Thursday, October 31, 2019

Isabel Allendes An Act of Vengeance and Zora Neale Hurstons Sweat Essay

Isabel Allendes An Act of Vengeance and Zora Neale Hurstons Sweat - Essay Example Both Isabel Allende’s An Act of Vengeance and Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat address the theme of feminine vengeance. Despite the fact that the approaches employed by the female main characters to vengeance varying, it is important to note that one of the most underlying similarities between the two short stories is the issue of female empowerment in a society that is mostly dominated by the male. The author makes the story incredibly dramatic mainly brought out at the moment where Dulce Rosa’s father not only realizes that his friends have fallen, but that he is also forced to kill his daughter in order to spare her from men like Cespedes. The author has been successful in presenting this as not only unexpected, but also quite heartbreaking. The author has also been successful in balancing out the different emotions in the story and has most importantly been able to ensure that the audience does not feel melodramatic. Additionally, the use of imagery has been succes sful though not subtle especially at the moment where the author presentsthe image of Dulce Rosa shedding the shreds of her bloodied gown and consequently immersing herself in the water which makes her come out clean. This is a clear representation of both rebirth and baptism. Additionally, the act of holding her dying father is a clear manifestation of transformation from a girl to a woman. The author, Dulce Rosa, in the An Act of Vengeance holds not only the power of her independence, but also the power of self-sufficiency. Despite the neighbors making suggestions about her â€Å"going to live with her godmother in a different town where her story is not known after being raped† (23), Dulce Rosa opts to stay behind and instead build a life that is comfortable out of the ruins left of her fathers house. In Sweat, Delia is also presented as a strong woman who holds the economic power in her relationship with her unemployed husband. Delia still finds much comfort in the home b ought by her despite the abuse and infidelity of his husband. Delia stands her ground even when her husband, Sykes, tries to get her to leave her house to enable him move in with his mistress. She further stands her ground and leaves the husband to die from the snake bite that had earlier been meant for her. It is evident that vengeance by Delia is a decision not aimed at helping Sykes when the opportunity arises, but rather a decision that is aimed at causing Sykes direct harm herself. In An Act of Vengeances, Dulce Rosa was quite determined to kill Tadeo as a revenge for the death of her father. However, there is a twist when she later realizes that what she feels for Tadeo is love, hence making him torn between marriage and murder which are in real sense the two male expectations. Dolce Rosa later opts to kill herself instead of playing into either of these stereotypically male solutions. Her death leads into Tadeo losing all the hope he had for both love and redemption in his li fe. While the vengeance of Dulce Rosa leaves Tadeo alive, the vengeance by Delia leaves Sykes dead. These examples of feminine Vengeance is an indication of overlapping of the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Working with calculus Assignment Essay Example for Free

Working with calculus Assignment Essay The nightmare has come to pass. All of Kelleys extensive surgeries and nasal passage scrapings have (unfortunately) gone awry, and he waits in the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors office waiting area spewing bloody snot into a conical paper cup at the rate of 4 in3/min. The cup is being held with the vertex down (all the better to pool the snot in, my dear). The booger catcher has a height of 5 inches and a base of 3 inches. How fast is the mucous level rising in the cup when the snot is three inches deep? Investigating the problemÃ'Ž The volume of a cone V = where r is the radius of the cone and he is its height For the full cone or any part of it, the ratio of r:h remains fixed, so As we are only interested in the rate of change of the height we need to eliminate r so use r = 3h/10 for all levels So the new V = so to find h3 = and h = So making a table to find for t= 0 to 25 and hence work out roughly how long the cone takes to fill up, and the height value at each stage and also radius each time. As can be seen, the full height and radius is reached at about t 15 minutes. Lets hope the doctor is on time today! Here are the formulae used to generate the tableHere is the graph of h and r against time: Both h and r increase rapidly in the 1st 5 minutes before the rate of increase slows as t increases. Using Numerical methods Various rates of change could be investigated, including the rate of change of h with respect to V, the rate of change of r with respect to t and so on. However, the question asks about the rate of change of h with respect to t, so this will be investigated using the Leibnitz formula : to estimate gradients using a spreadsheet. The following graph was obtained: As can be seen this graph of the rate of change of height (the speed at which height changes) is not very helpful, as there is a lot of change for t = 0 to t = 2 but after that the rate of change is much less. Some investigation shows that most of the change takes place between t = 0 and t = 1. So tracing the rate of change of the 2 sections on different graphs, with the one involving the first section in much more detail, will give a better picture. The table: And the graph The reduction in speed of the heights rise is very marked The table for t = 1 to t = 14: and the graph: The question requires the rate of change at h = 3. From the table this can be see between t = 2 and t = 4, where the gradient is between 0. 46 and 0. 29 inches per minute Using differentiation V = so and we were also told So using the Chain Rule: = Filling what is known: 4 = so So when h = 3 = 0. 393 inches per minute Conclusion: The numerical method does not give a very accurate result and provided the Chain rule is used, the calculus method is much betterÃ'Ž

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Systems Engineering: RTV Silicone Sealant Application System

Systems Engineering: RTV Silicone Sealant Application System Abstract As technology advances seemingly exponentially in the 21st century, the need for more and more complex systems grows too. Continuous improvement is key to a successful, growing business. This envelops everything within the organisation and engineered systems are no exception. Complex engineered systems require a level of control, this control is important for producing quality products and services. Considering advancing technology and continuous improvement, organisations need to explore ways in which the performance of engineered systems can be maximised. Multi-agent systems (MAS) are a relatively new theory which is put into practice when monolithic systems cannot solve the problem, so as systems become more and more complex, the need for MAS increase. Glossary of Terms FTT defined as the percentage of engines that pass a process first time. JPH the number of engines which pass through a process per hour. RTV room temperature vulcanisation silicone sealant. MAS Multi-agent systems 1. Introduction At the Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) manufacture and assemble diesel and petrol engines. The author is a process engineer within the diesel assembly hall, whose main job role is to improve any assembly processes that negatively impact first time through (FTT) or jobs per hour (JPH). Currently, the issue that is causing the largest impact on said deliverables is the automatic application of RTV silicone sealant to the engine block to form a seal with the rear cover (Figure 1, below). This automated process has an average FTT of 61% and a value of 59 JPH over the past thirty days.ÂÂ   The target JPH value across the entire diesel assembly line is 68, which means this process is causing an average deficit of nine engines per hour causing considerable damage towards achieving production targets. The process itself is performed by two autonomous robots whereby one robot applies the sealant and the other robot holds the engine and moves it along a specified path. There are two HMIs present, one to program each robot. The robot holding the engine can be programmed with its position, its movement within the six degrees of freedom and its velocity. Whereas the only programmable functions are the start, end and speed and feed of the sealant. 2. Systems Engineering Life Cycle Stages The role of systems engineering is to ensure the success of a system, judged by how well its requirements and development objectives are met, its operation in the field and the length of its useful operating life. Systems engineering aims to establish a technical approach that will aid the operational maintenance and the eventual upgrading of the system. A system life cycle is a term used to encapsulate the evolution of a new system, where it begins with a concept and grows through development into production, operation and lastly, destruction. 2.1 Concept Development Where there is a desire for a new system, the concept development stage contains the planning and analysis required to affirm the need, the feasibility and the architecture for the new system to best satisfy the needs of the user. There are four main objectives of the concept development stage: Decide whether there is a market and need for a technically and economically feasible system. Design and confirm the system requirements after exploring different system concepts (see figure 3 below). This stage converts the system which has been derived from the needs analysis, into an engineering oriented view for the concept definition and development. When looking at performance requirements it is important to identify the major functions needed to complete the actions needed. In the case of this example, its functional elements should include, power robot, control movement, control speed, and apply RTV. To aid with this activity a systems engineer would use a function category versus functional media diagram (figure 4). Concept selection, agree on its characteristics and plan for the forthcoming stages of engineering, production and operation of the system. It answers the question what are the key characteristics of a system concept that would achieve the most beneficial balance between capability, operational life, and cost?[1]. Develop and validate any technological developments required by the new system. 2.2 Engineering Development Figure 4 (below) shows three stages of engineering development. Firstly, the advanced development stage incorporates two important purposes. One being the identification and reduction of risks, the second being the development of system specifications. Secondly, the engineering design phase is considerably more detailed than any stages preceding it. Usually, this stage offers an opportunity for potential customers to get an early look at the product, who can, in turn, provide valuable feedback to the developers. Lastly, the integration and evaluation phase is where the new system is installed and subsequently checked to ensure that it meets customer requirements. 2.3 Post Development Within the post-development phase there are two sub-phases; the production phase and the operations and support phase. The system is now being produced, for example, for a manufacturing environment. Occasionally there are unexpected issues that arise within the production of the system which requires a systems engineer to solve to prevent disruptions in the production schedule. Once the system is live, system support is critical. Maintenance personnel should be sufficient until more complex problems arise, where they need to call on the experience of systems engineers. 3. Function Block Diagram 4. Control Architecture 4.1 Centralised Control The centralised control system architecture has one component designated as the controller which is responsible for managing the execution of other components. The term architecture is used to suggest a focus on the relationship between the major structural elements in a system. This architecture falls into two classes depending on the execution of the controlled components, either sequentially or in parallel. These are the call-return model, only applicable in sequential systems, and the manager model, used in concurrent systems [3]. The main reasons to use centralised control architecture is that it is simple to conceive and due to its omniscience it can make optimal decisions which take all factors into account. However this architecture does have drawbacks, most notably the expense in which is required to create the control architecture, the control algorithm needs to be very complex. Furthermore, the degradation of any signal path can cripple the function of the entire system, so they can be fragile. 4.2 Hierarchical Control Organised in a hierarchical tree, this control system decomposes the problem and allocates it to separate controllers which take control of a subset of the system functions. This can exist over a number of levels, meaning each function could be controlled individually. Optimal control is still possible within a hierarchical architecture as there is always a path to a top-level node; however, not all information can travel through every path. Commonly some filtering of data occurs between levels. In contrast to centralised control, the control algorithm is much simpler due to decomposition. This means the time and cost of implementation are much lower. Between the different branches of the structure, there is a degree of independence, reducing the effect of system degradation. However, there is usually delay in the processing of each algorithm and in the feedback loop. 4.3 Heterarchical Control Heterarchical control architecture is more robust than hierarchical control and is very flexible and extensible. Additional system functions, such as manufacturing processes and equipment, can be added with almost no added system control cost. However, heterarchical architecture lacks centralised visibility of the system as a whole which means planning can be sub-optimal; this control system is sometimes referred to as being short sighted. Though this does mean that short-term decision making is very good. [4] 4.4 RTV Robot Cell Control System Centralised control is not suitable for the RTV robot cell system. The reason for this being the fact that it is too expensive to create and change. Additionally, the fault tolerance of the control system must be taken into account. A manufacturing line with such high demand for machine availability must not be crippled by the loss of just one signal. The most suitable and, as it happens, the current control system architecture for this system would be hierarchical. The main downside to this architecture is its response time when there are lots and lots of levels. However, its strengths are combines the strengths of the other two control architectures discussed, albeit slightly diluted. Heterarchical control has strengths that would be fantastic for an automated cell in a manufacturing environment, but its weaknesses deem it unacceptable. If one could combine hierarchical and heterarchical architectures and take away the myopic nature of heterarchy, it could be a system which improves how automated cells are controlled. 5. Multi-Agent Systems A multi-agent system is a system composed of multiple interacting intelligent agents. For problems that are too difficult or even impossible for an individual agent to solve, multi-agent systems can be used. Commonly thought of as being computerised, the agents within a multi-agent system could also be robots, humans, human teams or a combination of humans and robots. There are three different types of agents: Passive agents, agents without goals. Active agents, agents with simple goals. Cognitive agents, agents containing complex calculations. Agents can also be reactive or deliberative, this can be represented by the BDI model (figure 6- below). BDI stands for Belief, Desire, Intention where belief is knowledge of the environment, desire is the need to satisfy an objective and intention is the ability to command action(s). Deliberative agents extend the BDI model to include a symbolic model of the external environment- including data and relationships, memory, the ability to plan and the ability to choose between alternative actions. One could make a case to incorporate multi-agent systems within an automated robot cell at the present time. There is a need for configurability, for example, when a new derivative of engine is introduced and the robot has to be programmed to function differently. The system will need robustness, so if one agent is lost it does not compromise the whole system. However using a hierarchical architecture provides a sufficient degree of configurability and robustness with less cost and complexity. Multi-agent systems provide dynamic task allocation rather than pre-planned schedules, for an automated robot cell this is not needed, automation needs efficiency in static conditions [5]. 6. Conclusion The automated RTV application robot cell is currently in the operational phase of the system lifecycle, it is in need of improvement however it is not the system that needs improving. The system works as it is meant to, however, it is the incorrect system that is in place which is causing the problems. As automotive technology moves towards electrification and autonomous behaviour there will be a need to include more and more multi-agent systems within the vehicles themselves but also within manufacturing systems. There will be a need for greater flexibility, adaptability, reconfigurability and collaboration.ÂÂ   Unfortunately, incorporating a multi-agent system in this instance would not have a positive impact on this system. 7. References [1] Kossiakoff, Sweet, Seymour, Biemer. (2011). System Life Cycle. In: Sage, A. Systems Engineering Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, Inc.. 77. [2] Lecture provided PowerPoint slides. [3] Ian Sommerville. (2008). Centralized Control. Available: https://ifs.host.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Books/SE9/Web/Architecture/ArchPatterns/CentralControl.html. Last accessed 14/02/17. [4] J.M. van de Mortel-Fronczak and J.E. Rooda. (1997). Heterarchical Control Systems for Production Cells. . 1 (1), 213-217. [5] Various. (). Multi-agent system. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-agent_system. Last accessed 20/02/17.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Court as a Framework for Civilized Society in The Tempest Essay

The Court as a Framework for Civilized Society in The Tempest      Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Tempest, by William Shakespeare, the court is portrayed not as a place or as a group of people, but as a structure binding society together. Emphasis is placed on the court as structure by the use of the two metaphors of shape, the sphere and the circle, which combine to give the impression of the court not only as a structure with a clearly defined shape, but also as a system of hierarchical control. The first of these shape metaphors uses the neoplatonic concept of spheres, with the sovereign becoming the One Infinite Being of neoplatonic belief whose divine qualities radiate outwards in concentric circles of diminishing strength into infinity. This introduces important notions not only of the sovereign as a divine being, but also of the court as an organic body and also the formal hierarchies that were inherent in Renaissance Neoplatonism. The second shape mentioned is the circle of protection created by a magician which, although using the language of art rather than nature, and magic rather than divinity, uses once more the discourse of hierarchy, with the magician using the circle as a method of controlling the 'spirit he excites’ (11). This idea of the court as a hierarchical system which is the only way of promoting virtue seems to be linked with the other main feature of the passage: that of the court as an enclosed space.      Ã‚  Ã‚   The language of the passage refers over and over again to boundaries ('banished' (1), 'end' (2), 'concluded' (2), 'bounded' (3), 'comprehend' (4), 'contains' (8), 'excludes' (9), and 'exiled' (14), and the images of sphere and circle also suggest borders which can either contain or exclude.    .. ...terly, 43, no.3, (1992) John Gillies, 'Shakespeare's Virginian Masque' in E.L.H, 53, no.4, (1986) Jeffrey Knapp, An Empire Nowhere: England, America, and Literature from Utopia to The Tempest, (University of California Press, 1992) Anthony Pagden, European Encounters with the New World from Renaissance to Romanticism, (Yale University Press, 1993) Gail Kern Paster, 'Montaigne, Dido and The Tempest: How Came that Widow in?’Shakespeare Quarterly, 35, no.3 (1984) Linda Levy Peck, Court Patronage and Corruption in Early Stuart England, (Unwin Hyman, 1990, reprinted in paperback, Routledge 1993) Bernard W. Sheehan, Savagism and Civility: Indians and Englishmen in Colonial Virginia, (Cambridge University Press, 1980) Deborah Willis, 'Shakespeare's Tempest and the Discourse of Colonialism', Studies in English Literature 1500-1900, 29, no.2, (1989)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

5 Things All Students Worry About

Let’s face it – being a student can be stressful at times. We know that you might be having the time of your life meeting new people and learning new things, but there are some fundamental concerns that most students face at some time during their university careers. Here are our top 5 concerns that students can face, and what you can do to alleviate them. 1. ‘I can’t afford being a student’ All student’s worry about money. The fact is, when you are studying pretty much 24-7 without a regular income, then finances can get a bit tight; after all your student loan will only go so far! Picking up some part-time work can be a great way to alleviate this stress, so why not check if any bars, shops or even your Student Union have any vacancies. You can also make ?50 easily by referring a friend to our site – Click here for more information. 2. ‘I’m falling behind on my course’ Sometimes your course can seem quite daunting, but that’s to be expected – you are being introduced to a lot of new ideas and a higher level of study. For many this can feel overwhelming and a lot of students stop attending lectures as a result. If you feel that you are struggling to keep up with your course, why not speak to your lecturer who will have helped others in a similar situation as you lots of times before.3. ‘I haven’t revised enough!’ This worry usually comes about when students see how much revision their friends are doing; but the fact of the matter is that everyone revises differently and just because your roommate has temporarily moved into the library doesn’t mean you should start to panic. The best way to reassure yourself that you are doing enough revision is to draw up a revision plan, clearly write out the key topic areas that you need to go over and make a plan to tackle each subject area bit-by-bit. Check out our guide to Essential Revision Tips. 4. ‘I feel so far away from my home and family’ Whether you are an international student, or have moved to another city – It’s very common for students to feel homesick and a little bit isolated when in an unfamiliar environment. The best remedy for this is to go out and embrace what the new location has to offer– explore the area and local clubs, get involved with the student union actives or sports club. Before you know it, not only will you have new friends, but also a familiarity with the city so that it will feel just like a second home. Check out our guide for International Students. 5. ‘I want the best marks – but I don’t even know what a top class essay looks like!’ This is a tricky one – many lecturers will hand out example essays for you to look at but rarely identify what it is that defines a top-quality essay, or the key things the examiners are looking out for. Even if they do, the essay might not be entirely relevant to your argument. This is a worry that our site can alleviate – we can provide you with top-quality essay guides and resources that are 100% tailored to fit your needs, and that you won’t find anywhere else. Fact. Click here to find out more.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Marshall Plan Essays - Presidency Of Harry S. Truman

The Marshall Plan Essays - Presidency Of Harry S. Truman The Marshall Plan Although the idea of European integration was an ideal adopted by European intellectuals from the beginning of the twentieth century, the success in the actual launching and development of the project is a achievement that must be attributed to the policy and aid of the United States. World War II left Europe in a state of complete crisis. More than 30 million lives were lost during the war, cities lay in ruins, and as a result of violation of agricultural lands and people, food supply remained dangerously short. After barely surviving the Nazi threat, Europe was now faced with the threat of Soviet communism and expansion. This new threat divided the continent into pro-Western and pro-Soviet spheres, and some started to look towards communism to save them from total destruction and to progress towards rebuilding and restructuring of the post-war economy. European states were trying desperately to mend the damages of the war without having to resort to communist or socialist methods. However, the results lay short of expectations for capital was very limited and shortages of basic resources such as coal and steel restrained production. In addition, in many European countries such as France and Italy, the deterioration of the economy led to serious political problems, such as the undermining of the governmental authority. The only logical choice for Western European states, given that they did not desire to give in socialism or communism, was to get together and cooperate towards recovery. However, the individual aims, plans, and ambitions of major Western European states were keeping them from sacrificing or compromising towards such a cooperation. This is where the United States became an active player. Encouragement and provocation of European integration had been a constant characteristic of American foreign policy in the post-World War II era. The contribution of the United States to the process of European integration within this period, and its positive long-term effects should not be ignored or underestimated. This contribution has manifested itself in many different contexts, such as economic aid and being a model for Europe in terms of institutions and structure. The first official sign of post-war commitment of the United States to Europe was the Truman Doctrine outlined by US President Harry Truman in March 1947. The Truman Doctrine granted military aid to Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean and it acted as the confirmation of the launching of better and stronger political relations between Western Europe and the United States . The same year saw the shift in aid to the economic area. Observing the constantly deteriorating state of European economy, the United States decided to provide Europe with financial assistance. This decision was aimed at helping Europe recover, but had to do with the States' national interests as well. Since Western European economies were lacking the financial means for developed trade with the United States, the US was suffering from a huge export surplus caused by its booming economy. The recovery of European economies and improved trade relations with Europe would mean a significant export outlet f! or the United States . With these considerations in mind, in June 1947, US Secretary of State George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan, generally known as the European Recovery Programme. This was the biggest push from the United States for European integration and provided the greatest help toward integration as well. The Marshall Plan stated that the United States would provide funds for financial assistance if European states devised a cooperative and long-term rebuilding program to recover from the effects of World War II. The Marshall Plan was a success in that it called for those who would benefit from the program to be actively involved in the planning and execution phases. Therefore, knowing that they had significant influence on the outcomes of the program, the beneficiary European states were encouraged to cooperate to the greatest extent with the United States. Between 1948 and 1952, the US supplied $13.2 billion worth of grants and credits to European nations. These funds played a key role in bringing a significant level of economic progress and stability to the benefiting 16 states of Europe. By 1950, inflation was under control in many states and international as