Pacemakers are necessary because, while there are many medications that prevent the heart from going too fast, there are only a handful that make the heart beat faster. Medications that speed the heart rate are poorly tolerated and often associated with serious side effects. Pacemakers have become a reliable means of helping people live longer and improve their lifestyles despite having a slow heart rhythm. The body’s â€Å"natural† pacemaker is a small mass of specialized cells in the top of the right atrium, or chamber, of the heart. It produces the electrical impulses that cause a heart to beat. A chamber of the heart contracts when an electrical impulse or signal moves across it. For a heart to beat properly, the signal must travel down a specific path to reach the ventricles. Natural pacemakers may be defective, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slowly, or irregularly. There may also be a blockage of the heart’s electrical pathways. A pacemaker is a solution to these problems. II. Technical Description Patients require pacemakers for many different reasons. Most pacemakers are implanted to prevent the heart from beating too slowly0. Often, this slowness occurs because there is no cell in the heart that will beat fast enough to maintain proper function, or because there is a â€Å"block† somewhere in the electrical pathway which does not allow the electrical activity to spread to all of the necessary portions of the heart muscle. The underlying cause of this mishap may be scar tissue, most frequently from previous heart attacks. Sometimes it is simply caused by â€Å"aging† of the conduction system. Pacemakers come in different shapes and sizes. All of them are small and lightweight. Depending on the patient’s heart condition, the physician will prescribe the number of chambers to be paced and a specific kind of pacing. A single-chamber pacemaker paces either the right atrium or the right ventricle with one lead. Single lead pacemakers are used pri... ...ach manufacturer programs this function in a different but characteristic way. A certain â€Å"magnet rate† indicates the need for elective or immediate replacement for each model. Although pacemakers are useful life-extending devices, they are not foolproof. Many precautions must be taken for patients with pacemakers, including: battery maintenance, avoiding microwaves, arc welding (which can create a high-energy field that can reprogram pacemakers), power-generating equipment, powerful magnets, and cellular phones. References Cunningham, David et. al. National Pacemaker Database. Grant from Medical Devices Agency and The Department of Health. United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 1996 – 1997. â€Å"Pacemaker.† Americanheart. Internet Explorer. Telnet. 17 Feb. 2008. â€Å"Pacemaker Patients: Use the cell phone, but with caution.† Mayohealth. 22 May 1997. Internet Explorer. Telnet. 17 Feb. 2008. â€Å"Pacemakers.† HeartPoint. Internet Explorer. Telnet. 17 Feb. 2008. Sgarbossa, Elena B, M.D. â€Å"Recognition of Pacemaker Failure.† ASCA. Internet Explorer. Telnet. 17 Feb. 2008. â€Å"Vigor.† Guidant. Internet Explorer. Telnet. 17 Feb. 2008.

Bullying: Relational Aggression and Boys

Bullying 1. Why do you think that bullying is an issue to study in Lifespan Development? I believe that bullying should be studies in Lifespan Development because Bullying is a multifaceted form of mistreatment, seen in schools and the workplace. It is characterized by the repeated exposure of one person to physical and emotional aggression like teasing, name calling, mockery, threats, harassment, taunting, hazing, social exclusion or rumours. Lifespan Development is the exploration of the biological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes that occur across different periods of life. So I believe the two go hand in hand. 2. Describe the three components or types of bullying behavior, as observed by researchers. The three important components of bullying : 1. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions. 2. Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time. 3. Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength. 3. Explain how gender influences the styles of bullying. In contrast to girls, boys of any age and ethnic group tend to be physically aggressive (e. g. , hit, kick, slap, push, or punch) . Also, research shows that physical abuse tends to occur more often among boys than girls at all educational levels (e. g. , elementary, high school, college). Also, male college students tend to bully and be bullied through physical and verbal forms of bullying (e. g. , name-calling) more often than college girls. Also, boys may be more accepting of bullying, than are girls. That is, boys may like a girl even if she bullies others. In contrast, girls may still befriend boys that bully, but tend to dislike girls that bully. At the core of these differences is children’s and, indeed, societal beliefs about acceptable behaviors for boys and girls. Many people may see bullying among boys as â€Å"just boys being boys. † So, girls may accept this attitude and tolerate boys’ bullying. However, girls may be less accepting of girls who bully if it is seen as overly aggressive. Girls tend to bully other girls through the peer group. Rather than bully a targeted child directly, girls more often share with other girls (and boys) hurtful information about the targeted child. For example, a girl may tell a group of girls an embarrassing story about another girl. They may create mean names, gossip, and come up with ways of letting the girl know that she is rejected from the peer group (for example, saying mean things about her on Facebook, using her email address to send harassing messages to everyone on her email list, texting her a death threat). These are called â€Å"relational† bullying because they attack relationships and friendships. Another example of bullying experienced more often by girls than boys is sexual (e. g. , touched in private body parts or received sexual messages). Sexual types of bullying may occur at school, in the general community, and on-line. In recent Canadian and U. S. surveys, a significant number of girls report receiving unwanted sexual messages. Fewer boys reported being targeted. This form of bullying combined with messages about rejection from friendships is just as hurtful as being physically attacked, maybe even more hurtful. Rejecting messages can devastate a girl’s sense of enthusiasm for school and learning, self-esteem, and hopes for the future. These forms of bullying can be particularly time-consuming and difficult to resolve given that they involve many people over a period of time. It may even involve adults who react aggressively in defence of their children. In addition, parents and school authorities do not always detect gossiping or other covert bullying behaviors because it’s generally hidden from adults. Thus, they may not be disciplined and â€Å"caught†, which may increase the severity and duration of these behaviours. It may even occur among â€Å"friends†, making it seem that it’s just usual peer conflict. However, when one girl feels powerless in how she is being treated, then bullying is occurring, and adults need to intervene. Reference: http://www. education. com/reference/article/Ref_Bullying_Differences Children at Play 1. What kinds of skills are developed through play? 2. Why do children play? 3. List two kinds of gender preferences in play.

Q marginalisation

Through these poems and novel it shall e proven that Normalization is not always limited to an individual, instead it can extend to a social group and even a country itself. In this essay the three types of normalization will be addressed, individual normalization through racism, social normalization through groups such as the ‘hippies' and the normalization of a country itself through economic normalization of 3rd world countries.Normalization can occur anywhere at any time to anyone. Individual normalization is where one person Is singled out from a group or community of people for something like being an overweight. One of the most talked about and, unfortunately common, types of individual normalization is racism. Racism is something that society has struggled with for many generations. It has been around from the early settlers and has been a problem ever since.The poem telephone conversation' by Whole Saying demonstrates the racism and its problems very clearly. It is a p oem about an African man looking for accommodation In either England or America around the time of the sass's. The line â€Å"madam† I warned, â€Å"l hate a wasted journey – I am African†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"HOW an example of how African people were marginal's again because of the color of their skin. In those times, It was hard

Speech on a english project Essays

Speech on a english project Essays Speech on a english project Essay Speech on a english project Essay One thing that I have been cooperative in is the marching band. Cooperation is the most important skill to have in band. It is needed to make all the formations to be in the correct shape. I also need cooperation with others so that we all watch the drum majors and stay in step, play at the right time, and do dynamics correctly. One of the last major aspect cooperation is used for in the marching band is agreeing on new ideas for what to do during the show. Cooperation is the key aspect for any marching event whether it is a football game or a competition. It is a important that we all watch the drum majors for many reasons. The drum majors direct the beat of the music and by watching them we can flow them and stay in step. We can also know when to start and stop playing at the proper times. Lastly the the drum majors show us when we have to play major dynamics. Dynamics are the louds and softs played in the music. Without the drum majors the cooperation in the band would be much harder to control. Another important aspect need with cooperation for marching band is to get into the correct formations. It is everybodys Job in the marching band to be in the right lace at the right time. If one person is out of place the whole formation looks wrong, which is why cooperation with the other band members is so vital in this sport. The last major reason cooperation is necessary for the band is coming up with new ideas to do during the show. If the band is standing in a formation for a little while we need to do a visual. This involves the members agreeing on an idea and making sure it is practical idea. After it gets approved it is required that everybody learns the move and can preform it with the right technique. This is sometimes very ifficult because of one group of members doing one thing and other doing nothing, then they both switch what they are doing. I believe that cooperation is the most important aspect and characteristic needed for marching band. Watching the drum majors for playing the music at the right times, staying in step, and doing correct dynamics is important. Agreeing with other band members on the new ideas for the marching show. One of the most important things of all is getting to the proper formation at the right times for the entire show. Speech on a english project By SirCeasar

General Prologue Essays

General Prologue Essays General Prologue Paper General Prologue Paper Although Chaucer did not complete the Canterbury Tales, he managed to write 24 of them, plus the General Prologue and a Retraction. Not every character mentioned in the Prologue has a tale, and no character gets to tell the two tales that Chaucer intended each to deliver. Even so, most editions of the Canterbury Tales that youll come across include a limited number of the 24 tales. This guide presents and analyzes in depth the five tales most often read, plus the General Prologue. These are the five you are most likely to be reading and studying. They are representative of Chaucers varied styles. The Knights Tale is often considered to be Chaucers best romance; the Millers Tale, his funniest; the Wife of Baths Prologue and Tale, his best-drawn characterization; the Pardoners Tale, an excellent allegory and study in contrast between pilgrim and tale; and the Nuns Priests Tale, a clear philosophical statement and a wonderfully charming mock-heroic fable. As for the General Prologue, most students know that its essential reading as an introduction to the Canterbury Tales. The other talesthough not treated here in depth, and not read as often in the classroomcertainly have their merits. These other tales are presented in summary, following the in-depth presentations, and for each, special elements are highlighted that deserve consideration when you read the stories. The old saying goes, In spring a young mans fancy turns to thoughts of love. For Chaucer, who opens the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales with a wonderful description of spring, this was the time when people longed to go on pilgrimages. : On that sunny April day, Chaucer (coincidentally the name Chaucer chose for his narrator) happens to be at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, just south of London. Hes going on his own pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury where St. Thomas a Becket preached and was murdered. By chance, 29 other pilgrims come trooping into the tavern, also headed for Canterbury. Chaucer chats with all of them, becomes part of their group, and decides to leave with them early the next morning. Chaucer then tells us all about the group hes joined: who they are, what their station in life is, even what theyre wearing. He proceeds to give us detailed descriptions of almost all of them, starting with the Knight, the highest-ranking member of the group. The Host then feeds the pilgrims plenty of food and wine, and takes the floor. He knows that the holiday mood of a pilgrimage means people will laugh and joke along the way. He has a plan; how many people will agree to it? They cheerfully agree, and the Host proposes that each pilgrim should tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back. Whoever tells the best talethe most morally instructive as well as the most amusing (see Note)gets treated to dinner by the rest of the gang on the return trip (at the Hosts inn, of course). Early next morning, the group heads out and the Host has everyone draw straws to see who will tell the first tale. The Knight picks the shortest straw, and the Prologue ends as the Knight prepares to speak. NOTE: The scheme of two stories out, two back was never completed by Chaucer. Instruction plus amusement were the criteria by which good stories were judged in Chaucers day. Originality was not important, but embellishment, and how well a story was adapted, were highly valued. It is fitting that the Knight, by cas (by chance) picks to go first, as he is the highest in the social hierarchy on the trip. Chaucer is saying the choice seems random, but is not. This idea resurfaces throughout the Tales.

Good News Club v. Milford Central School (1998)

Good News Club v. Milford Central School (1998) Can the government make public facilities available for non-religious groups while excluding religious groups - or at least those religious groups which want to use the facilities to evangelize, especially among young children? Fast Facts: Good News Club v. Milford Central School Case Argued: February 28, 2001Decision Issued:Â  June 11, 2001Petitioner: Good News ClubRespondent:Â   Milford Central SchoolKey Question: By excluding the Good News Club from meeting after hours at the school, did Milford Central School violate the First Amendment right to free speech, and if a violation did occur, was it justified by the district’s concern the Clubs activities might violate the Establishment Clause?Majority Decision: Justices Thomas, Rehnquist, Kennedy, Breyer, Scalia, and O’ConnorDissenting: Justices Stevens, Souter, and GinsburgRuling: The school district’s restriction did violate the Clubs free speech rights, and that no Establishment Clause concerns could justify such a violation. Background Information In August of 1992, the Milford Central School District adopted a policy allowing district residents to use school facilities for holding social, civic and recreational meetings and entertainment events and other uses pertaining to the welfare of the community, provided that such uses shall be nonexclusive and shall be open to the general public, and otherwise conformed to state laws. The policy expressly prohibited the use of school facilities for religious purposes and required that applicants certify that their proposed use complies with the policy: School premises shall not be used by any individual or organization for religious purposes. Those individuals and/or organizations wishing to use school facilities and/or grounds under this policy shall indicate on a Certificate Regarding Use of School Premises form provided by the District that any intended use of school premises is in accordance with this policy. The Good News Club is a community-based Christian youth organization open to children between the ages of six and twelve. The purported purpose of the Club is to instruct children in moral values from a Christian perspective. It is affiliated with an organization known as Child Evangelism Fellowship, which is dedicated to converting even the youngest children to their brand of conservative Christianity. The local Good News chapter in Milford requested use of school facilities for meetings, but was denied. After they appealed and requested a review, Superintendent McGruder and counsel determined that... ...the kinds of activities proposed to be engaged in by the Good News Club are not a discussion of secular subjects such as child rearing, development of character and development of morals from a religious perspective, but were in fact the equivalent of religious instruction itself. Court Decision The Second District Court upheld the schools refusal to allow the club to meet. The Good News Clubs sole argument was that the First Amendment dictates that the Club cannot constitutionally be excluded from use of the Milford Central School facilities. The Court, however, found in both law and precedence that restrictions on speech in a limited public forum will withstand First Amendment challenge if they are reasonable and viewpoint neutral. According to the Club, it was unreasonable for the school to argue that anyone might be confused to think that their presence and mission were endorsed by the school itself, but the Court rejected this argument, stating: In Bronx Household of Faith, we stated that it is a proper state function to decide the extent to which church and school should be separated in the context of the use of school premises. ...The activities of the Club clearly and intentionally communicate Christian beliefs by teaching and by prayer, and we think it eminently reasonable that the Milford school would not want to communicate to students of other faiths that they were less welcome than students who adhere to the Clubs teachings. This is especially so in view of the fact that those who attend the school are young and impressionable. As to the question of viewpoint neutrality, the Court rejected the argument that the Club was simply presenting moral instruction from a Christian viewpoint and that it should therefore be treated like others clubs which present moral instruction from other viewpoints. The Club offered examples of such organizations which are allowed to meet: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and 4-H, but the Court did not agree that the groups were sufficiently similar. According to the Courts judgement, the activities of the Good News Club did not involve merely a religious perspective on the secular subject of morality. Instead, the Club meetings offered children an opportunity to pray with adults, to recite biblical verse, and to declare themselves saved. The Club argued that these practices were necessary because its viewpoint is that a relationship with God is necessary to make moral values meaningful. But, even if this were accepted, it was clear from the conduct of the meetings that the Good News Club went far beyond merely stating its viewpoint. On the contrary, the Club focused on teaching children how to cultivate their relationship with God through Jesus Christ: Under even the most restrictive and archaic definitions of religion, such subject matter is quintessentially religious. The Supreme Court reversed the above decision, finding that by allowing any other groups to meet at the same time, the school created a limited public forum. Because of this, the school is not permitted to exclude certain groups based upon their content or viewpoints: When Milford denied the Good News Club access to the schools limited public forum on the ground that the club was religious in nature, it discriminated against the club because of its religious viewpoint in violation of the free-speech clause of the First Amendment. Significance The Supreme Courts decision in this case ensured that when a school opens its doors to student and community groups, those doors must remain open even when those groups are religious in nature and that the government will not discriminate against religion. However, the Court provided no guidance to help school administrators in ensuring that students do not feel pressured to join religious groups and that students do not get the impression that religious groups are somehow endorsed by the state. The schools original decision to ask such a group to meet later seems, in light of that genuine interest, a reasonable precaution.

Entrepreneurial Thinking in Multinational Organizations Essay

Entrepreneurial Thinking in Multinational Organizations - Essay Example Many multinationals are resorted to entrepreneurial thinking to formulate tactics for consolidating their positions in the market, making a dent into unexplored markets as well as maintained a steady growth rate. The term 'entrepreneur' comes from the French word 'entreprendre' which means 'to undertake.' It signifies a person who undertakes or operates a new enterprise or venture, while also taking responsibility for the risks involved in setting-up a new operation. Entrepreneurs are not limited to any one field, nor are they limited to the for-profit world. (Arti Pandey, 2006) External environment: While entrepreneurial organizations seek to identify opportunities in the external environment, traditional organizations look at the external environment for threats to their core business, rather than for new opportunities. (Hornsby, 1993) Strategy - Proactive strategic positioning is adopted by entrepreneurial organizations whereas traditional organizations take a more defensive position focusing to protect their core business. (Hornsby, 2002) Control Systems: Control Systems at traditional organizat... s at traditional organizations underlined by expense-based budgets whereas entrepreneurial organizations look at longer-term business planning and forecasting to guide their business. (Guth, 1990) Structure and Communication: Traditional organizations are hierarchical, centralized and formal, while entrepreneurial organizations are more decentralized and have informal communication flow.(Dess, 1999) Observations: Changes in entrepreneurial culture of Audit Big 4 firms Market trends in the financial markets such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other variations in the regulatory environment have necessitiatd corporates to modify their strategies to face these changes as well as remain competitive in the market environment. Some of the observations made in the changes in the entrepreneurial culture of the Audit Big 4 Firms are as detailed below: 3.1 Deloitte In the early ninties Deloitte was growing at a sedentary 11%/year, when it set itself the goal of doubling this rate. It realized that achieving this goal from a business-as-usual strategy was impossible, it therefore established a team known as the Strategic Business Development (SBD) team to look for new revenue-generating opportunities. With little bureaucracy to slow them down, the Strategic Business Development (SBD) team produced a clutch of initiatives: a customer relationship management business; an ethics and fraud hotline, Tip-Offs Anonymous; a joint venture with Citadel to establish Deloitte Private Client Advisors; and Deloitte Human Capital Corp. By creating these businesses to serve emerging and established markets, the unit contributed more than R300m to Deloitte's top line within three years. (Deloitte, 2006) In 2002 the Deloitte Innovation Programme was launched. The Innovation Zone was

SHORT STORY QUESTIONS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SHORT STORY QUESTIONS - Assignment Example In the lines â€Å"and thinking nothing of it† (lines 45-46), the poem expresses how the author seems to want to have that innocence of a child, wondering how it is to be an adult, without any idea of the hardships. 2. Sexton’s life and death can make a reader view the poem as an expression of her unspoken sentiments. It seems Sexton relates to the time when she was young and carefree. Since she went through depression stages in her life, the poem could also be an expression of her thoughts on how she, like a child, tried to overcome the obstacles in her life and take giant steps to attain her goals. II. â€Å"To My Dear and Loving Husband† by Anne Bradstreet 1. In this poem, the line â€Å"If ever two were one, then surely we† is a personal favorite because it denotes the happiness and satisfaction of the wife in her married life. She considers herself one with her husband, which means her daily decisions are based on what is good for the household and th e family, and not merely for a specific individual. It also portrays how effectively the spouses are able to work on their marriage since the wife seems to know that her husband is also as happy as she is. It is a personal favorite because this bliss is a widely-coveted feeling in several unions. 2.

Philemon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philemon - Essay Example Paul is therefore writing against the backdrop of Onesimus willing to return to Philemon, and thus, the need for this personal appeal to Philemon to accept Onesimus as a Christian brother (1:16) (Jason, 2010). Just as Betz (2004) observes, Apostle Paul writes with a lighthearted tone, but tactfully and with clever wordplay (1:11), to win Philemon’s willingness. Paul organizes the appeal as was prescribed by ancient Romans and Greeks by: building a common ground (1:4-21); persuading the mind (1:11-19); and appealing to emotions (1:20-21). It is interesting that Onesimus’ name is not mentioned until rapport is built between Paul and Philemon (1:10). The appeal is also made at the end (1:17). As has already been roughly mentioned in the introduction, Apostle Paul is writing to Philemon who is a Christian in the church in Colosse. It is plain that Philemon is a slave master and that there are others in the church with similar status in the same church, according to Colossians 4:1. Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, had stolen from Philemon his master and ran away (v. 18). The import of Onesimus’ act is that it amounts to capital offence under Roman law. As a fugitive, Onesimus happens upon Paul in his ministry and becomes a Christian (v.10). After his stint with Apostle Paul, Onesimus is willing to return to his master, Philemon. For this purpose, Paul makes a concerted appeal to Philemon to accept back Onesimus as a Christian brother (1:16). According to Gromacki (2008), the main addressee in the epistle is Philemon, Onesimus’ master. Again, as already stated, the main intention or purpose of Paul’s address to Philemon is to have him accept Onesimus, his runaway slave back as a Christian brother (v. 16). Paul does this by using several logical strategies which are also subthemes of Paul’s address. One of the underlying themes that Paul uses to convince Philemon is that just as

WC mod 5 discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

WC mod 5 discussion - Assignment Example Rich people in the society are related with corporate crimes as they can afford to hire lawyers to defend them while the poor are most likely to commit street or minor crimes. However, minor crimes get heavy sentences as compared to corporate crimes. In most cases, females and minorities live in poverty; on the other hand, teenagers are most likely to commit minor crimes. However, older people stand high chances of being rich; therefore, they are prone to committing corporate crimes (Waterkeyn, 2005). Considering gender, males are related to violent crimes as compared to females who are less violent and tend not to go for violent crimes. As previewed, criminology and critical studies may be perused in future to expand multi-disciplinary knowledge. This aims at exploring the under-developed where female peers support certain types of pornography. However, the media has played a significant role in dealing with the matter of female crimes. Through women empowerment programs, many women have changed positively and the rate of female crime has gone down (Mallicoat, 2011). The media has gone a step ahead to mobilize awareness campaigns about crime and how women have suffered in the hands of

Power in Complex Societies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Power in Complex Societies - Essay Example The gods were worshiped with a lot of respect and anything that was said to come from the god was not taken lightly. The ancient leaders knew this and took the fullest advantage of this. The brains of the communities were brainwashed to trust religion. In ancient Egypt, the king ruled over the people and even owned their wealth. This way, he was able to control the people in totality. The king visited the temple regularly to assert his power. He also participated in the rituals of the community. The kings mainly used this source of power where the military and political power also had other determinants (O’Connor & Reid 176). He could then capture the minds of the people. In ancient Athens, there was great reference to religion. The ways of the gods were respected just like in ancient Egypt. In Athens, there were several impiety trials for those who did not respect religion. For example, Anaxagoras was prosecuted for doubting the existence of the god sun. The leaders knew this too well and thus by using religion, they dictated how the Athenians lived. They also protected their dynasties using religion. The Athenians had a lot of belief in prophecy and there were a lot of divinations. In most instances, the results of the divinations favored the reigns of the leaders who were there at the time. Religion also shaped the political culture at the time and thus was the main source of power in most ancient kingdoms including Athens. Sparta had a sophisticated ideological system. The system of power dictated that few elite people ruled over the majority in the community. Sparta had both military and political power. The king was also the spiritual leader of the people and that used this role to assert his authority in the community. Being militaristic state, the ideologies that the community believed played a great role in propelling the dynasties that reigned at the

Competing Apple Computers Inc management of innovation Assignment

Competing Apple Computers Inc management of innovation - Assignment Example The ability of a leader to identify strategies that can disrupt rivals’ innovative strategies is critical in organizations operating in highly competitive industries. For organizations trying to compete Apple, the challenges that need to be faced are many: Apple is popular for its emphasis on innovation, a fact that limits the chances for gaps in its strategic choices. Still, the literature published in this field shows that the promotion of innovation in businesses of different characteristics can be achieved in a range of ways, not necessarily related to rivals’ strategies. The business model and the strategies proposed below aim to show that even firms that are highly successful, such as Apple, may have gaps in their strategic framework; the identification of these gaps by rivals can increase competition in the industry reducing Apple’s hegemony in the global market. Apple has highly emphasized on research and development for the identification of unique products (Apple, Organizational website 2012). In fact, the firm’s strategy in regard to innovation seems to be based on the following three issues: a) the market for Apple’s i-products has still many prospects (Zeiler 2012), b) the firm highly emphasizes on advertising (Zeiler 2012) and c) new technologies, such as the i-TV, are continuously developed for enhancing the capabilities of the firm’s products. ... cation’ (Zeiler 2012), a technology that ‘transforms the i-Phone into a digital wallet’ (Zeiler 2012), is one of Apple’s latest strategies for securing its strategic position in the global market. 2.2 Gaps in Apple’s business model and product/ service strategy The current performance of Apple, as a key competitor in the global industry is significant, if taking into consideration Graph 1 (Appendix). Still, gaps can be identified in Apple’s strategies in regard to innovation: a) the products of the firm are rather expensive, if taking into consideration the financial status of the majority of people in the global market, b) the customer services schemes provided to customers are similar to those provided by other firms operating in the same industry, with no particular schemes for securing innovation in this business sector. 3. Competing Apple’s strategies and business model 3.1 Opportunities for disrupting innovation as promoted by App le In order to understand whether there are opportunities for disrupting Apple’s innovative strategies and business model, it would be necessary to explain primarily the key context of innovation, as related to business activities. According to Schermerhorn (2009) there are three modes of innovation: a) process innovation, which refers to the identification of effective techniques for developing business operations, in all their aspects, b) product innovation is related to the identification of unique products/ services and c) business model innovation focuses on the identification of ‘new ways to achieve profits’ (Schermerhorn 2009, p.188). This means that if a firm is interested in competing one or more of its rivals in regard to innovation, it has to focus on one, at least, of the above modes of innovation.

Power in Complex Societies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Power in Complex Societies - Essay Example The gods were worshiped with a lot of respect and anything that was said to come from the god was not taken lightly. The ancient leaders knew this and took the fullest advantage of this. The brains of the communities were brainwashed to trust religion. In ancient Egypt, the king ruled over the people and even owned their wealth. This way, he was able to control the people in totality. The king visited the temple regularly to assert his power. He also participated in the rituals of the community. The kings mainly used this source of power where the military and political power also had other determinants (O’Connor & Reid 176). He could then capture the minds of the people. In ancient Athens, there was great reference to religion. The ways of the gods were respected just like in ancient Egypt. In Athens, there were several impiety trials for those who did not respect religion. For example, Anaxagoras was prosecuted for doubting the existence of the god sun. The leaders knew this too well and thus by using religion, they dictated how the Athenians lived. They also protected their dynasties using religion. The Athenians had a lot of belief in prophecy and there were a lot of divinations. In most instances, the results of the divinations favored the reigns of the leaders who were there at the time. Religion also shaped the political culture at the time and thus was the main source of power in most ancient kingdoms including Athens. Sparta had a sophisticated ideological system. The system of power dictated that few elite people ruled over the majority in the community. Sparta had both military and political power. The king was also the spiritual leader of the people and that used this role to assert his authority in the community. Being militaristic state, the ideologies that the community believed played a great role in propelling the dynasties that reigned at the

Arthropod pests Essay Example for Free

Arthropod pests Essay The concern that human society will be inevitably obsessed with death is a valid one. Although there may be people today who escape depressing thoughts of death, all will be distraught after reading only a few lines of the Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias. This essay will analyze parts of the work by Federico Lorca and provide some basic interpretations and thoughts on the subject. Beginning with the first line of the lament, the reader is struck with an overwhelming sense of time—five in the afternoon. It fills the mind as the words continue. â€Å"It was exactly five in the afternoon. † Ignacio has obviously died. The time of day is noted, and the question arises immediately: why repeat the time â€Å"five in the afternoon† after every line (up to five times)! I think the point of repeating the time excessively is to pound a feeling of monotony that accompanies utter grief into the mind of the reader. Also, it provides a broad scope to help the reader understand how many hopelessly depressing things are going on at once. A possible answer, then, is that the lament needs synchronization in order to deliver the correct emotions that Lorca felt. For example, leaving out the repeated time, the first stanza becomes, â€Å"A boy brought the white sheet, A frail of lime ready prepared, The rest was death, and death alone. † In this version, the reader feels like three mundane, somewhat depressing things are happening in sequence as opposed to feeling a horrifying realization of the simultaneous events surrounding the loss of a close friend. Without the repetition it may still seem sad, but nowhere near as powerful as the original. Adding the repetition back in, one feels as though time has been stopped during a metaphorical symphony of pain from grief. As the horrible moment continues, Lorca adds additional imagery: â€Å"Groups of silence in the corners†¦ A coffin on wheels is his bed†¦ The room was iridescent with agony†¦ In the distance the gangrene now comes†¦ The wounds were burning like suns†¦ at five in the afternoon. At five in the afternoon. Ah, that fatal five in the afternoon! It was five by all the clocks! It was five in the shade of the afternoon! † It is no accident that we read of the time of day five times at the end of this section. Also, both of the first two stanzas contain five references to the time as well, almost suffocating us with the existence of the terrible hour. Lorca perfectly displays the effect of death on the human mind. Cluttered with the details most ignored in regular life, our brains (perhaps as a self-defense to keep us alive) go through an almost physical withdrawal when those near to us die. In conclusion, It is obvious that our lives revolve around death whether we like it or not. Death is the nemesis of survival, and survival is our primary goal in life as humans. Reproduction, social reform, religion, or anything else we live for (even hedonism) must manifest itself through survival of ourselves or others. Thus, as long as we survive, humans will always be obsessed with death.

Implementation and simulation of basic structure of the radio over fiber link

Implementation and simulation of basic structure of the radio over fiber link CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS Wireless communication has gone through enormous growth in the past ten years. Less than a percent of world population had access to cellular technology before early nineties, and by the start of this millennium approximately every one in a five people has a mobile phone. In the same period different countries across the globe have increase the mobile network technology over ninety percent and future forecast says that by the end of 2010 there will be more than 1700 million mobiles users across the world. [1][2] Apart from cellular technology WLANs has also seen phenomenal growth during the past ten years. These WLAN hotspots can be used in public places such as airports, cafes, hotels and restaurant etc. YEAR WLAN Frequency Modulation Bit-Rate (MAX) 1997 IEEE 802.11 2.4 GHz Frequency Hopping and Direct Spread Spectrum 2 Mbps 1998 ETSI Home RF 2.4 GHz Wideband Frequency Hopping 1.6 Mbps 1999 IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum 11 Mbps 1999 IEEE 802.11a 5 GHz OFDM 54 Mbps 2000 ETSI HiperLAN2 5 GHz OFDM Connection-Oriented 54 Mbps 2003 IEEE 802.11g 2.4 GHz OFDM compatible with 802.11a 54 Mbps Table 1.1 Evolutions of WLAN Standards [3] The rapid growth in wireless communication achieved more fame due the ease of installation as compared to the fixed network. The first generation (1G) mobile system were analogue, discovered in 1980s. The second generation (2G) known as global system for mobile communication (GSM) came on the scene in 1990s, which has been very successful and has achieved extreme success across the globe. GSM is currently the major mobile communication system which is used worldwide. [1] The graph above shows the relationship between coverage and capacity of communication systems. By looking at the graph the cell size of WPAN is of few meters but there transmission rate may go upto 10 Mbps. While considering 2G and 3G systems, there cell sizes may vary upto several kilometres but that are limited to less than 2Mbps. WiMAX technology can provide high bit rate mobile services using frequency span between 2 11 GHz. [6] FREQUENCY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 2 GHz UMTS/ 3G Systems 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g WLAN 5 GHz IEEE 802.11 a WLAN 2-11 GHz IEEE 802.16 WiMAX 17/19 GHz Indoor Wireless (radio) LANs 28 GHz Fixed Wireless Access Local point to multi point (LMD) 38 GHz Fixed Wireless Access Picocellular 58 GHz Indoor Wireless LANs 57-64 GHz IEEE 802.15 WPAN 10-66 GHz IEEE 802.16 WiMAX Table 1.2 Frequencies for Wireless Communication Systems [2]-[5] 1.2 CLASSIFICATION OF WIRELESS NETWORK Wireless networks can be categorized into different groups depending on the area they are applied to. As a result high numbers of standards have been making to public for the development of new techniques in order to increase the spectrum efficiency and perfect utilization of spectrum, which is scarce natural resource. Wireless networks can be divided into three classes; 1.2.1 Wireless Private Area Network (WPAN) Devices of such networks can communicate in the range of tens of metres. Infrared (IR) and Bluetooth are the two implementation of this principle. 1.2.2 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) It is computer network that connects devices which are distributed over a local area (e.g office, house, mall, and airport). IEEE 802.11 which is commonly known as Wi-Fi, is an example of WLAN. 1.2.3 Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) Such a network covers a geographic area such as city or village. IEEE 802.16 which is commonly known as WiMAX, is an example of WMAN. Depending upon the application, there are licensed and unlicensed frequency bands in which wireless systems can operate. 1.3 WIRELESS APPLICATIONS Now we will discuss wireless standards along with the overview of their applications: 1.3.1 Bluetooth WPAN Bluetooth is a radio standard, which operates in the unlicensed Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band at 2.4 2.485 GHz. Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) is used in order to minimize interference and fading. In order to make the transceiver architecture as simple as possible, binary modulation is used. The bit rate is up to 3 Mb/s. The benefits of Bluetooth include low power consumption and low cost, therefore they are used in devices such as laptops, mobile phones and PDAs. [7] Power Class Maximum Output Power Minimum Output Power 1 100mW(20dBm) 1mW(0dBm) 2 2.5mW(4dBm) 0.25mW(-6dBm) 3 1mW(0dBm) Table 1.3 Bluetooth classes and power levels [7] 1.3.2 Wi Fi WLAN The Wi-Fi alliance, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the European telecommunications standard Institute (ETSI) are the three organizations which influenced the standardization of WLAN. The IEEE WLAN standard is referred as 802.11. At the moment, the most used techniques are defined by the IEEE 802.11a, b and g standards. [8] Standard Release date Operating frequency Maximum Data Rate 802.11a 1999 5.15 5.35 GHz 5.725 5.825 GHz 54 Mbps 802.11b 1999 2.4 2.5 GHz 11 Mbps 802.11g 2003 2.4 2.5 GHz 54 Mbps Table 1.4 IEEE 802.11a, b and g standards [8] 1.3.3 WiMAX WMAN WiMAX is an abbreviation for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. The WiMAX Forum is a non profit association. The aim and objective of the WiMAX technology is to provide fixed, portable or mobile connectivity to the users even if they located up to 6 miles away from base station and it is not necessary to be in line of sight. WiMAX can operate on any frequency below 66 GHz, as operating frequency may change for different countries depending on local regulation. It is possible replacement for mobile/cellular technologies such as GSM and CDMA. It has been considered to be the wireless backhaul technology for 2G, 3G and 4G networks. The limitations associated with WiMAX is that it can either provide high data rates or it can transmit data over longer distances but not both simultaneously. [9] 1.3.4 Distributed Antenna Systems and Radio Over Fiber Distributed Antennas Systems (DAS) are used for several applications in the mobiles and wireless communications. It can be installing over indoor and outdoor sites. DAS can be implemented on those areas where there is lack of signals such as tunnels, underground stations etc. in order to extend the coverage of mobile network. Radio over fibre consists of remote unit and central unit. Remote unit is kept very simple since it only consists of devices for reception of radio frequency signals and optoelectronic conversion. All expensive and complex equipments are located at central unit and functions such as modulation and up/down conversion etc. are done. This resulted in increase in efficiency and maintenance cost because as compared to central units, remote units are numerically high in numbers and often remote units are located in sites that are not easy to get in touch with. [10] 1.4 FLOW CHART OF THE DISSERTATION 1.5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of the dissertation is to implement and simulate the basic structure of the radio over fiber link using OFDM transceiver with the help of MATLAB/SIMULINK. The MATLAB version 7.8.0 (R2009a) is used for model implementation. Basically two models are designed: model number 1 consists of OFDM transceiver linked with a gain which represents the length of the fiber channel. Actually it is based on the theoretical fact that fiber has 0.2db loss per kilometre. For example 25km length fiber will be represented as 5 dB(-ve sign to show loss). Later on simulations are carried out by varying the length of fiber and results are deduced. Model 2 consist of OFDM transceiver as well but linked with laser diode model, fiber channel model and photodiode model as these are the fundamental components of RoF link. Some additional parameters of measuring the transmitted and received power and bit error rate calculation are also introduced to enhance the diversity of the project. 1.6 DISSERTATION OUTLINE The dissertation consists of six chapters: Chapter 1 is the introduction chapter in which wireless communication systems and wireless applications have been discussed briefly. Chapter 2 consist of the theory of radio over fiber which includes the need of RoF system, what RoF technology is, advantages and disadvantages of RoF system and applications of RoF technology. Chapter 3 purely consist of theory related to OFDM technology. Sub topics include in this chapter are principles of OFDM, history, advantages and disadvantages and applications of OFDM. Fourier transform is also discussed in this particular chapter. Chapter 4 consist of methodology of the dissertation. It consists of the models implemented using MATLAB/SIMULINK and the brief study of the essential blocks used in the models. Chapter 5 is the chapter of simulations and results. Chapter 6 includes the conclusion and future work regarding radio over fiber and OFDM. CHAPTER 2: RADIO OVER FIBER 2.1 INTRODUCTION Radio-over-fiber (RoF) is a communication technology for delivering broadband applications to wireless users such as satellite communications, mobile-radio communications, broadband access radio, multipoint video distribution and broadband mobile services. RoF technologies make use of optical and radio communication media for providing above mentioned broadband services. The optical part is used to transmit microwave signals between a central radio base station and a remote radio antenna and on the other hand radio part provides coverage to wireless users. In RoF system radio frequency (RF) signal is transmitted through an optical network in an easier way by directly modulating the intensity of the light source with the RF signal to be transmitted and on the receiving end direct detection of the signal at photo detector. The modulating of the laser-diode light intensity with electrical signals at multiple frequencies causes a number of problems such as relative intensity, noise chirp and inter modulation distortion. The main sources of non-linearity in a system are the laser-diode light source, the optical fiber and the photo detector. [27] 2.2 NEED FOR RADIO OVER FIBER SYSTEMS For the future prerequisite multimedia services and broadband over wireless media, some distinctive characteristics are needed such as cell size reduction in order to accommodate more users and to operate in the millimetre wave (mm-wave) frequency bands to overcome spectral clogging. Such a system would demands a large number of base stations to cover large geographical coverage area and base station should be cost effective as well, then only such a system would be successful in market. In such a competitive market, this necessity has led to the evolution of system architecture where microwave functions such as signal processing, signal routing, handover, modulation, protocols setting and frequency allocation etc. are performed at central control station (CS) rather than at remote station or base station (BS). This type of centralized arrangement allows complex, sensitive and expensive equipments to be positioned in safer environment and shared among several BSs or RSs (Remote Stati ons). Now the question arises how to link the central station (CS) with BS. In such type of radio network, the use of optical fiber is the most suitable choice for the linking of CS with BSs, as fiber is cheaper in cost, has low loss, immune to Electromagnetic Inter Modulation (EMI) and provides wider bandwidth. By keeping the BSs as simple as possible and by sharing the resources provided by CS among several BSs, can effectively minimizes the cost of entire network and thus maintenance cost. Modulation of RF sub carriers onto an optical carrier over an fiber is known as Radio over Fiber (RoF) technology. Typically RoF network consist of central CS, where functions like switching, routing, medium access control (MAC) and frequency management takes place whereas at BSs functions like optical to electrical and vice versa are performed. [32] 2.3 RADIO OVER FIBER TECHNOLOGY Radio over fiber system consists of a Radio Base Station (RBS) and Radio Access Point (RAP) which are connected by an optical fiber link. Optical fiber link is used to distribute RF signals from a RBS to RAP. RAP only contains optoelectronic conversion devices and amplifiers. In GSM technology RBS could be referred as Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) and RAP as Base Station (BS). The frequency used by the RoF systems usually lies under GHz region depending on the nature of application. Basically RoF systems were used to transmit microwave signals and to achieve mobility functions in RBS. Therefore modulated microwave signals had to be available at the input end of the system, which are then delivered to the RAP as optical signals. Signals at RAP are re-generated and radiated by antennas. Due to the advancement of technology, RoF systems are designed to perform added radio system functionalities other then transportation and mobility functions. The functions include are data modulation, signal processing and frequency conversion (up and down). The electrical signal at the input of the multifunctional RoF system may be baseband data, modulate IF or actual modulated RF signal for distribution. The modulated optical signal is carried over the optical fiber link to the remote station. At the receiving end, demodulation of the signal is carried out by the photo detector and the optical signal is converted back to electrical signal. [12] [13] 2.4 ADVANTAGES OF RADIO OVER FIBER 2.4.1 Low Attenuation It is observed that high frequency signals when transmitted in free space or through transmission lines are expensive and sometimes due to different reasons challenging as well. In free space, losses are directly proportional to frequency due to absorption and reflection. Increase in frequency also gives rise in impedance when signal is delivered through transmission line. Therefore in order to overcome these issues, expensive signal regenerating equipment is required to distribute radio signal electrically over long distances. The cheaper solution is to use optical fibers which offer lower losses. Single Mode Fiber (SMF) made from glass (silica) has attenuation losses below 0.2dB/km and 0.5dB/km in the 1.5um and 1.3um windows respectively. [11] 2.4.2 Larger Potential Bandwidth Larger bandwidth is being offered by optical fibers. Larger bandwidth provides high capacity for transmitting high frequency signals and also enables high speed signal processing which is difficult to achieve in electronics systems. Basically there are three main transmission windows, namely 850nm, 1310nm, and 1550nm wavelengths, which offer low attenuation. Anyhow optical system has to combine with electronic system in order to perform different tasks. But bandwidth mismatch of the systems create problem which is known as electronic bottleneck. The solution to this problem is the use of effective multiplexing techniques such as OFDM, DWDM and SCM. [11] 2.4.3 Easy Installation And Maintenance The plus point of RoF system is the Switching Centre (SC), which are less in numerical quantity because one SC is shared by several Remote stations (RSs), which are equipped with all the expensive and complex equipments and RSs are kept simpler which includes only photo detector, amplifier and an antenna, thus reducing system installation and maintenance cost. [11] 2.4.4 Reduced Power Consumption As discussed earlier centralized SCs are equipped with complex equipment and RSs are kept simpler with less equipments thus resulting in reduced power consumption. Thus RSs can be operated in passive mode. [11] 2.4.5 Immune To Interference And Crosstalk As we know that optical fibers form a dielectric waveguide therefore there are no concepts as electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI), or switching transients giving electromagnetic pulses (EMP). In fact it doesnt require shielding form EMI. Hence optical signal can be transmitted through electrically noisy environment unaffectedly. The optical fiber can be used underground or overhead as it is not disposed to lightening strike. [11] 2.4.6 Signal Security In RoF system, optical signals are transmitted in the form of light, which doesnt radiate drastically, thus providing high degree of signal security. Therefore it is widely used in military, banking and general data transmission applications. [11] 2.5 DISADVANTAGES OF RADIO OVER FIBER RoF systems can be called as analog communication system. Therefore signal impairments such as noise and distortion are worth considering in RoF. These impairments tend to limit Noise Figure (NF) and Dynamic Range (DR) of the RoF links. Chromatic dispersion may limit fiber link length when considering SMFs RoF. Modal dispersion can limit the available link bandwidth and distance when considering MMFs RoF system. Relative Intensity Noise(RIN), lasers phase noise, photodiodes shot noise, amplifiers thermal noise and fibres dispersion are few examples of noise sources in analog optical fibre links.[10] 2.6 APPLICATIONS OF RADIO OVER FIBER Listed below are the few applications regarding RoF: 2.6.1 Mobile Communication Network A mobile network is a useful application of RoF technology. In the past decade the numbers of mobile subscribers coupled with the increasing demand of broadband service have been keeping massive pressure on the mobile service provider to provide vast capacity to the end user. [11] 2.6.2 Video Distribution Systems (VDS) VDS is one of the major applications of RoF systems. In this case the Multipoint Video Distribution Service (MVDS) is used for mobile terrestrial transmission. In MVDS the transmitter serves the coverage area based on tall building. Gunn oscillators and heat pipes are used for frequency stabilization while a fiber link can be used for feeding a TWT or solid state amplifiers. This system provides reduction in weight and wind loading of transmitter. [11] 2.6.3 Cellular Broadband Services Due to the very high bit rates of nearly 155 Mbps, carrier frequency is pushed into mm-waves. For this purpose frequency band in 66 GHz frequency band have been allocated. The 62-66 GHz band is used for downlink while 65-66 GHz frequency band can be used for uplink transmission. [11] 2.6.4 Vehicle Control And Communication For vehicle communication and system the frequency band between 63 64 GHz and 76-77 GHz frequency band has been allocated. They are used to provide continuous mobile communication coverage in major areas for the purpose of intelligent transport systems which includes road to vehicle communication (RVC) and inter vehicle communication (IVC). These can be made simple and cost effective by feeding them through RoF system. [11] CHAPTER 3: ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEXING 3.1 THE PRINCIPLES OF OFDM Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is a multi carrier technique which divides the bandwidth into several carriers. Each carrier is modulated by a low rate data stream. OFDM has the ability to use the spectrum efficiently by spacing the channels close to each other. Closeness of the channels can result in the interference therefore to prevent interference all carriers are orthogonal to each other which means all carriers are independent to each other. [14] In FDMA a single channel is allocated to each user to transmit information. The bandwidth of each channel is about 10 kHz-30 kHz for voice communications. In order to prevent channels from interfering with one another, the allocated bandwidth is made wider than the minimum amount required. This extra bandwidth or spacing between channels is wasting about 50% of the total spectrum. As the channel bandwidth becomes narrower the problem becomes worst. [14] In TDMA multiple users access the same channel or utilized the full bandwidth in different time slots. Many low data rates users can be combined to transmit in a single channel thus bandwidth or spectrum can be used efficiently. There are two problems associated with TDMA. Firstly the symbol rate of each channel is high resulting in multipath delay spread. Secondly at the start time of each user to use bandwidth for data transmission, a change over time has to be allocated in order to prevent from propagation delay variations and synchronization errors. This change over time is a loss, limiting the number of users that can be accommodated efficiently in each channel. [14] OFDM is solution to both the problems occurring in FDMA and TDMA. Actually OFDM splits the available bandwidth into many narrow sub channels. As the carriers are orthogonal to each other which means they are purely independent of each other therefore they can be spaced very close to each other. Any time full utilization of bandwidth is possible in OFDM, therefore there is no need for users to be time multiplex and no more switching of the users for bandwidth. Users can send and receive data at any time unlike TDMA. [14] 3.2 OFDM HISTORY The concept of OFDM was first developed in 1950s. A US copyright was issued in January 1970. The evolution of OFDM took place in order to use the available bandwidth or spectrum more efficiently. [15][16] OFDM was first implemented in military communications just like CDMA. KINIPLEX [17] and ANDEFT [18] are two examples of OFDM application in high frequency military system. AN/GSC-10(KATHRYN) variable rate data modem was the early application of OFDM which was built for high frequency radio. In 1980s, OFDM had been studied for high speed modems, digital mobile communications and high density recording. OFDM techniques for multiplexed QAM using DFT was discover by Hirosaki [19]. He has also designed 19.2 kbps voice band data modem which uses QAM modulation. In 1990s, OFDM has been exploited for data communication over mobile radio FM channels, high bit rate digital subscribers lines(HDSL), very high speed digital subscriber lines(VHDSL), digital audio broadcasting(DAB), digital television, HDTV terrestrial broadcasting and asymmetric digital subscriber lines(ADSL).[14] OFDM has been considered more towards mobile communication due to its robustness to multipath propagation. Recently OFDM has been put into practice in audio broadcasting applications such as DAB and DVB. And it has been successfully implemented in wireless LAN applications as well. [14] 3.3 FOURIER TRANSFORM The application of OFDM was not very practical in 1960s. Quite a few numbers of oscillators were needed to generate the carrier frequencies for sub channel transmission. At that time it was a bit difficult to make it practical, that is why OFDM scheme was said to be impracticable. Complexity of the OFDM scheme was eliminated with the evolution of Fourier Transform where harmonically related frequencies are generated by Fourier and Inverse Fourier Transforms used to implement OFDM systems. Fourier Transform can be used in linear systems analysis, antenna studies, optics, random process modelling, probability theory, quantum physics and boundary-value problems. 3.4 OFDM REAL PARAMETERS In the last 10 years, the usage of OFDM has increased to enormous extent. It has been proposed for radio broadcasting such as EUREKA 147 standard and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM). Some of the useful parameters are listed below: [20]  · Data rate: 6Mbps to 48 Mbps  · Modulation: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM and 64 QAM  · Coding: Convolutional concatenated with Reed Solomon  · FFT size: 64 with 52 sub-carriers uses, 48 for data and 4 for pilots  · Sub carrier Frequency Spacing: 200 MHz divided by 64 carrier or 0.3125 MHz  · FFT Period / Spacing Period: 3.2usec  · Guard Duration: One quarter of symbol time, 0.8usec  · Symbol time: 4usec 3.5 ADVANTAGES OF OFDM  · Overlapping is used for efficient use of spectrum.  · OFDM systems are more often reluctant to freq selective fading by dividing the channel into narrowband sub channels.  · Cyclic prefix is used to discard ISI and IFI.  · The symbols lost due to selective fading can easily be recovered by using channel coding and interleaving.  · The use of single carrier systems makes channel equalization simpler by using adaptive equalization techniques.  · With reasonable complexity max likelihood decoding is possible.  · FFT techniques allow OFDM to be computationally efficient to the functions of modulation and demodulation.  · It can also be used for DAB systems and partial algorithms can be used for program selection.  · A channel estimator can easily be discarded with the use of differential modulation.  · As compared to single carrier systems OFDM is less sensitive to sample timing offset.  · OFDM gives extra protection concerning parasitic noise and co channel interference.  · In severe multipath orthogonality is preserved.  · OFDM is used in high speed applications and dynamic packet access is also supported.  · Transmitting and receiving diversity are supported. On the other hand OFDM also supports adaptive antenna arrays, space time coding and power allocation. 3.6 DISADVANTAGES OF OFDM  · The OFDM signal has a noise like amplitude with a very large dynamic range, therefore it requires RF power amplifiers with a high peak to average power ratio.  · It is more sensitive to carrier frequency offset and drift than single carrier systems. 3.7 PROBLEMS WITH OFDM 3.7.1 Peak To Average Ratio PAR is an important OFDM parameter which is defined as the ratio of peak instantaneous value to average time. It can also determine parameters such as current, voltage, phase and power of the signal. Since OFDM is a summation of several carrier signals therefore results in high PAR. The RF power needs to be increased to overcome the problem of efficiency in PAR. In order to increase the radio frequency power an amplifier is needed which can increase the cost of the system as it is expensive equipment. In order to solve the problems created by PAR, different encoding schemes should be used before the modulation. Also the improvement in the amplification stage of transmitter is needed such as post processing the time domain signal to reduce the peak to mean signal ratio. [21][22] 3.7.2 Synchronization The performance of OFDM link can be optimized by using two kinds of synchronizations between transmitter and the receiver.  · Timing Synchronization: The timing offset of the symbol is not need to be determined and then the optimal timing instants.  · Frequency Synchronization: The carrier frequency of the received signal must be aligned at the receiving end. Timing sync can easily be achieved because the degree of sync error in OFDM structure is more severe. The sync techniques can be achieved by using known pilot tones that are embedded in OFDM signal or by using guard interval. [21][22] 3.7.3 Co-Channel Interference In mobile communications co channel interference can be overcome by combining techniques related to adaptive antenna systems. Receiver antenna beam can be focused by beam steering while co channel interferers are attenuated. This is useful as OFDM is sensitive to co- channel interference. [21][22] 3.8 APPLICATIONS OF OFDM  · High frequency modems used for military  · Voice band modems  · ADSL  · HDSL  · DAB  · Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB-T)  · Power line communication systems  · WLAN  · Cable modems  · Wavelength Division Multiplexing CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY 4.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter includes the in depth study of the models built on MATLAB/SIMULINK. MATLAB version 7.8.0 (R2009a) is used for the modelling. Basically two models are designed whic

The Cuban Missile Crisis: Eyeball to Eyeball :: American America History

The Cuban Missile Crisis: Eyeball to Eyeball Eyeball to Eyeball: America, Cuba and The Soviet Union America and The Soviets again using other countries for their own warfare Excitement was high for Cuba, when Fidel Castro overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in January 1959. With a heady mixture of nationalism and left - wing ideologies US became very cautious for its southern comrades Central and Southern America and perhaps herself. When Castro took over Cuba, the US lost valuable investments in the sugar and tobacco crops of Cuba. Fearing the spread of communism into Americas' backyard the US Government imposed a strict economic blockade hoping to starve Castro into US policies. In desperation Castro turned to the soviets for balance of powers to weigh up the balance of communism ideologies. In February 1960, Castro signed a trade pact with the Soviets, which eventually led to close diplomatic relations. At this time the US Government became more worried that a communist superpower had ventured so close to her borders. By authority of Eisenhower, Cuban Exiles that were in the US at the time were given aid. At the same time the CIA began to train selected groups of the exiles to re - enter their homeland and over - throw Castro's Government. When Kennedy was sworn into parliament in 1961 he took over the proceedings with hesitation for his states security. He advised a plan to invade Cuba once again after Eisenhower's two other invasions failed. This invasion was known well as the Bay of Pigs. In April Kennedy received reports that the invasion failed which boosted Castro's prestige and embarrassed Kennedy of his new presidency. When the Bay of Bigs disastrously ended it built up confidence for the soviets and Castro and lowered Kennedy into a worriment of what's to happen next. Early 1962 Khrushchev was convinced of Kennedy's weakness after the capture of Gary Powers and that they had ceased to carry out U-2 reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union for the capture. A while after the Vienna Summit the Soviets formed yet another policy with Cuba of 'Brinkmanship' seeing how far the Americans could be pushed before reacting. Although this strategy was a dangerous one the Soviets were thinking of the opportunities that could arise from this. One was the advantage of an east - West balance that the Soviets could start to infiltrate the Americas with their ideologies.

Preventing Disease and Promoting Health Essay -- Health and Wellness

Early detection of certain diseases, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD), and which incorporates approaches that implement lifestyle changes, medication, and counseling, has the potential to alter the course of the devastation the disease can cause (Murimi & Harpel, 2010). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular examination of obesity and health-related issues, such as cardiovascular screenings for everyone (Murimi & Harpel, 2010). Documented research demonstrates that a healthy lifestyle that includes a proper diet, exercise, no smoking, and limited alcohol decreases the risk of CVD (Gordon, Lavoie, Arsenault, Ditto, & Bacon, 2008). Kehler, Christensen, Risor, Lauritzen, and Christensen (2009) reported that patients who had a discussion with their doctor about cardiovascular disease including information about the disease, knowledge about the disease, and perception of risk and prevention strategies indicated that they were able to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes into their diet. Many respondents reported feeling relief and empowerment following the conversation with their doctor (Kehler et al., 2009). Lifestyle changes suggested for a client could include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, engaging in a heart healthy diet, exercising, losing weight, taking medication as prescribed, and finding ways to relieve stress. Lack of compliance related to the identified lifestyle changes is an issue. Sargeant, Valli, Ferrier and MacLeod (2008) suggest that it is very difficult for individuals to change comfortable and enjoyable behaviors in which they have been engaged their entire lives. There are many reasons clients do not comply, and finding ways to facilitate compliance is a key role o... ...08). Health behaviors and endothelial function. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31(1), 5-21. doi:10.1007/s10865-007-9129-0 Kehler, D., Christensen, M. B., Risor, M. B., Lauritzen, T., & Christensen, B. (2009). Self-reported cognitive and emotional effects and lifestyle changes shortly after preventive cardiovascular consultations in general practice. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, 27(2), 104-110. doi:10.1080/02813430902793563 Murimi, M. W., & Harpel, T. (2010). Practicing preventive health: The underlying culture among low-income rural populations. The Journal of Rural Health, 26(3), 273-282. doi:10.1111/j.1748-0361.2010.00289.x Sargeant, J., Valli, M., Ferrier, S., & MacLeod, H. (2008). Lifestyle counseling in primary care: Opportunities and challenges for changing practice. Medical Teacher, 30(2), 185-191. doi:10.1080/01421590701802281

Accounting Analysis of the 2011 Annual Report for Bank of Queensland Limited Essay

1. Executive Summary The aim of this report is to provide an accounting analysis of the 2011 annual report for Bank of Queensland Limited (BOQ), and a critique of the reporting of their performance. The report discusses the choice of accounting policies and the flexibility of these policies. The main objective of this report is to evaluate and recognise the possibility of using creative accounting within the company, recognise and questionable accounting numbers within items listed previously. A number of items have been selected from Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement. 2. Overview Bank of Queensland Limited (BOQ), has history of 137 years with network of over 280 branches operating in Queensland. It offers core banking (commercial/retail), equipment finance, wealth management and insuranceservices. BOQ is listed on the ASX and uses its unique concept of the Owner-Managed Branch (OMB),a partnership between the Bank of Queensland (franchisor) and experienced bank managers (franchisees) to provide banking services. See more:  Capital budgeting essay 3. Description of key accounting policies and standards 3.1 Loans and advances at amortised cost (Asset) As shown on BOQ’s Balance sheet in FY11, loans and advances at amortised cost are big-ticket itemsin its assets accounting for approximately 98 per cent. According to the significant accounting policies explored by BOQ annual report 2011, loans and advances are originated by the bank and are recognised upon cash being advanced to the borrower. Based on AASB13, loans and advances are initially recognised at fair value plus incremental direct transaction cost using the effective interest method. 3.2 Deposits and borrowing (Liability) Deposits, as the one of the most important cash inflows of the bank, follow ruleAASB13 as well. They are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs and thenby using the effective interest method, they are measured at amortised cost. It is classified in two concentrations: retail deposits and wholesale deposits. 3.3 Employee benefits (Expense) This item follows AASB119Employee Benefits which has been amended in its accounting rules affecting the measurement of its obligations and the timing of recognition of termination benefits. Employee benefits can be classified to four categories: wages, salaries and annual leave; long service leave; superannuation plan and share based payments. 4. Flexibility of Management in Selecting the Key Accounting Policies It is undeniable that having flexiblemanagement can exert positive effects on the presentation of company’s annual financial report. Specifically, from the Bank of Queensland ´s perspective, if mangers have considerable adaptability in selecting the key accounting policies, the financial performance of Bank of Queensland Ltd can be improved; therefore more investors and customers would give priority to cooperating with them in the future. 4.1 Loan and Advances at Amortized Cost 4.1.1 Flexibility Analysis The measurement of loans and advances at amortized cost is extremelyfavourable to commercial banks. From BOQ’s consolidated financial annual report, the loan and advances at amortized cost accounted for around 83.3% of total assets in 2011, it had increased from 31,736,5 million to 33,276,1 million during 2010 to 2011. This change in $1539, 6 million was caused by impairment charges made by managers of the bank. The increase of loans and advances at amortized cost could enhance the customers trust in the bank. Sincefinancial funds, credit business and debts are the core business transaction of the banking industry, this itemappears to increase receivable accounts. Also, as banks could charge a reasonable rate of interest on such future loans/advances, they are able utilizethis income to pay current liabilities, wage and salaries of employees, and also the tax liability of business. Consequently, the BOQ’s managers have selected a flexible accounting policy in this item. 4.1.2 Accounting policies analysis Being dominant in the assets, loans and advances at amortized cost carries the burden of generating cash. The way that Bank of Queensland recognizes loans and advances at amortized cost can be separated to two phases. Initially, loans are recognized at fair value plus incremental direct transaction costs. Secondly, BOQ uses effective interest method to measure the amortized cost at each reporting date. The advantage of this accounting policy is that including direct transaction cost in the loan price can offset the actual transaction cost occurred and maximize the profit for the bank. Additionally, the effective interest method is considered as one of the prior methods for amortizing a bond discount. Theoretically, investors require a discount on bonds because the market interest rate at the time of issue is higher than the coupon payments on the bond. Therefore, by amortizing the discount at the market interest rate, accounting statement of Bank of Queensland will exactly reveal the economic reality of the bond issue and its true cost of debt. 4.2Deposits and Borrowing 4.2.1 Flexibility Analysis Due to the characteristics of banking industry, there is a high flexibility for management in these two liabilities. It is noticeable that deposits and borrowing accounted for about 97% of total liabilities on the balance sheet. Occupying 69% of total deposits, managers pay more attention to Retail Banking Services because of itsattractiveness to customers compared to other types of deposits. 4.2.2 Accounting Policies Analysis This policy states that securitization set-up costs relating to on-balance sheet assets are included with securitization borrowings, and amortization is recorded as interest expense. Initially, excluding off-balance sheet costs makes the liability much smaller and enlarges their net assets. Likewise, interest on debt is a tax-deductible expense and creates a tax shield benefiting Bank of Queensland. The major function for this policy is to save cash flows for BOQ. 4.3 Employee Benefits 4.3.1 Flexibility Analysis Employee expenses mainly consist of share based payments and employee benefits. All of these kinds of financial activities are beneficialto BOQ.The result from increasing incentives to employees applies as it encourages them to performenthusiasticallywhicheventuallyleads to higher profits for the firm. 4.3.2 Accounting policy analysis Among Employee Benefits, shared based payments are distinguished. The accounting policy demonstrates that Bank of Queensland allows employees to acquire its shares, options and rights sold recognized in the Employee Benefits Reserve. This expense could be reversed if the loss is not due to a market condition. This is highly beneficial as it encourages employees to purchase shares of their own company but, on the other hand, as more shares are sold, the higher price rises in the stock exchange. 5. Quality of Disclosure Made in BOQ Accounts The quality of disclosure in the BOQ ´s policies, strategy, performance and financial statements and reports is satisfactory as it provides accessible, transparent and fairly justified information. As the BOQ is a listed company, it has to comply with all ASX disclosure policies and reporting but in addition it also complies with the ASX Corporate Governance Recommendations as well as the Australian Prudential Standards (APS) (Profit Announcement 2011). In the profit announcement report for 2011, BOQ discloses a number of disclosure principles which include management, board structure, ethical and responsible decision making, financial reporting, timely and balanced disclosure, respect rights of shareholders, recognize and manage risk, remuneration. 5.1 Business Strategy and Economic Consequences The business strategy and economic consequences are disclosed in the notes to the annual report in terms of the risk management of the company. As it explains in these notes the bank approach is to manage its risk in terms of credit risk, market risk, liquidity, operational risk, compliance policies and capital management. As it states in the annual report there is a high level of assessment and monitoring of these risks in order to follow the company ´s strategy. 5.2 Notes to the Financial Statements – Explanation of Policies The notes to the financial statements and reports do provide an explanation to the bank ´s management policies. According to the 2011 Annual Report these policies provide effectiveness and efficiency in terms of managing the risks described above as well as creating controls to support growth and competitive advantage. An example of these policies in 2011 was a strong expense management which lead them to reduce their cost-to-income ratio from 45.8% to 44.5%. Moreover, these policies provide regulatory compliance as well as performance management. 5.3 Explanation of Current Performance BOQ through its yearly Profit Announcement Report clearly explains its current performance in terms of its principal activities. It states its current level of profitability and the main reasons for any losses. As well as these profit or losses explanations the report shows explanations for changes in expenses, asset growth, retail deposit growth, branch network expansion and capital management. 5.4 Accounting / Financial Rules In terms of financial conventions that restrict the firm as a banking institution, the main one is the Basel II Accord in which the bank is obligated to maintain capital adequacy requirements. In the 2011 Annual report is mentioned that Tier 1 capital made up of equity capital and disclosed reserves was higher than required by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Moreover, AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures is additionally disclosed in order to understand the impact on the firm. Moreover it discloses all its consolidated statements for all subsidiaries of the group following all consolidation standards. 5.5 Segment Disclosure The quality of the segment disclosure for BOQ is sufficient as it discloses its two operating segments, and since the bank operates only in Queensland, it does not need geographical segmentation. It discloses the high level metrics for both of the banking and insurance segments as well as consolidated totals (Annual Report 2011 pg. 89). Also, following consolidation requirements it eliminates inter-company transactions (Annual Report 2011 pg. 89). 6. Questionable Accounting Numbers The most important and questionable numbers can be seen in the yearly Profit Announcement where BOQ announced a net loss after tax of 90.6 million AUD. The explanation for this loss was attributed to significant impairment charges. As the income analysis shows that the company made a reasonable operating income loss, but the large part of the loss was due to a revision of their commercial loans and provisioning approach. They decided to increase these specific commercial loan provisions more than close to 90 million due to the continuous decline in commercial property in Queensland. Along with loan impairments, the bank also impaired a substantial amount of assets, also because of the decline if commercial property. Furthermore in the Directors Report in 2011 there were some potential red flags regarding remuneration. As the bank went through a restructure last year there were a number of high level managerial positions that changed in this period. During this transition there were a number of payments classified as  ´others` that did not have a clear explanation. An example of this includes a payment of half a million dollars to the previous CEO to  ´ensure a smooth transition` between him and the newly appointed CEO. While taking into account the Director ´s report is audited by KPMG, this payment seemed excessive. 7. Undone Distortions Based on previous parts, the conclusion has arrived that BOQ suffered net loss of $90.6 million because of the tremendous growth in impairment loss. The footnote disclosures in the Profit Announcement provide the composition of the impairment loss. According to note 11, loan impairment expenses totalled $327.7 million. $165.7 million of this amount is specific provision impairment and the rest $162 million relates to collective provision. Moreover, impairment loss for assets also amounts to $578.7 million. Note 4suggests that BOQ ´s management increase its impairment loss based on their estimates of dropping commercial property market. However, this estimate comes from historical experience and professional judgment. In contrast, the estimate might be different from actual results. Therefore, distortions may arise resulting from overstated impairment loss. In order to undo the distortion, the impairment loss should have been adjusted to a lower level with fewer provisions. 8. Financial Press Discussions Even before the Profit Announcement of BOQ came out, many financial reporters foresaw the net loss of BOQ resulting from increasing impairment loss. The downturns in tourism and recent natural disasters impacted Queensland’s economy negatively, and the conditions in Queensland were expected to remain challenging in the future because of strong Australian dollar. As a result, for BOQ— a company that is highly exposed to Queensland housing market, the current poor performance of might not change in short term.Following by the poor performance, BOQ isnow struggling to keep regulators happy and keep its capital at acceptable level. On 26 March 2012, BOQ announced aequity rising of $450 million. However, by doing this, the existing shareholders of BOQ will be heavily diluted and it will cause its share price to drop significantly.