Compare and Contrast Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Compare and Contrast Research Methods - Essay Example Panel survey is referred to as a longitudinal study because under this study data is not collected over a single point in time but over a stretched period (Marsden & Wright, 2010). Panel survey is unique form of study considering the fact that it utilizes the same sample population over a period. This means that time is an important factor when analyzing panel survey because it is the major distinctive factor from other forms of research methods and approaches. Nichols (2009) elucidates the sample population, which the respondent visit regularly for the purpose collecting data is usually referred to as Panel. It is not worth that unlike other form of surveys panel survey often involves a small sample to lessen the burden of follow-ups. The focus of panel survey is usually people with unifying attribute in a particular period (Amico, 2009). This may include people living condition, students of a particular class or individuals born in the same era. Panel survey has been associated wit h a wide range of advantages beginning with the fact that it involves regularly repeated interviews thus providing accurately fresh data over time. Another major advantage is the fact that Panel survey does not only focus on the simple association between variables but also offers a deep insight to causality. Panel survey is certainly one of the few research methods that can be used to track process and events (Lynn, 2009). For instance, panel survey can be used to track poverty dynamics of particular households over time. The same case can apply to tracking exposures to unemployment over time in the society. Panel surveys are broad and detailed taking into consideration that they engage regular follow-ups, which gives the researcher a perfect opportunity for gathering detailed information about the subjects, compared to cross sectional research methods. Despite the widely traded advantages of panel survey, it is noteworthy that this form of research method also comes with a wide ra nge of short backs. The fact that this form of research method involves follows makes it one of the most expensive methods of gathering data inform of time consumption and cost (Yang, Zhao, & Dhar, 2010). Follow up rate is also another major challenge that researcher have to experience during panel surveys considering that they are difficult to sustain owing to the duration of time involved. There is less representation in panel survey compared to traditional sample survey techniques. Because of the cost involved, most researchers are often influenced into using a small sample size when carrying out Panel survey. This is quite disadvantageous owing to the fact that the surveyor may not get the exact representation of the population. Attrition of panel members is another challenge that pane survey tend to face (Lee, 2007). It is common knowledge that panel survey normally involves gathering data from same participants over a period and such conduct may be weary to the participants an d as such drop out of the study. Finally, panel survey can be difficult to conduct considering the complexes of making follow-ups over time. Focus group Focus group just like other significant research methods such as Questionnaire-Based surveys, Case Studies, Experimental Methods, Textual analysis has a wide range of similarities as well as dissimilarities associated

Design of a Standalone Energy System

Design of a Standalone Energy System Design of a Standalone Energy System and its Comparison with Grid Connected System in Pakistan Abstract During last few decades the investment and interest in the development of solar energy is being increased. PV is becoming more and more popular in those countries which can bear large investment cost and can offer economic incentives to the investors and almost in all those areas of world which are looking for a clean environment and working hard for green energy projects. This thesis work covers the design of a standalone power system and comparison of this designed system with already existing grid connected system in Pakpattan, Pakistan. After preliminary designing, an estimation of system and different components sizing was made and on the basis of this sizing, different energy sources like PV, wind and diesel generator were tested. Also if PV can fulfill the daily load or a backup diesel generator would be needed. For preliminary designing, Sandia sheets and PVSYST were used but for the actual designing, HOMER was used because HOMER is more accurate and precise tool for designin g standalone power systems. Simulations were carried out and the cost of energy per kWh was 0.435$. Total initial capital cost was 6517$. Further economic evaluation was carried out and was compared with already existing grid connected system. On pure economic terms, this system does not seem to be economical feasible but when different recommendations were taken into account like government subsidy and carbon credit then this system was economically feasible over the 25 years which is the life of this project. 1. Project background and Introduction 1.1 Introduction The project with respect to this thesis is to design a standalone energy system and to compare it with already existing grid connected system. This system might be PV alone system, PV wind hybrid system, PV Diesel hybrid system or just diesel generator system. This system is designed for a Jamia Masjid (Islamic center) in Pakpattan, Pakistan. The exact site of the project is a colony of Pakpattan which is in the south-west of the city Pakpattan. The Pakpattan city is situated around 161 Km south west to Lahore. The climate and weather data is almost same for Lahore and Pakpattan. Furthermore it will be first project of its own nature in this area and it will help to design the systems for the residential areas by which a common person can get benefits and get rid of power failures. â€Å"Pakistan is located between latitude 24 and 37 degrees North and longitude 62 and 75 degrees East. Pakistan has Afghanistan in the north-west, Iran on west boarder, India is on the east, China in the north and the Arabian Sea is on the south† [1]. Pakistan is ageographical centre of the Asian Continent because it builds a type of bridge between Far East and Middle East; also it has a continental type of climate which can be characterized by extreme variations of temperature. Generally the climate of Pakistan is arid, means very high temperature in summer and low temperatures in winter. High altitudes change the climate in the freezing northern mountains which are covered by heavy snow. There is little rainfall. There are some differences exist distinctly in various locations, e.g. the coastal line along Arabian Sea is usually under warm conditions, whereas the Karakoram mountain range and some other mountains of far north are so cold, completely frozen and covered with snow that these are only visible and accessible by some international world-class climbers for a couple of months of May and June of each year. The variation of daily temperature could be 11 0C to 17 0C but in winters the minimum mean temperature is about 4 0C in January. Pakistan has tremendous recourses of energy but unfortunately due to mismanagement out of 170 million population just 65-70% has access to electricity. Demand is more than supply of energy to residential and industrial sector. Currently Pakistan is facing 3000 MW of power storage and it is expected that in year 2010 the demand will exceed supply by 5500 MW. The current power and electricity demand and supply gap shows that there is a big need to increases the current power generation capacity in Pakistan. [1] 1.2 Aim of the thesis The main aim of the project is to design an independent and stand alone energy system for an Islamic center in Pakpattan, Pakistan. During the attempt to design this independent energy system, there could be sub aims as well, which are the procedures and details of the design are presented with step by step. There are main following aims which are supposed to be fulfilled by this thesis. * To go through the core knowledge of the designing process. * Obtaining data for the boundary conditions such as load, solar radiation wind data, available components, cost for fuel, electricity and components. * Sizing of the system. * Optimizing the cost. * To get familiar with different tools used for designing and make selection between them. * Beyond from bookish knowledge, get to know some real and practical aspects of different PV systems and projects. The body and structure of the thesis is mainly divided into four phases. * Introductory part (Abstract, contents) * Main part (Introduction, Background, Description, Analysis, Calculation of the primary load for this specific project. Boundary conditions and design parameters. Economical look on existed grid connected system and Comparative study between this newly design system and already existing grid connected system in terms of economics, Results and Conclusion ) * Reference part (Reference list and Appendices) 1.3 Method As the aim of this thesis project is to design an independent energy system for Islamic center and then compare it with existed grid connected system. The main interest is to provide electricity for Islamic center without shortfall. To do so, first of all literature survey was carried out and was gone through different designing procedures for standalone independent systems. Different tools were also tried and testified, so that an appropriate design could be chosen. In this way Scandia sheets, PVSYST and HOMER were considered especially because these tools were used previously to design such systems. First of all load demand was calculated. Why these three tools were used, the reason is that Scandia sheets are very helpful in sizing different components of standalone energy system while PVSYST has very big database of PV modules, batteries, inverters and diesel generators in itself. After that when the sizing was done then specific components were chosen for this stand alone system. In HOMER there are different options to check weather PV, PV wind hybrid or PV diesel hybrid system is feasible After designing the system, its economic analysis was carried out using different economic parameters like pay back periods, net present value, benefit to cost ratio and internal rate of return. 1.4 Energy profile of Pakistan The energy profile of Pakistan is inadequate and there are always short falls of energy (electricity) especially during summer. Pakistan needs around 14,000 to 15,000 MW electricity everyday to meet all residential and industrial demands. But Pakistan can produce around 11,500 MW, so it means there is around 3000 MW to 4000 MW short fall. The reasons for this deficiency are limited fossil fuel resources, weak economy and mismanagement of the available energy sources. In 1.1, an overview of primary energy supplies in Pakistan is presented in MTOE (TOE: ton of oil equivalent. It is an energy unit which is equal to the energy of burning of 1 ton of crude oil which is about 42 GJ) [2] From 1.1 it is clear that energy supply of Pakistan is highly dependent on Oil and Gas, both contribute more than 79% of total primary energy supplied. The other sources like hydro- electricity, coal, nuclear electricity and imported electricity contribute about 21% of the total share. Pakistan has been growing in agricultural and industrial sector during last decade and thats why energy demand is being increased. As population and industry is growing, the daily demand will increase up to 20,000 MW in 2010. Natural gas has played an important role to meet the energy needs in recent years. But Pakistan needs to expand its energy resource on permanent bases. In order to overcome this energy shortage, Pakistan needs to develop its indigenous energy resources such as hydropower, wind and solar energy. Pakistan is one of the highest solar insulation areas of the world. [3] Here are the main sources of energy in Pakistan right now; * Natural Gas * LPG * CNG * Oil * Coal * Nuclear Energy 1.5 Renewable energy sources in Pakistan Pakistan is situated in such a special geographic location that it is blessed with abundant and inexhaustible Renewable Energy (RE) resources. These resources can play an effective and considerable role for the contribution towards energy security of Pakistan. When we look into current world energy scenario in general and energy scenario of Pakistan in particular, the development and adoption of RE technologies makes better sense. Government policies and objectives to develop RE technology are also matching with this sense so that the share of RE in overall energy mix should be at least 5% by the year 2030. Solar energy has 2.9 Million MW potential and wind energy has around 0.346 Million MW while Mini Small Hydel has 2,000 MW. [4] There is a significant potential of wind energy in Pakistan especially in the coastal belt of Baluchistan and Sindh, and also in deserts of Sindh and Punjab. However this renewable energy source has not been utilized. â€Å"AEDB collected the wind data of all Pakistan from Pakistan Metrological Department and was analyzed. On the basis of this collected data and analysis, it was stated that the coastal belt of Pakistan has a God gifted 60 km wide (Gharo-Keti Bandar) and 180 km long (up to Hyderabad) wind corridor† [4]. This wind corridor has the potential to generate 50,000 MW of electricity. AEDB has done other different surveys in Gharo and Jhimpir regions and some coastal area of Baluchistan. After these surveys it is concluded that in the south region most of the remote villages can be easily electrified through micro wind turbines. Furthermore it is estimated that in Baluchistan Sindh and Northern areas more than 5000 villages can be electrified through wind energy. [4]. In 1.2a and 1.2b wind and solar maps for Pakistan are shown. Sincere efforts and aggressive lobbying has been done by AEDB with national and international investors to invest and to make them realize the tremendous potentials of RE. AEBD is in negotiations with international companies to set up their business in Pakistan. However large wind mills have not been installed yet but 30 wind mills for water pumping have been installed on experimental basis in different parts of Baluchistan and Sindh. In southern coastal areas of Pakistan remote villages are currently electrified with energy and so far more than 17 villages have been electrified using micro wind turbines. Around 95% of total electricity generation is from hydropower in Pakistan. But during hotter months of summer, it cannot meet the energy requirements due to less productive. Also 70% of population lives in around 50,000 villages. Many of these villages are very far from the main transmission lines and also it is not economically viable to connect these small villages to the main gri d due to their small population. On the other hand solar energy has excellent and significant potential. Pakistan is one of those countries which receive solar radiations at high level throughout the year. Every day it receives an average of about 19 MJ/m2 of solar energy. Studies have been already done and solar systems have been developed and tested. [4] 1.6 Potential of PV in Pakistan The location of Pakistan is very ideal to take advantage of solar energy as a source of energy because Pakistan is in the Sun Belt region. Solar energy is available abundantly and widely distributed all around the country. Following shows solar insolation map for Pakistan. The map shows around 200-250 W/m2 per day. The Baluchistan province is very rich in solar energy. It receives around 19-20 MJ/m2 per day averagely which is equal to 1.93-2.03 MWh/ m2 per day with annual 8-8.5 mean annual sunshine hours. These conditions are ideal for PV and solar energy applications. [5] Solar energy is very good option for off-grid villages. There are around 75,000 off-grid villages which contains 4 million homes and every home accommodates around 4-5 people. These off-grid villages are situated in the Baluchistan and Frontier Province. AEDB has set a target to electrify a thousand villages via solar technology by the year 2010. In this respect the first contract has been given to the Sehgal electronics group (Pakistan). Each home which is electrified with PV will have around 400W power supply and lead acid batteries for overnight storage. There are also other plans to have local production using PV modules with and estimation of this production is around 3MW/year. [6] 1.6.1 Possible routes for solar PV in Pakistan The global demand of PV equipment is increasing day by day and due to this fact the prices for PV systems, equipment and electricity has gone down remarkably. PV could be exploited in Pakistan through following two routes. [6] 1.6.1.1 Off-grid or stand-alone sector Stand-alone or off grid systems generate electricity independently of the utility grid. Stand alone systems can be a very good option for the remote areas and very deep located villages, where the extension of power transmission lines would be more costly. Also it could be implemented in environmentally sensitive areas as parks, remote homes and cabins. In rural areas, it could be used for solar water pumps and farm lighting. [6] 1.6.1.2 Grid-connected sector Grid-connected PV systems supply extra power when the home systems power supply is not sufficient to fulfill the load. These systems remove the need of battery bank. In some situation, utilities allow net metering, by which the owner can sell extra power back to the utility. [6] 1.6.2 Current solar energy applications in Pakistan Both PV and solar thermal have a wide range of applications in Pakistan. Although the scale of utilization and adoption has been very small but it has been utilized for last 25 years in Pakistan. Different applications mainly PV and solar thermal applications are summarized as. [5] 1.6.2.1 Photovoltaics Eighteen PV stations were built by the government in the early 1980s to electrify different villages the country. The installed capacity was nearly 440 kW but due to the lack of technical knowledge and follow up, these systems could not perform as required. Currently in Pakistan solar energy is being used for telephone exchanges stand alone rural electrification, cathodic protection, highway emergency telephones and vaccine refrigeration in hospitals. In different parts of Baluchistan, about 20 solar water pumps have been installed for drinking purposes by The Public Health Department. The northern and western area of Pakistan are mostly hilly and mountain areas (Hindu Kush-Himalayas, HKH region), which are blessed with a lot of sunshine with 4-6 kWh/m2 daily average solar radiation. Seven solar stations were installed in this region in the late 1980s for lighting by different companies. The total capacity of these systems was 234 kW. They are not in operation now due maintenance pro blems. SIEMENS Pakistan has installed many stand alone solar systems in Pakistan. On the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, it has installed power supply systems for many microwave-link repeater stations and more than 350 emergency call boxes. [5] 1.6.2.2 Solar thermal applications There are many applications which utilize the heat characteristics of solar energy directly. These applications are very simple, low price and easily to adoptable. These include heating and cooling of residential and commercial buildings, cooking, water heating for domestic and industrial use and drying agricultural products. A brief description of such applications in Pakistan is given here. [5] 1.6.2.3 Solar water heaters This technology is quite mature in Pakistan but very limited because of its higher capital cost as compared to conventional water heaters which operate on natural gas. But in last couple of years it has started to gain popularity because a number of public sector organizations are working to develop low cost solar water heaters. The prices of natural gas and electricity are increasing day by day, so people are adopting solar water heaters and also private sector has already started the production of such heaters. [5] 1.6.2.4 Solar cooker Different public sector organizations have been working to develop low cost and efficient design solar cookers. In HKH region of Pakistan, more than 2000 solar cookers are in use. This number is very small. It needs to be more popularized. Pakistan needs to reduce the use of precious forest resources as fuel wood and to replace it with solar cookers. [5] 1.6.2.5 Solar dryers Solar energy can be very good option for drying agriculture products. By this, we can get very good quality products at much less cost. Northern mountainous areas like Gilgit and Sakardu are very rich in fruit production like apricots which used to be wasted by tons every year. But now solar dryers are being used to dry large quantities of fruit, which is leaving a positive effect on the economy of this area. Different NGOs are working for the popularizing and the use of such dryers. [5] 1.6.2.6 Solar desalination Drinkable water is unavailable in many parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and southern Punjab and it is very critical issue. Underground water is available but it is highly saline. This saline water is not fit for drinking at all and causes many dangerous diseases such as hypertension. Solar energy can be utilized to convert this available saline water into drinkable water. Solar desalination is very simple, low cost and easy to use. Also it is very easy to adopt. A successful solar desalination project is in operation and it is working very fine and helping to change the life style of the population of Gawader in the Baluchistan province. It consists of 240 stills and each can clean 6000 gallons of seawater per day. [5] 2. Types of PV and PV Hybrid systems Generally the classification of PV systems is based on their operational and functional requirements, the configuration of their components and the connectivity of the equipment to power sources and electrical loads. PV systems are designed to supply DC and/or AC power and can operate interconnected with utility grid or independent of it. There are classified as;  · Grid-connected Photovoltaic systems  · Stand alone Photovoltaic systems 2.1 Grid-connected PV systems Grid-connected PV systems are designed to operate parallel with the interconnection of electric utility grid. Power conditioning unit (PCU) or inverter is very basic component in grid-connected PV systems. PV array produces DC power supply and the PCU converts it in to AC power supply which is consistent with the power and voltage requirements of the utility grid. PCU automatically stops the power supply to the grid when utility grid is not energized. [7] 2.2 Stand alone PV systems Stand alone PV systems or off grid systems are designed to operate independently. Mainly stand alone PV systems are used in isolated and remote areas where the connection with grid or electricity network is not possible. In this type of systems the storage system (batter bank) is very important component and storage is guaranteed by batteries. The design and sizing of such system should be done in a way that it could supply and meet the required load even in bad weather conditions or during winter months. For this surety these systems could be coupled with diesel generator, wind turbine or hydro generator and the systems after this type of coupling is called PV Hybrid systems. There could be different arrangements and designing methods of PV systems depending on the requirements and type of load to be fulfilled. In direct coupled system, DC power is supplied directly from PV array to DC load and there is no energy storage, thats why this type of systems can operate in sunlight hours which make them suitable for common applications like water pumps, ventilation fans and small circulation pumps used in solar thermal heating systems. In many other type of PV stand alone systems battery bank is used for the storage of energy and power inverters which can fulfill AC/DC loads at the same time. [7] 2.3 PV Hybrid systems PV hybrid systems are composed of combined solar energy with some other electricity producing sources like wind turbines, diesel generators or small hydro plants. The choice of other source of energy to be combined depends on the needs and the geographic situation and other specifications. The hybrid systems are best for the remote areas like islands and remote villages, also for remote applications like communication stations and military installations. Before go for designing a hybrid system, the specific energy needs and the available energy sources should be known. It means the potential for all available energy sources like solar energy, wind energy and hydro energy must be studied, so that the best combination could be made which can meet the specific energy requirements in best way of economy and availability. [8] 2.4 PV Diesel hybrid systems In remote areas the electricity has been produced by engine driven generators in the past. For those applications where we need a reliable and stationary generator is required, diesel generators are preferred. Petrol generators may provide electricity at lower cost due to their less frequent use. Engine driven generators are less efficient when driven at light loads (around 40 to 50% of their rated capacity) which can shorten their operating life and it results in high maintenance cost. When the engine is operated at light loads, the combustion temperature goes down which results incomplete combustion and carbon starts to deposit (glazing) on cylinder walls and this leads to premature engine wear and tear. In recent years, the cost of renewable energy technology has been declined continuously and also the concept of usage of alternative energy is growing day by day. Due to these two factors, the utilization of renewable energy has been increased for remote areas. Typically PV modules with small to medium size wind turbine are being used, but for some locations small hydro electric generators are suitable. In simple words combination of renewable energy sources and conventional energy sources with energy storage (battery bank) makes a Hybrid system which can give reliable and economic electricity supply. If we compare a system only with PV generator with a PV hybrid system, the second one reduces the batter size and improves the reliability of overall power supply. In hybrid system, the renewable energy source and battery bank try to reduce the run time of diesel generator. There is sufficient storage in these systems which allow the load to be shifted. Generally these type of systems a re installed in those locations where the logistics and costs of a reliable supply of fuel are not major contributing factors to overall system operation cost. [9] The displacement type systems are sized to decrease the fuel consumption of diesel generator by 70 to 90% as compared with a diesel battery system, so it relies mainly on renewable energy sources like solar. The engine driven generator still remains in the system to equalize the battery and it provides a backup for those periods when there is low solar input or high load demand. Such systems are installed in those locations where some attractive incentives for the use of renewable energy exist or fuel supplies are costly and unreliable. [9] Usually the conventional power supplies with diesel in remote areas are not flexible to react to the changes in load demand and varying operating conditions. This results in the compromises on reliability and efficiency. Significant changes in long term and short term load demand could happen as a result of * Increase or decrease of population; * Special community events; * Seasonal change in environmental conditions ( summer, humidity); * Change of consumer trends (increased use of home appliances) But renewable energy sources and batteries are modular in nature and can be upgraded without any problem when in future the load demand is increased with time. It means that we do not need to change the whole system. But as far as other components of the systems are concerned, they are different in their nature. For example inverters, battery chargers and PV charge controllers should be in such a way that the future increased demand should not exceed their rated capacity. Power conditioning devices are also inherently modular and they facilitate convenient system upgrade. [9] 2.5 Hybrid System configurations PV-Diesel hybrid systems produce AC power supply by the combination of PV array with inverter, which can be operated parallel or alternatively with engine driven generator. PV diesel hybrid systems can be classified as  · Series hybrid energy systems  · Switched energy systems  · Parallel energy systems 2.5.1 Series hybrid energy systems In this configuration, the power generated by generator is rectified first and then converted back to AC supply to fulfill AC demand which incurs much conversion looses. During low electricity demand periods, the diesel generator is powered off and the demand can be fulfilled from PV and stored energy. AC supply reaching to the load is converted from DC by an inverter. In series configuration the system efficiency is low because most systems pass large fraction of produced energy from battery bank which increases the cycling of the battery. [9] The SOC (state of charge) of the battery and actual load decide whether the diesel generator will operate or not, which depends on power supply from PV and diesel generator, load demand and the batteries are either charged or discharged. Solar controller is used to control such situations which prevent the overcharging of the batteries, when PV supply is more than the load and also the batteries are fully charged. The gain in energy is marginal for a good sized system but we can add a maximum tracking point which can improve the utilization of available PV energy. The system can be operated either in manual or automatic mode. This can be done by adding some extra components in the system. [9] There are certain merits and demerits of these configurations, they are as below. Merits * It has simplified electrical output interface as no switching of AC supply is required between different energy sources. * The supplied power to the load is not interrupted when diesel generator starts. * The inverter can produce a square wave, modified square wave or a sine wave depending on application. Demerits * The cycling of the battery bank increases which decreases the life time. * As diesel cannot supply power directly to the load, thats why system efficiency is low. * If there is some problem in inverter or in case of its failure, it results in complete loss of power. In this case diesel generator has to supply power directly for emergency purposes. * The cycling profile requires the large battery bank to limit the depth of discharge. 2.5.2 Switched configurations It is one of the most common configurations used, but it has some operational limitations. As the name shows, it operates either with diesel generator or inverter as AC source but no parallel operation of the main power generation source is possible. Switched configuration hybrid systems can be operated in manual mode but it makes the system more complex. In order to get rid of this complexity, it is desirable to add some automatic control unit. â€Å"This automatic control unit can work by adding appropriate battery voltage sensor and start/stop control unit of diesel generator† [9]. The advantage of this configuration is that the load can be fulfilled directly from diesel generator, which gives overall higher conversion efficiency. In this configuration both PV array and diesel generator can charge the battery. [9] This configuration has also certain advantages and disadvantages as Advantages * As the generator can fulfill the load directly, it improves the efficiency and reduces the fuel consumption. * The inverter can make a square wave, modified square wave or a sine wave depending on application. Disadvantages * Power supply is interrupted time by time as AC power sources are transferred. 2.5.3 Parallel configuration In this type of system PV and diesel generator supply the load separately when the load demand is low or medium. But when the load demand reaches at peck point, then PV and diesel generator combine and supply that peak load. In this configuration we use a Bi-directional inverter which has two functions * It can charge battery bank when excess energy is available from diesel generator (rectifier operation). * DC/AC converter (inverter operation). The bi directional inverter can also provide â€Å"peak shaving† which is defined as â€Å"the ability of parallel hybrid energy systems to supply load that exceed the power rating of the engine driven generator of the inverter from combine sources as part of the control strategy when the engine driven generator is overloaded †[19] Parallel configuration hybrid systems have also merits and demerits over other systems, like Merits * The efficiency of diesel generator could be maximized. * The maintenance of diesel generator could be minimized. * The system load could be fulfilled by optional ways. Demerits * It should be controlled by automatic control unit in order to make the operation of the system more reliable. * Operation of the system is much complex for untrained users 2.6 Power conditioning In PV diesel hybrid energy systems three types of conversion devices are used to control and conditioning of power flow. They are battery charge regulator, inverter and a rectifier. The rectifier or battery charger is included in the system to convert AC power generated by diesel generator to DC voltage. This is done to recharge the battery bank. Series type hybrid systems have always low efficiency because they use two conversions AC/DC and DC/AC. If we assume that both efficiencies of rectification and subsequent inversion of DC voltage are very high, lets say 90%, it will result a loss of 19% of total power gained in these conversions. This is the reason why parallel and switched cond systems have always more overall system efficiency. In hybrid energy system operation, usually the generator operates at 80% of its rated capacity. In switched or parallel cond energy systems AC power is supplied directly from diesel generator but the excess power which is more than the required load is used to recharge battery bank. This supply of power to battery bank is according to a defined battery charge strategy which takes the battery to high state of charge. In some modern parallel hybrid systems, a bi directional inverter unit is used. This bi directional inverter unit consists of solar controller, i

Computer Addiction Essay -- essays research papers

Computer and internet have become daily features of our lives. Some people have displaced work, school, friends and even family with computer. When too much time is spent on the computer that it reaches a limit where family, social relationship, school and work life is interrupted, that people may be caught in addiction. Like any other addiction, computer addiction had replaced the importance of life with internet. Computers are bad for your health and decrease attachments with your true life. There are many signs and symptoms of computer addiction. A person might have a guilty feeling while on the computer, they might feel very sad and depressed when computer time is minimized or disturbed. That person might lose control of time when on the computer and are enable to quit or cut down computer time, use the computer often to replace their depression or sadness with happiness. They also ignore their family or responsibilities to be online, lie to other people about the time spend on the computer, may get tempted in a relationship with a stranger which may end up into victimizatio...

The Namesake Clash of Culture

The thing about The Namesake is not that it is a great movie (although most avid movie-goers will be satisfied), but that it treats universal themes with such clarity that anyone who has been through the experience of leaving one’s land should be able to relate, even if not from India. Directed by Mira Nair and with Kal Penn leading a great cast, the movie follows the lives of an Indian couple coming to New York in the 70s and raising children in this context.I have a number of friends that are second generation to Indian immigrants for which reason I believe my understanding of their culture is above average, but even if that was not the case I’m sure these themes would not be lost on me: Abandoning the comfort of family life in the quest for better opportunities Struggling to make a living without help, in a culture where all values are different All the sacrifices that parents make for the sake of their children.I’ve always said that migration is cruel to our ancestors but selfless to our children. The agony of loosing loved ones being far away and the constant fight with the irrational thought that it could be avoided. The temptation of multiracial relationships The intimacy of the father/son dialog when the entire future of their lineage depends on them The cultural pride that one feels even after leaving the country behind, assuming all great achievements from our people as our own.In many ocassions this only happens once we leave our countries. The quiet professional triumph that occurs almost in the background to all the other events in our lives. The crude attempt to follow tradition even if this means to butcher them once in a while The cultural mix that is driven by well adapted â€Å"second generation† kids and their loose interpretation of their heritage in the context of their daily lives. Go see it or continue reading the chatter at one of the Indian blogs I follow.

Ib Physics Lab Report

Explore Download 0CommentLinkEmbedof 6Readcast0 inShare Xavier Bourret-Sicotte Physics18/09/2007 Measuring the speed of sound In this experiment, we will measure the speed of sound. The apparatus consisted of a plastic tube filled with water linked to a water container. Thiscontainer could be displaced vertically in order to change the water level. We would thenmake a tuning fork vibrate above the pipe and change the water level until the resonance wasat maximum intensity. Hypothesis: The velocity of sound is 330 ms -1 , the relationship between velocity, frequencyand wavelength is represented by the formula v= ? , 1) Raw data presented Table 1 Table 1 shows the frequency of the different tuning forks and the length of air needed for maximum resonance. The error on the length was estimated to 0. 1 cm as we repeated eachexperiment several times. Note the error on the forks’ frequencies is a mere estimation as theyare accurately calibrated during manufacture. Frequency /HzLength /m 512. 00. 157480. 00. 169456. 10. 178426. 60. 192406. 40. 202384. 00. 215362. 00. 226341. 30. 243320. 00. 260304. 40. 270288. 00. 288271. 20. 308256. 00. 323Error +/- 0. 1error +/- 0. 001 2) Data analysis and interpretationDuring the experiment, we have created a fundamental standing wave between the surface of the water and the opening of the pipe. The distance measured represents ? of the completestanding wave therefore ? = measured length * 4-From the general formula v= , we find that velocity of sound in ms -1 for the first tuningfork experimented is v = 512 ? 0. 157 ? 4 = 321. 536-Calculating the error for velocity: ? v = ( / ? + / ? ) ? vFor the first tuning fork: ? v = (0. 001 / 0. 157+0. 1/512) ? 321. 536 ? v = 2. 1108 ms -1 ? v ? 2 ms -1 ? v ? 322 +/- 2 ms -1 To find the mean velocity we add all values of v and divide the sum by the number of values. A similar process was completed for the mean ? v. Results of all processed data are shown in table 2 Table 2 Frequency Hz -1 Length m -1 Velocity ms -1 ? velocity +/- ms -1 512. 00. 1573222480. 00. 1693242456. 10. 1783252426. 60. 1923282406. 40. 2023282384. 00. 2153302362. 00. 2263271341. 30. 2433321320. 00. 2603331304. 40. 2703291288. 00. 2883321271. 20. 3083341256. 00. 3233311error +/- 0. 1error +/- 0. 001 Mean velocity = (322+324+325+328†¦) / 13 ? 329Mean ? v = (2+2+2+2+2+2+1+1+1†¦)/13 ? +/- 2 ms -1 As v = , and ? = v / ? , let be constant of 330 ms -1 then ? ? 1/ ? By plotting the graph of Frequency over 1/ ? we obtain a straight line. The gradient of thisline represents the constant v and the y-intercept a systematic error. The situation is illustrated by graph 1 Graph 1 y = 313. 24x + 16. 736200. 0250. 0300. 0350. 0400. 0450. 0500. 0550. 00. 55 0. 75 0. 95 1. 15 1. 35 1. 55 1. 75 1/wavelength m-1 Note that if we add the y-intercept to the gradient we obtain the value of 329. 976 ms -1 for thespeed of sound. Moreover, the second best fit line (in red) illustrates the most extreme int erpretation of the Speed of Sound IB Physics HL Lab reportPhysics HL coursework 2008Grade 7 Download or Print Add To Collection 8. 4K READS 18 READCASTS 1 EMBED VIEWS Published by xb08 Follow Search TIP Press ? F to search anywhere in the document. Info and Rating Category:School Work > Essays & Theses Rating: Upload Date:09/20/2010 Copyright:Attribution Non-commercial Tags: Lab Reportspeed of soundib physics hl Free download as PDF File (. pdf), Word Doc (. doc), Text File (. txt) or read online for free. Flag document for inapproriate content Download and print this document Choose a format to download in .PDF. DOC. TXT Download More From This User 4 p. Eco Q1 V5 xb08 5 Reads 11 p. The Radio Report xb08 48 Reads 6 p. Palm Jumeirah project management report xb08 780 Reads Next Recommended 8 p. Speed of Sound Physics Lab Report hankschmidt 7472 Reads 7 p. Simple Pendulum Lab sagarchester 91725 Reads 9 p. Speed of Sound Lab Will Guo 1126 Reads Next Leave a Comment You must be logged in to leave a comment. Submit Characters: 400 About About Scribd Blog Join our team! Contact Us Premium Premium Reader Scribd Store Advertise with us Get started AdChoices Support Help FAQ Press Partners Publishers Developers / API Legal Terms Privacy Copyright  © Copyright 2012 Scribd Inc. Language:English

Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd Human Resources Management

Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd Human Resources Management Organizations require competent and experienced personnel to exploit available resources effectively. Well-managed human resources result to orchestrate teams; human resources department is responsible for planning, deploying, employing, training, retaining, and dismissal of employees.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd Human Resources Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd human resources management team have enacted a proper staff compensation policy, the company still suffers high staff turnover. This paper evaluates the company’s current state and gives recommendations on how it can improve its human resources management policies. Additions that the company needs to enact The company’s staff compensation policy is said to be 10-11% higher than similar jobs in the same industry; in addition to the high wages and s alaries, the company has medical schemes, paid leaves and holidays, and employees enjoy charismas bonus. Despite above package, that is attractive, the company still suffers high staff turnover. The most probable reason for the high staff turnover is the employment environment that the management has created. To retain employees, management should ensure that the organization has favorable environment that nurtures talents and creates room for innovation, invention, and creativity among staffs. The human resources management team should focus on the operating environment that employees work in; in this context, the management should ensure that employees enjoy their duties. Some of the policies that the company can implement in that effect include having orchestrated team, involving subordinates in decision making, and developing effective communication strategy with an organization. Cafeteria Approach The compensation policy adopted by Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd seems not too commensurate with the kind of requirements that the company’s employees. The company should consider adopting a cafeteria approach; cafeteria approach encompasses the needs of employees’ preferences for benefits; according to the approach compensation should not be standards but should be based on individual preferences. There are people who would be motivated by monetary compensations while others may need non-monetary benefits like promotions.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the diversity that the company has when recruiting employees, the human resources department should consider developing an effective cafeteria approach of compensation as it improves the company’s operating environment. Recruitment program for Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd management should ensure that employees†™ needs at one particular point are known and measures taken to ensure right number are maintained. Ensuring that the right numbers of employees are maintained starts from personnel needs planning; planning involves using past staff needs and predicting the future needs. Generally, human capital can be sourced internally or externally: the method adopted depends with the availability of the qualifications available. The main aim of human resources planning is to ensure that there is the right number of employees, at the right time, at the right place, and at the right cost. Human resources planning are a continuous process as long an organization is operating. When recruiting human capital, Soap Producers and Distributors Ltd recruiting team should work closely with departments requiring the capital to devise proper recruitment program. Successful candidates should undergo continuous coaching, mentoring, and training to enable them performs their duties diligently. Continuous empl oyees performance appraisals assist management enacts training programs; some organizations have employees training as a continuous process to ensure that employees are up-to-date with the changes in the industry. Motivational measures should be put in place to ensure that employees are loyal to the organization and they work efficiently.

American Goldfinch essays

American Goldfinch essays The American Goldfinch is a typical member of the North American seed-eating birds that are members of the finch, or Fringillidae, family. This state bird has adapted to eating seeds with its short, heavy, and conical beak. American Goldfinches use their feet extensively. They have adapted to their low body weight (about 11 g) and their dexterous foot and bill. Their foot is special because it allows them to clamp and extract seeds. The Goldfinch also has adapted to its small size and unique wing structure which provides it with speed. It has adapted to a low-protein diet by having a prolonged moulting period. The American Goldfinch has adapted to predators by utilizing a mostly seeds diet, which predators find insufficient for their health. The American Goldfinch can be all across Southern Canada and most of the United States. The Temperate zone is the very colorful climate they live in. This environment is somewhat warm and sunny, with many plants and animals. Rain and storms are not common, though they do occur sometimes. American Goldfinches may build their nest on the terminal branches of bushes or trees. Pretty much every adaptation of this state bird refers to its characteristics. The American Goldfinches adaptations of eating seeds, avoiding predators, and living on a low-protein diet refer to the characteristic of its short, heavy, and conical beak. Their adaptation of their light weight, and dexterous foot and bill enables this bird to take advantage of food sources relatively inaccessible to some potential competitors. Their wing shape and weight allow them to reach seeds quickly and their bill and feet allow them to break the seeds down. ...

Top Resume Trends for 2017

Top Resume Trends for 2017 2017 offers great opportunities for all job seekers both actively searching, and for those passively looking for new job opportunities. The average job search can take around six months, so if you want to change jobs this year, it’s definitely time to get serious about the process. The more work you do now on your resume and application package, the less work you’ll have to do later- and the more flexibility you’ll have if a great opportunity suddenly comes along. Resumes and job searches don’t change too drastically year-to-year†¦meaning, you likely won’t need to suddenly learn how to make a hologram resume for your next job. What does change is the following areas:TechnologySkill trendsEconomic realities and available jobsThe last one, well, there’s only so much you can do about that. Unless you are the Chairperson of the Federal Reserve, or in a similarly major position of power in the economic sector, it’s unlikely that youâ⠂¬â„¢ll be able to sway how much leeway companies will have to bring on new talent and fill existing openings. It’s still an important factor to keep in mind when you think about your near-future job hunt, though- knowing the general health of the economy and how your industry is doing in particular can help you decide when it’s time to get out there and look for a new job, or hold back and see if things are brighter in a few months. If you need a new job regardless of the economy or how many openings there are in your field, it’s still important to know what’s going on.The other two (technology and skills trends) are areas you can seize upon to get your resume ready for 2017 and beyond.To get a quick start,  you can also download free templates from our Resume Library to get started on your resume creation.What to Include for Your 2017 ResumeSocial Media DominanceEvery person is a brand these days, and that trend will continue to grow stronger in 2017. Make sure yours is in great shape as you look ahead to the next year. Your resume should include links to your career-relevant social media profiles, like LinkedIn, or Twitter if you use it to talk about things related to your field. You can slip those right into the header, where you put your contact information.Jesse Myname21 Jump StreetNew York, NY 88888JesseM@emaildomain.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/JesseMynameTwitter: www.twitter.com/JesseMynameThoughtsIf you use your accounts primarily for personal stuff, don’t include them on your resume. And if you really don’t want hiring managers or recruiters poking through the Facebook page you’ve had since you were young and making incredibly questionable choices in friends and photo ops, make sure those accounts are set to private. Even if you don’t provide direct links, you can assume that people will do a Google search on your name, and you don’t want any preventable issues to come back and haunt your 2017 professional self.In addition to any social media cleanup, you can start building up your professional social media presence. If you don’t have active social media accounts, start them! Create a Twitter feed, and start following movers and shakers in your field. If you don’t feel comfortable creating your own content yet, you can still retweet others or post links to interesting (and- again- work-appropriate) links. If you have accounts but have let them fall by the wayside (of which I plead guilty), there’s no time like the present to get them back up and running with current content and an updated profile. It’s all about increasing your visibility as a solid professional voice.Your Vast Tech KnowledgeThese days, there’s an online tool or an app for just about everything. Know what apps and programs are hot in your field right now, but also keep an eye on trends that are just starting, or just picking up speed. Blogs are a good resource for trends, and in addition to any blogs or publications that are specific to your industry, places like Forbes and U.S. News are handy resources for what’s happening now, and what’s coming along soon.Once you know the tech that’s most relevant to your field, you can get more familiar with them and then add them to your resume. Technological skills and mastery are hard skills, and should get their own section on your resume. You’ll want to include bullets for all of the systems or programs you’ve worked with, as well as any apps.Evidence of Emotional IntelligenceOne trend that’s been emerging in hiring, and will continue to grow, is the hunt for emotional intelligence. Remember, companies aren’t just hiring people to do a job- they’re also hiring a colleague. Emotional intelligence is kind of the web of soft skills/people skills that you bring to the table. It’s important to employers because they’re looking for a team member, which means they have a vested interest in finding candidates who not only have the skills and experience to do the job well, but also to work with other team members, clients, etc.So how do you demonstrate your emotional intelligence on your resume? When listing your skills as bullet points, provide a brief example of how you put that skill into play. For example:Management skills – Led a multi-city team of sales reps to an 8% increase in overall sales.Communication skills – Messaged quarterly revenue reporting to internal stakeholders and clients.Team-building skills – Hosted on-site training sessions for new hires, and spearheaded the creation of an in-house mentoring program.Your resume won’t provide too much space for stories, so keep the bullets short and to the point. You can come prepared with more anecdotes and examples of your soft skills once you have an interview.To get a quick start, access our Resume Library to download resume templates to help you create the perfect resume.What NOT to Include for Your 2017 ResumeToo Many Bells and WhistlesYou might be hearing all sorts of things about how everyone is going to have a video resume soon, or a fancy graphic resume. Those may be moving somewhat ahead of the holographic resume I mentioned earlier, but at this point you really don’t need to worry about fancy formats. Unless you’re a graphic designer, there’s really no need to go out and cute-ify your resume.And right now video resumes are best for actors and reality show auditioners. Unless you fall into either of those categories, the classic resume document is best. But the good news is that you can play around with styling and templatesAn Objective/Summary StatementThe simple objective or summary statement (a one-liner outlining your experience/goals and their application to the job at hand) is actually a pretty controversial debate.  There’s no hard and fast rule with this one, but if your leaner, meaner resume for 2017 looks better without, you shouldn’t feel obligated to include that statement. Just make sure that your bullet points are very strong, and convey the specific message you want the reader to get.ReferencesThe days of appending a list of names and contact information to your resume are gone, my friend. It’s pretty well understood by potential employers that if you get to the next level (interview, background check, or other vetting) that you’ll pony up the names of people who will vouch for your awesomeness. There’s no real need to provide that up front, unless the company or job description specifically asks for it. You also don’t need to include a line about references being â€Å"available upon request.† It’s kind of redundant, and it takes up valuable space on your resume. So take that line, and add another concrete skill or experience bullet that further illustrates how great you are for t his job.As you get ready for your 2017 resume, the main thing to keep in mind is that you want to expand your horizons with new skills, and show that you’re plugged into changes and shifts in your own industry. Those come faster than ever these days, so the more you can show your nimbleness with new skills and social media, the better you’re positioning yourself for a very successful career year.Example resume templates for different jobs:How to Write a Perfect Customer Service Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Administrative Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Retail Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Teaching Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Human Resources Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Food Service Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Construction Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Internship Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Receptionist R esume (Examples Included)For more resume templates, access our Resume Library.

Needs Assessment on Walmart and thier Wal-Mart Biases against Women Essay

Needs Assessment on Walmart and thier Wal-Mart Biases against Women - Essay Example The products offered in the stores of Wal-Mart includes frozen foods, meat, dairy products, bakery products, baby products, beverages, grocery items, electronic goods, household items and so on. At present the business operations of Wal-Mart is divided into three broad segments. They are: a) the Wal-Mart International segment, b) the Wal-Mart US segment, and c) the Sams Club segment. Of these three the US segment is the largest of all. Retail stores of various formats are operated by Wal-Mart in all the 50 states of US. Along with this it also operates its retail operations online through Wal-Mart.com. The international segment of Wal-Mart has its presence in 26 countries of the world and is also in the business of operating its retail operations in all those countries outside US. However, after being one of the world’s leading retail chain, Wal-Mart has faced criticism around the world for its ill treatment to employees, gender biasness, and disorganized human resource practices. In the e 21st century when the world is progressing and moving towards such advancement in every fields, countries and companies are still not capable of removing gender biasness or discrimination from the society or even from workplaces. Another form of discrimination that is often practiced in the corporate hierarchy is known as Glass Ceiling. This means creating invisible barriers for women to prevent them from rising to the top level of the company. These are the intangible barriers such as psychological factors or socio-cultural factors. The tangible barriers include education or career advancements, etc (Thye 89-90) The theory of not only glass ceiling but also glass cliff has come into existence. It is often seen that when females makes mistakes, it is blown out of proportion to push them from the position they are standing. It acts as an invisible cliff for them, from where they are pushed to degrade from

Business ethics and social responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business ethics and social responsibility - Essay Example well since claiming to be ethically right, they are supposed to be more aware about the ethical behavior of potential sellers and make their selection more thoroughly. Primark and other retailers have a moral responsibility for monitoring the working conditions in the factories where they source their products because it is a matter of their own reputation also. The retailers should be also held accountable for the safety of the buildings where the factories are housed because they sell clothes that have been made in inadequate conditions, due to which people’s lives were lost. Therefore, by continuing to buy from the factory, Primark will be avoiding its ethical responsibility. Taking into account such a terrible disaster, Bangladeshi government has not done enough to stop the poor conditions in the buildings. In my opinion, labor laws in Bangladesh must be held to the same standards as those in the United States, which are characterized with high effectiveness. I totally agree with the approach of people who have called for a boycott of garments produced in Bangladesh. This will force factories to comply with basic levels of safety. However, boycotts of retailers may cause two consequences for people who work in those factories. On one hand, they will earn safety compliance and adequate working conditions, but on the other hand, with the lack of retailers, some factories will go bankrupt, therefore, workers may become unemployed. In addition to a positive influence of boycotts, moral action will raise utility; hence, workers with a proper safety are able to show higher productivity, which will also benefit the factory. The salaries of employees on the factories in Bangladesh are indeed too low and Oxfam’s intention to stimulate the increase of average monthly payment is fair. It is a human rights violation to source goods from factories where wages are so low because such action supports underpayment of people. In case higher wages are implemented, this

The Muslim and Hebrew Holy Books Show That These Religions Have More Essay

The Muslim and Hebrew Holy Books Show That These Religions Have More in Commom than in Discord - Essay Example But, when we come to study and analyze these two religions from their very roots and basics, we realize that these two religions have more things in common than any other religions. comparing these two religions with each other and then with the other religions of the world, more similarities have been found in between these two religions than in any other religions of world. To start with the most basic and important thing, the followers of both these religions believe in ONE GOD. Both the religions have rejected the existence of more than one God and have advised their followers to worship the one and only true God who is the creator of this whole universe. The Islam and Judaism are supposed to guide their followers towards a life which is full of harmony, peace and divinity. Both these religions share much in common when it comes living everyday life. Islam and Judaism guide their followers towards prosperity. When it comes towards laws, the followers of both the religions tend to live their lives according to the laws handed down by their God and stick to the way of life defined by their religions. Both the Islamic and Hebrew laws (Shria’ and Halakhah) guide their followers in living everyday life, in family matter, in their personal behavior towards others and in their jobs. Both these religions tend to guide their followers more in following what is ordered by the God than following personal attitude and what the world has to say. The followers of both Islam and Judaism live their lives as defined by the God and the messengers sent by the God: Muhammad and Abraham. (Rosen 2003) Islam and Judaism both have stressed on a day of judgment when one will have to answer about all the things he did in his life. He will be rewarded for what he did good and will be punished for his sins. The idea of the life here after and the rewards in it are praised by both the religions. if we look into the Holy books of these religions i.e. The Quran and The Torah, we f ind many similarities, not only in the messages sent down by the God but also in the instances that have been described in these Holy books narrating the history of God’s Messengers and their lives. For example the instance of Abraham and His Wife Sarah about Sarah being too old to have a child are narrated almost similarly in both the books. â€Å"Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah had stopped having her monthly periods. So Sarah laughed to herself. Then the Lord asked Abraham, Why Sarah laughed and said, 'Can I really have a child when I am so old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord?† (The Torah) The same instance is described in The Quran like this: â€Å"And his wife (Sarah) was standing by; she laughed, therefore We gave her the glad tidings of Isaac, and after Isaac, of Jacob. She said, 'Woe is me! Shall I bear, being an old woman? This assuredly is a strange thing.’ They said, 'What, dost thou marvel at God's command? The mercy of God and His ble ssings be upon you, O people of the House! Sure He is All-laudable, All-glorious.’† (The Quran) The description of these two instances proves the similarity even in the Holy books of the two religions. Moreover, the Holy books of these two religions have delivered the message of the God through His messengers. The followers of both the religions have faith in God, His messengers and the Day of Judgment. The followers of both the religions believe that there are much similarities in these religions as they are all the descendants of Abraham and also according to the ritual of Abraham the males of both the societies are circumsized (Rosen 2003).

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 29

Personal Statement Example As a year one student in Ijmu University, I firmly believe that my chosen profession in business management will make my dream in becoming a prominent businessperson a reality. Throughout my life, I have admired successful business people in my home area, which have motivated me, engage in small business activities. I have always struggled for academic excellence, managing to engage in small business activities to provide for some of my educational expenses. I believe my chosen profession will allow me develop my knowledge base and travel across the globe. Naturally, my education comes before anything else I do. However, studying business management is not straightforward. A business management course enables a student to develop effective communication skills, make business decisions in a systematic and evaluative manner and demonstrate knowledge of current trends and events in the business. Additionally, the course allows a student master the necessary skills required to prepare th em a work in an organization. When I started my undergraduate career, I realized that I was exposed to a full range of business management courses. All these courses tended to solidify and reinforce my interests in business management. I have also had the chance to study numerous subjects in humanities, and they have been quite enlightening and enjoyable giving me a new and different view of the earth in which we live. In the area business management, I have developed a special interest in finding out on how I can come up with a successful business plan. I have also been interested in the field of technology, as I have learned that technology increases the competitive advantage of a company. There are many technological advances, and every manager should be able to understand at least some of these advances to remain competitive in the market. As I gain experience in the business management profession, I hope to be engaged in developing better processes

Economics Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Economics Assessment - Assignment Example For the purpose of this study we have used a product as a guinea pig. In order to understand the impact of the product in its related market and the impact of the market on the product, we have carried out further analysis using the established theories of economics about the future viability of the product. Here for the sake of this analysis we have used the potato chips product manufactured by the Coca Cola Company called LAYS. (Lipsey and Chrystal, 2002) The price elasticity of demand is defined as the magnitude of the proportionate change in demand and the proportionate change in price of the product. Therefore, elasticity is the measure of responsiveness. Price elasticity of demand is a very important concept that is related to the pricing decisions of a product. If an organization wants to generate the maximum amount of revenue from its products and it is unable to determine how much increase in the price can be made by them so that the overall demand of the product does not reduce. This decision is taken on the basis of the analysis of price elasticity of demand. The price elasticity of demand can be described as the rate of response of quantity demanded due to a price change. This means that if a unit change in the price of the produc

Memory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Memory Management - Essay Example The partitioning that is done in memory for its allocation can be fixed. There are two possible methods whereby which queues may be used to bring processes into the memory for execution. The first method is by using a single queue and the second method I by using multiple queues as shown in the fig. 1. Figure 1 Fixed memory Partitioning. Using multiple queues Using Single Queue Mechanism The first available memory location that is large enough to hold the process is allocated All processes get lined up into a single queue. The partition closest to the process that can hold it is assigned to that process. Advantages Load is balanced. Arrived processes are transferred evenly into all memory partitions. As soon as a memory partition gets free it is assigned to a waiting process. The allocation process is very quick. The allocation process does not waste memory space. Disadvantages Any memory size that may be more than the size of the process gets lost. Moreover the queues of small parti tions are often lined up with several processes while those with larger partitions are often left untouched. The drawback is that even though large sizes of memory are free small processes are not allocated that memory and they stay lined up in the queues of smaller memory sized partitions waiting for their turn to come. A large partition may be wasted on a small job resulting in loss of large amounts of memory. Unbalanced load. Some queues may be empty while others are fully loaded. 2. What is the swapping technique? Why is it needed for multiprogramming environment? Swapping generally means interchanging the contents of two different spaces using a third temporary empty content space. Swapping is used as a memory management technique for multiprogramming environment. For a program to execute it is mandatory to acquire physical memory or main/primary memory. In a uni-processor environment multiple programs can simultaneously be executed by overlapping an I/O of a program with the e xecution of another program. Due to the limited size of physical memory it is very difficult to accommodate all of the required programs in main memory. To accommodate new programs currently running programs are swapped out on the basis of their activity status. For example when a program asks for data from secondary storage, it has to wait for complete input. Meanwhile due to Direct Memory Access the CPU remains available for other programs. The operating system thus swaps out the waiting program with the one that needs to be executed with the CPU. Upon completion of data transfer the earlier program is invoked and swapped into the memory again. This is how swapping works for multiprogramming environment. 3. Discuss the main function(s) of each of the following operating system parts: a) Memory management Unit The Memory Management Unit is said to serve as a buffering agent between the Central Processing Unit and the memory of the system. The functions that are performed by this un it may roughly be categorized into three categories. These are: 1. Operating System Memory Management, 2. Hardware Memory Management and 3. Application Memory Management. Specifically speaking, it translates address from their virtual address format into their physical address format. b) Linker â€Å"Performs the function of linking the libraries to the object code in order to transform the object code into an executable machine.† (cool interview, 2012).

Economics Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Economics Assessment - Assignment Example For the purpose of this study we have used a product as a guinea pig. In order to understand the impact of the product in its related market and the impact of the market on the product, we have carried out further analysis using the established theories of economics about the future viability of the product. Here for the sake of this analysis we have used the potato chips product manufactured by the Coca Cola Company called LAYS. (Lipsey and Chrystal, 2002) The price elasticity of demand is defined as the magnitude of the proportionate change in demand and the proportionate change in price of the product. Therefore, elasticity is the measure of responsiveness. Price elasticity of demand is a very important concept that is related to the pricing decisions of a product. If an organization wants to generate the maximum amount of revenue from its products and it is unable to determine how much increase in the price can be made by them so that the overall demand of the product does not reduce. This decision is taken on the basis of the analysis of price elasticity of demand. The price elasticity of demand can be described as the rate of response of quantity demanded due to a price change. This means that if a unit change in the price of the produc

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 35

Strategic Management - Essay Example Bargaining power of the buyers or customers is also considered as an important factor affecting the operations of the hotel. The customers of Aber Gardens include the Leisure and Business travelers along with guests and customers in need of organizational space settings to conducts events and conferences. The number of customers is high during peak season and at this time; the customers are identified to have high bargaining power. The availability of substitutes is medium to low in nature, as there are very few alternative to Aber Gardens available for the customers (Cheng, 2013). In case of premium segment, the hotel operates in a number of subsidiaries at different locations. Product differentiation is high, as services offered are differentiated from the services provided by competitors. In this respect, the hotel with differentiated products and brand value is able to retain premium customers. Customers exhibit low switching costs and high requirement of capital for making investment in staff development and infrastructural facilities. Respectively, barriers to entry are low for other hotels operating in the area (DÃ ¤lken, 2014). Threat of substitutes is medium, as competitors that include Kimps Hotel Group and Turnover hotels are engaged with similar services that include room service, leisure accommodation and corporate guestrooms. The switching costs are low and the value of substitutes is low, as there are chances of high informal accommodation during peak season (Amrollahi & Akhgar, 2013; Bardis, 2012). Finally, an important factor that can affect the business environment of Aber Gardens is the ‘Degree of rivalry’. The number of competitors is less as Aber Gardens falls in a premium segment, but the attractiveness is high, as Aber Gardens attracts customers based on discounts and quality services.

Educating Youth in Developing Countries

Educating Youth in Developing Countries John W. Gardner, former United States Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare stated: Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants (http://thinkexist.com/quotes/john_w._gardner/). Gardners statement expresses the necessity to educate children thoroughly by providing them with skills to harvest their own self-improvement. These skills include leadership, teamwork, confidence and responsibility. Many worldwide organizations focus on youth development through education. Children are the generation most capable of carrying out positive changes such as peace, development, and equity, due to time and materials being in their favor. When youth are given the means to educate themselves and acquire leadership skills, they are provided with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to their global society. Programs that focus on youth education and development through organized activity are popular in developed and developing countries. Organizations range from summer camps to after school programs to international teaching initiatives. I work for an organization called Youth Leadership Camps Canada that specializes in working with children ages 5-18 in an outdoor recreational environment to aid in their leadership development. Our staff is trained in various recreation techniques including games facilitation, high ropes and waterfront activities, teamwork initiative tasks, and reflection in order to effectively convey important leadership and self-improvement techniques to children and teens. Through working at YLCC, I have discovered that play is an effective way to teach leadership skills in a practical and engaging manner. Children absorb concepts quickly through experience, and active learning helps them gain the confidence to lead among their peers when given the opportunity. I have seen positive results and growth in children and teens that are vision impaired, children with mental development issues, children who are labeled at risk and children who are labeled average and above average in their development. My experience working at YLCC has fueled my curiosity to discover similar programs and research their methods and levels of success. This research paper will explore factors influencing the need for development among third-world youth; recreational education as a proven method of equipping youth with essential skills; programs that educate youth through activity, and criticisms of such programs. Factors Influencing the Need for Youth Development When discussing the importance of rehabilitating and teaching youth, it is necessary to evaluate their living conditions and the factors that influence their need for development. Many children in developing countries live in undesirable conditions, suffering poverty and starvation, low success in school, and negligence from parents. Michael Justesen and Dorte Verners book titled Factors Impacting Youth Development in Haiti discusses the state of matters among Haitian youth: A series of factors predisposes a large proportion of youth to poverty, school dropout, 3 unemployment, early sexual initiation, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, sexual and physical abuse, crime and violence, substance abuse and drug dealing, and social exclusion (Justesen, M; Verner, D. 2007:3). Determining the factors that propel youth to unhealthy and unfulfilling conditions allows one to begin to develop a solution to the problem. According to Justesen and Verner, the sources of youth development hindrances are rooted in several aspects: In many households absence of the father or both parents, drug abuse, pressure for female adolescents to bear children, and domestic violence contribute to the challenges young people face on a daily basis (2007:3). Addressing and understanding these factors and their sources is necessary if one has the intention to work with youth and help them to work toward self-improvement. The World Banks Country Study titled Caribbean Youth Development discusses three factors contributing to the need for youth development: individual characteristics, microenvironment, and macro environment. (The World Bank. 2003: 28-42) Individual characteristics refer to the character and qualities of the person in question. For example, the study refers to the levels of self-esteem and feelings of rage among youth in the Caribbean (2003: 28). Youth who experience rage are more likely to engage in crime and violence, or use drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (2003: 28) More than half of children who display rage-like behavior in the Caribbean have been either sexually or physically abused (2003: 29). Microenvironment and macro environment refer to factors such as parental and 4 community influence, and economic situations and position in society, respectively. (2003: 30, 37) Institutions and individuals with whom youth make contact are very powerful influences in their lives (2003: 35). Direct connection with members of their microenvironment can play a role in a youths development, and the individual demeanor they will adopt. Macro environment concerns itself with factors that determine a persons circumstance, such as gender or economic situation (2003: 37). The three aforementioned factors cover varying aspects of a youths life, addressing elements both within and beyond an individuals control. Despite records that certain factors lead to disagreeable living conditions, hope remains that Haitian youth, and others to follow, will rise above their troubles and work as leaders, if given the proper direction: Haitis history, combined with the countrys social and poverty indicators, show that youth should be seen not as a problem, but as a product of the family and community environment and therefore should be treated as a potential solution to Haitis development challenges (2007: 3), This statement advocates the idea of developing youth through education and leadership, allowing them to be agents of change in their own lives and in their communities. Recreation and Youth: Connections and Results People have participated in sport and recreation for hundreds of years, from simple game play in the schoolyard, to worldwide Olympic events. According to Martha Ewings article, The Role of Sports in Youth Development, Children learn 5 moral behaviour from engaging with others, watching the behaviour of others, and/or being taught ethical behaviour (Ewing, M.E et al. 2002:37). In this sense, ethical behaviour can be acquired through active learning in an interactive team environment. Ewings article suggests that youth can learn moral behaviour and build character through participation in sport. Specifically, Ewing mentions that in studying children and their participation in physical education, it has been proposed that children (a) develop physical skillsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(b) improve fitness; (c) learn social and emotional skills; (d) develop moral values; and (e) acquire a better sense of self through increased perceived competence, self-esteem and self-confidence (2002: 31). The essential skills gained from participation in sport work as an agent toward youth development and provide a solution from troublesome conditions. Through sports and team activities, children learn self-sufficiency, co-operation, and begin t o believe that they are capable of being leaders. Recreational programs are sometimes government funded and provided within schools, while others are non-governmental and extra-curricular, such as summer camp. Camp is often presented in the media as simply a place for children to have fun in the outdoors. However, summer camp provides youth with an opportunity to extend their personal boundaries, be active, make connections, and gain confidence through learning new skills and interacting with others. Christopher Thurbers study Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience: Evidence for 6 Multidimensional Growth discusses the technique for youth development used by summer camps: Promoting the healthy development of young people adheres to two complementary theoretical orientations. Prevention Science (e.g., Greenberg et al., 2003; Nation et al., 2003) aims to identify at-risk populations and alter individual characteristics that are precursors to unhealthy behaviors, such as school failure, drug use, and violence. Positive Youth Development (e.g., Catalano, Berglund, Ryan, Lonczak, and Hawkins, 2002; Larson, 2000) also seeks to reduce unhealthy behaviors, but by fostering the individual, social, and environmental characteristics-such as positive identity, social competence, and independence-that promote healthy development. Viewing young people as assets rather than liabilities also reflects the trend toward studying positive psychology and resiliency (e.g., Seligman, 2003; Werner and Smith, 2001), rather than focusing narrowly on pathology and risk (Thurber, C.A, et al. 2006: 241). According to this study, summer camps break their education methods down into two categories. They evaluate not only the factors contributing to the need for development, but focus on methods of fostering healthy development in a positive manner. The harmony of discovering the origins of the problem with the process of intently working toward improvement and learning has proven to be successful: (Researchers have) focused on children with identified problems, including emotional disturbances (Byers, 1979; Durkin, 1988, 1993), learning disabilities and social skills deficits 7 (see Mishna, Michalski, and Cummings, 2001, for a review), family dysfunction (Lewicki, Goyett, and Marr, 1996), chronic medical conditions (e.g., Zimmerman, Carter, Sears, and Lawson, 1987), delinquency (e.g., Castellano and Soderstrom, 1992), and gang involvement (Harris, Fried, and Arana, 1995). Results of these studies all support the conclusion that camp promotes childrens health and development and reduces the recurrence of referral problems. Summer camps and physical education are proven methods of guidance for youth in an active environment. The techniques used to increase a childs mental and physical health through activity can be used effectively to aid youth in developing countries to gain confidence and leadership skills. Programs Specializing in Recreational Education in Developing Countries Many organizations have taken notice of the positive results that come from youth participation in organized activity. Programs such a Right to Play and OA Projects focus on providing children with essential skills through engagement in team sports such as soccer. UNICEFs Peace Education program facilitates various workshops for school-aged youth, intending to teach qualities such as empathy, tolerance, communication, and co-operation (Fountain, S. 1999: 17). Susan Fountains article discussing training methods by UNICEF describes peace education among the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to live and work in dignity (1999:1). Specifically, sport and physical education have been used in Rwandan schools as a vehicle for developing skills and attitudes of peace 8 (1999:17). Training youth to work together as members of a team is a common goal among activity based NGOs like Right to Play and OA Projects. Right to Play is based on the guiding principle of inclusion, hoping to promote the involvement and acceptance of youth who are marginalized for various reasons, including gender, disability, and background (At a Glance, 2009: 1). Right to Play also focuses on reintegrating youth affected by conflict into society; health promotion and disease prevention education; basic cognitive development and partnership with local community leaders and coaches to ensure individual as well as community development (At a Glance, 2009: 1) Similarly, OA Projects partners with local programs focused on promoting peace and rebuilding communities (www.oaprojects.org. About.) Interaction with the project country contributes to the organizations authenticity. The Outcome: Results and Critiques Nearly every effort to aid in developing countries provokes critiques questioning its integrity and authenticity. One might question whether a child can actually grow and receive essential skills from play. While leadership skills are important, do these programs provide youth with the opportunities to exercise them fully, and enough to make changes in their lives and in their communities? Cora Burnetts Sports-for-Development Approaches in the South African Context: A Case Study Analysis looks at sports in the school, community clubs, and South Africas Youth Development through Football (YDF) program. In her conclusion she suggests, the emphasis of 9 traditional male sports such as rugby, cricket and football, inevitably limited the opportunities for equitable gender participation (YEAR: 38). While Burnetts critique states that inclusion of members of the community created mass participation at the school level and afforded many rural learners the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports (year: 39), focus lacked in addressing contextual priorities and appropriate needs-based education and training toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ creat(e) career pathways or enhanc(e) the employability status (with reference to the school sport assistants and contract workers) of vulnerable populations (year: 39). Burnetts critiques address concerns that many inevitably share, questioning whether the outcome of activity-based programs is worth the means to present them. Conclusion It goes without saying that every child deserves to enjoy life and feel the joy that comes with playing and being active. Programs that offer children an opportunity to grow through activity not only intend to expose war-affected youth to an experience of fun, but through the fun experience, show children how to work together, lead and take initiative. Whether in Canada or in the third-world, physical activity is proven to increase fitness, confidence, and teamwork and communication skills. It is questionable whether sports and activity-based programs have a consistently favorable outcome as providers of better opportunities for youth. However, it is undeniable that the end result of joy and confidence for a child is worthwhile. Children in developing countries deserve a childhood just as much as children in 10 developed countries do. Through organized activity and sport, children are given the opportunity to play and laugh, while learning valuable team and leadership skills. Sports-based programs are not designed to pave the pathway of a better future for third-world youth, but rather to provide them with the confidence and skills to consider their pathways, and equip themselves to think critically about the pathways they are on.

Feminist Refutation of the Deconstruction of The True Confessions of Ch

A Feminist Refutation of the Deconstruction of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle  Ã‚   As Captain Jaggery’s ostensibly moral imperative from Avi’s The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle implores, we the readers â€Å"protect the natural order of the world† through our disbelief in our heroine as reflected in our intuitive reflection upon and deconstructionalist critique of the book.  Ã‚  Ã‚   In fact, it is likely that our disbelief of Charlotte’s story is as much a comment on our attitudes towards gender roles as it is an educated and thoughtful response to its clues.   Even as we find ourselves believing along with the story, we, upon reflection, find valid ways to destroy that believability, in no small part because we define what she does as either â€Å"female† (believable) and â€Å"male† (not believable). The preceding was provided so that the student could gain an understanding of the paper. The complete paper begins below: So what we have here is a girl who admits she owns the weapon that murdered Mr. Hollybrass.   A girl who lied about where she got it.   A girl who was taught to use a blade, and learned to use it, as Mr. Grimes would have it, ‘uncommon’ well.   A girl who, all agree, is unnatural in every way she acts.   Gentlemen, do we not, as natural men, need to take heed?   Is it not our duty, our obligation, to protect the natural order of the world? (Avi, 178) As Captain Jaggery’s ostensibly moral imperative from Avi’s The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle implores, we the readers â€Å"protect the natural order of the world† through our disbelief in our heroine as reflected in our intuitive reflection upon and deconstructionalist critique of the book.  Ã‚  Ã‚   In fact, it is likely that our disbelief of Charlotte’s story is a... ...ive to males.   This in itself indicates a gender expectation on the part of the reader, one that predisposes the reader to disbelieve and should lead us all to re-examine our motivations in deconstructing the text.  Ã‚   Moreover, females and males alike colored Charlotte’s adaptation to her circumstances with a movement from a female role to a male role as if gender roles were intractable and binding from both the male and female points of view -- she wouldn’t be able to do it, despite the fact that quite possibly her own survival dictated she probably could have not done otherwise!   Once again, logic dictates that we at least acknowledge that our inability to accept Charlotte’s account could be more of a reflection of our gender expectations than her twisting of the truth.    Works Cited: Avi. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. New York: Avon Books.1990.

Mark Twain Essay -- essays research papers fc

Mark Twain was a pilot, a comic lecturer, a humorist, a short story writer, and a novelist, to name a few of his many accomplishments. On November 30, 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain, became the first man of any importance ever to be born west of the Mississippi River. He has become an icon as the American writer. This is because his way of writing cannot be simulated by Europeans or anyone else, due to the fact that the western setting of America creates a whole new atmosphere and style of writing. Mark Twain is a classic American writer that acquired fame by using satire, writing with single-minded use of words, and by writing the way that most people think and speak. Twain writes with single-minded use of words, which is understood to be plain and simple, yet still intelligent, which enhances American literature. He writes what comes into his mind without fear. This is an example from Huckleberry Finn: ... "then comes a h-wack! bum! bum! bumble-umble-um-bum-bum-bum-bum - and the thunder would go rumbling and grumbling away" ... (Twain 45). This enriches American literature, because it is a clever way, and the only way to make the reader actually seem to hear and feel the sounds the writer is trying to convey. This is an example from Tom Sawyer : "Set her back on the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! chow! ch-chow-wow! chow!". (Twain 15). This dialect can be explained as a familiar speech spoken around us all the time. It is the speech of the illiterate, the preliterate, the children, and the poor people (Bloom 46). This is actually a very intelligent style of writing, for it is difficult for an author to write in a different level of dialect than they actually speak. The reader can tell that this dialect isn’t Twain’s own, since he doesn’t write with it in every part of the book. Huckleberry Finn is supposed to be written from Huck’s point of view. The story is written as he would speak it, so mistakes inevitably appear. However, this single- minded dialect was worked, composed, and written by Twain. It was not done haphazardly (Bloom 46). American literature would not be the same if not for Twain’s ideas for ways of writing in a way that spectacularly conveys the feelings of touch, sound, and sight by the use of single-minded words. Another way that Mark Twain enriche... ...inded words captures the reader’s attention, making them feel almost as if they are in the book themselves. His masterful use of the vernacular portrays the speech of early rural America. Twain’s use of the vernacular lets the reader read more smoothly since they do not have to pay attention to the structural significance of the word. Since Mark Twain was the first truly great western author to define American writing, he has opened the way for many future authors to come. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. Interpretations of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. NewYork: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Clemens, Samuel L. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. NewYork: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1953. Clemens, Samuel L. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. NewYork: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1958. Http://galenet.gale.com/a/acp/netacgi/nph...thor-search.html/&r=1&f=l3;1; + "1647-1".ID. Kesterson, David B. ed. Critics on Mark Twain. Florida: University of Miami Press, 1973. Rasmussen, Kent R. Mark Twain A to Z. NewYork: Facts on File, Inc., 1995. Stapleton, Michael, comp. The Cambridge Guide to English Literature. NewYork: Cambridge University Press, 1983.

James Joyce Concept of Epiphany Essay

James Joyce concept of epiphany is one concerned with a move away from religious transcendentalism towards secular moments in which the subjective experience of the moment harks to a transcendental sense of belonging, awe or inspiration (Barry 2002). This is notably captured in two of his texts known as A Portrait of an Artist and The Dubliners. Using two examples taken from these two texts alongside critiques put forward by certain literary critics, we will attempt to analyse his concept of epiphany in relation to other significant literary devices that he employs. In Joyce’s text A Portrait of an Artist, the narrative can be viewed as moving away from the notion of an objective account of reality. This rejection of realism, prevalent in the realist novel of the early nineteenth century, results in a certain form of ambiguity that has come to define many fellow modernists. Divorcing from the associated omniscient narrative styles of the earlier periods, modernist writers began to take on a great range of new forms and styles, one of which being the employment of the epiphany formerly used commonly in religious writing (Bennet & Royle 2004). In A Portrait of an Artist, this acts in changing the perspective of reality that is being explored by the author, which is achieved through an indulgence of ambiguity rather than process of deduction. This ambiguity is captured in a vagueness in both the author’s narrative and the protagonist’s thoughts throughout the text. For instance, in one extract taken from the text expressing the thoughts of the protagonists direct experience, we can see this ambiguity turn into an epiphany that refers to the experience itself and acts in combining it with other subjective experiences. For instance, on reflection of his own reaction or response to the direct experience he is accounting for, the protagonist enters into the ambiguity of his own thoughts, stating that: ‘O how cold and strange it was to think of that! All the dark was cold and strange. There were pale strange faces there, great eyes like carriage-lamps. They were the ghosts of murderers, the figures of marshals who had received their death-wound on battlefields far away over the sea. What did they wish to say that their faces were so strange?’ (Joyce 2003, 59) In this extract we can see through the division of perspective and perception that the narrator is not observing, documenting or accounting for the experience of the protagonist. Rather, he is allowing the subject the freedom to recall the experience and, in doing so, transcend both the objective reality being accounted for and the form of the literary function. This allows the conscious mind of the character to question their own direct response and reinterpret the reality of the moment by way of an epiphany. This shift in perspective from the reality being charted by the omniscient observer to that of a reflective and ambiguous account being drawn out in the description of the experience itself is referred to by the scholar and critic Peter Barry. In his text Beginning Theory Barry suggests that this is ’the loss of the real’, that he warns can lead to legitimizing ’a callous indifference to suffering’ (Barry 2006, 89). However, this loss of the real is perhaps the antithesis of what Joyce is attempting to evoke in his concept of the epiphany. In essence, the loss of the real is something of an awakening of the transcendental marking the beginning of a psychological reality. This premise could perhaps be seen as a stream of consciousness that could be used to examine the transcendental connectedness between the people and members of a community on the basis of intellectual, as well as objective, reality. Through the techniques incorporated in this style of narrative it is possible to allow the reader to see the psychological reality of the character and have access to their experiences, making the relationship between objective reality and the subject a semiotic one. In this sense, the epiphany is a challenge to the reader. Furthermore, the transcendental reality that it refers to is also secular, as it refers to the subjective experience as the catalyst, rather than any form of divinity as a measurement. In Dubliners, we can see that the premise of Joyce’s city is based upon the idea of nationalism and modernism that was prevalent throughout Europe at his time of writing. This nationalism is personified in the city, which acts as the source of experience and reflection. In many ways, this may be understandably regarded as the replacement for the transcendental God at the heart of religious epiphanies. This is because the object of the city is given as being in natural sync with the individual‘s subjective experience. Essentially, it is the catalyst for the individual’s semiotic relationship with the world and the source of their reflection. Essentially, the city, or city life, is the source of this transcendental epiphany, which makes it a very different environment to the objective and macabre city of some of Joyce’s contemporaries. In one extract, Joyce reveals this transcendental moment and how it combines with other experiential referents through the means of the epiphany. He states that: ‘Walk along a strand, strange land, come to a city gate, sentry there old ranker too, Tweedy’s big moustaches leaning on a long kind of a spear. `Wander` through awned streets. Turband faces going by. Dark caves of carpet shops, big man, Turko the terrible, seated cross legged smoking a coiled pipe. Cries of sellers in the streets. Drink water scented with fennel, sherbet. Wander along all day. Might meet a robber or two. Well, meet him. Getting on to sundown. The shadows of the mosques along the pillars: priest with a scroll rolled up. A shiver of the trees, signal, the evening wind. I pass their dark language. High wall: beyond strings twanged. Night sky moon, violet, colour of Molly’s new garters. Strings. Listen. A girl playing one of those instruments what do you call them: dulcimers. I pass.’ (Joyce 2007, 124) In this extract, we can once again see this shift away from any objective detail and move towards a reflective and subjective account of the experience. Joyce describes the city in relation to the referential meaning of each individual sign as the protagonist combines the account with their experience. This subjective and fluid account of the environment and its many innate objects is then transcended via the epiphany of the experience without reference to any God. Rather, it is the relationship with the city that evokes such the depiction and seemingly alive narrative. Referring to this detail, literary critic Raymond Williams states that: ‘In Joyce, the laws and the conventions of traditional observation and communication have apparently disappeared. The consequent awareness is intense and fragmentary, subjective primarily, yet in the very form of its subjectivity including others who are now with the buildings, the noises, the sights and smells of the city, parts of this single and racing consciousness.’Â   (Williams 1973, 1) It would appear that Joyce is conscious of his use of the concept of epiphany. It would appear that in applying it in a secular manner, he is rejecting the notion of a God or objective transcendental truth. It would seem that this is because Joyce believes that it is the experience itself and the reflection rather than response of the individual that can awaken the transcendental realm and semiotic reality that lies within experience itself. Essentially, without the notion of the epiphany, the narrative would be veering away from the truth of experience itself and would negate the very social and relative apparatus that constitutes our being. Bibliography Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002. Bennet, Andrew. & Royle, Nicholas. Introduction to Literature Criticism and Theory Harlow: Pearson Education, 2004. Joyce, James. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man London: Penguin Classics, 2003. Joyce, James. Dubliners Oxford: Penguin Classics, 2007. Williams, Raymond. The Country and the City London: Chatto & Windas, 1973.