300 word essay, history of history 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

300 word , history of history 4 - Essay Example IV concentrated on fighting the Romans and the Spaniards5, and neglected his duties and vows as the Pope and his expectations as a Church leader6. However, soon, due to certain events7, he underwent a radical shift in his approach towards his office, and from then onwards, expended all his efforts and all his life in establishing rules and practices that were aimed at reviving the lost spirit of the Church8. Renke cites several examples of the reforms that Paul IV introduced as part of his reforms, such as reinstituting the government officials and clergy9, and making the practices of the Church more strict and binding upon the public as well as the clergy10. Renke writes in a very theatrical style11, and presents the history of Papacy with a lot of earnest and interest, which is evident through his writing. However, he merely presents his own opinions about the events that occurred, and his own perceptions about the actions of the Pope and other individuals whom he has mentioned in his book12, rather than citing the incidences themselves and leaving the judgment and conclusion to the readers. Therefore, his writing style is clearly biased towards a certain standpoint, and his writing cannot be claimed to be critical or analytical in nature. It is, nevertheless, quite entertaining and absorbing, and makes the reading of historical anecdotes quite interesting to the general

Diabetes Case Study of Angelo Reyes in the Neighborhood

Diabetes of Angelo Reyes in the Neighborhood - Case Study Example Angelo is a 40-year-old Hispanic architect who has had diabetes mellitus type 1 since the age of 13. He is very compliant with diabetes management and strongly believes that he is healthy. However, Angelo and her husband Rachel are expecting to have twin babies and Angelo is apprehensive about the changes that can happen in his routine. Together with others advises he is considering an insulin pump therapy to manage diabetes. To understand Angelo’s dilemma, it is essential to learn diabetes and its types. Diabetes happened because there is a lack of insulin or because there are factors affecting the production of insulin (Watkins, p. 1). Diabetes was noted as early as 1500 B.C. by Ancient Egyptians and when Greek doctor Arataeus derived diabetes from the Greek word siphon, the disease that draws water from the body (Brill, p. 8).Watkins (2003) delineate WHO criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes such as 1) symptoms of diabetes plus casual venous plasma glucose >11.1 mmol/l, 2) fasting plasma glucose >7.0 mmol/l or whole blood 6.1 mmol/l, and 3) 2-hour plasma glucose >11.1 mmol/l (p. 1). Diabetes mellitus is categorized into type 1 and type 2. Angelo has type 1 diabetes mellitus which depends on exogenous injected insulin due to absolute deficiency of insulin secondary to beta cells destruction. Lifelong insulin is needed to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis and sustain life (McDowell, Brown, &Matthews, p. 2). Diabetes is a chronic and a lifelong disease. There is no cure for diabetes yet. However, there are existing treatments which requires the individuals and families to modify their life routines. Successful management of diabetes involves learning how the disease works, signs to watch for, and keeping and checking blood sugar levels normal (Brill, p. 17). Overview of the Incidence of Diabetes in United States The American Diabetes Association (2011) released data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet that the total prevalence of diabetes among child ren and adults in the United States is 25.8 million (8.3% of the population). In addition to this statistic are the 79 million people with prediabetes, 1.9 million of these are new cases of diabetes in people age 20 years and older since the 2010 survey. Typical Presenting Signs Signs and symptoms of diabetes may appear abruptly or gradually, depending on the production of insulin in the body. Mr. Reyeswill have clinical presentations of increased thirst (polydipsia) and urination (polyuria) due to the excess sugar drawing water from body tissues and the kidneys flushing out extra water to lower the concentration of sugar in urine. Mr. Reyes may also feel fatigue and may have increased appetite (polyphagia) due to lack of proper body fuel and cell starvation. Despite of increased appetite, Mr. Reyes will suffer from weight loss because the lack of glucose for nourishment burn body fat to compensate for the energy requirements. Increased glucose in the eyes can also cause bleeding or leaking of fluids in eyes blood vessels which damages the blood vessels and results in blurring of vision. Mr. Reyes will also have healing difficulties and are more prone to infections of the bladder or skin. Other clinical manifestations might present are headache,

LBs Management Case Study Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LBs Management Case Study Questions - Essay Example Throughout the launching process, the Forever Young global advertising and communications team faced various challenges including miscommunication between the Toronto and London offices, information deficiency, and deficiency of time to deliver a final product. Team’s poor coordination and the decision by Florin and David to leave resulted in a team that had little knowledge of the market. These difficulties derailed the launching process. The difficulties experienced by LB’s organization are attributable to the use of a long communication link instead of a direct communication which was needed for the turnaround. The organization’s communication link encompassed account supervisors at the London and Toronto offices causing delays, and making it hard for the teams to quickly share information that would have helped in product designing. Also, these challenges are attributable to the failure of LB to adopt face-to-face communication, which would have helped in bui lding the togetherness that the organization direly needed at the launching phase. If I were Janet Carmichael, I will decentralize the team. After decentralization, I would adopt the traditional format of task assigning. This would be most expedient for the organization. After decentralization, it will imply that client’s local offices will gain more ability and power. Effective coordination will thus take place at the local level, and cost efficiency of the venture will be enhanced since LB’s team will work directly with clients.

Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing Essay Example for Free

Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing Essay According to Hood (as cited in Agnes, 2005) â€Å"Leadership is defined as a process of influencing others or guiding or directing others to attain mutually agreed upon goals† (p. 457). This paper will describe four different leadership styles, and the effectiveness of each style as dependent upon the situation. Review of the Professional Nursing Literature All nurses are leaders but may not recognize the different types of leadership or traits of an effective leader (Sims, 2009). There are four leadership styles to consider, the first one is autocratic or authoritarian. The autocratic leader is someone who usually needs to dominate others. The autocratic approach is often one-sided and the leader is likely attempting to achieve a single goal or objective (Sims, 2009). Autocratic leadership is a behavior in which a leader makes choices with no involvement from any peers, regardless if those ideas are better suited for the organization. This type of leader requires constant pressure and direction to get the task done. This type of leader provides clear expectations for what, when, and how a process should be done without consulting employees. Organizations that have this type of leader tend to see a high turn-over of employees and absenteeism for the simple fact that employees don’t feel valued. This approach would not be the way to get the best performance from the team. The implementation of this style of leadership could be used in a situation where an immediate decision needs to be made such as a crisis in an emergency room. The second leadership style is democratic or participative. This style is one that encourages employees to be a part of the decision making process. This type of leader keeps employees informed about everything that affects the work being done, and shares in the problem solving situation. A drawback of this type of leader is that the leader could be viewed as not being able to make a decision; therefore, the employees may not respect this style and view this leader as not being a true leader. The democratic leader uses the team approach and is the coach in the process, but has the final say when the group comes to a consensus. Implementation of a democratic leadership style can best be executed in a situation where a process or practice change is needed, such as documentation on electronic medical records. With this leadership style the leader can get staff ideas and suggestions for a smooth transition to the change. This not only increases job satisfaction by involving team members, but it also helps to develop people’s skills. This method inspires a group effort, but it can take lots of time for the leader to develop and come to an end to the topic at hand (Sims, 2009). The leader may spend a lot of time in discussions, sending emails, or scheduling meetings. This leader may be happy to do this to see that staff are working together to achieve a better outcome, but it can also be a time-consuming process. A good democratic leader encourages staff participation, is supportive, but never loses sight that the leader is the one responsible for the final decision. This leader must accept that the outcome may turn out differently than originally planned. Transactional leadership is the third style, and is one where the leader focuses on the day to day tasks of the team, and makes sure that the work is completed. Transactional leadership is really a type of management, not a true leader style, because the focus is on short-term tasks. Transactional leaders set a goal, provide directions, and then reward the employee if performance is met at an acceptable level (McGuire Kennerly, 2006). Transactional leadership style can best be used when a state survey is taking place and if successful, then reward will be given to the employees. These leaders use this style to get the desired outcomes. Transactional leaders give tasks to be done by the employee, and if it’s done wrong then the employee is accountable. If the task is completed to this leader’s standard, then the employee is rewarded. This type of leader doesn’t focus on the staff’s needs, or personal development, instead the staff must adhere to what the leader wants. Transactional leaders often work under the assumption that if everything is working fine, then there is no need to fix anything. Under this type of leader, there is no interest in change, and the employee will not feel any job satisfaction. The fourth leadership style is the transformational leader. This style of leadership is one that’s very appropriate in many corporate situations because of the wide range of abilities and approaches that are drawn upon. This style focuses on the leader and the employee working together for a common goal. This type of leader has a vision for the organization, and inspires employees to solve problems creatively in a way that provides support and encouragement without diminishing the nursing role (Kleinman, 2004). Transformational leaders have several traits that inspire the employee to utilize the strengths to improve the team, have better staff satisfaction, and reduce stress (Weberg, 2010). Transformational leaders are coaches, or mentors; they show respect, have empathy, and utilize individual leader skills to promote change. These leaders are very energetic and passionate about the job, and concerned about all staff in succeeding. These leaders set good examples, clear goals, and recognizes good work from the team. Transformational leaders should remain a part of the team and share in the work load to better understand the team’s viewpoint. With this leader style, there is a higher level of committed employees, reduced stress, and increased morale (Dunham Klafehn, 1990). This in turn creates an employee who will provide a positive outlook when change is taking place and increases employee job satisfaction. Application of Clinical Example A clinical example of when transformational leader style would work best is when an organization is going through a change process, such as the way report is given. Transformational leaders motivate staff to work towards a greater good and create a positive change (Dunham Klafehn, 1990). Many nurses don’t like change in the way care is provided, but when it’s important for patient safety change is inevitable.

Preparing For and Taking Exam Essay Example for Free

Preparing For and Taking Exam Essay One of the most fundamental things that students are supposed to always have in mind is that preparation for exams must start early. It is very recommendable that preparation for the next exam should start immediately after one is through with a prior one. If one keeps up in regard to studies, then the process will be a smooth sailing. Before embarking on the process, it is very advisable to plan and this mostly entails asking oneself some questions. Such questions may include; what is my schedule during exam? How much work do I need to review? How much time do I need and have to prepare for exams? All these questions will enable one to plan time well. After planning is over, it is time to get down working; preparation for exams (Study Skills for College). So what does preparation for and taking exam entail? This is what this essay seeks to find out. Developing a balanced lifestyle prior to testing your skills Enough rest prior to exams guarantees good performance, since rest and good performance go together. Preparation for exams can be compared to preparing for a race as one need to be fit for the race. An individual’s well being is very crucial for one to be successful and thus a student needs to treat oneself with respect, as mental and physical well being is the number one factor to consider if one is to perform well (Moira, nd). To have good rest prior to exams entails having a good sleep. If one does not have enough sleep, he or she will always feel tired and this will definitely impede concentration and focus and thus studies will be negatively affected leading to poor performance. â€Å"Good Sleep equals a functioning student† (Queens University, 2008). A good diet is also essential when preparing for exams. Good nutrition will always work well in fuelling the brain and this can be achieved by mostly eating energy giving foods (Briffa, 2010). Eating process should be a regular activity at this time. If it is possible, fresh fruits for breakfast are recommendable as well as drinking a lot of water and consuming a lot of vegetables. A lot of sugar and coffee is not recommended at this time and fast foods are not healthy for a student who is preparing for exams (Moira, nd). As the saying goes, ‘you are what you eat, ’a healthy meal will translate into a healthy brain. In addition, a complete diet for a student includes ‘brains foods’ (Queens University, 2008). Moreover, a student should always have time for meditation. This process entails directing concentration to one thing and focusing on one object. This improves the breathing system and since one is attentive to only one thing, a student will find his or her thoughts taken away from anxious thoughts. This rejuvenates one and improves his or her focus. This process also goes along way to reduce stress and anger. This is very good before engaging in a challenging task (Zinger, 2008). Polishing quiz and study habits One should always come up with ways that would help in remembering what one has learnt. However, before embarking on the process, the first thing that one needs to do at this stage is to write on a blank piece of paper what one wants to cover and remember. It is also good at this point to work with others so that they can clarify what one does not understand. Cramming has never been recommended when studying and thus one should try as much as possible to read and understand, and if one does not understand, it is advisable to involve other people who may be good at the subject or even the tutors. A student is also advised to employ flash cards when revising since they assist to memorize facts. Discussion groups also come in handy at this point (Study Skills for College, nd). Another thing is that one should read while making some summaries of the main points and supporting information. If it is possible, one should come up with his or her questions and at the same time answer them. Other strategies to be employed include; cue cards, reciting loudly, do some practice problems and if possible go through some old exam questions in order to find answers to the questions one failed (Queens University, 2008). This does not mean that one should strain oneself while doing all this. It is good for one to enjoy studying and not viewing it as a punishment. This is possible if only one rewards oneself. This can be achieved by having breaks while reading. Five to ten minutes are good enough. During those breaks, one should not engage in any academic activities. The recommended activities include listening to music and watching television. This is also the best time to engage in some meditation. A student may also decide to go out for fresh air. In other words, it is the best time to engage in an activity that one likes doing most (Moira, nd). How looking back on the last exam can prepare you for the next one It is very important while preparing for exams to analyze past exam papers or questions. This is very instrumental in trying to find out what went wrong and that led to an individual getting the scores that one got. It also helps one to analyze the pattern the errors took in order to avoid them in future or in the next exam. There are different errors which may come about while doing exams. These include error related to questions, answers, and subject test-making procedures. While looking at past exam papers, it helps in ‘celebrating’ the mistakes one did. Mistakes should never be taken negatively since they offer valuable feedback (Queens University, 2008). In this regard, it is good to look at the experience that one went through while doing the exam. This entails asking some questions such as: Did I go blank the other time or did I have difficulties in breathing? How did I feel while doing the exam? These questions will help one find answers to the problems one encountered then and thus it may be possible to avoid them in future (Queens University, 2008). How to let go of exam anxiety while preparing for and taking exams Good performance in any challenging task also requires the body to be calm. For the body to be calm, it calls for good breathing and having enough air in the body. A student should take time to concentrate on breathing, specifically on the air that gets in and out of the system. Moments of longer and deeper breathing are advisable at this time. Time should also be taken to scan the whole body in order to relax the tensed muscles. This calls for one to sit properly when reading. Exercise also helps in relaxing the body and reducing anxiety. This is because it helps in pumping blood all over the body (Queens University, 2008). Exercises that one may engage in may include playing football, tennis, cycling, among others and this should continue even during exam time. This does not mean that one should spend all the time excising but a little time for some physical activities will do (Moira, nd). In conclusion, preparing for exams is very important just like taking the exam itself. Good preparation will mean success in the exam and thus time should be taken for the process. One’s well being is very crucial in passing exams and thus good preparation will go a long way to ensure that. References Briffa, J. (May, 2010). Food for thought’- nutritional advice for those preparing for and taking exams. Retrieved from http://www. drbriffa. com/2010/05/28/%E2%80%98food-for-thought%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-nutritional-advice-for-those-preparing-for-and-taking-exams/ Dr. Moira, P. (nd). Developing a balanced outlook about exams. SLDC. Retrieved 0 from http://www. google. co. ke/#hl=enq=developing+a+balanced+lifestyle+while+preparing+for+and+taking+examsaq=aqi=aql=oq=developing+a+balanced+lifestyle+while+preparing+for+and+taking+examsgs_rfai=fp=545d1e31c800a3f3 Queens University. Learning strategies and development: Preparing for and taking exams at university. Retrieved from http://www. bewell-dowell. org/sos/pdf_files/Preparing%20for%20Tests/Exam%20Module%20DEC%202009. pdf Study Skills for College. (nd). How to prepare for exams. Retrieved from http://www. bmb. psu. edu/courses/psu16/troyan/studyskills/examprep. htm Zinger, L. (April, 2008). †Educating for tolerance and compassion: Is there a place for meditation in a college classroom? † College Teaching Methods and Styles Journal, 4 (4), pp. 25-28

Smart Systems And Smart Materials

Smart Systems And Smart Materials Science and technology has made amazing developments in the design of electronics and machinery by using standard materials, which did not have particularly special properties (i.e. steel, aluminum, gold etc). Imagine the range of possibilities, which exist for special type of materials that have properties scientists can manipulate. Some such materials has the ability to change shape or size or simply by adding a little bit of heat, or to change from a liquid to a solid almost instantly when it is near a magnet; these materials are called smart materials. Smart materials are the materials that have one or more properties that can be dramatically altered. Most everyday materials have physical properties, which cannot be significantly altered; for example if an oil is heated it shall become little thinner, whereas a smart material with variable viscosity may turn from a fluid which flows easily to a solid. A variety of smart materials already exists, and is being researched extensively. These includes piezoelectric materials, magneto-rheostatic materials, electro-rheostatic materials, and shape memory alloys. Some everyday items are already incorporating smart materials (coffeepots, cars, the International Space Station, eyeglasses) and the number of applications for them is growing rapidly. Each individual type of smart material has a different type of property which can be significantly altered, such as viscosity, volume, and conductivity. The property which can be altered influences what types of applications the smart material can be used for. Smart systems and smart materials Smart structures are the new emerging materials systems which combines contemporary materials science with information science. The smart system is composed of these:- sensing, processing, actuating, feedback, self-diagnosing and self-recovering subsystems. These system uses the functional properties of advanced materials to achieve high performances with the capabilities of recognition, discrimination, and adjustification in response to make change of its environment. Each component of this system must have functionality, and the entire system is integrated to perform a self-controlled smart action, similar to a living creature that can think, make judgment and take actions. A smart system can be considered as a design philosophy that emphasizes predictivity, adaptivity and repetivity. A smart system/structure is defined as a non-biological physical structure having the following attributes: (1) a definite purpose; (ii) means and imperative to achieve that purpose; and (iii) a biological pattern of functioning. Smart materials are the subset of the smart systems, i.e. smart structures at the microscopic or mesoscopic scales. Smart systems are the non-biological structures which means that the system functions as a biological system rather than the pattern of functioning as a Turning machine. These materials will generally include at least one structural element, some for means of sensing the environment and its own state, and some type of processing and adaptive control algorithm. Science and technology in the 21st century will have to rely heavily on the development of new materials that are expected to respond to the environmental changes and manifest their own functions according to the optimum conditions. The development of these materials will undoubtedly be an essential task in many fields of science and technology such as informatics science, micro-electronics, computer science, medical treatment, life science, energy, transportation, safety engineering and military technologies. Materials development in the future, therefore, should be directed toward creation of hyperfunctional materials which will surpass even biological organ in some aspects. The present materials research is to develop various pathways that will lead the modern technology towards the smart sy stems. Types of Smart Materials Piezoelectric materials:- Piezoelectric materials have two unique properties that are interrelated. When a piezoelectric material is deformed, it gives off a small but a measurable electrical discharge. Alternately, when an electrical current is passed through a piezoelectric material it experiences the significant increase in size (approx. up to a 4% change in volume) Piezoelectric materials are widely used as sensors in different type of environments. They are often used to measure fluid composition, fluid density, fluid viscosity, or the force of an impact. An example of a piezoelectric material in everyday life is an airbag sensor in our car. The material senses the force of an impact on the car and thus sends and electric charge deploying the airbag. Example of Piezoelectric materials Electro-rheostatic (ER) and magneto-rheostatic (MR) materials:- Electro-rheostatic (ER) and magneto-rheostatic (MR) materials are fluids, which can experience dramatic change in their viscosity. These type of fluids can change from thick fluids (similar to motor oil) to nearly a solid substance within a span of a millisecond when exposed to a magnetic or an electric field. The effect can completely be reversed just as quickly when the field is removed. MR fluids experience viscosity changes when exposed to a magnetic field, while ER fluids experience similar type changes in an electric field. The composition of each type of smart fluid varies widely. The most common form of MR fluid consists of the tiny iron particles suspended in oil, while ER fluids can be as simple as milk chocolates or corn-starch and oil. MR fluids are mostly being developed for use in the car shocks, damping washing machine vibration, prosthetic limbs, exercise equipment, and surface polishing of machine parts. ER are mainly being developed for use in the clutches and valves, as well as engine mounts designed to reduce noise and vibration in the vehicles. Shape memory alloys:- Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are the metals, which exhibit two intresting unique properties, pseudo-elasticity, and shape memory effect. Arne Olander first observed these unusual properties in 1938 (Oksuta and Wayman 1998), but until the 1960s were no any serious research advances made in the field of shape memory alloys. The most effective and widely used alloys includes-NiTi (Nickel Titanium), CuZnAl, and CuAlNi. The unusual properties mentioned in the above are being applied to a wide variety of applications in the number of different fields. Shape memory alloys use ) pH sensitive polymers:- pH sensitive or pH responsive polymers are the materials which responds to the changes in the pH of the surrounding medium by varying or changing their dimensions. Such materials either swell or collapse depending on the pH of their own environment. These behaviour are exhibited due to the presence of certain type of functional groups in the polymer chains. There are only two kinds of ph sensitive materials:- one that have acidic group (-COOH, -SO3H) and swells in basic pH, and others that have basic groups (-NH2) and swells in acidic pH. Polyacrylic acid is an example of a former and Chitosan is an example of a latter. The mechanism of response is just same for both, just the stimuli varies. Their response is triggered due to the presence of ionisable functional groups (eg -COOH, -NH2) which get ionized and acquires a charge +/- in a certain pH. The polymer chains are now having similarly charged groups which causes repulsion and thus the material expands in dimensions. The opposite of this happens when pH changes and the functional groups loses their charge hence the repulsion is therefore gone and the material collapses back. These materials are being widely used for controlled drug delivery systems and biomimetics Halochromic material:- Halochromic materials are the materials which changes colour when pH changes occurs. The term chromic is defined as the materials that can change their colour reversibly in the presence of a factor. In this case, the factor is pH. The pH indicators have this type of property. Halochromic substances are suited for use in environments where pH changes occur very frequently, or the places where changes in pH are most. Halochromic substances can detect alterations in the acidity of substances, eg- detection of corrosion in metals. These substances can be used as indicators to determine the pH of the solutions of unknown pH. The colour obtained is compared with the colour obtained when the indicator is mixed with solutions of known pH. The pH of the unknown solution can then be estimated. Obvious disadvantages of this type method include its dependency on the colour sensitivity of the human eye, and those of unknown solutions that are already colour can be used. example of halochromoic The colour changes of halochromic substances occur when a chemical binds to existing hydrogen and hydroxide ions in solution. Such bonds result in changes in the conjugate systems of the molecules, or the range of electron to flow. This alters the amount of light absorbed, which in turns results in a visible change of colour. Halochromic substances does not display a full range of colour for a full range of pH because, after certain acidities, the conjugate system does not changes. The various shades resulted from different type of concentrations of halochromic molecules with the different conjugate systems. (6)Dielectric elastomers (DEs):- Dielectric elastomers are the smart material systems which produces large strains (even up to 300%) and belong to the group of electro active polymers (EAP). Based on their simple principle of working dielectric elastomers actuators (DEA) transform electric energy directly into the mechanical work. DE are lightweight, and have a high elastic energy density and are investigated since the late 1990s. Many of its potential applications exist as prototypes. Every year in spring a SPIE conference takes place in San Diego where the newest research results concerning DEA are exchanged between. Self-healing materials:- These materials are the class of smart materials that are having the structurally incorporated ability to repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. The inspiration comes from the biological systems, which have the ability to heal after being wounded. Initiation of cracks and other types of damage on a microscopic level have been shown to change the thermal, electrical, and acoustical properties, and eventually lead to the whole scale failure of these materials. Usually, cracks are mended by hand, which is difficult because cracks are often hard to detect. A material (polymers, ceramics, etc.) that can intrinsically correct the damage caused by normal usage could lower production costs of the number of different industrial processes through longer part lifetime, reduction of inefficiency over time caused by degradation, as well as prevent costs incurred by material failure. For a material to be called as self-healing, it is necessary that the healing process shall occur with out human intervention. Examples shown below include healing polymers that are not self-healing polymers. Example of self healing Temperature-responsive polymer:- Temperature-responsive polymer is a polymer which undergoes a physical change when an external thermal stimulus is presented. Their ability to undergo such changes under easily controlled conditions makes this class of polymers fall into the category of smart materials. These physical changes can be exploited for many analytical techniques, especially for separation chemistry. After numerous investigations of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly-NIPAAm), there was a sparked interest in the applications of this and many other stimuli-responsive polymers. There have been extensive research in the applications of intelligent polymers for use as stationary phases, extraction compounds, surface modifiers, drug delivery, and gene delivery. Temperature responsive polymer Applications of smart materials There are many possibilities for smart materials and structures in this world. Engineering structures can be operated at the very limited of their performance envelopes and to their structural limits without fear of the exceeding either. These structures can also give maintenance engineers a full report on the performance history, as well as the location of the defects, whilst having the ability to counteract the unwanted or potentially dangerous conditions such as excess vibration, and effect self repair. Smart Materials in Aerospace:- Some materials and structures are termed sensual devices. These are structures which can sense their environment and generate data for use in health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS). Today the most well established application of HUMS are in the field of aerospace, in the areas such as aircraft checking. An aircraft constructed from a sensual structure could self-monitor its performance to a level beyond that of current data recording, and provide ground crews with the enhanced health and usage monitoring. This would minimise the overheads associated with HUMS and allow such aircraft to fly for more hours before any human intervention is required. Smart Materials in Civil Engineering They can be used in the monitoring of civil engineering structures to assess durability. Monitoring of the current and long term behaviour of a bridge would lead to enhanced safety during its life since it would provide early warning of structural problems at a stage where minor repairs would enhance durability, and when used in conjunction with structural rehabilitation can be used to safety monitor the structure beyond its original design life. This will influence the life costs of such structures by reducing upfront construction costs and by extending safe life of the structures. Sensual materials and structures also have a wide range of potential domestic applications, as in food packaging for monitoring safe storage and cooking. The above example addresses only sensual structures. However, the smart materials and structures offer the possibility of structures, which not only sense but also adapt with their environment. Such types of adaptive materials and structures benefit from the sensual aspects highlighted earlier, but in addition have the capability to move, vibrate, and exhibit a multitude of other real time responses. Potential applications of such adaptive materials and structures range from the ability to control the aeroelastic form of an aircraft wing, thus minimising drag and improving operational efficiency, to vibration control of lightweight structures such as satellites, and power pick-up pantographs on trains. Ken Materials Mechatronic smart structures have demonstrated the capability of its technology, but raise the important issue of the complexity of the resulting system. This smart type of structures contains a multitude of different materials, and in the case of sensual structures it will generate large amounts of data. This increase in complexity has been described as the spaghetti syndrome, and has led to the proposal for an alternative type of smart structure based on the concept of ken materials (the Chinese characters which means wisdom, structure, monitoring, integration and benignity is being pronounced ken in the Japanese language). Such structures will move functional integration into the constituent engineering materials by themselves. Some of the practical examples of ken materials exist at present, although a structural composite based on this concept had been developed in Japan. This is a carbon and glass fibre reinforced concrete which able to monitor concrete structures by using only the structural reinforcing fibres, thus reducing the complexity of the system. (4) Structural Uses (a) Active control of structures The concepts of the adaptive behaviour have been an underlying theme of active control of structures which are subjected to an earthquake and other environmental types of loads. The structure adapts its dynamic characteristics to meet the performance objectives at any instant. Sun and Sun (vi) used a thermo mechanical approach to develop a constitutive relation for bending of a composite beam with a continuous SMA fibers embedded eccentric to neutral axis. The authors finally concluded that SMAs can be successfully used for the active structural vibration control. Thompson(iii) also conducted an analytical investigation on the use of SMA wires to dampen the dynamic response of the cantilever beam constrained by SMA wires. (b) Passive control of structures Two families of the passive seismic control devices which are exploiting the peculiar properties of SMA kernel components has been implemented and tested within our MANSIDE project (Memory Alloys for New Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation Devices). They are the Special braces for the framed structures and isolation devices for the buildings and bridges. (c) Smart Material Tag These smart materials tag can be used for composite structures. These tags can be monitored externally throughout the life of those structures to relate the condition of internal material. Such measurements as stress, moisture, voids, cracks and discontinuities might be interpreted via a remote sensors. (d) Retrofitting SMAs can use as self-stressing fibres and therefore they can be applied for retrofitting. Self-stressing fibres are the ones in which the reinforcement is placed into the compositenon-stressed state. A prestressing force is therefore introduced into the system without the use of large mechanical actuators, by providing SMAs. These materials thus do not need specialized electric equipments nor do they create safety problems in the field. Treatment can be applied at any time after hardening of matrix instead of during its curing and hardening. So the Long or short term prestressing is introduced by triggering the change in SMAs shape using temperature or electricity. The Future The development of true smart materials at the small atomic scale is still progressing a little, although the enabling technologies are under the development. These require the novel aspects of nanotechnology (technologies which are associated with materials and processes at the nanometre scale, 10-9m) and the newly developing science of shape chemistry. Worldwide, a considerable effort is being made to develop these smart materials and structures. The technological benefits of such types of systems have begun to be identified and, demonstrators are therefore under construction for a wide range of applications from space to aerospace, to civil engineering and to domestic products. In many of above, these applications, the cost benefit analyses of such systems are yet to be fully demonstrated. The Office of Science and Technologys Foresight Programme has recognised these types of systems as a strategic technology for the future, having considerable potential for creation of wealth through the development of various unknown products, and performance enhancing the existing products in a broad range of the industrial sectors. The concept of engineering materials and structures which respond to their own environment, including their human owners, is somewhat an alien concept. So it is therefore not only important that the technological and financial implications of these materials and structures are addressed, but also issues associated with public understanding and acceptance.Techno-democracy could only come about only through education and exposure of the general public to these technologies. However, such a general acceptance of smart materials and structures may in fact be more difficult than some of the technological hurdles which are associated with their development. A new smart materials process Multiple Memory Material Technology developed by University of Waterloo engineering researchers promises to revolutionize the manufacture of diverse products such as medical devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), printers, hard drives, automotive components, valves and actuators.

Independence and the Development of the American Identity and Mathemati

During the 1800s, we find the theme of independence, or freedom from outside constraints, in the development of two different frontiers. We find it in the American West through Manifest Destiny, freedom from caste, and in the chance that homesteaders had to acquire virtually free land. We find independence in math through in the building of stronger theoretical foundations, non-Euclidean geometries, and Cantor's infinities. Independence involves breaking from the commonly accepted, traditional views in order to explore the new. It is not necessarily individual people working alone. We can see independence in a community of thought as well as in the work of a single person. Independence is an important part of the Western culture as a concept. We find this in the concept of Manifest Destiny. This concept began when the Puritan immigrants "interpreted their victories over the Indians as part of God's plan." (Hine, 65) O'Sullivan first defined this term. He "coined one of the most famous phrases in American history when he insisted on 'our manifest destiny to overspread the continent.'"(Hine 199) Although Manifest Destiny meant different things to different people, the general definition was that God ordained the United States should expand to cover some undefined area. (Merk p.24) Some thought that the United States should cover the entire continent, and perhaps even South America, but others were more conservative in their views. Manifest Destiny was exemplified by the politicians. Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois declared that he "would blot out the lines on the map which now marked our national boundaries . . .and make the area of liberty as broad as th e continent itself." (Hine 199) The concept of Manifest Destiny is a... ...eings perceive the world. (Quote Delvin p.163) (Euclidean Geometry) "The distinction between common notions and postulates was made on the basis that common notions are truths common to all knowledge, all the sciences, whereas postulates are truths within the field of geometry.(Witter p.232) (Geometry)Klein generalized geometries even further by exploring patterns of different geometries. (Delvin p.199) (Geometry) Make pictures of the parallel postulate and it's replacements. (Calculus) Use idea of tearing a piece of paper in half for the limit. (Calculus) Newton and Leibniz developed calculus in the 1600s.(Eves p.21) (Calculus) Little was done for a century after this toward logically strengthening the underpinnings of calculus. (Eves p.132) (Calculus) Karl Weinstraous (1815-1897) introduced epsilon delta notation. ( Eves p. 137, 139)