Thursday, October 31, 2019

Preforming a Narrative criticism on Jimmy Valvano's speech Essay

Preforming a Narrative criticism on Jimmy Valvano's speech - Essay Example As Jimmy addresses his audience, he gives various accounts of his life as a youth; he narrates what he learnt when he began coaching at 21 years old, how he managed to motivate his youthful team. Additionally, he provides a story of how Coach Lombardi used to motivate his team. This is an imperative aspect of not only a speech, but any other forms of literary works. The use of flashback is imperative in any aspect of literary work owing to the fact that it does not simply enhanced the quality of the work to make it entertaining, but also portray an essence of a deeper meaning (Powell, 7). The use of imagery is not directly applied by Jimmy Valvano in his speech, but rather exhibited in the manner he attempts to subject his audience into certain aspects of imagination. The first incident of imagery in the speech occurs when he narrates to the audience how Coach Lombardi used to keep his players waiting, only to show up in the last few minutes in their locker rooms, banging the door as he moves back and forth. Additionally, the use of imagery is evident, as Jimmy attempts to subject his audience into imagination by describing how he hurt his hand, while trying to imitate Coach Lombardi. The use of imagery as a figure of speech has been associated with certain positive attributes; to begin with, imagery in any form of literary works enhanced the manner by, which these literary works appeals to human senses, thus enhancing their understanding on the literary work presented (Powell, 8). Additionally, the application of imagery as a figure of speech is crucial for placing emphasis on what is being narrated; thus creating some sense of validity of the information as well as an enhanced understanding among the audience (Powell, 9). Hyperbole is a rhetoric use of language; it simply means the use of language to exhibit exaggerations. At the beginning of the speech, Jimmy applies an essence of hyperbole by saying, â€Å"I can’t

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Telecom Call Center Research Technology Essay Example for Free

Telecom Call Center Research Technology Essay According to Malhotra (2004: 5-6) interview is defined as an unstructured, direct personal interview to uncover the underlying motivation, beliefs, attitudes and feelings on a topic. Thus if interviews are used in this case the gains will be; quick response from respondents, permits interviewer to delve deep into the topic, there is allowance to discuss confidential, sensitive even embarrassing issues concerning the topic, and good understanding of complicated behavior (consumer behavior). Interviews have also there following limitations; there costly, analysis of real time data is difficult to interpret, respondents bias like personal opinion concerning matter at hand, its generally time consuming. Survey; entail a structured questionnaire given to sample population and designed to elicit specific information from respondents. Three methods exist in survey; i. Telephone interview- involves calling a sample of respondents and asking them a series of questions. ii. Personal interviewing- can be through face to face, mall intercepted, computer assisted interview. iii. Mail interview – questionnaire is mailed to pre selected potential respondents. Through survey: data collection is simpler through administration of questionnaires, data reliability as responses are limited to the alternatives stated, analysis, coding and interpretation is relatively simpler. Its shortcomings include; respondents unwilling to provide desired information, none response to sensitive or personal questions, failure to capture certain types of data as beliefs and attitude due to fixed response alternatives. According to Zbikowski,(2007): there are five KPI`s that determine the performance of a call center and they are; cost per call, customer satisfaction, first contact resolution rate, agent utilization and aggregate call center performance. Thus in a call center, the most effective cost metric is cost per contact, and the best indicator of quality is customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is affected by a whole range of other performance variables, including Average Speed of Answer (ASA), Call Quality, and Handle Time, but the single biggest driver of customer satisfaction, by far, is, first contact resolution rate. The KPI`s are effective as they handle customer needs from the time they make first contact to the call center to during the conversation and all the process that lead up to them ending the call. Research design – is a plan according to which research participants are chosen, information collected and data analysis and interpretation done. (Kotler et . al, 2006: 100-105). This case the appropriate design to be used is descriptive study and both qualitative and quantitative approach. According to Malhotra et al (1996: 10-12), a descriptive study has its objective as a description of something in regards to who, what, where and how of a phenomenon which is the concern of the current study. The researcher should use survey method (questionnaires) to collect information from the respondents which will be recorded and findings reported. (Kotler et . al, 1999:20-25) explains that interviews are a technique that is primarily used to gain an understanding of the underlying reasons and motivations for people’s attitudes, preferences or behaviors. He further explains that they are good in that; are completed and immediate, use recording equipment, good response rate, possible in-depth questions, can investigate motives and feelings among others. These qualities of interviews facilitate the accurate collection of needed data as interviewee is on the spotlight thus tendency to relay accurate information. The main limitation of descriptive study is that you cannot identify the cause behind a phenomenon; you can just describe and report the observation. Informal Questions The following sets of questions are to be responded to by a manager of a call center. 1) Are call centers profitable to organizations? This is to establish if call centers are really needed. 2) What are the challenges of running call centers? To get the feel of the every day hustles at the call centers. 3) Are there any frequently asked questions from the customers? To identify if they keep a database of constantly asked questions (record keeping). 4) Is industry competitive? Establish if center is analyses there markets for factors that can affect there profitability 5) What is the level of innovation in the industry? To find out if the centers are constantly looking for better technologies to serve their customers. 6) What is level of regulation from concerned ministries? To establish if there set minimum threshold by the government they are required to abide by. Data Collection Mugenda (1999: 46-58) there exits two broad types of data collection methods; primary and secondary data. Where possible, data should be collected from several sources to crosscheck for errors. Primary data is data originated by the researcher for the purpose of research problem, this could be through; observation, focus groups, depth interview and survey methods. Secondary data is the type collected for other purposes other than the problem at hand. Secondary Data- can be further divided into external and internal data. Internal data is data available within the organization for which research is being conducted. In this case any information gathered from visit of one or numerous call centers is classified internal data. External data is data that originates from sources outside the organization, like from journals, books, newspapers, reports, magazines periodicals. For our case external sources form the backbone of all the data which translates into information regarding this research problem. Data Sampling Malhotra (2004: 20-33) data sampling is a definite plan for obtaining facts from a given population, its normally done so as to reduce number of subjects to be studied. Sampling method can either be probability based or non probability based. Probability based is a random sampling technique where every item of the population has an equal chance of inclusion in sample. Under probability based the researcher can use cluster sampling because it’s used when impossible to obtain a sampling frame because population is either too big or scattered over a large geographical area like collection of data from numerous call centers. Non probability is a method where the chance of selecting a population element is unknown. Under non probability researcher can use purposive sampling because it allows researcher to use cases that have required information with respect to the research problem, or snowball sampling where identified subjects with the desired characteristics help name others that they know have the required characteristics until researcher gets the number of cases he/she wants. Surveys Interviews Orodho (2000:15-18) explains that the choice of method is influenced by the data collection strategy, the type of variable, the accuracy required, the collection point and the skill of the enumerator. Call centers data is constantly changing and thus data collection should be conducted at sufficient intervals. Malhotra (2004: 6-7) For interviews the use of depth interviews will be appropriate which is an unstructured direct, personal interview in which a single respondent is probed by an interviewer to uncover underlying motivation, beliefs, attitudes and feelings on a topic. The use of structured questionnaires assist to collect some other data that interviews could not collect, thus avoidance of redundancy and errors. Research is basically collection of as much relevant raw data as possible and analysis of it to information. Mostly the upside is the personal gain in knowledge; discover findings/statistics, personal/societal recognition and some financial gain. The downside can be possession of information that can be a security risk, financial constrains and time management issues. Research therefore only lays down the facts; the interpretation should on individual basis, â€Å"like the recent study that shows persons are highly likely to contact diseases when taking a shower due to accumulation of micro organisms together with rust at the head of the shower†. (Harriet Copper: February, 2006) References: Donald, K. , and Delno, L. , (2006), Proposal and Thesis writing, Paulines Publications Africa, Nairobi, pp 156-158. Einwiller, S. and Will, M. (2002), â€Å"Towards an integrated approach to corporate branding – an empirical study†, Corporate Communications, Vol. 7 No. 2, p. 100. Kotler, P. , Armstrong, G. , (2002, Principles of marketing, 11th ed. , Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle river. Kotler, P. , Armstrong, G. , Saunders, J. and Wong, V. (1999), Principles of Marketing, 2nd ed. , Prentice Hall, Harlow. Leonard, B. , Parasuraman, A. , and Zeithmal, V. (1993), â€Å"Ten lessons of improving service quality,† MSI report, Cambridge marketing science institute. Malhotra, (1996), Research Methodology, Phoenix Publications, Africa Nairobi. Margulies, W. (1977). Make the most of your Corporate Identity. Harvard Business Review, pp 66-77. Mugenda, O. , and Mugenda, A. , (1999), Research methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, Acts press, Nairobi. Orodho, John Aluko (2000), Elements of Research Methods, Masola Publishers, Nairobi Kenya. www. cwu. edu/~jefferis www. callcentermagazine. com www. call-center-metrics. com www. metricnet. com www. alive. com

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Protein Requirements and Nutrition

Protein Requirements and Nutrition AYUSH SAXENA Proteins in nutrition For every physical activity, the body requires energy and the amount depends on the duration and type of activity. Energy is measured in Calories and is obtained from the body stores or the food we eat. Glycogen is the main source of fuel used by the muscles to enable you to undertake both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. If you train with low glycogen stores, you will feel constantly tired, training performance will be lower and you will be more prone to injury and illness. Nutrient Balance Carefully planned nutrition must provide an energy balance and a nutrient balance. The nutrients are: Proteins essential to growth and repair of muscle and other body tissues Fats one source of energy and important in relation to fat soluble vitamins Carbohydrates our main source of energy Minerals those inorganic elements occurring in the body and which are critical to its normal functions Vitamins water and fat soluble  vitamins  play important roles in many chemical processes in the body Water essential to normal body function as a vehicle for carrying other nutrients and because 60% of the human body is water Roughage the fibrous indigestible portion of our diet essential to health of the  digestive system One gram of protein or carbohydrate contains 4 calories, while one gram of fat has 9 calories. Protein Quality: Nutritive Value The quality of protein depends on the level at which it provides the nutritional amounts of essential amino acids needed for overall body health, maintenance, and growth. Animal proteins, such as eggs, cheese, milk, meat, and fish, are consideredhigh-quality,orcomplete, proteinsbecause they provide sufficient amounts of the essential amino acids. Plant proteins, such as grain, corn, nuts, vegetables and fruits, arelower-quality,orincomplete, proteinsbecause many plant proteins lack one or more of the essential amino acids, or because they lack a proper balance of amino acids. Incomplete proteins can, however, be combined to provide all the essential amino acids, though combinations of incomplete proteins must be consumed at the same time, or within a short period of time (within four hours), to obtain the maximum nutritive value from the amino acids. Such combination diets generally yield a high-quality protein meal, providing sufficient amounts and proper balance of the essential am ino acids needed by the body to function. The function of proteins In virtually every biological process proteins are playing a role. Some of the main functions of proteins in the human body are to: Build, strengthen and repair/replace things, such as tissue. Examples include keratin (strengthens protective coverings, such as hair), collagen and elastin (both provide support for connective tissue). Make antibodies for our immune system Make hormones, which help cells send messages and coordinate bodily activities Muscle contractions actin and myosin, two types of proteins, are involved in muscle contraction and movement. Make enzymes. An enzyme facilitates a biochemical reaction. Carry things hemoglobin, a protein, transports oxygen through the blood. Mediate cell response rhodopsin is a protein in the eye which is used for vision Store things ferritin is a protein which stores iron in the liver Recent developments on protein function. High protein diets may help promote weight loss.  The International Food Council Foundation found that a high percentage of women who eat more protein do not only avoid weight gain, but also report weight loss. A high protein diet may be good for bone health.  An investigation published in theJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, revealed that a calorie controlled diet lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein along with daily exercise has a significantly positive impact on bone health in overweight individuals as well as obese young women. Energy provision. Protein is not a significant source of energy for the body when there are sufficient amounts of  carbohydrates  and fats available, nor is protein a storable energy, as in the case of fats and carbohydrates. However, if insufficient amounts of carbohydrates and fats are ingested, protein is used for energy needs of the body. The use of protein for energy is not necessarily economical for the body, because tissue maintenance, growth, and repair are compromised to meet energy needs. If taken in excess, protein can be converted into body fat. Protein yields as much usable energy as carbohydrates, which is 4 kcal/gm (kilocalories per gram). Although not the main source of usable energy, protein provides the essential amino acids that are needed for adenine, the nitrogenous base of ATP, as well as other nitrogenous substances, such as creatine phosphate (nitrogen is an essential element for important compounds in the body). Dietary requirements of protein Nobody seems to agree on how much protein we can eat; experts from industry, government agencies, diet companies and nutritional organizations have a varying list of assertions. An individuals daily protein requirement depends on several factors, including: Age a growing childs needs will not be the same as an individual aged 80 years Sex males generally require more protein than (non-pregnant or non-breastfeeding) females Weight an individual who weighs 200lbs will require more protein compared to somebody who weighs 120lbs. In fact, recent studies indicate that weight matters more than age when determining dietary protein requirements. Muscular exertion an individual who earns his living delivering pianos will require more protein than a computer programmer of the same age and height Muscle mass a muscle-bound weight trainer will need more dietary protein than a marathon runner Health a person who is convalescing after an illness or medical procedure may need more dietary protein than other people Protein Requirement and Nutrition The recommended protein intake for an average adult is generally based on body size: 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight is the generally recommended daily intake. The recommended daily allowances of protein do not vary in times of strenuous activities or exercise, or with progressing age. However, there is a wide range of protein intake which people can consume according to their period of development. For example, the recommended allowance for an infant up to six months of age, who is undergoing a period of rapid tissue growth, is 2.2 grams per kilogram. For children ages seven through ten, the recommended daily allowance is around 36 total grams, depending on body weight. Pregnant women need to consume an additional 30 grams of protein above the average adult intake for the nourishment of the developing fetus. Percentage of energy that should come from protein: Infants (7 12 mo) 11 grams per day Infants (0 6 mo) 9.1 grams per day Teenage boys (14 18 y) 52 grams per day Teenage girls (14 18 y) up to 46 grams per day Adult men approximately 56 grams per day Adult women approximately 46 grams per day Pregnant or lactating (breastfeeding) women about 71 grams per day According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protein intake should be: Children ages 1 to 3 13 grams per day Children ages 4 to 8 19 grams per day Children ages 9 to 13 34 grams per day Girls ages 14 to 18 46 grams per day Boys ages 14 to 18 52 grams per day Women ages 19 to 70+ 46 grams per day Men ages 19 to 70+ 56 grams per day Protein deficiency In some developing countries protein deficiency is a major cause of illness and premature death. Protein deficiency can lead to mental retardation and reduced IQ, In most parts of the world where protein deficiency is common, total food energy consumption is also too low i.e. people are not getting enough food in general. Protein deficiency can lead to: Growth problems Wasting and shrinkage of muscle tissue Apathy Diarrhea Fatty liver Swollen belly Swollen legs Anemia Weaker immune system, leading to a higher susceptibility to infections and diseases In several countries where protein deficiency is a serious problem, the leaves and other parts of the Moringa tree can help provide dietary protein. In developed countries, especially Western Europe where the dietary requirements of poorer people are very carefully monitored and resolved, protein deficiency is quite rare. In developed nations, protein deficiency is more likely to occur among people on crash diets, or among very elderly individuals who do not eat properly. Sources of dietary protein Poultry Fish and fish eggs Insects Dairy products Seeds and nuts Soya products Eggs Grains, vegetables and legumes also have protein (less per kilo of total weight) Meat Amino acids Proteins are large molecules made up of long chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The biochemical activity of proteins is characterised by their individual structure, size and shape. These factors are determined by the sequence and characteristics of the constituent amino acids. There are about 20 different amino acids commonly found in plant and animal proteins. For adults, 8 of these, have to be provided in the diet and are therefore defined as ‘essential’ or ‘indispensable’ amino acids. These are: Leucine Isoleucine Valine Threonine Methionine Phenylalanine Tryptophan Lysine. In children, arginine, histidine, cysteine, glycine, tyrosine, glutamine and proline are also considered to be essential (indispensable) amino acids, because children are unable to make enough to meet their needs. These are referred to as ‘conditionally’ essential. There may also be certain disease states during adult life when a particular amino acid becomes conditionally essential. The other amino acids do not have to be provided by the diet. This is because the amino group of these amino acids can be transferred to another amino acid with a different amino group by a process called transamination. In this way the body is able to make some amino acids itself. These are known as ‘non-essential’ or ‘dispensable’ amino acids. How much protein should we eat? The Dietary Reference Values for protein are based on estimates of need. For adults, an average requirement of 0.6g of protein per kilogram bodyweight per day is estimated. The Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) is set at 0.75g of protein per kilogram bodyweight per day in adults. This equates to approximately 56g/day and 45g/day for men and women aged 19-50 years respectively. There is an extra requirement for growth in infants and children and for pregnant and breast feeding women. Any excess protein can be used to provide energy. 1g of protein provides 17kJ (4 kcal) but carbohydrate, and to a lesser extent fat, should be the main sources of dietary energy. At present, protein provides around 16% of energy on average in the British diet. The nature of protein in the diet Most foods contain either animal or plant cells and will therefore naturally contain protein. But the processing of foods may change the amounts and relative proportions of some amino acids; for example the Maillard reaction and the associated browning that occurs when foods are baked reduces the available lysine. The quality of the protein is also important and depends on the amino acids that are present. Proteins from animal sources have a higher biological value than proteins from plant sources. This is because the pattern of amino acids in animal cells is comparable to the pattern in human cells. Plant foods may have very different patterns of amino acids compared to animal proteins, and, in the past, this difference has lead to a concept of first-class and second-class proteins, for animal and plant foods respectively. However, diets are typically varied in the UK and rarely made up of single foods. A combination of plant proteins tends to have a complementary effect boosting th eir overall biological value. Complementary action of proteins (plant protein) In most diets, different proteins tend to complement each other in their amino acid pattern, so when two foods providing vegetable protein are eaten at a meal, such as a cereal (e.g. bread) andpulses (e.g. baked beans), the amino acids of one protein may compensate for the limitations of the other, resulting in a combination of higher biological value. This is known as the complementary action of proteins. Thus if vegetarians and vegans eat a variety of vegetable proteins in combination, there is no reason why the quality of protein cannot be as good as in a diet comprising meat, milk, fish, eggs or other foods that contain animal protein. Good sources of plant protein include nuts, seeds, pulses, mycoprotein and soya products. There are also small amounts in grains. Animal protein Protein from animal sources contains the full range of essential amino acids required from an adult’s diet. Sources include meat, fish, eggs, milk and cheese. For most of us, low fat options of these foods are preferable as some can be high in saturated fat. Good sources of protein Table 1: Protein content of some common foods found in the diet Adults and children should consume two to three servings of protein every day. If plant sources dominate, it is important to make sure that different types are consumed. One typical portion size equates to: †¢ 100g of lean boneless meat (red and poultry) †¢ 140g of fish †¢ 2 medium eggs †¢ 3 tablespoons of seeds or nuts. It is important to choose lower fat protein-rich foods, such as lean meats or reduced fat dairy productsas some high protein foods can also be high in saturated fat. This will help minimise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Summary and recommendations For basic protein synthesis, you don’t need to consume more than 1.4 to 2.0 g/kg (around 0.64-0.9 g/lb) of protein per day. Nevertheless, consuming higher levels of protein (upwards of 1g per pound of body weight) may help you feel satisfied after eating as well as maintain a healthy body composition and good immune function. You should consume some protein before and after training to ensure adequate recovery. Do not eat more than four eggs per week. Although they are a good source of protein and are low in saturated fat, eggs are very high in cholesterol.

Friday, October 25, 2019

College Admissions Essay: Remembering Mom :: College Admissions Essays

Remembering Mom    The memory of that Christmas Eve years ago still lingers in my mind. Who would have known that a simple candle made of wax and wick would change my way of thinking forever...    Christmas Eve was a special time for Momma and Poppa. Even though there never was enough money to go down to the neighborhood stores to buy presents, Momma and Poppa always made sure I had one present on Christmas morning. In years past I had received a doll made from worn out clothing, with a painted face and hair of yarn. A box made of wood carved by Poppa with my name encircled with a heart. One gift to a young child may not be much, but Momma and Poppa always made sure there was something under our tiny Christmas tree.    But this year Momma was not home for Christmas. The Angels had come for her earlier the summer before. Poppa had grown weary working jobs that paid very little and kept him away for days on end. Leaving me to tend to the house and to keep up with my schooling. Momma always knew what the perfect gift would be that would make my Christmas complete. She was the one who made the doll and suggested the box that I still hold dear today. But now Momma was gone and Poppa was away, leaving me alone on Christmas Eve.    I sat alone reading by the dim light of the last candle that I found in Mommas nightstand. Momma made such beautiful candles, dipping each wick lovingly into the hot wax over and over until the candles took form. Before gently hanging them up to dry she would take a knife and carve a word on each one. Through the years, I had seen the words hope, love, giving, along with a multitude of others. I took the candle down from stand and this one had one word cut delicately in its side...remember.    How odd a word to put on one of her lovely candles. It seemed strange not to see a word of hope, love, charity or even family. Remember. Why would Momma put such a simple word on this last candle? Taking the candle down from the shelf, memories of Momma flooded into my mind. Her soft golden hair, the smell of her favorite perfume, even the memory of her voice seemed to echo in my ear.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Loans with Interest in Early Christianity and Islam Essay

When an individual thinks of religion, the first thing that comes to a believer’s mind is the nonnegotiable worship of a supreme being(s) as a source of tranquility whenever he/she is in distress. On the other hand, to a pro-secularization individual, religion only causes pricey conflicts between different cultures and is considered an outdated practice which should not have a place in today’s society. What people in general tend to forget about religion is that it their respective figures like Prophet Muhammad and Jesus wanted to promote a way of life that would aim to achieve a standard of living that would see all members of the community equal. And a big part of any way of life is fair trade and decreasing the gap between the rich and the poor. This essay will compare and contrast the early Christian and the current Muslim prohibitions against lending money at interest in the context of today’s constant recession-threatening environment. In order to be able to relate both the Muslim and Christian stance on the topic of lending money at issue it is integral to highlight the why countries tend to fall into a recession. In 2008, the US recession related to Americans buying houses they could not afford. In North America, investing in real estate is seen as a bullet-proof way of making money; making a low down payment expecting the value of their house to increase but it didn’t which leads foreclosure and eventually huge losses for banks. Today, movements such as Occupy Toronto protest the lack of social responsibility of bankers who give out mortgages knowing the client would not be able to pay it off – it’s an economical concern of using money people simply don’t physically have. In Islam, the term for interest is Riba which literally means a gain in the Arabic language. â€Å"The Prophet said, ‘The selling of wheat for wheat is Riba (usury) except if it is handed from hand to hand and equal in amount. Similarly the selling of barley for barley is Riba except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount, and dates for dates is usury except if it is from hand to hand and equal in amount. † (Umar). From an economical perspective, what the Prophet of Islam is referring to here is the idea that only the actual value of dates should exist in any trade transaction. For example, a bank giving out a loan for 100,000 dollars with an interest of 10% means that the 10,000 interest to be paid does not actually exist in the economy and hence to the prophet this is considered riba because the bank is gaining money out of nowhere. In the Sharia, the modern day solution to this banking issue is Islamic banking which offers; â€Å".. more just and equitable distribution of resources; more responsible and profitable lending due to the necessarily closer bank-client relationship; less volatile business cycles; and more stable banking systems. † (Evans, 1987) Similarly, early Christianity has the same general view of usury, â€Å"In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. † (Exekiel 22:12). However, Islam tends to be stricter about preserving authenticity of teachings of Allah or Prophet Muhammad because the teachings were meant to be implemented in the governing of the Islamic state; shariah. Ambiguity, over time, has led to an equivocal view of usury in the Christian faith, â€Å".. to the extent that Christian doctrine rested on an Aristotelian foundation it was vulnerable to the charge of being, at heart, anti-trade and commerce. Aristotle adopted the view, later followed by the Physiocrats, that the natural way to get wealth is by skillful management of house and land. Usury was diabolical and clearly the worst way of making money. But there was also something degraded about trading and exchanging things rather than actually making them,as summed up in the medieval saying,‘Homo mercator vix aut numquam Deo placerepotest’– the merchant can scarcely or never be pleasing to God. By contrast, the Holy Qur’an endorsed trade, so long as it was not usurious. † (Lewis, 2007) On the contrary, with the when Islam and Muhammad did rise to power in the Arabian region, trade was something the Arabs were known for and was also religiously encouraged; there were virtually no disputes or new philosophies. A lack of a solid implementation of the no usury rule (which only strictly existed in Early Christianity) lead to more lenient rule as times changed and the numerous Scriptures were considered more and more ambiguous. As the ages progressed since early Christianity, it went from no exceptions to usury to exceptions made such as allowed usury as long as the interest rate for the loan was fair and reasonable. In one of Ruston’s books he mentioned; â€Å"usury passed from being an offence against public morality which a Christian government was expected to suppress to being a matter of private conscience [and] a new generation of Christian moralists redefined usury as excessive interest† (R, 1993) Hence, since Islam and Christianity are both Abrahamic religions, the view on the concept of usury is fairly similar in essence however politics has always had an influence on trade since the beginning of time. In today’s world, with Muslim nations trading with Christian and secular nations and likewise with banking, it has become increasingly difficult to impose shariah or the teachings of Jesus in our interdependent global economy. Globally, the concern of usury has transformed to become more of a concern of social responsibility and social justice. While Islamic and Christian share similarities and some slight political differences with regards to interest, it remains an important moral reminder of preserving financial stability even if it might sound a little too unrealistic and utopian in our world today.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Ringers Solution Recipe

Ringers Solution Recipe Ringers solution is a special salt solution made up to be isotonic to physiological pH. It is named for Sydney Ringer, who determined that the liquid around a frogs heart must contain a set proportion of salts if the heart is to remain to beat (1882 -1885). There are different recipes for Ringers solution, depending on its intended purpose and the organism. Ringers solution is an aqueous solution of sodium, potassium and calcium salts. Lactated Ringers solution (LR, LRS or RL) is a special Ringers solution that contains lactate and is isotonic to human blood. Here are some recipes for Ringers solution. Ringers Solution pH 7.3-7.4 7.2 g sodium chloride - NaCl0.37 g potassium chloride - KCl0.17 g calcium chloride - CaCl2 Dissolve the reagents into the reagent-grade water.Add water to bring the final volume to 1 L.Adjust the pH to 7.3-7.4.Filter the solution through a 0.22-ÃŽ ¼m filter.Autoclave Ringers solution prior to use. Emergency Veterinary Ringers Solution This solution is intended for rehydration of small mammals, to be administered orally or subcutaneously via a syringe. This particular recipe is one that can be prepared using common chemicals and household equipment. Reagent-grade chemicals and an autoclave would be preferable if you have access to those, but this gives you an idea of an alternate method of preparing a sterile solution: 9.0 g sodium chloride - NaCl (154.00 mM): non-iodized table salt0.4 g potassium chloride - KCl (5.64 mM): Morton or NOW salt substitute0.2 - 0.3 g calcium chloride - CaCl2 (2.16 mM): calcium chloride powder1.3 g dextrose (11.10 mM): granular dextrose0.2 g sodium bicarbonate - NaHCO3 (2.38 mM): baking soda  (*add last) Mix together the sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride and dextrose solutions or salts.If salts were used, dissolve them in about 800 ml of distilled or reverse osmosis water (not tap water or spring water or water to which minerals have been added).Mix in the baking soda. The baking soda is added last so that the calcium chloride will dissolve/not precipitate out of solution.Dilute the solution to make 1 L of Ringers solution.Seal the solution in small canning jars and cook it at least 20 minutes in a pressurized steam canner.The sterile solution is good for 2-3 years unopened or up to 1 week refrigerated, once opened. Reference:   Biological Bulletin Compendia,  Cold Spring Harbor Protocols

Monday, October 21, 2019

Heathrow Terminal 5 Project

Heathrow Terminal 5 Project Critical Analysis of the Heathrow Terminal 5 Project Terminal 5 (T5) was officially opened in the London’s Heathrow Airport in 2008 with an objective to increase the airport’s capacity up to 95 million passengers annually (Chan 2012). At that, the intended capacity of T5 was 30 million passengers each year (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). The key challenges of the project during the initial stage were insuring the timely delivery of investment and balanced distribution of risk among the suppliers (Kerzner 2014). During the midpoint, the timely delivery of funds through investment continued to be the major complexity due to the existing uncertainty in the global economy drawing at this point to the upcoming economic crisis (Kerzner 2014).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Heathrow Terminal 5 Project specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another remarkable challenge at this stage of the project completion was insuring that all stakeholders engaging in this megaproject would finish their work on budget and on time (Boardman Sauser 2013; Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). At the end of the project, the main challenge was to identify problematic areas in the terminal functioning and for this sake, a stress test procedures continuing for over a year were held both by the contracting employers and other stakeholders (Bridger 2013). Some researchers feel that the success of a megaproject is closely connected with the two major factors – collaboration among various groups and system integration. The review of the evidence from a row of scholarly sources suggests that the two factors are positively the most important to the success of any megaproject because without effective group work, practical holism, and convergence, such complex and multi-component projects cannot be realized (Bourne 2012; Fewings 2013; Ochieng, Price Moore 2013). The major systems that had to be integrated into T5 were electrical systems, mechanical systems, civil systems, technology contractors, and communications systems (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). These systems had to be jointly optimized since their consistent functioning is possible only under the condition of full integration and total reciprocality (Bridger 2013; Ochieng, Price Moore 2013). According to the class reading authors’ opinion, construction of ventures such as T5 requires abandoning the idea that all projects are unique. Possible rationale for making such recommendation is the need for the systemic thinking when approaching any complex task requiring the multi-step and multi-aspect strategy. It is difficult not to agree with this opinion because it is definitely more convenient to approach a complex project when one is aware of the general steps that are to be made to handle it. For instance, according to Boardman and Sauser (2013), systemic thinking enables holistic view of process and ensures th e achievement of the best practice in tackling the project scale, complexity, and uncertainty. However, based on the experience of British Airport Authority (BAA), it is good to be aware of some of the unique features of every project because this approach would help coping with the unique challenges of each construction (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). Thus, my opinion is that one should have a balanced view between tackling every project as something usual and being aware of its exclusive characteristics. Assessment of the Project Manager’s Role in the Heathrow Terminal 5 Project and Denver Airport Project The Denver Airport project is a classic example of how the most auspicious initiatives fail when poor project management operates. The lack of collaboration among various groups and system integration in the Denver Airport led to the 16 months delay in its opening and total rejection of supporting of its baggage system after 10 years of its operation due to the impo ssibility of solving its coordination issues (Appold Kasarda 2013). Addressing the Denver Airport project in comparison with the Heathrow T5 project, the key differences between how the main problems with resources, people, and processes were handled are dysfunctional decision making and disintegrated systems in the Denver Airport (Barrett 2015). These two classical examples illustrate the significance of effective project management.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If I were the project manager, I would stick to the strategy implemented by BAA for the T5, since their approach to collaboration and systems integration is exemplary. The main point of their strategy that appeared a valuable finding for me was their ability to insure that all stakeholders engaging in the megaproject would finish their work on budget and on time. They managed to achieve this result by the well-thought of financial policy based on the principle of providing considerable bonuses for those stakeholders that would manage to complete work timely and in line with the agreed disbursements plan (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). Since financial factor continues to be the major motivator for the stakeholder performance improvement, I would implement the approach of providing extra funding for the disciplined partners. Reference List Appold, S Kasarda, J 2013, ‘The airport city phenomenon: evidence from large US airports’, Urban Studies, vol. 50, no. 3, pp.1239-1259. Barrett, S 2015, ‘Ownership structures and the implications for developing airport solar projects in the USA’, Journal of Airport Management, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 248-263. Boardman, J, Sauser, B 2013, Systemic thinking: building maps for worlds of systems, John Wiley Sons, Somerset, NJ, USA. Bourne, L 2012, Stakeholder relationship management, Gower, Farnham, GB. Bridger, R 2013, Plane truth: aviation’s real impact on people and the environment, Pluto Press, London, GBR.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Heathrow Terminal 5 Project specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chan, P 2012, Heathrow’s Terminal 5: History in the Making, Construction Management Economics, 30, 6, pp. 498-500. Fewings, P 2013, Construction Project Management, 2nd edn, Routledge, New Yourk, USA. Kerzner, HR 2014, Project management best practices: achieving global excellence, 3rd edn, John Wiley Sons, Incorporated, Somerset, NJ, USA. Ochieng, E, Price, A Moore, D 2013, Management of global construction projects, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011, https://www.heathrow.com/file_source/Company/Static/PDF/Communityandenvironment/Afocusontheeconomy.pdf.