Friday, March 20, 2020

Why Being a Perfectionist Can Be Harmful

Why Being a Perfectionist Can Be Harmful If you are a perfectionist, you are probably familiar with the feeling of wanting to get everything just right. You may struggle with handing in papers, agonize over projects at work, and even worry about small errors from the past. High standards are one thing, but perfectionism  is quite another. And as some researchers have discovered, pursuing perfection can have serious consequences to both mental and physical well being. What Is Perfectionism? According to researchers, perfectionists hold themselves to unrealistically  high standards  and become self-critical if they believe they haven’t met these standards. Perfectionists are also likely to feel guilt and shame if they experience failures, which often leads them to avoid situations where they are worried they might fail. Amanda Ruggeri, writing about perfectionism for BBC Future, explains, â€Å"When  [perfectionists] don’t succeed, they don’t just feel disappointment about how they did. They feel shame about who they are.† How Perfectionism Can Be Harmful Although many people see the pursuit of excellence as a good thing, researchers have found that on the extreme end, perfectionism is actually linked to lower mental health. In one study, researchers analyzed how perfectionism was related to mental health across previous studies. They looked at a total of 284 studies (with over 57,000 participants) and found that perfectionism was associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders. They also found that people higher in perfectionism (i.e. participants who more strongly identified with perfectionist traits) also reported higher levels of overall psychological distress. In an article published in 2016, researchers looked at how perfectionism and depression were related over time. They found that people higher in perfectionism tended to have increases in depression symptoms, which suggests that perfectionism may be a risk factor for developing depression. In other words, although people may think of their perfectionism as something that helps them succeed, it appears that their perfectionism may actually be harmful for their mental health. Is perfectionism always harmful? Psychologists have debated this point, with some suggesting that there can be such a thing as adaptive perfectionism, in which people hold themselves to high standards without engaging in self-criticism over mistakes they make. Some researchers have suggested that a healthier form of perfectionism involves pursuing goals because you want to, and not blaming yourself if you fail to meet a goal. However, other  researchers suggest that perfectionism is not adaptive: according to these researchers, perfectionism is more than just holding yourself to high standards, and they don’t think perfectionism is beneficial. Is Perfectionism on the Rise? In one study, researchers looked at how perfectionism has changed over time. The researchers reviewed previously collected data from over 41,000 college students, from 1989 to 2016. They found that over the time period studied, college students reported increasing levels of perfectionism: they held themselves to higher standards, felt there were higher expectations placed on them, and held others to higher standards. Importantly, what increased the most were the social expectations that young adults picked up on from the surrounding environment. The researchers hypothesize that this could be because society is increasingly competitive: college students might pick up on these pressures from their parents and from society, which would increase perfectionist tendencies. How to Combat Perfectionism Since perfectionism is associated with negative outcomes, what can someone with perfectionist tendencies do to change their behavior? Although people are sometimes hesitant to give up their perfectionist tendencies, psychologists point out that giving up on perfection doesn’t mean being less successful. In fact, because mistakes are an important part of learning and growing, embracing imperfection can actually help us in the long run. One possible alternative to perfectionism involves developing what psychologists call a growth mindset. Researchers at Stanford University have found that cultivating a growth mindset is a crucial way to help us learn from our failures. Unlike those with fixed mindsets (who see their skill levels as innate and unchangeable), those with growth mindsets believe they can improve their abilities by learning from their mistakes. Psychologists point out that parents can play a crucial role in helping their children develop healthier attitudes towards failure: they can praise their children for making an effort (even if their results were imperfect) and help children learn to persevere when they make mistakes. Another potential alternative to perfectionism is to cultivate self-compassion. To understand self-compassion, think about how you would respond to a close friend if they made a mistake. Odds are, you’d probably respond with kindness and understanding, knowing that your friend meant well. The idea behind self-compassion is that we should treat ourselves kindly when we make mistakes, remind ourselves that mistakes are part of being human, and avoid being consumed by negative emotions. As Ruggeri points out for BBC Future, self-compassion can be beneficial for mental health, but perfectionists tend not to treat themselves in compassionate ways. If you’re interested in trying to foster more self-compassion, the researcher who developed the concept of self-compassion has a short exercise you can try. Psychologists have also suggested that cognitive behavioral therapy can be a way to help people change their beliefs about perfectionism. Although perfectionism is linked to lower mental health, the good news is that perfectionism is something you can change. By working to see mistakes as learning opportunities, and replacing self-criticism with self-compassion, it’s possible to overcome perfectionism and develop a healthier way of setting goals for yourself. References: Curran, T., Hill, A. P. (2017, Dec 28). Perfectionism Is Increasing Over Time: A Meta- Analysis of Birth Cohort Differences From 1989 to 2016. Psychological Bulletin. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/bul0000138 apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000138.pdfDahl, M. (2015, Sept 17). Is it possible to be a perfectionist without driving yourself nuts? The Science of Us (New York Magazine). http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/09/perfectionism-but-without-driving-yourself-nuts.htmlLeahy, R. L. (2017, Mar 15). Successful imperfection. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-files/201703/successful-imperfectionLimburg, K., Watson, H. J., Hagger, M. S., Egan, S. J. (2016). The relationship between perfectionism and psychopathology: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(10), 1301-1326. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22435 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311939754Neff. K. Definition of self-compassion. http://self-compassion.org/the-t hree-elements-of-self-compassion-2/ Pruett, K. D. (2017, May 18). Being parents of a perfectionist. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/once-upon-child/201705/being-parents-perfectionistRuggeri, A. (2018, Feb 21). The dangerous downsides of perfectionism. BBC Future. bbc.com/future/story/20180219-toxic-perfectionism-is-on-the-riseSmith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Rnic, K., Saklofske, D. H., Enns, M., Gralnick, T. (2016). Are perfectionism dimensions vulnerability factors for depressive symptoms after controlling for neuroticism? A meta-analysis of 10 longitudinal studies. European Journal of Personality, 30(2), 201-212. doi: 10.1002/per.2053 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b6ad/6f32c90beb8b2c2e6f3a0b698bd781bed0ba.pdf

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

How to format a business document

How to format a business document Hook your reader: 5 killer formatting tips to get your document read Theres nothing like it, is there? That satisfying moment when you finally finish the document youve been working on for days. Youve done the research, youve marshalled your facts and youve made it through the hardest part: getting it down on paper. Job done. But hold on. Before you attach it to an email, send it and celebrate, ask yourself: how does it look? Your documents presentation may seem like a small point. Yet it could be the difference between your hard work being read and acted on or it being put aside for a later that never comes. You may well have been hunched over a hot keyboard slaving away on it all week. Its only natural that you should think its a must-read, which would capture the readers attention even if it were printed on the back of a till receipt from Lidl. But dont be fooled. Very few documents genuinely fall into that category – especially in a world where too much information is more of a problem than too little. The appearance of your document is the first impression your would-be reader gets. So it needs to hook them in and encourage them to read on. Theres nothing very enticing about a wall of text, tiny fonts or endless tables. We talk a lot on this blog about how to make your writing more readable. But no matter how compelling your words may be, theyll be wasted if they go unread. So here are five proven document-formatting techniques that will stop your work being thrown back into the sea of other discarded documents and make sure what youve written actually gets read. 1) White space is not wasted space White space is simply anywhere on the page where there is no text or images. Dont be fooled into thinking this space is wasted. Wider margins are your friend. They reduce the length of each individual line of text, making your writing easier for your readers eyes to scan. And they create mental breathing space* that makes the whole document more pleasant to read. *(We know thats not a thing, but you get the idea.) Newspapers have been using this trick for a very long time – its why they use narrow columns. Pick up a newspaper and youll probably find yourself tempted to read something on the page, and the easy-to-read appearance of the text in narrow columns is a big reason for this. Of course, most of us have been tempted at some point to make a documents margins narrower and lines of text longer, in order to reduce the overall length. So a document that was once three-and-a-half pages will instantly become a nice round three. (We even had one client proudly tell us how consultants had redesigned their templates to reduce margins down to a minimum, to save paper.) But this is a bad idea. Yes, youll hand over a document with fewer pages – but every one of those pages will look less professional and be more difficult to read. Better to use more paper than waste all of it. So avoid the temptation to squeeze as much text onto a page as possible – your reader will thank you for it. Were not suggesting that you use newspaper-like columns; just that you consider making the margins a bit wider and the body text a little narrower than you might otherwise do. 2) Use fonts well Our top tip on this topic is to avoid overthinking it. There are lots of business-appropriate fonts available. Youre faced with lots of good choices, so youre unlikely to go far wrong. Weve written about the best fonts for business documents in more detail before, but heres a quick summary: Both serif fonts (eg Garamond or Times New Roman) or sans-serif fonts (eg Helvetica or Arial) are fine for business documents. Try pairing fonts: use one kind of font for the headlines and subheads, and another for the body text. If youre using a serif font for the body text, try using a sans-serif font for the headlines, or vice versa. And resist the urge to use too many different fonts: no more than two on a page is a good rule of thumb. You can also try pairing two fonts from the same font family; for example, using Lucida Bright for the headings and Lucida Sans for the body text. 3) Use headlines and subheads as signposts Headlines and subheads are crucial signposts for the reader. Used effectively, they can summarise the entire story of a document by themselves and guide the reader through your most important points. They also break up large blocks of text, which can be hugely off-putting. Format headlines and subheads in bold (and in a larger font size if you like). In the documents we analyse for participants in our courses, we often see people using underline for subheads (or bold and underline). But this isnt necessary and can look cluttered or old-fashioned. Bold is enough by itself. We also frequently see people using subheads that are an equal distance from the paragraph that preceded them and the paragraph that comes after them. This gives the subheads the appearance of floating halfway between the two paragraphs.  So make sure there is more space before a subhead than there is below it. This will make clear that the subhead is for the paragraph below it. 4) Use lists and tables carefully Lists are an effective way to draw the eye, but thats probably why theyre frequently overused. Always bear in mind that each extra list that you add reduces the impact of every other list on the page. Some documents even consist mainly of lists – probably because theyre easy to write. But whats easier for the author is much harder for the reader. Such documents are disjointed and therefore usually difficult to follow. Tables are often a handy substitute for lists, as well as a neat way to format straightforward information. Theyre especially useful if you need to compare two or more things directly, against the same criteria. (For example, you might need to compare sales figures or possible outcomes of different courses of action.) When formatting tables, avoid using gridlines that run close to the text. Instead, insert space above and below it (using the paragraph formatting menu, if youre using Microsoft Word). And experiment with taking out vertical – or even all – internal gridlines. The extra space around the information should make it easier to read. You can differentiate long rows by shading every other one. In Word, you can do this by going to Table tools → Design. 5) Draw attention with boxes Boxes can form a vital entry-point into your document. Do you have a fact or piece of information that you know will interest your reader? A box will help you make the most of that. On the other hand, boxes are also a good place to put information that doesnt easily fit into the natural flow of your body text. Remember that a box needs to make sense on its own, as it will probably be read before the main text. You can make a box stand out by giving it a different font to the rest of the text (but remember to stick to a maximum of two fonts in your document), or by using background shading. And, as ever, remember to give the text plenty of space (white or otherwise) around it. Text crammed inside a small box will look very uninviting, defeating the point of separating it from the rest of the document. No design experience needed You might be surprised at the big impact small tweaks like these can have. So keep these simple rules in mind when you write your next document. When youve put them in place, youll have a much more readable document to hand over. And, when youre finished, you really will be able to say, job done. Image credit: Rapala fishing lures by Chau kar Man used under CC BY-NC-SA / cropped from original

Monday, February 17, 2020

LT-week4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LT-week4 - Essay Example shiers to access all point-of-sale, all managers to access all management resources, and resources accessed by human resources, marketing and accounting and must be restricted to department members and Executive Management or owner), distribution of Domain Controllers (DCs) and Global Catalog Domain Controllers (GC/DCs), replication strategy to include possible use of Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODCs) (locations outside California to have one location with fast connection networked through slower connections. Other locations in California need fast connections). Minimum memory should be 512MB RAM but I recommend a 2GB RAM or greater. The maximum memory for 32-bit systems should be 4GB which is the standard or 64GB for Enterprise and Datacenter. Since the organization is an enterprise, a datacenter and has Itanium-Based systems, I recommend a 2TB. Disk Space: The minimum available disk space should be 10GB but 40GB or greater could serve better. Since the organization processes and transactions are enormous, more space is required to houseany paging, and dump files. The new Windows 2008 R2 offers new ways of improving data security tailored for remote offices for the organization especially when physical security is not efficient. Active Directory Domain Services has a new feature integrated called Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC). The RODC need to be configured because it does not store any users or account credentials. This makes Read-Only Domain Controllers effective in remote branch offices of the organization. DNS server role should be installed on each Read-Only Domain Controllers, allowing clients to perform DNS resolution in case they are lacking connectivity on the DC. There are two access control decision engine and need to be handled independently. The two access engines are local access and subject access. The local access control engine makes decisions depending on the Web service access rules while the subject access control engine

Monday, February 3, 2020

Factors for the prevalence of diabetes and mental health(inpatient) in Research Paper

Factors for the prevalence of diabetes and mental health(inpatient) in the UK - Research Paper Example actors responsible for mental illness in the UK include infections, pregnancy, lack of essential nutrients, psychological factors, poor parenting, poor relationships, economic problems, poor relationships, family destructions, social expectations, etc. The differences between mental illness and mental disorders have also been elaborated in the discussion for better understanding. Recommendations have been made on the basis of the discussion and they include out of family marriage, addressing to environmental issues sincerely, taking precautions against viruses, encouraging breast feeding, increasing physical activities, reducing workload, minimising use of artificial flavour, eating more nutritious food, taking precautions during sexual intercourse as well as pregnancy, improving parenting and addressing to several social factors responsible for the prevalence of these dangerous diseases. Diabetes and mental illness are among the most prevalent diseases in the United Kingdom. People with these disorders die prematurely as compared to other diseases. Other than the deaths from accidents or unnatural incidents, the number of deaths from diabetes and mental illness are quite high. The relationship between diabetes and mental illness is now recognized on a broader scale (Diabetes U.K 2010). Usually there are two types of the diabetes that are found in co-occurrence with schizophrenia and that pairing of glucose tolerance affect the overall health of a person. Both the diseases collectively misuse substances present in the body affecting the health of patients severely leading them the mortality. Through several researches it is evaluated as well that the people with diabetes are more likely to die as compared to the people without the evidences of diabetes in their bodies. (Vinogradova et al. 2014) The researches on the death rates and the patients with such diseases are though no more ignored by the researchers yet the researches on the factors causing these

Saturday, January 25, 2020

How Does Digital Radio Work Computer Science Essay

How Does Digital Radio Work Computer Science Essay Digital audio broadcasting, also known as digital radio and high-definition radio, is audio broadcasting in which analogy audio is converted into a digital signal and transmitted on an assigned channel in the FM frequency range. DAB is said to offer compact disc (CD) quality audio on the FM (frequency modulation) broadcast band and to offer FM-quality audio on the AM (amplitude modulation) broadcast band. Digital radio works by combining two digital technologies to produce an efficient and reliable radio broadcast system: An audio compression system, called MPEG, reduces the vast amount of digital information required to be broadcast. It does this by discarding sounds that will not be perceived by the listener for example, very quiet sounds that are masked by other, louder sounds and hence not required to be broadcast, and efficiently packages together the remaining information COFDM technology, (Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) ensures that signals are received reliably and robustly, even in environments normally prone to interference. Using a precise mathematical relationship, the digital data signal is split across 1 536 different carrier frequencies, and also across time. This process ensures that even if some of the carrier frequencies are affected by interference, or the signal disturbed for a short period of time, the receiver is still able to recover the original sound. The interference which disturbs FM reception, caused by radio signals bouncing off buildings and hills (multi-path) is eliminated by COFDM technology. It also means that the same frequency can be used across the entire country, so no re-tuning of sets is necessary when travelling, or taking a portable receiver to a different area. Instead of having a different frequency for each radio station, digital radio combines several services together in what is called a multiplex. The multiplex is able to carry stereo and mono radio channels as well as services such as text and data. The UK has been allocated seven multiplexes by the Radio Authority in the spectrum 217.5 230.0 MHz. It is possible to carry more services on this one frequency allowing the spectrum to be used more efficiently. The multiplex has a gross capacity of 2,300,000 bits which are used for carrying audio, data and an in-built protection system against transmission errors. Of these about half the bits are used for the audio and data services. Throughout the day, the data capacity allocated to each service can be varied by the broadcaster. Each multiplex can carry a mixture of stereo and mono audio services and data services too; the number of each dependent on the quality required. A multiplex is a technical term used for a number of stations sharing just one frequency to transmit its services. It is a digital transmitter located within a region broadcasting stations operated by a company or group (e.g. BBC, Digital One, Switch Digital etc). So what are DABs benefits and the cost Listeners in most major towns and cities in the world and it can receive between 30 and 50 radio stations with digital radio, in many cases thats more than double whats available on analogue. And its not just more of the same the content within that choice of stations is unique and exciting, delivering station formats that just dont exist on analogue. The FM spectrum is so clogged right now that theres no room for new stations that would expand listeners choice with, for example, soul music, or country music, or big band swing, or any of the other 100+ brands that are available uniquely to DAB. Digital radio receivers have a screen on which stations can transmit information via Dynamic Label Segments (DLS). Some stations already transmit the latest news, travel, and weather, whats on now and next, Web site addresses and phone numbers. Tomorrows radios will offer much more sophisticated data. The potential for advertisers to use the DLS facility on DAB for targeted advertising is an exciting prospect, and in the future, advertisers can use DAB to deliver Internet-type commercials. Because digital radio uses the spectrum more efficiently than analogue, it is possible to broadcast more channels using the same frequency, making room for broadcasters to expand their station portfolios. It also offers less noise. DAB digital radio delivers improved sound quality. The technology allows the receiver to lock on to the strongest signal it can find and ignore everything else. This eliminates the hiss, crackle and fade so familiar on analogue radio. A BLOCK DIAGRAM OF A DAB RADIO http://focus.ti.com/graphics/blockdiagram/blockdiagram_images/6243.gif This diagram above is about what goes on in a DAB radio. In order to receive a station the Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNA) boosts the RF signal from the antenna. The frequency synthesizer generates a Local Oscillator (LO) signal that is mixed with the RF input to form the IF signal. The high-speed ADC converts the IF signal into digital samples. Depending on the speed of the signal the DAC outputs as compared to what the DSP or microcontroller can handle, a Digital Down counter may be required. The power supply is connected to the 12V or 24V board net and regulates down/up to voltages for DSP, uC, memory and ICs and functions in the infotainment system. In some cases there may be 10 or more different power rails, making the design of the power supply a critical task when trying to design for size, cost and efficiency. Linear regulators with low quiescent current help reduce battery leakage current during standby operating modes (ignition off), are load dump voltage tolerant for directly battery connected devices, and need low drop out and tracking for low battery crank operation. Beyond providing increased conversion efficiencies, switching power supplies provide EMI improvement with slew rate control of the switching FET, Frequency hopping, spread spectrum or triangulation method for attenuation of peak spectral energy, Low Iq, soft start for power sequencing and in rush current limitation, Phased switching for multiple SMPSs regulators to minimize input ripple current and lower input capacitance, higher switching frequency for smaller components (L and Cs), and SVS functions for brown out indications The Audio input front end and audio output is often combined into a single Codec. On the output side ADCs convert the digital output an analog signal, which is amplified to the levels needed by the speakers or headphones used with the system. By using Class-D amplifiers the systems power efficiency can exceed 90% while maintaining low THD. This improved efficiency leads to significant size, weight and heat reductions. TIs class-D car audio solutions exhibit extremely low EMI levels and are being used in OEM systems with stringent EMC requirements. The audio DSP performs I/Q demodulation and outputs digital audio and data. This includes functions like volume, treble, bass and sound effects. THE COMPONENT OF A RADIO TRANMITTER WAVE A transmitter can be defined as an electronic device which, usually with the aid of an antenna, propagates an electromagnetic signal such as radio, television, or other telecommunications. http://www.hardware-one.com/reviews/dab/DRS-small.gif A transmitter can be made by coupling the output of an oscillator directly to an antenna. The primary purpose of the oscillator is to develop an rf voltage which has a constant frequency and is immune to outside factors which may cause its frequency to shift. The output of this simple transmitter is controlled by placing a telegraph key at point K in series with the voltage supply. Since the plate supply is interrupted when the key is open, the circuit oscillates only as long as the key is closed. Transmitter http://www.tpub.com/neets/book12/0059.GIF Capacitors C2 and C3 can be GANGED (mechanically linked together) to simplify tuning. Capacitor C1 is used to tune (resonate) the antenna to the transmitter frequency. CA is the effective capacitance existing between the antenna and ground. This antenna-to-ground capacitance is in parallel with the tuning capacitors, C2 and C3. Since the antenna has capacitance, any change in its length or position, such as that caused by swaying of the antenna, changes the value of CA and causes the oscillator to change frequency. Because these frequency changes are undesirable for reliable communications, the multistage transmitter was developed to increase reliability. Reception of a DAB signal The DAB ensemble is selected from the antenna to the analogue tuner, the output is fed to the demodulator and channel decoder to eliminate transmission errors. The information contained in the FIC is passed to the user interface for selection and is used to set up the receiver appropriately. http://www.hardware-one.com/reviews/dab/fig3.jpg Receiving of DAB signal RATIO DETECTOR The ratio demodulator uses a double-tuned transformer to convert the instantaneous frequency variations of the fm input signal to instantaneous amplitude variations. These amplitude variations are then rectified to provide a dc output voltage which varies in amplitude and polarity with the input signal frequency. This detector demodulates fm signals and suppresses amplitude noise without the need of limiter stages. The input tank capacitor (C1) and the primary of transformer T1 (L1) are tuned to the center frequency of the fm signal to be demodulated. The secondary winding of T1 (L2) and capacitor C2 also form a tank circuit tuned to the center frequency. Tertiary (third) winding L3 provides additional inductive coupling which reduces the loading effect of the secondary on the primary circuit. Diodes CR1 and CR2 rectify the signal from the secondary tank. Capacitor C5 and resistors R1 and R2 set the operating level of the detector. Capacitors C3 and C4 determine the amplitude and polarity of the output. Resistor R3 limits the peak diode current and furnishes a dc return path for the rectified signal. The output of the detector is taken from the common connection between C3 and C4. Resistor RL is the load resistor. R5, C6, and C7 form a low-pass filter to the output. Ratio detector http://www.tpub.com/neets/book12/0261.GIF This circuit operates on the same principles of phase shifting as did the Foster-Seeley discriminator. In that discussion, vector diagrams were used to illustrate the voltage amplitudes and polarities for conditions at resonance, above resonance, and below resonance. The same vector diagrams apply to the ratio detector but will not be discussed here. Instead, you will study the resulting current flows and polarities on simplified schematic diagrams of the detector circuit. What is amplitude modulation? Amplitude modulation (AM) can be defined as a technique used in electronic communication, also is use as transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent. In order for a radio signal to carry audio or other information for broadcasting, it must be modulated or changed in some way. Although there are a number of ways in which a radio signal may be modulated, one of the easiest, and one of the first methods to be used was to change its amplitude in line with variations of the sound. The basic concept surrounding what is amplitude modulation, is quite straightforward. The amplitude of the signal is changed in line with the instantaneous intensity of the sound. In this way the radio frequency signal has a representation of the sound wave superimposed in it. In view of the way the basic signal carries the sound or modulation, the radio frequency signal is often termed the carrier. What is amplitude modulation, AM Amplitude Modulation    When a carrier is modulated in any way, further signals are created that carry the actual modulation information. It is found that when a carrier is amplitude modulated, further signals are generated above and below the main carrier. To see how this happens, take the example of a carrier on a frequency of 1 MHz which is modulated by a steady tone of 1 kHz. The process of modulating a carrier is exactly the same as mixing two signals together, and as a result both sum and difference frequencies are produced. Therefore when a tone of 1 kHz is mixed with a carrier of 1 MHz, a sum frequency is produced at 1 MHz + 1 kHz, and a difference frequency is produced at 1 MHz 1 kHz, i.e. 1 kHz above and below the carrier. If the steady state tones are replaced with audio like that encountered with speech of music, these comprise many different frequencies and an audio spectrum with frequencies over a band of frequencies is seen. When modulated onto the carrier, these spectra are seen above and below the carrier. It can be seen that if the top frequency that is modulated onto the carrier is 6 kHz, then the top spectra will extend to 6 kHz above and below the signal. In other words the bandwidth occupied by the AM signal is twice the maximum frequency of the signal that is used to modulate the carrier, i.e. it is twice the bandwidth of the audio signal to be carried. Amplitude demodulation Amplitude modulation is one of the most straightforward ways of modulating a radio signal or carrier. The process of demodulation, where the audio signal is removed from the radio carrier in the receiver is also quite simple as well. The easiest method of achieving amplitude demodulation is to use a simple diode detector. This consists of just a handful of components:- a diode, resistor and a capacitor. AM diode detector AM Diode Detector In this circuit, the diode rectifies the signal, allowing only half of the alternating waveform through. The capacitor is used to store the charge and provide a smoothed output from the detector, and also to remove any unwanted radio frequency components. The resistor is used to enable the capacitor to discharge. If it were not there and no other load was present, then the charge on the capacitor would not leak away, and the circuit would reach a peak and remain there. POWER SUPPY Most of the Dab radio is use by batteries. Also there three parts is a battery which are an anode (-), a cathode (+), and the electrolyte. The cathode and anode (the positive and negative sides at either end of a traditional battery) are hooked up to an electrical circuit. http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/media/Power/battery.gif The chemical reactions in the battery cause a build up of electrons at the anode. This results in an electrical difference between the anode and the cathode. In a battery, the only place to go is to the cathode. But, the electrolyte keeps the electrons from going straight from the anode to the cathode within the battery. When the circuit is closed (a wire connects the cathode and the anode) the electrons will be able to get to the cathode. In the picture above, the electrons go through the wire, lighting the light bulb along the way. This is one way of describing how electrical potential causes electrons to flow through the circuit.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Strategic Plan for the System – Essay

The System's Mission and Vision Every educational institution should have a mission, which is its specific purpose for existing. The mission of the institution must be stated in the school's catalog and in other publications readily available to the public. The mission must be completely, clearly, and simply stated In terms readily understandable by a prospective student, parents, the public, and other educational Institutions. The mission should be devoted substantially to career-related education and should be reasonable for the program of instruction and facilities of the institution.Each institution should be capable of demonstrating its educational effectiveness through assessment and documentation of student outcomes. This assessment must include evidence that the institution's annual retention and placement rates are in keeping with its mission. The Institution's mission statement should be consistent with educational and employment outcomes of Its students (Argosy. 201 2; Gut hrie & Ackermann. 2009). The corporate staff of the System originally developed the mission for all of the institutions within the System.Over the years the mission has been changed and updated to reflect the operations and culture of the schools. All employees and students have opportunities to express ideas and suggestions for the mission, so it comes a reflection of the way the employees and students, think and feel about the operations of the school. The villas of the System Is quite simple In that It Is: we care about the students, we care about the employees, and we care about the employers who hire the Students.Through this the mission is stated as: The System will demonstrate the we care vision by preparing career-focused, community-minded graduates for the global workforce through applied education. Strategic Planning Through this strategic planning process, the System strives to show that it cares about: student success, employment success, investment success, customer rev ive, communication, compliance, and community engagement. Student success shows that the System is committed to attracting students and delivering relevant, quality educational experiences that engage students and lead them to graduation and career success.Employment success shows that the System is dedicated to creating and maintaining a dynamic environment where performance Is recognized From a business perspective, the System cares and is concerned with investment success and providing a quality education that leads to a strong return on investment while exceeding the expectations of students, employers, employees, ND the surrounding community. This can only be done through engaging in and the management of effective communication and a culture of compliance.Once those items are in place, educational communities can be developed, so that all stakeholders feel as if they have a say and vested interest in the System as a whole. Key Decision Makers There are several key decision mak ers in the system. The founder of the System is the sole member of the Board of Directors that governs each campus. The founder also oversees a management group that manages the day-to-day operations of each campus as well as corporate support operations.The management team consists of the following positions: Campus Directors, six Regional Directors, and corporate directors as follows: Director of Marketing; Director of Research and Development; Director of Human Resources; Director of Government and Community Relations; Director of Information Technology; Director of Operations; Real Estate Development Manager; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Operating Officer, Provost and Vice President of Network Operations. Without the approval of all of the key decision makers, the accreditation process may be hindered and cannot move forward.Available Resources As the System moves towards accreditation, it must keep in mind the basic available resources and how those play a role within the sys tem. Those available resources include: faculty, financial resources, personnel, library information services, information technology, and space allocation and physical location maintenance. Before accreditation can be sought, these items must be examined to determine if they are adequate enough to support and sustain campus accreditation.The faculty within the System is the most important component of operation. It is through casualty in which the System meets the objectives of the mission statement. It is also through faculty, that students are successful. The quality of curricula and delivery is primarily the main focus of faculty. Aside from classroom responsibilities, they are involved in curricular planning and development, book selection, hardware and software selection, and student advising. It is also largely through the faculty that the expectations of students are met.The financial resources of The System are allocated adequately to maintain a high standard of maintenance and support revise, and to allow the school to competitively seek and acquire qualified faculty and staff. Through this, educational needs of students are met while providing excellent customer service. Customer service is one of the reasons students choose to attend college in the System. The System strives to hire high-caliber faculty and support them with experienced management and administrative personnel.The System also seeks to support faculty and staff by having adequate resources for them to do their Jobs, compensating them adequately for their service, and providing them with professional development opportunities in their fields. The goal of library information services is to provide students with the resources, support, and learning environment necessary to successfully complete the courses in knowledge and skills required for their careers. In addition to this, library support services maintains a website so that students are able to access library resources remotely in order allow information to enhance their educational experience.The corporate information technology group plays an integral role in ensuring all computer equipment, hardware and software, as well as on-line connectivity, meets today's demanding technical needs. There is a corporate director of technology who ultimately oversees the purchase of technical equipment and assists the campus with its technical needs. There are also individuals who are hired to work at the information technology helpless which further aids in the support of student and faculty in regards to troubleshooting and general system maintenance.In regards to allocation of space and facilities maintenance, the institution's present locations are large enough to handle both the current student population, as well as allowing for growth. The System employs a contracted facilities person during the day to keep lacrosse and facilities clean and in good condition, as well as an evening facilities employee who prepares the building for daily use. All of the resources above contribute to a comfortable and positive environment where students actively participate in their educational process. All of the above helps the System to fulfill the mission and responsibility to students.Data Availability Data is currently collected from several sources including the campus accountability report, student surveys, graduate surveys, employer surveys, and program advisory committee meeting minutes, annual assessment done by program rear for program effectiveness, course evaluations, and national examinations specific to career areas as applicable. The data is collected and analyzed on a quarterly and/or annual basis, subject to the various assessment tools. The Campus Effectiveness Plan (CAPE) spreadsheet identifies at a glance the data collection schedule.Annually the management team (campus and corporate directors) meets and incorporates the data results and analysis in the overall strategic planning process. The System President reviews the information with the management team during regularly scheduled quarterly planning meetings and in an annual strategic landing session. Together, all involved use the data to recommend changes in the programs, their respective facilities, personnel, and the overall operations of the school to provide the best possible education for students and to ensure achievement of the main objective of placing students in their chosen career fields.The System plans to improve effectiveness by assessing and analyzing the identified data (student surveys, program advisory committee meetings, retention rates, placement rates, employer surveys, graduate surveys, extrinsic site evaluations, student suggestions, and administrative meetings within and among campuses) and determine strengths and continue to build upon them, as well identify areas that need improvement and refinement.This data is evaluated on several levels by the following departments: administration, education, and financial aid/student accounts, as well as each programmatic area, student services, and career services. Each department identifies developmental areas and outcomes, and responses to the outcomes will be integrated and/or administered either departmentally and/or campus wide. Communication is also very critical component of self-assessment and student and employer suggestions and respond accordingly.The campus director discusses the results of the outcomes quarterly with the campus management team, and business review information is discussed monthly. The campus responds to all outcomes that show positive or negative trends. Each program chair reviews the outcome measurements that correspond to specific program plans. The results of these assessments are discussed at program meetings quarterly and program advisory committee meetings, typically annually.The faculty teaching in the program and the advisory committee members contribute ideas for curricular or programmat ic enhancements and changes that relate to aerogram improvement. The campus directors regularly evaluate the plan and share the plan with their campus management team, and with the corporate management team, which includes directors from other campuses and corporate positions. Below is a more specific timeline for the current year in regards to the accreditation process. Key Stakeholders As previously mentioned, the key stakeholders are the students, the faculty, the campus personnel, and the community at large.In respect to accreditation process, data collection takes these key stakeholders in mind, from the surveys administered o how the surveys are administered. Anyone who is considered a key stakeholder is encouraged to participate with respect to how their comments and participation influences decisions made within the System, and ultimately whether or not the accrediting body will grant accreditation or not. Due to this, it is important that the key decision makers provide a p ositive and inviting environment from the beginning so that key stakeholders are willing to participate and give feedback accordingly.Timeline The timeline for obtaining accreditation will be as follows: Spring 2012 Semester will immense the compilation of data from various data sources as previously mentioned to complete the self study process as defined by the accrediting body. During this time, all stakeholders will meet to review and discuss key components of the self-study in an effort to have it completed in a timely manner. Once this has been done, the self-study will be submitted to legal counsel, the Board of Directors, the President, and the Provost for further review.Summer 2012 Semester, the self- study will be submitted to the accrediting body for the application process. The crediting body will have the completed application and self-study for review approximately two months in which the System will continue to compile data and also make any necessary corrections as in dicated. The time frame for providing information is indicated by the accrediting body and should be no longer than three months from when the required information and necessary corrections have been noted and requested in writing.This will then take the process into the Fall 2012 Semester where at that time; the final application will be reviewed by all stakeholders and submitted. From the time of the final application submission to the actual approval or denial of accreditation shall be no more than six months time which will then take the strategic plan time frame into the Winter 2013 Semester. To conclude, from initial data collection and self-study process, the process shall take no less than a year and makers will need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the strategic plan and make adjustments as needed.At the conclusion of the accreditation application process, the key decision maker will have a final review meeting to go over a SOOT analysis so s to improve the process when the System seeks accreditation elsewhere. Conclusion In order for a strategic plan to be effective, the input of all the key players, data analysis and collection, evaluation, and implementation along with other variables including resources and timeline must be in place.These items must not only be in place, but also done with respect to the mission and the vision of the organization in which the strategic plan is going to be implemented (Argosy, 2012; Guthrie & Ackermann, 2009). In effect, the strategic planning process is not self serving nor is t single purposed, but rather the strategic plan keeps in mind the key stakeholders and how what is planned and implemented will impact, people, policies, processes, and procedures.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Dr. James Vedder s Experience With Combat Fatigue

Dr. James Vedder, a combat surgeon who was stationed at Iwo Jima for his first experience with combat, describes the constant encounters he must have with horrible injuries and death, and ultimately concludes that â€Å"in all this horror, the job became routine,† such to say he become numb towards the tragedy he encountered so frequently. He lost his human quality of compassion and pain, and went through the motions of fixing mangled faces and missing limbs. While it is devastating for someone to see death and injury as routine, this aspect of dehumanization is likely necessary for someone like Dr. Vedder to mentally survive the war. If he were to fully absorb the death surrounding him, it is not likely he would be able to handle doing his job. Dehumanization obviously has negative effects on a soldier’s mind and psyche, a fact that the military almost always ignores. A neuropsychiatric disorder known as â€Å"combat fatigue† often plagues soldiers in the line o f an â€Å"unprecedented amount of indirect fire† but is almost never recognized. Many saw soldiers with the disorder as lesser, and â€Å"the Marine Corps official history failed to mention combat fatigue, even though it constituted 10 percent of the casualties and had a very negative effect on the fighting.† The trend of refusing to acknowledge that human soldiers also had human brains and hearts and feelings became accepted more and more as the war dragged on. It is discernable that dehumanization helps with the success of a