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Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using: wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, wind pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines which are connected to the electric power transmission network. Offshore wind farms can harness more frequent and powerful winds than are available to land-based installations and have less visual impact on the landscape but construction costs are considerably higher.Small onshore wind facilities are used to provide electricity to isolated locations and utility companies increasingly buy back surplus electricity produced by small domestic wind turbines. Although very consistent from year to year, wind power has significant variation over shorter timescales. The intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when used to supply up to 20% of total electricity demand, but as the proportion incre ases, a need to upgrade the grid, and a lowered ability to supplant conventional production can occur.Power management techniques such as having excess capacity storage, dispatch able backing supplies (usually natural gas), storage such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity, exporting and importing power to neighboring areas or reducing demand when wind production is low, can greatly mitigate these problems. Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses little land Any effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from other power sources.As of 2010 wind energy production was over 2. 5% of worldwide power, growing at more than 25% per annum. The overall cost per unit of energy produced is similar to the cost for new coal and natural gas installations. Although wind power is a popular form of energy generation, the construction of wind farms is not u niversally welcomed. Fossil fuels are subsidized by many governments, and wind power and other forms of renewable energy are also often subsidized. For example a 2009 study by the Environmental Law Institute assessed the size and structure of U. S. energy subsidies over the 2002–2008 periods.The study estimated that subsidies to fossil-fuel based sources amounted to approximately $72 billion over this period and subsidies to renewable fuel sources totaled $29 billion. In the United States, the federal government has paid US$74 billion for energy subsidies to support R&D for nuclear power ($50 billion) and fossil fuels ($24 billion) from 1973 to 2003. (Energy subsidies are measures that keep prices for consumers below market levels or for producers above market levels, or reduce costs) During this same timeframe, renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency received a total of US$26 billion.It has been suggested that a subsidy shift would help to level the playing field and support growing energy sectors, namely solar power, wind power, and biofuels. History shows that no energy sector was developed without subsidies. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) (2011) energy subsidies artificially lower the price of energy paid by consumers, raise the price received by producers or lower the cost of production. â€Å"Fossil fuels subsidies costs generally outweigh the benefits.Subsidies to renewables and low-carbon energy technologies can bring long-term economic and environmental benefits†. In November 2011, an IEA report entitled Deploying Renewables 2011 said â€Å"subsidies in green energy technologies that were not yet competitive are justified in order to give an incentive to investing into technologies with clear environmental and energy security benefits†. The IEA's report disagreed with claims that renewable energy technologies are only viable through costly subsidies and not able to produce energy reliably to meet de mand.In the US, the wind power industry has recently increased its lobbying efforts considerably, spending about $5 million in 2009 after years of relative obscurity in Washington. By comparison, the US nuclear industry alone spent over $650 million on its lobbying efforts and campaign contributions during a single ten year period ending in 2008. Following the 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents, Germany's federal government is working on a new plan for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy commercialization, with a particular focus on offshore wind farms.Under the plan large wind turbines will be erected far away from the coastlines, where the wind blows more consistently than it does on land, and where the enormous turbines won't bother the inhabitants. The plan aims to decrease Germany's dependence on energy derived from coal and nuclear power plants. Commenting on the EU's 2020 renewable energy target, Economist, Professor Dieter Helm, is critical of how the costs of win d power are cited by lobbyists. Helm also says that the problem of intermittent supply will probably lead to another dash-for-gas or dash-for-coal inEurope, possibly with a negative impact on energy security. A House of Lords Select Committee report (2008) on renewable energy in the UK reported a â€Å"concern over the prospective role of wind generated and other intermittent sources of electricity in the UK, in the absence of a break-through in electricity storage technology or the integration of the UK grid with that of continental Europe. Many wind power companies work with local communities to reduce environmental and other concerns associated with particular wind farms. In other cases there is direct community ownership of wind farm projects.Appropriate government consultation, planning and approval procedures also help to minimize environmental risks. Some may still object to wind farms but, according to The Australia Institute, their concerns should be weighed against the ne ed to address the threats posed by climate change and the opinions of the broader community. In America, wind projects are reported to boost local tax bases, helping to pay for schools, roads and hospitals. Wind projects also revitalize the economy of rural communities by providing steady income to farmers and other landowners.In the UK, both the National Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England have expressed concerns about the effects on the rural landscape caused by inappropriately sited wind turbines and wind farms. Some wind farms have become tourist attractions. The White lee Wind Farm Visitor Centre has an exhibition room, a learning hub, a cafe with a viewing deck and also a shop. It is run by the Glasgow Science Centre. In Denmark, a loss-of-value scheme gives people the right to claim compensation for loss of value of their property if it is caused by proximity to a wind turbine.The loss must be at least 1% of the property’s value. There have been numerous re ports of those living close to wind turbines suffering adverse health effects from noise, vibration and shadow flicker, and in 2009 New York Pediatrician, Dr. Nina Pierpont, claimed to have identified an effect for which she coined the term â€Å"Wind Turbine Syndrome†. An industry commissioned review of the current research on the possible health effects of wind turbine noise and vibration reported in 2010 that, â€Å"the sound (including sub audible sound) is not unique, and does not pose a risk to human health.Although the sound may cause ‘annoyance’ for some people, this in itself is not an adverse health effect. † The findings of the report have, however, been questioned on a number of grounds including; that the reviewing group did not include an epidemiologist, usually a given for assessing potential environmental health hazards, and that there was no clear description of the methods the researchers used to search for available research, nor how the y rated the quality of the research. In October 2010 The Society for Wind Vigilance held an international symposium concerning the subject.A study on wind farm noise published in 2012 by The US state of Massachusetts reported that people are annoyed by sound from wind turbines at far lower sound levels than they are by noises from railroads, aircraft, or road traffic. The study found the percentage of respondents who found noise levels highly annoying rose quickly as sound levels increased above about 37dbA (about the level of a conversation). Wind Power Is A very good resource for energy I think that everybody should use win power in the future

Natural Slope Stability Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Natural Slope Stability - Assignment Example Softening of slope cause many hills and mountain to have a landslide causing damage to infrastructure and injury to some. In UK an increasing number of landslides has been occurring because of the late study of the stability of the slope. A case study will be presented to show the evaluation of the slope geotechnically. The study considers the causes of landslides and what measures could be taken to manage the risks of these occurring and is reported elsewhere. This study also show things to consider in the effect of that climate change might have on the design and operation of roads, to identify whether any changes in current practices are required. The focus of this study is the influence of rainfall in the stability of the natural slope.This study includes in how to predict the possible continuous rainfall to avoid landslides in many areas in UK. This paper shows the study in geotechnical way. Possible solution on many landslides are given to prevent loss of life and possible damage to properties. The case study presented in this paper was done by the Scottish engineers, to predict possible slope instability that causes landslide because of continuous rainfall. The study location is in the road network of Scotland In August 2004 a series of landslides in the form of debris flows occurred in Scotland. Some of these affected the A83, A9 and A85, which form part of the trunk road network. These incidents were well reported in the media. While debris flows occur with some frequency in Scotland, they only rarely affect the trunk road network or for that matter the main local road network. However, when they do impact on the road network the degree of damage, in terms of the infrastructure and the loss of utility to road users, can have a major detrimental effect on both economic and social aspects of the use of the asset. Additionally, there is a high potential for such events to cause serious injury and even loss of life although, fortuitously, such consequences have been limited to date. The events of August 2004 followed a sustained period of heavy rainfall and, in addition, intense localised storms contributed to the triggering of at least some of the resulting debris flows. Rainfall of up to 300% of the monthly average fell in certain parts of Scotland during August 2004. Within the recent past, debris flow activity in Scotland has occurred largely in the periods July to August and November to January, but there is no certainty that such a pattern will be continued in the future. However, eastern parts of Scotland do receive their highest levels of rainfall in August. Additionally, climate change models indicate that rainfall levels will increase in the winter but decrease during the summer months but that intense storm events will increase in number. These factors, therefore, may change both the frequency and the annual pattern of debris flow events. The impacts of such events are particularly serious during the summer months due to the major contribution that tourism makes to Scotland's economy. Nevertheless, the impacts of debris flow events during the winter months should not be underestimated. Evaluation of the Study What is a Natural Slope Slope as defined in Encarta is the maximum angle at which soil can be banked without slipping. The slope can be natural (natural cliffs and hillside) or artificial or constructed (cuttings, embankments, quarries, spoil tips

Personal Career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Career - Essay Example First, I need to evaluate my principles/values and align my career in a way that honors these values in order to have a deep satisfaction in the career that I intend to pursue. Since childhood to date, I have passion for economics and finance and math. I really look up to building a successful career in financial analysis in a prominent investment firm. This is because this is a prestigious career that is highly respected in the business world and I intend to work my way from junior position to senior level. Secondly, I have to make adequate planning on my career. I believe I have done so, since I have already set my vision, mission and overall objectives. My vision is to be a highly qualified business analyst who provides quality services to others (Hooley, Watts, Sultana & Neary, 2013). My mission is participation in business consultancy world with the aim of providing quality financial solutions to firms, individuals, institutions and the government in general. Additionally my objectives are, to provide quality financial solutions to firms and to maximize profits while maintaining economic ethics. Additionally, since I am undertaking a business related course, I believe that the skills acquired will enable me perform the duties as required and since I intend to further my course by doing business mathematics, economics and computer packages, my skills will be very essential and will facilitate me achieve success (Hooley, Marriott, Watts & Coiffait, 2012). In addition to this, I intend to evaluate my career plans annually. This will bring clarity and focus to my career and enable me avoid distractions. This annual evaluation will enable me to reflect on my career course, as well as identify areas of failure, success opportunities wasted and threats to my career. It is very important to integrate personal likes, dislikes, hobbies, past time activities basic wants and needs in your career plan. In this regard, I have to

Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Civil War - Essay Example The sovereignty they believed was their right was constantly threatened in the period leading up to the Civil War as the balance of power moved from the Southern States to the Northern. It was felt that these States were being eroded as their ability to self-determine slowly changed. Particularly the Northern States’ greater voting power was questioned by Southern leaders such as John Calhoun, who advocated secession from the Union if certain issues were not resolved. He argued that the Union could eventually only be held together by the superior numbers, and the superior wealth of the Northern States as they forced the South to remain in the Union (Calhoun, 1850). It was particularly in the Nullification ordinances that the South expressed resistance to Northern dominance. For example in 1828, a Tariff was imposed on foreign imports by the Federal Government. The Southern States argued that this tariff was intended to favor domestic manufacturers and only certain foreign manufacturers, primarily based on Northern business interests. In fact, it was felt that the Tariff of 1928 â€Å"exceeded its just powers †¦ and †¦ the true meaning and intent of the Constitution† (Calhoun, 1832, & The Constitution of the United States of America Overview, 2012). Thus Ordinances of Nullification were published by the Southern States (for example the South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification) declaring that this and other federal laws would not be honored by these States. The North’s response can be summarized in the words of President Andrew Jackson, that United States laws are â€Å"paramount to State constitutions and laws†. (Jackson, 1932) Similarly, slavery was threatened, and consequently so was the way of life, economic prosperity and a perceived equality with all the States in the Union in the Southern States. As world opinion moved against Slavery, so too did the dominant political opinion among the Northern States. For Southern

Molecular Mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli Essay

Molecular Mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli - Essay Example Conclusion: Sufficient research results have shown that the E.coli continues to cause infections such as UTIs, resisting the basic ciprofloxacin. These strains are referred to as extended spectrum beta-lactamase E.coli. There is therefore need to develop new antibiotics and explore new ways of tackling the bacteria. Introduction Escherichia coli, commonly referred to as E. coli, are amongst the few organisms that have steered the art of antibiotic resistance in bacteria to altogether new levers. The European E. coli outbreak of 2011 served as an eye opener on the magnitude of harm such a development can cause. On that regard, it is vital to understand the antibiotic resistance mechanism of E. coli, especially at the molecular level. This implies that the quantification of the mechanism upon which this eventuality is realized will have to drench deep into the responsible genetic sequences in the DNA of the bacterium. Fortunately, the genetic sequence of E. coli is already established and safely stored in accessible archives. This is irrespective of the plasticity experienced while sequencing the DNA of E. coli. The main methods by which resistance is observed to occur include: Prevention of entry into the cell, Synthesis of enzymes that lyse the antibiotics, rapid efflux from the cell, and modification of the active site. Evaluation The quantification of the mechanism behind the resistance calls for the isolation of E. coli strains that exhibit this form of resistance. Due to the wide range of antibiotics availed for the fight against the spread of the bacteria, it is vital to focus on strains that exhibit multiple resistances. This is also of merit in a rather different perception in that; it can facilitate the development of antibiotics that encompass solutions to different targets. This helps in the improvement of their therapeutic efficacy. On this regard, a central region of focus falls under the integrons (these are genetic elements able to target and rear range ORFs embedded in gene cassette units and change them to functional genes by ensuring their proper expression). This is with regards to their heightened presence in organisms exhibiting multiple antibiotic resistances. They were originally associated with gram negative bacteria. Progressively the analysis of strategic loci may be of great essence in the quantification of the avenues followed towards the establishment of a resistance in E. coli. Such a locus is the mar locus (Michael, 2007). On reference is that rapid mutations experienced in the mentioned locus; that eventuate into alteration of the coding sequence, hence aberration of the protein sequence produced. Apparently, the development of resistance towards a given antibiotic is based on two broad mechanisms. They include the development of mutated genetic sequence at the DNA level and the horizontal line gene transfer (also termed lateral gene transfer). This simply refers to the accumulation of various mutations via a systematic process; where the central microbe, in this case E. coli, accumulates the necessary mutation via prokaryotic DNA absorption mechanisms. This includes mechanisms such as transduction, transformation, gene transfer agents (found in alphaproteobacteria), or conjugation. The resistance sequences are conveyed along the various tandem sequences, such as transposons, integrons or plasmids (D’

Advertising and promotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Advertising and promotion - Essay Example This "Advertising and promotion" essay outlines the changes that happened in these industries with the advent of the Internet and mass media development, changes in structures and etc. Marketing communication industry consists of client companies or the advertising party, the advertising agency and the media and other service or production agencies. The advertising agency plays the role of an intermediary, linking the advertisers with the media and other service providers. With the advent of the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) approach, more and more companies choose to appoint an advertising agency and coordinate and direct all marketing communications through the agency (Kotler & Amstrong, 2000). Production houses, other support service providers & media houses liais with the agency, who is appointed to represent the needs of the advertising client. Marketing communication industry consists of client companies or the advertising party, the advertising agency and the media and other service or production agencies. The advertising agency plays the role of an intermediary, linking the advertisers with the media and other service providers. With the advent of the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) approach, more and more companies choose to appoint an advertising agency and coordinate and direct all marketing communications through the agency (Kotler & Amstrong, 2000). Production houses, other support service providers & media houses liais with the agency, who is appointed to represent the needs of the advertising client.

Introduction to Law and Contracts Research Paper - 1

Introduction to Law and Contracts - Research Paper Example It concludes with a signature page, allowing for the signature of the executive, David G. DeWalt; the Executive Vice President and CFO of McAfee Inc.; Jonathan Chadwick, and Renee J. James, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Software and Services Group, Intel Corporation; and the necessary witnesses. This written contract fulfills the definition of an express contract as â€Å"a contract in which all elements of a contract are specifically stated (offer, acceptance, consideration), and the terms are stated, as compared to an "implied" contract in which the existence of the contract is assumed by the circumstances.† (â€Å"Express Contract†, 2005) The Law of Contracts, Treitels classic text defines a contract offer as â€Å""an expression of willingness to contract on certain terms, made with the intention that it shall become binding as soon as it is accepted by the person to whom it is addressed". (Treitel, 2007) In this case the person to whom it is addressed, also known as the offeree, is the party known as the executive, David G. DeWalt. Therefore, the contract offer is made when the contract document is presented to David G. DeWalt and his attorneys or representatives in these contract negotiations. This offer document also contains conditions on which the offer is contingent. The offer is occurring coincident with merger negotiations and is contingent on â€Å"the execution of the Merger Agreement.† Acceptance is therefore a matter of more than the three parties signing the contract in the presence of the required witnesses. This contract can only be considered to have been accepted if the Merger Agreement is also duly signed and witnessed and â€Å"shall become effective immediately preceding the Closing Date, as defined in the Merger Agrement.† Normally an offer of employment is accepted when it is signed before witnesses. However, this employment contract can only be considered accepted if