School Uniforms And The American Civil Liberties Union Of...

Traditionally favored by charter and private schools, and institutions of the like, school uniforms are being introduced to public schools at an increasing rate. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to express oneself; The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada states that having a choice in clothing is â€Å"†¦Crucial form of self-expression.† The ACLU also argues that â€Å"allowing students to choose their clothing is an empowering message from the schools that a student is a maturing person who is entitled to the most basic self-determination,† (Four Reasons). Self-expression of style aside, choices in clothing are also a popular method of expressing support for any variety of social causes, ideologies, and affiliations, and school uniforms strip students of this option completely. Schools broadcast a mixed message of sorts when boasting their appreciation and encouragement for diversity, yet enforcing a sta ndardized uniform which severely limits individuals from expressing this diversity. The Huffington Post published the argument of a Kyler Sumter, 16, of Lindblom Math and Science Acadamy in Chicago. Kyler argues â€Å"They decide to teach us about people like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and Booker T. Washington†¦ We learn how these people expressed themselves and conquered and we can’t even express ourselves in the hallways,† (Sumter). Arguments against school uniforms as a means of limiting self-expression do not belong onlyShow MoreRelatedSchool Uniforms Is Necessary Essay1033 Words   |  5 PagesComposition 102 October 14, 2017 School Uniforms, A Necessary Strategy At first glance, the only winners in the topic of school uniform policy are the uniform companies and the retail establishments that sell them. The idea of mandatory uniform requirements is repugnant and unpalatable to many Americans. It stifles students’ freedom and forces conformity on our most impressionable citizens, children. However, violence in our schools was the impetus for uniform policy adoption. It gained momentumRead MoreThe Effect Of Body Cameras On Police Work1722 Words   |  7 Pagesthe point that that even police officers and their unions are supporting the universal use of body-cameras. For example, in Washington D.C., the police union backed a policy change by management mandating body cameras (Mangu-Ward). It is unusual for the police union to support a policy change mandated by management. In this case, that policy change was not subject to union approval. However, the union feels like cameras protect police. The union said that it favors body camer as because they willRead MoreTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo5187 Words   |  21 Pagesearly challenges to religious freedom in Massachusetts to the broken treaties and systematic removal of Native Americans from their land to the abominable practice of slavery in the United States, our nation’s reality rarely measures up to the principles and ideals penned by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights. The story for Mexican-Americans is no different. The annexations of Texas in 1845 and the Mexican Cession in 1848 make evident the bulldozingRead MoreCommercial Liens - a Potent Weapon Essay32374 Words   |  130 Pagesin the lien. It may negatively impact on the financial credit rating of those individuals. It will probably have a negative impact on their willingness to continue to serve as representatives of the United States. And, it constitutes an abuse of civil process that cannot be adequately remedied by an action at law. [emphasis added] In plain English, Diamond did not like the lien, but couldn’t find any way to extinguish it. Further, he seemed to say that these liens could drive public officials rightRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesand Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Read MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesto this book and specifically to this edition. Of course, instructors also have access to Create (www.mcgraw-hillcreate. com), McGraw-Hill’s extensive content database, which includes thousands of cases from major sources such as Harvard Business School, Ivey, Darden, and NACRA case databases. Along with the new or updated â€Å"International Management in Action† boxed application examples within each chapter and other pedagogical features at the end of each chapter (i.e., â€Å"Key Terms,† â€Å"Review and DiscussionRead MoreEthical and Social Issues in Information Systems20165 Words   |  81 PagesData for Sale The Internet: Friend or Foe to Children? LEARNING TRACK MODULE Developing a Corporate Code of Ethics for Information Systems DOES LOCATION TRACKING THREATEN PRIVACY? F or many years, parents of District of Columbia public school children complained about buses running late or not showing up. A federal court appointed an independent transportation administrator and enlisted Satellite Security Systems, or S3, to track the movements of the district’s buses. S3 provides satelliteRead MoreThe Censorship of Art Essay example14698 Words   |  59 Pagesfor this hearing is not to promote any legislation... But simply to provide a forum for airing the issue itself, for ventilating the issue, for bringing it out in the public domain... so that the whole issue can be brought to the attention of the American people (U.S. Senate 1985:1). The Chairman then opened the Hearing, being careful to mention that people could raise their concerns yet asked them to not needlessly use expressions that may be in bad taste (p.2). The first witnesses were theRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 PagesD program to do so. With its search engine, it raised advertising to a new level: targeted advertising. In so doing, it spawned a host of millionaires from its rising stock prices and stock options and made its two founders some of the richest Americans, just under Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. How did they do it? Starbucks is also a rapidly growing new firm—not as much as Google, but still great—and a credit to founder Howard Schultz’s vision of transforming a prosaic product, coffee, intoRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesThree Ethical Decision Criteria 187 †¢ Improving Creativity in Decision Making 188 Summary and Implications for Managers 190 S A S A S A L L L Self-Assessment Library What Are My Gender Role Perceptions? 166 glOBalization! Chinese Time, North American Time 171 Myth or Science? Creative Decision Making Is a Right-Brain Activity 181 Self-Assessment Library Am I A Deliberate Decision Maker? 183 An Ethical Choice Whose Ethical Standards to Follow? 185 Self-Assessment Library How Creative Am I? 190

Overcoming Fear Through Courage Essay - 1480 Words

Overcoming Fear Through Courage In My Life In modern day society, traits like courage and leadership are held to the highest standards. Those who have been blessed with this natural urge to be courageous are highly recognized and respected for their work. For those who do not have these qualities are pushed to the back if social hierarchy and are labeled as â€Å"cowards† and â€Å"wimps†. For me and many others this urge was not formulated from birth, but was nurtured and kindled over time through experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone which allowed me to become more courageous. My third grade talent show, my grade 8 track and field meet, and my 2015 hockey season where some experiences that have challenged my life to pursue a higher†¦show more content†¦The crowd was so silent that you could hear a pin drop(FOS: Hyperbole). The curtains closed and I was escorted off the stage. I was distraught as a walked over to my family and then to my surprise they all hugged me and said I did a great job even though I froze up and did not even preform. They said nothing negative to me about my performance, instead they congratulated me for trying. This feeling that my family gave me allowed me to recognize that I should not be afraid of failing but to do my best and to not care what others think.This experience Instilled a sense of belonging that meant that I was free to explore my interest regardless if I was good at them or not. These opportunities in my life that once seemed like they were in a locked box we re now open because I was given the key to fulfill my opportunities given to me(FOS: Metaphor). This new found courage allows me to be true to myself and to the morals I find important in my life. Support like this was also experienced in while at a sport competition in elementary school. The second experience that impacted my life was during my school board s track and field meet in 2015. I was a backup for my friend doing which meant I would only run in the event of his injury. Due to this I did not train as hard as I would have because I thought that I would be using the day to have fun with my friends that were competing. atShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"the City of Ember† Analysis Essay893 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"City of Ember† Analysis This essay will explore the movie â€Å"City of Ember†. The first time I watched â€Å"City of Ember† it was purely for the enjoyment of watching a film with my three young sons. I took little note of the style, texture or structure of the film. However, after having read the text from week one and two and reacquainting myself with the film yesterday I have come to appreciate the film for more than just the family aspect that first drew me to watch. Now I can appreciate the actionRead MoreThe Life Of Faye G. Abdellah1041 Words   |  5 PagesIn life one has to take risks in order to bring forth a vision to life. Through risk taking, Faye G. Abdellah achieved her inner most dreams which was furthering the science of nursing research. Faye was a pioneer nursing researcher that helped transform nursing theory, nursing care and nursing education. In 1960, she was influenced by the desire to promote patient-centered comprehensive nursing care. Abdellah described nursin g as a service to individuals, to families and therefore to the societyRead MoreSherman Alexie Essay964 Words   |  4 Pages In the essay â€Å"The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,† Sherman Alexie credits learning to read a Superman comic book with saving his life. As an Indian boy growing up on a reservation in Spokane, Washington, where being uneducated was not the exception but the rule, Alexie was given few opportunities to succeed. The Superman comic book was the book he taught himself to read with, which in turn saved him from going down a path that lead to a the life of inferiority and failure. LearningRead MoreTomorrow When the War Began- John Marsden Essay1261 Words   |  6 PagesTomorrow when the war began- John Marsden Novel essay. â€Å"Tomorrow When The War Began† by John Marsden, is a novel of survival, friendship, love and war. He uses many language techniques (e.g. simile, metaphor, personification, oxymoron, irony, symbol, allusion etc.) to get across to the reader the importance of each of the themes discussed. He also uses these techniques to set the mood in each chapter and to help emphasise each major point in the novel. â€Å"We’ve learnt a lot and had to figureRead MoreMidterm Paper on Song Yet Sung656 Words   |  3 PagesMidterm Essay on Song Yet Sung As Bravery Follows Through This Long Journey The conductors who contributed to the Underground Railroad sacrificed a great deal to help other slaves escape to freedom; that showed ample amounts of bravery. Martin Luther King Jr. stood by what he believed in to make a difference for this generation. He was remembered as a great man of bravery, he wanted change for blacks and whites to be equal. However, bravery does not come naturally to some people. To be braveRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1686 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Simply because we’re licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win† (Lee 101). One of the major lessons of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is to always do the right thing. The text is told through the narrator Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† Finch. She lives in the small, old town of Maycomb, Alabama with her brother, Jem Finch and her father, Atticus. Across the street from the Finch lives Arthur â€Å"Boo† Radley who is believe d to be a horrible human. Rumor has it heRead MoreThe Last Of The Mohicans1611 Words   |  7 Pagesearly American literature, the prospect of interracial relationships and people from races other than Caucasian were looked at through fear-tinted lenses and seen as undesirable and distasteful. In examining James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans, readers can discover that Cooper feels there are problems that can arise due to the mingling of races, while overcoming racial barriers and having interracial relationships can result in advantages. Examining his literature can give much insightRead MoreAnalysis Of Not Just A Story 1640 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"the role of literary voice and style that grows out of it†, and â€Å"the form the stories take† (p. 37). These stories can take on very emotional forms that show deeper feelings of the storyteller that makes it. The creator of the story when they go through the process of coming up with ideas must let his or herself become emotionally vulnerable to then create a truly authentic digital story. Brenà © Brown discusses vulnerability when she says, â€Å"You can t numb those hard feelings without numbing the otherRead MoreSwimming, Found On The New Yorker, And Written By T. Cooper Essay1474 Words   |  6 PagesFor this essay, I am going to be discussing the short story â€Å"Swimming† found on the New Yorker, and written by T. Cooper. I have chosen this story for many reasons, and among those reasons is the personal sadness I felt when I first read the story, almost as if the universe was placing a certain theme in my life, that only the main character could possibly understand. I am talking about running, the god given instinct felt by all men, inherent in the nature of fear, and brought out in all who feelRead MoreCyrano de Bergerac a Play Written by Edmond Rostand1805 Words   |  8 PagesSuperficially judging one’s character based on appearance alone may overshadow all of an individual’s positive attributes. As a result, fear affects the decisions that one makes throughout his or her life. Within a prestigious work of tragic literature, a character is seen as the epitome of the intricacy that insecurity has as he endeavors to indirectly win his Corazon’s love. Such a theme is portrayed in Edmond Rostand’s play, Cyrano de Bergerac, which takes place in seventeenth century France,

What is Security Free Essays

Security is the condition of being protected against criminals, loss, and danger. An automatic identification and access control system has become necessary to overcome the security threats faced by many educational institutes these days. Safety and security have always been of prime concern to every individual. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Security? or any similar topic only for you Order Now By installing the system at the entrance will only allow the authorized persons to enter the university and unauthorized persons will not allow. Safety is the guarantee for the most essential existent of human beings. In such a way, suspicious persons can be caught which will surely improve the security level in the organization. Student ID cards are now compulsory for every educational institute because of security purposes. Student ID card is said to be the summary of any student indeed providing all information. Now-a-days with rapid growth of technology, our educational institutes are still more slowly. For identification of students we still rely on manual ID cards with no security features. Nowadays, there are lots of universities around our country and each of the university consists of student up to 10 thousand. To handle a large amount of student may be problem especially to get the entrance from university gate. Now-a-days, process to get entrance in majority universities still used the manual ID cards. The suitable solution for this problem is by design a system that will record student, faculty and other administrative personals ID cards entrance automatically. Therefore we want to introduce a proper ID card RFID scanning system, that would be much easier to identify a student and other persons who seek entrance from university gate and can verify/trace information in case of any illegal activity. This project is developed by using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system and student card to get student entrance in the university. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and Detection. In this project we will try our best to make right implementation of RFID for faculty, students, and administrative personals university ID cards. RFID is a term actually coined for short-range radio technology used to communicate mainly digital information between a stationary location and a movable object or between movable objects. A variety of radio frequencies and techniques are used in RFID system. RFID code is printed on ID cards and student’s validation details can be found by scanning the code by RFID scanning Machines. This project will used student ID card as RFID tag and a RFID reader. This RFID system will be integrate with software. This method is more effective to prevent problem in process getting entrance manually. UGER is used to detect the ID card and then compare it with the database. The information of the students is stored in the database and by this time the student ID card can be provided by the administration. One advantage of student identification is an increased level of security for students, faculty and other persons who seek entrance from university gate. RFID technology differs from bar codes. RFID can read the tag using RF, meaning that the RFID reader can be read from a distance, right through your clothes, wallet, backpack or purse. Besides the RFID tag consist of unique ID for each tag. The technology used in RFID has been around since the early 1920s. In our country, this technology already been used for several years in certain place such as in Highway using card ‘Touch N Go’ and our government also apply this technology by using RFID as I.C (identification card). RFID increases both the productivity and convenience. In this application, a verifying RFID code can be printed on the student identity card issued by respective department of university which is scanned when the student enter in the university and at other events to confirm attendance in the university. And this RFID code will be issued with student registration number. This RFID code helps to identify students that belong to this university. There is no system to verify student in our university in which we clarify a student. RFID (radio frequency identification) is a new technology that incorporates the use of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or person. An RFID system consists of three components: an antenna and transceiver (often combined into one reader) and a transponder (the tag). The antenna uses radio frequency waves to transmit a signal that activates the transponder. When activated, the tag transmits data back to the antenna. This project will used student ID card as RFID tag and a RFID reader. This RFID system will be integrate with software. This method is more effective to prevent problem in process getting entrance manually. UGER is used to detect the ID card and then compare it with the database. The information of the students is stored in the database and by this time the student ID card can be provided by the administration. One advantage of student identification is an increased level of security for students, faculty and other persons who seek entrance from university gate. RFID technology differs from bar codes. RFID can read the tag using RF, meaning that the RFID reader can be read from a distance, right through your clothes, wallet, backpack or purse. Besides the RFID tag consist of unique ID for each tag. The technology used in RFID has been around since the early 1920s. In our country, this technology already been used for several years in certain place such as in Highway using card ‘Touch N Go’ and our government also apply this technology by using RFID as I.C (identification card). RFID increases both the productivity and convenience. In this application, a verifying RFID code can be printed on the student identity card issued by respective department of university which is scanned when the student enter in the university and at other events to confirm attendance in the university. And this RFID code will be issued with student registration number. This RFID code helps to identify students that belong to this university. There is no system to verify student in our university in which we clarify a student. How to cite What is Security?, Papers

Why Software Systems Fail Essay Example For Students

Why Software Systems Fail Essay 1.0 IntroductionIn this report I will be concentrating on the failure of software systems. To understand why software systems fail we need to understand what are software systems. Software systems are a type of information system. This is because a software system is basically a means for hardware to process information. Flynns definition of an information system is:An information system provides procedures to record and make available information, concerning part of an organization, to assist organization-related activities.Humans have been processing information manually for thousands of years, but with the vast increase of demand for knowledge this century has meant that a new method of information processing has been needed. Software systems have provided a new means that is much faster and efficient. As a result a huge number of organisations have become software dependent. Some of these systems are used to safeguard the lives of many people. This means that if these systems wer e to fail they could lead to devastating consequences. Here are some examples of where software systems are used heavily and could be very dangerous if they were to fail aviation, hospitals, space exploration, nuclear power stations and communications. I will be looking at some examples of actual software failure in these fields to explain the reasons why systems fail.2.0 Reasons for Systems FailureIf software systems failure can be so dangerous why can they not be completely eliminated? According to Parnas, The main reason is that software can never be guaranteed to be 100% reliable. Software systems are discrete-state systems that do not have repetitive structures. The mathematical functions that describe the behaviour of software systems are not continuous, and traditional engineering mathematics do not help in their verification. In other words some software can be so large that thorough testing can be almost impossible and so bugs in the software can go unnoticed. An example o f this was when an Atlas-Agena rocket veered off-course when it was ninety miles up. Ground control had to destroy the $18.5 rocket. The reasons for this a missing hyphen. However there are many more reasons for software systems failure, and most of them are due to human negligence that leads to software failure. There are two types of software systems failure. These are in the design stage of the software or in the implementation of the software. These are the main reasons for systems failure.Poor software design Fundamental flaws in the design of the software.Incorrect requirements specifications The brief is inconsistent or missing vital information. Political / Commercial pressures This can lead to developers skipping parts of the system to save time or money. There are also cases of rivalry between sub-contractors, which damages the design of the system.Incorrect analysis and assumptions Predictions based on incorrect assumptions of the real world or its behaviour.Not prop erly tested software implemented in a high risk environment This is almost guaranteed to lead to systems failure.Poor user-interface Makes it difficult or even impossible for the user to operate the software system.Incorrect fit between software and hardware Incorrect specification of the hardware type in the brief, or upgrading the hardware without upgrading the software (or vice-versa).Inadequate training given to the operators The people who have to use the software are not taught properly how to use the software system or they are expected to learn on their own. Over reliance on the software system The operators expect their software system to work in all conditions and to perform miracles for them.I will be looking at these types of systems failure with examples. 2.1 Poor software design- the Denver airport automated luggage handling systemAn example of poor software design is the Denver International Airport luggage controller. In this case Jones says that the senior exec utives did not have a sufficient background in software systems and as a result accepted nonsensical software claims at face value.The airport boasted about its new automated baggage handling system, with a contract price of $193 million, will be one of the largest and most sophisticated systems of its type in the world. It was designed to provide the high-speed transfer of baggage to and from aircraft, thereby facilitating quick turnaround times for aircraft and improved services to passengers. The baggage system, which came into operation in October 1995, included over 17 miles of track; 5.5 miles of conveyors; 4,000 telecarts; 5,000 electric motors; 2,700 photocells; 59 laser bar code reader arrays; 311 radio frequency readers; and over 150 computers, workstations, and communication servers. The automated luggage handling system (ALHS) was originally designed to carry up to 70 bags per minute to and from the baggage check-in.However there were fundamental flaws identified but not addressed in the development and testing stage. ABC news later reported that In tests, bags were being misloaded, misrouted or fell out of telecarts, causing the system to jam. The Dr. Dobbs Journal (January 1997) also carried an article in which the author claims that his software simulation of the automatic baggage handling system of the Denver airport mimicked the real-life situation. He concluded that the consultants did perform a similar simulation and, as a result, had recommended against the installation of the system. However the city overruled the consultants report and gave the go-ahead (the contractors who were building the system never saw the report).The report into the failure of the Denver ALHS says that the Federal Aviation Authority had required the designers (BAE Automated Systems Incorporated) to properly test the system before the opening date on 28th February 1995. Problems with the ALHS had already caused the airports opening date to be postponed and no furth er delays could be tolerated by the city. The report speculates that delays had already cost the airport $360 million by February 1995.The lack of testing inevitably led to problems with the ALHS. One problem occurred when the photo eye at a particular location could not detect the pile of bags on the belt and hence could not signal the system to stop. The baggage system loaded bags into telecarts that were already full, resulting in some bags falling onto the tracks, again causing the telecarts to jam. This problem caused another problem. This one occurred because the system had lost track of which telecarts were loaded or unloaded during a previous jam. When the system came back on-line, it failed to show that the telecarts were loaded. Also the timing between the conveyor belts and the moving telecarts were not properly synchronized, causing bags to fall between the conveyor belt and the telecarts. The bags then became wedged under the telecarts. This eventually caused so many pr oblems that there was a need for a major overhaul of the system.The government report concluded that the ALHS at the new airport was afflicted by serious mechanical and software problems. However you can not help thinking how much the city was blamed for their part in a lack of demand for proper testing. Denver International Airport had to install a $51 million alternative system to get around the problem. However United Airlines still continue to use the ALHS. A copy of the report can be found at http://www.bts.gov/smart/cat/rc9535br.html.2.2 Political / Commercial pressures the Challenger DisasterThere are many examples of failures occurring because of this. One of the most famous examples of these is the Challenger disaster. On the 28th January 1986 the challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after launch, killing all seven astronauts onboard. This was initially blamed on the design of the booster rockets and allowing the launch to proceed in cold weather. However it was later revealed that there was a decision along the way to economize on the sensors and on their computer interpretation by removing the sensors on the booster rockets. There is speculation that those sensors might have permitted earlier detection of the booster-rocket failure, and possible early separation of the shuttle in an effort to save the astronauts. Other shortcuts were also taken so that the team could adhere to an accelerated launch sequence. (Neumann). This was not the first time there had been problems with space shuttle missions. A presidential commission was set up and the Chicago Tribune reported what some astronauts said, that poor organization of shuttle operations led to such chronic problems as crucial mission software arrived just before shuttle launches and the constant cannibalization of orbiters for spare parts. Obviously the pressures of getting a space shuttle launch and mission to run smoothly and on time is huge. However there has to be a limit on how many short cuts can be taken. Another example of commercial pressure is the case of a Fortune 500 company. (A Fortune 500 company is one that appears in a listing of the top 500 U.S. companies ranked by revenues, according to Fortune magazines classic list.) According to Jones, the client executive and the senior software manager disliked each other so intensely that they could not never reach agreement on the features, schedules, and effort for the project (a sales support system of about 3000 function points). They both appealed to their higher executives to dismiss the other person. The project was eventually abandoned, after acquiring expenses of up to $500 000. Jones reported another similar case in a different Fortune 500 company. two second-line managers on an expert system (a project of about 2500 function points) were political opponents. They both devoted the bulk of their energies to challenging and criticizing the work products of the opposite teams. Not surprisingly the project w as abandoned after costing the company $1.5 million.2.3 Incorrect analysis and assumptions the Three Mile Island accidentIncorrect assumptions can seem very obvious when they are thought about, however it does not stop them from creeping in. According to Neumann a Gemini V rocket landed a hundred miles off course because of an error in the software. The programmer used the Earths reference point relative to the Sun, as elapsed time since launch, as a fixed constant. However the programmer did not realise that the Earth position relative to the Sun does not come back to the same point 24 hours later. As a result the error accumulated while the rocket was in space. The Three Mile Island II nuclear accident, on 28th March 1979, was also blamed on assuming too much. The accident started in the cooling system when one of the pipes became blocked, resulting in the temperature of the fuel rods increased from 600 degrees to over 4000 degrees. Instruments used to measure the temperature of the reactor core was not standard equipment at the time, however thermocouples had been installed and could measure high temperatures. However after the temperature reached over 700 degrees the thermocouples had been programmed to produce a string of question marks instead of displaying the temperature. After the reactor started to over-heat the turbines shut down automatically. However this did not stop the rods from over-heating as someone had left the valves for the secondary cooling system closed. There was no way of knowing this at the time because there was no reading on the temperature of the reactor core.Operators testified to the commission that there were so many valves that sometimes the would get left in the wrong position, even though their positions are supposed to be recorded and even padlocked. This is also a case of the designers blaming the operators and vice-versa. In the end the operators had to concede reluctantly that large valves do not close themselves.Petros ki says, Contemporaneous explanations of what was going on during the accident at Three Mile Island were as changeable as the weather forecasts, and even as the accident was in progress, computer models of the plant were being examined to try to figure it out. Lots of assumptions had been made about how high the temperature of the reactor core could go and the state of the valves in the secondary cooling system. This shows that in an environment where safety is supposed to be the number one issue people are still too busy to think about all the little things all the time and high pressure situations develop that compromise the safety of hundreds of thousands of people. It took until August 1993 for the site to be declared safe. Facts are taken from Neumann and Perrow.2.4 Not properly tested software implemented in a high risk environment the London Ambulance ServiceThe failure of the London Ambulance Service (LAS) on Monday and Tuesday 26 and 27 November 1992, was, like all major fa ilures, blamed on a number of factors. These include inadequate training given to the operators, commercial pressures, no backup procedure, no consideration was given to system overload, poor user interface, not a proper fit between software and hardware and not enough system testing being carried out before hand. Claims were later made in the press that up to 20-30 people might have died as a result of ambulances arriving too late on the scene. According to Flowers, The major objective of the London Ambulance Service Computer Aided Despatch (LASCAD) project was to automate many of the human-intensive processes of manual despatch systems associated with ambulance services in the UK. Such a manual system would typically consist of, among others, the following functions: Call taking. Emergency calls are received by ambulance control. Control assistants write down details of incidents on pre-printed forms.The LAS offered a contract for this system and wanted it to be up and running by 8th January 1992. All the contractors raised concerns about the short amount of time available but the LAS said that this was non-negotiable. A consortium consisting of Apricot, Systems Options and Datatrak won the contract. Questions were later asked about why there contract was significantly cheaper than their competitors. (They asked for 1.1 million to carry out the project while their competitors asked for somewhere in the region of 8 million.)The system was lightly loaded at start-up on 26 October 1992. Staff could manually correct any problems, caused particularly by the communications systems such as ambulance crews pressing the wrong buttons. However, as the number of calls increased, a build up of emergencies accumulated. This had a knock-on effect in that the system made incorrect allocations on the basis of the information it had. This led to more than one ambulance being sent to the same incident, or the closest vehicle was not chosen for the emergency. As a consequence, the system had fewer ambulance resources to use. With so many problems the LASCAD generated exception messages for those incidents for which it had received incorrect status information. The number of exception messages appears to have increased to such an extent the staff were not able to clear the queues. Operators later said this was because the messages scrolled of the screen and there was no way to scroll back through the list of calls to ensure that a vehicle had been dispatched. This all resulted in a viscous circle with the waiting times for ambulances increasing. The operators also became bogged down in calls from frustrated patients who started to fill the lines. This led to the operators becoming frustrated, which in turn led to an increased number of instances where crews failed to press the right buttons, or took a different vehicle to an incident than that suggested by the system. Crew frustration also seems to have contributed to a greater volume of voice radio traff ic. This in turn contributed to the rising radio communications bottleneck, which caused a general slowing down in radio communications which, in turn, fed back into increasing crew frustration. The system therefore appears to have been in a vicious circle of cause and effect. One distraught ambulance driver was interviewed and recounted that the police are saying Nice of you to turn up and other things. At 23:00 on October 28 the LAS eventually instigated a backup procedure, after the death of at least 20 patients.An inquiry was carried out into this disaster at the LAS and a report was released in February 1993. Here is what the main summary of the report said:What is clear from the Inquiry Teams investigations is that neither the Computer Aided Despatch (CAD) system itself, nor its users, were ready for full implementation on 26 October 1992. The CAD software was not complete, not properly tuned, and not fully tested. The resilience of the hardware under a full load had not been tested. The fall back option to the second file server had certainly not been tested. There were outstanding problems with data transmission to and from the mobile data terminals. Staff, both within Central Ambulance Control (CAC) and ambulance crews, had no confidence in the system and was not all fully trained and there was no paper backup. There had been no attempt to foresee fully the effect of inaccurate or incomplete data available to the system (late status reporting/vehicle locations etc.). These imperfections led to an increase in the number of exception messages that would have to be dealt with and which in turn would lead to more call-backs and enquiries. In particular the decision on that day to use only the computer generated resource allocations (which were proven to be less than 100% reliable) was a high-risk move.In a report by Simpson (1994) she claimed that the software for the system was written in Visual Basic and was run in a Windows operating system. This decis ion itself was a fundamental flaw in the design. The result was an interface that was so slow in operation that users attempted to speed up the system by opening every application they would need at the start of their shift, and then using the Windows multi-tasking environment to move between them as required. This highly memory-intensive method of working would have had the effect of reducing system performance still further.The system was never tested properly and nor was their any feedback gathered from the operators before hand. The report refers to the software as being incomplete and unstable, with the back up system being totally untested. The report does say that there was functional and maximum load testing throughout the project. However it raised doubts over the completeness and quality of the systems testing. It also questions the suitability of the operating system chosen.This along with the poor staff training was identified to be the main root of the problem. The mana gement staff was highly criticised in the report for their part in the organisation of staff training. The ambulance crew and the central control crew staff were, among other things, trained in separate rooms, which did not lead to a proper working relationship between the pair. Here is what the report said about staff training:Much of the training was carried out well in advance of the originally planned implementation date and hence there was a significant skills decay between then and when staff were eventually required to use the system. There was also doubts over the quality of training provided, whether by Systems Options or by LASs own Work Based Trainers (WBTs). This training was not always comprehensive and was often inconsistent. The problems were exacerbated by the constant changes being made to the system.Facts are taken from http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks, http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk and the report of the Inquiry into the London Ambulance Service, February 1993.2.5 Poor u ser-interfaceThe last case was a good example of how a poor user-interface can lead to mayhem. Another similar case was reported to the Providence newspaper. The Providence (part of New York) police chief, Walter Clark, was grilled over why his officers were taking so long to respond to calls. In one case it took two hours to respond to a burglary in progress. He explained that all the calls are entered into a computer and are shown on a monitor. However the monitor can only show twenty reports at a time as the programmer did not design a scroll function for the screen. The programmer had some serious misconceptions about the crime rate in New York. Facts taken from: http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks.2.6 Over reliance on the software systemThe Exxon Valdez oil disaster was simultaneously blamed on the drunken captain, the severely fatigued third mate, the helmsman and the system. The system refers to the auto-pilot of the ship and the lack of care the crew had on its operation. Accordi ng to Neumann the crew were so tired that they did not realise that the auto-pilot was left on and so the ship was ignoring their rudder adjustments. This example shows that even though everything was working properly, all the safety measures had a minimal effect when they were trying to override the auto-pilot. This is a very small mistake and could easily have been prevented.The Therac-25 case, a system designed to give the right amount of radiation to the patient in chemotherapy treatment also fell into a case foolproofedness. The operators did not imagine the software permitted the therapeutic radiation device to be configured unsafely in X-Ray mode, without its protective filter in place (Neumann). Such blind faith in the system resulted in several patients being given too high a dose that killed the patients.3.0 ConclusionIt is obvious to see from these examples that failures are very rarely due to one cause alone. In major system failures it can be over a dozen mistakes being made that usually results in the failure of the system. Also the mistakes have a domino effect or leads to a viscous circle of mistakes, the systems becoming worse and worse during both the design and implementation stage. In almost all large system failures there is a case of when commercial pressures are put above safety. The Paddington rail crash (5th October 1999) could have been prevented if the train had been fitted with the Train Protection Warning System. This system would physically stop the train if it went through a red signal and was recommended in the report following the train crash at Southall. However it would have cost Railtrack something like 150-200 million. The system will however now be introduced to all trains by 2004. The facts were taken from BBC online.It is obvious that the main reason for the commercial pressures is cost. The Challenger disaster might have been prevented if sensors had not been removed from the booster rockets. But the cost of some extra sensors compared to the already astronomical cost of space exploration makes it seem a little nonsensical. The cost of a space shuttle is well over $1 billion, never mind the damage it did to NASAs reputation. However it is not always cost saving that leads to system failures. In both the Denver ALHS and the London Ambulance System CAD it is more a case of money wasting. When the initial investment has been made a company finds it very hard to terminate the project. They would rather get the system working than admit defeat, whatever the cost. Sometimes the cost can be in terms of human lives. This would be why United Airlines still insist on using the Denver ALHS and twenty people died before the LAS switched their dispatching system. Proper communication and feedback between the designers and the operators will stop a lot of problems like a poor user-interface and incorrect fit between the hardware and software. It all starts with a proper brief being given to the designers. But t his can only happen if the management knows what they want. So the only way to have a successful system is to have good communications and understanding between the designers and operators, with the senior managers being kept in the know at all times. However the most important job is for someone to take responsibility for the design and operation of the system. If someone who is competent is put in charge and takes responsibility then the system is likely to be working properly before its implementation and the operators will have adequate training for using the system. With the London Ambulance System this was doubly important where patients lives are at risk. In situations like these Ethics is the key word and there has to be someone held responsible for the actions of the organisation. 4.0 BibliographyFlynn, Donal J.; Information Systems Requirements: Determination and Analysis; McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1992Parnas; 1985; taken from: Sherer, Susan A.; Software Failure Risk Measu rement and Management; Plenum Press; 1992Jones, Carpers; Patterns of Software Systems Failure and Success; Thomson computer press; 1996Neumann, Peter G.; Computer Related Risks; Addison-Wesley publishing company; 1995Petroski, Henry; To Engineer is Human; MacMillan Publishing; 1985Flowers, Stephen; Software failure: management failure; Chichester: John Wiley and Sons; 1996.Report of the Inquiry into the London Ambulance Service; February 1993. Simpson, Moira (1994); 999!: My computers stopped breathing !; The Computer Law and Security Report, 10; March April; pp 76-81Dr. Dobbs Journal; January 1997 editionhttp://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Riskshttp://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/newshttp://abcnews.go.com/sections/travel .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .postImageUrl , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:hover , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:visited , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:active { border:0!important; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:active , .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697 .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u58990440ce4e446788d91e3f02a21697:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Observation of the Early Childhood Essay We will write a custom essay on Why Software Systems Fail specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Animal Studies and School Project Ideas

Animal Studies and School Project Ideas Animal projects and studies are important to understanding various biological processes in animals and even humans. Scientists study animals in order to learn ways to improve animal health for farm production, wildlife preservation, and human companionship. They also study animals to discover new methods to improve human health. Animal studies give us a better understanding of disease development and prevention, as well as standards for normal and abnormal behavior. The following animal project ideas introduce areas of animal studies that can be explored through experimentation. Since some science fairs may prohibit projects that involve animals, so be sure to get permission from your instructor before beginning any animal-based science project. Amphibian and Fish Project Ideas Does temperature affect tadpole growth?Do water pH levels affect tadpole growth?Does water temperature affect amphibian respiration?Does magnetism affect limb regeneration in newts?Does water temperature affect fish color?Does the size of a population of fish affect growth?Does music affect fish activity?Does the amount of light affect fish activity? Bird Project Ideas Which types of plants attract hummingbirds?What factors increase egg-laying in birds?Do different bird species prefer a particular color of bird seed?Do certain bird species prefer to eat in a group or alone?Do certain bird species prefer one type of habitat over another? Insect Project Ideas How does temperature affect the growth of butterflies? How does light affect ants?Do different colors attract or repel insects?How does pollution affect insects?How do insects adapt to pesticides?Do magnetic fields affect insects?Does soil acidity affect insects?Does color affect insect-eating habits?Does light or heat attract insects to lamps at night?Do insects behave differently in a larger population as opposed to a smaller population?What factors cause crickets to chirp more often?What substances do mosquitoes find attractive or repellent? Mammal Project Ideas Does light variation alter animal sleep habits?Do cats or dogs have better night vision?Does music affect an animals mood?Do bird sounds affect cat behavior?Which animal sense has the greatest effect on short-term memory?Does animal saliva have antimicrobial properties?Does colored water affect animal drinking habits? Animal Information and Resources For additional information about animals, see: 10 Fascinating Animal Facts: Discover several wondrous and fascinating facts about animalsTen Amazing Bioluminescent Organisms: Some organisms such as jellyfish have the ability to glow. The light emitted is due to a chemical reactionWhy Some Animals Play Dead: When faced with danger, some animals go into a catatonic state and appear to be dead to the world.Top 7 Bugs That Feed on Humans: There are a number of bugs that feed on humans. These bugs are resilient, gaining immunity to insecticides, and out for your blood.Common Animal Questions and Answers: Why do zebras have stripes? Why do some tigers have white coats? Find answers to these and other commonly asked questions about animals.The Worlds Fastest Animals: What are the fastest animals on the planet? These swift animals reach amazing speeds on land, in the air, and in the ocean. Science Experiments and Models Performing science experiments and constructing models are fun and exciting ways to learn about science. Try making a model of the lungs or a DNA model using candy. You can also discover how to extract DNA from a banana or get ideas on how to use plants in experiments.

The Difference Between Purines and Pyrimidines

The Difference Between Purines and Pyrimidines Purines and pyrimidines are two types of aromatic heterocyclic organic compounds. In other words, they are ring structures (aromatic) that contain nitrogen as well as carbon in the rings (heterocyclic). Both purines and pyrimidines are similar to the chemical structure of the organic molecule pyridine (C5H5N). Pyridine, in turn, is related to benzene (C6H6), except one of the carbon atoms is replaced by a nitrogen atom. Purines and pyrimidines are important molecules in organic chemistry and biochemistry because they are the basis for other molecules (e.g., caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, thiamine) and because they are key components of the nucleic acids dexoyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Pyrimidines A pyrimidine is an organic ring consisting of six atoms: 4 carbon atoms and 2 nitrogen atoms. The nitrogen atoms are placed in the 1 and 3 positions around the ring. Atoms or groups attached to this ring distinguish pyrimidines, which include cytosine, thymine, uracil, thiamine (vitamin B1), uric acid, and barbituates. Pyrimidines function in DNA and RNA, cell signaling, energy storage (as phosphates),  enzyme regulation, and to make protein and starch. Purines A purine contains a pyrimidine ring fused with an imidazole ring (a five-member ring with two non-adjacent nitrogen atoms). This two-ringed structure has nine atoms forming the ring: 5 carbon atoms and 4 nitrogen atoms. Different purines are distinguished by the atoms or functional groups attached to the rings. Purines are the most widely occurring heterocyclic molecules that contain nitrogen. They are abundant in meat, fish, beans, peas, and grains. Examples of purines include caffeine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, uric acid, theobromine, and the nitrogenous bases adenine and guanine. Purines serve much the same function as pyrimidines in organisms. They are part of DNA and RNA, cell signaling, energy storage, and enzyme regulation. The molecules are used to make starch and proteins. Bonding Between Purines and Pyrimidines While purines and pyrimidines include molecules that are active on their own (as in drugs and vitamins), they also form hydrogen bonds between each other to link the two strands of the DNA double helix and to form complementary molecules between DNA and RNA. In DNA, the purine adenine bonds to the pyrimidine thymine and the purine guanine bonds to the pyrimidine cytosine. In RNA, adenine bonds to uracil and guanine still bonds with cytosine. Approximately equal amounts of purines and pyrimidines are required to form either DNA or RNA. Its worth noting there are exceptions to the classic Watson-Crick base pairs. In both DNA and RNA, other configurations occur, most often involving methylated pyrimidines. These are called wobble pairings. Comparing and Contrasting Purines and Pyrimidines The purines and pyrimidines both consist of heterocyclic rings. Together, the two sets of compounds make up the nitrogenous bases. Yet, there are distinct differences between the molecules. Obviously, because purines consist of two rings rather than one, they have a higher molecular weight. The ring structure also affects the melting points and solubility  of the purified compounds. The human body synthesizes (anabolism) and breaks down (catabolism) the molecules differently. The end product of purine catabolism is uric acid, while the end products of pyrimidine catabolism are ammonia and carbon dioxide. The body does not make the two molecules in the same location, either. Purines are synthesized primarily in the liver, while a variety of tissues make pyrimidines. Here is a summary of the essential facts about purines and pyrimidines: Purine Pyrimidine Structure Double ring (one is a pyrimidine) Single ring Chemical Formula C5H4N4 C4H4N2 Nitrogenous Bases Adenine, guanine Cytosine, uracil, thymine Uses DNA, RNA, vitamins, drugs (e.g., barbituates), energy storage, protein and starch synthesis, cell signaling, enzyme regulation DNA, RNA, drugs (e.g., stimulants), energy storage, protein and starch synthesis, enzyme regulation, cell signaling Melting Point 214 C (417 F) 20 to 22 C (68 to 72 F) Molar Mass 120.115 gmol1 80.088 g mol1 Solubility (Water) 500 g/L Miscible Biosynthesis Liver Various tissues Catabolism Product Uric acid Ammonia and carbon dioxide Sources Carey, Francis A. (2008). Organic Chemistry (6th ed.). Mc Graw Hill. ISBN 0072828374.Guyton, Arthur C. (2006). Textbook of Medical Physiology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7216-0240-0.Joule, John A.; Mills, Keith, eds. (2010). Heterocyclic Chemistry (5th ed.). Oxford: Wiley. ISBN 978-1-405-13300-5.Nelson, David L. and Michael M Cox (2008). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (5th ed.). W.H. Freeman and Company. p. 272. ISBN 071677108X.Soukup, Garrett A. (2003). Nucleic Acids: General Properties. eLS. American Cancer Society. doi:10.1038/npg.els.0001335 ISBN 9780470015902.

Facilities Engineering Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Facilities Engineering - Coursework Example Here are the CPR results obtained for oil and gas exploration: Figure 1: CPR results of Gas and Oil extracted from Gazelle Well Major products extracted out of the oilfield at Gazelle are liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oils, lubricating oils, paraffin wax, sulfur. Question: Prepare flow schemes showing the architecture of the layout and of the main components used from the wellhead to the point of export for all option. The architectural layout of the Gazelle offshore oilfield is shown below with all the processing units and their respective processing cycles. This is a very large operating unit with extensively large piping layout with fluid streams running along. Crude oil is first passed through an oil production unit which provides the pre-processed oil to the oil storage tank from where it is delivered to the processing plant through a piping system. Here is the detailed flow diagram of all the processes taking place along their sequential flows: Figure 2: Flow Diagram of Gazelle Oilfield with components used in Oil Production Gazelle oilfield is a field that requires extensive production as well as operational refurbishments but even then it is above working above case base oil producing offshore refineries. This oil production unit involves a number of operating units that work extensively for long hours to provide quality product in economical rates with least water cuts. Following is an exhaustive list of components that work as a part of oil refinery at Gazelle(Snow, 2010, Gordon, 2012). De-salter unit is just provided at the inlet of crude oil and is responsible for washing away all the salt from crude oil. Distillator: Crude oil from de-salter is then passed through the distillatory unit which distills the crude oil into fractions. Second stage of distillation is also incorporated just after this by making use vacuum distillation unit which is responsible for the distillation of the left over components of crude oil which were not fractioned by simple distillatory. Hydrotreater: all fractions of the crude oil are then hydrogenated according to their requirements and this process is performed for removing sulfur contents from the oil fractions. Catalytic Reformer: it is used to reform the low grade oil fractions into high grade products like converting gasoline to a higher degree of octane level. While reforming the oil fractions excess amount of hydrogen is produced as a by-product of the process. Fluid Catalytic Cracker: this catalytic cracker is specialized in converting only liquid oil fractions to higher grade of oil. The process of converting gasoline to hi-octane is processed there. Hydrocracker: hydrocracker then takes the oil fractions and hydrogenizes them in order to upgrade the fractions. Visbreaking: the oil fractions that are needed to be degraded to lower order fractions are then passed through visbreaking unit Coking unit: this unit is specialized in carbonizing the heavy oil components of the fractions in order to produce gasoline. This helps in converting maximum oil fractions into consumable products. Alkylation: this unit is specialized in converting low grade molecules to higher ones and hence improving the quality of gasoline. Dimerization: the process of dimerization is performed in order to hydrogenate the gasoline products. Isomerization unit: This unit is specia