Presidential Power and Domestic Intelligence Essay

Presidential Power and Domestic Intelligence - Essay Example of 1978 was implemented to guide the people on how to request for a judicial authorization before an electronic surveillance or physical search on a person can be done (FAS, 2012). Based on the original F.I.S.A. guidelines, the local government should first request for a judicial authorization before conducting an electronic surveillance or a physical search on a suspected person. During the Bush administration, there was a conflicting legal issue with regards to the latest intelligence collection practices and the F.I.S.A. guidelines. To correct the gap between the legal issue on electronic surveillance and the actual practice of warrantless domestic wiretapping of phones, tracking of messages from the Internet, the president went out of his way to persuade the Congress to support the need to amend the origninal guidelnes on F.I.S.A. (PBS, 2007). Based on the conversation between Bill Moyers with Fritz Schwarz and Charles Fried, it is clear that Bush was actually manipulating the Congress so that the president can do whatever he decided to do. Even though something is not legal, Bush was using his authoritative power to control the people around the Congress without the knowledge of the local citizens. Regardless of whether or not Bush’s strategy to control terrorism has been effective in serving its purpose, I think that the Bush administration went too far in reforming the domestic intelligence

Acts of Rebellion Essay Example for Free

Acts of Rebellion Essay In 1984, Orwell presents the act of rebellion through love. Listen. The more men youve had, the most I love you. Do you understand that? this whole quote suggest that they are both rebelling, meaning that Julia has already rebelled in the past by having sex with other men. Also Winston is declaring that the more she rebels the more he would love her, which is also an act of rebellion in itself because love is unauthorized, by Big Brother. The most could suggest that Winston is encouraging everyone to rebel against Big Brother, which could mean that as Julia loves Winston, he is taking advantage of her by telling her that whatever Julia is doing is right that he is totally supporting her. Additionally this could mean that he wanted more people to be corrupt, and everyone to go to the wrong path and disobey Big Brother. Orwell presents the act of rebellion through love because in the Dystopian society there are strict rule that need to be followed, such as no having sex for pleasure, and this is clearly an act of rebellion as Julia had sex with lots of party member. Similarly in Romeo and Juliet where Shakespeare is presenting their love by rebelling, they are both willing to disobey the orders of the wise ones just to be with each other. Therefore stay yet; thou needst not to be gone proposes that Juliet is stubborn, as the Daughter of Capulet; she is used to get what she wants. Additionally Romeo declares to her Let me taen, let me be put to death This could emphasise that he is willing to die for Juliet and stay with her than live his life without her, this clearly shows that he is rebelling against all the rules put upon them, just to stay with Juliet. Not to be gone could suggest that Juliet is being bossy as she is ordering him to stay with her. But alternatively this could highlight that as men in the Elizabethan had power over women, and they were patriarchal meaning that Juliet was a bad influence on Romeo, and that she was almost a threat to his manhood. As he accepts defeat Romeo says let me put to death which could declare that Juli et is Romeos weakness and that if someone breaks Juliet, Romeo will also shatter.

My Antonia Essay: Importance of Setting -- My Antonia Essays

The Importance of Setting in My Antonia The setting of the story has tremendous impact on the characters and themes in the novel "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. Cather's delicately crafted naturalistic style is evident not only in her colorfully detailed depictions of the Nebraska frontier, but also in her characters’ relationship with the land on which they live. The common naturalist theme of man being controlled by nature appears many times throughout the novel, particularly in the chapters containing the first winter. The Burden's and the Shimerda's, try as they might, cannot fight the harsh climate of the Nebraska prairie. Rather than attempt to control the environment around them, they must learn to work with it and adjust to make do with what they have. Jim learns this his first winter, as well as the Shimerda's, for they are both newcomers to a strange place. They realize that trying to fight the wind and snow will do more harm than good, and adapt themselves to work when weather permits and hope nature... My Antonia Essay: Importance of Setting -- My Antonia Essays The Importance of Setting in My Antonia The setting of the story has tremendous impact on the characters and themes in the novel "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. Cather's delicately crafted naturalistic style is evident not only in her colorfully detailed depictions of the Nebraska frontier, but also in her characters’ relationship with the land on which they live. The common naturalist theme of man being controlled by nature appears many times throughout the novel, particularly in the chapters containing the first winter. The Burden's and the Shimerda's, try as they might, cannot fight the harsh climate of the Nebraska prairie. Rather than attempt to control the environment around them, they must learn to work with it and adjust to make do with what they have. Jim learns this his first winter, as well as the Shimerda's, for they are both newcomers to a strange place. They realize that trying to fight the wind and snow will do more harm than good, and adapt themselves to work when weather permits and hope nature...

The play “A Doll House” Essay

A Doll House Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From the play, A doll house, it is clear that there is imbalance of power between Nora and her husband Helmer. The husband goes to work and earns for the family while the wife is left at home to do the chores. This brings about the theme of gender inequality. It is also clear that the writer puts more emphasis on the looks of Nora than those of her husband; this shows how the society views men and women differently. The husband is also displayed as being questionable about how the wife is spending the money on gifts even without considering that its Christmas time and they can now afford it from the salary he is getting. If Nora had not been that beautiful, may be Helmer would not have married her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The writer of this book emphasizes much on gender inequality, there is also the aspect of the very many lies that couple keep in their marriages in order to keep them alive which in most of the cases end up being the reason for the separation. There is also the aspect of man eat man society, Krogstad uses Nora in order to retain his job threatening her for a favor he had done a long time ago. At the end of the play, Nora feels her husband had taken her like a doll only to be admired for its beauty and that he did not trust her and therefore she left.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The economic factors have really affected the society in a doll house especially the women to an extent of their ideas and choices about their marriages.  Nora illegally borrowed money for the trip that she and Torvald took to Italy; she told Torvald that the money had come from her father. For years, Nora reveals, she has worked and saved in secret, slowly repaying the debt, and soon it will be fully repaid. This money was borrowed through Krogstad’s help and when Helmer wanted to sack him,he asks Nora to use her influence to ensure that his position remains secure. When she refuses, Krogstad points out that he has in his possession a contract that contains Nora’s forgery of her father’s signature. Their conversation reveals that the two had been once deeply in love, but Mrs. Linde left Krogstad for a wealthier man who would enable her to support her family. She tells Krogstad that now that she is free of her own fa milial obligations and wishes to be with Krogstad and care for his children. References Ibsen, Henrik, Rolf Fjelde, CalistaFlockhart, Tony Abatemarco, Tim DeKay, Jeannie Elias, Gregory Itzin, JoBeth Williams, Rosalind Ayres, and Susan A. Loewenberg.  A Doll House. Venice, Calif.: L.A. Theatre Works, 2012. Internet resource. Source document

Corruption in Electricity Sector

INTRODUCTION Corruption is a topic of interest and concern in academic circles, in the media, among people of different professions, within the civil service, among members of parliament, politicians, government officials, members of the business and financial communities, students, foreign investors, aid agencies and non-governmental organizations. In other words, the term corruption is not new to Bangladesh. A general impression conveyed by the media and by popular discourse is that among ordinary people in Bangladesh; corruption is viewed quite clearly as ‘a way of life'.A recent survey carried out by the Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad reinforces that impression: the survey found, among other significant data, that 95 per cent of respondents believed that the police were the most corrupt department in the land, followed very closely by the customs, the department of excise and taxation, the bureaucracy, and the judiciary. A solid 62 per cent of respondents believed that the pri mary responsibility for corruption in Bangladesh lay in the hands of government officials. Corruption is not identifiable as a single, separate, independent entity which can be isolated and destroyed.Corruption is a complex set of processes involving human behavior and many other variables, some of which are difficult to recognize or measure. Even though corruption manifests itself as a force on its own and often generates its own momentum, it is linked to many other factors, and it is by understanding these factors that we can hope to understand corruption. What is corruption? There are several meanings of the word corruption but when we use the term, we usually refer to a specific kind of exchange, activity or behavior.For instance, corruption could mean a process of physical decay or degeneration; the loss of innocence; a state of moral impurity or moral deterioration; perversion in taste or language; and also the wrongful, negligent or willfully corrupt act of a public official in the discharge of his or her public duties. Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone whose life, livelihood or happiness depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority. Corruption (philosophical concept), often refers to spiritual or moral impurity, or deviation from an ideal.Corruption is not just an economic exchange, generated by a monetary or ‘economic' motive. Neither is corruption an exclusively political activity, motivated by a desire to attain or retain political power. The process of corruption is more than economic or political – it is a social process as well, existing side-by-side with, and sometimes complementing economic and political activity. Historical Background: Power is the key source of productivity and an effective breakthrough to the modernization of the world society.Electricity was first installed at Dhaka in 1901, and in 1948, the Electricity Directorate was established in East Pakistan. D uring that period, the highest plant size was only 10 mw Steam Turbine in Siddhirganj along with other plants in Chittagong and Khulna. Box 1: Historical Background of The Power Sector 1901: Electricity was first installed at Ahsan Manjil, Dhaka City (Generation: 21 MW by Public; Distribution: 17 towns by private companies) 1948: Electricity Directorate (ED) 1959: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) 1960: EPWAPDA statuary org. 972: Bangladesh Water Development Board and Bangladesh Power Development Board 1978: Rural Electrification Board 1991: Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority 1996: Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh and Dhaka Electricity Supply Company 2002: Ashuganj Power Supply Company Ltd. 2003: West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd. 2005: North West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd Source: http://www. bpdb. gov. bd The construction of the Kaptai hydro-electric project with an installed capacity of 40 MW and commissioning of Dhaka-Chittagong 32 KV tran smission line in 1962, was a milestone in the history of power development in this country. Each year the demand is increasing at the rate of 10 – 12 percent or 800-1000 mw and the government is also commitment to meet the MDG (Millennium Development Goal) regarding the access to electricity for all by 2020, the country’s power generation has to be increased by at least 8 per cent each year. Besides, to ensure energy security, there should be an arrangement of 16–22 percent power to be reserved in both of public and private sectors through quality investment†3.Since only 12 percent of the households in the lowest 20 percent of the income distribution have access to power, the need for better access to affordable and reliable electricity to the majority of the people of Bangladesh by 2020. However, the yearly growth of the generation verses the demand for new connections provides the reverse scenario. Therefore, the determination of consumer tariffs and the reliability of power are important issues in terms of the policy formulation, as energy prices should be based on production costs and efficiency, and subsidies should be given on the basis of social and economic need.Overview of the Power Sector in Bangladesh: The Government of Bangladesh is committed to provide affordable and reliable electricity to all citizens by 2020. However, the nation’s 1386 million people, only 42 percent7 have access to electricity, which was only 3 percent in 1971; but per capita electricity consumption is 165 kwh/unit, still one of the lowest in the world, against India’s 561 kwh per. Unfortunately, 79 percent of the connected suffer severe load-shedding, and 60 percent of the consumers face low voltage supply. The power sector of Bangladesh is usually characterized by natural monopolies10.Conventional wisdom states that since natural monopolies threaten competitive pressures, they should be regulated either by the government, through inde pendent regulatory agencies or directly by public enterprises. Table 1: Key Statistics of the Power Sector SectorPublicIPP+Captive Installed Capacity5275 mw2490 mw* De-rated Generation Capacity4582 mw Generation (Effective)Demand* Maximum Generation (sep’ 07)4130 mw5368 mw Minimum (Jan’ 07)2331 mw Transmission Lines (230 and 132 KV in km)4119 Distribution Lines in Km2,64,891 Access of electricity (%)42Per capita generation 165 kwh Per capita consumption 140 kwh Consumer Number including WZPDCL97. 33 lac Agricultural Consumers2. 16 lac System Loss (Average Percentile) 21. 3 Source: Power Cell, February 25, 2007 * 1290 mw generation in IPP and 1200* captive power consumption Moreover, allowing another firm would increase cost or inefficiency. The Power sector includes the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity among different holdings including residential, commercial, industrial and service sectors under the guidance of the Power Division of MPEMR.At p resent, BPDB has total installed capacity of generating 4680 MW in 65 units, including the public and private sectors. The Independent Power Producers (IPP) is now producing 1290 mw in 37 units of power plants located at different parts of the country11. In this situation, the GoB drafted an energy policy accounting the increased scope of gas exploration and power generation to meet the future demand for both renewable and nonrenewable energy. Currently, 80 percent of power is non-renewable indigenous gas-based, and 70 percent of the commercial energy is recovered by gas12; the rest 20 percent is from power and 10 percent from coal.Due to poor generation, the maximum demand served was the lowest of 3000 mw at peak hours in January, 2007. Though there was no significant increase in power generation, the transmission network was expanded rapidly by the funding from ADB. However, due to the intervention of vested interest groups, poor co-ordination, the absence of accountability and tr ansparency is perverse. Power shortage hampers the contribution of power to GDP growth and creates huge excesses/unbearable demand.Under these critical circumstances there is an immediate need to identify or diagnose the major reasons for the unavailability of power as well as the low level performance of the power sector. Corruption is one of the major threats to global development, especially in developing countries; for instance, â€Å"corruption is jacking up the cost of power projects in the Philippines, delaying their implementation and providing Filipino households and businesses with expensive but unreliable electricity services†.According to the Household Survey on Corruption in 2005, â€Å"around 10 percent of the consumers are using illegal connections and around 48 percent paid bribes for taking a new connection or meter†. This corrupt practice was first identified in 1956. According to Husainy, â€Å"Dacca Electricity Supply Co. was also nationalized in 1 956 due to virulent corruption in new connection due to excess demand, maintaining uninterrupted power supply; though some improvement was observed but not significant at all during that period. †In terms of distribution of electricity, non-technical loss and pilferage of electricity make the sector more vulnerable and the bribery and harassment of the staff faced by 70 percent of the consumers18 are few of the examples of the mismanagement of this sector. Under the above circumstances, it is necessary to identify the prospect and governance in the power sector. This study tries to find the source of corruption in several issues of procurement, generation, transmission, distribution and human resource management, including the effectiveness of the existing act to combat the corruption and abuse of power.Purpose of the study: Broad Objective: The broader objective is to review the governance system of the power sector and to identify the nature of corruption likely to be presen t in the different division of the power sector. Specific Study: ?To diagnose governance failure and demand-supply shortfalls ? To identify whether any governance failure exists, regarding human resource, administration, finance etc. ?To identify the rate of corruption are occurred in this sector. To identify the actual lose has been occurred in this sector and so forth. ?To identify the sufferings and harassment faced by the consumers, especially by the poor in the commercial services including new connections, day-to-day services, billings load shedding. Methodology: Data Collection Process for Secondary Materials: Literature, articles, periodicals, reports, acts and rules, also electronic journals, documents of power sector, case studies on power generation and distribution have been reviewed. Collection of Primary Information:The primary sources of qualitative data are informal discussions with stakeholders, employees and experts of the power sector and documents on the procurem ent and distribution sides to assess whether any mismanagement or illegal practices such as abuse of power and/or funds and resources took place. Rapport building played an important role in the extraction of the qualitative data. Key informants were sector experts, policy makers, academicians who provided specific case studies and recommendations to improve the governance of the power sector, including procurement, BERC, generation, distribution and legal practice.Consumer Survey on the Quality of Commercial Service and Billing: A cross section survey among all types of consumers was administered during 5 May to 5 June of 2006 to find out the quality of services provided by different organization including DESA and DESCO. The instrument of the survey, i. e. the questionnaire, was developed by the researcher and then validated through field tests. The questionnaire on consumer survey covers the nature and extent of the corruption and harassment faced by the consumers. Questionnaire for Consumer Survey:The components of the questionnaire were six: i) the basic profile of the consumers with the information on the socio-economic profiles of the consumers/adult respondents, consumption pattern of electricity, ii) the types of connection, the new connection process, problems and harassment faced by consumers, the amount of bribe transacted during the connection process; iii)the quality of electricity service in terms of meter reading and billing process, illegal practices such as collusion with meter readers, fake billing, and other day-to-day service-related problems; iv) load extension, load shedding and voltage variation, losses of equipment due to voltage fluctuation; v) and finally, the consumers’ satisfaction regarding the different commercial services has also been illustrated through this measuring scale. Sampling Technique: A multi-stage stratified sampling technique has been followed to determine the sampling of the consumers for the survey  œ Stage 1: Consumption pattern of DESA DESCO, to put the proportionate weight in determination of the number of the sample for each agency. Then, the proportion of consumers across the distributors is considered in stage 2.Stage 2: Based on this proportion, different types of consumers are considered to select the sampling from each distributor agency. Stage 3: Distribution of Sample Consumers sing the standard formula of random sampling, the precision level or observed probability of corrupt practices was extracted at 0. 7 at a 5 percent level of error. Sample size, 1027 was determined using the design effect and across agencies in regional clusters. Distribution of Sampling Consumers: DistributorDistrict/Area Or Ward D C ISub totalTotal DESA DESCO Dhaka, Mirpur Dhaka, Karwan Bazar 10 10 10 10 10 10 30 30 60 (D= Domestic, C= Commercial, I= Industrial) Governance Failures and Problems in the Power Sector:Under the co-ordination and guidance of the Power Division, BPDB, a holding com pany, is solely responsible for generating, transmitting and distributing power through PDB, DESA, DESCO, WZPDCL and REB/PBSs though out the country. Usually, the Prime Minister is in Charge of the MPEMR and a State Minister runs the Power Division under the guidance of the PM. The PDB Chairman is Chairman of the newly converted holding company of BPDB21 and the Secretary of corporatized companies such as PGCB and WZPDCL. Furthermore, Chairman of DESA is also the Chairman of DESCO. The newly established BERC is to regulate planning, tariff fixing, dispute settlement and licensing.The following Flow Chart-1 shows the functional relationship between the different wings of the power sector. Adverse Power Crises: According to the ADB (2005), â€Å"Consumption of electricity in Bangladesh grew at an average annual rate of 8. 2% from FY 1994 to FY 2004 and forecast is to grow at an annual rate of about 8% for the next 10 years. † Since the early 1990s, the supply of power went down and system loss shot up and the frequency of load shedding increased vigorously by the middle of the 1990s. In this situation, the Government proposed the National Energy Policy in 1995, but this also failed to meet the crisis and finally Power Cell formulated the Private Power Generation policy in 1996 in order to boost the generation of power.Crisis in the power sector or the staggering demand-supply gap has emerged due to several key reasons. Since the generation of power did not increase at the rate of the increase in demand, the gap between served generation and peak demand has increased over the period shown in Figure 1. In mid ‘90, the shortage was almost zero, but the staggering gap and the demand has been increasing, the official figure is at 4250 mw, but the production is only at 2100-2200 mw which resulted in a 2000 – 2200 mw shortfall in generation. According to the PSMP 2006, the real demand was forecasted at 6200 mw in 2007, but at the same time the amoun t of power generation went down to 3,200 mw.It is noted here that the demand for power has been increasing at a rate of around 10 percent per year and furthermore then the total shortage of power would be around 435032 mw in 2010 or even more than the current estimate (shown in figure 4) if the progress of the establishment of the proposed power plants is not completed as per schedule. In estimating demand, the PDB does not usually consider economic growth and the exact demand of the prospective consumers. The crisis also emerged due to the absence of a vision and mission by PDB and DESA as well. Absence of clear organization goals of the PDB and DESA: The Power sector is such a dynamic sector that it requires clear organizational goals or objectives and the strength to take sharp decision. In reality, however, the PDB and DESA do not have clear working paper, organizational goals.As a result, there is always a sense of confusion between policy makers and the management. This hamper s the productive growth of the sector as well as its day-to-day services. New Connection Process and harassments faced by the consumer: The staff is responsible for completing the several tasks associated with a new connection. In a particular holding, no more than one residential connection is provided, with each flat considered flat as a separate entity. Requirements need to be fulfilled as per tariff rules and pro-poor documentation. In reality it is quite tough for an applicant to complete the process by himself due to harassments by the staff and agents or media.According to the survey, on average, 27percent of the consumers (the highest figure being 42 percent) face the harassment during the new connection process. A new connection process and the tyranny of â€Å"media† or â€Å"broker† According to the 2006 survey, among the applicant for a new connection, 94. 2 percent took the new connection through an agent in order to avoid the hassle and to save time; only 4. 3 percent of the consumers got the new connection by themselves. According to the consumer survey in the case of both LTI and HT connections, 94 percent of the applicants took the help of brokers or agents such as meter readers, MLSS/Fourth class employees, or electrical Contractor. Process of new connection IN DESA;Average bribe of a new connection: Reduction of bills at cost of bribe in DESA: The S & D Office disconnected the line with an outstanding amount of Taka. 3,00,000 and filed a case against ‘x’ consumer of Lalbagh S&D. The Meter Reader proposed a bribe of Taka. 1, 50,000 to settle the case. The concerned consumer agreed to the proposal in order to become benefited and to avoid harassment. Finally, the case was dismissed and office issued the reduced bill for only Taka. 28, 000 for the following month. It is noted here that the meter reader did not provide any bank receipt to the consumers, just a paper upto clearance. This is a reflection of the DESA†™s management system.Average bribe to reduce meter change Delay in Providing New Connections: According to the 2006 survey findings, if any consumer does not pay a bribe then the consumer can get connection even before the deadline of around 30 days; the longest delay in DESCO for providing a new connection was 103 days, but at the payment of bribe the connection took only 6 to 7 days for getting a new connections in DESA and RDB respectively. Interestingly, the PBS, through efficient in maintaining the desired import-collection ratio, also makes delays in getting new connection if the consumers do not bribe to the officials (Table 9). Complexities in File Processing:Bureaucratic dilemma/delay is a regular phenomenon in Bangladesh; and it is also practiced during the provision of a new connection, as application files pass through around 36/38 hands/tables before an applicant get a connection. Though the office claims that the delay is due to the insufficiency of MLSS and inadequa cy of the required documents, the real cause of the delay is illegal practice152 or the paying of bribes to speed up the process. Bribe for meter change: Office staff takes monthly bribes to reduce the electricity bill of the consumers by issuing a minimum bill against the huge bill of the power consumed (which are remaining unadjusted and stored in the meter).When the cumulative amounts of the unpaid bills, especially of HT consumers, become high, the meter reader proposes to change meter claiming to be concerned amounts showing the damage. Taking a handsome bribe, officers change the meter claiming to be concerned about the clients showing the cause of the consumer’s safety and GoB loose huge amount of revenue. Consumer, on average, pays an extra Taka 2056 as bribe to the meter reader, lineman, foreman or the Gatish of the meter reader if he/she wants to change the damaged meter. Interestingly, the highest amount has to be paid (i. e. Taka 8685 and Taka 2748) by the consume rs of the corporatized or said to the efficient organization REB. PBS and DESCO161. Erroneous and/or false billingOn average, 39 percent of the consumers of all the distributor agencies claimed that they received excess bills and the meter readers with the help of ledger keeper and the billing section. In case of the unavailability of receipts, consumer has to pay the bill with a fine including a surcharge; the significance of the chi-square value162 justifies the allegation on the wrong meter reading. It supports the presence of erroneous and bogus billing in the PDB, DESA and PBSs as well. If any honest consumer, particularly, is the small industries category (such as cold storage, cinema halls etc. ) where refrigeration plants, air conditioners had standard loads, does not agree To conclude with meter reader and wants to pay the correct bills, he is likely to be in serious trouble.Conclusion and Policy Recommendation: A number of efforts have been made by the present caretaker go vernment in order to mitigate the power failures. These efforts include the following: Cancellation of the tendering process of small power plants addressing the allegation of nontransparent process and attempt for re-tender. Identification of major targets to rehabilitate and maintain the power station, and sign of treaties to establish both public and private power plants. Unfortunately, it is alleged by local power company that the aid providing agencies have put several clauses in the bid manual so that they cannot submit the bid papers fulfilling the conditions.Approval of five IPPs (three foreign companies) of 1,930 mw capacity, increasing the share of IPPs in the total power generated up to 3,190 mw (62%). Unfortunately, no significant decision has been taken yet to identify the leakages and rampant theft of power. Appointment of two members for the BERC and development of several guidelines along with the methodology of the determination of power tariff. However, in this met hodology, the peak and off-peak demand was not considered. Besides, there is no vivid guideline from BERC on how submitted documents and information by applicant IPPs would be cross-checked and the previously completed contracts between PDB and IPPs are out of the proposed formula.This study was undertaken with the aim to diagnose the problems prevailing in this sector. The scope of this study includes review the state of governance in this sector, demand-supply shortfalls, the current procedure of power plant procurements and identifying the nature and extent of corruption, accountability of the staff, investigate the sufferings and harassments faced by the consumers, day-to-day services, billing, load shedding, and rural-urban disparities. Information from both primary and secondary sources has been used in preparing the report. Sources of secondary information included acts and rules, published articles, periodicals, reports, as well as official documents.Primary sources of infor mation include a consumer survey, informal discussion with stakeholders, employees, and experts of the power sector. The consumer survey covered the nature and the extent of corruption and harassments faced by the consumers. The cross section survey among all types of consumers (1027) was administered to find out the quality of services provided by different organization including PDB, REB/PBSs, DESA and DESCO. Adverse power crises and governance failures The PDB’s official report shows a shortfall of generation of around 2000 – 2200 mw. However, according to PSMP 2006, the total shortage of power would be around 4350 mw in 2010.The reasons for power shortages are identified below. Policy Level Failures: The government failed to put adequate emphasis on the power sector; there has not been any clear and specific guideline to estimate the real demand and supply; there have also been violation of the PSMP in the form of politicization of the location, size and types of p lants, emphasis on short-term planning, inadequate autonomy in making financial and administrative decisions, appointment of foreign consultants for rent-seeking purpose despite the availability of local hands, and imbalanced expansion of distribution lines for rent-seeking purposes Limitations and malpractice within the procurement process:The procurement process in power sector has been distorted due to unwanted intervention in the procurement process, complexities of the bidding process, wrong evaluations, absence of uniform Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), delay in hiring consultants and resolving disputes due to bureaucratic dilemma, corruption such as putting specific condition, nepotism, extortion by vested interest groups, collusion between the bid officials and bidders, false experience certificate submitted by bidders, appointment of contractors for maintenance and rehabilitations without any tender, abuse of funds by plant and policy-level staff, supply of low qualit y machinery violating the contract, and power purchase agreements made at high rates. As a result, around Tk 4,007 crore or US$ 688 million (from purchase of the 6 power plants and outsourcing the maintenance and rehabilitation works to a foreign company) during 1996-2005 have been abused.Inadequate financial capacity: Around 17000 crore Taka is required to meet the demand for power of 8000 mw by next 2010; but the concerned organizations have inadequate financial capacity due to i) cumulative increase of unpaid bills and unaccountable indebted organizations, ii) poor rate of collection (caused by high T&D losses, legal shelter taken by large bill defaulters, low density of consumers in several PBSs of REB), and iii) instantaneous increase of financial burden due to contract with IPPs at a floating exchange rate, iv) contract, under PPA, with IPPs at high tariff arte, v) high input cost of diesel based generation plants. References:Analysis of the Sustainability of the Electrical Po wer Sector, Advanced Engineering Associates International (AEAI), February 2003, Asian Development Bank, 2005, Sector Assistance Program Evaluation of Asian Development Bank Assistance to Philippines Power Sector. Asian Development Bank, â€Å"Special Evaluation Study on Cost Recovery in the Power Sector Operation and Evaluation Department†, SS-55, April 2003 Bacon, R. W. and Besant-Jones, J. , 2001,’Global Electric Power Reform, Privatization And Liberalization Of The Electric Power Industry In Developing Countries’ The International Bank of Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank. Washington. D. C. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act 2003, BG press, MPEMR, GoB, 2003, DhakaBose, Sudhansu, Poor collection efficiency of Indian state owned power distribution companies: causes and remedies, White Paper, Wipro InfoTech Complexity of Electric Power Distribution Governance†, Journal, 26 (3), 1-39, 2004 Dr. Hardiv H Situmeang, June 1, 2005, THE CHA LLENGE OF FINANCING POWER PROJECTS. Jakarta Fiany, Ronald, et. al. July 2003, Governance Problem in the Brazilian Power Sector, Oxford University Gilbert, Richard and Kahn, Edward et al, 1996, International Comparisons of Electricity Regulation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. HYPERLINK†http://www. stenmar. com/oil_and_gas_sector. asp† http://www. stenmar. com/oil_and_gas_sector. asp

Louisiana Purchase Essays - Great Plains, Midwestern United States

Louisiana Purchase Essays - Great Plains, Midwestern United States Louisiana Purchase Several great American Statesmen were pivotal in shaping and molding the government of the United States. History has since forgotten some of these founding fathers. The ones remembered throughout history are those we hold up for their accomplishments. Thomas Jefferson is one of the American Statesmen that stands out from the rest as being one of the greatest contributors to our present form of government. Historian Robert Tucker described Jefferson's life as being a paradox. He was a slave holder that was not necessarily in favor of this form of servitude. He also associated himself with the yeoman farmer, yet he traveled in company with a cosmopolitan flair. So it is to this President that we look to as he faced one of his greatest dilemmas. Jefferson, the third President of the United States, remembered primarily for two great accomplishments: he authored the Declaration of Independence and made the greatest land acquisition in our nation's history, the Louisiana Purchase. Both subjects, have been written about extensively, yet one question persists: did Thomas Jefferson exceed his fiduciary duty to the Constitution of the United States when he started the proceedings that led to the Louisiana Purchase? Thomas Jefferson was a pragmatic, articulate, and, at times, capricious leader of a young nation that had recently gained its freedom from the monarchical Great Britain. Jefferson, a Democratic Republican, made his ascension to the presidency at a time when the Federalist Party was in decline. The Louisiana Purchase would bring a great deal of discomfort to the Party. The only opposition to the purchase would consequently be the Federalist Party which, ironically, had always been in favor of a broad construction of the Constitution. The broad constructionist believed that the Constitution held implied powers to the central government. The people who interpreted the Constitution in this fashion backed the notion of strong centralization of power. The strict constructionist, like Jefferson, believed that if something in the Constitution was not described then it was unconstitutional. They also feared the abuse of power obtainable by the central government by a broad interpretation of the Constitution. Since 1493, France and Spain alternately held the Louisiana Territory. Towards the end of the 18th century the jurisdiction of the territory was under Spanish rule. New troubles were brewing on the European continent and the Americans feared that the Louisiana Territory would fall into the hands of the British. This would place the British on three sides of the Americans and they were prepared to go to war to avoid this. The Spaniards, uncertain of their British ally and fearing an insurrection from within the Louisiana Territory, signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo or Pinckney's Treaty with the Americans in 1795. Under terms of the treaty, Americans were allowed to deposit goods for overseas shipment at the port of New Orleans free of duty. The Spanish also ceded control of the Ohio River Valley to the Americans. This pleased the majority of Americans who were in favor of westward expansion, many of who were by now settling illegally in the Louisiana Territory. Securing the Mississippi River for commercial purposes was of the greatest importance to most Americans at the time. The desired peace of the country to be protected from outside interference was also the goal of those in favor of expansion. In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the French government and assumed control of France and her colonies. Bonaparte was anxious to build a western empire, perhaps to make up for his previous losses in Egypt. Bonaparte saw the conquest of the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo as his first step in his western expansion efforts. From Santo Domingo the French could support troops that they intended to post in New Orleans. By early 1801 American whites made up more than half of the population in upper Louisiana. In 1802 the first migration of Americans west of the Mississippi River begun and by now the Americans looked to wrest the Louisiana Territory away from the Spanish. To this dream of conquest of the Spaniards by Americans is to what Jefferson responded. He was not alone in his supposition of the need for expansion. Indeed, the one area that Jefferson and his

Free Essays on Factors Of Management

Abstract Dell Computer’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin B. Rollins clearly believes in the company. He turned down the opportunity to interview for the top spot at Hewlett-Packard in 1999, even though he says he never expected to ever be CEO of Dell. He said, â€Å"I’d rather be on the Super Bowl team than be the quarterback for someone else.† So far, Dell looks like it has a winning duo. Internal and External Factors of Dell Computer Just days before Dell Inc’s April 2002 analyst meeting, President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin B. Rollins awoke with a new ambition: Double the company’s revenues to $60 billion within five years. It was a rare departure from reality for Rollins, whose numbers-driven discipline had elevated him to Michael S. Dell’s number two man. Dell was skeptical, yet Rollins quickly convinced him that it was achievable and would excite investors. Dell unveiled the plan at the analyst meeting, and it has since become the company’s primary goal. â€Å"Dell has not seen its apex,† he says. Although he was not well known outside of Dell, Rollins has played a bigger role in the company’s current success than anyone, other than the founder. After arriving as a consultant from Bain & Co. in 1993, Rollins used his keen eye to craft planning systems. During the years of blistering growth that followed, Rollins ascended to Dell’s inner circle of advisers. When PC sales started to slide in 2000, he drove the company to sharpen its execution, cut costs, and wage an all-out price war that devastated rivals. Now he’s the point man for an audacious expansion plan. â€Å"The company needs four or five people with the strength of Kevin,† says Electronic Data Systems Corp. CEO Michael Jordan, a former Dell board member. Rollins may be one of a kind – an unusual mix of analytical, cerebral, and spiritual. He trained to be a classical violinist before studying business at Brigha... Free Essays on Factors Of Management Free Essays on Factors Of Management Abstract Dell Computer’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin B. Rollins clearly believes in the company. He turned down the opportunity to interview for the top spot at Hewlett-Packard in 1999, even though he says he never expected to ever be CEO of Dell. He said, â€Å"I’d rather be on the Super Bowl team than be the quarterback for someone else.† So far, Dell looks like it has a winning duo. Internal and External Factors of Dell Computer Just days before Dell Inc’s April 2002 analyst meeting, President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin B. Rollins awoke with a new ambition: Double the company’s revenues to $60 billion within five years. It was a rare departure from reality for Rollins, whose numbers-driven discipline had elevated him to Michael S. Dell’s number two man. Dell was skeptical, yet Rollins quickly convinced him that it was achievable and would excite investors. Dell unveiled the plan at the analyst meeting, and it has since become the company’s primary goal. â€Å"Dell has not seen its apex,† he says. Although he was not well known outside of Dell, Rollins has played a bigger role in the company’s current success than anyone, other than the founder. After arriving as a consultant from Bain & Co. in 1993, Rollins used his keen eye to craft planning systems. During the years of blistering growth that followed, Rollins ascended to Dell’s inner circle of advisers. When PC sales started to slide in 2000, he drove the company to sharpen its execution, cut costs, and wage an all-out price war that devastated rivals. Now he’s the point man for an audacious expansion plan. â€Å"The company needs four or five people with the strength of Kevin,† says Electronic Data Systems Corp. CEO Michael Jordan, a former Dell board member. Rollins may be one of a kind – an unusual mix of analytical, cerebral, and spiritual. He trained to be a classical violinist before studying business at Brigha...

Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and Neutering Spaying and Neutering Spaying and Neutering By Maeve Maddox A local public service announcement invites listeners to telephone for further information â€Å"about spay and neutering.† A Web search finds numerous examples of the verb spay joined with the participle form: This vet clinic in SW Portland offers low-cost spay and neutering for cats and dogs. Pet Spay and Neutering Program–Just Fix It [USDA] provides a list of programs in each state that provides low cost or free spay and neutering services for cats. Several institutions and organizations offer help for pet spay and neutering or low-cost service.   The present participle of the verb spay is spaying. The examples should read â€Å"spaying and neutering†: This vet clinic in SW Portland offers low-cost spaying and neutering for cats and dogs. Pet Spaying and Neutering Program–Just Fix It [USDA] provides a list of programs in each state that provides low cost or free spaying and neutering services for cats. Several institutions and organizations offer help for pet spaying and neutering or low-cost service.   An easy way to avoid misusing the word spay in announcements of this kind would be to use only the word neuter. Unlike spay, which refers to the removal of an animal’s ovaries, the word neuter can mean either â€Å"to castrate† or â€Å"to spay.†    The past and present participle forms of the verb spay are frequently mispronounced and misspelled: Incorrect: I got my cat spaded and she got [a] hernia from the stitches. Correct : I got my cat spayed and she got [a] hernia from the stitches. Incorrect: I am contemplating  spading  and declawing my kitten when she turns 6 months old.   Correct : I am contemplating  spaying and declawing my kitten when she turns 6 months old. The past tense forms of both verbs–neuter and spay–end in -ed: neutered and spayed. The words are pronounced [nyoo-terd] or [noo-terd]) and [spayd]. Speakers who mispronounce and misspell the word spayed as spaded are perhaps confused by the existence of the word spade [spayd], which functions as both noun and verb. The verb spade (to dig) has a past form in -ed: If you did not plow or  spade the  garden site in the fall, turn the  soil  in spring as soon as it is dry enough to work. The Alcotts thrived as Bronson  spaded the  earth for his acre of garden. An interesting etymological fact is that both words–spay and spade–derive from spatha, the Latin word for a broad-bladed sword. The verb spay entered English from French espeier, â€Å"to cut with a sword.† Its earliest meaning in English was â€Å"to kill a deer with a sword,† as in these directions in a 1425 hunting manual: â€Å"spay him [the deer] even behind the shoulder forward to the heart.† The same manual also uses spay to mean removing the ovaries of an animal. The word spay got its name from the cutting aspect of a sword, whereas the word spade got its name from a sword’s tapered shape. It may help to keep the words spay and spade apart by remembering that animals are spayed with delicate medical instruments having no resemblance to broad garden implements. 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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsHomonyms, Homophones, Homographs and HeteronymsPractice or Practise?

Project Managent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Managent - Essay Example (Wordnet, 2008) Business Process Reengineering can be defined as a fundamental rethinking and redesign of business processes like marketing department, processing department, finance department and human resource department etc. so that the company can achieve improvements in cost, quality, speed and service of an organization (Wordnet, 2008). Business Process Reengineering is mostly called reengineering and does not mean just the automation or downsizing or even outsourcing. The organization has to keep one thing mind is that even tough the payback of reengineering is considered to be high, the risk of failure along with disruption level of the organization's environment increases. When BPR project is implemented within the organization the management has to remember one thing that it is not an easy task when implementing extreme changes within the business processes of the organization so that the efficiency and the effectiveness would increase. For example there are some organizations, which have gained impressive profits after conducting business process engineering but then again there are some organizations which have failed to achieve their objectives and targets or the improvement these companies sought to improve their business processes. With the help of BPR some employees or specialists from different departments come together to work as a team on product development process. WHY REENGINEERING / SELECTING BPR The organization needs to reengineer so that it can again focus on three things i.e. customers, competition and change. As we know that customers have changing needs and the company has to keep up with that is why reengineering is need. When it comes to competition the company has local as well as global competition. And to have a competitive advantage over its competitor the company has to conduct reengineering. And last but not least change, change would include technology and customer needs. With the help of business process reengineering with in an organization it changes the business processes, can focus on its end-users or customers or clients of the company's product. BPR helps with improving with cost, quality, speed and service of the company. It also introduces new and innovated products and services for the company's customers. And it also improves the efficiency and the effectiveness of the company's business processes. This process is flexible and rich in functionality and it is also process oriented. PEOPLE AFFECTED DUE TO BPR IN AN ORGANIZATION People who will mostly be affected by the business process reengineering would be the employees of the company. Because of BPR implementation with in the company it can damage the trust and the relationship b/w the employee and the employer. The employee would be thinking that due to BPR the employer would downsize and the employees would lose their jobs. Then another conflict can arise between the client of the BPR and the developers, i.e. whatever the client expects compared to what the correct action is. The companies who are planning to implement or do BPR should always make sure that it is sensitive ethically and socially responsible. People who would also be affected by the

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Art History - Essay Example Roy Lichtenstein is a pop artists and contemporary of Andy Warhol. He used parody using old-fashioned comic strip. He was a teacher before venturing to Pop art based on commercial images such as advertisement painting focused on bard-edged figures. His 1961 Look Mickey used Be-Day dots or a technique comparable to Pointillism (Lobel, 33). Since then, he has produced more art works combining oil or Magana paint exemplified in Drowning Girl and the pop art diptych Whaam! He has influenced other DC comics artists (Lobel, 60). Liechtenstein is an iconography in pop art that until today amaze collectors and contemporary comic book fans. While he may be regarded by some as quite commercial for his techniques and use comic-style graphics, he is one artist to reckon with. Charles Atlas is a filmmaker and video artist. In his online biography, Charles Atlas came from St. Louis, Missouri and born in 1958. Video art uses the video tape as a statement of exploration on the medium or against commercial, entertainment video and may not have any logical presentation or narrative plot except for juxtaposition of images and scenes (Knight, 49). Atlas worked both on stage, screen, museum, and television and also had video installation works. He is considered to have pioneered the â€Å"media-dance, a genre in which original performance work is created directly for the camera† (PBS, P 2) and worked with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for ten years. He collaborated with choreographers, dancers, and performers such as Yvonne Rainer, Michael Clark, Douglas Dunn, Marina Abramovic, Diamanda Galas, John Kelly, and Leigh Bowery. His four-hour montage â€Å"Television Dance Atlas† on Dutch television used dance styles of ballet, burlesque, and figure skating (PBS P 3). His video installation â€Å"The Hanged One† used rotoscopes, motorized mannequins, and theatrical lighting and may be considered evolving in its various presentations. He

The relative importance of Reward and Resourcing within the overall Essay

The relative importance of Reward and Resourcing within the overall role of the Human Resource function - Essay Example The present composition describes employee rewards and resourcing aspects of management. Contemporary rewards management focuses on integrating HRM and strategic rewards in a manner that prioritizes managerial deliverables The concept of employee rewards is a complex framework that reinforces the interplay between different aspects of organisational behaviour other than the financial perspective. Employee resourcing is concerned with equating business goals in terms of resources as per the forecasted work. It also involves evaluation of the required skills and technical know-how. In this composition, an attempt to understand the relation between employee resourcing and rewards has been made along with an understanding of how these practices impact each other and the business in positive and negative ways. From rewards perspective, contemporary organisations and businesses focus on developing attracting and developing talent alongside improving organisational performance. A comprehens ive reward system has to meet the requirements of flexibility in terms of pay and incentives; as well as meet governmental regulations put forth in the form of labour law and wages; in addition, this system should include a provision for continuous negotiation between employer and employee, which will extract optimum performance from the employee and also provide maximum benefit in the form of rewards. Framing such a comprehensive reward system is therefore very complicated. ... The reward systems are strategically integrated with organisational goals. These rewards are based on performance and can be flexibly altered according to the business and/or employee preferences. As described by Armstrong and Brown (2006, p.22), the holistic approach of total rewards provides for the integration with reward of a number of HR policies and practices such as employee development, resourcing, life-work balance, recognition schemes, work design and participation. Yet, the total rewards system does not make the purpose of attracting and retaining the best talent simple; the system is always complex and time consuming. Different practices adopted in reward management include merit or individual performance pay, profit-sharing, broadbanding, competence-related pay, flexible benefits, team pay and gain-sharing. Of these, merit or performance pay practice is adopted by most of the companies (Armstrong, 2002). Evolution of the contemporary rewards system has culminated in tota l rewards system, a concept that has been adopted by most of the organisations. organisations have modified the system to fit their strategy, which has further resulted in a variety of total reward models. The most renowned models according to CIPD are those of WorldatWork, Hay Group, Towers Perrin and Schuster-Zingheim and Associates (Thompson, 2002). Of these, the most elaborate and comprehensive model is that of the Hay Group, which considers reward design to be a platform that enhances engaged performance. This model includes financial, motivational and practical aspects of work and is made of six elements: inspirational values, quality of work, enabling environment, tangible rewards, work-life balance, and future

"Taylor Rule and Inflation Targeting" Coursework

"Taylor Rule and Inflation Targeting" - Coursework Example Indeed, the rule reckons how the Federal Reserve System has raised the funds rate in responding to inflation. Moreover, the rule recognizes an output gap and observed inflation where the Federal Reserve manipulates the output gap to control inflation (Hetzel, 2000). However, there is uncertainty on whether the Taylor rule can offer fundamental explanation on future inflation rates especially in America. On the other hand, the central bank can use inflation targeting as a monetary policy. Inflation targeting influences the economy since it controls increase in price levels (Jahan, 2015). Indeed, if central bank in the U.S. used inflation targeting, it would declare a target inflation rate and seek to control the actual inflation toward the target inflation by regulating interest rates, which would consequently influence price levels. This will equally lead to a transparent monetary policy since the interest rates changes adopted by the central bank will foster clear and opposite inflation rates (Jahan, 2015). As such, under inflation targeting policy, the American economy would be more transparent and increasingly stable. The use of inflation targeting by the central bank in U.S would enable the economy to respond to economic shocks in the short run since inflation targeting entails â€Å"rules† and â€Å"discretion† in monetary policy (Jahan, 2015). Hetzel, R. L. (2000). The Taylor Rule: Is It a Useful Guide to Understanding Monetary Policy? Retrieved from

Wk4 Discussions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wk4 Discussions - Assignment Example Some of them might not be conscious of the dynamics involved in the investment of securities. Others might be conscious of the securities investment but do not understand which security will give a better return than the other. If Mr. Lynch answers this question, more investors from other industries will be interest on security investment. Mr. Lynch can let us know how to minimize market risks since avoiding it by diversification is impossible. He will suggest other avenues investors can use to minimize the risks associated with the type of security they have invested. Expectations of investors are high return, but market risk being included in the equation then the possibility of high return becomes slim. If investors have been armed with that kind of information regarding securities investment, we can be rest assured the number of investors in securities will increase. This will be a boost to our nation’s economy. To calculate the cost of equity division of cost of structure will need the use of Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) or by Dividend Growth Model (DGM). The cost of debt can be calculated by use of historical (coupon) interest rate or market based interest rate The techniques used to calculate the estimate of divisional cost of capital are referred to as pure play approach. This technique is used to calculate riskier division is the security market line (SML) while for conservation division subjective approach technique would be used to estimate the cost of capital. The main challenge experienced during the estimation of the cost of capital for a division is that it hardly has securities for to trade in the market, so it is a problem to notice the risk of division in the markets’

Written and Unwritten Constitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Written and Unwritten Constitution - Essay Example As we have already seen, the sources of the British Constitution are many and various, and may generally be grouped under four heads: This distinction between written and unwritten constitutions has led to the establishment of a far more important classification of written and unwritten constitutions. The idea of permanency is closely associated with the concept of constitution so much so that stability is considered to be one of its main attributes. Written constitutions are considered to be more permanent and, therefore, more written, because, generally speaking, they cannot be amended except by a special process or by means of special machinery. Unwritten constitutions, on the other hand, are deemed to be unwritten because they can be amended or altered by the ordinary process of legislation. It should, however, be noted that the distinction between written and unwritten constitutions does not necessarily depend on the distinction between written and unwritten constitutions. A written constitution may be as unwritten as an unwritten constitution. A typical instance is furnished by the Italian Constitution of 184 8 which, according to the generally accepted view, could be amended by the ordinary process of legislation. (Smith, 2001, 80) The distinction between written and unwritten constitutions was pointed out for the first time by Bryce, and has now become a fundamental concept of constitutional law and practice. According to Bryce, there are two types of constitutions: those which have grown organically without any pattern either in their form or in their content and which consist of a variety of laws, conventions and customs. (Bogdanor, 1997, 351) The second type is the result of systematic, exhaustive and conscious labour. The first type is derived from the same source as the ordinary laws and, consequently, may be abrogated or revised by the same organ and in the same manner as in the case of ordinary laws; and this he calls an unwritten constitution. On the other hand, a written constitution is derived from a source other than that of ordinary laws and is of a rank superior to that of ordinary laws. It can only be annulled or amended by the same organ which created it or some other organ to which its power has been delegated. In other words, a written constitution is one which demands for its amendment or revision special machinery or a special method. 1 It, therefore, occupies a privileged position and possesses a greater guarantee of permanence: a situation which French jurists have described as constitutional super-legality. In theory, therefore, inflexibility is the essence of this system. (Patterson, 1947, 135) A typic al instance of a written constitution is furnished by the United States of America. Article 7 of the Constitution prescribes two different methods of amendment: (i) either two-thirds of both Houses of the Congress may propose amendments, or legislatures of two-thirds of the States may call a convention for proposing amendments, and (ii) the

Wk4 Discussions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wk4 Discussions - Assignment Example Some of them might not be conscious of the dynamics involved in the investment of securities. Others might be conscious of the securities investment but do not understand which security will give a better return than the other. If Mr. Lynch answers this question, more investors from other industries will be interest on security investment. Mr. Lynch can let us know how to minimize market risks since avoiding it by diversification is impossible. He will suggest other avenues investors can use to minimize the risks associated with the type of security they have invested. Expectations of investors are high return, but market risk being included in the equation then the possibility of high return becomes slim. If investors have been armed with that kind of information regarding securities investment, we can be rest assured the number of investors in securities will increase. This will be a boost to our nation’s economy. To calculate the cost of equity division of cost of structure will need the use of Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) or by Dividend Growth Model (DGM). The cost of debt can be calculated by use of historical (coupon) interest rate or market based interest rate The techniques used to calculate the estimate of divisional cost of capital are referred to as pure play approach. This technique is used to calculate riskier division is the security market line (SML) while for conservation division subjective approach technique would be used to estimate the cost of capital. The main challenge experienced during the estimation of the cost of capital for a division is that it hardly has securities for to trade in the market, so it is a problem to notice the risk of division in the markets’

The explanatory gap Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The explanatory gap - Essay Example John Levine introduced the explanatory gap for the difficulty that the mind theories of physicalists have in explaining the physical properties in giving rise to the way things experienced when they are felt. Levine in his 1983 article used the explanatory gap to point out that even though it might be applicable in a physiological sense, the explanatory gap does not aid our understanding of pain feeling. The explanatory gap has intrigued and vexed a number of researchers and philosophers in a similar way in the past decades and resulted into a considerable debate. Finding a fulfilling and gratifying mechanistic explanation to bridge the gap is a hard problem. This paper seeks to define the explanatory gap, and highlight whether or not the explanatory gap poses an obstacle to materialism with reference to the work of Levine. The explanatory gap infers that there is an existence of a gap of consistent and rational meaningful information that describe and account for characteristics and qualities of consciousness processes, content and states that it is explicable to a rational and logical level of mastery. That is to say, explanatory gap is in the human concept. The term explanatory gap does not illustrate a gap in nature, but rather a gap in our own understanding of nature (Levine 1983). Joseph Levine in his works demonstrates the explanatory gap as an obstacle to materialism. Materialism holds that there exist identities between material kinds and conscious kinds. Joseph Levine illustrates that pain is identical with the C-fibers firing, and also gives an example of viewing something are red which is identical with an activity in the visual V4 area cortex. Joseph Levine also looks at the explanatory gap as an obstacle to materialism in the line with contemporary orthodoxy materialist, and that such kind of identities are posteriori. Levine argues that it is a matter of scientific investigation, to ascertain whether or not pain is the firing C-fibers, rather tha n conceptual reflection to seeing things as red is an activity in the V4 area in the visual cortex. In this regard, the identities of mind and brain that are discovered will be of the same kind to such exemplary a posteriori identities of science as that of temperature is mean kinetic energy, or that of water is H2O. There is also a good scientific evidence for the presence of such like brain and mind identities. In particular cases, there are direct evidence in the co-occurrence of certain material kinds and conscious kinds. Joseph Levine even asserted that the identities of mind and brain strike quite differently from the apparently corresponding scientific identities (Levine 1983). Levine cites some questions to demonstrate the explanatory gap as an obstacle to materialism: presume that we actually have evidence that pain is the same as firing of C-fiber and is one. Would we not still want to try and find out why firing of C-fiber feels pain instead of something else? And why the re is pain in the firing of the C-fiber? There is however no analogous questions that press on us in most of the scientific cases. For example, after finding out that water is H2O, there is no further feeling of the need to know why even when there is H2O, we still have water, or why water is H2O and not anything else. This is the reason Joseph Levine coined the explanatory gap in order to give an impression that something have been left unexplained by mind and brain identities. Many other philosophers besides Joseph Levine have argued that explanatory gap emerges because people cannot draw from the facts

Nike and Vietnam Essay Example for Free

Nike and Vietnam Essay Globalization is a phenomenon that has become a fact in today’s business world. Companies, always looking to cut costs and improve productivity, often look overseas to either expand current business operations or to outsource existing business operations. Companies often make the decision to go global with the hopes of taking advantage of more favorable business environments, better technologies, or relationships with suppliers and customers. While these facts are a part of globalization, there are also positive benefits, which range from lower prices to consumers, increased education for individuals within the countries where expansion occurs, and a higher standard of life for the individuals in these countries. While arguments can be made that globalization is a positive or negative force on a country or on the world economy, the debate is not likely to end any time soon. This paper will take a look at the positive impacts of globalization by examining Nike in Vietnam. Nike has long been viewed as the poster child for problems associated with globalization. Many have accused Nike of employing workers in sweatshop like conditions in poorer countries like China, and more recently Vietnam. In addition to the sweatshop claims, people often say that Nike employs child labor, often even claiming that the child labor is forced and takes place in sweatshops. Many of these same people also suggest that Nike has taken jobs from the United States to these countries where there are fewer laws regarding work conditions and wages so that they can pay their employees less in an effort to make a higher profit with no regard to the value of human life. These are just a few of the accusations that people often make against multinational corporations such as Nike, and this list is much longer. While it is true that there have been problems at certain factories that make Nike products, the company has taken aggressive steps to ensure that all of its factories now comply with basic human rights. It is hard to argue that the conditions experienced by workers at factories in Vietnam are not still vastly different from what we experience in the West, but the culture is much different as well. Therefore, what we may view as harsh conditions may not, in fact, be so to the actual employees. What are often unnoticed, or at least is not mentioned, are the positive effects that Nike has brought to countries like Vietnam. As stated previously, many of the benefits of globalization within a company like Nike must be looked at within the context of the culture being examined. A primary example of this would be the pay. While some may argue that a monthly pay of $72 per month is essentially the same as employing slave labor, the employees at the Nike factory in Ho Chi Minh City might say otherwise. As Johan Norbert (2004) notes, the pay of $72 per month is â€Å"almost three times the minimum wage for a state-owned enterprise,† which typically involves endless days in intense heat or rain in rice fields surrounded by water and bugs. In addition to being higher paying than previous jobs, working in a Nike factory also provides a stable source of income. These higher wages have afforded the employees other benefits as well. When the first factories opening in Ho Chi Minh City, the workers had to walk to the factories, but, within a few years, they saw significant improvements to their transportation options. Norberg (2004) also writes, â€Å"After three years, they could afford bicycles three years later, they could afford scooters [and after eight years], the first workers [could] afford to buy a car. † This is a reality that few people in Ho Chi Minh City experience, with less than 5% of the population owning a car. But perhaps one of the greatest benefits that globalization has brought to Vietnam is the availability to afford higher education. In the past, many children would have been put to work on farms in order for their families to survive, yet â€Å"In ten years, 2. 2 million children have gone from child labour to education† (Norberg, 2004). Millions of children attending school as a result of globalization is a far cry from many of the child labor accusations previously mentioned. Globalization is, and probably will always be, a topic that has very passionate people on both sides of the debate. While arguments both for and against globalization have valid points to make, few people really have really taken the time to look at the direct impact of this ever growing trend. From strictly a consumer standpoint, Nike’s decision to go global and create factories in a variety of countries has led to an increase from under 200 styles to almost 1200 different styles available for purchase (Locke Siteman, 2007, p. 6). More importantly, though, are the points mentioned above, that employees in countries like Vietnam make almost 3x the wages made in their previous employment. Rarely will you hear that these employees are able to afford items such as cars while the majority of people even within their own city cannot. You will also almost never hear that, despite past abuses of child labor, millions of children have been able to get an education. This is a reality that would not have been possible if their parents were still stuck working in rice fields. This education has the abolition to create a positive cycle of growth, wealth, and education for new generations that will continue for years. If you want to see the direct impact that globalization can have, the case of Nike in Vietnam provides a solid starting point to see the positive effects that have come about as Nike has expanded to have workers in over 50 countries.

Public Education Essay -- Education Reform

Public education in the United States is perhaps one of the most critical issues we face as a nation. Once pronouncing the United States as a â€Å"nation at risk†, the educational institution began to implement one reform strategy after another. In efforts to improve schooling for K-12 students, education reform has fiddled with class size, revised graduation requirements, and created standardized testing just to name a few. Unfortunately, traditional public schools are still failing to provide students with a quality education. This is disheartening as we learn that the United States lags behind in math and science compared to our international counterparts. It is safe to say that educational reform has spent billions of dollars over the years in an honest effort to reform education in American; however, most reform decisions have produced little changes. Among the many radical education reform strategies implemented, charter schools are perhaps one of the most prominent. It has been roughly twenty years since several states opened a number of charter schools. The best way to describe charter schools is to say they are independent public schools of choice that are free from rules and regulations compared to traditional public schools. Charter schools are accountable for producing results; otherwise, they are subject to closing due to failing performance. There are more than 5,400 charter schools serving more than 1.7 million children across the country (Center for Education Reform, 2010). Currently, 40 states and the District of Columbia have charter school with 41 laws in place and only 13 have strong laws. The states with the strong laws, 65 percent show positive achievement gains (Center for Education Reform, 2010). These stati... ...ountry could benefit from the presence of charter schools. Although traditional public schooling is in trouble, they are not lost. With thousands of students on waiting list for charter school enrollment and a thousand more who will not attend a school of choice speaks to the need for charter schools. Conventional public schools need to move beyond the mandates of a bureaucratic system in order to experience real revitalization. Perhaps Andy Smarick has the right idea instead of trying to fix failing schools close them and start fresh (2010). Perhaps it is unrealistic to believe with the number of failing schools across this country we could replace them with new schools, but it is clear that something has to be done to ensure a quality education exist for all students. In the meantime, why not give charter schools a chance to educate those who they can serve.

The Ineptitude Of The United S :: essays research papers

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Those are the opening lines to the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. Yet, slavery continued in the United States for nearly ninety years after this document declared that "all men where created equal," and those "unalienable rights" are still not shared by everyone in the United States. The U.S. has been lacking in its responsibility to its citizens. The state responsibility for human and civil rights must be expanded in the United States. In December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The thirty articles of the UDHR were developed to provide a clear definition of human rights. It then became the responsibility of the states of the United Nations to protect those rights. This is where the United States is lacking. The U.S. is one of the founding nations of the United Nations and one of the most influential, yet it has failed to take adequate state responsibility for human rights. Before the ineptitude of the United States can be discussed, the concept of state responsibility for human and civil rights must be clearly defined. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines state as "a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory," and responsibility as "moral, legal, or mental accountability." These definitions of state and responsibility can be interpreted and combined to provide a literal definition of state responsibility. The definition of state responsibility could then be seen as "the moral and legal accountability of a government." A concise notion of state responsibility for human and civil rights would then be congruent to "the moral and legal accountability of government for life, liberty, security, and any other finite right of a person." With the concept of state responsibility for human and civil rights having been defined, the extent of state responsibility in the United States can be discussed. Rhonda Copelon once noted, "†¦the most limited conception of state responsibility [in the United States] has been essentially dismantled." Copelon also made a statement to the effect that rights in the U.S. are limited to constraints on government and that they do not reach private conduct or include the most basic social and economic needs.

The Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymers Engineering Essay

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVESEthylene-propylene-diene terpolymers ( EPDM ) have been widely used in industrial applications because of their first-class opposition against heat, ozone and weathering, every bit good as their unusual handiness of accepting high burden of fillers [ 1-3 ] . Support in the public presentations of gum elastic compounds, such as tensile strength, resiliency, wear opposition and flex opposition, can be achieved by lading the compounds with particulate fillers. Different classs of C black are the well-known conventional fillers used in EPDM gum elastics compounds [ 4 ] . Increasingly, mineral fillers like silicon oxide and clay have attracted more attending as they cost less and give less wellness jeopardies [ 4 ] . But due to the hapless silica-rubber bonding, the support by silicon oxide has non been to the full exploited [ 4, 5 ] . The handiness of silanised silicon oxide, which is normally obtained by pre-treating silicon oxide with Bi ( 3-triethoxysilylpro pyl ) tetrasulphane ( TESPT ) , a yoke agent, adheres silicon oxide to the gum elastic [ 6 ] . Furthermore, it is attractive that the sulphur-bearing bifunctional organosilane can besides assist to bring forth crosslinks between gum elastic ironss with the presence of gas pedals and activators at elevated temperatures, i.e. 140-240A °C [ 5-12 ] . The presence of TESPT improves the remedy procedure in silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastics with other common vulcanizing systems. Though many research workers have made attempts to look into different remedy systems for EPDM gum elastics [ 3, 4, 13-17 ] , the inquiry on the efficiency of remedy systems for commercial production remains unfastened. That gives the aim of this undertaking which is as following: Using different remedy systems to crosslink silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastic ; Assess efficiency of the remedy systems ; Choose the most efficient one for bring arounding the gum elastic. This literature reappraisal foremost introduces the basic background of EPDM gum elastic, including composing, chemical construction and corresponding belongingss and industrial applications in Section 2. Then a brief overview of the preparation of silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastic compounds is given in Section 3, followed by the elaborate debut of recent plants on fillers and remedy systems for silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastic in Sections 4, 5 and 6. Finally, the undertaking program will be discussed.BASIC BACKGROUND OF EPDM RUBBERTerpolymerisation of ethene, propene and a non-conjugated diene gives EPDM gum elastic with a concentrated ethylene-propylene anchor and unsaturation site in the side group, introduced by diene monomers [ 17 ] . Generally, ethene and propene monomers are the major constituents in an EPDM, supplying inherently first-class opposition against debasement by heat, visible radiation, O, and, in peculiar, ozone [ 18 ] . The little sum of non-conjug ated diene monomers place the reactive unsaturation sites available for sulphur vulcanization or polymer alteration chemical science, as the dienes are so structured that merely one of the dual bonds will polymerize [ 19 ] . Figure 1 EPDM ternonomers The three co-monomers used in industry are present in Figure 1. Each diene monomer incorporates with a different ability of triping long concatenation ramification or polymer side ironss, hence affect the processing and vulcanization procedure [ 20 ] . The most normally used termononer is ethylidene norborne ( ENB ) as it can integrate easier and has greater responsiveness with sulphur vulcanization [ 19 ] . The chemical construction of EPDM with ENB termonomer is illustrated as follows: Figure 2 Chemical construction of EPDM A general sum-up of belongingss of EPDM gum elastic is listed in Table 1 below. Table 1 Properties of EPDM gum elastics Polymer Properties Mooney Viscosity, ML ( 1+4, 125A °C ) 5 to 200 Ethylene Content ( wt. % ) 45 to 80 Diene Content ( wt. % ) 0 to 15 Specific Gravity ( gm/ml ) 0.855 to 0.88Vulcanisate PropertiesHardness ( Shore A Durometer ) 30 to 95 Tensile Strength ( MPa ) 7 to 21 Compaction Set B, ( % ) 20 to 60 Elongation ( % ) 100 to 600 Useful Temperature Range ( A °C ) -50 to +160 Tear Resistance Fair to Good Abrasion Resistance Good to Excellent Resilience Fair to Good Electrical Properties Excellent EPDM is the fastest turning man-made gum elastic having to its superior ozone and thermic opposition over other diene gum elastics and its burden of fillers and plasticizers to an highly high degree [ 18 ] . EPDM has found widespread applications in [ 18 ] : Automotive applications, such as seals, hosieries and profiles ; Construction applications, such as roof sheeting, profiles, and seals ; Electrical overseas telegrams and jacketing ; Moulded contraption parts ; besides is Blended with other gum elastics and thermoplastics.EPDM RUBBER FORMULATIONFillers for EPDM RubberDue to the non-crystallising nature of EPDM gum elastic, support is required for EPDM gum elastic, since the mechanical belongingss of the unfilled gum elastic are rather hapless. Carbon black is the most widely used filler for reenforcing EPDM gum elastics, but silicon oxide, clay, talc and some other mineral fillers are besides used [ 19 ] . Increasingly, more attending is being paid to silica [ 1, 2, 4, 15, 16, 21-25 ] . To accomplish full development of support by reenforcing fillers in EPDM gum elastics, C black and other fillers must be good dispersed. Good support can give EPDM gum elastics with high tensile strength, good tear opposition and improved scratch opposition. Furthermore, a well-mixed batch besides improves the processability for bulge, calendaring and modeling [ 19 ] . The reenforcing fillers and their effects on EPDM gum elastics will be discussed in item in Sections 4 and 5.Remedy Systems for EPDM RubberAs mentioned before, the incorporation of unsaturation sites allows the sulfur vulcanising of EPDM rubber. Sulphur remedy is the most widely used method, busying about 80 % of EPDM applications [ 17 ] . EPDM gum elastic can besides be vulcanised in a peroxide remedy system. Rubber vulcanised by sulfur remedy system can suit more emphasis and exhibit higher elongation at interruption, while the advantage of peroxide remedy over sulphur remedy is the formation of thermo-stable carbon-carbon bonds alternatively of thermo-labile sulphur-sulphur bonds, as the dissociation temperature and energy of sulphur-sulphur bonds is lower than that of carbon-carbon bonds [ 17, 26 ] . Hence higher effectivity of heat opposition of EPDM gum elastic can be obtained by peroxide remedy systems. The treatment of remedy systems for EPDM gum elastics will be unwrapped in Section 6.Other AdditivesOther normally used additives in EPDM rubber compounds are plasticizers, s ofteners and treating AIDSs. Naphthenic oils have been the most widely used plasticizers as they have the best compatibility with EPDM gum elastic and lowest cost. Paraffinic oils are normally used for elevated-temperature applications or in colored compounds due to the lower volatility and higher UV stableness. Stearic acid, Zn stearic and other internal lubricators are frequently used as processing AIDSs in EPDM rubber compounds. The presence of tackifier or non is dependent on if there is a demand for presenting tack as EPDM gum elastic compounds are inherently non tacky [ 19 ] . Different preparations of EPDM rubber compounds consequence in a assortment of applications. A typical formula for C black-filled EPDM gum elastic for sheeting application is shown in Table 2 below. Tiwari and colleagues [ 27 ] studied consequence of different interventions of silicon oxide on silica-filled EPDM gum elastic belongingss and the basic preparation for silanised silica-filled gum elastic is given in Table 3. Table 2 Typical formula for C black-filled EPDM sheeting [ 19 ] Components Amount ( phr ) EPDM A 100 N – 347 black 120 Talc 30 PARAFFINIC oil type 103B 95 Zinc oxide 5 Stearic acid 1 MBTS 2.2 TMTD 0.65 TETD 0.65 Sulfur 0.75 Table 3 Basic preparation for silanised silica-filled individual EPDM gum elastic Components Amount ( phr ) EPDM 100 Silica 50 ZnO 5 Stearic acid 2.0 Silane ( TESPT ) 4 Sulfur 1.04 N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2- sulphonamide ( CBS ) 1.5 Tetramethylthiuram disulphide ( TMTD ) 0.8 Zinc dibenzyldithiocarbamate ( ZBEC ) 1.5Fillers USED IN EPDM RUBBERCarbon Black: A Conventional FillerCarbon inkinesss are the most widely used reenforcing fillers in gum elastic industry since the find of their effectivity of bettering the physical and mechanical belongingss of natural elastomers in 1904 [ 12 ] . Different classs of C black have been used in EPDM gum elastics for industrial applications, such as roof sheeting and automotive profiles and many research workers have studied about the mechanical behavior of C black reinforced EPDM gum elastics. Ghosh and Chakrabarti [ 28 ] reported effects of different sums of C inkinesss on the physical and mechanical belongingss, ageing behavior and conduction of EPDM rubber compounds and the rheological behavior of EPDM gum elastic in bulge processing. Osanaiye [ 29 ] used sinusoidal shear flows to analyze the effects of C black, temperature and shear frequence on dynamic mechanical belongingss of EPDM rubber compounds. The effects of different sums of carry oning C black filler on thaw rheology and relaxation behavior of healing free EPDM gum elastic by cone home base viscosimeter was reported by Ghosh and Chakrabarti [ 30 ] . Abd-El Salam and colleagues [ 31 ] used inactive and dynamic analysis to analyze consequence of different vulcanizing systems on the mechanical belongingss of butyl rubber/ EPDM general furnace black. Cavdar, S. et al [ 3 ] reported a comparative survey on mechanical, thermic, viscoelastic and rheological belongingss of cured C black filled EPDM gum elastic. There are many more illustrations of research on other facets of C black reinforced EPDM gum elastics. For illustration, conductive gum elastics have been made by adding conductive C inkinesss into EPDM and its blends by Das, N. C. et Al [ 32 ] . The electrical and mechanical belongingss have been studied.Silica: A Novel FillerRecently, man-made silicon oxide is going more popular as reenforcing filler in EPDM gum elastics because they have proved to be every bit effectual as C inkinesss [ 12 ] . Furthermore, silica offers several advantages over C black: in tyre paces, a higher wear opposition and better wet-grip with a lower turn overing opposition can be obtained by utilizing silicon oxide instead than carbon black [ 1 ] . Besides, silica-filled compounds are really suited for light coloring material applications.Problem and TreatmentsThe support of silicon oxide in EPDM gum elastic has non reached the coveted degree because of the hapless silica-EPDM bonding. The surfaces of sili con oxides have siloxane and silanol groups, which make the filler acidic and polar [ 7 ] while EPDM gum elastic is non-polar. When the polar silicon oxide is assorted with non-polar and olefinic hydrocarbon gum elastics, e.g. EPDM, hydrogen-bond interactions between polar siloxane or silanol groups in agglomerates are more likely to happen than the interactions between silicon oxide and rubber [ 1 ] , ensuing in hapless compatibility of hydrocarbon gum elastics with silicon oxide. Furthermore, the acidic silanol groups interact with the basic gas pedals, spread outing the remedy times to an unacceptable degree and take downing the crosslinking denseness [ 5 ] . The polar surface of silicon oxide will besides be given to absorb wet and this influences remedy and belongingss of the cured gum elastic [ 5 ] . Additionally, the viscousness increases with increasing sum of silicon oxide filler and if the viscousness is excessively high, the processability will be reduced and inordinate w ear and tear of the processing machine will take topographic point [ 5 ] . However, the handiness of specific matching agents makes the usage of silicon oxide in EPDM rubber compounds possible. Bifunctional organosilanes are normally used to better the compatibility between silicon oxide and hydrocarbon gum elastics by modifying the surfaces of silicon oxide [ 1 ] .Silanes and Silanised SilicaBifunctional silanes can be used to chemically associate an organic stuff to an inorganic substrate. The rule purpose of utilizing silanes to respond with silica involves cut downing ablating hydrophilicity of silicon oxide and presenting a new organo – functional groups onto the silicon oxide surfaces [ 1 ] . In the instance of sulphur-cured compounds, sulphur-functional silanes perform best and for peroxide-cured compounds, unsaturated silanes such as vinylsilanes are recommended. In footings of sulphur-cure systems, the usage of Bi ( 3-triethoxysilylpropyl- ) tetrasulphane ( TESPT ) ( Figure 3 ) as a yoke agent is good established, since foremost introduced in 1991 in a practical application in green tyres by Rauline [ 33 ] .. Figure 3 Chemical construction of TESPT TESPT possesses ethoxy groups and tetrasulphane groups. The ethoxy groups react with silanol groups on the silicon oxide surfaces via hydrolysis mechanism [ 33 ] , taking to the strong covalent silica-filler bonding. The tetrasulphane groups are no-good reactive and therefore stable rubber-silica bonding can be achieved via sulfur crosslinking. Bis ( 3-triethoxysilylpropyl ) -disulphane ( TESPD ) was subsequently introduced chiefly to get the better of the pro-scorching job of TESPT, as the sulphur-sulphur dissociation energy of TESPD was lower than that of TESPT [ 33 ] . The silanisation of silicon oxides are normally obtained by two attacks. Silica and silanes are assorted preliminarily at an optimal temperature and reaction clip, or, instead, they can be mixed in situ during the commixture procedure [ 5 ] . The latter is the more normally used method [ 34 ] . A good silanisation is required as it yields best support and reduces compound indurating during storage. A certain sum of H2O can speed up the silanisation. The optimum wet content is suggested to be around 3-6 % [ 34 ] . The chief influences on the in situ silanisation of silica-silane filled compounds are summarised in Figure 4. Furthermore, if silicon oxide is used in a blend with, e.g. , C black, relatively more silane is required as silane is less likely to make the silica surface quantitatively in a given commixture clip [ 34 ] . In these instances, silanised silicon oxide obtained by the pre-treatment is advisable. Optimum silanisation And Short commixture times Release of ethyl alcohol T a† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœand T a† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Release of ethyl alcohol Ta† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœand ta† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Good silicon oxide scattering I ·a† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœas Ta† Ã¢â‚¬Å" Complete matching reaction Ta† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ and T a† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Avoid pre-crosslinking T a† Ã¢â‚¬Å" and T a† Ã¢â‚¬Å" Fast transit procedures I ·a† Ã¢â‚¬Å"as T a† Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ High mobility of the silane ; little size Best rotor and blending chamber geometry Figure 4 chief influences on the silanisation reaction [ 34 ] Apart from sulphur vulcanization, the add-on of vinylsilanes is normally applied to better the mechanical belongingss of peroxide-cured compounds. The general construction of vinylsilanes is shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 generalized construction of vinylsilanes In contrast to the reasonably high dose of sulphur-functional silanes in merchandises necessitating high mechanical belongingss, a strong support can be achieved by the incorporation of merely 2 parts by weight Si 225 ( VTEO ) per silicon oxide [ 34 ] . Adding more extremist instigator or activators can ensue in higher crosslink densenesss [ 34 ] . However, the applications of silanised silicon oxide are largely focused in natural gum elastic ( NR ) , styrene butadiene gum elastic ( SBR ) , and polybutadiene gum elastic ( BR ) . Very few research works has been published on the effects of silane on EPDM gum elastics, but there are still some. Kim [ 33 ] reported consequence of TESPD on the processability and mechanical belongingss of EPDM rubber. Taikum and Luginsland [ 16 ] studied the function of silane-rubber yoke in sulfur, peroxide and metal oxide bring arounding systems for EPDM gum elastic. Das et al [ 4 ] showed that the presence of TEPST increased the content of bound gum elastic in silica-filled EPDM compounds, which was critical to the mechanical belongingss of the gum elastic.Other TreatmentsOther matching agents Besides silane, several other matching agents have been employed to modify the silica-EPDM bonding. Das et al [ 4 ] usage Bi diisopropyl thiophosphoryl disuli ¬?de ( DIPDIS ) , to modify EPDM rubber alternatively of silicon oxide by two-stage vulcanization technique. The effects of TAC ( Triallyl Cyanorate ) as a yoke agent on hardening and mechanical belongingss of silica-filled EPDM gum elastic were studied by Abtahi and associates [ 1 ] . Others methods Tiwari et al [ 23 ] treated the surfaces of silicon oxide by plasma-polymerisation with acetylene monomer and one twelvemonth subsequently, the comparative survey of plasma-thiophene and -acetylene coated silicon oxide in EPDM support was reported [ 27 ] . Tan and Isayev [ 22 ] treated silicon oxide utilizing a coaxal supersonic extruder and investigated the effects on belongingss of ultrasound-treated silicon oxide on filled EPDM gum elastic.Other fillersIn most instances, C black and silicon oxide are used to reenforce EPDM gum elastics. Some other sorts of fillers have been added to EPDM rubber matrix and their effects been investigated, affecting montmorillonite ( OMMT ) nanofiller [ 35 ] , nano-zinc oxide [ 36 ] , Sm2O3 [ 26 ] , short cyanuramide fibers [ 37 ] , ash/halloysite [ 38 ] and so on.Effects OF FILLERS ON PROPERTIES OF EPDM RUBBEREffectss of Carbon BlackAs mentioned before, research workers have studied a batch about the effects of adding C black on the mechanical belo ngingss of EPDM rubber, demoing that the belongingss were improved significantly [ 3, 28-32 ] . Cavdar and associates [ 3 ] reported that the Young ‘s modulus, Shore A hardness, and compaction force over distortion ranage increased with increasing content of C black, while the elongation at interruption reduced ( Figure 6 ) . Figure 6 Effectss of C black content on ( a ) mechanical belongingss ; and ( B ) rheological belongingss of EPDM rubber [ 3 ] . The Young ‘s modulus was most filler content medium as the value increased aggressively with sum of C black. In footings of rheological belongingss, increasing C black content resulted in higher upper limit torsion and the difference between upper limit and minimal torsion, which corresponded to relative crosslinking denseness. The optimal remedy clip decreased with increasing the filler content. Considerable research has been done to understand the mechanism of support. Two chief features of active inkinesss are their surface country and sum construction, which determine the inactive and dynamic in-rubber belongingss and therefore do it possible to orient the public presentation of gum elastic merchandises.Effectss of SilicaEffectss of silicon oxide on the mechanical belongingss of EPDM gum elasticWithout silanes The effectivity of silicon oxide as reenforcing filler in EPDM gum elastic was confirmed by Ichzo and colleagues [ 2 ] who showed that tensile strength had improved by 500 % , tear strength by 400 % and elongation at interruption at 140 % by adding 20 phr of precipitated silicon oxide. They used silicon oxide with different size and demonstrated that an increasing inclination of tensile strength can be achieved when the size of silica atom decreased. The hardness of EPDM gum elastic increased with the filler burden but it was non particle size dependant. They besides found that silicon oxide sums size distribution affected the mechanical belongingss and it deserved more attending. With silanes Das [ 4 ] indicated that the Young ‘s modulus, tensile strength and crosslinking value of silica-filled EPDM gum elastics increased well when 1-2 phr of TESPT was added, while the elongation at interruption decreased, as illustrated in Figure 7 below. ( B ) ( a ) ( vitamin D ) ( degree Celsius ) ( degree Fahrenheit ) ( vitamin E ) Figure 7 Consequence of TESPT on the mechanical belongingss of EPDM rubber compounds: ( a ) modulus at 100 % elongation ; ( B ) modulus at 300 % elongation ; ( degree Celsius ) tensile strength ; ( vitamin D ) hardness ; ( vitamin E ) elongation at interruption ; ( degree Fahrenheit ) crosslinking value [ 4 ] .Consequence of silicon oxide on treating belongings of EPDM gum elasticAs mentioned earlier, adding silicon oxide to EPDM gum elastic will do the processing more hard as the viscousness increases significantly when a large sum of silicon oxide is involved [ 5 ] . However, the handiness of silanes such as TESPT or TESPD weaken the interaction between silica atoms as the ethoxy groups in silane react with the surfaces of silicon oxide by the silanol groups, taking to a alteration in interfaces between the polymer-polymer, polymer-silica and silica-silica [ 33 ] . Hence, it reduces the viscousness and improves the processability of the gum elastic compounds [ 5 ] . Kim [ 33 ] reported that the add-on of TESPD to silica-filled EPDM gum elastic yielded lower Mooney viscousness, heat coevals and bulge force per unit area build-up through an extruder, which made treating easier.Effectss of silicon oxide on thermic belongings of EPDM gum elasticMadani [ 39 ] studied the thermic belongings of gamma radiation cured silica-filled EPDM via thermohydrometric analysis ( TGA ) and demonstrated that the presence of silicon oxide reduced the rate of debasement and the weight loss of vulcanisates. This was due to the improved adhesion between silicon oxide and EPDM rubber matrix. He besides stated that thermic belongings of silica-filled EPDM gum elastic was determined by the burden of filler, filler size and construction, filler-matrix interactions and processing technique.Consequence of silicon oxide on the ageing belongings of EPDM gum elasticAirplanes et al [ 15, 40 ] used gamma radiation to age unfilled and filled EPDM gum elastics at room temperature and at 80A °C to analyze the influence of silicon oxide on the gum elastic debasement. They evidenced that adding untreated silicon oxide accelerated the polymer stage debasement due to the formation of auxiliary groups triggered by silica irradiation. If silane-treated silicon oxide was presented, the debasement acceleration was delayed.Effectss of silicon oxide on the electrical belongings of EPDM gum elasticRaw EPDM gum elastic is an dielectric with a conduction of about 10-14 S-1 [ 39 ] . It was proved that the add-on of inorganic fillers such as silicon oxide increased the condu ction of polymer [ 39 ] . Madani [ 39 ] investigated the fluctuation of dielectric changeless ( ) of some healed EPDM and silica-filled EPDM gum elastics as a map of frequence and found that was filler content dependant: it increased up to 10 phr, and so decreased with increasing burden. He pointed that the addition was due to the polar groups present on silicon oxide surfaces, and that the lessening was due to the increasing system denseness and the extent of orientation of dipoles.Effectss of scattering of silicon oxide on the belongingss of EPDM gum elasticFiller scattering has a distinguishable consequence on the belongingss of gum elastic compounds. Poor scattering has a negative consequence on gum elastic belongingss by making structural defects [ 5 ] . Polmanteer and Lentz [ 41 ] demonstrated that some belongingss such as tensile strength and tear strength improved as the filler scattering quality increased after they examined consequence of scattering of silicon oxide on the belongingss of some sulphur-cured gum elastics. To obtain a better scattering of fillers in gum elastic compounds, increasing commixture clip is an efficient method, nevertheless, at the cost of take downing the molecular weight of polymer, which leads to the decrease in mechanical belongingss [ 5 ] . The grade of scattering of filler can be examined by microscopy methods, such as negatron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.CURE SYSTEMS FOR EPDM RUBBERSulphur Cure systemsEvery gum elastic merchandise is vulcanised with its ain specific remedy system, ensuing in assorted belongingss. As already mentioned, the incorporation of pendent unsaturation sites enables that EPDM rubber to be vulcanised by sulphur plus gas pedals. Sulphur remedy is the most widely used vulcanising method for bring arounding EPDM gum elastics, representing about 80 % of the EPDM applications [ 17 ] . Compared with peroxide-cured EPDM gum elastics, sulphur-cured gum elastic compounds are able to suit more e mphasis and exhibit higher elongation at interruption. Basically, three types of sulfur crosslinks are used in elastomers, viz. , monosuphfidic ( C-S-C ) , disulphidic ( C-S2-C ) and polysuphidic ( C-Sn-C ) . The crosslink denseness and the value of Ns are chiefly determined by vulcanizing system and procedure conditions such as remedy temperature and clip. Over the old ages three particular types of remedy systems have been established based on the degree of sulfur and the ratio of accelerator-to-sulphur applied. They are: Efficient vulcanization ( EV ) systems, Semi-efficient vulcanization ( SEV ) systems and Conventional vulcanization ( CONV ) systems. EV systems are characterised by a high ratio of accelerator-to-sulphur or even sulphurless, but incorporating sulphur-donor alternatively. They are normally used in vulcanisates which require an highly high heat and reversion opposition [ 42 ] . CONV systems are vulcanisation systems with a low ratio of gas pedals to sulfur and they can supply better flex and dynamic belongingss but worse thermal and reversion opposition. A semi-efficient remedy system has an accelerator-to-sulphur ratio in between those of the CONV and EV vulcanization systems. For SEV systems, optimal degrees of mechanical and dynamic belongingss of vulcanisates with intermediate heat, reversion and flex belongingss can be obtained [ 42 ] . The composings of CONV, SEV and EV systems are shown in Table 4. Table 4 the degrees of gas pedals and sulfur in CONV, SEV and EV systems [ 42 ] Type Sulphur ( phr ) Accelerator ( phr ) A/S ratio CONV 2.0-3.5 1.2-0.4 0.1-0.6 SEV 1.0-1.7 2.5-1.2 0.7-2.5 Electron volt 0.4-0.8 5.0-2.0 2.5-12 Increasing accelerator-to-sulphur ratio consequences in increased sum of shorter mono- and disulphidic crosslinks. As the dissociation energy of C-C bonds are larger than that of S-S bonds. Vulcanisates obtained by EV and SEV systems possess a better heat and reversion opposition than those cured by CONV systems. The general influences of the type of vulcanization systems on the construction and belongingss of the vulcanisates are summarised in Table 5. Table 5 vulcanisate construction and belongingss for different remedy systems Features Remedy systems CONV SEV Electron volt Poly-and disulphidic crosslinks ( % ) 95 50 20 Monosulphidic crosslinks ( % ) 5 50 80 Cyclic sulfide ( conc. ) High Medium Low Non-sulphidic ( conc. ) High Medium Low Reversion opposition Low Medium High Heat ageing opposition Low Medium High Fatigue opposition High Medium Low Heat construct up High Medium Low Tear opposition High Medium Low Compaction set ( % ) High Medium Low Furthermore, nitrosamine free or safe hardening bundles were developed for the replacing of remedy systems which develop nitrosamines during vulcanization. N-nitrosamines formed during vulcanization as condensation merchandises from certain gas pedals and azotic gasses and are carcinogenic [ 43 ] . They are generated from some thiuram and dithiocarbamates gas pedals, which are known as ultra-accelerators and normally used in EPDM gum elastic intensifying [ 43 ] . Traditional ultra-accelerators can be replaced by nitrosamine-free systems, but at disbursal of high costs. About all imaginable combination of bring arounding ingredients for EPDM rubber compounds have been evaluated over the old ages [ 42 ] . Five typical remedy systems are listed in Table 6. The alternate nitrosamine free or safe remedy systems are suggested in Table 7. Table 6 Five remedy systems for EPDM rubber [ 42 ] Systems ( phr ) Advantages Disadvantages System 1 Low cost Blooming S 1.5 TMTD 1.5 2-mercaptobenzothiazole ( MBT ) 0.5 System 2 Excellent physical belongingss and fast remedy Scorchy and expensive S 2.0 MBT 1.5 Tellurium diethyl dithiocarbamate ( TDEC ) 0.8 Dipentamethyl thiuram tetrasulphide ( DPTT ) 0.8 TMTD 0.8 System 3 Excellent compaction set and good heat ageing opposition Bloom and really high cost S 0.5 Zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate ( ZDBC ) 3.0 Zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate ( ZDMC ) 3.0 4,4'dithiodimorpholine ( DTDM ) 2.0 TMTD 3.0 System 4 Non-blooming Cure comparatively slow and worse compaction set S 2.0 2,2†²-dithiobenzothiaole ( MBTS ) ZDBC 2.5 TMTD 0.8 System 5 Zinc O, O-dibutylphosphorodithioate ( ZBPD ) 2.0 TMTD 1.0 N-butylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide ( TBBS ) 2.0 S 1.0 Fast remedy and good physical belongingss Blooming Table 7 Some NA free options for the remedy systems above [ 42 ] Systems NA free optionsSystem 1S 1.5 S 1.3 MBT 0.5 MBT 0.75 TMTD 1.5 CBS 3.8System 2S 2.0 S 1.5 MBT 1.5 ZMBT 2.0 TDEC 0.8 ZBEC 0.5 DPTT 0.8 ZBPD 2.0System 5ZBPD 2.0 ZBPD 2.5 TMTD 1.0 0 TBBS 2.0 TBBS 2.0 S 1.0 S 1.2 Besides, an activator, such as Zn oxide, is normally needed in EPDM remedy systems to maximize the efficiency of gas pedals and chemical adhesion between the filler and gum elastic.Silanised Silica: a â€Å" Crosslinking Filler †An of import issue must be considered sing the sulphur remedy systems for silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastic is the fact that the usage of sulphur-functional silanes such as TESPT combine silicon oxide with sulfur into one individual merchandise known as a â€Å" crosslinking filler † [ 6 ] , such as silanised silicon oxide. It can non merely better the mechanical belongingss of gum elastic, but besides can bring forth crosslinks between the gum elastic ironss at elevated temperatures in the presence of gas pedals due to the sulphur-containing groups. Therefore, the vulcanization procedure can be achieved without elemental sulfur being present [ 6 ] . Research has shown that the mechanical belongingss of some vulcanisates improved signific antly in malice of the decrease in the usage of the hardening chemicals [ 6 ] . It was demonstrated that during the vulcanization procedure the formation of both rubber matrix crosslinking web and silica-rubber yoke web occurred at the same time and did non separate. In the presence of elemental sulfur, the two different crosslinking reactions compete for the added sulfur as the sulphur-functional silanes like TESPT are sulphur acceptor [ 34 ] . Therefore the crosslinking construction and the support are determined by the sums of silane and sulfur. The influence of adding different sums of sulfur and silane on the matrix and silica-rubber yoke webs is shown in Figure 8. Figure 8 consequence of the sum of ( a ) added sulfur and ( B ) silane ( TSEPT ) on the crosslinking densenesss of matrix and silica-rubber yoke [ 34 ] It is apparent that increased sum of sulfur enhances the efficiency of the silica-rubber yoke until all the silane is activated. Initially, a little grade of addition in the matrix crosslink denseness is observed, due to the ingestion of free sulfur by the activation of silane. After the full activation of silane, the matrix crosslink denseness additions much faster. With regard to the increasing sum of silane at a changeless sum of sulfur, the entire figure of silica-rubber bonds additions while the degree of the matrix crosslink denseness reduces, owing to the incorporation of sulfur by the silane [ 34 ] . Furthermore, in the instance of TESPD, a disulphide silane, the consequence is more important. Therefore it can be concluded that altering the sum of elemental sulfur and silane consequences in different ratios of the matrix and silica-rubber webs [ 34 ] . Furthermore, mechanical belongingss of silanised silica-filled gum elastic can be predicted because silica-rubber yoke domina tes the modulus and hydrophobation lowers hardness values. Some elaborate effects of silane on the mechanical public presentation of silica-filled EPDM gum elastic have been presented in Section 5.2.1.Peroxide Cure systemsOverviewCrosslinking with peroxides was foremost introduced in 1915, but did n't pull excessively much attending until the development of to the full saturated ethylene-propylene copolymers ( EPM ) [ 42 ] . Many sorts of elastomers can be vulcanised by peroxide remedy systems expeditiously, including NR, SBR, EPDM, BR, nitrile gum elastic, Silicones and fluorocarbon elastomers [ 42 ] . The unsaturation can better the efficiency of peroxide vulcanization [ 17 ] , due to the higher concentration of allylic Hs [ 42 ] . The comparative efficiency of peroxide crosslinking for different elastomers is: BR & gt ; NR and SBR & gt ; NBR & gt ; CR & gt ; EPDM The advantages and disadvantages of peroxide remedy compared to sulfur vulcanization are listed in Table 8 [ 42 ] : Table 8 Advantages and disadvantage of peroxide remedy compared with sulphur remedy Advantages Disadvantages Thermo-stable C-C bonds alternatively of thermo-labile S-S bonds, Scorch free storage of compounds, Simple compound preparation, Low compaction set even at high remedy temperature, It is possible to bring around at high temperatures without reversion, Good electrical belongingss of healed gum elastic, No stain of compounds. Low intensifying flexibleness ; Lack of flexibleness in modulating singe and optimal remedy clip Inferior tensile, tear and flex public presentation, Inferior scratch opposition Higher cost, Sensitivity to oxygen during vulcanization, Smells of peroxide decomposition merchandises.Peroxide remedy of EPDMPeroxide-cured EPDM gum elastics are being widely used for many old ages. They are normally used in window seals, automotive hosieries, roof sheeting, tanking liner, electrical insularities, steam hosieries, roll coverings moldings and so on [ 42 ] .Mechanism of peroxide remedy of EPDM gum elasticThe mechanism of peroxide remedy of EPDM gum elastic and the subsequent practical effects have been reviewed by new wave Duin and colleagues [ 17, 44, 45 ] . In the by and large accepted mechanism of peroxide remedy of EPDM, the major stairss are illustrated in Figure 9. Figure 9 Mechanism for peroxide remedy of EPDM [ 17, 44, 45 ] Thermal debasement of the peroxide initiated by procedure triggered a concatenation of free-radical reactions, taking to the formation of primary alkoxy ( ROaˆ? ) or secondary alkyl groups ( Raˆ? ) . Then the abstraction of H-atoms from the EPDM polymer outputs EPDM macro-radicals ( EPDMaˆ? ) . The following measure is the combination of two EPDM macro-radicals, or the incorporation of a macro-radical to an EPDM unsaturation. If a yoke agent, such as vinylsilanes mentioned in Section 4.2.1.1 ( TAC, trimethylolpropane or m-phenylenbis ( maleimide ) ) , is present, the peroxide remedy efficiency can be increased, as they can heighten the H-atoms abstraction and the undermentioned reactions are repressed [ 1, 17 ] : EPDMaˆ? + ROaˆ? a† Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ EPDM – RO ( No crosslinking ) EPDMaˆ? a† Ã¢â‚¬â„¢EPDMaˆ? ‘ + ( I?-Scission ) The issues of the elaborate mechanism of peroxide vulcanization of EPDM gum elastic remain unfastened, chiefly having to the complexness of the system. Several surveies have been conducted to see farther apprehension of the chemical mechanism of peroxide remedy of EPDM [ 46, 47 ] .Matching agents for peroxide remedy of silica-filled EPDM gum elasticAs antecedently stated, vinylsilanes are normally incorporated in peroxide remedy systems for silica-filled EPDM gum elastic to better vulcanization efficiency and mechanical public presentation of vulcanisates. The effectivity of TAC as a yoke agent for peroxide vulcanization of silica-filled EPDM gum elastic was investigated by Abtahi et al [ 1 ] and concluded that TAC matching agent improved some belongingss such as tensile strength, scratch and resiliency opposition with a proper preparation. They besides used SEM to hold a deep penetration in the interaction between silica filler and gum elastic in the presence of TAC and found that t he grade of support was chiefly affected by the grade of wettability.New DevelopmentsReducing the sulfur content consequences in vulcanisates with better thermal opposition throughout service life, nevertheless, this is at the disbursal of decrease in mechanical public presentations such as dynamic weariness opposition and tear opposition. This via media can be eliminated by utilizing two additives, viz. hexamethylene-1, 6-bisthiosulphate ( HTS ) , a station vulcanization stabilizer and 1, 3-bis ( citraconimidomethyl ) benzine, an anti-reversion agent [ 42 ] . Vulcanization techniques have effects on EPDM gum elastics. Das [ 4 ] studied the efficiency of one-stage and two-stage sulfur vulcanization techniques of silica- filled EPDM gum elastics and reported that alteration of EPDM gum elastic by two-stage vulcanization technique enhanced the interactions between EPDM rubber and silicon oxide. Furthermore, assorted remedy systems can besides be employed to heighten the public presentation of vulcanisates.Undertaking PlanThe overall purpose of this undertaking is to prove some sulfur and peroxide remedy systems to bring around silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastic to bring forth a gum elastic with good mechanical belongingss utilizing a suited hardening system. The undertaking programs are: Prepare silanised silica-filled EPDM gum elastic compounds with peroxide and bring around the gum elastic with gas pedal and activator via the sulfur in the silane ; Use C black and silanised silicon oxide nanofillers in EPDM gum elastic to measure their effects on the mechanical belongingss of the gum elastic ; Remedy and step the mechanical belongingss of filled EPDM gum elastic to set up consequence of the bring arounding systems and fillers on the gum elastic belongingss.