3-5 minute speech outline (any topic) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

3-5 minute speech outline (any topic) - Essay Example This increases efficiency and saves on time in business transactions (USTR, 2010). In 2007, SMEs contributed $480 billion value of goods and services sold in the foreign market (USTR, 2010). This amounted to approximately 41% of the total exports that year (USTR, 2010). SMES account for nearly 40% of the export related jobs in the US (USTR, 2010). This further shows the importance of SMEs in trade and the economy. There are trade barriers that adversely affect performance of SMES. First, there are discriminatory policies with regards to SMEs. For instance, they may lack the financial resources and expertise to compete in international markets. Second, SMEs are faced by higher taxes as they contribute largely to the manufacturing industry (USTR, 2010). Third, they encounter challenges in standards and certification through licensing and inadequate property protection. In a nutshell, SMEs play a vital role in domestic and foreign trade. The government should therefore review the policies governing them to promote their growth and development for greater benefit of intensified

Francisco Jose de Goya Essay Example for Free

Francisco Jose de Goya Essay Francisco Jose de Goya (1746-1828) Yard with Lunatics, 1794 Oil on canvas Goya started discovering art at a young age. He was born to Jose Benito de Goya y Franque, a gilder, and Gracia de Lucientes y Salvador. Francisco spent his childhood in Fuendetodos, Spain then later moved to Zaragoza. He often moved, mastering art along the way. In 1773 Goya married Josefa Bayeu. Over a period of five years he had painted about 42 designs. His popularity began to lead him into an entire world of art. During the middle of his career, Goya often painted for royalty. He had reached his peak of popularity with the noble ones. However between late 1792 and early1793, a serious illness, whose exact nature is not known, left Goya deaf, and he became withdrawn. During his recuperation, he undertook a series of experimental paintings. He turned to more manageable and more personal projects, perhaps inspired by works from abroad that he had seen while in Cadiz. His small pictures of 1793-4 introduce a new era in his art, and it was now that his style began to emerge. Many of his scenes depict bullfighting, intense, haunting themes, reflective of the artists fear of insanity, and his outlook on humanity. Although these themes can be seen in many of his paintings, I believe â€Å"Yard with Lunatics† depicts his style the best. Yard with Lunatics was painted around the time of the French declaration of war on Spain, when Goya’s deafness and fear of mental illness were developing, and he was increasingly complaining of his health. The painting came about in his stage of darkness. This painting is usually compared to â€Å"The Madhouse†, a similar painting by Goya. Goya wrote that the works served to occupy my imagination, tormented as it is by contemplation of my sufferings. The series, he said, consisted of pictures which normally find no place in commissioned works. It has been described as a somber vision of human bodies without human reason and as one of Goyas deeply disturbing visions of sadism and suffering. â€Å"Yard with Lunatics† opposes his previous designs, which depicted the way he wanted the rest of his career to be like. They were full of fantasy and naturalism. However, he had an alternate future. In a 1794 letter to his friend Bernardo de Yriarte, Goya wrote that the painting shows a yard with lunatics, and two of them fighting completely naked while their warder beats them, and others in sacks; (it is a scene I witnessed at Zaragoza). To some art historians, this picture portrays a point in Goyas career where he moves from a world in which there are no shadows to one in which there is no light. Meadows Museum editors quote the agreement: This small but surprisingly powerful work was produced at a most critical juncture of Goya’s long career. In the last months of 1792, the artist suffered a mysterious illness that left him physically debilitated and permanently deaf. While recuperating, he undertook a series of small-scale paintings in which, as he wrote, â€Å"I have succeeded in making observations which ordinarily are not allowed in commissioned works. † Although Goya’s work conveyed how he saw the world at that time, it was also symbolic. Yard with Lunatics as a whole symbolizes the chaotic lifestyle of the world. The fighting naked men are trapped in a hole where psychotics were thrown away and forgotten. The French War probably inspired the chaos in the painting. Peter K. Klein’ argument also corresponds: Towards the eighteenth century, there was a growing interest in and fascination with manifestations of insanity and its relationship with reason, hand, and contemporary medicine considered madness in a rationalistic, enlightened and increasingly scientific way, starting to isolate lunatics as potentially curable patients in special institutions and attempting empirically to classify the various mental diseases. On the other hand, there was a more ambiguous, partly romanticizing and idealizing attitude in literature, philosophy and art, which placed madness next to genius, as a source of creativity and as an opportunity for a deep, more genuine and non-alienated experience of human life. The dark, grey, and green colors symbolize the way Goya pictured his life. His entire world had taken a turn for the worse and his view of his life was altered. Goya was in a very ill state and he could not see the light or goodness in his situation. As a result of this, his paintings represented how he felt on the inside. All in all Francisco Goya’s life experiences, as you can see, contributed to many of his paintings. Although, all of Goya’s work was beautiful and unique, I believe â€Å"Yard with Lunatics† had the most awing affect. To me it was the most fascinating, how Goya portrayed real life situations into a piece of artwork. He included personal complications which others could relate to. This work stands as a captivating image portraying real world situations.

The Futility of War Essay -- Literary Analysis

Stories of wars and the resulting victories are usually told in highly elaborated narratives that seek to cover the grim realities of war as much as they aim to arouse emotion in order to ensure support for any future wars among the masses. However, war, by its very nature, is neither desirable nor its outcome praiseworthy. Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front lays bare the gritty, gruesome and ultimately self-defeating nature of wars. As Paul Baumer and his soldier comrades enlist and join the German Army in order to defeat the enemy, they themselves are slowly vanquished, first psychologically and finally physically through death. As the soldier members of Paul Baumer’s company are slowly killed in battle, he becomes more and more disillusioned with the war, especially since he and his friends had enlisted with idealistic aims fed to them by their teacher Kantorek. Instead of patriotic glory and poetic war victories, Paul and his friends found defeat and ephemeral triumphs; instead of honor, they encountered dishonor; instead of personal growth and advancement, they found stagnation and watched their youthful dreams die. Through the war experiences of Paul Baumer as depicted in the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, the ultimate tragedy of war is revealed; it destroys the lives of its very agents – the soldiers – by crashing their dreams and claiming their lives for little discernible overall gain. Going To War Ultimately, Paul Baumer and his high school mates enthusiastically enlisted and went to war first out of a sense of youthful adventure. Barely out of their teens, Paul and his high school mates are not old enough to understand the socio-economic and political factors that characterized the outbr... ... war as captured by the leaders of the war hardly depicts the futility of war, and only the through the accounts of soldiers on the front does the truth emerge, as it does in the novel – that war is counter-productive. Works Cited Hunt, Nigel. "The contribution of All Quiet on the Western Front to our understanding of psychological trauma." European Psychiatry 19, no. 8 (2004): 489-493. Remarque, Erich Maria. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A. W. Wheen. New York: Fawcett Books, 1982. Robinett, Jane. "The Narrative Shape of Traumatic Experience." Literature & Medicine 26, no. 2 (Fall2007 2007): 290-311. Tighe, Joseph A. 2004. "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Phenomenological Investigation of War." Critical Survey 16, no. 3(Fall 2004): 48-61. Ware, Thomas C. "Remarque's ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT." Explicator 63, no. 2 (Fall 2005): 99-100.

PESTEL and Porter’s Five Force Analysis of QANTAS Essay

Executive Summary The following paper provides an analysis and evaluation of the current market position of Qantas and the airline industry. By assessing the company both internally and externally by applying PESTLE and Porter’s Five Force frameworks, this report will assess Qantas’ opportunities and strengths within the aviation industry. In addition to this, the report will focus on the specific resources and capabilities that enable Qantas to obtain a competitive advantage over its competitors through the use of the VRIO framework. A final analysis will be conducted to identify issues Qantas face and recommendations of how they can rectify these issues. 1. Background Qantas began in the Queensland outback during 1920. It was first registered as the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (QANTAS) and has since grown to be Australia’s largest domestic and international airline, as well as one of the strongest brands in Australia, employing close to 35,000 personnel worldwide (Qantas, 2010). Based out of Sydney, Qantas currently operates close to 5000 weekly flights across Australia, New Zealand, Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Asia, flying close to 50 global destinations (Qantas, 2010). There a four major domestic airliners that have the majority of the market share in Australia; Qantas, Virgin Blue, Tiger Airways and Jetstar (Dixon, 2006). Nicknamed ‘The flying Kangaroo’, Qantas is the largest Australian global airlines and is a charter member of the â€Å"One world Alliance†. Qantas operates domestically under ‘QantasLink’, which carries out 2000 regional flights weekly. They also operate their low fare airline ‘Jetstar’, and Qantas Freight (Qantas Airways, 2012). 2. PESTLE ANALYSIS Applying the PESTLE analysis on the aviation industry will help to identify the environmental influences by arranging them into six categories; Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental (Issa, 2010). Future trends and requirements for change based on these trends can be identified through this analytical tool (Johnson, et al, 2008). 2.1 Political Terrorism has had a major affect the aviation industry. It is still a very  real possibility of airplanes being hijacked or blown up in mid air and this has put a negative impact upon the industry. The recent Malaysia Airlines tragedies are evidence of this, as is September 11. 2.2 Economic Oil prices have a significant impact on the airline industry. Due to recent developments in the oil markets, airlines have to employ non-monetary methods; techniques include hedging or airline alliances, in order to increase fuel-buying power. This will allow airlines to buy fuel in larger quantities and create contractual agreements with oil suppliers (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). The most recent and economically crippling factor that has influenced the airline industry is the Global Financial Crisis (GFC)(Nuguid, 2011). This presents a potential weakness or threat for Qantas who may come to feel that their premium price for quality service is not enough to get the customers to fly with them. 2.3 Social The number of people using airlines to fly to holiday destinations has increased due to economic growth. Therefore, the market has expanded and new opportunities for tourism have opened in previously frequented countries. How society is observed as it transmits to air travel has a great deal to do with September 11, 2001. As a result of this tragic event, the judgments of the world have become increasingly profound to the background of passengers traveling on planes. It has shaped something of a undesirable perception for particular cultures and beliefs. This discourages people to travel with other passengers or airline, directly affects the airline industry (Reilly.N.J, 2010) 2.4 Technological Technological developments have both created new opportunities as well as threats for the aviation industry. Development in information and communication technologies has enabled strong communication and has  consequently provided customers with an alternative for frequent travelling, for example; Qantas Frequent Flyer programs. Airlines are now able to expand their outreach directly to consumers through e-commerce. For example, airlines like Qantas are able to introduce ticketless travel through the use of technology (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). 2.5 Legal The implementation of the carbon tax had a negative affect on the aviation industry, as the airlines could not absorb the higher cost of fuel. This meant to offset costs travelers would pay extra in ticket prices (Herald, 2011). Some governments provide subsidies that provide an unfair advantage and prices lower than market conditions which affects the functioning of airline industries directly and Global environmental policies regarding emissions and international route deregulation may affect airline operations in present as well as in future (Fulton.J, 2010). 2.6 Environmental The aircraft’s emissions have a significantly high impact to the environment as they travel several kilometers above the surface of the earth. Aircraft emissions cause significant damage to the atmosphere (Penner et al. 2001). Noise polution is another major environmental concern (â€Å"Aircraft Noise is Unhealthy†, 2008). 3. Porter’s five forces In order to analyse the industrial environment of Qantas Airlines and evaluate the nature of the competition faced by the company, the following analysis was carried out using Porter’s Five Force framework (Porter, 2008). 3.1 Competitive Rivalry The competitive rivalry in airline industry has been increasing, especially through mergers, acquisitions and subsidiaries. Qantas established it’s low-cost airline Jetstar in 2003 creating a two-brand strategy. By having these â€Å"two brands† the Qantas Group is able to assess different market opportunities and deploy the best product to suit the opportunity and  specific market conditions this also creates a competitive advantage. New rivals have emerged following the footsteps of Qantas, such as Singapore Airlines and British Airways, and are threatening Qantas’ market share in the no-frill, low-price trade by offering lower costs and attending customer service (Mouawad, 2010). 3.2 Entry Barriers There are high barriers to enter this industry, as it requires a large initial capital investment. In conjunction with the price wars and low profit margins, it has become difficult to make substantial profit. It is very common for airlines to project losses in their financial statements. Therefore a new entrant must be able to handle losses at the beginning. Another barrier to entry is the limited availability of landing slots in Australian airports. The slots are already reserved by established airlines and are difficult to obtain especially in airports with high passenger demand (Czemy 2008). 3.3 Threat of Substitutes There are many substitutes in terms of long distance travel such as; cars, trains and cruise boats and these are generally cheaper. However, air travel has the absolute advantage in terms of time. Thus, the threat of substitute is relatively low. 3.4 Bargaining power of suppliers Boeing and Airbus are the main aircraft suppliers for large airlines like Qantas. Qantas plans to spend capital investment worth around US$17 billion in more fuel efficient, next generation aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320 neo (Qantas, 2014). Qantas is heavily dependent on the price of oil for its profit margins, which implies high bargaining power of oil suppliers. Price hedging is limited and high rises in prices can manipulate Qantas’ fuel costs. Due to the limited number of aircraft suppliers, and the continuous need for fuel, it can be said that the bargaining power of suppliers is quite high. (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). 3.5 Bargaining power of buyers Consumers have high bargaining power with Qantas, which is mainly attributed to their price based preference. Receiving the same service, the consumers will select the airline that offers them best value for their money. Due to  the widely available information technology tools, such as Flight Center and SkyScanner, consumers have the ability to compare flight services and prices before making their final selection. Since the switching costs for customer is very low, the bargaining power of buyers is high. 3.6 Analysis Qantas gains its competitive advantage through its strategic capabilities that are gained from its resources and capabilities. It is through these, that the company can respond to its external environment and succeed. The airline industry is very competitive and as a result, profit margins are usually low. Also, the bargaining of the supplier is very high which undermines companies in the airline industry to exercise control over their supplier. With high entry cost, new competition into the international airline market is very low. Qantas can continue to dominate this market while still competing with domestic market using the Frequent Flyer program to increase loyal customers. 4. Opportunities and Threats By conducting both the PESTLE and Five Force analyses for the macro-environment we are able to determine a number of opportunities and threats that the aviation industry possess. Opportunities Threats Offers continual expansion opportunities for both leisure and business destinations Technology advances can result in cost savings, from more fuel efficient aircraft to more automated processes on the ground Technology can also result in increased revenue due to customer-friendly service enhancements like inflight internet access and other value-added products for which a customer will pay extra A global economic downturn negatively affects leisure, optional travel, and business travel The price of fuel is not the greatest cost for many airlines. An upward spike can destabilise the business model Terrorist attacks anywhere in the world could negatively affect air travel Government intervention could result in new costly rules or new international competition 5. Resources and Capabilities The following is an evaluation of Qantas internal resources and capabilities. Resources Capabilities Airport locations/hangers Engineering facilities Trained personnel In-flight food (Neil Perry’s involvement) Qantas lounges/restaurants Storage facilities for inventory, ranging from machinery to uniforms Training facilities for flight attendants and pilots New IT systems to promote more efficient operations including the evolution of e-tickets New development in cost effective service (e.g. with food, cutting costs on ingredients) New developments for the ‘frequent flyer’ scheme to adapt to competitors’ similar concepts including the Chairman’s Lounge Fleet development: â€Å"The airline has been constantly growing since its inception as a result of increasing fleets. Qantas has been purchasing Boeing aircraft makes like the 747-400. The availability of more aircrafts meant that the company can maintain schedules and meet maintenance needs of the old aircrafts (Qantas, 2014). By applying the VRIO framework to Qantas we can observe that not all resources sustain a competitive advantage. Jetstar, QantasLink and the Qantas brand in general are all strong resources that allow Qantas to sustain their competitive advantage. However, from the aforementioned  resources this competitive advantage for the Qantas Group as a whole is unsustainable. From the analysis, Qantas’ core competencies can be identified as their two-brand strategy, their diverse services and their reputation. 6. Issues The following is a list of weaknesses/ issues as identified by the SWOT framework: 1. Competitors 2. Higher labor and other operating costs than its competitors 3. The current strategies Qantas include their low-cost carrier and the Frequent Flyer Program (Jones, 2009) 4. Ongoing disputes between Qantas management and militant unions 5. Speculation that British airways will quit its $1.3 billion stake in Qantas (Qantas, Working Towards Our Vision, 2013) 6. Outdated IT systems. Recommendations To help reduce the affect of the aforementioned weaknesses Qantas could: Attract customers through improved customer service Advertise in social media  Engage employees and establish a better employee management system Adopt a corporate level strategy, which is the long-term direction of an organisation (Porter, Smith, Fagg), for Qantas this will focus on cost reduction. Develop a business level strategy that focuses on the need for differentiation (Michael A. Hitt, 2006). Focus should also be on the increased use of IT, to increase operational efficiency ie. Cloud Computing (Harrison, 2005). 7. Conclusion The Qantas Group has adopted potential alliances and partnership strategies to expand in the aviation business. However, there are some threats that will always affect them such as fuel costs, low cost airlines and alternative transportation. Qantas has remained strong by applying their core competencies like their two-brand strategy and their service diversity. To survive in both the global and domestic markets, the Qantas Group need to  establish efficient strategies to maintain the firm position in aviation industry as well as preparing for the unexpected. 8. References: â€Å"Aircraft Noise is Unhealthy†, (2008) Health Hype.Com. Available from http://www.healthhype.com/aircraft-noise-is-unhealthy.html (cited on 20th, March, 2013) Czemy, A (2008). Airport Slots: International Experiences and Options for Reform. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Dixon, G. (2006, February 23). Qantas not afraid of competition. The Age . G.G. Dess, G.T. Lumpkin, M.L. Taylor, A.A. Thompson, and A.J. Strickland III, Strategic Management (Boston, McGraw Hill, 2004) pp. 141-148. Harrison, M. A. (2005). The Blackwell Handbook of Strategic Management. Wiley-Blackwell. Herald, S. M. (2011, July). Airlines count the costs of carbon tax. Business Day , 1-2. Issa, Tomayess and Chang, Vanessa and Issa, Theodora. 2010. Sustainable business strategies and PESTEL framework. GSTF International Journal on Computing. 1 (1): pp. 73-79. Johnson G. Scholes K. Whittingham W. 2008. Exploring Corporate Strategy. 8th edition. Prentice Hall Jones, C. H. (2009). Strategic Management Theory: An Int egrated Approach Strategic Management Series. Cengage Learning. Keith Porter, Paul Smith and Roger Fagg, â€Å"Leadership and Management for HR Professionals,† Chapter 10, Third edition, Butterworth-Heinemann is an imprint of Elsevier, Page 381- 411 Michael A. Hitt, R. D. (2006). Strategic Management Concepts (Vol. 7). Cengage Learning. Mouawad, J (2010). Pushing 40, Southwest Is Still Playing the Rebel. New York Times. Available from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/business/21south.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 (cited on 20th, March, 2013) Nuguid, A. (2011). IBIS World Industry Report I6402 Domestic Airlines in Australia. IBIS World. Porter, M. (2008). The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review , 78-91. Thompson, A. and Gamble, J. (2012). South West Airlines in 2010: Culture, Values, and Operating Practices. Case 13. In Essential of Strategic Management. McGraw Hill. Qantas. (2010). Qantas Fact file. [Online] Available from: http://www.qantas.com.a u/infodetail/about/FactFiles.pdf Qantas. (2014, July 1). Fleet Development. Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Qantas: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/fleet-developments/global/en Qantas. (2013). Working Towards Our Vision. Sydney: Qantas Group.

Learning Team Reflection Essay

Training Plan Implementing an effective training plan is necessary in order for a company to be successful. A structured training plan for Landslide Limousines will ensure employees are aware of the company’s objectives and goals. According to Bradley Stonefield, the training plan for Landslide Limousine will entail three key components a set of needs assessment, types of training methods, and training evaluations strategies. Training offers reliable information and skill to an employee about the company’s prospects and procedures. Properly trained employees contribute to a company’s achievement of goals and ultimate success. Each team member chose topics to evaluate and research effectively and apply there relevance towards the team discussion. Our first communication with Bradley Stonefield informed Atwood and Allen that he wishes to hire 25 employees and have a location in Austin, Texas. The second conversation with Mr. Stonefield led to information regarding the annual net revenue of negative $50,000 in his first year and a growth prediction of 5% over a couple of years. Most recently, Atwood and Allen has learned that Mr. Stonefield predicts that his annual employee turnover rate will be 10%, and his concern on cost for the training plan. The needs assessment constitutes several aspects revolving around the daily operations, individual employees, environment, organizational and demographical information of a business. Operational Analysis Designing an operational plan for the Landslide Limousine service determines the efficiency of various aspects within the small business operation. The  process usually begins with a period of observations, the group of individuals performing the analysis watches and takes detailed notes on a day-to-day operation of the limousine business in the initial stage. Logical reasoning methods assist in compiling the information used in the process with various mathematical models and statistical analysis. Operational analysis aims to determine whether each area of the organization is contributing effectively to overall performance and the furthering of company strategy. Using the operational analysis to ensure that the business Mr. Bradley wants to start should align appropriately with the company’s strategic plan. By examining the current performance of the operational portion of an investment, and then measuring that against an established set of performance parameters and goals, operational analysis within the business can reveal the company’s strengths and weaknesses as well as any opportunities for improvement with the individuals he may want to hire for future employment. With all the detailed information our team gathered in order to best serve and provide the right information for this business, by conducting an operational analysis, this should seek to examine a number of functional areas within the business; including strategic planning, customer results, and business results, financial performance, and quality of innovation. Now, the objective process should principally be to reassess existing processes and determine how objectives improve, how costs minimized and even, on occasion, eliminating a task. Operational analysis can be a relatively simple process for the company and meaningful in assisting a new business venture. Through a few manageable steps in the process, Landslide Limousine needs to assess their productivity and possibly reallocate investments to ensure activities within the company are in line with the small business company’s strategy. Studies prove that establishing a schedule benefits the completion of the process. This process may outline the timeline and resources necessary for completing the operational analysis. Outline strategies and methods accordingly and adhere to them during the process. Collect information to provide key insights into actual performance in comparison with strategic planning and performance goals. Complete an analysis gap to identify and report performance, cost and benefits based on an analysis of the actual performance data. Demographic Analysis According to Bradley Stonefield, the demographic analysis that needs to be address is a specific population to describe the small business and its characteristics, such as income level, background checks, driving records, location and salaries. A demographic analysis is useful in a business plan, to describe the population where the business is located. Income level data is a good indicator of residents’ spending power. Income positively correlates with retail expenditures in many product categories. During market evaluation, retailers look at the median or average household income, and seek a minimum number of households within a certain income range prior to establishing a business or setting prices. Another common practice is to analyze the distribution of household incomes. Different businesses may avoid extremely high or low-income areas. Some specialty fashion stores target incomes above $100,000. Background checks often requested by employers for job candidates during e mployment screening, especially on candidates seeking a position that require high security or trust. Traditionally, background checks administered by a government agency for a nominal fee, but maybe administered by private companies. Background checks can be expensive depending on the information requested. Results of a background check typically include past employment verification, credit history, Driving history for a small business aspect and criminal history. Mr. Stonefield is interested in locating a limousine company within the Austin, TX area. A small business is unlikely to dominate any particular market in a city. However, strategic use of location-based marketing can make you a viral hit in your suburb or street and this may be all it takes to double the turnover in the limousine business. Location-based services can provide the company with information about how many people check in for a certain area or business, which has checked in most often and how many people have used an offer of this kind of service. This kind of information can be very useful in assessing the success of the company’s location-based marketing program. The average wage for a Limousine Driver is $12.85 per hour in the state of Texas in 2011. People in this job generally do not have more than 20 years’ experience. Pay for this job rises steadily for more experienced workers, but goes down significantly for the few employees with more than 20 years’ experience. Limo drivers have limited career advancement  opportunities. Some acquire supervisory or management positions, while others train new drivers or receive preferred shifts. Moving into a dispatching or managerial role is another choice for experienced limo drivers. Organizational Analysis Organizational Analysis for this company is a means of measuring how the small business will do and how to identify ways to improve the company in order to ensure success into the future of the company. A strategic way in preparing this aspect is to use the SWOT analysis. This stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. These factors make up the bulk of the way the study and be analyzed and can give a in great details a pretty good indication of how Landslide Limousine will do and how it could be expected to do move forward in the future in making profits. The results of the analysis will help Mr. Stonefield be able to make good decisions and improve any efficiencies while without making any major changes. Strengths within Landslide services are usually the starting point for this company. Internal/external factors should include a stable workforce, methods and simple strategies are a way to mainstream the total aspects of all local business within the area is which this is a key aspect. Weaknesses can come from all different locations and can be widespread. This may include aging facilities, possible inexperienced/unprofessional drivers, outdated equipment, purchasing of quality vehicles fleets, price/packages, and areas of specialties. Opportunities should include new market creations, consumer based locations, overhead, and debts. Now, threats could possibly take on another aspect within the business. These can range just from local communities services to government products/services to the rules and regulations. Individual Analysis Certain ideals manifest in behaviors of individual members and affect group dynamics. Task functions include behaviors such as identifying tasks, coordinating, clarifying and summarizing. Individual Analysis based off different levels and/or services provided by the limousine service help to decipher if business needs are met. This type of analysis can be based off a wide stream of studies in business. This specific analysis can have more disadvantages than advantages needed in order to find ways to being a  business. Learning how to work effectively in a group situation is the key to success in many professions in business. Learning key ways to get the business from crawl, walk, run phase is another way employees have the advantage of learning how the aspects of business work in the community. Environmental Analysis This analysis scan can help assist in understanding the broader context in which individuals are operating in. By investing time, identifying key trends and environmental factors to obtain information for small business within the regions in which we want to base our business and all the studies that are included. Some small businesses and organizations frequently choose to review the external factors in the process, but it is important to consider the internal environment factors. These may include looking at the organization’s internal capacities and resources, and projecting how to change in the future to meet the organization objectives. Another useful component to the analysis phase is to survey external customers in the local area and ensure all aspects of the locations are covered. Challenges observed and/or anticipated, or missed opportunities, and even basis such as how others described your individual work to get the process started may have a short-time or long-term effect. Environmental analysis uses a series of ranks and assessments in evaluating employee performance, customer satisfaction, and overhead coat are all similar factors during the first phase of the analysis. Training Methods Appropriate training is liable to have a positive or negative affect on important issues in business. How a company conducts, training is a critical decision that every business has to make consciously. All features involved in effective training should be considered, such as, time, cost, training environment, and training cost. The delivery of the training is pertinent. If the delivery of the information is confusing to employees, the training does not occur properly and is a waste of time, resources, and capital (Ongoing Training: A Method for Success, 2012). Various approaches to training are utilized and implemented. Types of Media Considering the impression Landslide Limousines anticipates on making, Atwood  and Allen Consulting recommends technology-based training. Technology-based learning may prove to be beneficial. Basic methods of learning through technology include interactive videos utilizing a computer in combination with a digital video (DVD). Web-based training programs or internet-streamed videos such as â€Å"YouTube† videos are increasing, popular tools among training methods. The aforementioned method is valuable in illustrating scenarios that the trainer would like to emphasize. These methods are conducive within a large group of people. Learning Principles When opting to use technology-based learning, companies must ensure accessibility for employees. Learning principles, considered laws of learning, are discovered, tested, and benefit practical situations (Naval education and Training, 2010). The trainer must possess the capability of applying the principles while instructing. Most importantly, the trainer needs to be clear on the objectives of the training, and relate it to the work environment. There are three types of learners: visual, hearing and hands-on. Atwood and Allen Consulting recommend that Landslide Limousine combine the training methods and perform more interactive learning experiences that will accommodate the three types of learners. Using what the military medicine has called for years â€Å"See one, do one, teach one† (Naval education and Training, 2010). The trainer will teach the skill so the employees can see it, then the employees will demonstrate their knowledge displaying their proficiency, finally the employee will teach a new employee. Those that teach, learn. Trainers will be inclined to become familiar with the material, recall it accurately, and apply it effectively. This method is cost effective in the sense that when there is a time one employee must carry out the tasks of another, therefore causing no interruptions in business. This method works best for companies that are just beginning. Training for learning skills or fact The required training conducted is for skill and fact. The training enhances knowledge of skills that enforce relevant facts, in reference to training. Effectiveness of Methods The effectiveness of the methods of instructions can be verified by how the employee perform their duties, by employee’s questionnaires and/or testing,  and by comments done by the trainers themselves (Naval Education and Training, 2010). The effectiveness of these methods displayed through the performance of the employees. Training Evaluation Strategies Evaluation on training is of utmost importance. Here is where a business learns of training that works versus training that is of no use to the organization. In order to evaluate specific training, addressing certain questions alleviate concerns of risk in that course of training. Potential questions are: Did the trainees learn a specific skill, knowledge or performance? Did change occur and was it related to the training? Are the changes positively reflecting in productivity and to achieving organization goals? Will these changes occur with a different set of trainees using the same training criteria? (Chapter 8, 2013) Typically, training is a trial and error system. What may work for one individual may not necessarily pertain to another type of learner. As mentioned previously, people learn in different manners. Some need visual aesthetics to increase their ability to comprehend the training. While others’ need a more tactile experience and participate in the training. This is not an entirely new concept and has developed over the last decade to include the use of technology to enhance learning. The same can be said for training and evaluation strategies. The idea behind training evaluation is to recognize the criteria of the training are met within the company. Using pretests to determine a suitable new hire reassures current employees that the individual grasps the goals and concepts of the business. An example of a pretest is as simple as an application, a resume or orientation. All of this information allows management to decipher an individual based on experiences. Once training is underway, management will monitor and observe the associates reactions and the trainer’s methods of approach. This segment is extremely important considering the trainer. If the trainer does not connect with the class or leads them astray and off topic, the training becomes worthless and consumes the organization’s time and money. The trainer’s obligation shall remain cost effective to the company and stay on task to complete the training in a time efficient manner. Aside from management monitoring and observing, feedback is equally important, and can  come from employees, supervisors, managers, and customers. Collecting feedback for an organization is conducted a number of ways. Suggestion boxes placed randomly around the business provide anonymous suggestions from individuals employed in the organization or from customers who believe change is necessary. Feedback is also collected verbally either in a group of employees or individual basis. Sending surveys to clients containing pertinent information to the limousine service allows them to feel connected to the business and builds trust. The implementation of the feedback is the most important aspect to changing the current operational standards of the business. Manager’s need to rise above the concept of â€Å"if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.† Business evolution is constant and technology increases daily allowing change to happen more frequently, and not because â€Å"it’s broken,† but because a new element has become known and can be a useful tool in training. References Email from Traci: Performance Management Plan. (2015). Retrieved from University of Phoenix: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/Materials/IP/curriculum/sb/HRM531/assignments/week5/intro.asp Naval education and Training. (2010). Personal Qualification Standards for Master Training Specialist. NAVEDTRA 43100-7C Ch. 1. Retrieved from Naval education and Training website Ongoing Training: A Method for Success. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.lctmag.com/operations/article/41017/ongoing-training-a-method-for-success http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533041.htm http://education-portal.com/articles/Salary_and_Career_Info_for_a_Limo_Driver.html http://www.studymode.com/essays/Individual-Analysis-Of-Working-In-a-712116.html

Object Orientated Computing essays

Object Orientated Computing essays The object orientated approach has changed the way in which computing and programming has been done in the past. These changes affect almost everyone and with computing technology becoming more and more integrated with business and every day life it is useful to look at the importance of these changed to the technology industry. Object orientation is a method of computing by which objects, which are encapsulated procedures for handling data, perform actions based on instructions from a client. In other words the client issues and instruction which the object performs using its own procedures for handling the data received from the client. This differs to the procedural approach in that in the procedural approach the client has perform the procedures for the action to be completed. This is easier to understand using an example. Suppose you were asked to update a system in a company to include a function which calculated employees pay. Using the procedural approach you would be faced with the task of writing an entire programm which would then read all the data required for the calculation and and carry out the task. Using the object orientated approach would mean that all the programmer has to do is use an existing object which calculates employee pay and let it calculate the pay for you. The fact that programmers now dont have to rewrite code every time they want to update or creat a new system is a very important point. It means that systems can be implemented faster, easier and more cost effectively. Why try and create something which has already been successfully created. By encapsulating computing and programming procedures in objects the system is less likey to be negatively affected by change. The reason for this being that any changes made will not affect the objects as the procedures required for the actions of the objects are retained within the objects and cannot be accessed from outside the object. Object ori...

Do not shoot, it shouted

`Do not shoot, it shouted `I am a B-b-british object!. These are the first words spoken by the main character Gemmy in the novel Remembering Babylon. Gemmy Fairley enters the environment of a distant Australian settlement having spent 16 years of his life living with the aborigines. He has lost contact to his past British background, to his language and cultural identity. In the Scottish settlement his past identity begins to reconstruct itself piece by piece, word by word. He struggles with familiar English words until whites avert their eyes, seeing in his search for simple sounds a sign of impairment or worse, of treason. In any case, it is a mark of otherness that subverts the settlers own identity. Gemmy compels them to ask themselves "Could you lose it? Not just language but it. It." (40) 16 years ago Gemmy was a "British object", he was still a boy until British seamen heaved him overboard near the coast of Australia sometime in the middle of the 19th century. Then he became an aboriginal object. Gemmys presence in the village makes the hardest men among them harder still. His indistinctness, his being neither one thing nor the other, in age, culture or appearance, his different consonants and different vowels seems more than imbecilic to the settlers, it seems monstrous. If his existence can be resolved at all in their minds it is that he must be a "blackfeller" disguised in white skin, a dangerous emissary of the outback. In unmasking themselves from the illusion of cultural objective truth, they would make progress and elevate the human nature. In the closeness of the settlers Gemmy tries to find his language and core identity, "It was as if the language these people spoke was an atmosphere they moved in. Just being in their proximity gave him access to it." (14) Gemmy believes that the words spoken by the settlers are the key to his lost language, and if he only c...

Get Inspired By 21 Of The Best Content Marketing Examples In The Biz

Get Inspired By 21 Of The Best Content Marketing Examples In The Biz Content marketing has been around forever. *Fun fact* many accredit Benjamin Franklin as the first ever content marketer  when he published the yearly Poor Richard’s Almanack in 1732. Historical marketing fun facts aside, every marketer worth their salt has likely experimented with content marketing tactics. So much so, that the very concept might be starting to feel stale and overdone. But the stats speak for themselves, content marketing remains one of best tools in a marketers tool belt. Here’s what we know: 78% of consumers prefer getting to know a company through articles rather than ads. content marketing costs 62% less than traditional Marketing. Per dollar spent, content marketing generates approximately 3x more leads than traditional marketing. Companies that published 16+ blog posts per month got almost 3.5 times more traffic and 4.5 times more leads than companies that published zero to 4 monthly posts. 55% of marketers say blog content creation is their top inbound marketing priority. 47% of buyers viewed 3-5 pieces of content before engaging with a sales rep. Visual assets are the single biggest content contributor when it came to social media in 2017. After watching a video, 64% of users are more likely to buy a product online. 53% of content marketers use interactive content in lead generation efforts. Lead generation, sales, and lead nurturing are the top three organizational objectives for content marketers. Sources:  https://www.lyfemarketing.com/blog/why-is-content-marketing-important/;  https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics #didyouknow that #contentmarketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing?If you’ve become disgruntled with the state of your own content marketing and are feeling less than inspired, you’ve come to the right place. We’re breaking down 21 of our favorite content marketing campaigns to get your creative juices flowing. Download Your Free Content Marketing Template Bundle First things first†¦ what do all these amazing content marketing examples have in common? They are expertly executed and distributed seamlessly. Are you prepared to do the same? It’s going to be  awfully hard to rock your killer content marketing campaign if your implementation and team coordination is a mess. Download our free content marketing template bundle. It contains everything you need†¦ A content plan template to help you measure and learn from your success. An Email Marketing template to distribute and communicate your new initiative. A blog calendar template to plan every post ahead of time in one place. Download your *FREE* #contentmarketing template bundle to make planning your next campaign a cinch.Get More Organized Than Ever With When you’re completely fed up with managing spreadsheets, sifting through countless emails, and all the time-consuming meetings just to get your marketing team on the same page, considering upgrading to . It’s the only way to get all your marketing organized in one place. Get a bird’s eye view of everything your team is working on; and collaborate, plan and execute your entire marketing strategy in one place. From social media promotion to blogging†¦ you can plan it all with . No more bouncing from tool-to-tool or hacking project management platforms that weren’t made for marketing teams. brings everything you need into one place. Table of Contents Charmin Nerd Wallet IKEA Facebook Make-a-Wish Babylist Primary ASOS Wistia Hershey's Bank of America Headspace Zillow Four Seasons Magazine Nike AirBnB Save the Food Blendtec Pandora Shopify Glossier

Financial services in uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial services in uk - Essay Example ooming financial sector due to the emphasis the government has placed on showcasing the strengths of this industry which has powerful entities with worldwide recognition such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the an affluent population of 60,609,153 which has one of the highest real gross domestic product per capita in the world at $30,821 (CultureGrams, 2008). Preventing customer complaints and resolving them in a civilized manner is a critical success factor for companies in this industry in the UK. This essay studies customer service, customer complaints and the application of contract laws related to disputes between customer and firms in the United Kingdom. The financial services industry is a business whose worldwide market value is worth trillion of euros (Plunkett Research, 2008). This industry is composed of different segments which generate sales most of which are service oriented. The different sectors within the industry include commercial banking, private marking, equity market, consulting, financial planning, brokerage, real estate, and insurance among other financial services. In the United Kingdom the capital hub for financial activity is London, followed by Scotland a region in which 108,000 people or 10% of the working population are employed in the financial service industry that generated in 2007 nearly 7 billion euros in economic activity (Sfe, 2008). The people working in the financial services industry depend on customer retention in order for firms to build a portfolio of clients that bring recurrent business to firms. Just like in other industry a customer comes back and recommends the services of a store or company only if they are satisfied with the product they receive. It is essential to provide service to customer and to build a customer total quality program based on a strategic view that the customer is the most important stakeholder of the company. All business process must be geared to satisfy the needs of the customer and

A New Tunnel under the Thames Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A New Tunnel under the Thames - Essay Example 7. Include a set of drawings of your proposed tunnel, including a. a detailed cross section, b. a long section c. a map showing your suggested new road layout and d. a map indicating remedial works to minimise the impact of the extra traffic on the surrounding areas. 8. The site designated for the northern access (between Galleons Reach DLR and the river) is currently a brown field site with possible contamination, which includes an infestation of Japanese knotweed and some fly-tipping which may contain asbestos. Explain the procedures needed to bring the site into a condition suitable for construction. A new Tunnel under the Thames Introduction A tunnel is a subversive vessel, entirely covered a part from openings for entrance and exit, usually from both ends. A tunnel can be constructed for foot passage, rail, vehicle traffic, or a canal. The new Thames river crossing will allow closing of the Wool Wish Ferry. The bridge will relieve congestion for people living adjacent to Blackwa ll. This marks the location of Thames Gateway Road Bridge that was scrapped by the mayor in 2008, following the rejection of the plan by the Inspector at a Planning Inquiry. The tunnel, which will run from Greenwich Peninsula to the royal Docks, is expected to have a capacity of up to 2400 cars per hour in each route. While the link is very much worthy and will perhaps help reduce the severe overcrowding in the city, it will tamper with Blackwall Tunnel, making the suggestion for a Gallions Rach ferry a laughable alternative for the Thames Gateway Bridge. In addition, it raises questions with regards to the future of the current Woolwich Ferry. Supporters of environmentalists are likely to criticize the scheme of the tunnel, alleging that it would bring problems to people of London by creating more traffic, noise and more pollution. Furthermore, if the leaders in this region want to make London one of the world’s greenest capitals, their policies should be much focused (Irsha d, Wagner & Mussger, 2003). Since the era when Brunel made the first Thames tunnel, which was called Rotherhithe Tunnel, the tunnel construction has undergone great breakthrough, especially between 1825 and 1842. Tunnel constructions during these times were done through a rectangular safeguard with a miner revealing the face. The dimensions of the shield were 29ft high and 33ft wide, with brick coating after the miners and an arch brick being constructed. Nonetheless, tunneling will remain a risky activity since the conditions can never be certain, regardless of the number of boreholes that are taken. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to find tunneling gaining more prominence in the next few decades. The proposed Thames Tunnel will occupy a distance of 25 kilometers from west London. It will be 67 meters below the ground and will widely follow the direction of Thames River. According to the environment agency, this tunnel will link 34 of the most contaminated sewer outflows (Munfah 20 03). CDM requirements CDM regulations background Areas where CDM is applicable and those areas where it is not applicable General health and safety practices and laws Recognition of accident prevention, causation and prevention. Risk management practices Control procedures and reviewing and monitoring requirements Roles of different professional Land/engineering survey Land surveyors establish and give recommendations on the

Business Research Methodologies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Research Methodologies - Assignment Example The world of banking finance is highly integrated with various kinds of complex concepts as well as various kinds of frameworks related to operating standards as well as legal issues. The integration of technology in its complex processes will no doubt help in better value generation for the customers while providing a level ground in regards to the competing of the financial organizations with each other. In this project, the focus is on gauging the impacts on the customers of Lloyd’s Bank with regards to growing general fascination towards internet banking. The research proposal for this topic comprises an introduction, a brief literature review as well as the method for conducting the research. Introduction The world of the 21st century promotes an environment where tremendous competition is a steady factor of everyday life of the masses around the world. The competition factor has become a constant issue in the modern day society mainly because of rapid technological chang es, which is coupled with fast paced development. The technological boom that has happened since the early part of the previous decade has brought into play a strong wave of technological enrichment of the lives of the masses in the developing as well as the developed countries. The technological boom of the early 2000s enrolled into effect tremendous amount of technological progress on the lines of telecommunication technology as well as the rapid acceptance and penetration of the internet. The high level of penetration of the internet has played a major role in creating a seamless virtual world in the internet domain, where there is no presence physical geographical boundaries. The virtual world which is connected through the internet platform has merged the various nations and countries around the world into a single entity. This has greatly facilitated the rise of various kinds of trends related to globalization and innovation. It has to be mentioned that the trends of innovatio n greatly facilitates in the process of new product development in various countries around the world. Interestingly, the virtual medium of the internet plays the role of communicating the value of the newly developed innovative products to the customers and target audience around the world thereby creating a typical trend of globalization. This trend of globalization, which might emerge from a market that can be either located in the developed or the developing region might result in the creation of demand for new kinds of products and services in various markets around the world (Doole and Lowe, 2008, p. 3). Sensing the demand for new kinds of products and services in various global markets, various organizations around the world are focusing on the process of market development. As a method of market development, the organizations which are based in a particular market are increasingly participating in entering in to foreign markets around the world. As per the current trend, due to the slowdown that is persisting in the economies of various developed markets present in the western nations of UK, Europe and USA, companies are increasingly focusing on new emerging markets of the BRIC nations. Thus, it has to be said that the development of business ventures of various international organizations is creating the need of highly dynamic

Leadership Styles In Professional Nursing Research Paper

Leadership Styles In Professional Nursing - Research Paper Example This component of the essay seeks to achieve two major aims. Firstly, it is to describe two different leadership styles in the nursing profession and also discuss how these two nursing leadership styles can be implemented in a professional nursing practice. In the first place, Rampur (2011) identifies two major leadership styles in the nursing profession. According to him, these leadership styles are democratic and autocratic leadership styles. Earlier in his submission, Rampur (2011) elucidates that leaders in the nursing profession are mostly seen to be either nurse managers who are â€Å"assigned the obligation of handling one unit† or nurse executives who are â€Å"responsible for the operations of all in-patient nursing units.† Under whatever portfolio a nurse might be in a leadership position, the leadership styles mentioned earlier happen to reign at one point in time or the other. On the whole, the type of leadership style that implemented should depend on a spe cific situation rather than adopting one of the two as a routine leadership style (Cummings, 2010). With the democratic leadership style, the nurse leader â€Å"engages his nurses in decision-making and let them carry out their work in an independent manner (Rampur, 2011).† In the autocratic nursing leadership however, the nurse leader â€Å"would provide instructions without looking for inputs and superintend his nurses in a close manner (Rampur, 2011).† Simply put, democratic leadership allows for group participation, discussion and contribution as far as decision making is concerned but with autocratic leadership style, subordinates always have to take instructions from the leaders. Without passing outright judgment on the either types of nursing leadership styles as to which is right and which is wrong, it is worth noting that there are different ways and at different points in time that the various leadership styles are brought to work. As a matter of fact, the is sue of whether a particular leadership style is right or wrong would come in if the right leadership style is implemented at the wrong time and vice versa. In implementing any of the leadership styles, it is important that leaders put into consideration the â€Å"health authority structures, inter-professional teamwork and conflict, the actions and decisions of senior administrators and government officials, changing public demographics and consumer expectations of the healthcare system, and the implementation of new knowledge, evidence and innovation†

Mathematical Golden Ratio in Nature, Music and Sex Essay

Mathematical Golden Ratio in Nature, Music and Sex - Essay Example The essay "Mathematical Golden Ratio in Nature, Music, and Sex" analyzes the issue of how the mathematical golden ratio is used in nature, music, and sex appeal. The golden ratio is developed by from the extreme and mean ratio rule that states that â€Å"a straight line is said to have been cut in extreme and mean ratio when, as the whole line is to the greater segment, the greater to the lesser†. The ratio of the straight line’s unequal segments is the origin of several natural scenes of mathematics interaction with nature. Only a handful of retrogressive and conservative theorists have risen to offer sensible criticism to the best explanation to mathematical infusion to nature’s inseparable interaction with mathematical theory. Perhaps the best brain that this age has experienced was possessed by Einstein who devoted much of his intense academic work to find out on the natures engagement with mathematics. According to Livio, several natural arrangements remain strictly controlled by the ratio such as the patterns seen in leaf structures and arrangement of the branches (phyllotaxis), seed arrangement patterns on plants as well as the formation of natural crystals. The Fibonacci sequence explains the patterns employed in botanical systems which depict market design and order that no other discipline elaborates on but mathematics. In light of these phenomena, mathematics fascinating facts in nature as dictated by the golden ratio seems to be the best explanation behind nature’s orderliness.

Leadership Styles In Professional Nursing Research Paper

Leadership Styles In Professional Nursing - Research Paper Example This component of the essay seeks to achieve two major aims. Firstly, it is to describe two different leadership styles in the nursing profession and also discuss how these two nursing leadership styles can be implemented in a professional nursing practice. In the first place, Rampur (2011) identifies two major leadership styles in the nursing profession. According to him, these leadership styles are democratic and autocratic leadership styles. Earlier in his submission, Rampur (2011) elucidates that leaders in the nursing profession are mostly seen to be either nurse managers who are â€Å"assigned the obligation of handling one unit† or nurse executives who are â€Å"responsible for the operations of all in-patient nursing units.† Under whatever portfolio a nurse might be in a leadership position, the leadership styles mentioned earlier happen to reign at one point in time or the other. On the whole, the type of leadership style that implemented should depend on a spe cific situation rather than adopting one of the two as a routine leadership style (Cummings, 2010). With the democratic leadership style, the nurse leader â€Å"engages his nurses in decision-making and let them carry out their work in an independent manner (Rampur, 2011).† In the autocratic nursing leadership however, the nurse leader â€Å"would provide instructions without looking for inputs and superintend his nurses in a close manner (Rampur, 2011).† Simply put, democratic leadership allows for group participation, discussion and contribution as far as decision making is concerned but with autocratic leadership style, subordinates always have to take instructions from the leaders. Without passing outright judgment on the either types of nursing leadership styles as to which is right and which is wrong, it is worth noting that there are different ways and at different points in time that the various leadership styles are brought to work. As a matter of fact, the is sue of whether a particular leadership style is right or wrong would come in if the right leadership style is implemented at the wrong time and vice versa. In implementing any of the leadership styles, it is important that leaders put into consideration the â€Å"health authority structures, inter-professional teamwork and conflict, the actions and decisions of senior administrators and government officials, changing public demographics and consumer expectations of the healthcare system, and the implementation of new knowledge, evidence and innovation†

The Acquisition of Tense by Arabic Learners of English Language Thesis Proposal

The Acquisition of Tense by Arabic Learners of English Language - Thesis Proposal Example This proposal was motivated by an interest in the subject as well as the knowledge that the results of the study are potentially productive and could provide necessary knowledge in the area of linguistic science. This subject is a problem of significance for the students it affects and the knowledge to be gained from this study stands to benefit more than the population of peoples with Arabic as a first language. It is my hope that the findings of this study will also be used to assist other L2 students, and perhaps enrich their relationship with a second language. Among the problems faced by English students with Arabic as their first language is the acquisition of tenses. The morphemes of the English language differ greatly from those of Arabic, and the irregularities of tenses must be memorized, making the acquisition of tenses one of the most difficult parts of the learning process. As stated by Johanne Paradis, this situation â€Å"†¦is a vulnerable domain for English lang uage learners across acquisition contexts†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Since one of two allomorphs pertaining to the past tense is possible, either [td] or [t or d], the English past tense exhibits a quasi-regularity. These combined attributes create difficulties for the would-be English learner. To appreciate the hardship of the L2 student, data will be collected from thirty students at three consecutive levels of ability. Two approaches will be taken while analyzing the data in an attempt to prove two hypotheses.... Since one of two allomorphs pertaining to the past tense is possible, either [td] or [t or d], the English past tense exhibits a quasi-regularity (McClelland). These combined attributes create difficulties for the would-be English learner. To appreciate the hardship of the L2 student, data will be collected from thirty students at three consecutive levels of ability. Two approaches will be taken while analyzing the data in an attempt to prove two hypotheses. Problem Statement: Learning difficulties arising for L2 students can affect certain aspects of their lives. In the case of foreign students, attempts to integrate into a new country can be inhibited by linguistic difficulties. "knowing a language involves mastering an intricate system full of surprising regularities and idiosyncrasies." (Sag and Wasow, 2001) For people attempting to learn English as a second language, it can be embarrassing and often debilitating to incorrectly express tenses. In the workplace, people with English as a second language are often misjudged as unintelligent. Added to the difficulties most adults have with the correct acquisition of phonological sounds, (Escudero, 2005) the learning of English for Arabic speakers is quite a challenge. The confusion of past tenses was one of the major errors in tenses reported in a study of Arab learners of English at the University of Sudan (Kambal, 1980). Therefore, a study concerning the acquisition of English tenses by Arabic students can assist students with similar problems by determining the most effective solution. Hypotheses: There are two hypotheses which will be used to attempt an explanation of the difficulties that

Survey on Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Survey on Chocolate Essay A delicate tree, cacao is only grown in rain forests in the tropics, usually on large plantations, where it must be protected from wind and intense sunlight. The tree is harvested twice a year. Milk chocolate was invented in 1876 by a Swiss chocolatier, Daniel Peter (1836-1919) of Vevey, Geneva. Daniel Peter successfully combined chocolate with powdered milk to produce the first milk chocolate. Today, the finest chocolate is still made in Switzerland, and the consumption of milk chocolate far outweighs that of plain chocolate. Chocolate was introduced to the United States in 1765 when John Hanan brought cocoa beans from the West Indies into Dorchester, Massachusetts, to refine them with the help of Dr. James Baker. The first chocolate factory in the country was established there. †¢ Chocolate Glossary Unsweetened Chocolate: It is also called baking, plain or bitter chocolate. Since no sugar has been added to the chocolate it has a strong, bitter taste that is used in cooking and baking but is never eaten out of hand. Bittersweet Chocolate: Still dark, but a little sweeter than unsweetened. It is unsweetened chocolate to which sugar, more cocoa butter, lecithin, and vanilla has been added. It has less sugar and more liquor than semisweet chocolate but the two are interchangeable in baking. Bittersweet has become the sophisticated choice of chefs. It contains a high percentage (up to 75%) of cocoa solids, and little (or no) added sugar. Semisweet Chocolate: Slightly sweetened during processing, and most often used in frostings, sauces, fillings, and mousses. They are interchangeable in most recipes. The favorite of most home bakers. It contains a high percentage (up to 75%) of cocoa solids, and little (or no) added sugar. German Chocolate: Dark, but sweeter than semisweet. German chocolate is the predecessor to bittersweet. It has no connection to Germany; it was developed by a man named German. Milk Chocolate or Sweet Chocolate: Candy bar chocolate. Chocolate to which whole and/or skim milk powder has been added. Rarely used in cooking because the protein in the added milk solids interferes with the texture of the baked products. It contains approximately 20 percent cocoa solids. White Chocolate: Many people might argue that white chocolate is not really chocolate. It is made from sweetened cocoa butter mixed with milk solids, sometimes with vanilla added. Since cocoa butter is derived from the cocoa bean, then we can only conclude that real white chocolate is indeed chocolate. Conveture: A term generally used to describe high-quality chocolate used by professional bakers in confectionery and baked products. The word means to cover or to coat. It has more cocoa butter than regular chocolate. Its specially formulated for dipping and coating things like truffles. Chocolate of this quality is often compared to tasting fine wine because subtleties in taste are often apparent, especially when you taste a variety of semisweet and bittersweet couvertures with different percentages of sugar and chocolate liquor. †¢ How Chocolate Is Made Cacao trees are often interplanted with tall shade trees to protect them from direct sunlight. Pods grow on the trunks and larger branches of the trees and take five to six months to ripen. Fruit on the higher branches are harvested with blades on long handles and lower branches are cut with machetes. The pods are cut open with machetes to reveal between 20 to 40 beans each, surrounded by a mass of stickly, white pulp. Traditionally, this was done immediately after harvest; today, pods are sometimes first stored whole for a few days to prime them for fermentation. Fermenting begins when the beans come into contact with the air. Here, a workrt uses a stick to gauge the depth of the mass in a vara, or measuring box, to determine the wage of the harvester, before transferring it to the fermentation bin. During fermentation, the pulp disintegrates, producing steamy heat and a pervasive, yeasty, sour smell. It is at this point that the beans first develop thier complex characteristics. Drying of the beans after fermentation is done on slatted wooden trays in the open air. The beans are spread out evenly and raked periodically so that they dry uniformly. As the beans dry, their colors deepen, turning them into a carpet of sepia, umber, and mocha. Aeration of the dried beans during storage is important to prevent the formation of mold. A worker tosses beans with a shovel to expose them evenly to the air. Grading of the beans is done mechanically at the larger farms; smaller producers do it by hand. From baskets, the dried beans are transferred to burlap bags and transported to local selling stations, where they may be bought by large companies for export. Arriving at the chocolate mills, the beans undergo a thorough cleaning, followed by the roasting which brings out the particular flavor of each variety. Throughout this process, a constant and exact temperature must be maintained. Correct roasting is exceedingly important since under-roasting leaves a raw taste and over-roasting results in a high pungent or even burnt flavor. Now comes the cooling, shelling, and winnowing, from which the cocoa beans emerge cleaned and ready for blending. This important process requires expert knowledge and skill. Not only must the beans be selected which will produce the best chocolate flavor, but uniformity of blend must be preserved year in and year out. After the blending, the cocoa beans are milled or slowly ground between great heated millstones. Under heat and tremendous pressure, the cocoa butter melts and mixes with other parts of the beans forming the ruddy chocolate liquor. The fragrant chocolate odor is now noticeable. The liquor is then treated according to the product to be made. For unsweetened chocolate, the liquor is poured into molds and cooled rapidly in refrigerating rooms. Then the cacao emeres in familiar form, as bars of chocolate, ready to be wrapped and sold. †¢ Storing Chocolate Keep the chocolate in a cool, dry place. Chocolate is best kept at around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of a pantry or dark cabinet. It has a shelf life of approximately one year. The normal air conditioned room provides adequate protection. Freezing chocolate is not recommended; when you freeze it and then thaw it out, it will have a greater tendency to bloom. NOTE: Bloom is the white, filmy reside that can develop on chocolate. This usually happens when the chocolate is stored in a warm place, but can happen when you freeze it. Chapter-IV: Research Methodology A)PRIMERY DATA :- As we are doing the Survey of Chocolate we have found that there many people don’t like to eat Chocolate due to various reasone and there are many people who don’t want to shift to another brand of Chocolate due to there taste. There are also some type of people who has interested in chocolate but they can not effort if bcoz of high price for it but some people for this survey they have suggested to 1. To reduce some price of chocolate 2. To make diet chocolate 3. To make spicy chocolate B)SECONDERY DATA:- Adventages :- †¢ IT makes Refreshment †¢ IT reduces calostrol by eating it 2_3 times a week †¢ IT is often classified as a non –healthy food or normally calledtunk food †¢ Dark chocolate is beneifits to the body by medical and scientific reasearcher †¢ dark chocolate may help to avoid heart disease due to presencer of antioxidants Disadventages. †¢ Chocolate is a calorie rich food with a high sugar and fat content, so regular consumption of chocolate requires reducing the caloric intake of other foods. †¢ Chocolate contains a variety of substances, some of which have addictive properties e. g sugar, theobromine and caffeine which are stimulating and mood elevating and phenethylamine which can cause endorphin releases in the brain †¢ chocolate has been linked to nervous tension as well as migraine headaches because it contains compounds known as vasoactive amines that can dilate brain vessels triggering headaches in susceptible individuals. †¢ It has high levels of arginine which is required in the replication of the herpes virus. Chocolate should be avoided by those with active or recurring herpes infections.

Effects of Vegetation on Freshwater Shrimp

Effects of Vegetation on Freshwater Shrimp The aim of this experiment was to discover whether the presence of vegetation affected the abundance of the species of freshwater shrimp Gammarus pulex. To do this an experiment was carried out involving samples taken from a variety of vegetated and non-vegetated areas. The abundance of the species in each environment was measured and compared and found to be statistically significant. Freshwater shrimp do prefer vegetated areas over non-vegetated areas due to either; increased availability of detritus, increased oxygen content or additional protection from predators. Introduction: Gammarus pulex: (freshwater shrimp) are Crustaceans that are members of the Amphipoda order. Their bodies are curved into a C shape and they average approximately 20mm in length. As seen in figure 1, Gammarus pulex have 7 pairs of legs, two of which perform a grasping function similar to humans hands whilst the other 5 are adapted to swimming. The species gills are provided with oxygen by the vibrations of their legs and the 3 pairs of structures seen on the abdomen, the gills are located on the inside of the back five legs. Gammarus pulex have a high oxygen requirements and as a result are typically found in faster flowing, oxygen rich water. They are hatched from eggs and emerge fully developed and ready to reproduce. This results in a fast rate of reproduction. The offsprings sex is determined by the temperature of the water. These shrimps mate whilst the male carries the female on its back, this will occur several times per year. Gammarus pulex Have no natural defence mechanism o ther than their camouflage and as a result they are primarily active during low sunlight periods and under shelter. As a result of Gammarus pulexs lack of a defence mechanism they are typically found under and within the aquatic fauna and rocks within rivers. Gammarus pulex are primary consumers that typically consume detritus, i.e. they consume dead and decaying matter in order to provide energy for themselves. Gammarus pulex main predators are fish which that rely on them as one of their primary sources of food, fish commonly found to consume these shrimp include: Trout, Bullheads and Salmon. Rationale: Gammarus pulex can be used as an indicator species due to their affinity for highly oxygenated water. They (Gammarus Pulex) are intolerant of polluted waters or reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations, and can therefore be used as an indicator species for water quality. A decrease in the oxygen content of an ecosystem can have serious adverse effects on the other species within the ecosystem and is one of the most common causes of Fish Kills as a result it is a variable regularly monitored by fishing agencies Due to increasing awareness of the impact humans are having on their environment and the ecosystems that we interact with, biological indicator species will become increasingly important in the identification of suitable habitats for species to be introduced to. In addition to Gammarus pulex acting as an indicator species, they also require highly oxygenated water to survive and reproduce. A lack of oxygen within the water could potentially lead to anaerobic conditions within the water. Due the fact that they require oxygen for respiration (Aerobic) this would reduce the population of the shrimp within an area. This would have a knock on effect on the secondary and tertiary consumers within the food chain that also rely on Gammarus pulex as their primary food source such as trout and salmon. As a result, the abundance of the species is of key ecological importance within these ecosystems and steps should be taken to ensure high oxygen content of the water and adequate foliage and vegetation for the species to thrive within its niche. These goals can be achieved relatively easily through the planting of vegetation for cover. This would also provide raised oxygen levels due to the respiration of the plant life to produce oxygen as a by-product . In a study by H.H Costa on investigating the affect of low concentrations of oxygen on the number of reactions per minute in Gammarus pulex, strong correlations were made between the concentration of oxygen within the water and the number of reactions taking place per minute. Low levels of oxygen would lead to decreased metabolic activity, resulting in slower growth and reproduction. As a primary consumer this would have a detrimental effect on the rest of the ecosystem as a lower population of the species would result in food being a limiting factor for fish that relied on the species as a source of food. This could also lead to the gradual decline of other primary and secondary consumers as they are used as a source of energy by the tertiary consumers to sustain themselves. Aims: The aim of the experiment was to determine whether the presence of vegetation within the water at Nettlecombe church pool would have a significant impact on the abundance of Gammarus pulex measured within an area and whether any changes in abundance could be attributed to the independent variable (presence of vegetation) by controlling or measuring the other abiotic factors within the ecosystem. Null hypothesis: Statistically, there will be no significant correlation between the abundance of freshwater shrimp and the presence of vegetation within the stream. Alternate hypothesis: Statistically, there will be significant correlation between the abundance of freshwater shrimp and the presence of vegetation within the stream. Prediction Gammarus pulex will likely show a significantly higher presence in the vegetated areas of the stream due to several key biological factors: Defense: Due to the lack of any inherent defense mechanisms, the species relies on its camouflage as its sole mechanism for defense. Naturally, high amounts of vegetation present in an area provide an aid to the protection of the freshwater shrimp from its predators and allow a greater chance of the survival of the species. Oxygen content: The oxygen within water is derived primarily from submerged plants present within the water. As these plants photosynthesize, Oxygen is released as a byproduct and dissolves into the surrounding water. This increased oxygen content would attract freshwater shrimp to an area, as they are reliant on the surrounding water for the oxygen that is necessary for them to respire aerobically. Detritus: Organic material such as decaying plant material is the primary food source of Gammarus pulex as detritivores. If vegetation is present in an area an increased amount of detritus will also be present due to the death and decay of the submerged plants. This provides an ideal food source for the Gammurus pulex and increases the chances of survival and reproduction. As a result you would expect to see an increase in the abundance of the species in areas with vegetation. Independent variable The independent variable within the experiment was the presence of a significant (+10cm) amount of vegetation submerged within the water and the lack of +10cm of vegetation present. This was varied by locating two areas, one with +10cm of submerged vegetation and another without. Dependent variable The dependent variable within the experiment was the relative abundance of the species within the two separate areas per sample. This was measured through obtaining a sample and counting the number of Gammarus pulex present per sample. Control variables Several abiotic variables were controlled within the experiment to ensure that any changes in the abundance of the freshwater shrimps could be assigned to the changing in the independent variable. In the cases in which an extraneous variable could not be controlled without compromising the integrity of the experiment, the variable was measured and any anomalous readings recorded could possibly be assigned to that abiotic factor. PH: The acidity (concentration of hydrogen ions) within the water was measured by obtaining a sample in the two areas and measuring the sample through the addition of universal indicator. The PH of the water was measured as Gammarus pulex have an aversion to water with more extreme Phs. In Responses of Gammarus pulex to modified environment II. Reactions to abnormal Hydrogen ion concentrations H.H Costa states that at the PH values of 9.6. These negative reactions can be explained through the inability of the shrimps enzymes to function at these extreme PHs. Temperature: Temperature was measured in degrees centigrade through the use of a digital thermometer that was placed in each sample, allowed to stabilize and a reading was taken. Temperature was controlled due to the reaction of Gammarus pulexs offspring to temperature, at lower temperatures, offspring within eggs will hatch as male, whilst above this they will hatch as female. This would lead to one sex becoming dominant at extremely hot or cold temperatures, which would result in a reduced abundance as the difficulty of locating a mate increased. Light: The amount of light in each sample was recorded through the use of a lux meter as close to the water as possible. This variable was measured in lux and was measured as it is likely the shrimp will be more abundant in darker areas due to the increased effectiveness of their camouflage in these areas and increased protection this offers. Depth: The depth of each location was measured through the insertion of a ruler to measure the depth of each location. The ruler was placed on the surface of the sediment to stop it being pushed too far into the soft sediment and producing an inaccurate reading. Areas were chosen as close to 10cm deep as possible to rule out the depth of the water having any significant impact on the results produced. Pilot study: Introduction: Before carrying out the main study, a pilot study was used to determine the final procedure and method of the study. This pilot study was used to identify the best sampling technique to use to collect a sufficient number of shrimps per sample. This technique had to be efficient enough to collect enough data for a statistical significance to be shown and collect the maximum number of shrimp within an area to ensure that the true abundance of the species was actually being measured. In addition, the method used to collect the shrimp had to be standardized, so that the identical technique could be carried out in different areas to ensure the reliability of the technique. This meant the same technique could be carried out again to produce as similar results as possible. In addition, the best local spot to produce enough shrimp to state a significant difference had to be located. This pilot study was used to locate the areas that would be sampled in the main experiment by locating the areas with enough vegetation to have an impact on the dependent variable. This meant looking for areas with high levels of submerged vegetation within several different rivers until enough within as Single River was found. This was to make the control of extraneous variables easier as the variation in the variables would be far larger in separate bodies of water. Within the pilot study, I also had to assess the extraneous variables that would have to be measured in my final study to prevent them interfering with the data produced. During the pilot study, I identified that the amount of light in an area seemed to be having an effect on the abundance of the species within that area. This was potentially reducing the validity of the experiment. This was because any results produced were no longer necessarily down to just the independent (presence of vegetation) variable. As a result, I included the use of a light meter in the final experiment to control and limit the impact on the data produced. Along with deciding the variables to be measured, I also had to finalize the equipment used to measure the variable in a standardized manner. The pilot study was also used to identify any potential risks or hazards within the area. Once these were identified, appropriate controls could be taken to reduce or nullify the risks from these sources. Equipment list: A 15cmx10cm Scoop net A 1 meter long ruler A digital thermometer A square 1025 cm tray that was not filled with pond water A digital stopwatch Freshwater identification sheet Pipette Method: Whilst 3 rivers were found in close proximity, only one, the church stream, contained an appropriate number of vegetated areas to non-vegetated areas close enough to carry out the experiment expediently. In addition the proximity of the locations reduced any extraneous variables that were acting on the study. Thus the church stream was used for the final experiment. 2 methods of sampling with the net were carried out, the figure of eight sample (A)and the Kick sample'(B) A) This involved locating an area to sample and standing still whilst moving the net in a figure of eight through the water. This was timed for 10 seconds and 20 seconds .This method did not disturb the sediment of the area. B) The kick sample involved placing the net downstream of the area to be sampled and kicking up the sediment into the net without moving the net. This was timed for both 10 seconds and 20 seconds using the stopwatch. After collecting each sample the contents of the net was upturned and placed into the empty tray. The tray was then filled with water from the stream. Using the identification sheet, I timed for 1 minute on the stopwatch and counted all of the Gammarus pulex present in the tray within the time. Using a pipette to move them to a separate bucket once counted A variety of sampling techniques for the control variables were then carried out in the area. The ruler was used to measure depth at a variety of locations. This provided practice at accurately measuring the depth of the water without disturbing the sediment on the bed of the stream. The digital thermometer was then placed in the water, however not placed at the bed of the stream. Risk assessment: Before carrying out the pilot and main study, a risk assessment of the risks that could pose a threat to me or those in the surrounding areas was carried out. Through this I identified the hazard (negative effect 1-10) and the risk factor (chance of the hazard actually occurring 1-10) to control this I also decided on sensible controls to minimize the chance of the hazard occurring or minimize the severity of the hazard. The risk rating was calculated by multiplying the chance of the hazard occurring with the severity of the hazard (1-100). Hazard Severity of the Hazard Chance of occurring Risk rating Control Slipping and falling. 2 6 12 Ensure the muddy parts of the bank are noted and avoided. Wear appropriate footwear to avoid tripping/slipping. Drowning in unexpected deep water. 10 1 10 Ensure all personal can swim. Identify any deep areas before beginning. Contamination from any water/aquatic life. 8 3 24 Wash hands before and after touching the water. Do not handle the aquatic life, use a pipette instead Tripping with net/ruler. 4 4 16 Wear appropriate footwear, I.e. hiking boots Discussion of results: The number of shrimp produced by using method B for 20 seconds produced the largest total number of shrimp in both vegetated areas and non-vegetated areas. In comparison, method A produced the fewest number of shrimp in both vegetated areas and non-vegetated areas. The temperatures produced seemed to be pretty constant throughout the pilot study however the two 9.8 readings were likely caused by the thermometer not being pressed to the sediment properly, reducing the reliability of those readings. The preliminary findings reflected that more shrimp were indeed found in the vegetated areas in comparison to the non-vegetated. Evaluation of pilot study: Through the use of the pilot study I was able to identify the main problems with the study and remedy them for the final study: The measuring of the temperature using the thermometer was standardized by pressing the thermometer to the bed of the stream on each measurement. The sample I chose to use was the 20 seconds kick sample This method of sampling was far superior to the figure of eight sample. This was likely to the freshwater shrimp inhabiting the upper layer of the sediment; the kick sample dislodged them into the net whereas the figure of eight did not disrupt the sediment at all resulting in only the swimming shrimp being picked up. As a result, only the number of shrimp swimming in a sampled area was being measured not the total number of shrimp in the area. I chose to use the 20 second sample as, although it was less expedient than the 10 second sample, it did provide more species and reduced the chance of anomalies cropping up through not all of the shrimp being collected. Whilst measuring the depth in step 8, I noticed that the vegetated areas where normally darker than the non- vegetated areas. To counteract this variable, I decided to control it in the main experiment by measuring the light using a lux meter. This was to ensure that the results were down to the vegetation present. During step 1 and the selection of the location of the samples, I realized that I hadnt set any specification on what classed as enough vegetation to qualify as a vegetated area. After discussing this with my tutor I decided to use 10cm measurements of submerged vegetation qualify an area as vegetated. In addition, I used areas without any vegetation for the final experiment. Whilst collecting the samples in step 4 I realized that I was disturbing the ecology further downstream on further kick samples. This was an unfortunate side effect of using the kick sample from the top of the stream down. As a result, I decided to reverse the direction for the final experiment and take the values from downstream before taking those upstream. This stopped earlier experiments influencing later ones. Main Experiment: My final experiment took into account the findings from the pilot study and used these to modify the final experiment to produce the best results I could. The changes listed above were introduced to tailor the results of the experiment into a form I could use to compare the effect of the independent variable. Intro: My final experiment consisted of 10 samples of each vegetated and non-vegetated areas being taken, with the variables light, depth, temperature, PH and number of shrimp present being measured. The revised aim of the final experiment was to measure whether the presence of vegetation affected the abundance of Gammarus pulex present and whether this difference was statistically significant. To do this I carried out a stratified sampling technique to locate areas to work in, I,e areas with +10 cm of submerged vegetation. I then used a systematic sampling technique to collect the data as I timed how many of the species I could count from a sample in 1 minute. Equipment list: A 15cmx10cm Scoop net A 1 meter long ruler A digital thermometer A square 1025 cm tray that was pre-filled with pond water A digital stopwatch Freshwater identification sheet Pipette 1 Lux meter 1 bottle of universal indicator, with a beaker to collect a sample of water A small bucket to place counted shrimp in Writing equipment and paper to record results Pipette to collect the shrimp with Method: 10 vegetated areas were first located. This involved measuring the total submerged vegetation present and ensuring it was over 10cm long. The non-vegetated areas were then located, these were areas within as close proximity to the vegetated areas as possible but without any vegetation present. Starting from downstream and moving upstream, the kick sample was performed in the first vegetated area. This involved placing the net downstream from the sampling area and kicking the sediment for 20 seconds into the net. This was timed with the stopwatch. The sample in the net was upturned into the tray. The Gammarus pulex were identified using the species identification sheet and removed from the tray and placed in the bucket using a pipette. The total number of shrimp counted in 1 minute was recorded. The contents of the tray and bucket were emptied back into the water. The depth of the sampling area was then measured using the ruler and placing it on the stream bed. The lowest value of the water rising up the ruler was measured as the depth. The thermometer was then placed lightly on the stream bed, this was left to stabilize for 10 seconds and the value was recorded The lux meter was then placed as close to the water as possible and held still. After 10 seconds the value was taken. This method was repeated for the non-vegetated areas. This procedure was carried out at all of the 10 areas. Table of results for main experiment Calculations of the means for Vegetated data: Mean PH: (7.5 x 10)/10 = 7.5 Mean temperature C: (9.8 x 2 + 9.9 x 8)/10 = 9.88 Mean Lux reading (Lux) : (240+234+194+30+13+109+603+719+560+335)/10 = 303.7 Average depth (cm) : (10.0+9.5+5.0+4.0+4.0+5.0+5.2+8.2+12.8+13.2) /10 = 7.69 Mean Shrimp (Arbitary units) : 341/10 = 34.1 Calculations of the means for Non-Vegetated data : Mean PH: (7.5 x 10)/10 = 7.5 Mean temperature C: (9.8 x 1 + 9.9 x 9)/10 = 9.89 Mean Lux reading (Lux) : (846+645+300+71+24+123+441+739+506+389)/10 = 408.4 Average depth (cm) : (12+11.5+10.5+12+8+10.5+12.4+14.5+12.4+13.3) /10 = 11.71 Mean Shrimp (Arbitary units) : 56/10 = 5.6 Anomalies: Both of the values highlighted in red, are examples of possible anomalous data that could have been caused by procedural errors. 6 is far below the average shrimp reading of 34.1, this could have been caused by the high light reading on this particular reading, reducing the shrimps camouflage and therefore their safety in this area. The value of 17 was far ahead of the mean value of 5.6 and could have been caused through the procedural error of the pipette not sucking the shrimp up and them being counted twice. These samples also could have had the random error of large amounts of sediment resulting in some shrimps not being counted or others being counted twice. The clear variation in the number of Gammarus pulex sampled in the two areas would indicate that the vegetation did have an effect on the abundance of the population. Likely due to the increased defense offered by these areas and also how much easier it would be to obtain decomposing plant matter (Detritus) as a food source. The largest value for a vegetated shrimp was 79, with the lowest being 6. This is in comparison to the highest value for non-vegetated areas being 17, with the lowest being 2. The similarities between the abiotic factors, primarily temperature and P.H also increase the validity of the results produced. We can be sure that the results are actually as a result of the presence of the vegetation. It should be noted that none of the samples contained no freshwater shrimp, leading to the assumption that the water likely has a high oxygen content and has few pollutants. This is backed up by the location of Nettlecombe, a relatively rural area with few large roads runnin g nearby. Statistics: Within this study I decided to use the Mann Whitney U test to ascertain whether the difference between the two values was enough to reject the null hypothesis and convey a significant difference between the two sets of data. Null Hypothesis: There will be no significant statistical difference between the data drawn from vegetated samples and non-vegetated samples in the Nettlecombe church stream on the 14/10/12 The lowest U value calculated was 6, The critical value at 0.1 is 16 meaning that the Null Hypothesis can be rejected at the 0.1 significance level This allows us to accept the alternate hypothesis, and although there were small overlaps in the data, the difference between the two sets of data values is significant. Evaluation: Throughout the experiment, every effort was made to control or measure extraneous variables that could have an effect on the results of the experiment. As a result, the validity of the experiment is quite high; the values for all the abiotic variables were measured and have similar values for both the Vegetated areas and the non-vegetated areas. As a result we can make the assumption that any changes in the dependent variable, were in fact down to the independent variable. The pilot study was carried out to aid in the identification of any confounding variables, risks or extraneous variables that could potentially impact on the validity of the results produced and as a result of the pilot study, controls were put in place to counteract these variables. In addition, due to the standardized methodology carried out within both the pilot experiment and the final experiment, the method could be repeated under similar conditions to produce similar results. Resulting in a high reliability of the data. As the Mann Whitney U test allowed us to reject the null hypothesis at the 0.01% significance level, we must assume that the results produced show a significant change between the two environments. Although the results proved to be statistically significant, several procedural errors should be considered. Even with a 20 second kick sample, not all of the shrimp in a certain area could be collected as the shrimp likely inhabit different layers of the sediment. The speed at which the shrimp were counted at could also vary considerably based on the amount of sediment present in a sample, in a sample with high amounts of sediment, it would take longer to count and remove all of the shrimp within a minute than it would be in a clear sample. To counteract this, a stratified sample could be put in place; all of the shrimp from a sample could be counted rather than just counting for one minute. Systematic errors within parts of the equipment could result in repeatedly wrong measurements, e.g the Lux meter may not be calibrated properly and give readings that are continually 50 higher than they should be. Percentage error can also become a problem and whilst small, can be noticeable when accounted for in multiple datasets e.g. 0.01/500 x100 = 0.002 % percentage error There are also several ethical considerations to take into account when using live organisms within experiments. For instance the ecosystem is being massively disrupted through the use of a kick sample. All of the layers of sediment are being removed and many organisms are being collected in a sample that didnt have to be. A more specific and less environmentally invasive procedure could instead be carried out using the figure of eight sampling method so as not to disturb the stream bed ecosystem as much. Conclusion From the data and evidence provided above, a reliable argument can be put forward that the species Gammarus pulex does favor vegetated conditions over non-vegetated conditions. This could be down to a variety of reasons: Gammarus pulex is an aerobic organism and thus favors oxygenated conditions. During photosynthesis in submerged plants, oxygen is produced as a byproduct which diffuses into the surrounding environment (the water) this results in increased oxygen content. The oxygen content at this point is not acting as a limiting factor in the population of Gammarus pulux and thus an increase in the activity within the reproductive cycle of the species. This is demonstrated in the image to the right. Gammarus pulex favors the vegetated environment due to the increased source of detritus present through the decomposition of the plants present in the environment. This increased source of food and energy means the species expends more energy within its reproductive cycle and fewer of the species die due to starvation. Thus the population of the species in these conditions increases. Gammarus pulex could also potentially favor the vegetated environment due to the increased camouflage and protection it provides it. This could be part of a behavioral adaptation the organism has developed to protect itself from the fish that hunt it. This would result in large numbers gathering in the areas that they were safe and fewer of them being consumed by secondary and tertiary consumers resulting in larger numbers of them in the vegetated areas. Source evaluation Within my experiment, I extensively referenced and used H.H Costas work into the differing effects of modified environments on Gammarus pulex. This work was published in the scientific, peer reviewed journal Crustaceana. This journal is is a leading journal in the world on crustacean research. As a result I feel the peer reviewed work is both reliable and accurate and although published in 1967, the more recent research (Field guide to the water life of Britain 1984) also agrees with the core principles described in H.H Costas work. In addition to several peer reviewed journals, one of my sources was an Information pack produced by the University of Florida, a well respected academic institute unlikely to publish inaccurate or unreliable information. As well as the paper sources listed, I used a variety of websites to gather data on various aquatic processes and mechanisms. Whilst I trust the majority of the websites, certain websites such as source 2, dont back up many of the claims with any real evidence which could be a sign of unreliable or inaccurate information. Further research Further research could be carried out into the preferences of Gammarus pulex through an experiment designed to ascertain the type of vegetation that they prefer and also the nutritional value of the varying types of detritus to the organism. In addition, research could be done into pinpointing the exact reason that the species prefers to reside within vegetative conditions rather than non-vegetative.