Radar Of Rfid Penetration Through Particulate On Other...

RFID Signal Penetration through Particulate SolidsABSTRACT:Radio frequency identification technology is an automatic identification wireless communication technology that integrates physical objects with the digital data. It is also becoming popular in supply chain management, which covers all processes in the flow of goods from manufacturing to customers, which includes manufacturing, distribution and transportation. This research paper focuses on the readability of RFID penetration in different particulate solid products with varying particle sizes. In addition simulation during transportation is performed on a conveyor belt at different speeds. Variable factors in this experiment were different types of particulate solids of different†¦show more content†¦The advantage of RFID is that it does not require direct contact or line-of-sight scanning. An RFID system consists of three components: an antenna, RFID reader and a RFID tag (Known as transponder). The antenna emits ra dio frequency waves to transmit a signal that activates tag and in return a response signal is received.()Problem statement:Packaging industries using RFID technology may face the problem of missing the item count of products during processing due to different product characteristics such as chemical composition, density etc. This research paper examines the use of RFID in packaging industry where the items are of different particulate solids of different packing densities. This is important in supply chain because transportation can change the product s physical characteristics. In this paper particle shape, size and packing density are investigated to determine its effects on RFID tag readability. Particle size is considered as an important characteristic since it effects the properties such as surface per unit volume and rate of settling of particles. The shape of the particle may have an effect on packing characteristics.Equipment and Methodology:Equipment:Equipment used in this research are the rectangular standardized cell of size 6in x 10in x 1.25 is fabricated using 0.25in thick Lexan material

A Modest Proposal And Candide Analysis - 792 Words

Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal and Candide, by Voltaire are the two parodies that ridicule man and society. The messages in these parodies are both gone for a similar kind of group of onlookers, the privileged society. In A Modest Proposal, Swift expounds on a conceivable answer for Irelands destitution and over populace. His work was pointed towards the English, grumbling of their abuse. He assaults the English for conservative issues of Ireland by proposing a detailed arrangement to utilize the gross measure of kids as nourishment. He, as storyteller makes this proposition in such a tone a peruser with next to no training may consider him important, which was not the goal for the piece. His mockery is intended to disparage the English†¦show more content†¦For instance, the speaker in the exposition A Modest Proposal can coldly talk about the financial and social advantages of executing and eating youngsters while never giving much idea to the ethical issues behind these acts. The exposition is surely a parody that is gone for influencing his contemporary per users to perceive the sort of frosty, ascertaining cruelty of limit realism when used to address social issues, for example, destitution and overpopulation. Like Voltaire, Jonathan Swift introduces this incongruity through portrayal—for this situation, the speaker of the proposition. Despite the fact that Voltaire tends to show numerous issues of the Enlightenment by having various unexpected characters, the impact is the same since the group of onlookers is attracted and made to perceive the imperfections of certain methods for considering. The incongruity of the storyteller of A Modest Proposal however, is that he can go ahead to reprimand the ethical shortcoming of moms who have corrupt premature births or submit child murder. This unexpected character can create an impression that would appear to be simply monetary without appearing to understand its dreadful idea. The effective articulation above is

Critical Study of The NHS breast screening programme Free Essays

Introduction The NHS Breast Screening Programme began in 1988 and was set up by the Department of Health in response to the recommendations of a working group, chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forrest. The report Breast Cancer Screening was published in 1986, and popularly known as The Forrest Report. NHSBSP began inviting women for screening in 1988 and started covering nationally in the mid 1990s. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Study of The NHS breast screening programme or any similar topic only for you Order Now A report by the Department of Health Advisory Committee published in 1991 suggested that the programme would save 1,250 lives each year by 2010(Breast Cancer Screening 1991: Evidence and Experience since the Forrest Report, Department of Health Advisory Committee, NHS Breast Screening Programme 1991).The NHS Breast Screening Programme is an effective part of the UK’s efforts to reduce the death toll from breast cancer. In September 2000, research was published which demonstrated that the screening programme had lowered mortality rates from breast cancer in the 55-69 age group. Early detection of breast cancer is an important factor in improving breast cancer survival. Breast screening is an opportunity for early detection of breast cancer. In 2010, research shows that benefits from screening mammography outweigh the harm in over diagnosis. . Between 2 and 2.5 lives are saved for every over diagnosed case. The aim of this essay is to critically analyse and evaluate the pathway through breast services with the relevant departments. Pathway through the Breast services Women registered with the General Practitioner, aged between 50 and 70 years old are routinely invited for breast screening at their local breast screening unit, it could be hospital based or in a mobile trailer. An invitation is sent once every three years. Women over 70 years old will not receive an invitation but they are encouraged to make their appointment for the breast screening programme. Enclosed in the invitation is a leaflet about the facts about the screening programme.The author finds the leaflet very helpful because it has a lot of facts about the breast screening programme, and its benefits. The leaflet sent is written in English. There is an available format with this leaflet from large print in English; for women who do not speak English as their first language, the leaflet is also available in other languages such as Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu. It is even available in Braille format and a DVD for British sign language. The Department of H ealth Cancer Reform strategy announced that effective on 2012 the NHSBSP would be extending the invitation to women aged between 47 and 73 years old. The author visited a mobile breast screening unit, based in the breast screening department car park. There were 55 patients booked on that day. There were two women who did not attend their appointment. The author observed that the unit was very relaxing despite the very busy list. Background music was playing while women waited for their mammograms to be performed. Music has been very successful in distracting patient’s attention from pain (Hawthorn and Redmond, 1998). The author strongly agrees with Hawthorn and Redmond that music helps in distracting ones attention from pain. One woman made a comment that music helped her relaxed since it was her first breast screening and the woman was very anxious and a little bit nervous. When a woman arrives for breast screening appointment, the radiographer will then greet the woman. The radiographer will check the woman’s personal details and reviews the questionnaire answered by the woman. In the x-ray room, the radiographer will explain the whole procedure such as the need of compression during the examination. The radiographer will answer all the woman’s questions before carrying out the examination. Giving proper applied compression is very important in producing a good mammography image (Bassett and Hendrick, 1994). Basett and Hendrick (1994) recommended that to give proper compression the radiographer should let women know the importance of compression, and inform when it is about to be initiated, it also should be done slowly and until the skin of the breast is tight without causing pain. After the mammogram, the woman was then given a leaflet for further information about the result of the examination, a contact number for inquiries and more i nformation and it also states that there is a possibility for a recall for assessment. The aim of breast screening assessment is to identify the abnormality found in the screening mammograms. If there is abnormality found, further tests are then needed. Testing for breast cancer should include a clinical examination, breast imaging, fine needle aspiration or core biopsy. These three tests are called triple assessment. Women recalled for further assessment from the breast screening, around one in six to have cancer (NHSBSP Pocket Guide, 2008). The assessment clinics have breast care nurses that help women during assessment or women who are diagnosed to have breast cancer. Breast care nurse gives advice, support and information. According to the Breast Cancer Care and Royal College of Nursing, the key role of the breast care nurse during the treatment pathway is to give information and emotional support. They give information about treatments, options and what to expect during the entire treatment (Breast Cancer Care and Royal College of Nursing December, 2004). The author strongly believes that having a breast care nurse is crucially important to women who are undergoing treatment. It would make their life a bit easier during treatment because someone is there to listen and help them throughout. The author asked a woman on how helpful the breast care nurse during the treatment pathway, and the woman said that her treatment would be totally different without the help of the breast care nurse. The breast care nurse has helpe d the woman from the day she was recalled for further assessments from breast screening. The breast care nurse has given her a lot emotional support and has given her a lot of information during the treatment journey. The woman is extremely glad that someone is there to listen to all her worries during tough times. The author visited an assessment clinic and observed the flow of the clinic that day. The author observed a woman recalled for assessment. The mammograms were read by two consultant radiologist. Double reading has been practiced in the breast screening programme. The opinion of the author is that having two readings is more effective than just having a single reading. Research shows that double reading may boost the number of cancers detected by some 9 to 15 percent (Brown et al, 1996). However, around 13% of the health service costs happen during the breast screening assessment (Clark and Fraser, 1996). The author visited a busy assessment clinic; one the cases observed was that the reporting radiologists have found in the mammogram a calcification in the upper inner quadrant of the left breast that is why the woman was recalled for further tests. Additional views were suggested specifically, left lateral and left magnification views. After the additional views were done, the woman went to the examination room and the radiologist explained the suspected abnormality found in the mammograms and further imaging required to confirm or exclude any abnormality. After hearing out the Consultant Radiologist’s explanation regarding examinations needed during the visit, the woman got so anxious and stressed out. The breast care nurse was there to give support in these times. A woman scheduled for breast biopsy procedures suffers anxiety about the result of their diagnostic procedures. The author believes that breast care nurse plays a very important role in the assessment team. Preoperative nurses have special ways in providing quality nursing care for patients waiting for breast biopsy procedures and their definitive diagnosis (Deane, 1997). The woman had a clinical examination; Stereotactic guide biopsy with specimen radiography was performed. The radiologist took five flecks of representative calcification and was sent to the pathology department for analysis . Result will be ready for the multi-disciplinary team for review in two days. According to the clinical guidelines for breast screening cancer assessment, women who will have further tests should have their results discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting. There are two routine outcomes for assessment; the woman will still be invited for the breast screening programme or the woman will have further treatment (NHSBSP, Publication 49). The author visited a â€Å"one stop breast clinic† at a local breast care unit. Most patients were referred by their GP and there was a patient referred from breast screening assessment. A specialist should see GP referrals or referrals from the breast screening unit within two weeks from referral. Cancer reform strategy 2007 announced that in December 2009, all patients referred to a specialist with breast symptoms even if cancer is not suspected should be seen within two weeks of referral (DOH, 2007). The clinic had a mixture of patients. There were new referrals from the GP, follow up appointments from previous treatment and follow up for results of tests. The clinic had a consultant breast surgeon, registrar, breast care nurses, consultant radiologist, radiographer, and consultant pathologist, consultant oncologist. They are referred as the breast care team. The Surgical guidelines for the management of breast cancer, Association of Breast Surgery, BASO 2009 states that i t is now widely accepted that breast care team should be provided by breast specialists in each discipline and that multidisciplinary team form the basis for best practice. â€Å"One Stop Clinic† is similar to the assessment clinic for women recalled from breast screening. The author observed that triple assessments were done just like women recalled for further assessment from breast screening and these tests are based on clinical examination, breast imaging, fine needle aspiration or core biopsy. Men who have suspected breast cancer will have the same investigations (NICE guidelines, 2009). The author’s opinion, it is important that every woman or man referred to a Consultant Breast Surgeon should have triple assessment, if possible for accurate diagnosis and should be done at the same visit. â€Å"Routine use of triple assessment can increase the speed and accuracy and reduce the cost of diagnosis. When the three tests give consistent results, a definite positive or negative diagnosis can be given 99% of the time. Thus minimises the need for open biopsy, thus preventing unnecessary surgery and reducing anxiety (NICE, 2009).† National Institute for Clinical Excellence suggested that the triple assessment should be available to patients with suspected breast cancer at a single visit (NICE, 2009). The author observed another woman in the outpatient clinic, a woman referred from breast screening that had shown in the mammograms clusters of micro calcification in the right breast. Core biopsy was done during her first visit in the assessment unit and in which turned out to be breast cancer. The woman’s case was reviewed with the Multidisciplinary team and further treatment was recommended. The woman was so anxious, and felt so hopeless but with the help of the breast care nurse to give support and advice, the woman felt a little better. Treatment was discussed during the visit. Another woman referred by the GP complaining on having breast lumps. The Consultant surgeon reviewed the woman’s notes before bringing the woman into the room. After reviewing the notes, the breast care nurse then brought the woman in for clinical examination. The surgeon thoroughly examined the woman’s breast. The surgeon then wrote down an imaging request form with its clinical indications for a Mammogram. The author then accompanied the woman to the Mammography Section of the Breast Unit and was then met by the radiographer. The radiographer then explained the examination, like how many views to take, and the need to compress both breast and informed the woman might feel a little bit uncomfortable. The author has observed that the radiographer have explained very well about what happens during the whole examination. Good communication between a radiographer and patients is an important factor. The author visited the Pathology department and observed what happens in the department. NHSBSP uses triple approach, known as triple assessment. Having a fine needle aspiration or breast core biopsy is part of the triple assessment. Fine needle aspiration entails placing a very thin needle inside the mass and extracting cells for microscopic evaluation. The samples are then smeared on a microscope slide and allowed to dry in air and fixed by spraying, or immersed in a liquid. The fixed smears are then stained and examined by a pathologist under the microscope. According to Bateman (2006), fine needle aspiration is the fastest and easiest method of breast biopsy, and the results are rapidly available, fine needle aspiration cannot distinguish between in situ and invasive carcinoma. Core biopsies are samples of cells are taken from the lump or area of abnormality using a needle. It can be performed under local anaesthesia in the outpatient setting. The sample will be sent to the Pathology department. The Consultant Pathologist will evaluate the sample. The accurate diagnosis of breast cancer and the pathological assessment of breast cancer tissue are big responsibilities by pathologists working within the field of breast disease. It is very important to distinguish the pathological changes of benign breast disease from those of early and established breast cancer. Once cancer is confirmed, the pathologist is required to provide an evaluation of the pathological features determining prognosis and the requirement for further treatment (Bateman, 2006). The author has realized that diagnosing a breast cancer relies on the pathological assessment of the breast cancer tissues and that the Consultant pathologist plays a very important role in giving the diagnosis accurately and the pathological assessment of the breast cancer tissue. The consultant pathologist is responsible in establishing the pathological assessment of the breast cancer tissue. The author’s opinion is that excellent histological diagnosis plays a very important p art to breast cancer staging and management. Woman diagnosed with breast cancer picked up from breast screening should be under the care of the Multidisciplinary team. There are some factors that they need to be considered on what treatment is best. The consultants will consider the stage and grade of cancer, health, and whether the woman has been through menopause. Different methods define the stage of cancer; the TNM system of staging describes the tumour size, number of affected lymph nodes, and what extent the cancer has spread (breakthrough). When treating cancer, the breast consultant will discuss on what treatment is best for the patient. Before an operation is done, the surgeon will talk to the woman concerned about the best surgery that should take place for the woman’s case. According to the BASO surgical guidelines (2009), surgery should only be performed by a specialist who specialize breast diseases and who performs surgery of at least 30 cases per year The NHS Cancer Plan sets a maximum of one month wait from the date of diagnosis. Women diagnosed with breast cancer are given their first treatment within 2 months of an urgent GP referral or women who came from breast screening. Surgery is often the first treatment for breast cancer to remove cancerous tissues, and to find out if the lymph nodes are affected. Surgery is usually the first line of attack against breast cancer. A range of operations should be available. If the cancer is not too large or diffuse, surgical options include mastectomy and breast conserving surgery. In such cases the choice should be made jointly by the surgeon and the patient, who should be fully informed of all opinions and their potential risks, benefits and implications for further treatment (NICE, 2002). Before the operation, patient will be seen by a member of the breast surgical team for a pre-admission appointment. The patient will stay overnight to prepare her for the operation the next day. Surgical considerations are; wide local excision is the removal of the breast tumor and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it. The breast is left intact with less disfigurement. Sentinel lymph node biopsy involves a tiny incision in the axilla and removing one to four lymph nodes, before having this surgery, radioactive tracer is injected two to twenty-four hours prior to surgery. When patient is already under general anaesthesia, blue dye will then be injected around the areola. Both radioactive tracer and the blue dye will help in identifying the sentinel lymph nodes during the operation, once they are identified the consultant breast surgeon will then remove it and sentinel lymph nodes are sent to the pathology department for analysis. Axillary clearance takes place if the sentinel lymph nodes are affected by cancer the consultant breast surgeon will remove the entire lymph glands in the axilla. If cancer cells are found in the sentinel lymph nodes patients are given another operation in about two weeks time or after the pathology report is available. The second operation involves the removal of further lymph nodes in the axilla. Research shows that 20, 000 women who will undergo sentinel node biopsy will be spared from unnecessary breast cancer surgery each year ( Goyal and Mansel, 2008). According to Professor Mansel, ninety two percent of women who had sentinel node biopsy had a quick recovery and they were able to do their normal activities after three months compared to women who had a conventional operation and also they only stayed one night at the hospital compared to four nights. Under the written breast local guidelines, a woman who has had surgery of the breast should be identified on which adjuvant treatment should be given consideration(BASO,2009.). Adjuvant treatment includes radiation therapy, endocrine therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Radiation therapy is needed to the remaining breast tissues after an operation. It is often used in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy to shrink the size of the tumour before removing it. Radiation therapy to the breast is a localised treatment. The target is directly aimed to the cancer. It uses high-energy rays to stop cancer cells from spreading and growing. It is often used to destroy remaining breast cancer cells in the breast, chest wall, or axilla. The oncologist may suggest treatment in a specific area; it could be the breast alone, axilla and supraclavicular area. The author visited the Radiation Therapy and observedwhat happens in the department. The author observed that for the patient’s first appointment will be a planning session in the planning CT scanner or in a stimulator. This is not formal consultation. The main purpose of this first visit it to plan and arrange the radiation therapy. The author observed a woman for her first appointme nt. The woman’s breast cancer was detected through breast screening. When the woman arrived for her first appointment, the woman was asked for her details and appointment card then she was then told by the receptionist to go to the stimulator. The stimulator is where the planning takes place. This stage helps the consultant oncologist to target the specific area for treatment. Measurements are measured accurately and ink marks are marked on the patient’s skin for the accurate target. This stage helps the consultant oncologist to target the specific area for treatment. After all accurate measurements are recorded the next stage would be treatment. The radiographers are not in the room with the patient although they are equipped with video camera and intercom so they can see and hear the patient in the treatment room at all times. The Radiation therapy team consist of radiographers, physicist and oncologists. The author observed that the unit is very busy and not enoug h staff for a very busy unit. The author asked the radiographer about patient waiting during the visit and the specialist radiographer said that it is quite difficult to judge how long each patient will take and also to get start the radiation therapy process, there is a long wait for appointment for radiation therapy. Patient can get an appointment as long as three months. According to Dr Michael Williams , vice president of the Royal College of Radiologists, in The Telegraph article, he said current waiting times were â€Å"simply not acceptable†. There are shortage of radiographers and radiation therapy units. The author believes that if the government invests and expands the coverage for radiation therapy units in various places in the United Kingdom then waiting time will be reduced and patient anxiety will lessen. The oncology unit provides a wide range of services such as clinical and support services. The breast care team in this unit includes a consultant oncologist, two breast care nurses, clinical oncology assistant, and nursing team. The breast care team work closely together with the radiology department at the local NHS hospital to ensure that patients are given the multidisciplinary approach. Patients with breast cancer are given a holistic service in their battle with breast cancer. There is a 24 hour emergency contact number for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The breast care nurses in this unit are always ready to respond to patients needs and concerns during their treatment. After treatment for breast cancer, women should have a care plan with the GP or a Specialist to detect local recurrence or side effects of any treatment the woman has had. A written care plan should be made for every woman diagnosed with breast cancer. Dates of review for any adjuvant therapy, details of surveillance mammography, and contact details for any urgent referral to a specialist and support services should be in the care plan. Copies are given to the general practitioner and to the woman (NICE, 2009.) Breast care service does not end after having treatment. After treatment, women are given follow ups and are offered yearly mammography. Women who are part of the NHSBSP are given yearly screening for five years and will have the routine screening every three years after that. Conclusion The author has learned and gained a lot of knowledge through this essay. Research and visits to various departments that are part of the pathway through breast care services has been extremely educational and helpful in the author’s profession as a radiographer. The pathway through breast services with the relevant departments work really hard as a team. Each individual who is part of the pathway is very dedicated, committed and has the understanding to women undergoing breast screening and to women fighting with breast cancer. The experience that the author had with all the research and visits is very valuable; it made the author become a better radiographer and has gained the motivation to pursue Post Graduate Award in Mammography. It has given the author to put into practice all the experiences learned from Consultants, nurses and patients during the department visits. As a future mammographer, it has instilled in the author’s mind and heart that high quality standar ds should be carried out at all times, it is vital to follow the quality assurance guidelines for radiographers to be able to give a first class service. NHSBSP was established in 1988. In the last 22 yrs since NHSBSP has started its service for breast screening to women in England, between 50 to 70 years old every three years, over 100,000 women had their breast cancer detected in this programme. The author therefore concludes that the programme is a vital factor in detecting early stage of breast cancer and it definitely does save many lives. The author would like to thank the people behind the NHSBSP for their commitment and effort to make this programme a success, job well done! The author wishes continued success with this programme. From 1988 up to the present, there have been a lot of changes with NHSBSP, like in 2008; the government invested ?100 million in digital mammography equipment throughout the NHS and also the programme will expand its age group between 47- 73 years old in 2012. Therefore, the author concludes that with these changes, a lot of women will benefit more and will be given the best service and with the latest technology there is to offer in the pathway through breast services. Through the years, breast care awareness has increased rapidly with the help of the NHS Breast Screening Programme. â€Å"Be Breast Aware† leaflets from the NHS Cancer screening programme is available and it gives a lot of information on how to be become aware of the changes of the breasts , what normal breasts feels like, and what changes you need to look out for .A lot of women nowadays even men are breast aware with the help NHSBSP campaign. It is essential to be breast aware before it is too late in the detection of any breast diseases. The author agrees with the facts, research, studies and department visits gathered together, the author concludes that having routine breast screening definitely helps in detecting early stage of breast cancer. The author would like to extend a big heartfelt thank you to the breast care team and to all those individuals who have given their time and effort during the authors’ department visits even with their busy tight schedule. The author is very much thankful to the women who had given their time with the author in sharing their bad and good experiences with their treatment journey. The breast services pathway is continually improving and the author concludes that in order to improve the pathway in breast services, it is important thatconsultants, radiographers, breast care nurses, and the rest of the staff who work in the relevant departments in the pathway through the breast services should work hand in hand as a team. Good communication within the team and to the women that belongs in the NHSBSP are key factors to ensure thatgood service is maintained for each individual undergoing breast screening or any examination in relation to breast diseases. References Hawthorn, J. and Redmond, K (1998). Pain: causes and management. Blackwell Sciences Ltd., UK. Breast Cancer Care and Royal College of Nursing (2004). Time to care: maintaining access to breast cancer nurses. [Online]. Available from: http://rcn.org.uk/_data/assets/pdf_file/0008/78641/002494.pdf .[Accessed 18 December 2010] Brown, J. et al. (1996). Mammography screening: an incremental cost effectiveness analysis of double versus single reading of mammograms. March, 312 (7034). [Online]. Available from: http://bmj.com/content/312/7034/809.full. Date accessed: 20 December 2010 NHSBSP (2001). NHSBSP Publication No. 49, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes. [Online]. Available from: http://cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/publications/nhsbsp49-1st.pdf. [accessed: 2 January 2011]. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Guidelines(2009) Early and Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment. The National Collaborating Centre. [Online]. Available from: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG80NICEGuideline.pdf. [Accessed 3 November 2010]. Deane, K A (1997). The Role of the Breast Clinic Nurse. AORN Journal. 66(2): 304-7, pp 304-310. Goyal , A and Mansel, R. (2008). Current opinion in oncology. Recent Advances in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer. November, 20 (6), pp 621-626. Bassett, L and Hendrick R E. (1994). Quality Determinants of Mammography: Clinical Practice Guidelines. AHCPR Publication. 13. pp 23-24. British Association of Cancer Oncology (2009).Surgical Guidelines for the Management of Breast Cancer. Elsevier Publication. [Online]. Availablefrom: http://www.baso.org.uk/Downloads/YEJSO_2782.pdf .[Accessed: 20 January 2011]. NHSBSP, (2008). Breast screening: a pocket guide. Department of Health Publications. [Online]. Available from: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/publications/nhsbsp-pocket-guide-2008.pdf . [Accessed 26 October 2010]. Bateman, A C. (2006). Womens health medicine. Pathology of Breast Cancer. January, 3 (1), pp 18-21. [Online]. Available from: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1744-1870/PIIS1744187006001193.pdf . [Accessed 12 January 2011]. Donnelly, L. (2007). Government pledges to cut radiation therapy wait. The Telegraph. 2 December 2007. [Online]. Available from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571199/Government-pledges-to-cut-radiotherapy-wait.html .[Accessed 27 January 2011]. Does breast screening save lives?. [Online]. Available from: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/save-lives.html . [Accessed 29 October 2010]. Going further on cancer waits: the symptomatic breast two week wait standard (2009). [Online]. Available from: http://ncin.org.uk . [Accessed 24 January 2011]. Healthcare services for breast Cancer (2002). Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [Online]. Available from: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/10887/28766/28766.pdf .[Accessed 3 November 2010]. Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The best treatment. [Online]. Available from: http:// www.breakthrough.org.uk . [Accessed 18 November 2010]. How to cite Critical Study of The NHS breast screening programme, Essay examples

History and Work Culture free essay sample

Limited (TCS) is an Indian software services and consulting company. It is one of the worlds largest providers of information technology and business process outsourcing services. As of 2007, it is Asias largest information technology firm and has the largest number of employees among Indian IT companies with strength of over 116,308 employees in 47 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $5. billion for fiscal year ended 31 March 2008 and is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India. TCS is part of one of Asias largest conglomerates, the Tata Group, which has interests in areas such as energy, telecommunications, financial services, manufacturing, chemicals, engineering and materials. Tata Consultancy Services was established in the year 1968. It began as the Tata Computer Centre, a division of the Tata Group, whose main business was to provide computer services to other group companies. However, the potential of computerization and computer services was realized early on, and an electrical engineer from the Tata Electric Companies, Fakir Chand Kohli, was brought in as the first General Manager. Soon after, the company was named Tata Consultancy Services. Global presence TCS has set up near shore centers in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, regional development centres in Hungary, Uruguay and Brazil and a global development centre in China, in addition to India. In 2006, Tata acquired Chiles Comicrom S.A. , Australias Financial Network Services (Holdings) Pty Ltd, (FNS) and Swedens Indian IT Resources AB (SITAR) through subsidiaries. The Company has set up two subsidiaries, viz. TCS FNS Pty Limited in Australia and Diligenta Limited in the UK. It has also set up other subsidiaries such as Portugal Unipessoal Limitada in Portugal, Tata Consultancy Services Luxembourg S. A. in Luxembourg and Tata Consultancy Service Chile Limited in Chile. The Company has 49 subsidiaries as on March 31, 2006. In March 2006, the Company, through its subsidiary Diligenta Limited acquired, on a going concern basis certain businesses of Pearl Group Services Limited. The acquisition included specified insurance contracts and claim administration business and assets including goodwill and know-how. The Company has entered into a joint venture agreement with the Intelenet Global Services Ltd. For the GM deal, TCS is tying up with EDS to bid for parts of the business. In February, 2007, TCS kicked off a joint venture in China with Microsoft and three Chinese entities TATA Information Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd Key Success Variables , Challenges The different success factors attributed in IT industry are the dollar factor,the economic policies by the government as it is into exporting any changes in the policy will affect the business. Global IT firms have realized the depth of India’s base of knowledge workers and are keen to leverage the country’s cost competitiveness as an integral part of their business strategy while large multi-nationals are using the same talent pool to set up captive units for back-office transactions. To combat this, it will be important for TCS, to continuously move up the customer’s value chain by leveraging its proficiencies in emerging technologies like Radio embedded systems, and through new offering like engineering and industrial Services. The country’s strengths in Information Technology as well as the industry’s adeptness in providing the right solutions at the right time and cost highlights the increasingly important role of Indian companies in providing high-quality services to global corporations at the best possible value through a combination of onsite and off-shore services. IT sourcing has become a part of the business lexicon globally, and an important driver for the Indian economy. And given the value generated for business, this trend will continue to represent a significant growth opportunity for the country, in fields as diverse as banking and financial services to telecom, life sciences and engineering. A combination of value and costs will continue to be key drivers for big corporations to outsource operations to India. Given its wide expertise and long-track record, the industry is well poised to leverage this opportunity. The current competitors of Tata Consultancy Services are Accenture,IBM,Wipro,Siemens IT Solutions and Infosys TCS has proved its ability to compete with global giants like IBM and Accenture by being a joint contractor in the ABN Amro deal, one of the biggest outsourcing deals in Europe worth $ 2. 2bn Through this deal TCS has caught the attention of top InfoTech companies of the world. The growth of the Indian software industry can be attributed to some of the factors unique to Indian system in comparison to MNCs of the developed countries. These factors include availability of cheap labour, favourable dollar to rupee exchange rate, large scale availability of skilled, qualified and well trained manpower backed by organized software industry. Monitoring the measures TCS is trying hard to move up the value chain by expanding service offerings, deepening domain expertise, adding new vertical segments, and broadening its client base. TCS finds it challenging to differentiate with other Indians IT companies as well who are largely alike in service offerings, pricing, workforce quality, skill set, execution delivery, and client servicing. As the size and complexity of the projects increase, TCS will be required to take more risks. For the larger deals it will have to compete with the top global players. The integrated play of hardware and software will be very crucial for success in future as technologies evolve, as will the need for companies to have a solutions mind-set with customer centricity as the prime focus. Sustained value can only be created through continuous R D. This is a requirement for long term success in an increasingly competitive environment. As TCS matures as a global corporation, the R D efforts will increasingly be with a global perspective through alliances with the top academic and research institutes in the world in diverse areas like software engineering, life science and microelectronics. Work Culture, Leadership Style TCS follows a people centric leadership style and it has been very well received by their employees. Under Ramadorais leadership TCS was awarded the CII-Exim Bank Quality Award for 2006. In August 2004, TCS became the worlds first organization to achieve an integrated Enterprise wide Maturity Level 5 on both Capability Maturity model and People Capability Maturity model. Ramadorai firmly believes that learning is a continual process, which does not end with formal education. With this in mind, he has striven to make TCS a learning organisation, conducive to developing ones full potential. TCS enables team leaders, project head to focus their attention on the areas that will make the biggest difference to a teams performance, and provides a vehicle to track their progress along the way. It can also be a useful indicator in predicting the relative performance of teams within a business. Working at TCS provides extraordinary opportunities for growth. It gives you a working environment that allows you to challenge the tried and true, and to collaborate across technologies and continents. A wealth of diversity in culture, training, knowledge, and experience gives employees incredible opportunities to learn it becomes an ongoing learning process and expands the employees horizons. Innovation is one of the pillars on which TCS’s entire business operate. It provides a global peer community. They are committed to bringing their best people to bear on client projects regardless of where they may be located. Hence you get to work with people across continents and organizational functions. The employees in TCS call it an adventure, a thrilling roller coaster ride that combines work and personal life. By working in TCS they have been able to experience diverse fields and environments, and had the

5 Ways to Prove Your Workplace Leadership Skills

5 Ways to Prove Your Workplace Leadership Skills This time of year is pretty blah†¦the holidays are long over, and you’re so far into your new year resolutions that- let’s be honest- you’ve probably lost track of them. It’s time for a jumpstart! One way to get back into your fresh January groove is to start building your leadership skills at work. These strategies can help you set yourself up for success for the rest of the year, even without that lovely new goal scent.1. Steer conversations.This is not to say that you should bully people into a particular outcome, or try to establish a particular point of view. This means stepping up when there’s a group situation, and making sure everyone stays focused on the task at hand. If a meeting seems to be meandering away from its purpose, be the one to say, â€Å"That’s great, but can we clarify how that applies to X?† or â€Å"I think that’s a great point, and we should set up some time to talk more about it after we finish u p here.† This not only keeps your attention where it should be, but it also shows people you’re committed to getting things done.2. Be proactive.Whenever possible, don’t wait for assignments to fall in your lap, or for your boss to tell you the next steps. Try to figure out what the next steps will be. And if they fall within your role, confirm that you’re handling them.If you’re not positive what the next steps are, confirm with your boss that you think X, Y, and Z need to be done- does she agree? Or if it’s clear that a group email conversation is slowly turning into a death spiral of unproductiveness, set up a meeting (with a set agenda) where everyone can call in or get in the same room to hash things out.Notekeeping is a great way to be proactive. In meetings, jot down notes about who was there, what major points were discussed, any open questions that still need to be answered, and whatever the next steps are. Then email them to everyon e who was at the meeting, ideally the same day. It may sound tedious, but it shows everyone that you’re taking the initiative to own the process. And it may save the day when, three days later, everyone’s having the same discussion over email, and you can be the hero who steps in with the reminder of what was already discussed/decided.3. Ask for feedback†¦This isn’t just a give-and-take between boss and employee. You can apply it to your meetings and everyday interactions with colleagues too. If you run a regular meeting, ask the attendees if the format works for them, or if there are any changes they’d like to see. (This can be done discreetly, over email.) Ditto for any workflows or processes that you’re in charge of running. It shows that you’re actively interested in making things better for everyone involved.4. †¦and be prepared to give it.This is an area that calls for your best workplace diplomacy- and it’s not an ope n invitation to criticize people. If you think a process could run more efficiently, and you have an idea of how to do it, pull your coworker aside and ask if he has thought of doing it a different way. It’s very collaborative, and can build your relationships as well. Don’t be afraid to share your (polite and professional, please) opinions!5. Be a single-tasker on big projects.If you have a high-profile task or project, set aside time that’s devoted just to that project. Most of us have jobs that require juggling a number of tasks and projects at once- but for top priorities, make sure you have time built into your schedule when you can concentrate fully on one at a time. No email, no new requests, no meetings.If your concentration is best in the morning, block out an hour or two right when you get in the office. If you have your best ideas late in the day, set a 3 pm â€Å"hunker down† time. The idea is to show commitment to your highest priorities, and develop the confidence to say, â€Å"This is what I’m working on right now† without letting others distract you.Even if you’ve let your workplace goals, uh, lapse a little, don’t sweat it- it happens to everyone at some point. But you don’t have to wait for the end of the year to start fresh. A little stepping up goes a long way, and you can start building your leadership skills ASAP.

Response Essay Topics What to Write about in the Reaction Paper

Response Essay Topics What to Write about in the Reaction Paper Respond essay is basically a reaction on some work of the certain author. This means you are to express your personal attitude, critique and view on the written information. It is mandatory to write certain response essays, as it develops your personal view on different topics, and helps develop your ability to express yourself clearly. If you are able to write a good response essay – you probably can succeed in any objective, as you will be able to express yourself on any paper, using any written from style. To succeed in writing the response essay you have to be able to draw a strict and vivid line between the given and analyzed information and your own attitude towards it. Your point of view and understanding which you present to your reader should be well-grounded. This means that you have to avoid using someone else’s thoughts, or cite them. Otherwise, this may be considered as plagiarism. While writing the introduction you have to open the thesis statement of your response essay. The reader must clearly understand what you are going to discuss. The body of the response essay includes the analyzed information written by some certain author and your own response and thoughts on the analyzed information. Some answers should be given to make the effect of the dialog, so that the reader would feel comfortable. Remember that choosing one or several concrete aspects will make your response essay more full and interesting, than choosing lots, which would make your arguments specious. In the conclusion of your response essay you are to present evidences which state your thoughts and opinions and make them true. The reader should feel informed about them. The topic of the response essay should be chosen by your personal interests, but close to the topics discussed in classes, so that both of the sides were satisfied and interested in. The range of the response essay topics is very wide. Some examples of response essay topics can be: -Street racing: drug or sport? -Young mothers -Reading between the lines -Responsibility of the teenagers -World Wide Web or books? -Human resource management If you need an original response essay, term paper, research paper on any topic, you can get professional academic writing help from our company.

History and Political Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

History and Political Science - Essay Example There were many factors at the end of the 19th century that saw a shift towards American Imperialism. Kennedy Cohen-Bailey in his book, The American Pageant outlines the period and covers the various aspects that led to the Great War of 1914 and America’s involvement. This article reviews the book under the following subheadings: The Spanish American war and the aftermath. The legacy of President Roosevelt and the effect of his presidency on America A comparison of the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Taft and Wilson and who was the best among the three? The end of World War I and the decisive factors that lead to the end The Spanish American war and the Aftermath The US had for the most part of the 19th century strictly adhered to its non-colonization policies and even at the onset only acquired contiguous territories. Most of it was brought about by the need to expand the trade borders of the American people. America was linked in many ways to Cuba than just at the time of the war. Cuba was one of the major producers of sugar and major suppliers to the USA. The Wilson-Gorman tariff imposed on Cuba by America to protect the sugar growers in America invariably raised the price of sugar and the Cuban economy suffered as a result. The misrule by the Spanish of its colony in Cuba created a lot of unrest. The Cubans fought the 10year battle of independence from 1868 to 1878 and tried to drive the Spanish away by destruction of property including cane fields and blowing up of passenger trains. The situation peaked when Spain sent tyrant General Wyeley in 1895 to Cuba. Wyeley took it upon himself to crush the rebellion and opened up re-concentration camps, imprisoned and isolated the Cuban revolutionaries from the Filipino revolutionaries in their war of independence. Many perished and â€Å"died like dogs† (Bailey, 629). from unsanitary conditions in the camps. The American people rose against this atrocities to the Cubans and wanted war but the then president Grover Cleveland was against it and even motioned to strike against congress if they were to declare war against Spain and send troops to Cuba. This resolve however did not last very long as there were many other factors at stake than America was unwilling to admit to at that time. US also had a stake in the war because it was not really comfortable with having a European colony that close to its own borders. The unrest in Cuba was straining US trade relations in the region and threatening US investments in Cuba. There was also fear that its access to Panama would affect future sea trade routes. The anti-colonisation policies of the US went a long way in selling the concept of a free Cuba to the Americans. What cinched the deal however was the journalistic trend of the time, which focused more on justifying the concept of war. There started a spate of graphic imagery and reports of atrocities adding fuel to the situation and feeding the insatiable hunger of yellow journali sm. Eventually Wyeley was removed from his position and sent back home. In February 1988, the USS Maine, which was on a friendly mission to take Americans in Cuba to safety, blew up in the Havana harbour with the loss of 260 American lives. The cause for the explosion still remains unknown. Reports have even said that the blow up was due to mechanical failure and not a case of sabotage. But sensationalised news articles blamed the Spaniards for it and the fate of history was sealed, War had begun. President Mc Kinley forced by circumstances and party loyalty consented and under Theodore Roosevelt’s command of the military, the American’s over threw the Spanish from Tampa, Florida and gave armistice to the Cubans in August 12, 1898. The war was a forgone conclusion although not evident. Spain’

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIMES RATES AND GUN OWNERSHIP IN SAUDI Research Paper

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIMES RATES AND GUN OWNERSHIP IN SAUDI ARABIA - Research Paper Example udi Arabia is the reserves of Oil that the country possesses in a huge quantity, being the world’s second largest country in terms of reserves of oil. Saudi Arabia is a country that does not have a separate code of law because it follows the Islamic Shariah laws which are the strict code of conduct being followed in the country. Saudi Arab basically lies in a desert zone, covering about 80% of the Arabian Peninsula (Abir 1993) The culture of Saudi Arabia is strictly Islamic where there is a large majority of Muslims. Everyone is bound to pray 5 times a day, even forcefully if found on streets near mosques not praying. Non Islamic practices such as consumption of Alcohol are strictly forbidden and it is compulsory for women to wear ‘burqa/hijaab’ while they are not at homes. It is a regular practice for men to marry multiple times, more than twice and men are generally more dominant in Saudi Arabia. Capital punishment in Saudi Arabia is frequently observed and a few years back from now, it was quite famous that during prayer times, when all the shops in streets are open while people say their prayers, nobody dares to get involved in theft. In recent years however, the crime rate has increased in the country, the reasons for which will be observed later. Punishments such as amputation, beheading, lashing and death are imposed by courts of Saudi Arabia depending on crimes including murder, theft , rape, robbery or adultery. Saudi Arabia faces many social issues such as corruption, unemployment and extremism. The confusion lies in the fact that Saudi Arabia wants to become a modern country but does not want to leave its traditional Islamic culture and practices at the same time. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is also accused of financing terrorist operations throughout the world in the name of Jihad (Sacrifice for saving Islam and for God). Moreover, the National Society for Human Rights which is a human rights organization operating in and funded by Saudi Arabia

Participation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Participation - Essay Example What happens when a patient is in a vegetative state-- a state of coma as called in medical terminology? What is the significance of such life in its true sense? How many years the patient is likely to survive in such vegetative state? And many such issues can be discussed threadbare without bringing any personal opinion. It will be appropriate to quote some of the renowned authors, social reformists or medical experts to substantiate the arguments proposed. Only relevant quotes should be incorporated to highlight and strengthen the arguments. In-text citation is a must for the veracity of the arguments made in the essay. It should always be kept in mind that essay revolves around the thesis statement and the essay does not deviate from the main topic. (How to Write†¦) No easy is complete unless it takes into account diverse and opposite views. A full paragraph should be devoted in highlighting the diverse views on the subject. For example, in the topic of Euthanasia, misuse is a biggest apprehension in the minds of people. What are the remedial measures that can be devised to counter this threat? What legal formalities should be in place? What kind of people or committee should have been in charge to grant the euthanasia? Concluding paragraph summarizes main arguments already presented and reinforces the thesis statement from the arguments made. One can also discuss why paper topic is significant. Based on the above general outlines, any essay can be formulated logically in a concise and effective

High Stakes Test In Trinidad And Tobago

High Stakes Test In Trinidad And Tobago High stakes tests are defined as those tests that carry serious consequences for students or educators. The consequences from standardized achievement tests range from grade retention for school children to rewards or punitive measures for schools and school districts. The nature of standardized achievement tests used in these situations poses validity problems for the decisions. Numerous unintended negative consequences for students, teachers, curriculum, and schools have been identified. (Ohio Journal of Science) High-stakes are not a characteristic of the test itself, but rather of the consequences placed on the outcome. For instance, no matter what test is used whether it is a written multiple choice, oral examination, performance test a student wanting a medical license must pass the medical licensing test to practice medicine. The acuity of the stakes may vary. For instance, college students who wish to omit an introductory-level course are often given exams to see whether they have already mastered the material and move to the next level. By passing the exam they can attain credits that can reduce tuition expenses and time spent at  university. A student who is anxious to have these benefits may consider the test to be a high-stakes exam. Another student, who places no importance on the outcome, so long as he is placed in a class that is appropriate to his skill level, may consider the same exam to be a low-stakes test. To further concretize the idea what high stakes testing really is one can examine the phrase high stakes. High stakes is derived directly from a  gambling  term. In gambling, a  stake  is referred to the quantity of money or goods that is risked on the outcome of some specific event. A high-stakes game is one in which, in the players individual opinion, a large quantity of money is being risked. The term is meant to imply that executing such a system introduces indecision and potential losses for test takers, who must pass the exam to win, instead of being able to obtain the goal through other means. High Stakes Test in Trinidad and Tobago In Trinidad and Tobago, in the early 1960s the high stakes test of Common Entrance Examination was introduced and served to replace the College Exhibition. It was intended that it would be the only tool of qualification for secondary education in this country. It was not intended to be a pass or fail examination and the number of awards depended on the number of secondary school places available at the time. This examination, for all intent and purposes, was a multiple-choice examination. The multiple choice tests were in English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science with the exception of the Composition aspect of the examination. Students were then placed into secondary schools on the basis of their order of merit and their parents choice of school. The Common Entrance Examination system had its drawbacks. Many critics stated that anxiety, depression, pains, fever, delirious behaviour and severe panic attacks were some of the effects the Common Entrance Examination had on students. These and many other reasons led to the failure of this system and it was because of this failure that a Task Force chaired by Mr. Clive Pantin, and which included Dr. Anna Mahase, Dr. Janet Stanely-Marcano, Mr. Anthony Garcia among others, was set up to look at the removal of this Examination. The Task Force in its findings found that anxiety and stress remained an attribute of the Common Entrance Examination and those immediately concerned with it. It also highlighted the sense of unworthiness and disappointment which became a characteristic of not only those who failed to gain a place, but also of those who were successful but failed to gain admission to the school of their choice. It further stated that due to the importance of the examination and due to a lack of acceptable alternatives to public secondary education the examination began to exert an inordinate influence on the primary school, the curriculum and teaching practices. Teachers were often very restricted to that subject which would be tested at the examination. It was found that students, even those who performed well in the examination, entered secondary school without the necessary basic preparation for secondary school work. It found that nearly fifty percent (50%) of the students who wrote the Common Entrance Examination appeared to be semi literate and innumerate. The Task Force recommended, among other things, that there was need to develop a Secondary Entrance Examination which would test the students level of competence in the key areas of English, Mathematics and Written Composition. It stated that this needed be done in a manner which would indicate readiness of the secondary education programme. Additionally, it stated that Science and Social Studies should be omitted because of the unwarranted influence they had on the final result in the Common Entrance Examination placement of students and because they were unsatisfactorily tested. It also recommended that a Continuous Assessment Programme (CAP) should become an integral part of the School System. The Continuous Assessment Programme was to be used to determine the students readiness for promotion. The Secondary Entrance Assessment, a system of education which prepared the child for entry into a secondary school and included mechanisms to determine when the child was ready and where he or she would be placed, was the major aims of that new system of education. According the Universal Secondary Education Project Implementation Unit December 28th 1999, the implementation of the Secondary Entrance Assessment would provide a link between separate elements of the Universal Secondary Education in Trinidad and Tobago. Secondary Entrance Examination would assess students readiness for secondary schools by testing their skills in Language, Mathematics and Problem-solving and covers the national curriculum for Primary-level education with a focus on Standards three-five. Students who are in Standard five and have not yet attained the age of 15 are eligible to write the SEA. It alluded to the fact that there would be no multiple-choice questions, a feature of the Common Entrance Examinati on. Furthermore, it stated that placement in the secondary schools would be based on marks scored on the exam; the available of places in their school of choice, availability of secondary places in their education division and taking into account the 20 percent (20%) provision granted to denominational school under the Concordat. Interviews and results Interview Schedule for High Stakes Test Research Paper Two week schedule Tasks Activity Time Frame Duration 1. Sensitization of teacher, parent and students 1. Meeting to set the purpose for forthcoming interview March 2nd 2010 One hour 2. Development of questionnaires 1. Questionnaires will be formulated by interview personnel March 3rd and 4th 2010 Two days 3. Set up appointments for interviews 1. Interview personnel set up appointment with stakeholders for interviews. March 5th 2010 One day 4. Interview with teacher 1. Interview personnel interviews teacher on a one on one basis using questionnaire March 8th 2010 One hour 5. Interview with parent 1. Interview personnel has a one on one interview with parent March 9th 2010 One hour 6. Interview with three students 1. Interview personnel has a one on one interview with students at different times. March 10th 2010 Three hours 7. Analyze and synthesize data 1. Interview personnel analyzes and synthesizes data collected March 11th and 12th 2010 Two daysTeachers Perception of the High Stake Test. The teacher I interviewed has been teaching the Standard Five class for the past fifteen years. Upon receiving his new class he does a standard diagnostic test to measure the level of readiness of his students. He is faced with many challenges namely lack of resources, varying abilities of students, improper infrastructure, limited parental support, overcrowding and most importantly the high demand of workload to completed before the SEA examination. He uses his initiative to alleviate some of these challenges for instance creating his own resources, schedule parent conferences, plan and execute lessons using various teaching strategies to meet the needs of his students. To complete his program of work before the examination he sacrifices personal time during the vacation and on Saturdays and sometimes on afternoons after school to conduct classes for slower learners. In his opinion a multiple choice test which was the main form of testing in the Common Entrance examination does not truly reflect the abilities of students. He feels that children need to express themselves and think critically when dealing with problems. Hence the SEA examination is the better choice for the high stake testing in Trinidad and Tobago. Examination in its many forms poses some level of anxiety among students, teachers and parents and the fact remains that the coping mechanism for this is all the individuals responsibility. He is of the opinion that the SEA examination is an appropriate assessment tool to measure students performance in our rapidly changing society. There are many advantages and disadvantages to high stakes testing and more so the SEA examination. This teacher believes that this form of assessment will assist all students to learn more by demanding higher student proficiency and providing effective methods to help students achieve high standards; provide parents, schools, and communities with an unprecedented opportunity to debate and reach agreement on what students should know and be able to do; focus the education system on understandable, objective, measurable, and well-defined goals to enable schools to work smarter and more productively; reinforce the best teaching and educational practices already found in classrooms and make them the norm; and provide real accountability by focusing squarely on results and helping the public and local and state educators evaluate which programs work best. He also believes that there are many shortcomings with respect to high stakes testing. These include the careless implementation of programmes of work that may not meet the varying abilities of students which may result in negative consequences. Sacrifice, diligence, determination are the key for the successful completion of any examination was the closing comments by this standard teacher. Parents Perception There is a high level of anxiety for this parent by having a child in the Standard five class. She feels that this examination is heavily weighted and causes a lot of stress related incidents at home and school for parents and children as well. Being a housewife, she has sufficient time to assist her child with his preparation for the test. She feels that the child has to do this examination whether it is fair or not because this is the norm in this country. This parent is of the opinion that SEA is less demanding than the common entrance examination because the emphasis is on mathematics and language arts areas and there is no longer the science and social studies component. She believes that SEA is the best means of measuring her childs performance. Time management and lack of knowledge of content are some of the challenges that this parent encounters when trying to assist her child. She seeks assistance from other parents and the teacher when uncertainty arises in assisting her child. Motivation is a key factor in the success of her child. She believes that if the child is motivated he will do well. She tries to emulate her parents as she was also motivated to do her best. She is quite confident that her child will succeed in the SEA examination because of the teachers competences, her support and most importantly the childs effort. As a parent she feels that she did her best in preparing her child for this high stakes test. Childrens Perception The three students aspire to successfully acquire their first choice in the high stakes test and plan to work diligently towards achieving this goal. They believe that the SEA examination is one of the most important one that they will have to write. They feel they do not have enough time to prepare and it is a lot of sacrifice and hard work. They all believe that their teacher is the best and they will definitely succeed. They have been doing many past papers and attending extra classes. With the exception of one child, they feel that their parents provide ample support for them. All three students have the confidence that they are prepared for the SEA examination and they will secure their first choice. Common themes All stakeholders believe that the SEA examination is an appropriate assessment tool to measure students performance Sacrifice, hard work, dedication and commitment are crucial for successful attainment in the SEA examination. Stress and anxiety affects everyone in any examination. Support from all stakeholders are essential components in the preparation for high stakes test. Teacher competency is a key factor in the success of any student. Conclusion High stakes in its entirety is relevant in Trinidad and Tobago. It serves as the medium from the primary level to the secondary level. Much emphasis is placed on this test and it is the stepping stone for advance studies and is crucial to attainment of certificates and diplomas that will secure a good job. While there may be shortcomings in the implementation of programmes of work which may not meet the varying abilities of students can result in negative consequences. However, in preparing for high stakes test students will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. It allows students to achieve higher standards. With respect to schools, it promotes well define goals which will lead to more productivity and provide real accountability. The Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) in Trinidad and Tobago is the high stake test that assesses students readiness for secondary schools by testing their skills in Language, Mathematics and Problem-solving. Appendix 1 Teacher Questionnaire How long have been teaching a standard five class? On receiving a new class of students, how do you diagnose the level of your students readiness? What are some challenges you face in teaching a standard five class? What are some strategies you used to overcome these challenges? What is your opinion of the removal of the common entrance examination and the implementation of the SEA examination? Do you think the level of anxiety of students is the same with to the shift from the common entrance examination to the SEA examination? Is the SEA examination an appropriate assessment tool to measure students performance? What do you think is the advantages of this assessment tool? What are the disadvantages of this assessment instrument? What recommendation can you give to alleviate the pressures of this exam? Appendix 2 Parent Questionnaire How do you feel as a parent having a child in an SEA class? Do you spend sufficient time assisting your child in his school work? Do you think it is fair to your child for this examination to be the determining factor of his placement in a secondary school? What is your opinion the removal of the Common entrance examination and the implementation of the SEA examination? Do you think it is an appropriate assessment tool to measure your childs abilities? What are some challenges you face as a parent with a child in a SEA class? How do you cope with the challenges faced? Do you think motivation is necessary to alleviate some of the stress that your child faces? Why? Do you think your child is capable of successfully completing the SEA examination? Why? Do you feel that you have fulfilled your duty as a parent in preparing your child for the examination? Appendix 3 Student Questionnaire What are your aspirations upon entering in SEA class? What are your opinions with respect to the upcoming SEA examination? What are some of the challenges you are facing in preparing for the exam? Do you think your teacher is competent in preparing you for this examination? What have you been doing to prepare for the examination? How are your parents supporting you in the preparation for the examination? Do you feel you are ready for the examination? What do you think the outcome of the exam will be?

What is an Inteferometer :: physics light optics

A Michelson Interferometer is a device used to measure the speed of light in precise optical measurements. It does this by splitting light into two or more beams that recombine and interfere with each other causing the interference fringes. The interferometer basically consists of a light source, a beamsplitter, and two (or more) mirrors to reflect the light. The interference pattern for a Michelson interferometer is circular-- that is, it produces concentric circles of light and dark "fringes". When one mirror on the interferometer is moving, the path difference between the two split beams of light changes, and the interference pattern is seen Interference is a phenomenon that occurs when two photons of light interact with each other in such a way that their waves sum to either increase or decrease their total amplitude. Complete constructive interference occurs when two electromagnetic waves are of the same frequency and in phase; destructive interference occurs when two electromagnetic waves of the same frequency have a phase difference of one-half wavelength. When complete destructive interference occurs, no light can be detected. Similarly, complete constructive interference results in intensity quadrupling (intensity is proportional to the square of amplitude). The following picture demonstrates these effects. Originally, the inventors of the interferometer produced it to measure the speed of light so they could determine the existence of ether. Since then it has been important in measuring the wavelengths of light, using the wavelengths of light to measure very small distances (up to 0.5 microns), to measure extremely small times (up to 1x10-15 seconds), and to study optical media. Albert A. Michelson (1852-1931) The Michelson interferometer was invented by American Physicist Albert A. Michelson in 1887. Michelson was born in Strzelno (Poland) in 1852 and moved to American in 1855. When he was 17, he joined the United States Naval Academy in Anapolis, Maryland where he excelled in science subjects. Michelson later became a science instructor at the academy, but moved on to become a professor of physics at several universities. During the years of 1923-1927, he was president of the National Academy of Sciences. In 1907, he was the first American to be awarded the Physics Nobel Prize for his many efforts in optics. Michelson began experimenting with the interferometer in April of 1887. He came up with a system of mirrors and semi-transparent mirrors (or beamsplitters) for merging separated beams of light, which are coming from the same source. The system was set up so that the beam of light was split in two, sending each split perpendicular to each other, and then merging back so they â€Å"interfered† with each other.