The Diplomatic Efforts To End WWII Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Diplomatic Efforts To End WWII - Assignment Example However, America supported the Nationalist wing but remained neutral till the very end (Butow). The Attack on Pearl Harbor: With the passage of time, it was observed that relations between Japan and America were growing weak which eventually resulted in the attack on Pearl Harbor. America along with other countries condemned Japan’s growing influence and its strategy to expand its boundaries by getting into wars with the neighboring countries. To maintain its dominance in the region, Japan attacked the U.S naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack was intended to keep the U.S military away from entering or invading the military actions of Japan. This attacked changed the nature of relationship between Japan and America and thus provoking America to enter in the war with Japan which caused huge damages to the Japanese nation. End of the War: We find no significant clue or the evidences that could state clearly that what ended the war in 1945 and there is no evidence of t hat could prove the most highlighted controversy that the use of atomic bomb or a nuclear weapon was the reason to end the war. However, the reasons for ending the war can be concluded on the formation of three national consensuses that: 1- The use of nuclear weapons was justified 2- The war ended because of their use 3- The use of the weapons was justified morally as saving more lives than they cost (Sherwin). American Policy and Strategy: In 1943, President Roosevelt declared the ending of war by stating it as the ‘unconditional surrender† of the Axis powers. The term ‘unconditional surrender’ was coined to declare that no one after Japan and Germany would ever try to threaten the peace of the region. America declared its actions as a need to restore peace and harmony in the region (Sherwin). Japanese Strategy and Policy: Japanese devised a new strategy to overcome the defeat they have incurred during the war by the hands of Americans. The Japanese leaders did not see their condition as severe in fact they devised a new military-political plan to overcome this defeat. They thought that this plan would be sufficient enough to mark the ending of the war as satisfactory. This plan which they named Ketsu Go contained the fundamental idea that Americans despite their strong material power are brittle creatures. Japanese believed that by giving huge loss to Americans on the Home lands would mark an end on the war. Japanese calculated the strength of American force and the command. But after the Imperial conference in June, they sanctified the Ketsu Go plan. Japanese proposed the fact in their policy papers that the starvation from the food could bring them more causalities than the battle with America (Butow). An Insight on What Ended the War: Truman became the President of America in 1945 when World War II was almost getting over in Europe. Hitler committed suicide which marked the surrender of Germany. However, in Pacific the war was sti ll on its highest peak with Japan fighting back like a warrior with America. With the new President Truman, military officials proposed the plan with Allied invasion on Japan, America can gain the victory. Truman knew about the plan which was planned on using it as his second option; the use of the most terrible weapon that would destruct and damage the entire country known in

Milk Plant Essay Example for Free

Milk Plant Essay Activities related to various milk reception take place in this milk reception dock. Obviously, this section should have adequate space for unloading of cans, sampling, grading, weighing, testing and storage of milk and cleaning of cans. Generally this RMRD is provided with interconnected chain conveyors to transfer the cans from the unloading point to the weigh balance and from the outlet of the can washer to the loading point. Other equipment that find a place in this RMRD include weigh balance, dump tank, can washer etc. Milk Processing Section It is located next to the RMRD section. This section shall be spacious enough to accommodate milk chiller, pasteurizer (usually HTST in large dairies), homogenizer, cream separator, milk storage tanks, Cleaning In Place tanks (CIP tanks) and reconstitution unit. Raw milk tanks are generally located at an elevated level Milk Filling Section Sachet filing machines are installed in this section. Standardized, pasteurized milk is stored in tanks located at higher level than the ground to facilitate gravity feeding. The filled up pouches are transferred by conveyor belt and stored in crates and in turn the crates are moved to the chilling chamber which is located next to the milk filling section. Immediately next to the milk filling section is the crate washer room which supplies cleaned crates to the filling section continuously. Milk Production Section This section is located adjacent to the milk processing section. The surplus fat obtained during the cream separation operation is processed as cream and this section includes cream storage tanks, butter churn, butter melting vat, ghee boilers, ghee storage tanks and ghee filling and packaging units. Deep freezer capable of bringing down the temperatures up to -30 °C is kept in this section for preserving the dairy products. Byproduct section This room is located next to the milk product section. The equipment and the utensils that find a place in this section include casein drying unit, casein vat, sour cream separator, butter churn for sour cream and facilities to handle curdled milk. Parlour Products Section In this section, equipment for the value added products like ice cream, peda, masala butter milk, shrikhand etc are provided. Milk Drying Section. In a bigger dairy, milk condensing and drying units are usually installed. This include milk condensing plant, condensed milk tanks, homogenizer, spray or drum drying equipment, nitrogen packaging chamber, and tins and carton packaging units. Quality Control Laboratory The quality control section is generally located near or at least easily accessible to the raw milk receiving dock. It has facilities to test the fluid incoming milk, milk products testing, packaging materials testing, bacteriological and mycological analysis and AGMARK grading sections. Naturally, this section accommodates all the equipment required for the quality control tests. Refrigeration and Boiler Sections Though considered auxiliary to the main dairy operations, the refrigeration and boiler sections nevertheless, do play a vital role in the processing of milk and dairy products. They can be housed in the main dairy building itself or located in a separate building adjacent to the main plant. The refrigeration section consists of ammonia compressors, receivers, chilled water tanks, etc. Condensers are usually located on the roof of the refrigeration section or outside the building. The boiler section includes the boilers, water softening units, water tanks for soft water storage and coal storage or furnace oil storage section. UTILITY Power used-11kv Transformer-750VA transformer(step down) By using it we step down voltage levels from 33kv to 11kv for distribution to substations where the 11kv is further stepped down to 415v. [pic] Low tension panel is used- Metering Panel Board- These Metering Panel Boards are made of16/2mm/ 2. 5 mm cold rolled, mild steel metal clad, free standing, totally enclosed, cubicle type, fully compartmentalized, outdoor / indoor installations and suitable for operation on 11kV, 3ph, 50Hz. , and AC earthed system. The panel contains the equipments and components complete with bus bar interconnections, control wiring, designation labels, caution notices, EB sealing and pad locking facilities wherever required. [pic] MV PANEL- The Switchboards are designed and developed keeping in mind future expansion of the Industry. All the enclosures are fabricated out of 16/14 SWG CRCA steel sheets and they are also powder coated [pic] DISTRIBUTION PANEL Distribution Panels or panel board is a type of component of electricity supply system that is used for the division of electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits. It provides a protective fuse or circuit breaker in a common enclosure. There is provision of a main switch, one or more residual [pic] STEAM- PRESSURE OF STEAM-14kg/cm2, 14 bar Types of Boilers There are many different types of boilers in the boiler room today in a variety of heating applications. There are two main categories of boilers among the different types of boilers and those two categories are steam and hot water boilers. Either of those categories can be fueled by oil, gas, or electric (although electric is uncommon for steam boilers). They have different designs and piping configurations as a steam boiler system is designed to turned the water into steam and uses gravity and pressure to deliver the heat and the hot water boiler systems are designed to simply make hot water to be circulated (by a circulator or pump) through a piping system to provide heat. Typically, hot water boilers are more efficient than steam boilers for a few reasons. First, there is less heat loss throughout the hot water piping and the shell of the boiler because the hot water boiler operates at a lower temperature than the steam boiler. This means there is less heat loss throughout the entire boiler and piping system. Secondly, because the hot water boiler operates at a lower temperature, it requires less fuel or energy to convert into heat. What kind of boiler do you have in your boiler room? [pic] Water Tube Boilers Water tube boilers have many different tubes inside of it that have water circulating through them. Hot combustion gases surround these tubes and an exchange of heat is realized from the combustion gases to the tubes and water. The water tube boilers can be built for higher capacities and pressures than the fire tube boilers because the steam and/or hot water is confined in the tubes. Water Tube Boiler sizes range from from 10 million BTU/h boilers all way up to 300 million BTU/h and these boilers are generally found in medium to large commercial/industrial use and can be either steam or hot water boiler in low to high pressure boiler applications. These boilers can be either oil boiler, coal boiler, or gas fired boiler and pass hot flue gases around tubes filled with water. Boiler combustion efficiencies depend on several factors for these boilers including: whether it is steam boiler or hot water boiler, combustion controls, flue dampers, frequency of tune-ups and/or air and/or water pre-heaters (boiler economizers). Fire Tube Boilers Fire tube boilers confine the combustion process and gases in tubes and water circulates around these tubes. Some fire tube boilers have turbulators inside of the tubes to cause turbulence of the flue gases. This increases the heat absorption into the water which makes the boiler more efficient. Fire Tube Boilers range in sizes from . 6 million BTU/h up to 50 million BTU/h boiler these use hot flue gases passing through tubes submerged in water generally found in medium to large boiler commercial/industrial use and can be either steam or hot water boilers in low to medium pressure applications. Again as with the water tube boiler combustion efficiencies depend on several factors as noted above. There are various names applied to different fire tube boilers such as: Scotch Marine, locomotive, firebox, and vertical or horizontal return tube. Condensing Boilers [pic] Condensing Hot Water Boiler Between steam and hot water and water tube and fire tube boilers there exists conventional atmospheric boilers and condensing boilers. The condensing boiler is far more efficient than the conventional atmospheric boiler. A condensing boiler typically has two heat exchangers and absorbs more heat from the flue gases. It actually absorbs so much heat from the gases that moisture in the flue gases condenses and needs a drain to drain off. This condensed liquid is highly corrosive and it is necessary for the manufacturer to build the condensing boiler out of special materials to prevent corrosion to the equipment. Typically, the flue is PVC pipe or stainless steel and is resistant to the corrosive effects of the condensation. Additionally, because so much heat is removed from the flue gases, the products of the combustion process need help to be safely vented. Usually a fan is used to either push or pull these gases out of a vent. Condensing boilers are typically rated at 90 plus efficiency ratings whereas the conventional atmospheric boilers are typically rated at around 80 percent plus. Conventional Atmospheric Boilers Conventional atmospheric boilers do not use a blower motor to remove the combustion byproduct gases. Instead they rely on the combustion gases to have enough heat to cause the gases to rise through the flue and channeled safely outside of the dwelling. If for some reason too much heat is removed from the flue gases condensation can occur inside the flue or chimney. This condensation can have corrosive effects to both the flue and the chimney and cause severe problems. It is important that a qualified HVAC technician inspect the boiler and that they check of the temperature of the flue gases. Using a combustion analyzer, a qualified technician can tune the boiler to make sure that the temperature of the flue gases is set to optimum levels so that the gases will properly vent and that the gases do not have too much heat in them. If the flue gases are too hot then you are losing efficiency up the flue. If the flue gases do not have enough heat in them then you can have condensation issues which cause corrosion. Have your boiler checked and inspected at least annually to maintain optimum efficiency. Electric Boiler One other type not mentioned above is the electric boiler. One could say that an electric hot water heater is an electric boiler although there are electric boilers that can heat water to steam temperatures. Boilers can use many types of fuels (oil, gas, coal, wood, and electric power) to heat water (or other liquids) but the main focus of Boiler Types article was to categorize the mechanical aspects and differences. [pic] Designing a process line In the dairy raw milk passes through several stages of treatment in various types of processing equipment before reaching the consumer in the form of a finished, refined product. Production usually takes place continuously in a closed process, where the main components are connected by a system of pipes. The type of treatment involved and the design of the process depend on the end product. The process described in this chapter is general milk pasteurisation. This process is the basic operation in market milk processing, and also constitutes an important pretreatment stage in a chain of dairy processes such as cheesemaking and cultured milk production. The aim is to present some of 190 Dairy Processing Handbook/chapter 7 the considerations which the plant designer has to face when planning a whole milk pasteurisation plant. Process design considerations There are many aspects to be considered when a process line is designed. They can vary and be very complex, which places considerable demands on those responsible for the preliminary planning. Project engineering always involves a compromise between different requirements such as: †¢ Product-related – concerning the raw material, its treatment and the quality of the end product. †¢ Process-related – concerning plant capacity, selection of components and their compatibility, degree of process control, availability of heating and cooling media, cleaning of process equipment, etc. †¢ Economic – that the total cost of production to stipulated quality standards is as low as possible. †¢ Legal – legislation stipulating process parameters as well as choice of components and system solutions. Fig. 7. 1 Generalised block chart of the milk pasteurisation process. The process illustrated in figure 7. 1 deals with heat treatment – pasteurisation – of whole milk, e. g. market milk for sale to consumers. Some legal requirements In most countries where milk is processed into various products, certain requirements are laid down by law to protect consumers against infection by pathogenic micro-organisms. The wording and recommendations may vary, but the combination below covers the most commonly stated requirements: †¢ Heat treatment The milk must be heat treated in such a way that all pathogenic microorganisms are killed. A minimum temperature/holding time of 72 °C for 15 seconds Holding Tube Raw milk storage Heat Treatment intermediate storage Clarification process illustrated in figure 7. 1 deals with heat treatment – pasteurisation – of whole milk, e. g. market milk for sale to consumers Some legal requirements In most countries where milk is processed into various products, certain requirements are laid down by law to protect consumers against infection by pathogenic micro-organisms. The wording and recommendations may vary, but the combination below covers the most commonly stated requirements: †¢ Heat treatment The milk must be heat treated in such a way that all pathogenic microorganisms are killed. A minimum temperature/holding time of 72 °C for 15 seconds must be achieved. †¢ Recording The heating temperature must be automatically recorded and the transcript saved for a prescribed period of time. †¢ Clarification prior to heat treatment As milk often contains solid matter such as dirt particles, leucocytes (white blood corpuscles) and somatic cells (of udder tissue), it must be clarified. Since pasteurisation is less likely to be effective if bacteria are ensconced in lumps and particles in the milk, clarification must take place upstream of heating. Milk can be clarified in a filter or, more effectively, in a centrifugal clarifier. †¢ Preventing reinfection Heat exchangers are calculated so that a higher pressure should be maintained in the pasteurised milk flow compared to the unpasteurised milk and service media. If a leakage should occur in the heat exchanger, pasteurised milk must flow into the unpasteurised milk or cooling medium, and not in the opposite direction. In order to safeguard that a booster pump to create a pressure differential is often required and in certain countries it is mandatory. In the event of temperature drop in the pasteurised product due to a temporary shortage of heating medium, the plant must be provided with a flow diversion valve to divert the insufficiently heated milk back to the balance tank. Equipment required The following equipment is required for a remote controlled process: †¢ Silo tanks for storing the raw milk. †¢ Plate heat exchanger for heating and cooling, a holding tube and a hot water unit. †¢ Centrifugal clarifier (as only whole milk is to be treated, a centrifugal separator is not needed in this example). †¢ Intermediate storage tank for temporary storage of processed milk. †¢ Pipes and fittings for connecting main components and pneumatically operated vaves for controlling and distributing the product flow and cleaning fluids. †¢ Pumps for transportation of milk through the entire milk treatment plant. †¢ Control equipment for control of capacity, pasteurisation temperature and valve positions. †¢ Various service systems: – water supply – steam production. – refrigeration for coolant – compressed air for pneumatically operated units – electric power – drain and waste water. Most of the various service systems are described in chapter 6. 11. Service media requirements are calculated after the plant design is agreed upon. Thus the temperature programme for pasteurisation must be known, as well as the specifications for all other areas where heating and cooling are needed (cold storage, cleaning systems, etc. ), before the number and power of electrically operated machines, number of pneumatically operated units, working hours of the plant, etc.can be determined. Such calculations are not presented in this book. Choice of equipment Silo tanks The number and size of silo tanks are determined by the raw milk delivery schedules and volume of each delivery. In order to operate the plant continuously without stoppages due to lack of raw material, a 7-hour supply of [pic] raw milk must be available. Preferably the milk should have been stored for at least 1 – 2 hours before being processed, as natural degassing of the milk takes place during Legal requirements for: †¢ Heat treatment. †¢ Recording †¢ Clarification prior to heat treatment †¢ Preventing reinfection According to regulations set by the European Communities the heat treatment equipment must be approved or authorised by the competent authority and at least fitted with †¢ automatic temperature control †¢ recording thermometer †¢ automatic safety device preventing insufficient heating †¢ adequate safety system preventing the mixture of pasteurised or sterilised milk with incompletely heated milk and †¢ automatic recording device for the safety system referred to in the preceding intent. 192 Dairy Processing Handbook/chapter 7 that period of time. Short periods of agitation are acceptable, but agitation is not really needed until about 5 – 10 minutes before start of emptying, to equalise the overall quality. This avoids interference with the natural degassing process. Plate heat exchanger The main aim of pasteurising milk is to destroy pathogenic micro-organisms. To achieve this, the milk is normally heated to not less than 72 °C for at least 15 seconds and then cooled rapidly. These parameters are stipulated by law in many countries. [pic] When the relevant parameters are known, the platage (dimensioning) of the plate heat exchanger can be calculated. In the present example, the parameters are: †¢ Plant capacity 20 000 l/h †¢ Temperature programme 4 °C – 72 °C – 4 °C †¢ Regenerative effect 94% †¢ Temperature of the heating medium 74 – 75 °C †¢ Temperature of the coolant +2 °C The demand for service media (steam, water and ice-water) is also calculated, as this substantially influences the choice of valves for steam regulation and ice-water feed. Connection plates between the sections of the plate heat exchanger are provided with inlets and outlets for product and service media. The inlet and outlet connections can be oriented either vertically or horizontally. The ends of the plate heat exchanger (frame and pressure plate) can likewise be fitted with inlets and outlets. Dimensioning data for the plate heat exchanger are given in chapter 6. 1. Hot water heating systems Hot water or saturated steam at atmospheric pressure can be used as the heating medium in pasteurisers. Hot steam, however, is not used because of the high differential temperature. The most commonly used heating medium is therefore hot water typically about 2 – 3 °C higher than the required temperature of the product. Steam is delivered from the dairy boiler at a pressure of 600 – 700 kPa (6 – 7 bar). This steam is used to heat water, which in turn heats the product to pasteurisation temperature. The water heater in figure 7. 2 is a closed system consisting of a specially designed, compact and simple cassette type of plate heat exchanger (3) equipped with a steam regulating valve (2) and a steam trap (4). The service water is circulated by the centrifugal pump (5) via the heater (3) and the heating section of the pasteuriser. The function of the expansion vessel (7) is to compensate for the increase in the volume of the water that takes place when it is heated. The system also includes pressure and temperature indicators as well as safety and ventilation valves (8). Temperature control A constant pasteurisation temperature is maintained by a temperature controller acting on the steam regulating valve (ref. 2 in figure 7. 2). Any tendency for the product temperature to drop is immediately detected by a sensor in the product line before the holding tube. The sensor then changes the signal to the controller, which opens the steam regulating valve to supply more steam to the water. This increases the temperature of the circulating water and stops the temperature drop in the product. Holding The length and size of the externally located holding tube are calculated according to the known holding time and hourly capacity of the plant and the pipe dimension, typically the same as for the pipes feeding the pasteurisation plant. Dimensioning data for the holding tube are given in chapter 6. 1. Typically the holding tube is covered by a stainless steel hood to preventing people from being burnt when touching and from radiation as well. Pasteurisation control It is essential to be certain that the milk has in fact been properly pasteurised before it leaves the plate heat exchanger. If the temperature drops below 72 °C, the unpasteurised milk must be kept apart from the already pasteurised product. To accomplish this, a temperature transmitter and flow diversion valve are fitted in the pipe downstream of the holding tube. The valve returns unpasteurised milk to the balance tank if the temperature transmitter detects that the milk passing it has not been sufficently heated. Pasteuriser cooling system As already noted, the product is cooled mainly by regenerative heat exchange. The maximum practical efficiency of regeneration is about 94 – 95%, which means that the lowest temperature obtained by regenerative cooling is about 8 – 9 °C. Chilling the milk to 4 °C for storage therefore requires a cooling medium with a temperature of about 2 °C. Ice water can only be used if the final temperature is above 3 – 4 °C. For lower temperatures it is necessary to use brine or alcohol solutions to avoid the risk of freezing cooling media. The coolant is circulated from the dairy refrigeration plant to the point of use as shown in figure 7. 4. The flow of coolant to the pasteuriser cooling section is controlled to maintain a constant product outlet temperature. This is done by a regulating circuit consisting of a temperature transmitter in the outgoing product line, a temperature controller in the control panel and a regulating valve in the coolant supply line. The position of the regulating valve is altered by the controller in response to signals from the transmitter. The signal from the transmitter is directly proportional to the temperature of the product leaving the pasteuriser. This signal is often connected to a temperature recorder in the control panel and recorded on a graph, together with the pasteurisation temperature and the position of the flow diversion valve. Booster pump to prevent reinfection Care must be taken to avoid any risk of contamination of the pasteurised product by unpasteurised product or cooling medium. If any leakage should occur in the pasteuriser, it must be in the direction from pasteurised product to unpasteurised product or cooling medium. This means that the pasteurised product must be under higher pressure[pic] than the medium on the other side of the heat exchanger plates. A booster pump, ref. 2 in figure 7. 3, is therefore installed in the product line, either after the holding section or before the heating section. The latter position minimises the operating temperature of the pump and prolongs its life. The pump increases the pressure and maintains a positive differential pressure on the pasteurised product side, throughout the regenerative and cooling sections of the pasteuriser. Installation of a booster pump is specified in the legal requirements for pasteurisation in some coun The complete pasteuriser A modern milk pasteuriser, complete with equipment for operation, supervision and control of the process, is assembled of matching components into a sophisticated process unit. Balance tank The float-controlled inlet valve regulates the flow of milk and maintains a constant level in the balance tank. If the supply of milk is interrupted, the level will begin to drop. As the pasteuriser must be full at all times during operation to prevent the product from burning on to the plates, the balance tank is often fitted with a low-level electrode which transmits a signal as soon as the level reaches the minimum point. This signal actuates the flow diversion valve, which returns the product to the balance tank. The milk is replaced by water and the pasteuriser shuts down when circulation has continued for a certain time. Feed pump The feed pump supplies the pasteuriser with milk from the balance tank, which provides a constant head. Tries . [pic] Flow controller The flow controller maintains the flow through the pasteuriser at the correct value. This guarantees stable temperature control and a constant length of the holding time for the required pasteurisation effect. Often the flow controller is located after the first regenerative section. Regenerative preheating The cold untreated milk is pumped through the first section in the pasteuriser, the preheating section. Here it is regeneratively heated with pasteurised milk, which is cooled at the same time. If the milk is to be treated at a temperature between the inlet and outlet temperatures of the regenerative section, for example clarification at 55 °C, the regenerative section is divided into two sections. The first section is dimensioned so that the milk leaves at the required temperature of 55 °C. After being clarified the milk returns to the pasteuriser, which completes the regenerative preheating in the second section. Pasteurisation Final heating to pasteurisation temperature with hot water, normally of a temperature 2 – 3 °C higher than the pasteurisation temperature (? t = 2 – 3 °C), takes place in the heating section. The hot milk continues to an external tubular holding cell. After the hold, the temperature of the milk is checked by a sensor in the line. It transmits a continuous signal to the temperature controller in the control panel. The same signal is also transmitted to a recording instrument which records the pasteurisation temperature. Flow diversion A sensor after the holding cell transmits a signal to the temperature monitor. As soon as this signal falls below a preset value, corresponding to a specified minimum temperature, the monitor switches the flow diversion valve to diversion flow. In many plants the position of the flow diversion valve is recorded together with the pasteurisation temperature. For the location of the flow diversion valve, various solutions are available to satisfy local regulations and recommendations. Below are three alternatives which are commonly utilised: 1 The flow diversion valve is situated just after the holding cell. Where a booster pump is installed, the valve is located before the pump. If the temperature drops under preset level the valve diverts the flow to the balance tank and the pump stops. The flow in the regenerative and cooling sections thus comes to a standstill (even when no booster pump is integrated). After a short while, without temperature increase, the heat exchanger is emptied, cleaned and sanitised. When satisfactory heating is possible the plant is restarted. 2 The flow diversion valve is located after the cooling section of the plant. Following a drop of temperature the flow is diverted to the balance tank and the plant is emptied of product, cleaned and sanitised. The plant is then ready for restart when the temperature conditions are acceptable again. 3 The flow diversion valve is located between the holding cell and the boster pump. If the temperature drops the valve diverts the flow. The booster pump is not stopped, but other valves around the heat exchanger will automatically be positioned so that the milk in the regenerative and cooling sections will be circulated to maintain the right pressure in the plant. This also preserves a proper temperature balance. When the heating conditions are acceptable the process can be resumed without intermediate cleaning. Cooling After the holding section the milk is returned to the regenerative section(s) for cooling. Here the pasteurised milk gives up its heat to the cold incoming milk. The outgoing pasteurised milk is then chilled with cold water, icewater, a glycol solution or some other refrigerant, depending on the required temperature. The temperature of the chilled milk is normally recorded together with the pasteurisation temperature and the position of the flow diversion valve. The graph consequently shows three curves. Centrifugal clarifier As the milk in the present example is not going to be separated into skimmilk and cream, a centrifugal clarifier is shown in figure 7. 6.

Project management principles

Project management principles Introduction of project management Project management is a planned and structured effort to achieve an objective or is the process of managing, allocating, and timing available resources to achieve the desired goal of a project in an efficient and expedient manner, for example, creating a new system or constructing a project. Project management is widely recognized as a practical way of ensuring that projects meet objectives and products are delivered on time, within budget and to correct quality specification, while at the same time controlling or maintaining the scope of the project at the correct level. Project management includes developing a project plan, which includes defining and confirming the project goals and objectives, identifying tasks and how goals will be achieved, quantifying the resources needed, and determining budgets and timelines for completion. It also includes managing the implementation of the project plan, along with operating regular controls to ensure that there is accurate and objective information on performance relative to the plan, and the mechanisms to implement recovery actions where necessary. Projects usually follow major phases or stages (with various titles for these), including feasibility, definition, project planning, implementation, evaluation and support/maintenance History Project management has been practiced since the early civilization. Until 1900 civil engineering projects were generally managed by creative architects and engineers by their selves, among those for example Christopher Wren (1632-1723) , Thomas Telford (1757-1834) and Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) It has been since the 1950s, that organizations started applying systemic project management tools and techniques to complex projects. Henry Gantt (1861-1919), the father of planning and control techniques. As a discipline, Project Management developed from diverse fields of application including construction, engineering and defense. In the United States, the two forefathers of project management are Henry Gantt, called the father of planning and control techniques, who is famously acknowledged for his use of the Gantt chart as a project management tool, and Henri Fayol for his creation of the 5 management functions, which form the basis for the body of knowledge related with project and program management. Both Gantt and Fayol were known as being students of Frederick Winslow Taylors theories of scientific management. His work is the forerunner to modern project management tools including work breakdown structure (WBS) and resource allocation. Principles of project management The Success Principle The main goal of project management is to create a successful product. Without making a successful product there is no good point in incurring the project Management overhead cost. opposing to conventional wisdom, there have been many Projects that have been â€Å"On time and within budget† but the product has not been successful, and similarly many that have not been â€Å"On time and within budget† yet the product has been very successful. The Commitment Principle A mutually acceptable assurance between a project sponsor and a project team must exist before a viable project exists. A project sponsor is a knowledgeable person in place of the eventual owner of the product of the project and who is responsible for providing the necessary resources (money, goods, services, and general direction, as appropriate.) A project team is a knowledgeable and qualified group capable and willing to undertake the work of the project. A mutually acceptable assurance is one in which there is agreement on the goals and objectives of the project in terms of the products scope, quality grade, time to completion and final cost. The Tetrad-Tradeoff Principle The core variables of the project management process, namely: product scope, quality grade, time-to-produce and cost-to-complete must all be mutually consistent. The core variables of scope, quality, time and cost are interrelated rather similar to a four-cornered frame with flexible joints. One corner can be anchored and another moved, but not without affecting the other two. The Primary Communication Channel (or Unity-of-Command) Principle A single channel of communication must exist between the project sponsor and the project team leader for all decisions affecting the result of the project. This principle is essential for the effective and efficient administration of the project Commitment. The owner of the eventual product, if represented by more than one Person, must nevertheless speak with one voice. Similarly, at any given time, the projects team must have a single point of responsibility, a project manager, for the work of the project. Such person must have the skills, experience, dedication, commitment, authority and tenacity to lead the project to success. The Cultural Environment (or Suitability) Principle An informed management must provide a helpful cultural environment to enable the Project team to produce its best work. An informed management is one which understands the project management process. A supportive cultural environment is one in which the project is clearly backed by management, and plan team members are enabled to produce their best work without unnecessary bureaucratic hindrance. This rule includes the need for management to ensure that the leadership profile and management style are suited to both the type of project and its phase in the project life-cycle. The Process Principle Effective and efficient policies and procedures must be in place for the conduct of the project commitment. Such policies and procedures must cover, at a minimum, clear roles and responsibilities, delegation of authority, and processes for managing the scope of work, including changes, maintenance of quality, and schedule and cost control. The Life-Cycle Principle Plan first, then do. A successful project management process relies on two activities planning first, and then doing. These two sequential activities form the basis of every project life-cycle, and can be expanded to suit the control requirements of every type of project in every area of project management application. The project life-cycle, characterized by a series of ‘milestones determines when the project starts, the ‘control gates through which it must pass, and when the project is finished. Appraise the viability of projects and develop success/failure criteria Introduction There are a few factors to consider before any actual projects begin. The project developers must contain steps or project phases, most importantly, the original concept must be determined, and so as feasibility study, business plan, risk assessment, public enquiry, permission, organization, planning, design, procurement, fulfillment, test, handover, economic life. Project managers has the task of monitoring projects to be guided into a success, unfortunately, there are some projects that were not completed on time, over budget or being canceled in the process of building it. In general, there are common reasons that are usually found for project failures, these are a few reasons: lack of user involvement, incorrect planning or lack of planning, incomplete requirements, lack of resources, incorrect estimations. According to the 1994 Standish CHAOS statement there are top 10 factors found in successful projects. These factors are listed in Table below Project success factors Project Success Factors % of Responses User Involvement 15.9% Executive Management Support 13.9% Clear Statement of Requirements 13.0% Proper Planning 9.6% Realistic Expectations 8.2% Smaller Project Milestones 7.7% Competent Staff 7.2% Ownership 5.3% Clear Vision and Objectives 2.9% Hard-Working, Focused Staff 2.4% Some factors that contributed to project will be discussed below: User Involvement †¢ One of the key to success in a project is user involvement, without the users involvement, it may cause of failure to the entire project. Even if the project was delivered on time, and on budget, a project has a high rate of failing if the project does not meet users needs. -Executive Management Support †¢ This influences the process and progress of a Project and lack of executive input can put a project at a severe disadvantage. -Clear Statement of Requirements -Proper Planning †¢ Proper planning is one of the most important parts of developing a project, having improper planning of the project may cause a severe disadvantage to the project and result to a failure. -Realistic Expectations †¢ Expectations of the project development outcome must be rational. If expectations in developing a project are not accurate, it may cause to a failure in building the project itself. -Smaller Project Milestones †¢ One of the things to be needed for a complete success of a project is completing smaller project millstones, the small details of a project should not be disregarded for it may result to a minor failure. If these smaller milestones are not being achieved, it may cause a major problem in the completion of the project. -Competent Staff †¢ Staff members play the biggest role in a project development, without the proper knowledge or skill of a staff member may cause a poor outcome to a development of a project. Staff members should be proper trained and have the proper experience before getting involved with the task that they will be handling during the project development. -Ownership -Clear Vision and Objectives -Hard working †¢ Every staff of person that is involved in a project development must be passionate and responsible in achieving objectives. Uncommitted staff members may cause a improper outcome in the building process First of all Figure out what business you are in, and then mind your own business. Figure out what business you are in. Make sure your business is viable. Select projects that are good for your business. Understand the business value in your project and watch for changes. Be diligent in your chosen business, learning and applying best practices. Define what is inside and outside your area of responsibility. 50% of project management is simply paying attention. Understand the customers requirements and put them under version control. Thoroughly understand and document the customers requirements, obtain customer agreement in writing, and put requirements documents under version identification and change control. Requirements management is the leading success factor for systems development projects. Prepare a reasonable plan. Prepare a plan that defines the scope, schedule, cost, and approach for a reasonable project. Involve task owners in developing plans and estimates, to ensure feasibility and buy-in. If your plan is just barely possible at the outset, you do not have a reasonable plan. Use a work breakdown structure to provide coherence and completeness to minimize unplanned work. Build a good team with clear ownership. Get good people and trust them. Establish clear ownership of well-defined tasks; ensure they have tools and training needed; and provide timely feedback. Track against a staffing plan. Emphasize open communications. Create an environment in which team dynamics can gel. Move misfits out. Lead the team. Track project status and give it wide visibility. Track progress and conduct frequent reviews. Provide wide visibility and communications of team progress, assumptions, and issues. Conduct methodical reviews of management and technical topics to help manage customer expectations, improve quality, and identify problems before they get out of hand. Trust your indicators. This is part of paying attention. Use Baseline Controls. Establish baselines for the product using configuration management and for the project using cost and schedule baseline tracking. Manage changes deliberately. Use measurements to baseline problem areas and then track progress quantitatively towards solutions. Write Important Stuff Down, Share it, and Save it. If it hasnt been written down, it didnt happen. Document requirements, plans, procedures, and evolving designs. Documenting thoughts allows them to evolve and improve. Without documentation it is impossible to have baseline controls, reliable communications, or a repeatable process. Record all important agreements and decisions, along with supporting rationale, as they may resurface later. If it hasnt been tested, it doesnt work. If this isnt absolutely true, it is certainly a good working assumption for project work. Develop test cases early to help with understanding and verification of the requirements. Use early testing to verify critical items and reduce technical risks. Testing is a profession; take it seriously. Ensure Customer Satisfaction. Keep the customers real needs and requirements continuously in view. Undetected changes in customer requirements or not focusing the project on the customers business needs are sure paths to project failure. Plan early for adequate customer support products. Be relentlessly pro-active. Take initiative and be relentlessly proactive in applying these principles and identifying and solving problems as they arise. Project problems usually get worse over time. Periodically address project risks and confront them openly. Attack problems, and leave no stone unturned. Fight any tendency to freeze into day-to-day tasks, like a deer caught in the headlights. http://www.hyperthot.com/pm_princ.htm http://www.thelazyprojectmanager.com/

Essays --

The attacks of 9/11 in 2001 shed a light on many different weaknesses relevant to the security of the United States regarding communication, and disaster response. On every level of government— federal, state, and local— substandard communication methods contributed to the deaths of nearly 3000 people, as well as the growing number of people dying from illnesses that resulted from participating in the cleanup at Ground Zero. There were many communication challenges faced by agencies tasked with responding to the incident, and particularly in the case of law enforcement, these problems likely resulted in more fatalities than would have occurred had better systems been in place. This paper will discuss the communication problems that surfaced during the 9/11 disaster, the results of those problems, and the measures that have been taken to respond to those inadequacies. On September 11, 2001, two airplanes originating in Boston were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. Initially, it was unclear that the impact had been intentional, but when the second plane hit, it was evident that this was a terrorist attack. Ultimately, the two buildings collapsed because of the heat of the fire that ensued from the plane crash. Within the next hours, another plane hit the Pentagon and a fourth plane that was hijacked crashed before it reached its destination because the passengers had been able to take control of the plane. They prevented the hijackers from reaching their target, believed to be either the Capital Building or the White House, but the plane crash landed and all aboard were killed. The 9/11 Commission Report indicated that there were several fateful failures of communication at the level of the federal g... ...anslates into virtual remote offices in the vehicles of the NYPD and the FDNY. The events of 9/11 were a tragedy, and resulted in thousands of losses and injuries of first responders, civilians, airline pilots and crew, and many other groups of people. The event also resulted in the loss of a sense of security previously held by people in the United States, and the scope of the incident required the entire infrastructure and security system of the country to be reevaluated and enhanced. Although certainly all that occurred on that day must be considered devastating, it served as a wake-up call to federal, state, and local officials regarding the need for coordination and communication between relevant agencies. It appears that there have been significant advances in these areas since 2001, but the whole issue of communication is a work in progress that must continue.

Surface Anatomy Organ Location

Surface Anatomy Assignment 8th November 2012 Lungs The lungs extend from the diaphragm to just slightly superior to the clavicles and lie against the ribs anteriorly and posteriorly. The base of the lung is concave and fits over the convex area of the diaphragm. The narrow superior portion of the lung is called the apex. The apices of the lungs extend about three centimetres above the medial third of the clavicles. The medial surface of the lung is called the hilum. The hilus of the lungs is through which the bronchi, pulmonary blood vessels and nerves enter and exit.Anteriorly, they lie at the level of the costal cartilages 3-4, which is at the level of T5-7. The inferior margins of the lungs are: T-6 mid-clavicular line, T-8 at the mid-axilla, and T-10 posteriorly. Each lung is contained and protected within a double-layered membrane called the pleural membrane. The superficial layer, known as the parietal pleura affects the anterior margins of the lungs on either side. On the righ t, it is deep to the right side of the sternum between the second and fourth costal cartilages inferiolaterally to the level of the deep surface of the sixth right intercostal cartilage.On the left, deep to the sternum near the midline, inferiorly between the levels of costal cartilages 2 and 4, displaced laterally and more obliquely than left side to a point about 3 centimetres lateral to the left sternal edge at the upper margin of the sixth costal cartilage. The space created by the lateral deviation of pleura and lung on the left side is termed the cardiac notch. Heart The heart rests on the diaphragm, near the midline of the thoracic cavity in the mediastinum. An important and readily palpable landmark for the heart is the sternal angle.The sternal angle is the junction between the manubrium and the body of the sternum, and corresponds to the second costal cartilage. The apex of the heart, which is formed by the tip of the left ventricle, rests on the diaphragm at the 5th inter costal space in the midclavicular line, or 8-9 centimetres from the midsternal line. It is important to note that the apex is not the most superior part of of the heart. The lower right corner of the heart is to is found on the right 6th or 7th sternocostal junction.The base of the heart is the most superior portion of the heart and is predominantly retrosternal, located between the 2nd and 3rd costal spaces. Other margins of the heart include the anterior surface, which is deep to the sternum and the ribs, and the interior surface between the apex and and the right border which rests on the diaphragm. Liver The liver is almost completely covered by visceral peritoneum. The greater part of the liver lies under cover of the lower ribs and their cartilages, but in the epigastric fossa it comes in contact with the abdominal wall.The liver resides in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity. The exact position of the liver varies according to the posture of the body. In the erec t posture of the adult male, the edge of the liver projects about 1 centimetre below the lower margin of the right costal cartilages, and its inferior margin can often be felt in this situation if the abdominal wall is thin. In the supine position the liver recedes above the margin of the ribs and cannot then be detected by the finger; in the prone position it falls forward and is then generally palpable in a patient with loose and lax abdominal walls.Its position varies with the respiratory movements; during a deep inspiration it descends below the ribs; in expiration it is raised. Pressure from without, as in tight lacing, by compressing the lower part of the chest, displaces the liver considerably, its anterior edge frequently extending as low as the crest of the ilium. Again its position varies greatly with the state of the stomach and intestines; when these are empty the liver descends, when they are distended it is pushed upward. Stomach The stomach is found in the left upper part of the abdominal cavity.The shape of the stomach is constantly undergoing alteration; it is affected by the particular phase of the process of gastric digestion, by the state of the surrounding viscera, and by the amount and character of its contents. Its position also varies with that of the body so that it is difficult to indicate it on the surface with any degree of accuracy. The anterior surface of stomach is related to the left lobe of the liver, the anterior abdominal wall, and the distal transverse colon. The posterior surface of the stomach is related to the left side of the diaphragm, the spleen, the left kidney, and the pancreas.The greater curvature of the stomach starts at the left of the heart and runs from the opening along the left border of the body and the inferior border of the pylorus. The lesser curvature starts at the right of the heart and runs a short distance along the right border of the body and the superior border of the pylorus. (Note: Pylorus is the sphincter through which the stomach communicates with the duodenum. ) Spleen The spleen is located in the left hypochondrium and lies between the 9th and 11th ribs.The superior surface of the spleen is smooth and convex. It conforms to the concave surface of the diaphragm. Small and Large Intestines The coils of the small intestine lie mainly in the umbilical and hypogastric regions. The ascending colon passes upward through the right lumbar region, lateral to the right lateral line. The transverse colon crosses the abdomen on the confines of the umbilical and epigastric regions, its lower border being on a level slightly above the umbilicus, its upper border just below the greater curvature of the stomach.The descending colon courses down through the left lumbar region, lateral to the left lateral line, as far as the iliac crest. Kidneys The paired kidneys are located just above the waist between the peritoneum and the posterior wall of the abdomen. The kidneys sit between the low er levels of the thoracic spine and the upper regions of the lumbar spine. Specifically, the right kidney has its upper edge opposite the 11th thoracic spine and the lower edge of the 11th rib.Its lower edge is opposite the upper edges of L-3 spine and vertebral body and about 4 centimetres above the highest point of the crest of the ileum. The left kidney is usually 1. 25 centimetres higher, but being a little longer than the right, its lower limit may not be quite that much higher. The kidney is slightly lower in women and children than in men. Generally speaking, the left kidney is higher (highest border T-11 lowest border L-2) whereas the right kidney is lower (highest border T-12 lowest border L-3).The right kidney is also less enclosed by the rib cage, because of the presence of right lobe of liver above it, therefore pushing it down. Urinary Bladder The urinary bladder is a hollow organ that is situated in the pelvic cavity posterior to the pubis. It sits in the musculature o f the pelvic floor when empty. When full, or distended, it rises toward the umbilicus, carrying the peritoneal fold with it so as to leave a space of 2. 5 to 5 centimetres between it and the top of the pubis. In males it is directly anterior to the rectum; in females it is anterior to the vagina and inferior to the uterus.

The Vertical Fields Essays

The Vertical Fields Essays The Vertical Fields Essay The Vertical Fields Essay Essay Topic: Rear Window The Vertical fields the young boy starts out stating how his family and friends is a strong stand point of this text. The story begins saying, when I was a young boy, after having the traditional punch and cookies and after having sung around the fire, l, with my sister, my mother and my aunts, and Emma Jackson and her son. For me as a reader to read this up front In this story shows me how meaning his family is to him. The plot of the story goes on to show the Importance of being together as a family, especially around the holidays. Traditions come Into the story as they were almost real to me, I felt Like I was at home. The conflict of the story Is told by the mall Character, the young boy. The traditional family gathering, around the Plano to sing Christmas carols, clinching tight to one another, Christmas In a cold and damp Mollusk night. The young boy and his family go onto the midnight service. The main character is the young boy, the narrator explains this young man to be full of life at such an age. Many thoughts of love and care come from the boys mouth as he explains his mother, past and present times. He goes onto say how his mother has always put him first, far above anyone else. Next would be a minor character, his sister. His sister is a bit of the outcast, she seems to be distant to the family as she gets older and older. I think this is going to end up into some bad decisions and will hopefully she will realize how important family can be, what will see come to if there is no one else? Second there is the close family aunt who is there for the boy, his mother, and the sister. Treating them all, even the sister with equal love to them all. She is the one in the family I see being there for everyone at all times in such an important time as Christmas. Characters are not real people in this story, but they are constructed for a purpose, purpose of showing the reader of possibly placement. I put myself and my family into this story; it always seems to be so much more real from a readers eye. In this story the role of the main character performs importance of quality of life and family being together. The role of the setting in this story goes to show how the cold damp Missouri Christmas eve night is a heavy relation to almost any reader, here In Utah I could fit myself or anyone in so perfect. The character in this text definitely tells the story, partly the narrator. The story comes from such a strong point of view from the boys eye, going on telling how the Importance of his mother, the rest of his family, Christmas, and the midnight service, comes to my eyes as it would be straight from the boys mouth. The language of the story Is done very well, In a perfect understandable way, almost from someone I would know myself. The tone of the narrator Is also a strong stand point In the story; It Is a calm tone, which Is good with the Christmas theme. One of the Important Images I see In this story Is Christmas, one of the many reminders of family In this story. One of the sayings I recognized well in this story says My spine arched toward trees Ana streets walking slowly Treating deep I move clown teen sleepwalk, eyes crystallizing streets yards houses and all lives within. My perception forked upward through treetops into the Vertical Fields of space, a moment later, I breathed vapor on the rear window and with my finger, and I signed my name. A powerful ending to such a relating story.

Free Essays on Manhattan Projects

The Manhattan Project The Manhattan Project was the code name of the U.S.’s attempt to construct an atomic bomb during World War II. It was named after the Manhattan Engineer District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, because a lot of it’s earlier research was done in New York City. An atomic bomb is a weapon that uses the energy from a nuclear reaction called Fission for its destruction. The idea that mass could be changed into energy was predicted by Albert Einstein in the earlier part of the 1900’s. John D. Cockcroft and Ernest Walton confirmed this by experiments in 1932. Then in 1938, nuclear fission was discovered by German scientists, and it was feared by many of the U.S. scientists, that Hitler would try to build a fission bomb. Three Hungarian-born physicists, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, and Edward Teller asked Albert Einstein to send a letter to Franklin Roosevelt. Compelled by the letter in late 1939, Roosevelt ordered an effort to obtain an atomic weapon before Germany. At first, this program was led by Vannevar Bush, head of the National Defense Research committee and the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Then it came under control of Leslie Groves of the Army Corps of Engineers. Groves quickly bought a site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as a place for processing the Uranium-235 from the more common Uranium-238. Uranium-235 is used because it is fissionable, it releases many neutrons, and does not capture many. However, 99.3% of uranium in nature is the U-238 isotope, and only .7% is the lighter, more â€Å"fissionable† isotope U-235. Next, he gathered and combined research from many East Coast universities under direction of Arthur Compton, at the University of Chicago. He appointed theoretical physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer as the director of the weapons laboratory, which was built on an isolated mesa located at Los Alamos, New Mexico. After much work, a ... Free Essays on Manhattan Projects Free Essays on Manhattan Projects The Manhattan Project The Manhattan Project was the code name of the U.S.’s attempt to construct an atomic bomb during World War II. It was named after the Manhattan Engineer District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, because a lot of it’s earlier research was done in New York City. An atomic bomb is a weapon that uses the energy from a nuclear reaction called Fission for its destruction. The idea that mass could be changed into energy was predicted by Albert Einstein in the earlier part of the 1900’s. John D. Cockcroft and Ernest Walton confirmed this by experiments in 1932. Then in 1938, nuclear fission was discovered by German scientists, and it was feared by many of the U.S. scientists, that Hitler would try to build a fission bomb. Three Hungarian-born physicists, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, and Edward Teller asked Albert Einstein to send a letter to Franklin Roosevelt. Compelled by the letter in late 1939, Roosevelt ordered an effort to obtain an atomic weapon before Germany. At first, this program was led by Vannevar Bush, head of the National Defense Research committee and the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Then it came under control of Leslie Groves of the Army Corps of Engineers. Groves quickly bought a site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as a place for processing the Uranium-235 from the more common Uranium-238. Uranium-235 is used because it is fissionable, it releases many neutrons, and does not capture many. However, 99.3% of uranium in nature is the U-238 isotope, and only .7% is the lighter, more â€Å"fissionable† isotope U-235. Next, he gathered and combined research from many East Coast universities under direction of Arthur Compton, at the University of Chicago. He appointed theoretical physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer as the director of the weapons laboratory, which was built on an isolated mesa located at Los Alamos, New Mexico. After much work, a ...

Evaluating Causal Reasoning Example

Evaluating Causal Reasoning Example Evaluating Causal Reasoning – Coursework Example Task: Evaluating Casual Reasoning Transcendental meditation causes peace as proven when crime rate rose after the Maharishi’s School of Natural Law shifted from Washington to Iowa in 1987. Nevertheless, the proof is weak since there is no alternative causal hypothesis that has been shown. The identified error is the single cause error. What shows that the evidence is weak is the assumption that transcended alone can cause peace. Perhaps there exist other causes of peace (Govier 304). Bisphenol A causes human disease, and reduction of human contact to it can reduce diseases. This was verified by a research that was conducted using the 60-year-old American males who had the highest quantity of bisphenol A in their urine. 45percent of the males had higher possibility of getting cardiovascular illness compared to men of the same age with lesser contact to the plastic compound. The error that has been committed is post hoc. This is because, it was assumed that the cardiovascular di sease was caused after the exposure to the bisphenol A. Exposure to the compound is not the only source of the cardiovascular illness. More experiments were necessary before establishing the cause (Govier 304). Regular hugs, cause improved health as proven by the outcome of the research that was done by comparing the Canadians who got hugs frequently with the ones who did not get hugs. Those who got hugs regularly were twice likely to say their psychological health had upgraded than those who hug irregularly. Nevertheless, the proof of the causal claim is weak because of error committed by the writer. The writer committed a single cause error. There could be more causes for the improved mental health apart from hugs. The writer has neglected the likelihood that other factors can result into the improvement mental health (Govier 304).Work citedGovier, Trudy. A practical Study of Argument. Boston: MA. Cengage Learning. 2009. Print.

Black world study Intellectual Autobiography Essay

Black world study Intellectual Autobiography - Essay Example e the black historical experiences, the African-American experience, the race and ethnicity struggles, social stratification and black American renaissance movements that fostered black cultural identity (Bobo and Hudley 43). I am now aware that Africa continent is the cradle of mankind since there is existing documented anthropological evidence of existence of human beings and evidence of early civilizations in countries such as Egypt. The history of European colonization of African countries and enslavement of blacks in Western Hemisphere was critical for understanding how blacks of contributed to the diverse nature of societies across the world and how their force labor furthered overseas trade. I learned about the origins of transatlantic slave trade that mainly supplied slave labor to the southern cotton plantations in the new world between 1400 and 1800. The Jim Crow laws and Black Codes discriminated the blacks and perpetuated slavery by ensuring segregation and arrest of violent and escaping slavery. The blacks encountered extreme poverty during the Great Depression due to lack of formal jobs and low education levels (Bobo and Hudley 47). The program introduced me to the race, gender, and class oppression that affected the Black world and how the blacks struggled to overcome the various forms of enslavement, oppression, discrimination and prejudice in the society. The program enabled me understand how the black struggles against oppression led to the amendments of the US constitution such as the provisions that allowed equal participation in elections and fair justice procedures. Accordingly, black power movements strengthened human right activists who spearheaded the anti-discrimination legislation such as the Civil rights Act of 1967. I have learned that black people used civil disobedience to steer racial reforms and some organizations that spearheaded the demand for equality include Black Panther Party and Black Student Movement (Bobo and Hudley 44).

The discovery of the circadian photoreceptor Assignment

The discovery of the circadian photoreceptor - Assignment Example mid-1990s to the discovery of a new molecule known as the Cryptochrome that showed a close relation to photolyases in the bacteria cells (Nicolas and Sassone-Corsi, 60). Cryptochrome genes cry1 and cry2 coded for universal proteins, CRY 1 and CRY 2 found in almost all the kingdoms of the living organisms (Nicolas and Sassone-Corsi, 60). These proteins activated the light sensitive cofactors and cells that make the photoreceptor cells to detect light in rhythmic manner. They also act as DNA repair enzymes in case of any damage from light related radiations such as the UV light (Robert , Lucas et al, 505). The unearthing of the molecules would then give clue to the discovery of the cells of the circadian photoreceptors. Consequently, this followed the exhumation of most of the photoreceptive cells that respond to the 24- hour clock in the first quarter of 1900s (Martha , Spoelstra and Roenneberg, 931). These special cells, found to be containing a pigment known as melanopsin, would lat er acquire different names including intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGC) (Howard, Herbin and Nevo, 156). This was many decades later after the discovery of the rods and cons in the mammalian eye, making the ipRGC a new element at the time. Much of the changes in the findings into these cells did not accrue until around the year 1990s, the same time that research on the circadian molecules was very active. However slow in their activities, they were solely responsible for the change in the rhythmic day and light cycles (Martha , Spoelstra and Roenneberg, 932). In addition, the pigments have recently been active even without the presence of cones and rods thereby helping the individual to detect the slightest changes of light and darkness. Actually, the detection of... The discovery of the circadian photoreceptor The gene coding for these photoreceptors were detected by breeding of bean plant under two different conditions, of long periods and short periods. Unfortunately, the light and dark periods were not considered, therefore the experiment would prove disastrous to deal with especially in conducting the genetic analysis. Following a long struggle over many decades’ scientists in due course were able to detect some of the genes responsible for coding of these circadian rhythmic proteins. At around 1970s, the knowledge of mutagenesis would act as the focal point to the first discovery of these genes, which later would attain the name ‘clock genes’ in the Drosophila melanogaster fly.This improved the prospects of the eventual discovery of the photoreceptor cells and their molecular make up. Later on, there was an increase in the discovery of many other genes coding for the circadian rhythm from several plant as well as animal families. At around 1980s, scientists discove red a gene called HY4 that they thought was solely responsible for the blue light detection in Arabidopsis thaliana plant. More experiments conducted found out its homology in mammals and their effects attributed to the functions of photolyases. The discovery towards circadian photoreceptor proved to be challenging and deceptive over a long period. Scientists would stumble at many molecules and pigments such as the HY4 genes and the cones and rods before coming into the right conclusions. Earlier on, the cones and rods were thought to be the only cells in control for the photo-transduction in the retina of the eye.

International Finance Transactions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

International Finance Transactions - Essay Example In most cases, most international financial borrowing involves syndicated loan agreements due to the large sums of money involved. In addition, most borrowing is often for financing most international projects. These agreements varies from region to region for instance, syndicated loan agreements carried out in Europe are not similar to those carried out in America. Another aspect of syndicated loan agreements is that they have developed from the traditional way to a more sophisticated method, rendering them fast and more efficient. Syndicated loan participation agreements also offer various advantages to the lending bank as well as to the borrowers. These advantages are in the form of rapid financing of international projects, cost reduction as well as efficiency. In addition, there are three major legal and practical methods of loan transfer in relation to syndicated participation agreements. These methods include assignment, novation and sub-participation. These three major method s present various advantages and disadvantages and occur in various forms. The Assignment involves the transfer of rights or benefits from one party to another. The major transactions involving the assignment are mortgages and deed trusts. ... In this case, the method involves several legal aspects and features as in syndicated loans it is often not possible to obtain approval from all the participants of the contract. The paper will discuss the concepts of syndicated loans agreements and international finance transactions. It will also analyse in depth these loan transfer methods. It will discuss their availability and occurrence as well as their advantages and disadvantages. It will also evaluate their effectiveness and the parties involved in such transactions. International Finance Transactions The integration of the three main financial service areas – that is insurance, security and banking occurred in the 80s due to the liberalization trend of financial supervision and the heating-up competition in finance industry. However, the integration threatens the banking business since the banking industry experiences huge challenges despite owning the main position in financial structure. In addition, there is regula tion of the average rate of interests for commercial banks’ deposits and loans in nearly all the countries. Consequently, there is a reduced margin between banks’ liabilities and assets leading to intense competition among banks. Due to this, the banks can only create more chances for reducing costs, increase profits and upgrade their competence by provision of a bridge hence the securitization trends1. There are many participants in international projects with each participant bringing into the project what other participants are lacking for example technical ability, procurement of supplies, financing ability, human resources, political authority, etc. In addition, due to the complex nature of project

A Reaction essay paper on a book named Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo

A Reaction paper on a book named Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. for Ethnic studies class - Essay Example The novel is deeply engrossing and has sensitively explored the uncertainties and confusion of the young generation. I believe that the book reflects the general dilemma of youth who is caught between the good and the bad things of life. The religion and varying socio-cultural value system have increasingly become contentious because they fail to provide the contemporary society with strong uniform code of living. The clash of values and intolerance amongst the people at large needs to be tempered with forbearance and fortitude. People should become more like Ultima who interprets the spirituality and religion in terms of human values and resilience. The author has subtly introduced diversity of issues which are not only relevant but they are also vital ingredients of human life and must be nurtured for creating a better world for children. Indeed, by using magical realism, he has been able to emphasize and explain the social dilemma that people face against a covert or an overt act of untold violence and apathy. Reference Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. Grand Central Publishing. 1994.

Abstraction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Abstraction - Essay Example The basic steps that are the most tiring and complex are cut out in a bid to focus on the final video. Abstraction is not limited only to professional producers; it also applicable to amateur videos that are used for class assignments and social sites. In using electrical appliances, we tend to ignore the details of how they work. In the kitchen, we overlook the basic working principle of the microwave and just punch in the period that we want. The way its circuit was manufactured or how the embedded computer works is not a critical issue for us. The way our mobile phones function is beyond our understanding, but we usually just use the simple commands that are in the manual. Our use of ATMs at the banks is mainly limited to withdrawals, inquiries and deposits. All the steps that take place systematically behind the system are not a concern to many users. Moreover, computers mainly incorporate abstraction in their design. The minute details are skipped, and the user usually focuses on the interface he/she is provided with. For the average individual, the operating mechanism of most electronics is beyond their comprehension. By ignoring the details of the process, I am able to solve a problem using an easier option. Rather than concentrating on the details, I am able to operate, say the microwave, without any complication. Without abstraction, I would need to understand all the information that the microwave contains, including its operating mechanisms. Moreover, abstraction eliminates the need to be aware of everything about the process. In using the ATM, I do not have to understand how the whole system operates, but just what I need exactly; be it depositing, withdrawing or statement inquiries. Knowing how the whole system works is a long and tiring process in which many people are not ready to engage. Abstraction removes the need to understand the system fully before using

Firm behaviour which seeks to give considerable weight to ethical Essay - 1

Firm behaviour which seeks to give considerable weight to ethical concerns must do so at the expense of profit. Discuss ma - Essay Example Having established a definition of ethics, the question as to whether or not a business can sustain very prominent ethical principles without sacrificing profitability requires significant examination. According to Milton Friedman (2003), a respected business theorist and philosopher, the only genuine goal of a business is to ensure shareholder satisfaction and earn a profit; this over all other objectives. Friedman’s view is that attainment of profit, by which some individuals in society believe this objective to be akin to greed and materialism, supersedes the demand for sustaining the highest standards of moral and decent behaviours. For many in society, however, this is deemed unethical behaviour requiring further focus on social responsibility. There is, however, ample evidence that both profit achievement and production of ethical behaviours can be effectively balanced. Why ethics and profit can achieve equilibrium Within a business dynamic, it is recognised that leaders who publicly exhibit high standards of ethical behaviour are more apt to gain trust from employee followers, making it more motivational for employees to follow the established mission and vision of the leader (Watts 2008; Resick, Hanges, Dickson and Mitchellson 2006). According to the literature, transparency and trust are two key dimensions for establishing a cohesive organisational culture (Barrett 2011). Since ethics and trust go hand-in-hand, theoretically the ethical leader will be able to establish an organisational culture that remains unified and consistently working toward modelling ethical behaviours that have been openly demonstrated by the leadership. Business theory and marketing theory, further, indicate that once a very cohesive and cooperative organisational culture has been established, it is easier for the firm to sustain competitive advantages that are attributed to human capital development. For instance, Armstrong (2007) indicates that once trust and cohesion have been established, employee followers of the ethical leader are more committed to attaining organisational goals and more loyal to the business due to the fact that the ethical leader was able to speak to the hearts and minds of employees. Why is this important to understanding whether ethics and profit can be balanced? When an organisation is perceived by external investors to sustain a very cohesive organisational culture, they are considered to be world class organisations with much more incentive for investment potential (Very, Lubatkin, Calori and Viega 1997). The ethical leader described in the aforementioned example has managed, theoretically, to build more loyalty and commitment simply by exhibiting ethical behaviours. Concurrently, the external investor now witnesses the human capital advantages of establishing a cooperative team environment and subsequently provides investment that assists the organisation in its long-term strategic plans and objectives, such as new ca pital machinery for production or improving the marketing function. In this example, ethical behaviours served as the absolute catalyst for improving the financial situation of the business. Without having exhibited ethical behaviours, the leader would not be creating an organisation

A Reaction essay paper on a book named Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo

A Reaction paper on a book named Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. for Ethnic studies class - Essay Example The novel is deeply engrossing and has sensitively explored the uncertainties and confusion of the young generation. I believe that the book reflects the general dilemma of youth who is caught between the good and the bad things of life. The religion and varying socio-cultural value system have increasingly become contentious because they fail to provide the contemporary society with strong uniform code of living. The clash of values and intolerance amongst the people at large needs to be tempered with forbearance and fortitude. People should become more like Ultima who interprets the spirituality and religion in terms of human values and resilience. The author has subtly introduced diversity of issues which are not only relevant but they are also vital ingredients of human life and must be nurtured for creating a better world for children. Indeed, by using magical realism, he has been able to emphasize and explain the social dilemma that people face against a covert or an overt act of untold violence and apathy. Reference Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. Grand Central Publishing. 1994.

Firm behaviour which seeks to give considerable weight to ethical Essay - 1

Firm behaviour which seeks to give considerable weight to ethical concerns must do so at the expense of profit. Discuss ma - Essay Example Having established a definition of ethics, the question as to whether or not a business can sustain very prominent ethical principles without sacrificing profitability requires significant examination. According to Milton Friedman (2003), a respected business theorist and philosopher, the only genuine goal of a business is to ensure shareholder satisfaction and earn a profit; this over all other objectives. Friedman’s view is that attainment of profit, by which some individuals in society believe this objective to be akin to greed and materialism, supersedes the demand for sustaining the highest standards of moral and decent behaviours. For many in society, however, this is deemed unethical behaviour requiring further focus on social responsibility. There is, however, ample evidence that both profit achievement and production of ethical behaviours can be effectively balanced. Why ethics and profit can achieve equilibrium Within a business dynamic, it is recognised that leaders who publicly exhibit high standards of ethical behaviour are more apt to gain trust from employee followers, making it more motivational for employees to follow the established mission and vision of the leader (Watts 2008; Resick, Hanges, Dickson and Mitchellson 2006). According to the literature, transparency and trust are two key dimensions for establishing a cohesive organisational culture (Barrett 2011). Since ethics and trust go hand-in-hand, theoretically the ethical leader will be able to establish an organisational culture that remains unified and consistently working toward modelling ethical behaviours that have been openly demonstrated by the leadership. Business theory and marketing theory, further, indicate that once a very cohesive and cooperative organisational culture has been established, it is easier for the firm to sustain competitive advantages that are attributed to human capital development. For instance, Armstrong (2007) indicates that once trust and cohesion have been established, employee followers of the ethical leader are more committed to attaining organisational goals and more loyal to the business due to the fact that the ethical leader was able to speak to the hearts and minds of employees. Why is this important to understanding whether ethics and profit can be balanced? When an organisation is perceived by external investors to sustain a very cohesive organisational culture, they are considered to be world class organisations with much more incentive for investment potential (Very, Lubatkin, Calori and Viega 1997). The ethical leader described in the aforementioned example has managed, theoretically, to build more loyalty and commitment simply by exhibiting ethical behaviours. Concurrently, the external investor now witnesses the human capital advantages of establishing a cooperative team environment and subsequently provides investment that assists the organisation in its long-term strategic plans and objectives, such as new ca pital machinery for production or improving the marketing function. In this example, ethical behaviours served as the absolute catalyst for improving the financial situation of the business. Without having exhibited ethical behaviours, the leader would not be creating an organisation

Organ Donation Essay Example for Free

Organ Donation Essay Many citizens constantly see television shows and media that negatively portray organ donation. One prime example comes from the new hit series, Nip Tuck. Nip Tuck has a storyline built around this image of beauty through plastic surgery while working with an underground kidney market. Many patients in this show wind up being murdered in some cruel intentional way just for a single kidney. Not only does this pull negativity to organ transplants already but someone watching also has to fear the person in need of that organ. Majority of the time Nip Tuck has wealthy, well connected businessmen who need the transplants. Symbolizing any type of authority figure with the power to take a life can begin to inflict a slight amount of oppression through the viewer’s mind. With Organ donation becoming thrown into this light constantly people willing to give donated organs to citizens of need has drastically begun to decrease. More Americans are becoming obsessed with living longer and experiencing more, ignoring the basic side effects of their actions and soon needing some form of organ donated. This growth in exploration has created a large demand for many of these operations, shoes that simply cannot be filled. Organ donation serves three main positive purposes, Scientific Studies, Medical transplants, and Hope. While many might not know a multi-organ procedure is possible many of the same failures an individual could have in their heart, could be linked to the trouble in their kidneys and surprisingly the procedure is relatively common. With a single organ donation there is always the risk of the individual’s body’s rejection of this new article. Now if we introduce two different organs in one operation, the odds Allee 2  of a body rejecting at least one of the organs grow drastically. This adds multiple different stresses on the body not only because of the two separate procedures but as well as on the inside as the body tries to become familiar  with these new tools. Studies show that clinical data on all episodes of treated rejection from a multi-organ transplant out of 56 patients; â€Å"48% of these patients have had no rejection in either organ, 27% experienced heart rejection alone, 14% experienced kidney rejection alone, and 11% had both heart and kidney allograft rejection†( pg. 861-867). Of course there are other factors that play into these tests such as age or condition of other organs but the main outlier in this study was actually the severity of any surgery. Many would look at these percentages in the study as a negative outcome. What wasn’t stated earlier about this experiment was that all 48% of the successful transplants were heart and kidney transplants. The other 52% that had trouble with the new organs were simply because of the isolated heart transplant procedure. This procedure allows for scarce to no mistakes throughout the entire process because of the preciseness. The argument is then discredited because of the relationships with many other surgeries because of the high risk factors. Technological advances are constantly erupting in the medical field from surgery techniques to the basic procedures and listed instructions being taught to the successors of the current medical staffs. The process of organ donation is only increasing in effectiveness and soon will become a large industry in the economic jungle, as of now organ donation may still be a recalled toy in some cases but the kinks are all becoming smooth and positively functional. Constantly refuted is the health and disease control of most transplant procedures which can contain a plethora of viruses. Facts show that a patient receiving a solid organ transplant was 10 times more likely to become infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease 15 years ago. New advancements and studies have designed an antivirus treatment that is over 95% successful at containing and illuminating CMV within six to twelve months. The patient will receive doses of antiviral prophylaxis either orally or by injection consistently for several months. As the patient shows progress and recovery the dosage is steadily decreased until the body becomes completely self-sufficient. Putting the disease concern to rest another opposition of organ transplants can come in the form of broken or fractured bones. When an individual  receives a transplant the bone structure around the area can become under pressure from the swelling organ trying to recover. A study was conducted in 1994 and scientists were shocked to find â€Å"fracture incidence was 13 times higher than expected in male heart recipients age 45–64 years; nearly 5 times higher in male kidney recipients age 25–44 and age 45–64 years; and 18 times and 34 times higher in female kidney recipients age 25–44 years and 45–64 years compared with NHIS data† (Department of Medicine, 1999). The study was taken from six hundred patients and out of those six hundred fifty six individuals had fractures during their recoveries. Another aspect in the recovery process is the fact that the patient’s body will be weak and low on nutrients due to the lack of food intake and nutrients. The longer a person’s recovery period the more likely he or she could develop weak muscle tissue, and bone structure leading to more incidents. The care programs developed in this day and age not only surpass any rehabilitation abilities from 1994. Now treatment not only includes multiple vitamin and nutritional supplements but also multiple electrostatic treatments specifically designed to work an individual’s muscle structure. This will provide motion and a large supply of blood flowing to the area or muscle needing the extra work. As the muscle structure improves a patient’s bone structure becomes stabilized and reinforced leaving the entire patients system in close to complete health. Organ donation has also been studied from multiple perspectives of the patient and donor. Scientists first wondered the thought process an individual went through to part with his or her organ. One would expect that a person about to go through this procedure would look for some knowledge or research before relinquishing their organ. A study found that not only did the majority of organ donors not have any factual information about their procedure from previous classes or events but the donors also had done absolutely no research on the topic. This showed the scientists that there was no apparent cognitive thought process for committing this act. Most of the studied donors discovered a sense of satisfaction after the procedure simply from the knowledge that they could have possibly saved a life. Another angle taken by scientists was more  direct towards the patient receiving the organ. UNOS is a private, nonprofit organization that coordinates the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government. In the year 2000, more than 5,500 Americans died awaiting transplants, and in the U.S., there are currently over 80,000 people awaiting transplants. Having abundance in patients waiting for an organ and the shortage in supply majority of the organs received are from people who have passed away and donated their bodies to science. Although a donor can survive his or her life even after giving up a Kidney, portions of the liver, skin bone marrow few individuals are willing to take this risk only increasing this shortage. Every 10 minutes, a new person is added to the organ transplant waiting list. When a patient receives an organ the family gains an immediate boost of moral and hope. The placebo affect organizes in full force when it comes to surgery. Knowledge alone can give the patient enough to fight and continue the upward rise to recovery. Ninety percent of Americans have openly stated that they are for organ donation. Life changes are difficult to make. Organ transplantation includes plenty of these changes in order for recovery and success. In the end change is for the better. Organ transplantation calls for a healthier diet and slowly working into exercise practices. Any patient will gain from this in the process and the new organ or area from the surgery will not be the only part of their body positively affected by this change. Organ donation is a necessary medical implement and there will always be a need as long as the technology keeps its firm grasp on the medical society. If the organization UNOS does not remain in supply and continue helping save lives many more lives will be lost. Not from loss in supply of the organs but more so from underground procedures. One example of this is constantly seen in Mexico. There was a woman who had needed some cash so she decided to donate a kidney. This individual was told no passport or information would be necessary and that she would simply take a bus to a small Mexican border town then be brought back. Border patrol intercepted a woman being forcibly taken across the border, found in the vehicle was a complete surgical kit, a  single shovel, and a large trash bag. Not only would this individual have never seen another day of life and laughter but this would just be the beginning if organ donation ceased to exist. Eliminating these organ transplant foundations would introduce patients to multiple diseases, possible contamination, and worst of all death from incorrect practice. All of the information only points to a positive present for organ transplants. As long as citizens see the dire need for support and donors, soon organ transplantation will have a successful future, full of keeping both hop es and dreams alive. Works Cited Abecassis M, Adams M, Adams P, et al. Consensus statement on the live organ donor. JAMA 2000;284:2919-2926 Bredehorn T. et al. (2002), â€Å"Questioning the relatives for organ and tissue donation,â€Å" Transplantation proceedings 34(6):2353-4. DiSalvo, Thomas. Clinical Transplantation: Williams Wilkins 1997, 27 March Volume 63 – Issue 6 pg. 861-867, Ed Lovern, â€Å"HHS launches bid for organ donations,† Modern Healthcare, 23 April 2001, 21. Lock M., Schmidt V.-H. (2003), â€Å"Twice dead: organ transplant and the reinvention of death,† Asian journal of social science (31)1:137-41. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) National Waiting List, as of 2 August 2002. Available: http://www.unos.org/frame_Default.asp?Category=Newsdata. Accessed 8 August 2002. Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Carlos V. Paya, Div. of Infectious Diseases, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 ([emailprotected]) U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Organ Donation: Donate Life, â€Å"Frequently Asked Questions.† Available at http://www.organdonor.gov/faq.html. Accessed 08/08/2002.

Cushings Syndrome: Causes and Symptoms

Cushings Syndrome: Causes and Symptoms The human body is an advance piece of machinery which possesses many organs and systems that regulate the numerous processes that keeps every part functioning to sustain normal life or Homeostasis. In the event that any of these numerous processes occur unchecked with absolutely no controlling limits it results in a physiological disorder, syndrome or disease; each of these syndromes have characteristic effects on the human anatomy which can be manifested physically of which some can be controlled or cured. Cushings syndrome, which is a hormonal disorder caused by the prolonged exposure of body tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol and is frequently referred to as hypercortisolism. Cushings syndrome is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50 years, people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes, along with poorly controlled blood glucose also called blood sugar-and high blood pressure, have an increased risk of developing the disorder. Cortisol is a very important hormone as job is to help the body respond to stress. Most people suffering from depression, alcoholism, malnutrition, or panic disorders also have increased cortisol levels. Causes Physiological The cause of Cushings syndrome is divided into two groups base upon whether the problem is being caused by a defective pituitary gland, which is a small gland located on the ventral side of the brain or by the adrenal glands which are located on the superior lopes of the kidneys. Cushings syndrome is caused when the bodys tissue are exposed high volumes of the hormone cortisol for extremely long durations of time. Many individuals have developed Cushings syndrome as a result of use or consumption of products that contain glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that are structurally similar naturally produced to cortisol e.g. prednisone, which is contained in most asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other inflammatory disease medications. Glucocorticoids also have properties which also allow them to be used to suppress the immune system after organ or tissue transplants to keep the body from rejecting the new organ or tissue. Some people develop Cushings syndrome as a result of their bodies inability to produce adequate amounts of the hormone cortisol. The normally production of cortisol follows an exact and precise chain of events. In the hypothalamus, a part of the brain the size of a small sugar cube, it releases corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) to the pituitary gland. Corticotrophin causes the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), which in returns stimulates the adrenal glands. When the adrenals, which are located just above the superior lobes of the kidneys, receive the ACTH, they respond by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream. Cortisol is very important to the body because it is required to perform vital tasks in the body which include helping to maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function, reduction of the immune systems inflammatory response, the balancing of the effects of insulin, which breaks down glucose for energy and the regulation of the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Cortisol is very important to the for its role in many processes but its most important role is to help the body cope with stress and it is for this reason well trained athletes and pregnant women have high levels of the hormone circulating within their blood. In most cases individuals suffering from alcoholism, malnutrition and or panic disorders may also have increased cortisol levels. Under normal circumstances, when the cortisol levels are near normal levels the hypothalamus and pituitary release less CRH and ACTH. This ensures that the level of cortisol in the blood released by the adrenals is the exact balance to meet the bodys normal requirements. There are four common types of Cushings syndrome and each is caused by different factors e.g. pituitary adenomas, adrenal tumors, ectopic ACTH syndrome and Familial Cushings syndrome. Of the four different types of cushings syndrome, cases of familial cushings syndrome occurs more frequently. Most cases of familial cushings syndrome are not are not inherited genetically, however some cases are the result of gene which causes the development of tumors on one or more glands of the endocrine system which releases hormones into the bloodstream. There are some exceptions e.g. with primary pigmented micronodular adrenal disease, which is developed in children or young adults which develop small cortisol producing tumors on the adrenal glands. There are occurrences where multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN), where hormone secreting tumors develop on the parathyroid glands, pancreas and pituitary. In cushings syndrome caused by adrenal tumors, an abnormality of the adrenal glands causes the cushings syndrome. The adrenal tumor develops four to five times more in females than in males and begins at approximately at age forty. Most cases of adrenal tumors involve noncancerous tissues of the adrenal glands and are called adrenal adenomas and are responsible for the release of additional cortisol into the blood. In the case of adrenocortical carcinomas, the cancerous form of adrenal tumors, the cancer cells release additional volumes of several types of adrenal androgens or male hormones which may include cortisol. The adrenocortical carcinomas are usually responsible for very high hormone levels and rapid development of symptoms. In Ectopic ACTH syndrome which is another cause of cushings syndrome, in some cases it is benign and in most caused by cancerous tumors that develop on the external surface of the pituitary and is capable of producing adrenocorticotropic hormone. Lung tumors are known to be associated with increased risks of development of ectopic ACTH as it was present in more than half of all occurrences and is known to be more prevalent males than in females. The most prolific form of adrenocorticotropic hormone producing tumors is minute cell lung cancer and accounts for approximately thirteen percent of all lung cancer cases and carcinoid tumors, which are small, slow growing tumors that develop from hormone producing cells in various parts of the body. There are other less common types of tumors which possess the ability to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone e.g. thymomas, medullary carcinomas of the thyroid and pancreatic islet cell tumors. In most cases of Cushings syndrome seventy percent are caused by the development of pituitary adenomas and these statistics excluded instances where it is caused by glucocorticoid use. This type of benign, or noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland is responsible for the secretion of additional adrenocorticotropic hormone into the bloodstream. In most instances persons afflicted by this disorder have a single adenoma and is referred to as Cushings disease and it is known to affect women five more than men. Biochemical Diagnosis of Cushings syndrome To diagnose Cushings syndrome several factors are taken into consideration; a person medical history, physical examinations and laboratory test. In diagnosing cushings syndrome the most commonly used test are the 24-hour urinary free cortisol test, measurement of midnight plasma cortisol or late night salivary cortisol and low dose dexamethasone suppression test. In some instances an additional test dexamethasone corticotrophin releasing hormone test may be needed to differentiate Cushings syndrome from causes of excess. The 24 hour urinary cortisol level test consists of the collection of several urine samples over a 24 hour period and these samples are tested for cortisol. If the cortisol levels are higher than fifty to one hundred micrograms a day for an adult, this suggests that the individual has Cushings syndrome. From laboratory to laboratory the normal upper limit varies depending on which technique is used. The second test that may be used to diagnose Cushings syndrome is Midnight plasma cortisol and late-night salivary cortisol measurements. This test measures cortisol concentrations in the blood. In normal individuals Cortisol production is normally restricted at night, but in Cushings syndrome, this restriction does not occur. If cortisol level in the individual is more than 50 nano-moles per liter (nmol/L), then the individual may have Cushings syndrome. This test usually requires a 48-hour hospital stay to avoid falsely elevated cortisol levels due to stress. Another utilized I the diagnosis of Cushings is the Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST). In this test, the individual is given a low dose of dexamethasone, which is a synthetic glucocorticoid, orally every 6 hours for 2 days. Urine samples are collected before dexamethasone is administered and several times on each day of the test. The modified Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test uses a onetime overnight dose. Cortisol and other glucocorticoids signal the pituitary to release less ACTH, so the normal response after taking dexamethasone is a drop in blood and urine cortisol levels. If cortisol levels do not drop, Cushings syndrome is suspected. In some instances Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test may not show a drop in cortisol levels in people with depression, alcoholism, high estrogen levels, acute illness, or stress, which will falsely indicate Cushings syndrome. In some instances, drugs such as phenytoin and phenobarbital may cause cortisol levels to drop, fal sely indicating that Cushings is not present in people who actually have the syndrome and it is for this reason, physicians usually advise their patients to stop taking these drugs at least 1 week before the test. The last test used to diagnose Cushings syndrome is the Dexamethasone-corticotrophin-releasing hormone (Crh) test. There are some exclusion to the rule as some individuals have high cortisol levels but do not develop the progressive effects of Cushings syndrome, such as muscle weakness, fractures, and thinning of the skin. These people may have pseudo-Cushings syndrome, which is a condition sometimes found in people who have depression or anxiety disorders, persons who drink alcohol excessively, have poorly controlled diabetes, or are severely obese. Pseudo-Cushings does not have the same long-term effects on health as Cushings syndrome and does not require treatment directed at the endocrine glands. The dexamethasone-CRH test is used to rapidly distinguish pseudo-Cushing from mild cases of Cushings syndrome. This test combines the Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and a CRH stimulation test. In the CRH stimulation test, an injection of CRH causes the pituitary gland to secrete ACTH. Pretreatment with dexamethasone prevents CRH from causing an increase in cortisol in people with pseudo-Cushing. Elevations of cortisol during this test suggest usually Cushings syndrome. Tests to Find the Cause of Cushings Syndrome Once a positive diagnosis of Cushings syndrome has been obtained, other tests are performed to locate the cause of the abnormality that leads to excess cortisol production. The choice of test depends, in part, on the preference of the endocrinologist or the center where the test is performed. A CRH test is performed, without pretreatment with dexamethasone, this helps separate people with pituitary adenomas from those with ectopic ACTH syndrome or adrenal tumors. As a result of the CRH injection, people with pituitary adenomas usually experience a rise in blood levels of ACTH and cortisol because CRH acts directly on the pituitary. This response is rarely seen in people with ectopic ACTH syndrome and practically never in those with adrenal tumors. A high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (hDDST) may also be used as well. The A high-dose dexamethasone suppression test is the same as the LDDST, except it uses higher doses of dexamethasone. This test helps separate persons with excess ACTH due to pituitary adenomas from those with ectopic ACTH-producing tumors. A high dose of dexamethasone suppresses cortisol levels in people with pituitary adenomas but not in those with ectopic ACTH-producing tumors. Another test that may be used is radiological imaging of the endocrine glands. This test utilizes the use of computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to reveal the size and shape of the pituitary and adrenal glands to determine if a tumor is present. Imaging tools are used to locate the tumor after a positive diagnosis of Cushings syndrome. Imaging is not used to make the diagnosis of Cushings syndrome since benign tumors are commonly found in the pituitary and adrenal glands.