Data Protection Act (Malta) Essays

Data Protection Act (Malta) Essays Data Protection Act (Malta) Essay Data Protection Act (Malta) Essay The Data Protection Act (UK – 1998, Malta – 2001): The DPA concerns the â€Å"collection, recording, organization, storage, adaptation, alteration, retrieval, gathering, use, disclosure, blocking, erasure or destruction of personal data†. The purpose of the Data Protection Act: a. The purpose of the DPA is to protect living individuals against the misuse of their personal data. Examples of such misuse could include exposing of personal data without obtaining prior permission from the data subject, holding incorrect and possibly damaging personal information and unauthorised alteration of personal data. b. A secondary objective for the introduction of the DPA was to decrease public concerns over the level of confidentiality of their data held at various organisations. Personal Data Sensitive Personal Data: This act defines Personal Data as any information relating to an identified or identifiable (both directly such as through an ID number as well as indirectly) natural person. Data Subjects† are the natural persons (i. e. not companies) to whom the personal data relates. The Act also distinguishes Sensitive Personal Data, which refers to personal data that reveals race or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union, health or sex life, and such data is subject to stricter rules. The 8 Principles of the Data Protection Act which Data Users must comply with: 1. Fair and Lawful Processing: Personal Data shall be processed fairly and lawfully, as long as the data subject has given his permission for the use of the data and he/she has been informed of any other organizations which will use the information and the purpose of such use. In the special case of Sensitive Personal Data, the general rule is that this type of personal data cannot be processed but the law provides for a number of exceptions, such as: * Clear permission by data subject. * The data subject himself made the data public. Compliance with employment law (eg. Sick leave records). * Non-commercial organisations with political, philosophical, religious or trade union objects. * For health hospital care reasons by a medical professional subject to an obligation of professional secrecy. * For research statistics provided this is necessary for the public interest. 2. Use in conformity with purpose of collection: The Act states that the data is to be processed only for purposes compatible with the reason fo r which it was collected. This implies that when an organization intends to sell information to other organizations, data subjects must be informed and the situation explained and they must at least be given an opportunity to opt out. 3. Adequacy of Data: Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which it is processed. E. g. eye colour is not required to apply for college. 4. Correctness of Data: Data controllers are to take reasonable measures to ensure that the data they process is correct and up to date. E. g. end statements asking if any data or information has changed. 5. Duration: Personal data processed for any purpose shall not be kept longer than is necessary for that purpose. E. g. banks keep personal data about customers for 5 years after closing the accounts. 6. Rights of the Data Subject: Personal Data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of the data subject which the Act stipulates. For example; s include processing for tax ation purposes and criminal investigations. -Rectification And Erasure: The Data subject may also demand the correction or erasure of Personal Data not processed according to the Act. The Controller is obliged to inform third parties to whom the Personal Data has been disclosed when such measures are taken. -Right To Compensation: The data subject has the right to sue for damages due to inaccuracies in data, loss or unauthorised disclosure of data. 7. Security Measures The controller is obliged to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the personal data that is processed against accidental destruction or loss or unlawful forms of processing. Appropriate – â€Å"skond iz-zmien† Technical – E. g. : Firewalls, Anti-virus, Encryption, Mirroring, Backups. Organisational – Policies, authorisation, regulations. 8. Prohibition of Transfer of Data Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the EU, unless that country ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data. Essential Criteria for Processing: 1. Consent: Must be freely given, specific and informed. 2. Necessity: E. g. Personal data can be processed without the necessity of consent for the purpose of complying with a contract of employment. . Compliance with a legal obligation of the Controller (E. g. for Social security, Income Tax, etc ) 4. Protection of the vital interests of the Data Subject:E. g. Disclosure of medical history to a hospital treating a casualty. 5. In the public interest. 6. In the exercise of official authority or administration of justice. In some cases, the Act allows for revocation of consent – the right for the data subject to ask t he data controller to erase personal data when not required anymore. Notification: Controllers are obliged to notify the Data Protection Commissioner of processing operations and to give information about those operations as specified in the Act. Information includes purpose of processing, description of categories of Data subjects, disclosure, transfer abroad and security measures. Data Protection Commissioner: He is appointed by the Prime Minister after consultation with Leader of the Opposition. He acts independently as a Regulator, has security of tenure/term, has a right to issue orders, to access processed data, to order erasure, the power of search and to impose administrative fines.

Comparative Forms of Adjectives

Comparative Forms of Adjectives Comparative Forms of Adjectives Comparative Forms of Adjectives By Maeve Maddox Adjectives have inflections. That is, adjectives change in spelling according to how they are used in a sentence. Adjectives have three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. The simplest form of the adjective is its positive form. When two objects or persons are being compared, the comparative form of the adjective is used. When three or more things are being compared, we use the adjectives superlative form. A few adjectives, like good and bad form their comparatives with different words: That is a good book. This is a better book. Which of the three is the best book? He made a bad choice. She made a worse choice. They made the worst choice of all. The comparative forms of most adjectives, however, are formed by adding the suffixes er and est, or by placing the words more and most in front of the positive form. RULES FOR FORMING COMPARATIVES: 1. One syllable words form the comparative by adding -er and -est: brave, braver, bravest small, smaller, smallest dark, darker, darkest. 2. Two-syllable words that end in -y, -le, and -er form the comparative by adding -er and -est: pretty, prettier, prettiest happy, happier, happiest noble, nobler, noblest clever, cleverer, cleverest 3. Words of more than two syllables form the comparative with more and most: beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful. resonant, more resonant, most resonant 4. Past participles used as adjectives form the comparative with more and most: crooked, broken, damaged, defeated, etc. 5. Predicate adjectives (adjectives used to describe the subject of a sentence) form the comparative with more and most: afraid, mute, certain, alone, silent, etc. Ex. She is afraid. He is more afraid. They are the most afraid of them all. So far, so good, but when it comes to two-syllable words other than the ones covered by Rule 2, the writer must consider custom and ease of pronunciation. Usually, two syllable words that have the accent on the first syllable form the comparative by adding er and est. Ex. common, cruel, pleasant, quiet. BUT tasteless, more tasteless, most tasteless. Some two-syllable words that have the accent on the second syllable form the comparative by adding er and est: polite, profound, BUT: bizarre, more bizarre, most bizarre. The rules given above should prevent abominations like more pretty or beautifuler. When in doubt, look up the preferred inflected forms in the dictionary. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Precedent vs. Precedence50 Words with Alternative Spellings

Coastal Erosion on Essex Coast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Coastal Erosion on Essex Coast - Essay Example Expenditure on coasts has risen to protect the coast from further depletion as well as shielding nearby residences from flooding. People have tried for many years to control erosion by the abrasive forces of the ocean. In the following paragraphs, I will depict some of the reasons for the erosion of international coastlines. Then, find will analyze the types of sea defences that can protect coastlines. Then we will evaluate which sea defence is will aid Clacton on Essex coast. Coastal erosion is the local loss of coastal landmass due to natural processes such as waves, winds and tides, or even due to human interference. There are many reasons why there is an erosion happens on coastland. A simpler reason is because the pounding of waves that affect the shoreline daily (i.e. High tide and low tide.) The natural causes such as storms, hurricanes, instanteous surges toward the shore can change the form of the shore. Large storm-generated waves often cause coastal erosion, which may take the form of long-term losses of sediment and rocks, or merely in the temporary redistribution of coastal sediments. Erosion in one location may result in accretion nearby. On rocky coasts, coastal erosion can result in dramatic rock formations in areas where the coastline contains stones with a plethora of resistances to erosion. The softer areas of a beach will be eroded much faster than the harder ones, which can result in typical structural land masses such as tunnels, bri dges, columns, and pillars. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_erosion) Some insinuate the temperature change of the climate due to global warming may contribute to erosion. As the planet's temperature rises, the ice caps in the north and south begin to melt and results in higher sea levels. The increased in temperature is do to emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The planetary climate system varies through natural, internal processes and in response to variations in external factors including solar radiation, volcanic emissions, and human proliferated greenhouse gases. The detailed causes of the recent warming remain an active field of research, but the scientific studies insists that increased levels of greenhouse gases due to human activity as the main component. This attribution is clearest for the most recent fifty years, for which the most detailed data are available. Contrasting with this view, other hypotheses have been proposed to explain some of the observe d increase in global temperatures, including: the warming is within the range of natural variation; the warming is a consequence of coming out of a prior cool period, namely the Little Ice Age; or the warming is primarily a result of variances in solar radiation, higher sea levels will strengthen the displacement of sediments and can affect coastal habitats. In addition, droughts can cause vegetation to die. When the vegetation dies, the land is loose because the roots no longer can hold together the ground because it is decaying. Therefore, coastal erosion can easily uproot and erode the dry land mass. Furthermore, flooding has been for centuries a major problem for residents residing near shores. Not only does water destroy property or sacrosanct materials, but it can decapitate homes and threaten life. Coastal erosion affects homes, tourism, and businesses. When many settle in a coastal area, they begin building homes. Then, if that area has a tourist attraction,

Public law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public law - Essay Example This right represents entitlements of an individual or groups visa-vis the government, in addition to responsibilities of an individual and authorities in the government. These kinds of rights are ascribed naturally (Bernan, 2008). Usually, these rights are advanced as legal rights in most constitutions and are secured by the rule of law. The right to protest however in the United Kingdom’s constitution is separate from and prior to law, and is used as a basis for formulating or criticizing both local and international law (Bernan, 2008). Even though various basic rights like the right to protest in the streets should be provided with sufficient protection under any circumstances since there is provision of this. This is provided for in international human rights records like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights among others. However, whatever this merits in collaboration with the other UK constitutional arrangement aspects, flexibility has been proven to b e problematic where the fundamental individual liberties are concerned. The imprecision attending flexibility in the UK constitution has left its citizens uncertain regarding the disposition and limitations of the rights they have and regarding their relationship with state institutions. In short, rights such us the right to protest in the United Kingdom constitution are residual in that they exist to the extent that statutory or common law rules have not restricted them (Bernan, 2008). 2. The rights protected by The European Convention of Human Rights. This convention clearly postulates several freedoms and rights such us the right to life, prohibition of torture, prohibition of slavery and forced labor, right to liberty and security, right to an impartial trial, no punishment without law, right to respect for private and family life, freedom of belief, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, right to marry, right to an effective remedy and prohibition of discri mination. Parties undertook to ensure that these rights and freedoms are equally secured to everyone within their jurisdiction. International enforcement machinery is also established by the convention. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg was set up to make certain that the observances of the engagements are undertaken by the parties also dealing with individual and inter-state petitions. The Court has the mandate to give advisory opinions pertaining to the interpretation of the conventions and the protocols thereto as requested by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (Delmas-Marty, 1992). The control machinery which was set up by the convention has undergone some restructuring as a result of the entry into force of Protocol No. 11 to the convention on 1st November, 1998. Following this, all suspected violations of human rights are directly referred to the court. Usually, during the cases, the Court sits in Chambers of seven judges. It determines the acce ptability and merits of submissions and undertakes an investigation if necessary. With a view to safeguarding a friendly settlement of the matter based on respect for human rights as stipulated in the Convention and the protocols thereto, the Court will also put itself at the disposal of the parties. Court hearings are public unless the Court decides otherwise in situations of circumstances regarded as exceptional (Delmas-Marty, 1992). 3. The human rights act 1998 and the way in which the rights protecte

Criminal Justice Essay Example for Free

Criminal Justice Essay In today’s society crime is increasing every day and the types of crime are changing. It seems more and more that crimes of identity theft and organized crime are on the rise. According to the CJi Interactive Media crime is defined as â€Å" conduct in violation of the criminal laws of the state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction, for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. † That means that â€Å" crime â€Å" depends on where you are. The same behavior may or may not be a crime depending on the state of the actor, time of day, the year, the location of the act, or even the reasons behind the behavior. The government structure applies to the criminal justice system when that a crime only becomes an issue when violating social norms, sanctions, or rights. Law can be defined as a set of regulations determined by a group of people who decide what is right and what is wrong. When these regulations are broken, it creates a crime. Society sees criminal justice as an officer making an arrest or patrolling the streets. Society does not realize that the criminal justice system has a government type structure, has goals, and is made up of three components. These components include the Police, Courts, and the Correction system. Each one of these components has its own function and purpose. The police enforce the law, arrest offenders, decrease and prevent crimes, maintain public order, ensure safety of the public and to protect their rights. The courts conduct fair and impartial trials, decide criminal cases, ensure due process, determine guilt or innocence through jury of peers, uphold the law, and to protect the rights of anyone facing trial by the system. The corrections carry out sentencing imposed by the courts, provide safe and humane custody of offenders, rehabilitate, reform, reinstate offenders back into the community. There are several different choice theories in regards to crime. One theory is the rational cause theory. This theory was developed by Cesare Becarria and is considered the classical school of thought and labels criminals as deviants. It explains how an offender will commit a crime for his or her own benefit or personal gain. The individual knows the act is criminal but the reward outweighs the consequence. Another theory is Sociological Positivism, this theory studies the relationships between public influences and crime. This theory is fueled by a study of social structures within an offender’s environment. Biological Positivism is another theory developed by Cesare Lombroso in the late 1800s and studies the change and physical differences between criminals and non-criminals, saying that some people are born as criminals. One more theory is the Psychological Positivism which introduces that the cause of crimes is rooted in the offender’s mental health stability or in personality disorders. For example, schizophrenia, bi-polar disease, psychopathic personality, and depression to name a few. This theory the individual who may or may not know what reality is. The offender may have a chemical imbalance that does not allow them to know right from wrong and the cause of the crime may be from inside and unavoidable versus a controlled decision. Society sees these views and have studied and applied them still today, but society uses to common models to determine which acts are criminal. One model is called the consensus model. This model is based on a wide variety of people who come together and decide based on their beliefs. There is also the conflict model, it argues that businesses or people of the criminal justice system work against or compete with each other for own personal recognition or glorification to produce and ensure justice. There are many goals of the criminal justice system of today. One goal is community safety, the system is responsible for safety and our children should be able to play outside without fear and families should be able to take evening walks. All citizens pay taxes to law enforcement personnel and view safe communities as a right. Another goal is victim restoration, if the offender is responsible to pay restitution then it will be paid directly to the courts. Then the courts will forward it to the victim. The victims also have the right to speak at the sentencing and may also speak with the probation officer to provide input and request information. The criminal justice system also wants to rehabilitate offenders and reintegrate them back into the community, whether it be on probation or the sentence has been fulfilled. Community supervision can monitor all criminals while helping them to becoming productive members of society. Some people consider the criminal justice as not a system at all. According to the KY government, â€Å"the criminal justice system is an array of agencies and organizations funded and controlled by various governmental and non-governmental entities. † This means that each agency or jurisdiction has its own responsibilities, priorities, and roles to perform and fulfill. The system has other non-government agencies and services that help prevent crime and to make the communities safe. A true system would be that all agencies collaborate together effectively, work together efficiently, and coordinate plans to help reduce crime as a team. Instead, the agencies work separately for personal gain and benefit. You have agencies that trump each other for jurisdiction rights and power. In a perfect system these problems would not exist and I think crime as whole would be a fraction of what it is today.

The Jungle :: Upton Sinclair

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Upton Sinclair's The novel is set in Chicago in the area which hosts the largest slaughtering and meat packaging industry. Two young immigrants, Jurgis Rudkus and Ona Lukoszaite, from Lithuania come to the US in search of a better life. Jurgis Rudkus is a young man who believes that with hard work and along with desire that he may be able to support his one love Ona. He comes to the US in hopes of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Ona Lukoszaite, she is a young and timid lady that comes to the country along with her husband not knowing what to expect and not prepare for the harsh life here in this country during the industrial time. They two young immigrants Jurgis and Ona celebrate their marriage in a traditional peasant lifestyle. The couple is part of a large family that has the hopes of going to America for a better life. Jurgis here in this country begins to work hard and quickly realizes that no matter how hard and long he works he cannot earn enough to support his entire family. Soon after the whole family realizes in order to support themselves they must all begin to work. They buy a house which was sold them by an agent who takes advantage of them not understanding what they were signing. Jurgis soon finds out that all his hard work is in vain where many times corruption is rewarded, the capitalist life is just not fair. As they begin working, the family members discover the horrifying conditions of the packing factory. The conditions of work are inhuman, and the workers are treated inhuman. Jurgis' father is only able to get a job after bribing a boss in the pickling rooms of a meat packing plant. The conditions there are terrible, and the job ultimately kills the old man. Jurgis is injured on the job and is forced to stay home and out of work till he is healed. He has not worked for two months and when he returns back to work he realizes that his position has already been filled by another work. Jugis quickly realizes that with all his hard work he can easily be replaced by someone else. He soon finds a dreaded job to help out at the glue factory. The bills begin to pile up, his wife is pregnant and his family’s lives are being stressed with all the drama in their life.

Health safety and the environment report feyzin

The aim of this project is to describe the incident which took place in Feyzin, south of France, on Tuesday January 4th 1966. This project describes the history of the refinery, a description of the LPG manufacture processes, the cause of the accident, details of the accident, inquires and safety measures, conclusion and personal recommendations. A focus group for the project was the first approach on research to explore people's ideas and attitudes to the accident. There were several weekly group meetings excluding the weekly tutor meetings putting forward ideas discussing whether the accident could have been for seen and reasonable measures were in place. Each member of the group was assigned a particular area in which they were to collect information. The required information was gathered from various highly reliable sources such as a HSE investigation. History And Background Information. Feyzin is situated in the suburbs of Lyon in the southern part of France. The France national petroleum was located in Feyzin. The refinery at Feyzin had started operating in 1964. The main objective of this processing plant was to produce 1.7 million tonnes a year of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). LPG is a by-product of the distillation of oil from crude oil. When the distillate is put under pressure its physical state changes into a liquid. It is in this form that LPG is transported around in cylinder tanks. Because of the relatively short life span of the site prior to the incident, the cascade of events may be relatively short and that major issues will have risen during both the design and construction of the site. We can assume now that the plant was between its 1st and 2nd year of operation. LPG is a combination of Propane (Pressure 12 Bar, 37 degrees Celsius) and Butane (Pressure 2.6 Bar, 37 degrees Celsius).The LPG is used as an alternative to petrol.[Aarding India Pvt Ltd, 2007] The LPG is important because it is widely used as a fuel for vehicles and as cooking gas since its manufacture. They are also used as Industrial fuel and heating oils which are vital for many process plants. [Herman F. Mark et al, 1982] LPG is employed for starting up solid-fuel and oil-fired boilers supplying turbo generators. It is potential stand by for gas turbine generating equipment run on interruptible gas supplies. Its use for peak-load turbines will be economical to some circumstances. [BP trading ltd, 1972] Cascade events The causes of the deadly incident which took place at Feyzin There were quite a few reasons reported which were believed to be the causes of the explosion. Cause of the leakage: Three operators opened 2-inch valves which were mounted in series at a bottom of a 1200m3 propane spherical tank. The valves did not close at a LPG tank which contained 1200kl propane, which led to the leakage of LPG gas, a major cause of the explosion. For LPG that is Propane gas, when the pressure is lowered to atmospheric one the temp drops to -40. At this temperature moisture in air is frozen, but also the moisture reacts with LPG forming a solid hydrate. So either the downstream valve did not close tightly because of hydrate formation or the valve handle was stuck by the frozen moisture. This accident was believed to be caused as the upstream valve was not opened fully and the pressure at the outlet of the first valve was near the atmospheric pressure, the pressure difference cooled. It is very wrong to operate the valve system like that. Therefore, the cause of the explosion is either the operator's human mistake or a mistake on the management not to inform the proper execution of the operation. Cause of the ignition: The leaked LPG is presumed to be travelled for a distance and spread along the ground. A car driving down a local road might have sparked the ignition which is maybe due to the driver's cigarette or the car engine's hot temperature. Note that the layout of the plant was restricted to the landscape; a highway was constructed just 50m away from the large LPG tanks which exploded during the incident. Moreover there was no dike around the tanks which exploded, when large amount of LPG leaked, the vapour flew along the ground to the highway. The main cause of the ignition is that there was no dike around the LPG tanks and the distance regulation insufficient. Secondly, the legs of the spherical tank were made of iron which weren't fire proof. Thirdly, is that the distance between the adjacent tanks was really close, The actual distance between the centre of the tanks was just 27m according to the facility information provided. This proves that the adjacent tanks were affected so easily from the explosion of the first tank. Event A BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) was the disaster that occurred at Feyzin. It is an explosion phenomenon caused by the rapid phase change (vaporization) of a liquid. At 6:30am three operators started the water draining operation of a tank. Two valves were opened in series on the bottom of the sphere. When the operation was nearly complete, the upper valve was closed and then cracked open again. No flow came out of the cracked valve, so it was opened further. The blockage, assumed to be ice or hydrate, cleared and propane gushed out. The operator was unable to close the upper valve and by the time he attempted to close the lower valve this was also frozen open. The LPG leak started here because that valve was not closed completely. After a few minutes the operators were covered in propane vapour. The leaking LPG spread in the direction of the highway, with partially vaporizing. The alarm rang in the control room at this time. At around 7:05am; the alarm rang and it is not clear if it rang throughout the Feyzin districts or just the Feyzin refinery. The first fire truck of the factory turned out immediately. After this the traffic on the highway next to the refinery was stopped. The fire brigade of Lyon arrived at 7:20. Just after 7:30am, a car came and stopped on the local road where the traffic had not been stopped. The explosion apparently occurred after the car had stopped. The fire increased in power, spread along the leaking LPG, and the tank was overcome with flames immediately. By 8:40am the first tank at the refinery exploded by the BLEVE. The second and third spherical tanks exploded five minutes later. Two more spherical tanks and many oil tanks burned continuously. The next day in the morning the fire was extinguished. As a result of this it was reported that 18-81 persons died and about 80-130 persons got injured included members of the fire fighting team. The physical damage included five LPG tanks, many atmospheric tanks containing crude oil and jet fuel, and so on. The Feyzin Refinery suffered extensive damage. The LPG tank farm where the sphere was located consisted of four 1200 m3 propane and four 2000 m3 butane spheres. The fire brigade arrived on site, but were not experienced in dealing in refinery fires, and it appears they did not attempt to cool the burning sphere. They concentrated their hoses on cooling the remaining spheres. About 90 minutes after the initial leakage, the sphere ruptured, killing the men nearby. A wave of liquid propane flowed over the compound wall and fragments of the ruptured sphere cut through the legs of the next sphere which toppled over. The relief valve on this tank began to emit liquid. What is believed to have happened on the day of the accident is: the upstream valve was not opened fully and the pressure at the outlet of the first valve was near atmospheric pressure, hence the upstream valve was cooled by the pressure difference. It is absolutely prohibited to operate valves in such manner. Therefore, the cause of the accident is either the operator's human error or a mistake on management side in not explaining the proper operation protocols. Another contributing factor to the accident is that the operator did not close the downstream valve. There is insufficient information available to why this valve was not closed. It is assumed that either ice is generated in the downstream valve like in the upstream valve or a rapid large LPG leak occurred, the operator may have panicked when they could not close the upstream valve and therefore may have not remembered to close the downstream valve. Basically they had to decrease the downstream valve opening when the LPG began to appear in the drain water. Then the valve had to be closed at the end of the drain work. Either they forgot to carry out this procedure or they could not close the second valve because it had also become stuck by freezing. 1) Valve A is closed 2) Valve A cracks open 3) Valve A becomes blocked due to freezing 4) No flow through valve A 5) Valve A is opened 6) Ice block in valve A becomes dislodged 7) Valve A freezes in open position 8) Unable to close valve A 9) Valve B freezes in open position 10) Unable to close valve B 11) Pressure sphere fluid leaks through open valves 12) Fluid level in pressure vessel drops decreasing internal pressure 13) Liquid propane begins to boil due to pressure drop 14) Pressure in vessel increases due to liberated gaseous propane 15) Fluid flow through valves A and B increases due to increase in pressure 16) Vessel pressure continues to increase 17) Pressure vessel ruptures 18) Gaseous propane escapes vessel Recommendations and summary * Geographical location and details * History of Feyzin, including cascade events * Incident timeline and possible description of why it happened * Geographical effects of the incident * Results of the inquiry and official recommendations * Personal recommendations not covered by the enquiry Geographical location and details In order to get a better understanding of the scale of the Feyzin incident, it is important to note the location of the site in regards to the local area in which the site was and still is positioned. This will give an indication to understanding the safety procedures that were in place at the time of the incident and how emergency procedures were carried out at the time. It has proven very difficult to obtain a clear picture of the geographical location either prior to or following the incident of the site and so it will be assumed that the current location of the site, circa 2009, is the same location at the time of the incident. Close examination of this map may also indicate the most likely positioning of the epicentre of the primary detonation. Fig 1. Map of Feyzin Birds eye view 2009 Sandwiched between the A7 Expressway to the east of the site and the ‘Le grand large' river to the west, on close examination, it appears that some form of storage containers are located just west of the top E15 label in the image. This may lead us to assume that the storage containers were in the same location prior to the 1966 incident. On a broader scale it may also be seen that this location is approximately 10 km south of the major city of Lyon. Research suggests that at the time of the incident, the site lacked any serious on site systems in case of a major crisis, relying more on the local public services to resolve anything arising such as the incident in question. Again on close inspection of the map, it can be seen that the site is placed within a fairly urbanised area. Again we must assume a similar layout at the time of the incident though populations will be quite different from the 1966 incident and the 2009 map. This will assist in understanding the cause of the incident overall and the scale of the overall effect in this area. Apart from just repeating the timeline for the actual incident, it is important to try and understand why the incident took place, outside of the events leading up to and after what happened. The sequence of events surrounding the cracking and freezing of the ‘upper' valve, and the subsequent rupture of the pressure vessel need to be understood, in order to get a better understanding of how such a crises may be avoided in the future. These events may only have taken place over a very short time frame but they are essential to understanding the crises. One of the critical questions that should be asked is why following the closure of valve A and the subsequent cracking and freezing up of the valve, was the valve then opened. Thus allowing the ice block to become dislodged and the rest of the above sequence to take place. The reasons for this particular action, in opening valve A may be described in four ways. The first possibility may be a simple case of curiosity. The valve was closed and froze, and so to check that the valve was still properly operational was then opened. The second possibility is that the correct procedure for such an event was not properly followed. That the correct procedure would have stated that in such an event, the valve should have been kept closed and the problem be properly reported to maintenance. Therefore the valve operator was responsible for the incident that took place. The third possibility is that no official procedure or training had been formulated for such an event. Therefore panic may have ensued resulting in the opening of the valve as a panic decision which can therefore be described as human error. The fourth possibility is that the official procedure was followed properly and that the procedure was critically floored. So the issue of a misunderstanding of such an event or even ignorance of such was present at the time of this crisis. The third possibility seems likely case based on the immediate actions of the individual as he made the decision not to use a phone close to the pressure tank and instead ran approximately 800 meters to the next nearest phone in the fear of causing a detonation of the released vapour cloud. The fourth possibility may also have some bearing in the crisis as prior to this event, the term BLEVE had still not been discovered or at least recorded prior to this. The rest of the sequence should be covered in the full breakdown of the crisis. An important issue to be considered is the overall control displayed by both the emergency and municipal authorities during the crisis. Even though the A7 expressway was closed following the leak, the authorities failed to close the local roads to all traffic, which resulted in a car being within 160 meters of the leaking pressure tank and causing the point of ignition. The failings in the emergency service appear to be more in association with a lack of sufficient training in the order of dealing with industrial crises as it was primarily there to deal with public situations. This resulted in a fatal misunderstanding of how to control such a situation as a leaking pressure tank and resulting fire, due to a lack of prior knowledge which is strengthened in the term BLEVE only being created some 4 to 5 years later Results of the enquiry and official recommendations The official investigation was not fully resolved until 1971 by the Grenoble court case. This may have been due to political reasons or due to the enquiry investigating why the crisis had occurred in the first place. On the principal that such events have happened since the Feyzin disaster, it cannot be assumed that the enquiry was successful in bringing about sufficient change in the safety of pressurised fluid containment. Personal recommendations not covered by the enquiry The first recommendations are for the design and construction of all current and future proposed plants dealing with pressurised fluid containment. The second recommendations are in association with work practices involved on chemical plants in general. Third valve (reserve): A third valve should be installed for the purpose of maintenance and crisis control. To be kept open at all times so as not to induce unnecessary wear and tear on the valve. When maintenance is required to be carried out on the two principal valves, the reserve can be shut to allow for maintenance to be carried out safely. In the event of a crisis similar to that of Feyzin, this valve can be shut as an emergency back up system in minimising fluid leakage from the pressure vessel. ‘Cold' pipe lagging: In order to prevent freezing of any pipes or valves dealing with potentially ‘cold' fluids, lagging should be fitted to all appropriate pipe work and fittings in order to minimise any potential freezing of these systems. Systems not dealing with ‘cold' fluids must be scrutinised independent of this point. Rubber sealed pressure box: High pressure boxes should be installed around all vital valves dealing with pressurised fluids. They should be big enough to allow for ease of working but not to big as to incur any additional hazard to plant running. They should be designed with an environmental rubberised seal so that if a valve begins to leak, the box can but locked shut with an emergency key. Thus minimising any excessive leakage until the situation can be bought under control. See: A third valve (reserve) Deluge system – Control box and master switch: If geographically located near to a natural water source as in the case of the Feyzin site, a deluge system should be installed. It must have pipe work leading to all critical locations around the entirety of the plant. This system must be regularly checked so as to remain in good working order. Each piece of equipment covered by this system must be fitted with a local switch, so in the event of either a leak or a fire, the operator can activate the system in order to prevent escalation of the situation. A central control post should be equipped with a control panel covering all local deluge systems via an override system and also be installed with a master switch that can activate all systems at once. This will allow for the main operator to activate systems in a sequence or all at once should a major sit6uation occur. Communication is vital for this system to work properly, so an emergency phone network should be installed in order to insure proper working of the system. This will only be part of the solution and fire brigades properly trained with dealing with such an event will ensure that the crisis is resolved effectively. Completion of site before going online: It is important that a site should be safe to operate before going online. In the case of Feyzin, the site was still under construction when the accident occurred. Even though construction work may not have been the cause of the incident, neither can the incompletion of the site be assumed to have helped in the scale of the incident itself. So before a plant can go online, all safety systems must be installed. This is not to be confused with site maintenance which is an ongoing process throughout the plants lifetime. Inclusion of full earthworks around site: Only effective if any vapour or fluid is heavier than atmospheric air. May also be affected by environmental conditions, however if all other systems are overwhelmed, then this system is designed to delay the spread of any possible leak. Earth works should be built around all containment vessels and if possible the entire site. So in case of an emergency, any leaking vapour may be contained within the confines of either the leaking vessel or the plant. Fig. 2 illustration of valves which were major cause of accident Preventions To prevent valves from freezing redundant sampling valves and drain valves are installed in series. In the tank involved in this accident, the double valve was already installed. In the LPG tank, the doubling of the valve is a minimum requirement as in the case of a single valve, there is a strong possibility that the valves main body will be cooled, damaging the closing function of the valve by freezing of the moisture in the air. The distance between the two valves must be sufficient to prevent the low temperature of the second valve affecting it. The size of the second valve must be approximately 10mm or less. It is recommended that a distance of 1m or more to be allowed between valve 1 and 2. Counter measures in other facilities around the world * Dike installation: – LPG spreads along the ground as it is heavier than the air. A dike is effective for prevention the spread of LPG. * As a precaution against the BLEVE phenomenon, the tank wall must be cooled by placing water showering facilities above the tank. * The Tank legs must be fire proofed. If the legs are made from iron they can be damaged by fire. * The distance between tanks is kept to prevent the spread of fires. The minimum distance is generally the diameter of the larger tank, however if possible greater distance between tanks is recommended. * Gas detectors are installed within the facility. Conclusions The Feyzin accident was a cause by human error and unsafe conditions. The accident could have been prevented if correct procedures were followed and if the plant was designed with appropriate fail safe systems such as a dike and LPG detectors. This accident lead to a greater understanding of the BLEVE phenomenon and has given future LPG companies the knowledge of its existence which has led to further research into this occurrence. Explosion of LPG tanks cause devastating damage. The companies that store and handle large volumes of LPG must consult with the local government to ensure they can communicate with the local government, inform local inhabitants and relay instructions for how to restrict traffic in case of an LPG leak. It has now become clear that the location for which the plant is located must be thoroughly studied, to ensure there is enough distance between the plant and built up areas. Without doubt future companies designing LPG refinery plants can benefit from the findings of this accident report. Glossary BLEVE – Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Business-to-consumer and Business-to-business relationships

The business-to-consumer type of relationship is considered as â€Å"economic transactions conducted between individual consumers and organizations† (van Slyke, Belanger, & Comunale, 2004). There are several differences between this type of marketplace, the business-to-consumer (B2C), and its other counterpart, the business-to-business (B2B) marketplace. It has its corresponding impact to Cavalier Products that needs to be considered before venturing into this type of business relationship. As mentioned earlier, there are differences between the B2B and B2C type of relationship along several lines.First, the clients of the two are different where in the B2B, it is businesses or organizations and in B2C markets, the clients are individual consumers (Wright, 2006). Approach towards these two types of clients is different where in the former, buying behavior is considered to be more rational and in the latter, it is influenced by biases and personal preferences (Wright, 2006). Th e approach in terms of marketing and the selling strategy would be different when dealing with these two types of clients.Second, the volume of sales is entirely different for that of the B2B and B2C business types. It is known that the sales, and consequently the profit derived, is far greater in the transactions that arise from the B2B as compared to the B2C because of the differences in the demand (Moore, Petty, Palich, & Longnecker, 2008). The demand for the B2B is far greater because of the larger needs of the organizations as compared to individual customers who would not consume as much as what businesses consumer.This is especially true for the office equipment and materials where there is a greater amount needed for such in an office than for an individual consumer. It also takes a longer time for the individual consumers to consume a specific quantity compared to the businesses who would consume more at a faster rate. However, it remains that both of these lead to profits for the company but with corresponding business risks. It is best to conduct an initial study regarding the profitability of a B2C business endeavor through simulation and projection.There are several means through which this could be done without incurring significant losses. From a personal standpoint, there is a feasibility of such but the problem lies mainly with the delivery of goods especially for distant areas which require long transportation and careful handling for the equipment. This is especially true for purchases made for small quantities only and would require a large cost for handling and shipping.This requires additional distribution centers in the region where the company intends to launch its B2C business. There should be safety nets installed in order to prevent losses and failures when it comes to the inability of the company to meet the demands of the customer as expected because this would also affect the image it has in its B2B relationships. There should als o be a thorough understanding of the company’s capabilities in meeting the volume of demand from both the B2B and B2C clients.When there are sufficient clients, it is deemed better to sell to businesses because of the continuous demand for the products and the volume required by these organizations. It is significantly large for the company and would save on shipping and handling. A B2B relationship would also be easier to handle because the clients are lesser, compared to a B2C market, and would make marketing easier to formulate and implement. Thus, it has been shown that there are differences and similarities in B2B and B2C markets, which primarily lie on the volume and nature of clients.These are important considerations when venturing into any of the two markets in order to maintain the reputation of the company. References Moore, C. , Petty, J. W. , Palich, L. , & Longnecker, J. (2008). Managing small business: An entrepreneurial emphasis (14th Ed. ). Mason, OH: South-W estern Cengage Learning. van Slyke, C. , Belanger, F. , & Comunale, C. (2004). Factors influencing the adoption of web-based hopping: The impact of trust. ACM SIGMIS Database, 35(2), 32-49. Wright, R. 92006). Consumer behavior. London, UK: Thomson Learning.

ASX Listed Company Qantas Airline Limited

ASX Listed Company Qantas Airline Limited Introduction Background information During the period ranging from mid 1990s to 1999, the global aviation industry experienced a rapid growth arising from increase in demand for air travel. In addition, there was an increase in Gross Domestic Product  ­ (GDP) in most countries.As a result, the industry grew with a margin of 4% to 6% annually.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on ASX Listed Company: Qantas Airline Limited specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, this trend was reversed at the beginning of the 21st century as a result of changes in the international business environment. The airline industry is characterized by a high degree of volatility. As a result, changes in the international business environment have a significant effect in the operation of all firms in this industry. One of the firms that operate with in the airline industry is Qantas Airline Limited. The airline operates within the Australia n airline industry. Since its establishment in 1920, the airline has managed to establish a portfolio of businesses which include Qantas Holiday, Qantas Frequent Flyer Program, Qantas Freight, Qantas Catering, Qantas, Engineering, and Qantas Defense services within the industry. The firm serves diverse customer categories that include corporate customers, the government, leisure travelers, wholesalers and travel agents. Some of the contemporary issues facing the firm relate to the recent economic downturn, increase in fuel prices and threat of terrorism. These issues have affected the performance of Qantas Airline in the Australian Stock Exchange. In an effort to understand how these issues have affected the firm, the researcher sought to conduct an in-depth analysis of the issues. Analysis of the contemporary issues Financial crisis In its operation, Qantas Airline faces numerous financial risks which have a potential of creating a problem in the firm’s future cash flows. Th e financial risks emanate from changes in the global economic environment. For example, the recent global economic recession that originated from failure of the US financial institution affected the operation of the firm in a number of ways. For example, there was a reduction in demand for air travel amongst customer in different categories.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During this period, consumers sought alternative means of transport both in the local and international market. Considering the fact that consumers are price sensitive, one of the sectors which pose intense competition to the firm is the low cost airline. According to Gross and Schroder (2007, p.12), low cost carriers are offering less expensive mode of air travel. As a result, most consumers are considering the low cost carriers as the most cost effective mode of air travel. Low cost carrie rs have a higher cost advantage compared to full service carriers which averages 51% as illustrated by figure 1 in the appendix (Cento, 2009, p.21). The increased adoption of this business model within the airline industry is posing a threat in the survival of traditional airlines such as Qantas Airlines. The low cost carriers operate within the same route as Qantas thus leading into a significant reduction in the firm’s sales revenue hence its profit. During its 2009 financial year, the airline’s profit amounted to 181 million. This is a lesser amount compared to its profit during the 2008 financial year which amounted to $ 1,408 million. This indicates a rapid reduction in its profitability. Reduction in the sales revenue culminated into the firm experiencing a significant decline in the firm’s cash flow. According to Loudon (p.297), the global airline industry is characterized by high fixed, high capital investment and intense price competition. Therefore a r eduction in the firm’s cash flow may affect the firm’s working capital. As a result, the firm would not be able to meet its operation cost. In an effort to survive in such economic environment, the firm may decide to source debt finance from financial institutions.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on ASX Listed Company: Qantas Airline Limited specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, some financial institutions are not willing to advance debt finance to airlines due to the volatile nature of the industry. In such a situation, financial institutions increase the cost of borrowing as a risk mitigation measure. In addition to interest rate exposure, the airline firms also face currency exposure which arises from fluctuation in the exchange rate. This is due to the fact that its expenses and revenues are denominated in different currencies. Increase in fuel price The profitability of the airline industry is dependent on changes in fuel prices (Vedder, 2008, p. 18). This is due to the fact that jet fuel forms a key component in the operating cost of airlines. Currently, Qantas Airline is facing a risk of fuel crisis as a result of changes in the geopolitical environment in the Middle East countries which are a producer of fossil fuel. The unrest in the Middle East countries is leading into a shortage in fossil fuel hence affecting the price. According to Loudon (p.299), changes in fuel prices have a direct effect in the cash flow of airlines. In the short term, the airlines revenue may be marginally affected. However, the long term effects may be adverse since the cost will be passed on to the customers. By the end of March, the management of Qantas announced an increase in its ticket prices in its domestic market. For example, travelling within Australia increased with $ 10 while the cost of travelling to New Zealand was increased with a margin of 8%.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The management team cited the skyrocketing price of jet fuel as the major cause. During its 2nd quarter in 2011, the firm estimates its jet fuel cost to be US $ 2 billion. In an effort to survive in this dynamic environment, the Qantas Airline had decided to reduce its size of management team and its domestic and international capacity. Threat of terrorism According to Seidenstat and Splane (2009, p.250), the global airline industry is also faced by a risk of increased terrorism. Most terrorism groups around the world are targeting airline companies to undertake their attacks as illustrated by the September 11, 2001 attack in the US. Terrorism adversely affects airline sales revenue. This arises from the fact that the customers’ preference for air travel is significantly reduced. Solution Despite the changes in the international business environment, it is vital for firms to develop a high competitive advantage. This will enable them to survive in the long term as going conce rn entities. According to Hoskisson, Hitt and Ireland (2008, p.108), there are various ways through which a firm can develop competitive advantage. However, the firm has to ensure that its products or services are unique from those of its competitors and that they cannot be easily imitated. Adoption of the Low Cost Carrier Model Considering the changes in the global airline industry, it is important for Qantas to develop strategies to safeguard against incurring decline in its cash flow. For example as a result of the global economic crisis, the airlines management team should consider integrating the low cost carrier business model. This will enable the firm to operate cost effectively. The resultant effect is that the airline will be able to adjust its pricing strategy so as to deal with the prevailing price wars. Adjusting the price will contribute towards the firm increasing its sales revenues and hence its profitability since a large number of customers will be attracted to the airline (Wu, 2009, p. 23). Increase in profitability will enable the firm meet its high fixed costs and other operating costs. Alternative source of Jet fuel Considering the effect of rise in jet fuel prices on the firm’s operation, it is paramount Qantas Airlines to undertake a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis with regard to utilizing alternative fuel. A research conducted by NASA in US revealed that utilizing alternative is cost effective (National Research Council, 2006, p. 104). The firm’s management team should consider utilizing alternative jet fuel rather than over depending on petroleum based fuel. Some of the alternative fuels which should be considered include gasified fuels derived from coal and natural gas fuel. According to a research conducted by NASA on the effectiveness of these fuels, it was revealed that these fuels have the necessary energy required to fly a commercial flight. One of the alternative jet fuels which the firm should incorporate is biofuel. The firm can venture into production of biofuel using different agricultural crops such as soya and jatropha. Other alternative fuels which the firm should consider utilizing include methanol, ethanol, and hydrogen (Bassam, 2010, p. 16). By utilizing these alternative fuels, the firm will be able to caution itself against increase in the petroleum based jet fuel which is highly volatile to changes in the political environment. By integrating alternative fuel, the firm will be able to operate in a social responsible manner. This arises from the fact that firm will be able minimize emission of carbon dioxide which is a major cause of climate change (Hackey Neufville, 1999, p.243). Safety measures Airline companies have a responsibility to ensure that their customers are safe. Considering the rise in the rate of insecurity within the industry, Qantas, airline should consider enhancing the security of the passengers. One of the ways through which the firm can enhance its secur ity is by integrating a technology that screens all the passengers to ensure that there are no threats in the course of the flight. In addition, the airline should ensure that people within its facilities are not threatened by terrorism. For example, firm should employ sufficient and professional security personnel. Conclusion The analysis illustrates indicates that the Qantas Airline is faced with a number of challenges emanating from the macroeconomic business environment. The major contemporary issues that the firm is facing includes changes in the global economic crisis, rise in the price of jet fuel and threat of terrorism. These business changes in the macroeconomic business environment within the airline industry are beyond control of firms in this industry. However, management teams of firms within the Australian airline industry such as Qantas can develop strategies aimed at countering changes in the international business environment. Recommendations In order to survive in the volatile airline industry, it is vital for Qantas Airline to consider the following recommendations. The management team should consider integrating the low cost carrier model. This will enable Qantas to appeal to a large number of potential customers since it will be able to price its flight more fairly. The airline should also consider utilizing alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biofuel. This will improve the firms’ commitment towards environmental conservation by limiting the amount of emissions. Reference List Bassam, N., 2010. Handbook of bioenergy crops: a complete reference to species,  development and application. London: Earthscan. Cento, A., 2009. The airline industry: challenges in the 21st century. Heidelberg, Germany: Physica-Verlag. Gross, S. Schroder, A., 2007. Handbook of low cost airlines: strategies, business  processes and market environment. Berlin: Enrich Schmidt Verlag. Hackey, J. Neufville, R., 1999. Lifecycle model of alternative fuel vehicles: emissions, energy and cost trade-offs. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. Vol. 35, issue 3, pp. 243-266. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Hoskisson, R., Hitt, M. Ireland, D., 2008. Competing fro advantage. Mason, OH: Thompson. National Research Council. 2006. Decadal survey of aeronautics: foundation for the  future. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press. Loudon, G., 2004. Financial risk exposure in the airline industry: evidence from Australia and New Zealand. Australian Journal of Management. Vol. 29, issue2. Sydney:The Australian Graduate School of Management. Seidenstat, P. Splane, F., 2009. Protecting airline passengers in the age of terrorism. Santa, Barbara: Praeger Security International. Vedder, H., 2008. Strategic alliances in the aviation industry an analysis of past and  current developments. Munchen: Grin-Verl. Wu, C., 2009. Airline operation and delay management; insights from airline economics,  networks an d strategic schedule. Farnham: Ashgate. Appendix Figure 1: Comparison of Low Cost Carrier with Full Service Carriers. Cost reduction Cost per seat Full Service Carriers 100% Low cost carrier High aircraft utilization -2 82 Higher seating density -16 84 Lower cabin crew cost -3 79 Outsourcing maintenance -2 75 Use cheaper secondary airport -4 73 Minimal station cost -7 66 Fewer passenger services -5 61 No agents/GDS commissions -6 55 Reservation cost -3 52 Fewer costs -3 49% The chart illustrates that low cost carriers have a cost advantage of 51%.

Obsidian Hydration - An Inexpensive, but Problematic Dating Technique

Obsidian Hydration - An Inexpensive, but Problematic Dating Technique Obsidian hydration dating (or OHD) is a scientific dating technique, which uses the understanding of the geochemical nature of the volcanic glass (a silicate) called obsidian  to provide both relative and absolute dates on artifacts. Obsidian outcrops all over the world, and was preferentially used by stone tool makers because it is very easy to work with, it is very sharp when broken, and it comes in a variety of vivid colors, black, orange, red, green and clear. Fast Facts: Obsidian Hydration Dating Obsidian Hydration Dating (OHD) is a scientific dating technique using the unique geochemical nature of volcanic glasses.  The method relies on the measured and predictable growth of a rind that forms on the glass when first exposed to the atmosphere.  Issues are that rind growth is dependent on three factors: ambient temperature, water vapor pressure, and the chemistry of the volcanic glass itself.  Recent improvements in measurement and analytical advances in water absorption promise to resolve some of the issues.   How and Why Obsidian Hydration Dating Works Obsidian contains water trapped in it during its formation. In its natural state, it has a thick rind  formed by the diffusion of the water into the atmosphere when it first cooled- the technical term is hydrated layer. When a fresh surface of obsidian is exposed to the atmosphere, as when it is broken to make a stone tool, more water is absorbed and the rind begins to grow again.  That new rind is visible and can be measured under high-power magnification (40–80x). Prehistoric rinds can vary from less than 1 micron ( µm) to more than 50  µm, depending on the length of time of exposure.  By measuring the thickness one can easily determine if a particular artifact is older than another (relative age). If the rate at which water diffuses into the glass for that particular chunk of obsidian is known (thats the tricky part), you can use OHD to determine the absolute age of objects. The relationship is disarmingly simple: Age DX2, where Age is in years, D is a constant and X is the hydration rind thickness in microns. Defining the Constant Obsidian, natural volcanic glass exhibiting rind, Montgomery Pass, Mineral County, Nevada. John Cancalosi / Oxford Scientific / Getty Images Its nearly a sure bet that everybody who ever made stone tools and knew about obsidian and where to find it, used it: as a glass, it breaks in predictable ways and creates supremely sharp edges. Making stone tools out of raw obsidian breaks the rind and starts the obsidian clock counting. The measurement of rind growth since the break can be done with a piece of equipment that probably already exists in most laboratories. It does sound perfect doesnt it? The problem is, the constant (that sneaky D up there) has to combine at least three other factors that are known to affect the rate of rind growth: temperature, water vapor pressure, and glass chemistry. The local temperature fluctuates daily, seasonally and over longer time scales in every region on the planet. Archaeologists recognize this and started creating an Effective Hydration Temperature (EHT) model to track and account for the effects of temperature on hydration, as a function of annual mean temperature, annual temperature range and diurnal temperature range. Sometimes scholars add in a depth correction factor to account for the temperature of buried artifacts, assuming the underground conditions are significantly different than surface ones–but the effects havent been researched too much as of yet. Water Vapor and Chemistry The effects of variation in water vapor pressure in the climate where an obsidian artifact has been found have not been studied as intensively as the effects of temperature. In general, water vapor varies with elevation, so you can typically assume that water vapor is constant within a site or region. But OHD is troublesome in regions like the Andes mountains of South America, where people brought their obsidian artifacts across enormous changes in altitudes, from the sea level coastal regions to the 4,000-meter (12,000-foot) high mountains and higher. Even more difficult to account for is differential glass chemistry in obsidians. Some obsidians hydrate faster than others, even within the exact same depositional environment. You can source obsidian (that is, identify the natural outcrop where a piece of obsidian was found), and so you can correct for that variation by measuring the rates in the source and using those to create source-specific hydration curves. But, since the amount of water within obsidian can vary even within obsidian nodules from a single source, that content can significantly affect age estimates. Water Structure Research Methodology to adjust the calibrations for the variability in climate is an emergent technology in the 21st century. New methods critically evaluate the depth profiles of hydrogen on the hydrated surfaces using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The internal structure of the water content in obsidian has been identified as a highly influential variable which controls the rate of water diffusion at ambient temperature. It has also been found that such structures, like water content, vary within the recognized quarry sources.  Ã‚   Coupled with a more precise measuring methodology, the technique has the potential to increase the reliability of OHD, and provide a window into the evaluation of local climatic conditions, in particular paleo-temperature regimes.   Obsidian History Obsidians measurable rate of rind growth has been recognized since the 1960s. In 1966, geologists Irving Friedman, Robert L. Smith and William D. Long published the first study, the results of experimental hydration of obsidian from the Valles Mountains of New Mexico. Since that time, significant advancement in the recognized impacts of water vapor, temperature and glass chemistry has been undertaken, identifying and accounting for much of the variation, creating higher resolution techniques to measure the rind and define the diffusion profile, and invent and improved new models for EFH and studies on the mechanism of diffusion. Despite its limitations, obsidian hydration dates are far less expensive than radiocarbon, and it is a standard dating practice in many regions of the world today. Sources Liritzis, Ioannis, and Nikolaos Laskaris. Fifty Years of Obsidian Hydration Dating in Archaeology. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 357.10 (2011): 2011–23. Print.Nakazawa, Yuichi. The Significance of Obsidian Hydration Dating in Assessing the Integrity of Holocene Midden, Hokkaido, Northern Japan. Quaternary International 397 (2016): 474–83. Print.Nakazawa, Yuichi, et al. A Systematic Comparison of Obsidian Hydration Measurements: The First Application of Micro-Image with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry to the Prehistoric Obsidian. Quaternary International  (2018). Print.Rogers, Alexander K., and Daron Duke. Unreliability of the Induced Obsidian Hydration Method with Abbreviated Hot-Soak Protocols. Journal of Archaeological Science 52 (2014): 428–35. Print.Rogers, Alexander K., and Christopher M. Stevenson. Protocols for Laboratory Hydration of Obsidian, and Their Effect on Hydration Rate Accuracy: A Monte Carlo Simulation Study. Journal of Archaeological Scie nce: Reports 16 (2017): 117–26. Print. Stevenson, Christopher M., Alexander K. Rogers, and Michael D. Glascock. Variability in Obsidian Structural Water Content and Its Importance in the Hydration Dating of Cultural Artifacts. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 23 (2019): 231–42. Print.Tripcevich, Nicholas, Jelmer W. Eerkens, and Tim R. Carpenter. Obsidian Hydration at High Elevation: Archaic Quarrying at the Chivay Source, Southern Peru. Journal of Archaeological Science 39.5 (2012): 1360–67. Print.

Public Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Public Relations - Essay Example Baker and Martinson (2002) articulated them as such; a) Truthfulness – does not only mean the â€Å"literal truth†. It is the practitioner’s dissociation from creating false and dishonest impressions out of factual statements. To be truthful is essential to ethical persuasion inherent in the profession of public relation. b) Authenticity – is consistent with being truthful. It meant practicing the profession with personal integrity. In launching a campaign or any persuasive effort, the practitioner must bear in mind the motive of such persuasive effort that it should transcend beyond the raw self-interest of the client. In observing authenticity, the practitioner should ask itself whether the â€Å"publics† will believe the message and if they will benefit if they accept the message. c) Respect- meant that the audience or â€Å"public† should not be treated as a mere means towards the client’s self-interest. The persuader or the PR pro fessional should bear in mind that in the practice of the craft, he or she should facilitate better understanding and provide good choices among its audience. d) Equity – the PR practitioner should be fair to the audience. ... 2. Functions of PR I am interested with I am interested with the community relations function of the PR practice. I am interested with it because it puts me in a position to wield opinion and foster goodwill in the community. I am interested with this function because I am able to facilitate communication and understanding not about the product or the institution that I represent but it also enables me to shape the opinions and perspective of the people. When done ethically, PR has the power to uplift the people from the sinking ignorance and can cast light and understanding during the time of disbelief and skepticism. 3. Significance of the article to the field of public relations The article chosen is significant as it addresses and illustrates the current trend on how information are being shaped and reshaped by an interaction between the public and the information institutions. It shows that perspectives, public opinion and public relations are now shared mutually both by the pub lic and information agencies through the Consumer Generation Media (CGM) which were before belongs to the sole discretion of the companies. In short, the articles’ significance is its relevance on how media is currently being shaped and reshaped by the new platforms such as blogs, social networking sites, websites, media sharing and etch which is used by the generation that I belong and how we are now being empowered by such platforms. 4. Significance of the article to the specific function of public relations The article illustrated how information institutions and companies have changed with the introduction of Consumer Generated Media. The creation and distribution of information is no longer the sole function of the media practitioners as technology has empowered