Brittle Stars - Ophiuroidea - The Animal Encyclopedia

Brittle Stars - Ophiuroidea - The Animal Encyclopedia Brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) are a group of echinoderms that resemble starfish. There are about 1500 species of brittle stars alive today and most species inhabit marine habitats with depths greater than 1500 feet. There are a few species of shallow water brittle stars. These species live in the sand or mud just below the low tide mark. They often live amongst coral and sponges as well. Brittle stars inhabit all the worlds oceans and live in a variety of climate regions including tropical, temperate and polar waters. Brittle stars are subdivided into two basic groups, the brittle stars (Ophiurida) and the basket stars (Euryalida). Brittle stars have a star shaped body. Like many echinoderms, they exhibit pentaradial symmetry, a 5-sided radial symetry. Brittle stars have five arms that join together at a central body disk. The arms are clearly delineated from the central body disk, and in this way brittle stars can be distinguished from starfish (starfish arms blend with the central body disk such that it is not easy to delineate where the arm ends and the central body disk begins). Brittle stars move using a water vascular system and tube feet. Their arms can move side to side but not up and down (if they are bent up or down they break, hence the name brittle star). Their arms are extremely flexible from side to side and enable them to move through the water and along substrate surfaces. When they move, they do so in a straight line, with one arm serving as the forward directing point and other arms pushing the body along that path. Brittle stars and basket stars both have long flexible arms. These arms are supported by calcium carbonate plates (also known as vertebral ossicles). The ossicles are encased in soft tissue and jointed plates that run the length of the arm. Brittle stars have a nervous system that consists of a nerve ring and that encircles their central body disk. Nerves run down each arm. Brittle stars, like all echinoderms, lack a brain. The have no eyes and their only developed senses are chemosensory (they can detect chemicals in the water) and touch. Brittle stars undergo respiration using bursae, sacks that enable gas exchange as well as excretion. These sacs are located on the bottom of the central body disk. Cilia within the sacs direct water flow so that oxygen can be absorbed from the water and waste flushed from the body. Brittle stars have a mouth that has five jaw-like structures around it. The mouth opening is also used to expel waste. An esophagus and stomach connect to the mouth opening. Brittle stars feed on organic material on the sea floor (they are primarily detritivores or scavengers although some species occasionally feed on small invertebrate prey). Basket stars feed on plankton and bacteria they catch by suspension feeding. Most species of brittle stars have separate sexes. A few species are either hermaphroditic or protandric. In many species, larvae develop inside the body of the parent. When an arm is lost, brittle stars often regenerate the lost limb. If a predator catches a brittle star by its arm, it loses the arm as a means of escape. Brittle stars diverged from other echinoderms about 500 million years ago, during the Early Ordovician. Brittle stars are most closely related to sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Details about the evolutionary relationship of brittle star to other echinoderms are not clear. Brittle stars reach sexual maturity at about 2 years of age and become full grown by 3 or 4 years of age. Their life span is generally about 5 years. Classification: Animals Invertebrates Echinoderms Brittle Stars

Management Budgeting Essay

Management Budgeting Essay Management Budgeting Essay 1. Budgeting What is the objective of the organization? 2. Advantages of Budgeting Compels planning Promotes coordination and communication (need to coordinate with each other, departments, to create budget. Need to focus on one goal.) Provides performance criteria (that you need to achieve) 3. Knight Company has found that 30% What’s your expectation? Sale’s budget How much cash do I have during certain month? 4. Budget development Who is going to be responsible for the budget? Everyone in the org is somewhat responsible for the budget as they would be involved in the day-to-day activities one way or another. 5. Master Budget What’s organization goals? 6. Budgeting Styles 7. Budget Fames - Managers have been known to play †¦ in which they attempt to manipulate info and targets to achieve as high as bonus as possible Stretch targets 8. Standard Costs 9. Managing by Exception: Cost variance analysis enables managers to focus attention on items Should you look at negative variance or? Both are important, over-budget and under-budget Look at unfavorable items that stick out, but should look at favorable items as well b/c you might overlook something that you could improve. Break down to price and quantity Need to figure out both what went right and wrong Cost Variances 10. Investigating causes 11. Direct Cost Variance Analysis Actual cost is bigger than original budget so it’s unfavorable. The difference between Flexible Budget Cost and Original Budget is the Units, so it’s called Volume variance Astor Company $3,000 under-budgeted 12. 13. What is more important? A. Labor efficiency B. Labor effectiveness (focus on customer – less errors, reject rate) Focus on Effectiveness first, then efficiency, but need to have a good combination of both efficiency and effectiveness. No point producing a lot of goods but many defects. 14. Elimination of Direct Labor Variance Reporting Continue to monitor is better 15. Take home message Traditional budgeting and std cost systems can play a useful role. It’s important to recognize the limitations and develop improved systems. Need to use a combination of it. 16. (2nd PPT) 1. Costs/Limitations of Decentralization 2. Should plant managers be evaluated as cost centers or profit centers? - Plant manager should be evaluated for cost centers Sales is related to effectiveness - However, if their delivery influence sales, then they would also be evaluated for profit centers 3. Survey of Chief Financial Officers - Plants pursuing cost leadership strategy are more likely to be cost center 4. †¦ 5. Non-Financial Performance Measures - Customer satisfaction will be affected before the impact of managerial actions is observed in sales revenue or profit. - Operating measures such as customer waiting time provide immediate

Sturmgewehr 44 Assault Rifle - World War II Weaponry

Sturmgewehr 44 Assault Rifle - World War II Weaponry The Sturmgewehr 44 was the first assault rifle to see deployment on a large scale. Developed by Nazi Germany, it was introduced in 1943 and first saw service on the Eastern Front. Though far from perfect, the StG44 proved a versatile weapon for German forces. Specifications Cartridge: 7.92 x 33mm KurzCapacity: 30 roundsMuzzle Velocity: 2,247 ft./sec.Effective Range: 325 yds.Weight: Approx. 11.5 lbs.Length: 37 in.Barrel Length: 16.5 in.Sights: Adjustable sights - Rear: V-notch, Front: hooded postAction: Gas-operated, tilting boltNumber Built: 425,977 Design Development At the beginning of World War II, German forces were equipped bolt-action rifles such as the Karabiner 98k, and a variety of light and medium machine guns. Problems soon arose as the standard rifles proved too large and unwieldy for use by mechanized troops. As a result, the Wehrmacht issued several smaller submachine guns, such as the MP40, to augment those weapons in the field. While these were easier to handle and increased the individual firepower of each soldier, they had a limited range and were inaccurate beyond 110 yards. While these issues existed, they were not pressing until the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. Encountering increasing numbers of Soviet troops equipped with semi-automatic rifles like the Tokarev SVT-38 and SVT-40, as well as the PPSh-41 submachine gun, German infantry officers began to reassess their weapons needs. While development progressed on the Gewehr 41 series of semi-automatic rifles, they proved problematic in the field and German industry was not capable of producing them in the numbers needed. Efforts were made to fill the void with light machine guns, however, the recoil of the 7.92 mm Mauser round limited accuracy during automatic fire. The solution to this issue was the creation of an intermediate round that was more powerful than pistol ammunition, but less than a rifle round. While work on such a round had been ongoing since the mid-1930s, the Wehrmacht has previously rejected it adoption. Re-examining the project, the army selected the Polte 7.92 x 33mm Kurzpatrone and began soliciting weapon designs for the ammunition. Issued under the designation Maschinenkarabiner 1942 (MKb 42), development contracts were issued to Haenel and Walther. Both companies responded with gas-operated prototypes that were capable of either semi-automatic or fully-automatic fire. In testing, the Hugo Schmeisser-designed Haenel MKb 42(H) out-performed the Walther and was selected by the Wehrmacht with some minor changes. A short production run of the MKb 42(H) was field tested in November 1942 and received strong recommendations from German troops. Moving forward, 11,833 MKb 42(H)s were produced for field trials in late 1942 and early 1943. Assessing the data from these trials, it was determined that the weapon would perform better with a hammer firing system operating from a closed bolt, rather than the open bolt, striker system initially designed by Haenel. As work moved forward to incorporate this new firing system, development temporarily came to halt when Hitler suspended all new rifle programs due to administrative infighting within the Third Reich. To keep the MKb 42(H) alive, it was re-designated Maschinenpistole 43 (MP43) and billed as an upgrade to existing submachine guns. This deception was eventually discovered by Hitler, who again had the program halted. In March 1943, he permitted it to recommence for evaluation purposes only. Running for six months, the evaluation produced positive results and Hitler allowed the MP43 program to continue. In April 1944, he ordered it redesignated MP44. Three months later, when Hitler consulted his commanders regarding the Eastern Front he was told that the men needed more of the new rifle. Shortly thereafter, Hitler was given the opportunity to test fire the MP44. Highly impressed, he dubbed it the Sturmgewehr, meaning storm rifle. Seeking to enhance the propaganda value of the new weapon, Hitler ordered it re-designated StG44 (Assault Rifle, Model 1944), giving the rifle its own class. Production soon began with the first batches of the new rifle being shipped to troops on the Eastern Front. A total of 425,977 StG44s were produced by the end of the war and work had commenced on a follow-on rifle, the StG45. Among the attachments available for the StG44 was the Krummlauf, a bent barrel that permitted firing around corners. These were most commonly made with 30Â ° and 45Â ° bends. Operational History Arriving on the Eastern Front, the StG44 was used to counter Soviet troops equipped with the PPS and PPSh-41 submachine guns. While the StG44 had a shorter range than the Karabiner 98k rifle, it was more effective at close quarters and could out-range both Soviet weapons. Though the default setting on the StG44 was semi-automatic, it was surprisingly accurate in full-automatic as it possessed a relatively slow rate of fire. In use on both fronts by wars end, the StG44 also proved effective at providing covering fire in place of light machine guns. The worlds first true assault rifle, the StG44 arrived too late to significantly affect the outcome of the war, but it gave birth to an entire class of infantry weapons that include famous names such as the AK-47 and the M16. After World War II, the StG44 was retained for use by the East German Nationale Volksarmee (Peoples Army) until it was replaced by the AK-47. The East German Volkspolizei utilized the weapon through 1962. In addition, the Soviet Union exported captured StG44s to its client states including Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, as well as supplied the rifle to friendly guerrilla and insurgent groups. In the latter case, the StG44 has equipped elements of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hezbollah. American forces have also confiscated StG44s from militia units in Iraq. Selected Sources World Guns: Sturmgewehr

Contemporary Issues in HR Service Delivery Essay

Contemporary Issues in HR Service Delivery - Essay Example Most recent articles have argued that HR management can be a critical source of competitive advantage if it becomes strategic. The paper explores the strategic function of HR and the core practices and outlines outcomes of HR practices. Ulrich’s model avails new opportunities to HR function as the need for a more strategic and business-linked is evident. This emanates from the fact that corporations are experiencing dramatic changes that manifest significant implications based on how critical human resources are to their performance. Several studies have explored the capability for the HR function to be a strategic partner and established that it possesses a critical value-adding function. HR function should become strategically proactive and goes beyond mere administrative expertise. HR function should be an expert in strategic business partnering, employee advocacy, and change management (Robinson and Robinson 2008, p.203). A well structured strategic business partner role combined with an effective delivery of operational HR functions can aid in transforming of the HR function. Human Resource as a discipline has manifested considerable changes within the last two decades with phrases such as â€Å"business partner† becoming common. Given the present turbulent nature of the business world and the resultant demands on human capital, the strategic business partner role can deliver value to organizations (Caldwell 2001, p.39). The establishment of strategic business role emanates from a combination of possessing skills and knowledge within the arena of Human Resources, organization development, and partnership. Nevertheless, once the competence profile is established, it is also critical to comprehend the usual tensions as the organization moves from their present HR state to the utilization of a strategic business model (Price 2007, p.55). The strategic business partner (SBP) concept should be structured around availing human capital

A common Misunderstanding of systems in airplanes Essay

A common Misunderstanding of systems in airplanes - Essay Example Nevertheless, the flight data recorders have been designed to withstand substantial hardships, high temperatures, and even violence such as one that occurs on impact of a plane crash. At most times, the boxes can withstand this and still be useful with regard to providing essential data to investigators. In spite of this, people should understand that at extreme temperatures that may be caused by aviation fuel fires, the boxes could be destroyed. In most instances, this damage is viewed from the point of recoverable data. The fires may destroy the data inside the data recorders making it unreadable. At such an instance, the black box was destroyed. Such a misunderstanding can be avoided in the future by educating people. If the people have prior information concerning the characteristics and behavior of a black box at certain circumstances, they would stop expecting too much out of the black box. There are usually two black boxes on commercial airplanes and their color is

Asbestos Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Asbestos - Research Paper Example Previously, people did not know the risk associated with asbestos and began to use asbestos in a wide range of activities. With the due passage of time and extensive research by researchers, it was found that asbestos were responsible for a considerable proportion of health risk attached with people. People are both directly and indirectly affected by asbestos. People are directly affected by asbestos through inhalation of considerable amount of asbestos by people in their working environment. Asbestos fibers when exposed to air causes air pollution which indirectly affects people. Direct contact with person who inhaled asbestos can also affect the health of people. It was revealed that exposure to asbestos caused a number of health diseases. A few of them were manageable and some were fatal. Asbestos particles which are released into the air are inhaled by humans by breathing or through a membrane called mesothelium. The inhalation of these fibers can make cells more cancer prone. E arlier mainly the mining workers were exposed to asbestos and affected by it, but due to the wide acceptance of asbestos in industries, schools and housing, the number of people affected by asbestos has increased. The consequences of asbestos inhalation are usually associated with the amount of asbestos the person is exposed to, how often the person is exposed and the tenure of exposure. The main effects can result in asbestosis, pleural mesothelioma or lung cancer (Asbestos, 2010). With the increase in awareness of health diseases associated with asbestos, continuous efforts have been made to minimize its impact on human health. In 1970, the Congress in US passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act with a view to protect workers from occupational hazards. EPA also monitors the exposure of asbestos through its regulations which is known as National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. This regulation

Multi-user database Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Multi-user database - Essay Example In addition, the concurrency control is significant for the reason that the concurrent execution of multi-user database transactions those are performed in a collective database arrangement can provide basis for some of the reliability and integrity issues. In this regard, for the proper establishment of the concurrency control the method of the locking is used that involves the assurance regarding private utilization of a data item to a database operation. Normally, let if database transaction A1 holds a lock on a database data item, after that another operation A2 does not have right to use that data item (WordPress, 2010), (Wikia, 201) and (Hoffer, Prescott, & McFadden, 2007). In case of the transaction management we need to ensure that multi-user database transactions or operations are clear, means that every transaction should have preserved database integrity all through multiple users’s operations trying to access the databases. In addition, transactions have to be as w ell divided into subordinate-transactions; since every subordinate-transaction can affect the single database system.