The Impacts of Black Death in Europe Research Paper

The Impacts of Black Death in Europe - Research Paper Example Capitals, were the toughest hit by the epidemic, suffering a great loss of cultural institutions such as churches and schools. Universities and grade schools were closed and at most abandoned. This was because the institutions did not have enough students to go to class or because teachers were not enough to teach the classes. For instance, Cambridge University alone lost sixteen out of forty lecturers to the plague. Churches lost priests and many people worried that there would be not a single soul left to share testimonies or lead sermons. Bishops and their successors were not spared either. People started to question their values. The atmosphere changed from one of cooperation to an individualism idea. Self-indulgence and self-satisfaction became popular as the whole society started to question what to expect the following day, so people started living each day to the fullest (Gottfried 164). The people became hopeless with the Roman Church and its power, as a result, the churches ’ influence and power declined. They started to question the Roman Catholic beliefs and faith, and God too. The priests had always taught the human race was chosen by God, but at that particular time, they wondered why God was not saving them.Education and religion systems had been brought to a standstill. An aspect of the community that was not as significantly affected by the plague as a culture was politics. The plague did not highly affect the course of politics, but it still had its share.

Beethoven Pastoral Symphony Essay Example for Free

Beethoven Pastoral Symphony Essay Beethoven was one of the pivotal composers that helped music evolve from the Classical period into the age of Romanticism. When discussing Beethoven’s success in classical compositions, his symphonies are at the forefront of most if not every conversation. However, even within the topic of his symphonies, some are naturally highlighted more than others. For example, one could reproduce the melody from either the opening movement of the Fifth or the finale of the Ninth and a majority of people would be able to recognize them. While these two works were revolutionary in the progression of symphonic music, they were not the only ones to have played important roles in this sense. Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony is a pivotal work in the expansion of music with programmatic characteristics. However, this symphony is one that sways between the realms of absolute and program music, for it can be identified with both categories of symphonic music. While it is highly unlikely that Beethoven viewed this composition as a truly programmatic piece, the Sixth Symphony has played an important role in the development of the symphony as a genre and influenced future composers of program music as well. In order to discuss the significance of the Pastoral Symphony, one must first shed light on the difference of program music from that of absolute music. Author R. W. S. Mendl describes absolute music as being â€Å"that which gives us pleasure by the sheer delight in sound patterns without having any emotional, pictorial, or literary references† and claims that music with programmatic content â€Å"attempt[s] to represent scenes, objects, or events which exist apart from music.† It is hard to gauge the amount of programmatic works prior to the Pastoral Symphony, simply due to the fact that the term â€Å"program music† was not used as a defining category of music at the time of their release. An estimated eighth of all symphonic works that were presented before Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony were composed with the intent of conveying particular images or scenes. It would seem that with such a small percentage of varying works that were composed to contain prog rammatic ideas, labeling these works with a universal genre proved to be somewhat difficult. With the expansion of this style of writing, naturally the encompassing term â€Å"program music† would become associated with such pieces. Around the time of Beethoven’s composing, music was undergoing a shift from the Classical period into an age of Romanticism. Compositions were expanding in numerous ways regarding form, orchestration, and harmonies that were being implemented. Beethoven has been called â€Å"the innovator who broke through the limitations of Classicism without abandoning them.† This is truly evident through his symphonic writing. While on the cusp of the Romantic era, it became evident to him that the stature of absolute music was on the rise. Lewis Lockwood states that from a compositional aspect, Beethoven looked down upon ‘program music’ for its seemingly shallow representation of actual sounds and lack of originality. In response to this rising style of music, he composed the Pastoral Symphony with the intent of merging illus trative ideas of programmatic music with the structure of absolute music. Beethoven successfully achieved a blend of programmatic and absolute ideas with this symphony, in order to create an overall pastoral feeling of nature rather than depict any specific image. While the symphony and its five movements are labeled with titles that were created by Beethoven himself, he believed that the overall pastoral idea of this work could be perceived by the audience without a description that would usually be necessary with a complete program piece. It is this idea that helped Beethoven create the title as it can be viewed on early sketches, â€Å"Pastoral Symphony or Memories of Country Life: More the Expression of Feeling than Tone-Painting.† It would appear that Beethoven intended to create a general mood that expresses the idea of nature rather than rely on specific images or one precise story to achieve this. Despite Beethoven’s general feelings towards program music and his conscious efforts to claim that the Sixth Symphony was more a collection of overall feelings rather than an attempt at creating one specific image, this piece is neither absolute or programmatic music but a blend of the two styles. The first point in this argument would be the fact that Beethoven attached titles to each of the five movements within this symphony that depict certain scenes associated with pastoral ideas. The headings for the movements are as follow: ‘Pleasant feelings which are awakened in mankind on arrival in the country’, ‘Scene by the brook’, ‘Joyful fellowship of country folk’, ‘Thunder and Storm’, and ‘Beneficent feeling after the storm joined with thanks to the deity’. The mere fact that this symphony is the only one of his nine to contain subtitles attached to each movement that describe a scene of nature favors the thought of the symphony being more programmatic than absolute. However, if one were to look past the movement headings and take into consideration the content of the music, one would observe that the first two movements contain very little defined imagery. From an analytical perspective of the form, the first ha lf of the symphony is rather conventional and resembles the absolute approach to music. These movements hold true to the subheading for the symphony in regards to creating overall feelings rather than one precise painting or story. While there are compositional devices used to help convey the pastoral feeling within the first half of the symphony, it is not until the end of the second movement that Beethoven truly utilizes extra musical associations to convey imagery. This andante movement entitled ‘Scene by the brook’ ends with the flute, oboe, and clarinet engaged in a coda while imitating birdcalls. The composer himself labeled these three woodwind voices as a nightingale, a quail, and a cuckoo, respectively. These birdcalls have led to several debates, discussions, and even complete articles that attempt to analyze the true meaning of their existence in the piece. No matter how they are interpreted, one fact remains still. The birdcalls act as segues from the symphonic first half to the more programmatic portion of the piece. The second half of the Sixth Symphony ventures away from conventional symphonic composing techniques found in the first two movements and includes more programmatic material. A strong indication of programmatic material resides within the later half of the symphony, where Beethoven includes several pastoral elements to enhance the musical imagery. The third movement consists of excited melodies in a compound-meter stylized scherzo representing country-dances. There are several points within this movement that have a drone in the bass that has been viewed as a depiction of bagpipes, an instrument that was frequently associated with the representation of pastoral ideas. This jovial dance-like movement transitions into the fourth movement, which resembles a storm. The storm is â€Å"clearly an example of tone-painting† with its explosive minor chords that represent thunder and lightning and the constant patter of rain in the strings’ lines. Another significant feature added to the symphony that aids the pastoral image is the use of a ranz des vaches in the final movement. The ranz des vaches was an alpine horn call that herdsmen used to summon cattle. Author, David Wyn Jones notes in his book that â€Å"common features of ranz des vaches melodies are: triadic motion, dotted 6/8 meter†¦frequent use of grace notes, all harmonized mainly by the tonic triad.† While looking at the horn call that Beethoven uses within his symphony, one would notice that it meets all of the criteria that Jones listed. The imagery associated with the Pastoral Symphony depicts scenes from nature, which was a subject close to Beethoven’s heart. Through journal entries and letters, one can deduce Beethoven’s love for nature. The following is a letter to Austrian musician and friend, Therese Malfatti in 1810 that depicts his feelings about the outdoors: How fortunate you are to have been able to go to the country so early in the year! Not before the 8th shall I be able to enjoy this delight: I look forward to it with childish anticipation. How glad I shall be to wander about amidst shrubs, forests, trees, herbs and rocks! No man can love the country as I do. For it is forests, trees and rocks that provide men with the resonance they desire. Through this letter and several other firsthand records, one can clearly see Beethoven’s infatuation for the outdoors and the justifiable reason to compose a piece that commemorates this love. It makes sense that the first large-scale work that includes extensive amounts of imagery would reflect the thing that he admired most. Along with the simple beauty of nature, there were other factors that influenced Beethoven while writing his Sixth Symphony. The inclusion of nature and rustic ideas within music was not uncommon to composers prior to Beethoven. Pastoral subjects could be found in several theatrical presentations, operas, and intermezzo from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries. One notable work that inspired the development of the Pastoral Symphony was an oratorio written by Franz Joseph Haydn, his teacher and mentor early on in his composing career. Haydn’s oratorio, The Seasons, had an impact on Beethoven while he wrote his Sixth Symphony. Haydn incorporates arpeggiated horn calls in the aria â€Å"Der muntre Hirt† that begin â€Å"a sequence of summer scenes that will [eventually lead] to the storm† later in the oratorio. Similarly, Beethoven opens the fifth and final movement of his symphony with an arpeggiated melody in the French horns that subsequently signify the end of the storm that took place in the previous movement. Another example of musical quotation that Beethoven purposely incorporated is an oboe melody that â€Å"has long been understood as a quotation from Bach’s chorale ‘Birch an, o Schà ¶nes Morgenlicht,’ from the second part of the Christmas Oratorio†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It is worth mentioning that prior to Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, there had been other symphonic works to contain sections that resemble thunderstorms. Several commentaries on the Pastoral and its development discuss the 18th century German composer, Justin Heinrich Knecht and his piece entitled La Portrait musical de la nature. This work seems to contain similar programmatic ideas as that of Beethoven’s symphony, including a thunderstorm that interrupts the overall peaceful feeling of nature that resumes after the storm. In addition to preceding compositions that influenced Beethoven’s writings, there has been the suggestion for the possible influence from the literary writings of Scottish poet James Thomson, mostly that of his well known poems collectively titled â€Å"The Seasons†. While there is no concrete evidence that Beethoven took inspiration from this poem, some scholars feel that the poem possibly had an underlying effect on the outcome of the Pastoral Symphony. The text of the poem discusses nature, progressing through the four seasons starting with spring and ending with winter. The poem was translated to German in 1745 and served as a basis for Haydn’s oratorio that shares the same name. As discussed earlier, Beethoven drew inspiration from Haydn’s oratorio, so it would seem that he was indirectly influenced from the poetry of James Thomson for this reason even if he had no connection to the actual literature itself. So far there have been factors that support both sides of the argument in trying to define the Pastoral Symphony as either a work of absolute music, or one depicting tone painting. The mere fact that the piece contains an appropriate amount of material that justifies both categories, one should agree that this work could be viewed as the perfect synthesis of the two sides of the symphonic spectrum. The next step in understanding the influence that the Pastoral Symphony had on future composers of both absolute and programmatic works would naturally be to look at the general reception of the premiere of this piece. The Sixth Symphony received its first public performance on December 22nd, 1808 along with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Beethoven worked on these two symphonies simultaneously in the years leading up to this concert. At this time however, the symphonies were labeled opposite of what they are viewed as today, which means that the Pastoral was written and performed as Beethoven’s fifth symphony, while the C-minor was viewed as his sixth. Over the course of time it would seem as though the Fifth Symphony has overpowered the Pastoral in the minds of audience members. While this may be true to some extent today, at the time, critics were singing praises to this wonderful portrayal of nature through melody and harmony. A review of the score in the musical journal of the time, Allgemeine musikalishce Zeitung, was typical in saying such things as â€Å"this work of Beethoven, wonderful, original, and full of life, which can be placed without hesitation besides his other masterworks†¦Ã¢â‚¬  When comparing it to other compositions that focused on imagery of programmatic material, one critic claimed that â€Å"none of the musical paintings known until now can withstand comparison†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Overall, the piece was welcomed positively and viewed as a representation for composers who desired to use programmatic features. Some of the compositional styles that would soon develop through the Romantic period can trace influence from Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony. When discussing compositions that drew inspiration from the Pastoral Symphony, one should mention Hector Berlioz’s programmatic work, Symphonie Fantastique. As a composer, Berlioz was an advocate for music with more programmatic tendencies and was viewed as a radical composer during his time. At one point in his career, Berlioz wrote critical reviews of Beethoven’s nine symphonies. When discussing the Sixth, he used descriptions such as, â€Å"delightful phrases [that] greet you, like the perfumed morning breeze† as well as â€Å"swarms of chattering birds in flight†¦Ã¢â‚¬  With such joyous descriptions that Berlioz gave, it comes as no surprise that he would find inspiration from this piece for his own writing. Author, Owen Jander views the second movement in Beethoven’s symphony entitled â€Å"Scene by t he Brook† as an obvious â€Å"point of departure for the ‘Scene in the Meadows’ in Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique†. As mentioned earlier, Beethoven’s second movement has been the topic of several discussions concerning the Sixth Symphony, specifically, the imitation of birdcalls that can be found at the close of the movement. Jander believes the calls to symbolize Beethoven’s acceptance of his growing deafness and his own fate. If one is to agree with this interpretation, then the connection to Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique becomes one that is easy to accept. Berlioz’s third movement, entitled â€Å"Scene in the Meadows† opens with the English horn and the oboe representing two shepherds that are calling to one another. At the end of the movement, one of the â€Å"shepherds† return once more but is not joined by the other, but is instead replaced by the distant roll of thunder heard in the timpani. Those familiar with the piece and its program know that the concluding two movements that follow represent a personal hell and damnation for the protagonist. The connection between both that of Beethoven’s and Berlioz’s works would be the idea that both composers are aware of their own fate and accept it through the illustration of music. Another composer that was potentially influenced by the Pastoral Symphony was that of the German opera composer, Richard Wagner. As just discussed, it would seem that the second movement of Beethoven’s work is to represent the â€Å"realization of one’s destiny through nature†. In Wagner’s opera, Siegfried, there are scenes within the second act that take place in the forest. In which, the main character, Siegfried learns of his destiny from the ability to understand a forest bird. This situation is the exact opposite from that of Beethoven’s, where the composer realizes his destiny through the discovery that he can no longer hear. Two compositions that were separated by nearly one hundred years, both contain similar imagery that represents a person’s realization and acceptance of their destiny through nature. The chances of this being a coincidence seem rather unlikely. To say that that Beethoven’s Pastoral inspired Wagner’s us e of nature within this opera would be a fair conclusion. When discussing Beethoven, the Sixth Symphony may not be a piece that comes to mind right away; one might rather recall themes from other symphonies by him. However, the importance of this piece in the evolution of the symphony as a genre is too important to go overlooked. The mere fact that out of the nine symphonies that Beethoven wrote, the Sixth was the only one to receive a programmatic title and descriptive scenes attached to the movements is an indication at the significance of this work. It may not have directly influenced several composers in the years that followed as far as content is concerned, but Beethoven’s ability to combine aspects of program music with the absoluteness of a symphony opened the door to possibilities for future composers on both sides of the spectrum.

Modelling Of 3 Phase Transmission Line Engineering Essay

Modelling Of 3 Phase Transmission Line Engineering Essay Transmission line is a medium to transmit electric energy from one place to another for long distances with the aim is to reduce and economically. Voltage, current, power and power factor are the main point must be considered at the sending end and receiving end. Typically, in Malaysia the overhead transmission line was used because cost and maintenance can be handle easily. As we know, the transmission line produced high strength of electric and magnetic field under the tower. Based on that, this project will modeling transmission line using Finite Element Method (FEM) focus on level voltage 275kV. The result of simulation of the transmission line model will analyze electric and magnetic field under transmission line tower. 2.0 Problem statement It is well known understand that the Transmission Line for 275kV produced high strength of electric and magnetic field under the tower. In other word, the field strength of electric field may create higher stress to the tower that may also tend to create high risk to the tower as well as to the insulator to be used. Another issue is how much tendency of magnetic field to be effect to the human and environment has be identified wisely. However, the real measurement under 275kV transmission line tower may give high risk. Therefore, the best idea is to carry out the information as mention above is by performing simulation study. 3.0 Objective To collect the 275kV Transmission Line specification. To model the 275kV Transmission Line using Finite Element Method (FEM) To simulate the 275kV Transmission Line using Finite Element Method (FEM) To analyze the electric magnetic field generated by the 275kV Transmission Line model 4.0 Scope The scope of this project are :- Specification is based on TenagaNasionalBerhad (TNB) 275kV Transmission Line. Transmission Line modelling using Finite Element Method (FEM) software. 5.0 Literature survey and project background AnÂÂ  electric power systemÂÂ  is a network of electrical components used to supply, transmit and use electric power. The main parts of electric power system areÂÂ  generation, transmission system, distribution system and load. At generation part, to generate an electrical energy on large scale, energy must be generate from the various sources energy such as oil, natural gas and other. Then, the transmission system transmit or carries current that generate from generation and distribution system feeds electric to load such as consumer and industry. This project will discuss further about transmission line system.[1] 5.1 Transmission Line Transmission line or power line are important part in power network. Other than that, based on theory, transmission line also can be describe as propagation of electric waves along the transmission line. There are many factor must consider to design transmission line. Such as transmission voltage level, types of tower, environment and others. The transmission line also can be constructed in two ways, overhead transmission line and underground transmission line. 5.1.1 Underground Transmission Line In underground system, the cable must be selective because all conductor must be insulated in this system. Therefore, the voltage level for this system will below 66kV cause difficult to find insulation for high voltage. Underground transmission line usually use at crowded areas because the cable used preferred compare with overhead use bare conductor not suitable at that areas.[1] 5.1.2 Overhead Transmission Line Overhead transmission line usually use for transmit electric for over long distances. In this system, spacing between the tower and the conductor are very important cause to avoid an electric discharge between the conductors. The appropriate spacing between the conductor will produce insulation between them. This system also expose to fault such as short circuit, breakage of line and lightening. But it easy to troubleshoot and repair compare to underground transmission line. However, it difficult to find exact point of fault cause transmission line are very long. Other than that, between the tower and the conductor must have insulation to make the transmission more safety when do it maintenance. [1] 5.2 Types of Transmission Line Transmission line be separated two part AC transmission line voltage and High Voltage DC transmission line (HVDC). 5.2.1 High Voltage DC Transmission Line The main factor affecting the cost of energy increases is the process of transmission lines to transmit the power to the load away from power generation. To overcome this issue that is usually done AC transmission line is using HVDC transmission line. The HVDC transmission line requires conversion at two ends, from AC to DC at the sending end and back to AC at the receiving end. The converter are static using high power thyristors connected in series to give the required voltage ratings. The physical process of conversion is such that the same station can switch from rectifier to inverter by simple control action, thus facilitating power reversal.[2] Figure 5.2.1: Variation of costs with line length[4] Figure above show the variation of costs of transmission line with distance for AC and DC transmission. Based on figure, before break even distance, cost of AC transmission is reasonable and economical than DC transmission. Before the break even distance point, the distance is around 500 to 800 km, so after that point or longer distance HVDC transmission line more economical than AC transmission.[2] 5.2.2 AC Transmission Line Transmission line also can be classified into three types such as short transmission line, medium transmission line and long transmission line. For short transmission a length less than 80km, medium transmission between 80km until 240km and long transmission have length more 240km.[] Normally, the power grids also have three level of voltage; High voltage (HV), medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV). In Malaysia, based on fact from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), AC transmission line have standard voltage called National Grid. Below are standard voltage of AC transmission line:- i) 132kV ii) 275kV iii) 500kV 5.3 Modelling Transmission Line For this project focus on 275kV transmission line modelling. Before go through below some journal refer to this project. Based on journal titled Modelling and Analysing of a 275kV HVAC Transmission Line for Power System Transient Studies written by M. Z. A. Ab Kadir and C. Y Jay. In this journal, it discuss the efficiency and power losses of transmission line via the concept of travelling wave. This case study had be done at Kampung Awah- Paka, Terengganu. This paper was model transmission line using PSCAD/EMTDC software which they want analyze the efficiency between the frequency dependent model and PI-section model. Before design or model transmission line on simulation, this paper had consider three important parameter such as series resistance, series inductance and shunt capacitor. Based on tower information below, this paper obtained the parameter such as resistance, inductance and capacitance via calculation. From the information are given, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) such as Table 1, design PI-section model. Line name KAWA-PAKA Tower type System Voltage Frequency Line length Conductor diameter Bundle spacing Ground to conductor height Horizontal spacing Vertical spacing Double circuit lattice Three phase 275kV 50Hz 160km 24.16mm 400mm 12630 7300mm 13000mm Table 5.3: Parameter of 275kV KAWA-PAKA lattice tower[1] After consider all parameter, this paper construct design PI-section model using PSCAD/EMTDC software for 160km an overhead transmission line. To model 160km an overhead transmission line, this paper used eight identical pi-sections are connected series which each PI-section represent 20km of transmission line. By terminating the surge impedance at the end of transmission line, the efficiency can be measure. Figure 5.3.1: Line surge impedance using PI-section model [1] For the frequency dependent model, this project used it as a reference cause it is the most accurate model. From this model also, we can learn the transient or harmonic behaviour of a line. Figure 2 show frequency dependent model. Figure 5.3.2 : Line surge impedance using frequency dependent model[1] Both model are carried out using three different test such as, short circuit test, open circuit test and line surge impedance test. Line surge impedance test is a real line with minimum losses and both other are used to demonstrate the behaviour of the travelling wave. Section Model % differences Pi-section Freq. Dependent Pi-section Freq. Dependent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 273.59 272.72 271.87 271.04 270.24 269.69 268.69 267.95 272.97 271.28 269.32 267.10 264.63 263.55 263.01 262.22 0.33 0.65 0.96 1.26 1.55 1.84 2.11 2.38 0.56 1.17 1.88 2.69 3.59 3.98 4.18 4.47 Table 5.4 : Summary of Pi-section and Frequency dependent model Result of output voltage of each 20km section are summarized in Table above. From the Table, result of this project show the output voltage of Pi-section model and Frequency Dependent model are approximately same. In the real transmission line system, we expect voltage level before step up or step down at substation are maintain. Based on Table above, compare the output voltage of the Frequency dependent low than Pi section because the frequency dependent model consider all losses such as hysteresis, corona effect, eddy current losses in nearby ferromagnetic materials and induced losses in nearby short circuited non ferromagnetic material while Pi-section model only consider proximity effect and skin effect. Conclude from that, the efficiency both model are acceptable and approximately same. An efficiency percentage for Pi-section model is 97.6% and Frequency dependent model 95.5%. This project successful in modelled Pi-section model using PSCAD/EDMTC software and analyzed by compare with Frequency dependent model.[3] Second journal titled Power Flow Assesment in Transmission Lines using Simulink Model with UPFC written by Ch. Chengajah and R. V. S.Satyanarayana. This paper discuss about the performance of a single and double transmission line system (6.6/22)kV using UPFC or without UPFC model. UPFC is a Unified Power Flow Controller which it can improve capability of power transfer or in other word to provide comprehensive control of power flow in transmission system.[4] This paper model the transmission line using Simulink to connected with UPFC model. Figure below show the transmission line model with UPFC device by using Simulink. From the figure show the double circuit 22kV and 6.6kV interconnected with UPFC model. UPFC device function to control voltage profile as the real and reactive power in the transmission line.[4] Figure5.3.2: Transmission line model with UPFC device[4] Table below show the result of power flow and voltage profile transmission line model with UPFC and without UPFC. Parameter 6.6kV Line 22kV Line Without UPFC With UPFC Without UPFC With UPFC Voltage magnitude(kV) 2.926 2.961 9.754 5.162 Real Power(MW) 0.274 0.281 3.050 0.854 Reactive Power(Mvar) 0.205 0.210 2.280 0.639 Table 5.5: Result power flow and voltage profile[4] Based on table above, this paper compare three parameter such as voltage magnitude, real power and reactive power. From that, an improvement can see for both transmission line when interconnect with UPFC. From that, this paper suggest improvement in transmission line system.[4] 5.5 Summary Based on both journal discussed different step to model transmission line. For first journal, using PSCAD software, the paper make comparison efficiency between PI-section model and Frequency Dependent model. The paper construct by consider parameter such as resistance, inductance and capacitor to model transmission line. Then, PI-section model had been construct which each PI-model represent 20km. The simulation had be done not like real transmission line system but result at end of experiment approximately same. Figure 5.3.1: Line surge impedance using PI-section model [3] For second journal, it use MATLAB/SIMULINK software to model transmission line. This paper discuss about function Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) in transmission system to improve voltage and power profile. This paper also consider value parameter such as resistance, inductance and capacitor to construct the model. Figure 5.5 22kV Transmission Line Simulink Model[2] Figure 5.5 above show example 22kV transmission line simulink model. At this end of this paper show result comparison between transmission line system with and without Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC). Therefore, this project propose to use Finite Element Method(FEM) to model transmission line. This project will model transmission line like a real transmission line using specification Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). This project focus on 275kV HVAC transmission line and will model like real tower for 275kV transmission line. Besides that, significant of this project also can see electric and magnetic field at transmission line. From that, this project analyze further about effect electric field and magnetic field to human and environment. 6.0 Methodology Start Collect the 275kV Transmission Line specification. Model the 275kV Transmission Line using Finite Element Method (FEM) Troubleshooting simulation Simulate the 275kV Transmission Line using Finite Element Method (FEM) Results Electric field and magnetic field Analyze the electric magnetic field generated by the 275kV Transmission Line model End Figure 6.0: Flow chart of Final Year Project 6.1 Collect the 275kV Transmission Line specification. In this process, the specification of data of 275kV tower in Malaysia is needed to be collect from TNB (Tenaga Nasional Berhad). The data that need to be collect is the tower height from ground level, the distance between phase to ground, the distance between phase to phase, and distance between ground wire to phase. Other than that, types and size conductor that used for 275kV also need to collect. 6.2 Model the 275kV Transmission Line using Finite Element Method (FEM) Based on data collection, model transmission lines tower with the conductor such as specification that used by TNB using Finite Element Method (FEM). 6.3 Simulate the 275kV Transmission Line using Finite Element Method (FEM). For this step, simulate the model transmission line 275kV that construct before using Finite Element Method (FEM). 6.4 Results Electric field and magnetic field The expected result are to modelling transmission lines using new method using FEM. Other than that, this project also expected to produce electric field and magnetic field at transmission lines from one point to next point. 6.5 Analyze the electric magnetic field generated by the 275kV Transmission Line Analyze the electric magnetic field around transmission line 275kV model based on display from simulation. 7.0 Expected Results/Benefit The result of this project should be able to design transmission line model using Finite Element Method (FEM) where the model must satisfied 275kV transmission line specification from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The model are include electric field and magnetic field. From that, analyze the result based on electric field and magnetic field around the transmission line model. This project will develop new method and new software to model transmission line with electric field and magnetic field by using Finite Element Method (FEM) from ANSYS Maxwell. 8.0 Milestones Task Date expectation Complete literature review on the design of Three Phase Transmission Line including the characteristic needed in design modeling. Nov 2012 Complete search and collect data of 275kV transmission line Jan 2013 Complete analyze the function of Finite Element Method to calculate the magnetic field and electric field. March 2013 Complete design optimization April 2013 Complete testing model with different parameter and analyze May 2013 Final report writing (including paper/journal writing) and presentation June 2013

Middle East foreign policies :: essays research papers

Disaster! Fear! Terrorism! What seemed to be a scene from Die Hard is what struck home in America on Sept. 11. The attacks on the World Trade Center leads back to many problems with our foreign relations. Our foreign relations policies have been recently getting a lot of countries angry and frustrated, the major problem being that we interfered with Palestinian and Israeli conflicts by offering war support to Israel. Aiding one side or another is a very tricky business, especially when it involves a religious war. We should have just offered support to try bringing the two countries to peace, not military support. Amazingly, the policy of helping Israel still continues, building settlements on what everyone knew was Palestinian land and selling weapons to Israel. We should not have interfered by helping Israel and for so long. It is hard to sit aside and be a spectator during a war, but when it involves religion, I would stay out. Religious wars are fought with a deep vengeance. It would not be the first time that America has tried to stay out of a war, we have done so in more atrocious wars like the genocide put on by the Nazis. I think America intervened in Israel for more political reasons than anything else. Due to our foreign policy in the Middle East, over the years we’ve acquired many enemies and adversaries, one of them being Osama Bin Laden. When we set up military bases in Saudi Arabia during and after the Gulf War, it exaggerated Osama’s anger because Saudi Arabia houses two of the holiest Islamic shrines. The build up of this anger led to the sad tragedy of the September 11th terrorist attack on America. The point I am trying to make is that it could have been avoided if we worked on our foreign policy more with Saudi Arabia and Israel and didn’t let the anti-American resentment get so strong. What’s done is done, and the only thing we can do now is to learn from our mistakes. I believe the first order of business is to prosecute Bin Laden and his terrorist faction. The next step is to slowly remove support in Israel. I emphasize slowly because we previously helped them for many years, and can’t abruptly end it. The first thing we should wean is the selling of weapons to Israel. Selling weapons to one side of the conflict is pretty much an act of war on Palestine.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 8

Damon nodded thoughtful y, glancing back and forth between the fighting stave and the pil owcase in his hand. Hadn't he suspected something like this for a long time? Subconsciously? After al , there had been that attack on the grandfather, which had failed to either kil him or to erase his memory completely. Damon's imagination could fil in the rest: her parents seeing no reason to blight their tiny daughter's life with this gruesome business – a whole new change of scenery – and then giving up the practice in the provincial, protected little town of Fel ‘s Church. If they had only known. Oh, doubtless they had made sure that Meredith had had self-defense and various martial arts training since she was a child, while swearing her to absolute secrecy – even from her best friends. Wel , now, Damon thought. The first of Shinichi's riddles was already solved. â€Å"One of you has a lifetime secret kept from everyone.† I always knew there was something about this girl†¦and this is it. I'd bet my life that she's a black belt. There had been a long silence. Now Damon broke it. Your ancestors were hunters too? he asked, as if she were telepathic. He waited a moment – stil silence. Okay – no telepathy. That was good. He nodded at the magnificent stave. â€Å"That was certainly made for a lord or lady.† Meredith wasn't stupid. She spoke without glancing away from his eyes. She was ready, at any instant, to go into kil ing mode. â€Å"We're just ordinary folk, trying to get a job done so innocent humans wil be safer.† â€Å"By kil ing the odd vampire or two.† â€Å"Wel , so far in recorded history saying ‘Naughty, naughty, Mama spank'has failed to convert a single vampire to vegetarianism.† Damon had to laugh. â€Å"Pity you weren't born early enough to convert Stefan. He could have been your grand triumph.† â€Å"You think that's funny. But we do have converts.† â€Å"Yes. People wil say anything while you're holding a pointed stick at them.† â€Å"People who feel that it's wrong to Influence other people into believing they're getting something for nothing.† â€Å"That's it! Meredith! Let me Influence you!† This time it was Meredith who laughed. â€Å"No, I'm serious! When I'm a vampire again, let me Influence you not to be so much afraid of a bite. I swear I won't take more than a teaspoon. But that would give me time to show you – â€Å" â€Å"A nice big house of candy that never existed? A relative who died ten years ago and who would have abhorred the thought of you taking my memory of her and using it as a lure? A dream of ending world hunger that doesn't put food into one mouth?† This girl, thought Damon, is dangerous. It's like a Counter-Influence that they've taught to their members. Wanting her to see that vampires, or ex-vampires, or Once and Future Vampires had some good qualities – like courage – he let go of the pil owcase and grasped the end of the fighting stave with both hands. Meredith raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Did I not just recently tel you that a number of those spikes you've just driven into your flesh are poisonous? Or were you not listening?† She had automatical y grabbed the stave as wel , above the dangerous zone. â€Å"You told me,†he said inscrutably – he hoped. â€Å"I particularly said ‘poisonous to humans as wel as to werewolves and other things' – recal it?† â€Å"You told me that, too. But I'd rather die than live as a human, so: Let the games begin.†And with that, Damon began to push the two-headed stave toward Meredith's heart. She immediately clamped down on the stave as wel , pushing it back toward him. But he had three advantages, as they both soon realized. He was slightly tal er and more strongly muscled even than lithe, athletic Meredith; he had a longer reach than hers; and he had taken up a much more aggressive position. Even though he could feel poisoned little spikes biting into his palms, he thrust forward and up until the kil ing point was once again near her heart. Meredith pushed back with an amazing amount of strength and then suddenly, somehow, they were even again. Damon glanced up to see how that had happened, and saw, to his shock, that she also had grasped the stave in the kil ing zone. Now her hands were dripping blood onto the floor just as his were. â€Å"Meredith!† â€Å"What? I take my job seriously.† Despite her gambit, he was stronger. Inch by inch, he forced his torn palms to hang on, his arms to exert pressure. And inch by inch she was forced backward, refusing to quit – until there was no more room to back up. And there they stood, the entire length of the stave between them, and the refrigerator flat against Meredith's back. Al Damon could think of was Elena. If he somehow survived this – and Meredith did not – then what would those malachite eyes say to him? How would he live with what they said? And then, with infuriating timing, like a chess player knocking over her own king, Meredith let go of the spear, conceding Damon's superior strength. After which, seeming to have no fear of turning her back on him, she took a jar ful of salve from a kitchen cupboard, scooped out a dol op of the contents, and motioned for Damon to hold out his hands. He frowned. He'd never heard of a poison that got into the blood that could be cured by external measures. â€Å"I didn't put real poison in the human needles,†she said calmly. â€Å"But your palms wil be torn and this is an excel ent remedy. It's ancient, passed down for generations.† â€Å"How kind of you to share,† – at his most sharply ironic. â€Å"And now what are we going to do? Start al over again?†he added as Meredith calmly began to rub salve into her own hands. â€Å"No. Hunter-slayers have a code, you know. You won the sphere. I assume you're planning to do what Sage seems to have done. Open the Gate to the Dark Dimension.† â€Å"Open the Gate to the Dark Dimensions,†he corrected. â€Å"Probably I should have mentioned – there's more than one. But al I want is to become a vampire again. And we can talk as we go, since I see we're both wearing our cat burglar costumes.† Meredith was dressed much as he was, in black jeans and a lightweight black sweater. With her long shining dark hair she looked unexpectedly beautiful. Damon, who had considered running her through with the stave, just as his obligation to vampire-kind, now found himself wavering. If she gave him no trouble on his way to the Gate, he would let her go, he decided. He was feeling magnanimous – for the first time he had faced down and conquered the fearsome Meredith, and besides, she had a code as he did. He felt a sort of kinship with her. With ironic gal antry, he waved her on before him, retaining possession of the pil owcase and the fighting stave himself. As Damon quietly shut the front door he saw that dawn was about to break. Perfect timing. The stave caught the first rays of light. â€Å"I have a question for you,†he said to Meredith's long, silky dark hair. â€Å"You said that you didn't find this gorgeous stave until after Klaus – that wicked Old One – was dead. But if you're from a hunter-slayer family you might have been more help in getting him dispatched. Like mentioning that only white ash could kil him.† â€Å"It was because my parents didn't actively pursue the family business – they didn't know. They were both from hunter families, of course – you have to be, to keep it out of the tabloids and – â€Å" † – police files – â€Å" â€Å"Do you want me to talk, or can you do your stand-up routine alone?† â€Å"Point taken† – hefting the extremely pointed stave. â€Å"I'l listen.† â€Å"But even though they chose not to be active, they knew that a vampire or werewolf might decide to pick on their daughter if they found out her identity. So during school, I took ‘harpsichord lessons'and ‘riding lessons'one day a week each – have done since I was three. I'm a Black Belt Shihan, and a Taekwondo Saseung. I might start Dragon Kung Fu – â€Å" â€Å"Point taken once more. But then how exactly did you find that gorgeous kil ing stick?† â€Å"After Klaus was dead, while Stefan was babysitting Elena, suddenly Grandpa started talking – just single words – but it made me go look in our attic. I found this.† â€Å"So you really don't know how to use it?† â€Å"I'd just started practicing when Shinichi turned up. But, no, I don't real y have a clue. I'm pretty good with a bo staff, though, so I just use it like that.† â€Å"You didn't use it like a bo staff on me.† â€Å"I was hoping to persuade you, not kil you. I couldn't think of how to explain to Elena that I'd broken al your bones.† Damon kept himself from laughing – barely. â€Å"So how did a couple of inactive hunter-slayers end up moving to a town on top of a few hundred crossing ley lines?† â€Å"I'm guessing they didn't know what a line of natural Power was. And Fel ‘s Church looked smal and peaceful – back then.† They found the Gateway just as Damon had seen it before, a neat rectangular piece sliced out of the earth, about five feet deep. â€Å"Now sit down there,†he adjured Meredith, putting her on the opposite corner from where he lay the stave. â€Å"Have you given a thought – even the briefest – as to what wil happen to Misao if you pour out all the liquid in there?† â€Å"Actual y, not one. Not one microsecond's worth,†Damon said cheerful y. â€Å"Why? Do you think she would for me?† Meredith sighed. â€Å"No. That's the problem with both of you.† â€Å"She's certainly your problem at the moment, although I may stop by sometime after the town's destroyed to have a little tte--tte with her brother about the concept of keeping an oath.† â€Å"After you've gotten strong enough to beat him.† â€Å"Well, why don't you do something? It's your town they've devastated, after al ,†Damon said. â€Å"Children attacking themselves and each other, and now adults attacking children – â€Å" â€Å"They're either scared to death or possessed by those malach the foxes are stil spreading everywhere – â€Å" â€Å"Yes, and so fear and paranoia keep spreading too. Fel ‘s Church may be little by the standards of other genocides they've caused, but it's an important place because it's sitting on top – â€Å" â€Å"Of al those ley lines ful of magical power – yes, yes, I know. But don't you care at al ? About us? Their future plans for us? Doesn't any of it matter to you?†Meredith demanded. Damon thought of the stil , smal figure in the first-floor bedroom and felt a sick qualm. â€Å"I told you already,†he snapped. â€Å"I'm coming back for a talk with Shinichi.† After which, careful y, he began to pour liquid from the uncorked star bal at one corner of the rectangle. Now that he was actual y at the Gate, he realized he had no idea what he should do. The proper procedure might be to jump in and pour out the star bal ‘s entire liquid in the middle. But four corners seemed to dictate four different places to pour, and he was sticking to that. He expected Meredith to try to foul things up somehow. Make a run for the house. Make some noise, at least. Attack him from behind now that he had dropped the stave. But apparently her code of honor forbade this. Strange girl, he thought. But I'l leave her the stave, since it real y belongs to her family, and, anyway, it's going to get me kil ed the instant I land in the Dark Dimension. A slave carrying a weapon – especial y a weapon like that – won't have a chance. Judiciously, he poured out almost al of the liquid left into the final corner and stepped back to see what would happen. SSSS-bah! White! Blazing white light. That was al his eyes or his mind could take in at first. And then, with a rush of triumph he thought: I've done it! The Gateway is open! â€Å"The center of the upper Dark Dimension, please,†he said politely to the blazing hole. â€Å"A secluded al ey would probably be the best, if you don't mind.†And then he jumped into the hole. Except that he didn't. Just as he was starting to bend his knees, something hit him from the right. â€Å"Meredith! I thought – â€Å" But it wasn't Meredith. It was Bonnie. â€Å"You tricked me! You can't go in there!†She was sobbing and screaming. â€Å"Yes, I can! Now let go of me – before it disappears!†He tried to pry her off, while his mind whirled uselessly. He'd left this girl – what? – an hour or so ago, so deeply asleep that she had looked dead. Just how much could that little body take? â€Å"No! They'l kil you! And Elena wil kil me! But I'l get kil ed first because I'l stil be here!† Awake, and actual y capable of putting together puzzles. â€Å"Human, I told you to let go,†he snarled. He bared his teeth at her, which only caused her to bury her head in his jacket and cling on koala-bear style, wrapping both her legs around one of his. A couple of real y hard slaps should dislodge her, he thought. He lifted his hand.

Policemen of the World essays

Policemen of the World essays The United States are primarily the policemen of the world. If there is a conflict in the world that we feel remotely attracted to, we will deploy troops to that area. Due to this fact, we would not have to send our army to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for their two conflicts, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. It is a false rumor that the United States were involved in these two conflicts for oil purposes only. This statement can be backed up due to our past connections with foreign wars, our attack on Iraq in Desert Storm, and the inevitable loss of American life. The United States has been in numerous foreign wars in the past, such as the nearly recent U.S. involvement in Haiti. Seeing as though the United States has the largest army in the world, we can literally conquer anything that we set our minds to invading. Instead, we use our military to help out foreign countries. No one would dare attack us; theyd rather get their joy in destroying smaller, weaker countries. Iraq attacked Kuwait, so we had to intervene. It is a habit for us; more people live if we send in our vast army. If we really needed oil all that badly, we would move in our Goliath-like army and take over Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. If any countries around retaliated, theyd surely be decimated. After the war in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, we kept only the necessary defensive platoons behind. We need not do anything else there, Operation Desert Storm was the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq control, and the following attack against their troops. Apparently, the United States had a grudge against Iraq all along; otherwise, they would have moved their troops out and back to America. Kuwait was in no position to share their oil. We helped them through their struggle, and proceeded to shell and bomb Iraqi strategic defense positions. We need ...

Essay on MADD Grassroots Movement to Policy

Essay on MADD Grassroots Movement to Policy Essay on MADD: Grassroots Movement to Policy Essay on MADD: Grassroots Movement to PolicyThere is no doubt that today’s grassroots play a significant role in politics, involving in issue advocacy. Commonly, the grassroots procedures in order to lobby and organize some important political issues include: 1) collecting signatures for petitions; 2) sending various letters; 3) putting up posters; 4) pickets and rallies; 5) different congresses delegations to the senators and congressmen; 6) utilizing different social networks with the purpose of  arranging virtual communities; and 7) emailing campaigns (The Native CDFI Network, 2012).In fact, there are various tools that can help grassroots organizations successfully influence policy. Firstly, grassroots organizations function at the local and national levels, enabling them to harness energy from a wide range of various groups which assists in maintaining their major focus and strengthening their fundamental membership.Undoubtedly, MADD as one of the driving forces in deal ing with societal issues (ODonnell, 2005) has grown over its history from a grassroots movement to a more institutional stakeholder. The fact is that it has grown in its membership over the last years. This helped them to diversify their program, widening their horizons, obtain more respect with the crowds, adhere to different essential goals and purposes, and as a result, get more funding and financial resources.   It is a nonprofit organization that functions at the different levels and aims to reduce underage drinking, provide more comprehensive sanctions with regard to higher-risk drivers, and raise beer excise taxes.Thus, taking the above-mentioned information into consideration, it is possible to draw a conclusion that grassroots movements play a significant role in different aspects of our life, involving in issue advocacy. Grassroots organizations function at the different levels and are driven by a community politics. All in all, MADD has significantly grown over its hist ory that helped them to diversify their programs, get more respect with the crowds, and thus, obtain more funding.

College Student Drinking

College Student Drinking Introduction Based on the pronounced freedom and exposure that students get in colleges, majority find themselves seriously addicted of drinking despite their earlier-on sober and well-calculated life. This behavior becomes problematic, when they attempt to free themselves out of the bondage. Problematic drinking in college has become and significant public health issue. The objective of this review is to examine the position of college student drinking.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on College Student Drinking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This assessment addresses problematic drinking and the variables strongly related to drinking among students. Drinking is often crisis because the drinking habits in colleges is binge drinking. This brings to mind the self-destructive and uncontrolled drinking stints whose consequences include failing to go to work because of serious hangover, extravagant spending, and engaging in detrimental behavior like risky sex or fighting. The Problem Problematic or binge drinking is a significant problem among college students that need addressing as a social concern. Over the recent years, college students have increasingly been consuming more alcohol as a social activity. The Harvard school of public health alcohol research of 1990s puts the estimate at 44% of the sampled students being binge drinkers (Wechsler 199). In addition, the study found that 23 percent drunk (binge drinking) frequently. Alcohol drinking causes some health and psychosocial problems. These problems are more common among binge drinkers (Wechsler 199). Therefore, binge drinkers face the highest risk of engaging in violence, unprotected sex, car accidents, dropping out of college and disregarding other responsibilities. When college student begin to engage in violence and other risky behavior when drunk, it is termed problematic drinking (Hingston 136). This problem has a number of co nsequences as a public social health issues. For that cause, it is pertinent to comprehend variables, which could be risk factors for the binge rather problematic drinking among college students. It is pertinent to note that college students have unique drinking patterns brought about by the ‘ideal lifestyle’ they tend to live. Compared to the general population, college students have an ‘ideal’ life and behave differently as a group (Hingston 136). Because of the high variability of drinking among college students, the main problem of the paper is to address psychosocial variables that predict excessive drinking and, therefore, account for the problem of drinking among college students. College Student Drinking- The Culture The drinking tradition among college students has evolved exceptionally fast into some culture. This tradition appears to have some strong beliefs and customs now embedded in every level of college life. These customs go down from gener ation to generation of college drinkers (O’Malley, and Johnston 23).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has reinforced the need to drink and drinking habits as necessary tools for success in social life in college. These beliefs and expectations stimulate powerful pressure on college student’s conduct and consumption of alcohol. There are also some customers, which promote college student drinking entrenched in student environments. The sporting events are the most popular arena for drinking (O’Malley, and Johnston 26). There are numerous advertisements using sports personalities and alcohol companies supporting sports. If these sports people are successful alumni, as perceived, they promote the alcohol tradition in colleges by this influence alone. Students love alumni social functions and these functions also promote drinking to a greater le vel. Communities around colleges nowadays do not seem to have a problem with creating establishments near colleges to sell alcohol. These businesses rely on the college student clientele for their economic achievement. As such, students draw their expectations of drinking from the environment and peers (Wechsler 203). This could be because of the insecurity of identity and building their personality as influential people in the social setting. The combined pressure from the environment and peers propels the drinking culture. This culture, therefore, promotes problematic drinking actively of passively by tolerating it, tacitly approving it as a rite of passage and hailing it as fashionable phenomenon (O’Malley, and Johnston 29). Two crucial problems characterize binge drinking violence and risky sex. This unprotected sex puts student at risk of contractive sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies. College students use alcohol as a ‘social lubricantâ€℠¢ to make the students to establish wider circle of friends and have fun (Wechsler 205). The student drink in groups for unity and for assertion of manliness or togetherness making alcohol a way of maintains cohesiveness. Because of the carelessness and irrational behavior caused by drinking, college students often begin using other drugs, as well. With a better understanding of the connection between alcohol and substance abuse, violence, sex and academic performance, measures can be out in place to help mitigate this problem (Hingston 143). Student Perception of Drinking Many college students do not believe that they have a trouble with drinking even when it is obvious that they are (Hingston 139). They simply believe that they drink on social events and respected occasional. However, they tend to have too many and unnecessary social events ranging from outstanding parties to drinking because a boy- of girlfriend broke up with them.Advertising We will write a custom resear ch paper sample on College Student Drinking specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Attending parties and drinking are not only fashionable but also an occasion celebrated like a major success (Mustang 2). Even movies promote such drinking habits hence reinforcing the perception of students that drinking and partying are fundamental aspects of college life experiences. As the study of Cal Poly students shows, those who drink regularly do so because it is just a way of life. It is stylish and thrilling to party as a student at Hathaway Avenue, throw bashes once you become a senior in college and celebrating turning 21 are among leading events of a student’s social life (Mustang 3). Statistics also show that, at the beginnings of every year, partying is often highest. The numbers then begin to reduce as the academic year progresses and particularly in winter and summer holidays since students normally go home. College Drinking Problems The dri nking pattern among student is unique and variable with a transient course. Only few students show heavy drinking patterns consistently for a long time into adulthood. After then hype period as freshmen, students begin to reduce drinking gradually to moderate levels as they advance in college (O’Malley, and Johnston 35). This means they are maturing out because the older they get the more responsible they tend to be. The drinking in college students differs considerably from non-college people in the same age. The rate of drinkers among students aged 18 to 24 is higher in relation to non-students of the same age bracket (O’Malley, and Johnston 23). Even though most of the students seem to transition from heavy drinking to moderate after college, some fail to undergo the transition. Heavy drinking puts the student lives at risk of suffering significant negative alcohol-related consequences in college (Wechsler 207). Alcohol-related problems fall on a continuum ranging f rom recklessness like skiving lessons to serious crimes like doing drugs and getting in trouble with authorizes. This puts every drinker at risk of experiencing several alcohol related problems in the future. Alcohol also causes more accidents and, therefore, contributes to accident deaths more than any other cause. Alcohol related accidents are a leading cause of deaths among college students aged 17–24 years. Over a half of a million students suffer unintentional injuries because of drinking each year (Hingston 139). The media has recently increased attention to alcohol-related deaths among college students like deaths from alcohol poisoning, drowning, car accidents, accidental fires, hypothermia and falling (Wechsler 201). There are some mild problems, which binge drinkers experience five times more than non-binge drinkers are. These include hangovers, missing classes, forgetfulness and unprotected sex (Wechsler 207). Heavy drinking affects student health, since alcohol lo wers immunity. The drinkers are hence unable to resist illnesses like respiratory infections, a phenomenon not common in light drinkers (Wechsler 208).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The consequences of healthy drinking can be shocking. For example, heavy drinking commonly results in physical assault, sexual violence and destruction of property. Every year, there are reports of over 600,000 other students hit or assaulted by a drinking student (Hingston 139). Driving under the influence of alcohol is a significant risk that students often take. This puts them at risk of injury and possible death. Hingston (142) found that besides over 2 million students driving while drunk, over 3 million drove as passenger of a drunk driver. This puts even more people at risk. Conclusion When college student dies due to alcohol intoxication or other alcohol related causes. This incident captures the media’s attention for a while. At the university, the administration deals with the problems immediately and normalcy resumes. The incident is does not cause a change in policy or long-term measures to curb future happenings of similar cases. One of the main reasons for this apparent inattentiveness to permanent is that, the problem of drinking in colleges is deemed unsolvable. Many schools have put in place structures to help reduced drinking among the students. They seem not to have noteworthy campus-wide success. Every failed attempt makes the problem of drinking in college obstinate. This further demoralized the administration’s attitude. With experts in the field of counseling, community administrations and student welfare, it can be easier to use combined knowledge to find a solution. In the recent past, there have been some notable recommendations presented for solving this problem. These recommendations have included a culture change, which has to use three level intervention strategies. First, it has to begin at the individual level – student character. Second is the student fraternity level – group drinking culture and third, at community level – alcohol businesses around campus. Having this overarching structure in place, the colleges will be able to tailor a program addressing alcohol-related problems among college students. Underlying these measures is the fact that even though the general trend of drinking may seem the same, no college is similar to another in terms of the environment influences and individual student’s characteristics. Therefore, the effectiveness of these remedies extends beyond the school to the entire community. Hingston, Ralph, Timothy Heeren, Zakocs Ronda, Kopstein Andrea, and Henry Wechsler. Magnitude Of Alcohol-Related Mortality And Morbidity Among U.S. College Students Ages 18–24. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 63.2 (2002): 136 – 144. Mustang, Daily. The Drinking Habits Ofna College Town. News for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2011. Web. O’Malley, Patrick and Lloyd Johnston. Epidemiology of Alcohol and Other Drug Use among American College Students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 3.2 (2002): 23–39. Wechsler, Henry, Lee Jae., Kuo Meich un and Lee Hang. College Binge Drinking In The 1990s: A Continuing Problem: Results Of The Harvard School Of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study. J. Amer. Coll. Hlth 48.5 (2000): 199-210.

Human Resource Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Human Resource Planning - Essay Example ed now to contribute to the creation of sustainable competitive advantage more than tangible assets such as â€Å"raw materials, fixed capital, and even managerial knowledge.† Leveraging knowledge is the key reason attributed to corporate success stories such as the tremendous ‘overvaluation’ of high-tech and Internet companies. (Bontis & Michael, 2002 ) With respect to the importance of human capital in modern business environment managers need to develop organizational skills such as managing networks, master HR planning and development. In this paper we’ll view several HR planning and development methods and evaluate them with respect to objectives of United Utilities, water supply waste water treatment and disposal company. United Utilities employs over 17,000 people and is one of the main infrastructure and business process management companies. The group also owns two support services businesses: United Utilities Contract Solutions and Vertex which use the core skills of infrastructure management and business process management in the process of supply of services to others. (United Utilities Taps into Community Spirit, 2006) The principle objectives, which specify the strategy of United Utilities, can be summed up to improvement of the efficiency by means of maximizing synergies as a multi-utility operator and development of support service businesses by means of application of the main skills of infrastructure management and business process outsourcing in competitive markets. (Our Strategies, 2006) Besides, United Utilities tries to satisfy all parts, providing growth for shareholders, minimizing expenses for customers and providing its employees with challenging and rewarding jobs /Our Strategies, 2006/. The main sources of recruitment are employment agencies, university appointment boards or fairs, internal promotion or introduction and advertising. Taking into account the objective of United Utilities to find high-qualified staff in short

Proposal new Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposal new - Essay Example in a competitive market, the company needs to invest in their human resource needs (SIMS, 2007). The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) was formed in the year 1992 by a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, 2014). This company is known for its reliable and efficiency in its operations. This company has made great efforts in meeting the growing demands of its customers. The growth of customers means that DEWA increases its employees. With this increase, there is the need to look at the human resource management policies to make sure that they are motivated to fulfil the goals of the company. To be able to maintain its good reputation with the customers, there is also need to look at the human resource policies. This will help to avoid cases that would damage the company’s reputation as seen in 2008 when an employee insulted and assaulted his superior officer (Khaleej Times, 2008). This will form the primary data collection method in this study. The questionnaires will be structures and will be administered randomly to employees in the operational level (BRACE, 2008). The number of respondents will be thirty employees. This number is arrived at for easier analysis of data collected within the project’s timeframe. Information will also be obtained from the company’s past records. Due to the fact that the company will be reluctant to release its internal information because of confidentiality issues, the study will be limited to past record in the company’s website and from published e-newspapers. Observation method will form as a source of secondary information. Observation does not provide accurate information and for this reason, this method will be used to verify data already collected. This method will also be useful in helping the respondents answer the questionnaires as expected. A number of challenges are expected to be encountered during this study. One major challenge

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

Cicero - Essay Example On his part, Erucius contends that in the event that he had murdered his father, he could have asserted his legacy. The Cicero listened to both sides of the contentions so as to relate new data and thoughts which could empower him settle on a balanced choice. The main story or casing that Erucius tells was not convincing however the second one was more feasible. The portrayal uncovers that ranchers like Roscius were quiet, unselfish, were given to their family and couldnt control their fate. Cicero copartners Roscius with this character and assaults Erucius for belligerence that anyone might not seek on the area in light of the fact that in country life, qualities are not goals. Cicero affirmed that he saw unmistakably the qualities of the Romans. Consequently, it was sound to accept that nation life was more unadulterated than the city life where Erucius had moved with his late father. In his decision or talk, Cicero contended that there was sufficient data to connection Erucius to the homicide of his father. Cicero argued that it was prudent to use refutation because it allowed him to reflect o n the case in the sense he was able to side line facts that were not useful. In the case of Roscius, Cicero followed all aspects of oration as discussed above. Cicero prompted speakers that it was balanced for them to first make what he called stasis. Hence, stasis implies they need to call attention to the principle issue and evaluate whether the case is solid enough or not. Moreover, they need to create the fundamental perspectives concerning the issue so they contend in court to impact the choice or discipline (Cicero 89). Further, they need to name the principle wrongdoing or issue, for example, first degree homicide or murder. Cicero states that a great and immaculate speaker may have demolished both law and rationale (checking trademark sanity)

Agile Software development (individual Reflection Report ) Essay

Agile Software development (individual Reflection Report ) - Essay Example alyze and gather various sets of information on agile development process so as to use its techniques in developing the Student Attendance Monitoring System. The group got information from lecture notes, books and online sources about the Agile Development process. The group was able to come to an agreement that the system offers a framework that is lightweight, entailing a collection of development methodologies which are iterative used by development teams. From the information that the group gathered, it was clear that agile development software delivers working software of high-quality in the functionality of business value. This is the kind of software that the group needed in the development of the monitoring system. Another technique that the group was looking out to in the agile development process was its combination of methodologies such as question-and-answer (QA), project management, and even in engineering practices, together in a way that will help the agile development team through processes of managing, planning and delivery of the software. Every member of the group had a role to play, assigned by the group leader. With the combination of all the roles, the group saw the realization of its objective on the assignment. The members gathered information from sources mentioned earlier. The group was able to compile the information that Agile’s most popular methodologies include the extreme programming methodology (XP), Scrum, Kanban and hybrid methodologies. The group noted that even though these software methods have approaches that are specific and unique to each of them, they have the same core values and share a similar vision stated in the agile manifesto (Holcombe 2008). During the development process, the group employed some of the XP practices. The practices were pair programming, system metaphor, test first development, small release, and continuous integration and collective ownership. All the group members knew how the system works

Regina foodbank Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Regina foodbank - Research Paper Example They provide invaluable training and health services, as well as education programs. Its vision is to create a hunger free community (Regina Food Bank N.P). To live a healthy lifestyle involves being able to access affordable and nutritious food. This is easily achieved by individuals with adequate family income. Families with financial difficulties usually forego money meant for food to take care of other expenses such as medications, utilities, rent and other household needs. Food insecurity does not have boundaries no matter which part of Canada one comes from but there those who are more vulnerable than others. They include those who do not own a home, and those with low income. The Regina Food Bank recognizes such individuals in their plans for a hunger free community. Researchers have shown that food insecurity has adverse effects physically or mentally on an individual. These effects include chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The mental effects are depression, stress and anxiety. Moreover, food insecurity negatively impacts on the children in the community. The early stages of a child development are crucial for a person, and in the advent of poor nutrition practices and food insecurity can lead impaired growth and development in the child which may be translated into poor health outcomes during their adulthood lives. Regina mission offers to avoid such problems and complications. Due to the rapid technological advancements the cost of living increases yearly and more people tend to be dependable on food banks. Regina Food Bank receives an increase in the clients it serves annually with majority of its recipients being children. Majority of its client’s primary source of income comes from social assistance. The majority of their clients’ monthly income is used for rental and food purposes which leaves little or no money for

Situating the Situationist International Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Situating the Situationist International - Essay Example ench faction started to adopt the concept of â€Å"constructed situation.† The members of the S.I were outraged by cultural capitalizations and economic markets. These were perceived to be the hijackers of aesthetic experience. In 1958, S.I co-founder Guy Debord and a section of the rest of the group decided to sabotage the International Assembly of Art Critics which was taking place in Belgium. They condemned the commercialization and institutionalization of art by the event, and called for subversive and new aesthetic ideologies. The approaches used by the S.I included the use of protesting text, hand-out copies, forcing themselves into press meetings and clubs, and throwing of pamphlets into crowds. They also used to throw leaflets from buildings into cars and over windows. These approaches still live with the present day representation and politics. Situationism has, however, evolved. In the middle of the 20th Century, situationism aimed at redesigning its context and the attitude of the public with the purpose of achieving integration and to have anyone enjoy the art world. Newer methods and re-appropriations of situationist methods are both aesthetically and politically successful. The devised methods have been more successful in exposing or opposing deceptions of capitalism than the ill-fated earlier methods where artists found themselves ignored, crushed or scorned. The interventions of the Situationist international have a mild impact both aesthetically and politically. Newer methods and re-appropriations have been, however, more successful than the historically devised ones. The author of this anthology seeks to emphasize on the S.I’s engagement with cultural politics and art of their time during the 20th Century. He builds majorly on their activist and political stance and the interaction of Guy Debord with other members of the group. Published in 2004, this book supplements both political and aesthetic sections. It also provides some hard-to-find

Agile Software development (individual Reflection Report ) Essay

Agile Software development (individual Reflection Report ) - Essay Example alyze and gather various sets of information on agile development process so as to use its techniques in developing the Student Attendance Monitoring System. The group got information from lecture notes, books and online sources about the Agile Development process. The group was able to come to an agreement that the system offers a framework that is lightweight, entailing a collection of development methodologies which are iterative used by development teams. From the information that the group gathered, it was clear that agile development software delivers working software of high-quality in the functionality of business value. This is the kind of software that the group needed in the development of the monitoring system. Another technique that the group was looking out to in the agile development process was its combination of methodologies such as question-and-answer (QA), project management, and even in engineering practices, together in a way that will help the agile development team through processes of managing, planning and delivery of the software. Every member of the group had a role to play, assigned by the group leader. With the combination of all the roles, the group saw the realization of its objective on the assignment. The members gathered information from sources mentioned earlier. The group was able to compile the information that Agile’s most popular methodologies include the extreme programming methodology (XP), Scrum, Kanban and hybrid methodologies. The group noted that even though these software methods have approaches that are specific and unique to each of them, they have the same core values and share a similar vision stated in the agile manifesto (Holcombe 2008). During the development process, the group employed some of the XP practices. The practices were pair programming, system metaphor, test first development, small release, and continuous integration and collective ownership. All the group members knew how the system works

Situating the Situationist International Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Situating the Situationist International - Essay Example ench faction started to adopt the concept of â€Å"constructed situation.† The members of the S.I were outraged by cultural capitalizations and economic markets. These were perceived to be the hijackers of aesthetic experience. In 1958, S.I co-founder Guy Debord and a section of the rest of the group decided to sabotage the International Assembly of Art Critics which was taking place in Belgium. They condemned the commercialization and institutionalization of art by the event, and called for subversive and new aesthetic ideologies. The approaches used by the S.I included the use of protesting text, hand-out copies, forcing themselves into press meetings and clubs, and throwing of pamphlets into crowds. They also used to throw leaflets from buildings into cars and over windows. These approaches still live with the present day representation and politics. Situationism has, however, evolved. In the middle of the 20th Century, situationism aimed at redesigning its context and the attitude of the public with the purpose of achieving integration and to have anyone enjoy the art world. Newer methods and re-appropriations of situationist methods are both aesthetically and politically successful. The devised methods have been more successful in exposing or opposing deceptions of capitalism than the ill-fated earlier methods where artists found themselves ignored, crushed or scorned. The interventions of the Situationist international have a mild impact both aesthetically and politically. Newer methods and re-appropriations have been, however, more successful than the historically devised ones. The author of this anthology seeks to emphasize on the S.I’s engagement with cultural politics and art of their time during the 20th Century. He builds majorly on their activist and political stance and the interaction of Guy Debord with other members of the group. Published in 2004, this book supplements both political and aesthetic sections. It also provides some hard-to-find

History of Fire Sprinklers Essay Example for Free

History of Fire Sprinklers Essay Rome, 64 A. D. Emperor Nero watched in horror as the great city of Rome burned for six days and seven nights. Afterwards 70% of the city was left in smoldering ruins and devastation. (The Burning of Rome, 64 AD 1) Why the exact cause of the fire is unknown, we wonder if an effective sprinkler system could have prevented this incident and others like it. A city that was well known for their magnificent construction, architecture, and irrigation systems was almost completely destroyed by one incident. Many codes do not require a specific type of Automatic Sprinkler System. While the most common type found is the Wet Pipe System; Dry Pipe, Preaction, and Deluge Systems can be found in many different occupancy types. The two main purposes of automatic sprinkler systems are to extinguish fires and control the fire until appropriate personnel arrive to extinguish the fire. Automatic sprinkler systems are expected in all occupancy types, except residential, unless the hazard is not compatible with water. For these hazards there are several other types of suppression systems that can be installed to manage the incident. By installing an automatic sprinkler system, you increase life safety and property protection. What is the standard of sprinkler systems? The goal is to increase life safety and decrease property damage. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been the leader in mandating standards and requirements when it comes to sprinkler systems. They have developed many standards that address the installation, inspection, and maintenance of sprinklers. Wet pipe systems are closed water systems attached to a piping system containing pressurized water at all times. This type of automatic sprinkler system is the most common type, and can be found in all most all occupancy types. Unless the potential of freezing pipes or other special conditions apply, this type of system will be encountered most frequently. The operation of this sprinkler system is very simple. The wet-pipe system consists of sprinkler heads attached to sprinkler supply lines that interlace the occupancy. When a fire first starts there is minimum heat generated. As the fire grows and the thermal layer is disturbed, heat rises to the targeted sprinkler heads. Depending on the rated temperature of the sprinkler head, a fusible disc or link melts from the heat and initiates the flow of water. While most fires are controlled by one or two sprinkler heads, in the case of fast moving fires more may be needed to control the fire. When water is flowed from the system, typically other things may happen. In all most all wet-pipe systems, there is some type of audible alarm activated at the standpipe. This will trigger other alarms in the building, and most of the time notifies an agency that will then notify the Fire Department of a water flow alarm or others like it. Dry pipe systems use air or nitrogen to keep the supply line pressurized at all times. This type of automatic sprinkler system is commonly found in the colder areas where the possibilities of freezing pipes are encountered. Dry-pipe systems provide the same adequate protection similar to wet-pipe systems. The piping is charged with air or nitrogen, and when a sprinkler head is activated the drop in the pressure opens a valve at the standpipe that allows water to flow into the systems. (Bahme 25) Just like the wet-pipe system, normally one or two sprinkler heads are needed to control the fire. There will also be an alarm that is activated notifying the appropriate agency to contact the Fire Department. At lest once a week the system should be tested to make sure that the air pressure within the piping is maintained. The third type of automatic sprinkler system is the Pre-action System. This type of system is a closed piping system that contains air, which may or may not be under pressure. When a fire occurs the fire detecting device signals the control valve to open charging the system. This type of system is usually used where the possibility of broken pipes and sprinkler heads may result. The most common places found include electrical rooms, computer rooms, and other areas that may house expensive equipment. There can be several types of pre-action system including a recycling system. This system is capable of charging the piping, discharging water, then cutting itself off. In the event that the fire rekindles, it can discharge again. It then has the ability to recycle the water. Deluge systems are much like Pre-action systems except that the sprinkler heads are open and the system is not charged. Similar to that of the pre-action systems, a fire detection device, usually a heat sensor, activates the discharge valve on the system. The difference is that the entire sprinkler component of the system is open; therefore the area that is activated is deluged in water. These types of automatic sprinkler system can be found where a high hazard of flammable liquid may be encountered. The most common place is aircraft hangars. Caution should be taken though; in confined spaces the oxygen level can be deficient when these systems are activated due to the copious amounts of water. Combined Dry-Pipe and Pre-action systems are composed of both the systems mentioned above. These systems have the dry pipe features with the pre-action features in the event the dry pipe portion fails. These systems are used when an area is too large to be covered by a dry pipe system. On the same note though, combined systems were originally developed for protection during cold climates. Long lines would be subject to freezing. These systems are commonly found when dealing with long piers. (Bahme 30) It is important to note this type of system is considered two independent systems. Testing requires individual standards for both type; consisting of the dry pipe system and the pre-action system. Limited water supply systems are those where supply water cannot be properly supplied to the occupancy. These systems consist of many wide range types and can be used as outside sprinklers and confined space sprinklers. Some research obtained shows that one type of limited water sprinkler type could be the antifreeze sprinkler system. This type of system is very uncommon and is normally not accepted and used in recent automatic sprinkler systems. In conclusion, there are several types of water sprinklers used in today’s management to help increase life safety and decrease property damage. By including detection devices and the correct sprinkler heads, these systems can mean the difference between life and death. The occupancy should have the correct automatic sprinkler system that will properly suppress the material relevant in that occupancy regardless of the type. The preferred automatic sprinkler system should all be able to notify the occupants, summon the correct agency to suppress the fire, sound alarms, supervise fire control, and initiated a wide variety of auxiliary functions involving environmental, utility, and process controls. (IFSTA 559)

Social Work Practice

Social Work Practice A Summary of my Understanding of Critical Reflection with Social Work Practice INTRODUCTION Reflective social work practice is a key learning and development process in social work courses which enable social work trainees to apply theories and models in critical and challenging situations in practice to enhance professional developments (Scragg and Knott, 2007). Great emphasis is placed on developing skills of critical reflection about, in and on practice and this has developed over many years in social work. Reflecting about, in and on your practice is not only important during practice learning and education to become a social worker, but it is considered a key to continued professional development. Social work is a profession that acknowledges life-long learning as a way of keeping up to date, ensuring that research informs practice and striving continually to improve skills and values for practice (Parker, 2004). Contemporary social work educators and practitioners are increasingly emphasizing the value of reflective practice as a rich source of social work theories an d skill development that conceptualize formal learning theory (DCruz et al, 2007). This essay will explore my understanding of reflective social work practice and the application of key theories and models of reflection to promote best social work practice. Schon(1993) considers critical reflective practice to involve thoughtfully considering ones own experiences in applying knowledge to practice while being coached by professionals in the discipline (Ferraro, 2000). In order to put this into perspective, I will begin this essay by looking at the development and nature of critical reflective practice followed by my understanding of critical reflection and its application within social work. Also I will look at the merits and demerits of critical reflective practice in social work. The next section will involve a critical account of my development of reflective practice in my practice learning opportunity (PLO). Zhao (2003) defines reflective practice asan ability to reflect on experiences, to employ conceptual frameworks, and to relate these to similar and dissimilar contexts so as to inform and improve future practice. Kondrat (1992) explained that reflection on practice in social work has been associated with attempts by practitioners to distance themselves from their experiences and thereby achieve a more objective view of their practice (cited in DCruz et al 2007). However according to Fook (2002) critical reflection places more emphasis and importance on understanding how a reflective stance uncovers power relations, and how structures of domination are created and maintained (www.courses.hull.ac.uk/modules/MA PLO inductionsession.html) [accessed on 22/09/2009]. Also critical reflection, as an approach to practice and the generation of knowledge, values the practice wisdom of practitioners and seeks to generate theory from practice experience inductively (DCruz et al 2007). As a practice skill, critical reflection has been developed as a process that is taught to practitioners and students to enable them to enhance and research their practice (Fook, 1999, 2002). DEVELOPMENT OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE A review of development of reflective practice in contemporary times indicates a substantial knowledge base. The thinking about critical reflection and reflective practice has evolved over many years, through carefully constructed theories, research and application. Dewey (1938) suggested that people only begin to reflect when they identify an issue as a problem to be overcome and recognize that this can create an air of uncertainty about the outcome (Parker, 2004). Schon (1987) is widely credited with the extensive development of reflective practice and thereby increasing the popularity of reflective practice in social work practice. His work was built on the ideas proposed by John Dewey, where he describes the process of change and understanding in professional learning and development from a technical- rational approach to an approach based on reflection-in-action (www.learningmatters.co.uk/sampleChapters/) [accessed 20/09/2009]. He asks social work practitioners to engage in a re flective conversation where they could blend theoretical knowledge with their own personal experience to gain a greater understanding of a specific situation. Schà ¶n is of the notion that real life practice situations could be messy, involve uncertainty, and may challenge our preconceptions and beliefs. It is clear that Schà ¶ns idea of a reflective practitioner requires honesty and openness to engage in a critical reflective conversation to improve social work practice. However, he admits that this level of openness may occasionally be problematic if students are required to share their reflections with supervisors or fellow students due to power imbalances within the practice (www.learningmatters.co.uk/sampleChapters) [accessed 20/09/2009]. Schà ¶n (1984) and Kolb (1983) separate works have given critical reflective practice the credibility in contemporary social work practice, where they have employed basic principle of reflecting on experience to improve action and professional practice (Saltiel 2006). In recent years the concepts of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action have become widely influential, in professional educa tion and training where a wide range of teaching methods have been developed to encouraged students to reflect on their practice and integrate theory with action ( Saltiel, 2006). Schon (1983) realising the risk reflection-in-action could create in the future as it become habitual and routinised, advocated for a much more formalised methods of reflection known as reflection-on-action. This is a reflection after an event has occurred by revisiting previous judgements in a more analytical way designed to make tacit knowledge explicit (Taylor, 2006).   WHY CRITICAL REFLECTION FOR LEARNING IN SOIAL WORK PRACTICE? Reflective practice is split into two interrelated components, practice and reflection, which are clearly not just as simple as doing and thinking. Practice, is an event which is usually, but not always, observable, which Michael Eraut (1994) calls practice performance. It includes cognitive and affective aspects as well as the behavioural. On the hand reflection, implies a number of processes which are largely linked to the practice event (www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/000000468.htm) [accessed 19/09/2009]. Calderhead (1989) defined reflection broadly; as an acquisition of attitudes and skills in thinking. It is a process of becoming aware of the influence of societal and ideological assumptions, especially ethical and moral beliefs, behind professional practice. The two components are clearly not discrete since good practice will, for example, consist of the practitioner eliciting the clients or service users reflections on the practice. The various processes of reflection as outlined particularly by Schon (1987) can be summarised as the analysis, synthesis, evaluation and feeling. However, critical reflection transforms practice by challenging existing social, political and cultural conditions (Clift et al., 1990). It involves ethical and moral criticism and judgements (www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/000000468.htm) [accessed 19/09/2009]. My practice learning experience at Age concern has challenge my knowledge and values in working with my supervisors, colleagues and service users and more importantly my experience acquired from FASU in my PLO1.   At Age Concern the environment was quite friendly but intimidating and the workload was demanding as much was expected of me.   However, by deploying reflective techniques such as self and peer assessment, reflective conversation, engaging in collaborative discussions with my team members and critically reflecting on my practice and professional development I got grip with the practice. I always engage in a reflective conversation with my supervisors and peers where I blend my theoretical knowledge acquired from formal learning with my own personal experience to gain a greater understanding of situations. Schà ¶n (1987) is of the view that real life practice situations can be messy, involve uncertainty, and may challenge our preconceptions and beliefs. It is clear from Schà ¶ns idea that a reflective practitioner requires honesty and openness to engage in a critical reflective conversation. However, this level of openness may occasionally be problematic if students are required to share their reflections with supervisors or fellow students (www.learningmatters.co.uk/sampleChapters/) [accessed 20/09/2009]. Working with service users who are fifty years and above and experiencing social inequalities and deprivation in different circumstances was very challenging. My openness and honest attitude towards my service users helped me to record events in the right perspectives. Thereafter by critically reflecting on the actions taken during practice transforms my understanding of the theories and models and how to improve my social work practice. According to Fook (2002) critical reflection places emphasis and importance on an understanding of how a reflective stance uncovers power relations, and how structures of domination are created and maintained (www.courses.hull.ac.uk/modules/MA PLO induction session.html) [accessed on 22/09/2009]. My understanding of critical reflection coupled with a supportive learning environment at Age Concern, made me to appreciate better how theoretical knowledge and skills are vital to best social work practice. It seems to me that critical reflective practice offers a highly challenging paradigm of learning. It is more of inductive learning than a deductive learning as the case may be in formal learning contexts such as Higher Education Institutions. MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CRITICAL REFLECTICE PRACTICE Under appropriate environmental conditions, critical reflective practice can help individual social workers and students to enhance their personal and professional development in practice. Appropriate conditions include: a supportive environment, social workers readiness to undergo self-reflection, individual space for individual workers to undergo critical reflective practice, workers own reflective practice and awareness of ones limits and breaking point (Yip, 2006). A supportive environment does not only imply a supportive organizational context, including colleagues and supervisors but how it encourages empathic rapport that is crucial for constructive self-reflection in reflective practice (Calderhead, 1989). It is obvious that mutual support and open sharing among colleagues is the best breeding ground for constructive critical self-reflection. Notwithstanding the supportive environment, the individual social workers open-mindedness is critical for spontaneous and critical self -reflection in reflective practice (Atkins and Murphy, 1993). Moreover, according to Fisher (1997) critical reflective practice is learning tool for social work students that provide solutions to a wide range of practice theories and models available and enables practitioner-learners to theorise their practice drawing on knowledge embedded in practice. The technique of critically reflecting on previous practice aim to promote the development of practitioners abilities to generate understanding of their practice, their theories of action and the values they hold. Another attraction of reflective practice is the hope that it seems to hold out for personal professional development and transfer of learning from one setting to another (Yip, 2006). Martyn (2001) argues that reflection can help people to make sense of the circumstances presented to social workers in complex situations, relating them to agency requirements (Payne, 2001). Critical reflective practice can be a rewarding experience resulting in self-enhancement in both personal and profes sional development. Contrarily, unsupportive setting can mostly be destructive to many social work students self and professional development. Such unsupportive conditions include an oppressive social environment, highly demanding working environment, social workers unresolved past experiences from previous learning placements as well as supervisors- students relationships. An oppressive environment implies a setting where there is an imbalance of power that is oppressive to the individual worker and discouraging professional development (Miehls and Moffatt, 2000). Sometimes it may be a highly critical supervisor, apathetic colleagues, a working team full of oppressive politics and dynamics, or insecurity and uncertainty in the social workers employment. In an oppressive environment, social workers may be obliged to disclose their weaknesses and shortcomings or their unpleasant practice experiences to supervisors within the agency; such disclosure may then be used against the worker as an excuse to abus e, to exploit, to undermine and even to dismiss them (Yip, 2006). Secondly, critical self-reflection in reflective practice demands that social workers subject their inner space and autonomy to self-analysis and self-evaluation (Boyd and Fales, 1983). Self-observation and self-dialogue also demand reflective distance that originates from the social workers own initiative and readiness (Voegelin, 2000 cited in Yip, 2006). However, a demanding workload in terms of a many caseloads, diversity of work, challenging clients may cause exhaustion and stress. This makes critical self-reflection in such settings a real nightmare and may be more of an additional burden rather than to assist the social worker or student. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this essay is an attempt to summarise my understanding of critical reflective social work practice and how it impact on my professional development as a social worker. My practice learning at Age Concern shows that related parties, such as supervisors, agency administrators, social work colleagues or social workers need to create appropriate conditions and relationships for social workers in training to develop their skills and knowledge on critical reflective practice. When social work students critically reflect on challenging issues in their placement, they develop the requisite skills and knowledge which could impact positively on the lives of service users. In reflective practice, social work students are to be encouraged to undergo self-reflection to develop models and theories that would enhance their social work practice. On the other hand, related parties should also be careful to avoid inappropriate conditions that may create possible limitations to the professional and self-development of social workers. Moreover, other researches emphasize on how different conditions affect the self-reflection process of social work students in reflective social work practice. In summary under appropriate conditions, social workers critical self-reflection can be very constructive, resulting in self-enhancement, leading to improvement in social work practice and enables students to plan and focus on what they need to do to improve social imbalance in society. REFERENCES Atkins S. and Murphy, K. (1993) Reflection: a review of literature Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18, pp. 1188-1192. Boyd E. M. and Fales, A. W. (1983) Reflective learning: key to learning from experience, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 23(2), pp. 99-117. Calderhead, J. (1989) Reflective teaching and teacher education Teaching and Teacher Education, 5(1), pp. 43-51. Clift, R., Houston, J. and Pugh, M. (1990) Encouraging Reflective Practice in Education, London, Teachers College Press. Dewey, J (1933) How We Think. Boston: D.C. Heath Co Dempsey, M., Halton, C. and Murphy, M (2001) Reflective Learning in Social Work DCruz, H., Gilligham, P. and Melendes S (2007) Reflexivity, its Meaning and Relevance for social work: A critical review of the literature, British Journal of Social Work 3(1) pp. 73-90 Education: Scalffolding the Process, Social Work Education, 21(5), pp.585-595 Evans, D. (1991) Assessing Students Competence to Practise. London. CCETSW. Ferraro, J. M (2000) Reflective Practice and Professional Development, Eric ClearingHouse Teacher Education, Washington DC Fisher, T (1997) Learning about child protection, Social Work Education, vol16 pp. 93-111 Gould, N. (1989) Reflective learning for social work practice, Social Work Education,8(2), pp. 9-19. Kolb, D. A. (1984) Experiential Learning. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice Hall PTR. Miehls, D. and Moffatt, K. (2000) Constructing social work identity based on reflexive self, British Journal of Social Work, 30, pp. 339-348.Own Practice, Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann. Ruch, G. (2000) Self and social work: towards and integrate model of learning, Journal of Social Work Practice, 14(2), pp. 99-112. Schà ¶n, D. (1983) The Reflective Practitioner, New York, Basic Books. Schà ¶n, D. (1987) Educating the Reflective Practitioner, San Franciso, Jossey Books. Schà ¶n, D. (1993) Reflective Inquiry in Social Work Practice, Hong Kong, Centre for the Study of Social Work Practice. Sheppard, J. (2000) Learning from personal experience: reflections on social work practice with mother and child and family care, Journal of Social Work Practice, 14(1), pp. 38-50. Taylor, C. and White, S. (2001) Knowledge, truth and reflexivity: the problem of judgement in social work, Journal of Social Work, 1(1), pp. 37-59. Voegelin, E. (2000) In Search of Order, St Louis, University of Missouri Press. Yip, K (2006) Self-reflection in Reflective Practice: A note of caution. British Journal of Social Work, vol. l36 pp.777-788 Zhao, F. (2003) Enhancing the Effectiveness of Research and Research Supervision through Reflective Practice Walker., McCarthy, P., Morgan, W., Timms, N. (1995) In Pursuit of Quality: Improving Practice Teaching in Social Work. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Relate Centre for Family Studies. www.courses.hull.ac.uk/modules/MA PLO induction session.html www.learningmatters.co.uk/sampleChapters/ www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/000000468.htm www.courses.hull.ac.uk/modules/