Thursday, November 28, 2019

17 Proofreading Techniques for Business Communication

17 Proofreading Techniques for Business Communication Finally. Your document is just about complete. It’s been written, reviewed, compiled, and re-reviewed. With the final edits in place, it’s now ready to be proofread. Proofreading can seem like a simple task in business communication. However, the attention to detail and intense focus it requires means that proofreading is as challenging as it is important. However, there are many tactics you can use to ensure this task is completed well and effectively. This article highlights our top strategies. Why is Proofreading Important? Proofreading can help you improve the readability and quality of your documents. It is important to ensure that your writing is error free and professional. What is Proofreading? Proofreading includes reviewing for grammar, correct use of language, and format. It’s the final touches needed to ensure a business document is correct, consistent, and professional. When Do I Proofread? Proofreading is often confounded with editing. Editing involves revisions of the document, often with major changes, to ensure alignment with goals, accuracy of information, or modification of tone. Only once those major edits are complete can the document move to the proofreading stage. Proofreading ensures the final content is free of linguistic and formatting errors. 17 Proofreading Techniques: The following list presents the strategies we recommend for better proofreading. These methods strengthen your proofreading process and knowledge. 1. Step Away, Then Focus Whenever possible, step away from the document before proofreading. This is crucial when you are the document’s author. You are too close to the content, making it difficult to have a clear, objective eye on the text. We recommend taking a 24-hour break from the content before proofreading for maximum effectiveness. 2. Print a Hard Copy Proof of Your Document Many editors find it easier to proofread with a physical document. Printing the document makes it easier to read and allows you to proofread in more places. 3. Read Aloud Good proofreading is done slowly. Simply reading it normally allows your brain to fill in gaps and fix errors in your mind and skip them on the page. Reading aloud ensures that each word and punctuation mark is verified. It also highlights awkward sentences because it will sound more awkward out loud than on the page. Conveniently, there are online programs that will help with this task. Use your computer’s text-to-voice function to have your document read to you. Having your computer read to you will help catch typos that you may skip over as you know the original intent of the sentence. 4. Align With Company Style Standards Most companies have style standards for external documents. Ensure you have these guidelines close at hand while proofreading. These guidelines may range from font choice to preferred spellings to margin size and more. These details ensure consistency across an organization. 5. Remove Excess Words Business writing is concise and direct. Excess words, like adjectives or adverbs, can detract from the message. Being careful not to overstep into editing, review the text for superfluous words that do not add value to the text. In addition, accidental excess or repeat words are erroneous and can be missed prior to proofing. 6. Explain or Remove Jargon Specialized terminology or acronyms should be used sparingly, if at all, in business writing. When used appropriately for the reader, they still must be explained. Generally, the first mention of an acronym is spelled out completely with the acronym followed in brackets. An unfamiliar technical term should be explained in the text before being referenced. Terms that are difficult for the reader should be removed and replaced with more accessible wording. 7. Check Sentence Structure A proper sentence must have a subject, a verb, and express a complete thought. Simple, right? Yet, sentence fragments and run-on sentences can sneak into an otherwise great text. Review each sentence for proper structure and punctuation. 8. Review Flow and Sequencing One pass of the document must be a high-level review. This overview checks the organization of the document to ensure it has proper flow and sequencing. Check for formatting consistency, order, and numbering of images, tables, and appendices, and the general presentation. 9. Use Software Technology is your friend when it comes to proofreading. Microsoft’s Spelling and Grammar tool and Grammarly’s online editor are two handy tools to catch spelling, grammatical errors, and some syntax errors that your spellcheck may miss. Use these tools as a first scan. They will catch detectable errors. However, word choice and homonyms are often only found by the human eye. You can check out our list of the top tools for tone, editing, and grammar (among others business writing needs!) on our blog. 10. Hire an Editor or Ask Colleagues/Friends If you’re way, way too close to your document, proofing it yourself may not be a good idea. In this case, seek a truly objective opinion and review. Hiring an editor to complete the proofreading phase can be a valuable investment. Alternatively, asking a friend or colleague to proof your text can provide a fresh perspective. 11. Take a Course Proofreading is a skill that is learned, honed, and improved. Like many other writing aptitudes, proofing can be developed through education. Taking a course on proofing will help you master the process. We offer a Proofreading Course with Grammar Review that hones the skills required to effectively proofread in a business environment. Avoid Common Mistakes These tactics will help you catch the trickiest business communication errors. 12. Check Homonyms When a word sounds right, the quick reader can mistake it for being correct. Homonyms are a painful but important item to check. Including accept where except is intended can be embarrassing or even disastrous in business communication. Ensure the word choice is the correct one. 13. Check Apostrophes Apostrophes are often placed incorrectly. Apostrophes are almost never used for plurals, but somehow they often appear as such. While mixing up companies with company’s may not be disastrous, it is confusing and unprofessional. 14. Fact Check Employees, colleagues, and clients rely on business communications for information and decisions. Therefore, they need to be accurate. Whether it is the client name spelling, the sales division location, or the policy sheet, each detail must be correct. Fact checking these details will ensure the document is valuable and useful. 15. Verify Numbers, Times, and Dates Numerical information is often the most critical and the easiest to mistype. Each number must be verified. A misplaced decimal or zero in a budget line can be a grievous error. Times should be checked that they are correct, including the time zone. Dates must be correct to the day of the month and the week. Triple checking the numbers is not an over-the-top habit. 16. Verify Names Writing a staff’s, colleague’s, or client’s name incorrectly or completely wrong is simply disrespectful. It can lead to confusion, but more importantly, it shows poor attention to detail to the most important people: the reader or subject of the business communication. 17.Test Hyperlinks and Phone Numbers Website and phone numbers are very handy. However, they become very frustrating or ignored if they are incorrect. In the proofreading process, click on each hyperlink, type in each web address, and dial each phone number included in the document to ensure they will correctly direct the reader. Fool-Proof These seventeen strategies will improve your proofreading skills. Carve out the time to properly review and implement each of these strategies and your business communication will be accurate, valuable, and professional.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Responding to Discrimination During a Job Interview

Responding to Discrimination During a Job Interview Its not always easy to determine if youve been the victim of discrimination during a job interview. However, many people can relate to being ecstatic about an upcoming interview, only to show up and get a hostile vibe from the prospective employer.  In fact, in some cases, a company official may actually dissuade a person from applying for the position in question. What went wrong? Was race a factor? With these tips, learn to identify when your civil rights have been violated during a job interview. Know Which Interview Questions Are Illegal to Ask A major complaint ethnic minorities have about racism in contemporary America is that it’s more likely to be covert than overt. That means a prospective employer isn’t likely to say outright that your ethnic group needn’t apply for a job at that company. However, an employer might ask interview questions about your race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability or marital/family status. Asking about any of these matters is illegal, and you’re under no obligation to answer such questions. Mind you, every interviewer who poses such questions may not do so with the intention of discriminating. The interviewer may simply be ignorant of the law. In any case, you can take the confrontational route and inform the interviewer that you’re not obliged to answer these questions or take the non-confrontational route and avoid answering the questions by changing the subject. Some interviewers who do intend to discriminate may be aware of the law and savvy about not directly asking you any illegal interview questions. For example, instead of asking where you were born, an interviewer might ask where you grew up and comment on how well you speak English. The goal is to prompt you to disclose your birthplace, national origin or race. Once again, feel no obligation to respond to such questions or comments. Interview the Interviewer Unfortunately, not all companies that practice discrimination will make proving it easy for you. The interviewer might not ask you questions about your ethnic background or make insinuations about it. Instead, the interviewer might treat you hostilely from the outset of the interview for no apparent reason or tell you from the start that you wouldn’t be a good fit for the position. Should this happen, turn the tables and begin to interview the interviewer. If told you wouldn’t be a good fit, for example, ask why you were called in for the interview then. Point out that your resume hasn’t changed between the time you were called in for the interview and showed up to apply. Ask which qualities the company seeks in a job candidate and explain how you line up with that description. It’s also worth noting that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates that â€Å"job requirements†¦ be uniformly and consistently applied to persons of all races and colors.† To boot, job requirements that are applied consistently but not important for business needs may be unlawful if they disproportionately exclude individuals from certain racial groups. The same is true if an employer requires workers to have educational backgrounds that don’t directly relate to job performance. Take note if your interviewer lists any job requirement or educational certificate that seems non-essential to business needs. When the interview ends, be sure that you have the full name of the interviewer, the department the interviewer works in, and, if possible, the name of the interviewer’s supervisor. Once the interview wraps up, note any off-color remarks or questions the interviewer made. Doing so could help you notice a pattern in the interviewer’s line of questioning that makes it clear that discrimination was at hand. Why You? If discrimination factored into your job interview, identify why you were targeted. Was it just because you are African American, or was it because you are young, African American and male? If you say that you were discriminated against because you are black and the company in question has a number of black employees, your case won’t look very credible. Find out what separates you from the pack. The questions or comments the interviewer made should help you pinpoint why. Equal Pay for Equal Work Suppose that salary comes up during the interview. Clarify with the interviewer if the salary you are being quoted is the same anyone with your job experience and education would receive. Remind the interviewer how long you’ve been in the workforce, the highest level of education you’ve attained and any awards and accolades you’ve received. You might be dealing with an employer who isn’t averse to hiring racial minorities but compensates them less than their white counterparts. This, too, is illegal. Testing During the Interview Were you tested during the interview? This could constitute discrimination if you were tested for â€Å"knowledge, skills or abilities that are not important for job performance or business needs,† according to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such a test would also constitute discrimination if it eliminated a disproportionate number of people from a minority group as job candidates. In fact, employment testing was at the root of the controversial Supreme Court case Ricci v. DeStefano, in which the City of New Haven, Conn., threw out a promotional exam for firefighters because racial minorities overwhelmingly did poorly on the test. What Next? If you were discriminated against during a job interview, contact the supervisor of the person who interviewed you. Tell the supervisor why you were a target of discrimination and any questions or comments the interviewer made that violated your civil rights. If the supervisor fails to follow up or take your complaint seriously, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and file a charge of discrimination against the company with them.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Saudi Arabia Political Economy Environment Dissertation

Saudi Arabia Political Economy Environment - Dissertation Example The results of this policy are that about 58% of the university students in Saudi Arabia are women, following globalization, education, and economic benefits, more women in the Kingdom are being employed, estimated at about 5% to 15% of the workforce are women. Several factors contribute to women being in business include: †¢ Women are responsible for controlling most of the country’s wealth, and as a consequence are able to access informal funding which support the growth of business entrepreneurs. It is estimated that women are in possession of over SR45 billion, most of which (approximately 75%) is deposited, idly, in banks. †¢ Ownership of businesses in the Kingdom have about 4% of the businesses belonging to women, the retail sector has about 5,500 commercial registrations being of projects by women, which accounts to an estimated 20% in the retail, contractual, wholesaling, and transferable businesses sectors, and Arab News has recognized the contribution made by women in the economy of the region, by publishing the Kingdom’s top twenty women ventures in the region in March 2007. This was reported as a new perspective that deviates from the norm, where men are considered the entrepreneurs and pillars of Saudi Arabia’s economy. The current rise in women involvement in economy is based on the education and financial strength gained by women. Women have gained power through empowerment via education and business.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Business Strategy - Essay Example In the year, 2010 â€Å"Marks and Spencer plc† took the position of the largest cloth retailer in the United Kingdom. With 885 stores in over 40 countries with 600 stores being in the UK, the company boasted that for everyone on three women were wearing their bras. However, analysts were worried about the sustainability of the company in UK; retailing recovery. In the same year, a new CEO took over the running of the company he was faced with several issues that were associated with the reassessment of the company’s competitive strategy and the present challenges of strategic change. The choosing of 50-year-old Mark Bolland, who previously was the CEO of a UK supermarket chain, was greeted with a very positive response from the public, media and shareholders alike. The new CEO faced several challenges in his new position; he had to implement strategies, which would secure the future of the company that had the most famous name in the shopping malls. The company for long had been the largest retailer of clothes in the UK. This was an organization to which analysts referred to when they were reporting whether the high street has a good or a bad season of sales. An organization, which historically is loved and known by the people of Britain. At the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, investors were nervous. Below are several questions that were raised about the future of the firm that needed to be resolved (Bevan, 2007 p45). Analysis In the year 2009, the company delivered reasonable results in the 2008-09 financial, trade year. This was a period that was hit by the economic recession. In the previous year, the company had registered a ? 1 billion mark in the pre-tax profits for the first time in the decade. The company’s reputation had suffered a great deal when in 1998, it became the first retailer in Britain to make profits that amounted to ?1 billion, however, within the same year the company was issuing profit warnings. This was a self -inflicted catastrophic injury from its premium position. The company managed to limp through the period with the turbulent changes that were hitting it from all directions. With Sir Stuart’s appointment as the CEO of the company in the year 2004, saw the company regain its lost glory, and, as a result, regained its health and returned to the profit level of ?1 billion (Bevan, 2007 p57). When the company was founded and was still being rum by Simon Mark, he was known for his personal, autocratic and top-down management style. He was also known for his infamous attention that he had to detail. He showed this with the way that he dealt with the suppliers. He ensured that he always got his supplies from specific suppliers and always ensured that the goods that were supplied by these suppliers were to specification. By this, he built a relationship between â€Å"Marks and Spencer plc† and the supplying group. This assured customers with high and consistent quality. The com pany became largely successful in terms of delivery of high quality and reliable brand to the customers. By this, the company earned outstanding rewards in profit and market share (Bevan, 2007 p60). Historically the company was run using a trusted, tried and tested recipe; this is in the way the company did business (Bevan, 2007 p65). It was embedded in several fundamental principles that the company was run on: 1. The customers were to be offered high quality and well designed merchandise that was also

Monday, November 18, 2019

Analyzing the Gender Roles Presented in TV Serials Essay

Analyzing the Gender Roles Presented in TV Serials - Essay Example This paper will juxtapose three very popular TV analyzing the gender roles presented in them. â€Å"Everybody love Raymond is another very popular TV show which has been very well liked and followed.† (Everybody loves lazy stereotyping of male roles)The concept of Gender roles must be noticed in this serial, Debra the wife of Raymond is always in the kitchen making food either for her husband or for her family, this goes to show that women are always in the kitchen spending their time cooking for their families. Marxist feminism also comes into play here, Karl Marx argues that women must be paid for domestic labor, this is what Marxist feminism is all about. Another very important thing which must be noticed in this show is that Debra is the one who always packs the lunch of her children; Raymond never bothers to do this. It goes to show how irresponsible at times men are towards their families. â€Å"The gender roles presented in these serials are presented very rightly afte r doing comprehensive research.† (Gender and Media Representation) Gilman called herself a humanist, she was deadly against exploitation of women, our society is still following the patriarchal ways and exploiting the women. She was not very comfortable accepting the theory of evolution laid down by Charles Darwin, the theory of evolution portrays man in the driving seat and gives less importance to women. Both the sexes are equally important and no favoritism of any sort can be done. She argued that women had to rely excessively on their sexual assets, they had to please their husband to ensure their survival, this is very true and beyond the pale. Grounded for life is another very popular TV show which is well liked by the audience. In one episode the husband decides to buy a car without even bothering to ask his wife, marriage is an institution and it is the right of the wife to be well informed about all the decisions made by her husband. This again reflects the reality; t here are countless husbands who do not bother asking their better halves before making an important decision. Dad goes to work and Mom takes care of the household chores, it is unacceptable if a man packs lunch for his children, it is unacceptable if a man does the dishes. It is incorrect if a man asks his wife before making a big decision, buying a car is quite a big decision and a wife must know of this big decision before hand. Perkins Gilman was a very famous American sociologist who wanted to bring about change in the society, it is our duty to share the workload with women, and it is not a man’s world anymore. Women must be given respect and their workload must be shared. It is very important to understand the responsibilities of living in a family, gender stenotypes must be abolished and we must awake to a new and a better world. Conclusion To conclude it is very fair to say that women must be respected and we must shed our stereotypical thinking for the best. This is the need of the hour and we must put an end to this forever. Once this ends we would stop seeing stereotypes in TV shows and even the TV shows would become much better than ever, it will benefit each and every one of us. The three shows that

Friday, November 15, 2019

Methods Used in the Bio-Medical Industry

Methods Used in the Bio-Medical Industry In this essay we will be exploring three methods by which materials are either separated, analysed, or both and their relevance and application in the biomedical industry. We will be looking at Electrophoresis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Gas Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GLC-MS). Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA material based on their size which has applications in DNA forensics. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance is a technique used to visually determine what the composition of a live tissue is which has applications in medical science. Gas Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry is a technique used to determine the chemical composition of the substance that is being tested which has applications in blood doping in sports where the blood needs to be chemically analysed for its composition whether it contains banned substances. Chemistry is a very broad subject which has influence in almost every industry. This essay will attempt to cover these three methods knowing that it has only skimmed the surface. The first separation technique that we will discuss is electrophoresis. Electrophoresis is used extensively in biochemical analysis. In particular, it is used in DNA fingerprinting and profiling in the field of forensic science. It can be used to separate, identify and purify proteins and nucleic acids. It can be used with amino acids and peptides obtained when a protein is hydrolysed. This basis for how this method works is that it depends on the fact that all DNA molecules are polar. Thus it is known to be impossible for there to have a compound with the same polarities. Another issue that might be raised is would the mass of the sample affect this separation technique? The answer is yes and no. It will affect it by making the DNA fingerprinting band hard to form. Thus chemists have developed different agarose medium gels for different compounds that have different properties such as pH and mass. The agarose gel can differ in density and pH, for example, to accommodate the differen t types of sample that is being tested. In that way, the effect that mass or even pH might on the result is negated and an accurate result is produced. The DNA of each person is basically similar in its chemical structure. The two strands in the double helix of DNA are held in place via hydrogen bonds between base pairs. The DNA stores the information – call the genes – that provide the genetic blueprints for making proteins. However, there are segments along the DNA molecules which do not seem to carry the instructions needed to make proteins. These bits of DNA are repeated along the DNA molecule. They are called ‘minisatellites’. The number and sequence of these is unique to each person. DNA fingerprinting is based on matching these minisatellite regions of DNA. We inherit half from our mother and the other half from our father. How does it work? Firstly, DNA would be extracted from a sample such as a murder weapon. Next, Restriction enzymes are used to ‘cut’ the DNA molecule at specific places where the same sequences occurs, making smaller fragments for analysis. Because DNA fragments are all negatively charged because of the phosphate groups present them will all move towards the positive electrode in gel electrophoresis. When they move towards the positive electrode in gel electrophoresis, the fragments move at different rates because they have different sizes. And this creates bands. The bands are then made visible by radioactive labelling of the bands with the phosphorus-32 isotope, which causes photographic film to fog. Thus the result is a film that can reveal the positions of the bands and by inference, the identity of the person whose DNA is being tested upon. The analytical technique of electrophoresis is based on separating ions placed in an electric field. If a sample is placed between two electrodes, positively charged ions will move towards a negatively charged electrode. Negatively charged ions will move towards a positively charged electrode. The sample is placed on absorbent paper or on a gel supported on a solid base such as a glass plate. A buffer solution carries the ions along. A buffer solution or medium is used in this method. This is to not only provide a means for the electricity to separate the ions but also as a means to stabilize the pH level because it will affect the movement of ions during electrophoresis. The rate at which the ions move towards the oppositely charged electrode depends, amongst other things, on the size and charge on the ions: larger ions will move more slowly; highly charged ions will move more quickly. Therefore the ions are separated as the electric field is applied. A series of lines or bands on the paper or gel appears once a chemical is applied. Sometimes ultraviolet light is used to show the bands up. The series of bands is called an electropherogram. The bands form a sort of fingerprint as every DNA will show up a different series of bands. In the same way that a thumbprint is uniqu e to a person, these bands made by DNA is unique to every person. A particular limitation is that this experiment does require electricity, an agarose gel medium, a container to store the gel, and it requires a lab free from impurities as it has a high intolerance for contaminants. This may limit the reach of DNA fingerprinting in rural areas or places in third-world countries where access to a biologically clean lab may be difficult. The transport equation for electrophoresis is . C would represent the concentration of the substance undergoing electrophoresis and t wold represent the transport after progressing for a time. This equation explains how time actually affects the concentration of the substance. (Jordan and Mills, 1966) The next technique that we will look at is an analytical technique called the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). NMR is mainly used to diagnose medical problems. The technique of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanning has been adapted from NMR spectroscopy. The patient is placed inside a body scanner which generates a powerful magnetic field. A computer analyses the radiowaves absorbed by 1H nuclei in successive ‘slices’ of the body, combining these to make a 3-D image of organs inside the body. The reason that a 3D picture of an organ can be produced just by flipping protons in different magnetic environments can be explained as such. By flipping the protons, a magnetic wave is produced. This wave contains energy that can be measured. When scanning the body, the strength and pattern of this wave is hugely affected by the type, density, and weight of the body that is being measured. Different parts of the body will give off a different wave because not all parts of the body are the same. Some parts of the body contain more muscle or bone than other parts. Thus after scanning the body, data is collected from scanning the different parts of the body that yield different results. Computer imaging software then processes the data that has been collected by the MRI machine and produces a 3D image based on the type of data that it receives. In this way NMR can be explained as such. MRI is much safer than high-energy X-ray imaging. As an example of its use, MRI can monitor the success of cancer treatment in reducing the size of tumours. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a widely used analytical technique for organic compounds. NMR is based on the fact that the nucleus of each hydrogen atom in an organic molecule behaves like a tiny magnet. The nucleus of a hydrogen atom consists of a single proton. The proton can spin. This movement of the positively charged proton causes a very small magnetic field to be set up. In NMR the sample is goes to be analysed in a magnetic field. The hydrogen nuclei (protons) either line up with the field or, by spinning in the opposite direction, line up against it. There is a tiny difference in energy between the oppositely spinning 1H nuclei. This difference corresponds to the energy carried by waves in the radiowave range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. In NMR spectroscopy the nuclei ‘flip’ between the two energy levels. Only atoms whose mass number is an odd number, e.g. 1H or 13C, absorb energy in the range of frequencies that are analysed. The size of the gap between the nuclear energy levels varies slightly, depending on the other atoms in the molecule (the molecular environment). Therefore, NMR can be used to identify 1H atoms in different parts of a molecule. In NMR spectroscopy, we vary the magnetic field as that is easier than varying the wavelength of radiowaves. As the magnetic field is varied, the 1H nuclei in different molecular environments flip at different field strengths. The different field strengths are measured relative to a reference compound which is given a value of zero. The standard compound chosen is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS was chosen because it is an inert, volatile liquid which mixes well with most organic compounds. Its formula is Si (CH3)4, so all its H atoms are equivalent (i.e. they are all in the same molecular environment). TMS only gives one, sharp absorption, called a peak, and this peak is at a higher frequency than most other protons. All other absorptions are measured by their sh ift away from the TMS line on the NMR spectrum. This is called the chemical shift (ÃŽ ´), and is measured in units of parts per million (ppm). The spins within the MRI possess a natural frequency that is proportional to the magnetic field. This is called the Larmor relationship equation. This equation explains the method behind the MRI. Larmor relationship equation ω = ÃŽ ³B Some limitations that can be inferred from data would be that portability, the need for a large amount of electricity, the exclusion of people with tattoos that has ink mixed with metal, people with pacemakers, morbidly obese people, or people who are claustrophobic. Lastly we will look at a separation and analytical technique called the gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer technique. To identify the components in a mixture, it is possible to link a gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) apparatus directly to a mass spectrometer. This combined technique is very sensitive, and any two solutes that can be separated with a time gap of 1 second on a GLC column can be identified almost instantly by the mass spectrometer without the need to be collected. Identification is by comparing the mass spectrum of each solute with the mass spectra of known compounds, using a computer’s spectral database. The generated is complex. There can be many components in a mixture, each with a peak at its particular retention time on the chromatogram, and each peak will generate its own characteristic series of lines in the mass spectrometer. It is possible to combine the chromatogram and the mass spectra to display the data on a 3-D graph. GLC linked to a mass spectrometer is used for analysing complex mixtures. The combined technique is fast and gives reliable results that can identify trace quantities of pollutants, drugs, biochemical molecules and toxins. This means it is used in: forensics, environmental monitoring of pollutants, drug testing in sports, geological and archaeological dating, or even airport security. Gas-liquid chromatography, referred to as GLC, uses partitioning to separate and identify the components in a mixture. How does it work? First, an inert carrier gas such as nitrogen passes in the gas chromatograph to flush the mixture of vapours through the instrument. The mixture to be separated is injected into the instrument through a self-sealing rubber port. Next, an oven heats the injector to vaporise the contents of the mixture, to turn the mixture into a gas if it is not a gas yet. The sample passes through a snail like column oven. After which, the column oven keeps the mixture inside the column in the gaseous state and at a constant temperature. Within the long and thin column there will be a stationary phase, which is often a non-volatile liquid coated onto a solid support. Next, the components of the mixture interact with the stationary phase to different extents, so they move through the column at different rates. Then it passes the sample on to the mass spectrometer to be identified through a tube that is kept at a warm temperature. The stationary phase is an inert carrier gas. This is packed tightly into a column. This has to be forced under pressure through the densely packed column where separation occurs. The tiny solid particles in the column have a very large surface area over which partitioning can occur, resulting in excellent separation. The more polar components in the mixture have a greater relative solubility in the polar solvent. Therefore they are carried through the column faster than components whose molecules are more non-polar (which dissolves better in the non-polar stationary phase in the column). The detector records retention times, i.e. how long it takes each component to pass through the column. The area under each peak recorded is proportional to the amount of solute emerging from the column. For quantitative analysis, the component peaks are first identified and then the area of each is measured. The peaks are roughly triangular in shape so their area follows the area formula. Area is The sample would now go into the mass spectrometer where it will analyse the components of the mixture as they emerge from the column. In the mass spectrometer’s results you can determine the relative proportions of the components of the mixture (from the relative areas of the peaks obtained from the recorded current flow) and the identity of each substance (by matching their mass spectra against a computer database of know spectra (fingerprinting). How does the mass spectrometer separate and identify the gas? First, The vacuum pump first removes unwanted previous sample and air which could interact with the sample by either colliding or reacting with the sample which would contaminate the sample and interfere with the final result. The sample then enters through the sample inlet to proceed to the inside of the mass spectrometer. Next, the sample would enter the vaporisation chamber where a heating coil in the vaporisation chamber converts the sample to a gas if it had not been a gas already. Following that, the sample would proceed into the ionisation chamber where an electron gun bombards electrons at the gaseous sample converting them to positive ions. The equation for this is . The sample at this stage would be go to the accelerator which contains negatively charged electric plates where it accelerates the ions towards the magnetic field. The gaseous ions when approaching the magnetic field would be separated according to t heir mass to charge ratio (). The lighter ions are deflected more, and the heavier ions are deflected less. At the end of the sample’s route is an ion detector where the signal is converted to an electric one. The electric signal is sent to a recorder that interprets this data and plots a graph for analysis because the ions hit the recorder in different positions according to their mass to charge ratio. Lastly, the position where the ions hit the detector plate tells you their relative atomic mass. A practical application for a gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer is in the analysis of urine samples from athletes for banned substances such as steroids or stimulants or even in medical research to separate peptides and proteins. Some advantages of using this method in separating and analysing the sample is that it is possible to determine the percentages of dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in blood samples as small as 1.0 cm3. Some of the disadvantages are that similar compounds will have similar retention times and if a newly discovered compound is detected it will not have a match in the computer’s database of retention points. As a conclusion, electrophoresis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer are techniques that affect everyday life. Electrophoresis has a useful function in helping to match the DNA from a crime scene to the criminal in cases where more evidence were need to convict the right person. The nuclear magnetic resonance machines have a the ability to form a 3D image of your inner body and that is useful in the case where detailed analysis of patients in a hospital is important. Other techniques for analysis are mostly either too invasive or too slow. Last but not least is the gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer whose function is to separate compounds to analyse the composition. 1

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Dangers of Darkness in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness :: essays research papers

Webster’s dictionary defines darkness as a space â€Å"devoid or partially devoid of light.† Throughout Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad uses darkness in many ways, as this book truly defines its title. This also develops Conrad’s theme, which is the presence of darkness in both ourselves, and in the world we live. Darkness symbolizes the unknown, the concealed, and the feared. Darkness can hide many hurtful, fearful, and savage things. Several times in the novel readers can see characters afraid of the darkness and the unknown behind it. One of these is when the men aboard the steamboat, which is heading into dense fog, hear a piercing scream. The men are especially frightened because the source of this scream is unknown because of the darkness. Darkness is also shown throughout the book as an abstract term referring to the absence of morals in a society. The â€Å"darkness† of the country conceals the brutal actions of the region. This is especially evident in Kurtz’s most barbaric act, the placement of human heads on poles that surround his house. Conrad tries to portray to readers that the fearful â€Å"darkness† can also be something that is not strictly literal, but instead something spiritual. Lastly, the tendency toward darkness in all humans is evident in this book. First the company of men is willing to go into the darkness of the jungle because of the potential of wealth. Secondly, this is portrayed when the men see the sunlight, and instead of heading towards it they decide to head back into the darkness. Conrad is showing readers that human’s natural tendency is to head towards the darkness instead of light. This is summed up beautifully at the end of the book when the narrator says the boat is headed â€Å"into the heart of an immense darkness.† This shows that from beginning to end humans have that natural tendency to head into the â€Å"darkness.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

“After Apple-picking” Robert Frost and “Prospero’s Epilogue” by William Shakespeare Essay

There are simply a select few individuals in this world that could be considered as exceptional. There are many great names in the world of literature, but this paper would only focus on two great writers and their respective works.   William Shakespeare is considered by many as the greatest writer that has ever lived. He is even nicknamed â€Å"the immortal† by literature enthusiasts. On the other hand Robert Frost is a great poet, whose works had taken the poetry genre by storm. This paper will make a comparison of two works of these two great writers: Shakespeare’s Epilogue for Prospero and Frost’s â€Å"After Apple-Picking.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two works were communicated under the same medium, poetry. Both works were utilizing poetic devices such as symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The function of both works is to assault the emotions of the readers. â€Å"After Apple-Picking† is a poem about writing a poem. Frost tells the readers that writing poetry is an arduous task â€Å"I am overtired† (Line 29) But that tiredness of a poet could be relieved by the audience appreciation â€Å"of the great harvest I myself desired.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The image of the many apples is a symbol for creativity. Frost is simply arguing that there is an abundance of creativity—the problem is that harvesting that creativity could tire out an artist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the other hand, Shakespeare’s words through Prospero is specifically categorized as a soliloquy. This particular literary technique is made famous by Shakespearean plays, like in Hamlet’s â€Å"to be or not to be† soliloquy. A soliloquy is basically done when a character of the play directly addresses the audience. In traditional theater, there is the existence of the â€Å"fourth wall.† The â€Å"fourth wall† is highly technical to discuss but it basically refers to the gap between the actors and the audience. In other terms, the reality in the stage is very far from the reality of real life. Formalistically in plays, a character should never interact with the audience, simply because it ruins the illusion. This may be the very deign of Shakespeare for Prospero’s soliloquy. Shakespeare does not want his work to be a mere illusion, he wanted it to be something real. And according to the text, what could make it real, or Prospero free, is only the applause of the audience. Conclusion Shakespeare’s message is no different with Frost’s. During Prospero’s epilogue, Prospero is simply asking for an applause to set him free â€Å"†¦without applause / my plan to please you has failed† It is similar in both of the works to recognize that there is an audience. Both of them may have simply saying that the readers/audiences are just as important as the piece itself. If it was not for the appreciation of those who enjoy the beauty of words, literature would not exists. References Frost, Robert. â€Å"After Apple-picking†. Retrieved 5 June 2008 Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Retrieved 5 June 2008 < shakespeare.mit.edu/tempest/full.html>

Friday, November 8, 2019

Essay on Siemens CSR

Essay on Siemens CSR Essay on Siemens CSR Sample essay on Siemens CSR: Siemens is an international company that deals with electronics. Over the years, the company has stood for technical achievements, quality, reliability and innovation. Siemens is the leading provider of technologies that are eco-friendly. In terms of energy efficiency, healthcare that is personalized and industrial productivity, Siemens is the pioneer. What Siemens can leverage Siemens can employ several strategies in order to leverage. The strategies will lead to long term growth of the company. One of such strategies is sustainability which means that the company will act responsibly in order to cater for future generations. The main aim of sustainability is to achieve social, economic and environmental progress (Voien 205) To achieve efficiency, Siemens is providing products that are innovative in the area of environment. The company is also aimed at providing solutions that will improve the Eco balance of its customers and that of itself. When it comesto business, the company mainly focuses on the creation of long term values. The company also fosters its employees so that they can be good citizens in the areas where the company operates. By implementing CSR, the company focuses on such issues as Innovation, human rights, diversity, employee qualifications and sustainability in the supply chain. All the members of the company contribute to sustainability of the company by carrying corporate functions such as those related to health, environment and safety. In order to be strategic in the market, Siemens can employ some strategic methods. First, it can expand its environment portfolio in order to increase its target and generate more revenue. The company can also come up with solutions that will assist in reducing greenhouse emissions by advancing green innovations. The other key strategy would be the involvement of stakeholders. This can be done by exchange of ideas by increasingly collaborating with organizations which will help them improve their sustainability. It is also crucial for the company to improve dialogue with stakeholders. Another strategy that the company can adopt is innovativeness (Voien 208). This can be achieved by unleashing creativity, potential and energy of their employees. The company should also strive to measure the success of their strategies by basing them on the feedback they get from their customers. The company should on a continuing basis update their portfolio with an aim to providing solutions to challenges that the society is facing. This will enable the company to provide sustainable values. With an aim to engage employees, the company can employ modern modes of social media such as Facebook and twitter. Such platforms for communication will enable the company to give employees a sense of freedom as they adopt modern modes of interaction and communication. Use of Microsoft technology will also enable the company to engage employees in the activities of the company. Siemens should also encourage democratic participation of employees in the activities of the company (Voien 218). This will enable the employees have a feeling of ownership of community programs and eventually efficiency will be improved in the long run. Panasonic Corporation has extensively used social media in marketing which is a shift from odd marketing strategies and leveraged on Facebook and LinkedIn company pages. Such pages are being used regularly for press release providing customers with an interactive community page for interaction. Panasonic Corporation tweets usually pop-up with messages proving customers with latest booths to visits, at the same time providing customers and the corporation with a platform to share their views and opinions on the company products. In conclusion, the CSR issues of Siemens are critical for the success and sustainability of the company. Customers of the company should be engaged so that they can give feedback on the products and services of the company. Our custom essay writing service can write a non-plagiarized essay, term paper or research paper on Siemens for you. Order custom papers written from scratch!

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

5 ways to stand out when you’re applying for competitive jobs

5 ways to stand out when you’re applying for competitive jobs We all know the market is competitive. Any job you apply for is probably receiving a minimum of 100 applications- with some getting up to the thousands. But someone has to get every job, right? People do make it through to the next levels of the hiring process, even in crowded, qualified fields of applicants. You have to assume the majority of job seekers you’re competing with are on the ball- their resumes are spotless and their experience and skill base matches or exceeds the job requirements. So how can you stand out as the best person for the job amidst all the house? Use some of these more targeted strategies to help elevate your application package.1. Make your purpose clear and direct.The most impressive (or at least the most attractive) candidates tend to be the ones that project a kind of professional purpose. These candidates have taken the time and effort to figure out what it is they want to do, and why, and how to reach their goals. Recruiters find it very easy to match these candidates into their companies, because it’s clear if they’ll be a fit. Make sure you can articulate the talents that make you a good match and place them prominently in your cover letter, resume, and other application materials. Know yourself and make that sing.2. Don’t hold back- sell yourself.It’s not enough to just know what drives you. You have to share that vision, enthusiastically, even if you’re shy and not prone to bragging. Put together a short pitch that summarizes why you, and only you, are the best person for the job. Once you have this down, you can use it at many points during your job search. Turn it into an elevator pitch for networking. Emphasize it in your interview. Build it into your social media presence. Make your sales pitch a part of how you present to the world while job seeking, both in person and on paper.3. Sanitize your social media.You could have the greatest application in the world, but if your social media profiles are inappropriate or controversial or just childish, a recruiter is going to toss your file in the trash. Make sure to Google yourself and scour your net presence until it’s every bit as polished and professional as you hope to present yourself to the world.4. Make your professional info a click away.There are some fancy trends out there, and you better believe the competition will be keeping up with them. If you’re up for it, try building a personal website to give a sense of your personal branding. Include the link in your resume, and include your resume on your website. A website can also (stylishly!) convey all the context you didn’t have room to include on your resume. Use this extra space to your advantage!5. Network to build a group of reliable referrals.Sadly, sometimes it really does come down to who you know. Make sure you’re constantly out there networking and making inquiries. Finding inroads to companies you want to work for to make contacts and seek mentors. You never now when someone you meet at a cocktail party or a lecture is going to be the one to pass your resume to a decision maker.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Operations Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operations Management - Research Paper Example Batch production processing; â€Å"Involves the manufacture of medium size lots of the same product. The lots may be produced only once or they may be produced at regular intervals. Lot sizes and the frequency of production of a single item is tied up with the inventory control policies† (National Institute of Technology Calicut, n.d. pg. 3) which is very evident with Stickley Furniture’s leveled manufacturing process. Job-shop as a manufacturing system is also present in the company evident with the seven master cabinet makers that handle customized orders. The use of batch in the operation of production processing of Stickley Furniture is also evident with its manufacturing practice. It was cited in the problem that its production process â€Å"begin[s] with sawing operations where large boards received from luber mills are cut into smaller operation†. Then there are subsequent â€Å"Subsequent operations [that] provide additional cuts for specific jobs† (pg. 688). This subsequent operations involve â€Å"gluing some of the pieces together; they will end up as tops of tables, desks, dressers, or similar item. Large presses hold 20 to 30 glued sections at a time. Other piece that will become table or chair legs, chair backs or other items go through various shaping operations. Next comes a series of sanding operations .... some pieces may require drilling or mortising some items require carving, which involves highly skilled workers†. This clearly indicates that workers are divided into deparments to do certain jobs which is a characteristic of a batch production processing with sub assemblies of job-shop or customized functions. In this production set-up â€Å"each worker is responsible for cheking his her quality, as well as the quality of materials received from preceding operations, and to report any deficiencies† (pg. 688). 2. How does management keep track of job status and location during production? Furniture p arts which are still works in progress are being monitored through bar codes. After workers assemble the various components, either into subassemblies or sometimes directly to other components to obtain completed pieces, each item is stamped with the date of production,type of job and their location. Careful records are kept so that if a piece is ever returned for repairs, complete instructions are available to enable repair people to closely match the the original piece. When a particular operation is finished (such as sawing or sanding), the operator removes a bar code sticker and delivers it to the scheduling office where it is scanned into the computer, thereby enabling production control to keep track of progress on a job, and to know its location on the shop. 3. Suppose the company has just received an order for 40 mission oak dining room sets. Briefly list the the kinds of information the company will need to plan, schedule and process this job. First, per company’s le vel production policy, the inventory has first to be checked if there are any mission oak dining room set remaining. If there are, their numbers should be should be deducted from the intended number of production. The materials are then made availabe and prepared which in this case are mission oak lumbers. The mission oak boards are inspected and marked for knots locations and other possible defect that may be found on the board before feeding it into the saw. The saw has a computer-controlled â€Å"

Friday, November 1, 2019

Integrated Marketing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Integrated Marketing Strategy - Essay Example Introduction In any form of business, the domain of marketing is regarded as quite significant and one of the prominent activities to be conducted in promoting as well as establishing the intended brand within the target market. It is important to note that for any business to promote or to convey information about its products or services to the targeted customers, the tool of marketing must be essentially put into efficient use. Contextually, it has been observed that companies communicate with the customers with the help of various tools of marketing, which comprise of advertising and other promotional activities to make them aware about what the business is offering to them. Unarguably, without proper marketing strategy, the success of business is quite likely to become highly uncertain and will probably remain unaccomplished upto a larger extent (Lamb & et. al 2008). Contextually, the primary intention of this report is to frame an integrated marketing strategy to promote Bullet Proof Vests as a newly launched product in the targeted market. Overview- Integrated Marketing Communication Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) is conceptually explained as an unconventional domain of marketing management that involves the implementation of conveying succinct and all-inclusive information about the proposed brand across numerous and diverse marketing channels. It is defined by experts as an integrated approach of marketing, which is designed with the intention to ensure that all the communication activities in the domain of marketing management are applied in a unified form involving various other beneficial channels of communication (International University of science and Technology, 2013). For strategizing the promotional framework required in the launch of the product i.e. bullet proof vests, some of the tools of IMC including advertising, direct marketing, sales promotion, public relations, internet marketing, personal selling and publicity will be imple mented. These tools will together work towards the accomplishment of the set goals, which in this case is to promote the features of bullet proof vests to the targeted market and convince or encourage the potential buyers to purchase the same. Promotion Mix Strategy Promotion mix strategies mainly include two forms of approaches, which comprise pull strategy and push strategy, used according to the marketing intentions and product features to convey the information regarding products and/or services to the potential purchasers (Lamb & et. al 2008). Applying the push strategy approach, the product i.e. bullet proof vest will be promoted to the customers directly with the help of various tools of advertising during its initial introductory stage. It is worth mentioning in this context that application of a push strategy in the initial stage of the product launch will help it in gaining a percentage of market shares, countering the already existing competitive brands. In the subsequent phase, depending on the response from the customers towards the product, the pull strategy approach will be applied to encourage the customers to seek for the product from their end owing to its growing demand and preference in the market. Notably, as the armed forces and soldiers will be the targeted customers of the product, due attention will be provided towards quality