Roles of an operations manager Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Roles of an operations manager - Essay Example The paper tells that in operations management, the focus of the management team is to utilize the few resources available to achieve the organizational goals, hence bringing up immense satisfaction from the target customers. Essentially, there is an aspect of conversion of inputs to outputs, in all the resources that are critical in a firm such as energy, labor, and raw materials. Primarily, the term organizational outputs may refer to the products or services that the firm does target to distribute to their target clients. Stevenson in his research found out that operations management is a field in which the managerial team does focus on ensuring smooth flow and success of technical and physical functions of a firm. Additionally, the functions of manufacturing development and production also fall under the same department. First, it is necessary to have a picture of the functions of an operations manager, which are classified into four categories. These categories include developmen t of operational strategies, business operations improvement, management of the daily operations of the business, and personal knowledge development. In addition to that, the operation manager does cut the control costs in any business organization as Stevenson and Sum expound. Most significantly, a well-managed organization can have a clear reflection of the effect of its good management through an upsurge and consistency of profitability. To ensure that the profit is maximum, an operations manager wills hence make a clear evaluation of the costs involved in the production process, and critically reduces the increase or eliminates any unnecessary costs. Through such, an operations manager becomes the heartbeat of an organization. He will aid the organization to serve its client better. The manager will oversee the daily delivery of the products and services of the firm. Achievement and success of the function are facilitated through liaising with other department’s multi-sec toral approach.

Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments Essay Example for Free

Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments Essay After some good discussions and ideas regarding the expansion plans of the furniture company, the realization comes about that the main factor to consider is the competition that will be encountered in the expansion country of choice. As a result, there needs to be further research done regarding the top competition for the furniture company in China. After researching furniture companies in China, the two companies that have been chosen are IKEA and Markor International Furniture Company. IKEA is a company that started out small by a five year old boy with an entrepreneurial spirit selling pencils and match sticks to neighbors. Because of his drive and determination to help out his family, the IKEA brand started in 1943 and is a global giant that has stores in forty-one countries, with twelve stores in various neighborhoods of China. The vision of IKEA is to create a better daily life for the many, and their business plan is to offer a wide range of well designed, functional home furnishings at prices that are low enough so as many people as possible can afford their furniture (IKEA, 2013). Markor International Furniture Company was founded in 1995 and has lumber resources that are imported, produces various styles of high-end furniture with different cultural elements, and exports to Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, the U.S, as well as other countries. Markor ranks as one of the top furniture stores in the industry and in the areas of equipment level, production scale, industrial and technical production, as well as marketing, product development, and management. In 2002, Markor created its own brand of furnishings; Markor Home Furnishings and began working with Ethan Allen, one of the largest furniture retailers in the U.S, and opened around thirty stores across China (Markor, 2013). As we look at IKEA and Markor, it is evident that both these companies have strengths and weaknesses. Because of those strengths and weaknesses, it is important to do a SWOT analysis since it will not only analyze the strengths and weaknesses, but also the opportunities and threats. The strengths of  IKEA include brand recognition and image, internationally known, unique business model, and a long-term joint venture with their supplier, which equals quality products. The weaknesses are privately owned, a reliance on European markets, lower level of customer service, and real estate (large land masses). The opportunities are further international expansion, smaller store locations, moving towards being global and more high-end furniture. The threats are competitors (direct and indirect), shipping prices and rising commodity, copycat companies, and a threat to the performance of the company in specifically the American and UK markets. IKEA is a direct competitor to us because of their established global presence and brand recognition, and furniture styles that look high-end, but are inexpensive. They also have several locations throughout China. In some ways IKEA has an advantage over us because of their inexpensive products, but are of quality. However, our advantage over them is that our customer base wants furniture that is of quality and furniture that is already assembled (IKEA, 2013). The strengths of Markor is their collaboration between Ethan Allen and their own brand Markor Home Furnishings and a strong operating performance, known internationally, free shipping, marketing strategy, and economies of scale. The weaknesses are an over dependence on domestic regions, high employee turnover, expensive products. The opportunities are recovering economy, strategic acquisitions, and additional global expansion. The threats are falling housing investments in the U.S, labor and wage issues in China, aging population on main shopper sector, and competition (direct and indirect). Markor is a direct competitor for us because they are a well established company in China with a working relationship with Ethan Allen and export to countries like Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the U.S. They also have a wide range of high-end furniture with influences from the countries they export to and a direct competition to our product line. The advantage they have over us is that they are an established company with various locations throughout China (Markor, 2013). When discussing a cooperative strategy with our competitors, this is something that is highly possible with Markor. Since this company has already established a working relationship with Ethan Allen, why not add more partnerships to the mix. This form of relationship will have benefits for involved by adding value to each company. As far as  IKEA, not so sure that a cooperative strategy is possible, IKEA is a company that has its own way of doing things and their own ideology. If it were possible, our company would have to do things IKEA’s way. Another strategy that the furniture company should perform is building a competitive market profile. This process helps companies to identify and communicate with the forecast that offers the best opportunity for success. This type of profile is a concise description of the type of prospects the company wants to sell to. In order to do this there are certain steps to follow: identify the target market for our products as accurately as achievable; profile business customers by a set of different attributes consisting of size, location, and industry, as well as decision makers; research the preferences and interest of that target market; build a profile that is more detailed of the target audience on our website regarding their specific requirements; identify the benefits of the products that represent the best value for our customers; and create a positioning statement that I distinct for each sector of customers. Although this will vary depending on the area of expansion, but these steps will help the company go into the market as a strong competitor (Marketing, 2013). References IKEA. (2013). The IKEA Way. Retrieved from http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_CN/about_ikea/index.html MarketingMo. (2013). How to Articles: Competitive Positioning: Start with a Market Profile. Retrieved from http://www.marketingmo.com/how-to-articles/competitive-positioning/competitive-positioning-start-with-a-market-profile/ Markor International Furniture Co. Ltd. (2013). About Markor. Retrieved from http://www.markorfurniture.com/en/0230.html

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Did you know that over one million people injure themselves each year because of slipping and falling? 300,000 people are injured each year from slipping and falling in the workplace and 15% of workplace deaths are due to the injuries caused by slipping and falling. Slips and falls can be easily prevented by the store or business with anti slip treatments, securing electrical cords, removing rugs or mats or other tripping hazards, routine maintenance, and cleaning up spills as soon as they happen. There are many reasons as to why you could slip and fall and those causes and factors include: †¢ Water †¢ Ice †¢ Snow †¢ Grease or oil †¢ Objects in the way †¢ Floor cleaner †¢ Uneven surfaces †¢ Areas with lots of foot traffic †¢ Unstable areas †¢ Ladders †¢ Stairs †¢ Areas prone to wetness or spills †¢ Bad lighting If you do slip and fall you should ask yourself the following: †¢ What caused the slip and fall? †¢ If the floor was slippery, why was it slippery? †¢ Was it more slippery then normal? †¢ Was there any warning that the floor was slippery? †¢ Did the owner or landlord know abo...

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Michael Naoum Professor Gurfien INBS 250-04 12 December 2013 Exports vs. Imports Exports and imports may seem like two simple words throughout the English language. Many individuals understand exports and imports as straightforward concepts that are used on an everyday basis. However, these terms have more personality then the normal dictionary definition that the average person abides by. Exports and imports have a weighty impact on the consumer and the economy around them. Currently, the world is changing into a global economy this means, that every countries economy has an impact on another. For example, if the United States economy were to collapse, this would have a large effect on the Chinese economy due to the fact that, exports and imports play a large role in this. This may be a hard concept to grasp but topics such as, effects on economy, effect of exchange rates and the effect of inflation and interest rates are areas which when explained, will clear up most grey areas for the average individual. To begin, gross domestic product is a key concept to understand which invo...

Peter Pan Generation Is Growing Up

Paola Lagunas Spindler English 101 Essay 3 November 2 0, 2012 The Peter Pan Generation is Growing Up There are no longer any adventures in library wonderlands in literature today, kids are forced to  experience  hard reality at a much younger age. Maria Tartar author of â€Å"No More Adventures In Wonderland† asserts the evolution of children’s and young adult villains in stories. Peter Pan, the lost boy, who never grew up, is one of her examples, giving Captain Cook a childish effect, J. M.Barrie (author of Peter Pan), gives the child the security that the good guys win the battle between the silly and  playful  adventure stories. Alice in Wonderland, a book about a girl losing herself down a rabbit hole and then battling the red queen,and her card soldiers, also give this story a secure and childish effect. Tartar believes authors have helped villains evolve from whimsically devilish to brutal and dark. The children books, intended before for a fun time are no w becoming suspenseful sit down novels. According to Tartar, authors â€Å"have crossed.Creating a perverse twist on such stories as Clifford the big red dog, The Graveyard book, a picture book about a serial killer hand who holds a knife and kills his four family member is a perfect example of authors new twist on entertainment. Harry Potter, a national best seller, is about a child’s parents dying at the start of the story, the protagonist fighting death, and loosing family and friends until the end where a well planned murder with the entire character base give a grand final to this seven book series. However, Tartar gives the prize of absolute horrific monsters to Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games.Collins has turned the child reading the book into the villain. Katniss Everdeen (protagonist) fights against 12-18 year old children, in a brutal battle for living. Opening her reader’s eyes into seeing children's  exposure  to books about death, and stori es about despair and devastation, Tartar declares that books are evolving to fast for the chilren of today, with this, tartar proves how the Peter Pan generation is growing up. The villains in children’s books are changing; they are evolving, becoming more complex, growing, but, the children too are getting older. Once bedtime characters, villains are now becoming nightmare enhancers.Children that at the age of 4 were reading Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella are now the 16 year old's reading Hunger Games. The stories now being published differentiate from the previous stories but the readers do too. Providing that four year old's are still reading classics such as Peter Pan; young adults expanded their interest to  good but devastating  stories. The main reason why these stories are reaching such  exposure  is due to advertisement. Althought Tartar assures the stories for children are growing up, the reader has also matured, and the aurhots have started to developed a more consuming story.Using logos, Tartar points to the  dilemma  of the ‘expanding children story’ and it serves as slate for her reader's minds. This will help her prove the evolution of the story. If any one person compares Alice in Wonderland to The Hunger Games, the evolution of the ‘narratives about loss, suffering, and redemption’ the reader will be persuaded into Tartar’s point of view. Once Tartar sets up the juxtaposition for these two movies, she is able to effectively point out the difference between the stories, however, she takes a different approach and traces the origins of the books to issues with the authors.In past times, Tartar explains, there was such a thing as â€Å"Author's Sunday afternoons†, authors enjoyed a nice picnic, took their Saint Bernard for a walk and breathed in pure air and ideas. Authors are a now more complex. J. K Rowling, author of best seller Harry Potter, writing her first book unde r candle, and coffee shop light because she had no way to pay for electricity in her apartment, she experianced poverty. Suzanne Collins, as a child had anxieties about the possibility of her father’s death as a Vietnam veteran, was able to use this to her advantage in books about death.Authors have clearly evolved with their stories, and expanded their relationship to many more readers. This new diversity  of authors is allowing them to write deeper stories with darker backgrounds and meanings for matured readers. Even though Tartar points out the complexity of the authors and stories, she fails to point out that these both lead to the maturing of the children. Capturing a balance of danger and enchantment, the stories of Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland provide the  audience  with an idea for the possibilities of adventure quest in childhood.The traditional villains frighten the readers, but their â€Å"juvenile antics strip them from any real authority. † Boo ks such as these are written for children under the age of twelve because of the foolish way the characters portray evil. Books such as the hunger games are written for teenagers, knowing this helps the author write appropriate topics of more complex aspects. However, Tartar has a fault in her argument by comparing a bedtime story to a story such as The Hunger Games. When an author compares two stories, one being The Hunger Games and one being Alice in wonderland, the author has one point; there is a difference.There is of course a difference, an evil wich who only dresses in red and black and hearts is no comparison to a child aspiring to manage the kiling of 23 children in order to obtain glory. Almost as different as the villains are, so are the protagonist, a young girl falling into a rabit hole to apear in a world in which she deals with silly magic tricks, is definetly not the same as a young girl coming from poverty going into an arena to try to survive natural disasters, and run away from 23 people who are out to kill her.This is where the fault in Tartars argument it, she manages to point the difference, but fails to admit that 4 year olds are not reading The Hunger Games, just like 16 year olds are not reading Alice in Wonderland. Part of why the authors are crossing over into more evolved stories is because the children’s and young adult category dominate the Best sellers charts. These devastating stories about depresion, war and death are being asked for not just by children, but adults too are picking up the copies. Helping a story achieve better  success  in the charts, the books attract a broader audience.The reason why Suzanne Collins and J. K Rowling talk so freely about death compared to J. M. Barrie is because these books are directed towards different audiences. Audiences  that  clearly  ask for this type of story, if  these  stories weren't being  successful  with all ages, they would not have been so  successful ly  sold after being  published. These books are helping a the young adult genre, they are a perfect conection of safe and suspense, they connect the topics for childre and adults. It is important to realize that they are different books, by different authors, that are intended for different audiences.Today's  authors did not think about targeting the same audience that Peter Pan was written for because it is absurd to believe that these books are intended for the same age, but they are intended however, the same reader. The reader of Peter pan, is now the reader of The Hunger games because the 10 years difference between the publishing of the two is also a 10 year difference in the reader. This time period of difference allows the authors to publish books about death,  depression  and horrible traumas because it is becoming more socially acceptable by matured readers.

Explore the importance of ethical, legal and professional values in Abortion The WritePass Journal

Explore the importance of ethical, legal and professional values in Abortion   References Explore the importance of ethical, legal and professional values in Abortion AbstractConclusions   ReferencesRelated Abstract Abortion is a worldwide growing concern and is a controversial topic of debate. The main objective of the following essay is to explore the importance of ethical, legal and professional values in abortion. This paper will provide up to date information and comprehensive review with the help of evidence based literature research. It will also explore the possible solutions and recommendations to support ethical and legal perspectives. Initially, it will provide brief information about abortion and its legal values. Further, it will make links with ethical concept, related issues and conflicts specific to health practice. Moreover, the role of health care professionals discussed in detail where appropriate. All the data is collected form from the University digital library which gave access to recommended electronic journals. Further literature collected from the related articles. Some sources also gained from Department of Health, British Medical Association, WHO, Royal College of Nursing, British Pregnancy Advisory Services. According to the British Medical Association (2005) abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by expulsion of product of conception (foetus or embryo) from the uterus, before the foetus is viable (capable of living under normal condition and outside uterus).It is observed that, 98% of abortions are carried out because of risk to mental or physical health of women in Britain (Department of Health, 2007). It is clear from findings of the statistical bulletin (2009) that there were 189,000 abortions in the given year and highest rate was in between the age of 19-21, that was 33 per 1000. Under 16 rate was 4.0 and under 18 was 17.6 per 1000 women. Ratio of all categories was lower as compared to the year 2008 (Department of Health, 2009). According to the WHO (2004) illegal abortions are more common in developing countries as compare to developed countries due to restricted abortion laws. WHO highlighted that, 46 million abortions annually recorded and 20 million are unsafe (DO H, 2009). The law states that two doctors need to agree that the abortion can be carried out. They will reach this decision if they believe there is a greater risk to the womans mental or physical health if she continues with the pregnancy than if she has an abortion. The doctor can also take social circumstances into account when making this decision (British Abortion Act, 1967). Legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks gestation either by medical or surgical means (Royal College of Gynaecologists, 2004b). Nurses should maintain proper record before and after procedure including written consent (NMC,2007). Nurses should be familiar with the legal requirements of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended 1990 (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008). Nurses have professional responsibilities to act with integrity and ensure that their personal views do not affect or influence the care of the patient or client (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008). According to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) special consideration should be given to the woman having serious mental illness (DoH, 2001c and NMC, 2005). The nurse should assist the individual in the decision making, with the decision based on the individual’s value system. However, the nurse should not take a lsissez-faire (leadership style) approach and avoid assisting the patient. The main responsibility of the nurse is to help the individual examine values, identify conflicts, priorities goals and desired health care outcomes. Actions follow from understanding values and the best available information (NMC, 2008). Ethics is concerned with humanization process (Ladd, 1978) especially in the field of nursing. According to the Dyck, (1977) ethics is a discipline and is a systematic analysis of what things are right or wrong, good or bad. Often the world morality is used as a substitute for ethics. Morality is merely a synonym for ethics that signifies the customary way of action (Ladd, 1978).Health care ethics sometimes also called medical ethics, biomedical ethics and bioethics. These are normative ethics specific to health science, in that it rise the question of what is right and what ought to be done in a health science situation when a moral decision is called for (Benjamin, 1992). According to the American Nurses Association ethical theory refers to a workable system that provides a proper framework within which individuals can determine and distinguish morally appropriate actions (ANA, 1997). In nursing, ethical principles act as safety valves for social control to prevent professional misconduct and abuse of rights of clients. Rights of people must manage according to National health policy and international conventions of human rights for safe guarding (Canadian code of ethics, 2009). It is proposed that code of ethics in nursing practice emphasizes on individual’s right to autonomy, self determination, truth telling, and equality (British Medical Association, 2009). Nursing should always be based on the principles of respecting persons, doing no harms and historically obedience to authority has often provided ethical basis (Raatikainen, 1989). Due to rapid socio cultural changes and advanced technology nurses faced challenge to respond ethical basis in health services. Respect of freedom is condition of personal growth and development, brotherhood is the condition of recognition in social participation and equality a condition for meeting for physical needs (Equality and human rights commission 2009). However, these values are linked together as a whole. Fulfilling each principle means acting for good of each dimension. To meet this approach nurses need strong ethical beliefs, professional education, comprehensive knowledge, critical analysing and thinking (Noble, 1999). It is argued that, life is valuable and is a gift from God (Belshaw, 1997). In case of abortion, it is a sin to destroy the foetal life because it interfere the creative work of god and against his will (BBC, 2009). But if abortion is critically reviewed, there are some factors and situations that require abortion. Again if abortion views from the foetus right to live then there is serious ethical argument of personhood in the favour of foetus. Belshaw (1997) stated that, the issue of personhood in literature always surrounding the abortion debate. For the classification of personhood five traits are essential (Card, 2000) that are consciousness, capacity to reason, self motivation, capacity to communication and self concept. All these criteria cannot be assessed in foetus (Dworkin, 1993). Therefore, abortion at any gestational age is ethical. In UK fetal has no legal rights and according to the American ethical policies foetus has both moral and legal values of personhood (BMA, 2007 ). According to the British Pregnancy Advisory Services (2010) every woman has right to control her own body with respect to her autonomy (independence or freedom). Abortion on the ground of maternal interest may be ethical (Gevers,1999).Abortion is a complicated topic that involves different and sometimes conflicting issues for example protecting foetal life, respecting woman right and preserving social harmony. In this situation it is very difficult to maintain balance in the value of one person’s life over another (Belshaw, 1997). Alongside it is also challenge for foetal personhood and its rights, Brown (2000) stated that if foetus is a person then its rights for using another’s body to survive, as it has no right over that person’s autonomy. Mother has the right to be separated from the foetus at any time, but doesn’t have the right to insist on its death (Card, 2000). Therefore, abortion can be done in case of mal formation but no measure to actually ki ll the foetus beforehand could be employed. In such circumstances nursing professionals experienced the dilemma (a problem offering at least two possibilities as, do or not do) of having to participate in abortion (Ballantyne, 2009). Sometimes it creates conscientious (refuse to perform) objection, but in critical situations they cannot be able to refusal (BMA, 2007). Tooley (1999) argued that if a foetus is classified as a person then it is only a justifiable to kill it in order to save the life of mother. However, if were not a person then it cannot be wrong to kill it, as it would not automatically have the right to life (Tooley, 1999). Serious congenital abnormality is another major ethical issue for continuing pregnancy, as it is known that continuation have no benefit to the fetus, then the fetal interest relies on the belief that the level of welfare a child would have if born is worse than to not exist at all (Gevers, 1999). It is suggested that yet, there are some disabilities that would mean to live be worse than non existence (Sheldon, 2001). It is also reported that, handicapped people, who would fight hard to gain success in their life, for them others may think that they had not been born. So, evidence assumed that tests performed with the intention of treating the new-born and for safe delivery are morally acceptable and tests for termination often violate the principle of non-maleficence (the duty not to harm) (Finni S, 1999). People in community who violate this principle would lower the happiness because killing of foetus is like a murder (Thomson, 1999). It is found that, pro medical genetic services are more beneficial for the detection of prenatal diagnosis and antenatal screening for the findings of congenital abnormalities (Angela, 2009)( like haemophilia, down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and chromosomal abnormalities).It is under the principle of Utilitarianism (related with happiness and doing good). In some countries these are easily detected but there may some legal restrictions for abortions (Penchaszadeh, 1998). Hence this banned abortion law gave access to moral, social and psychological values (Simpson, 2007) in couples especially in women for termination of pregnancy. It is outlined that being known about defective foetus, women found difficulty to carry out pregnancy. In opinion, such countries should allow abortion (Angela, 2009). Seeing as many congenital abnormalities cannot be cured at any cost and if cured is too expensive. Statistics showed that, in developing countries limited human resources an d low income are barriers for life long treatment (Perera, 2000). Basically justification of a congenital abnormality exception is a major problem in countries having restricted abortion laws on the behalf of moral status of foetus (Ballentyne, 2009). Some consider that foetus has same moral status as compare to infant or child (Ashcroft, 2009) it should not countenance the destruction of foetus on the basis of the claim that it’s rearing will place an additional burden on the parents. So, parents should not allow to abort, either disabled foetus has lesser moral status after birth. It is also recommended that, all communities should learn lesson to cope with disability and their living pattern. Moreover, in cases where women are raped, getting pregnant with such a child is yet another brutality they would be forced to bear and raise a child without father or single parenthood (Tan, 2006) such factors are more likely to create violent behaviour and adverse interpersonal relationship, further leads to parental separation and even divorce and depressive symptomatology. These should be identified at every opportunity for positive carrier (Quinlivan, 2006). Thus the option of abortion is best for them to save the life of mother. Nurses should maintain privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the client under the abortion law (RCGN, 2004). Female infanticide is still another alarming issue in ethical practice due to cultural preferences it is known to be cruel way of getting rid of female infants (WHO,2009). In some cultures and societies there is urging for sons rather than daughters (Hussain, 2000).In these situations women usually suffer significant harms including vilification (slanderous) and physically as well as mentally abuse if she bears a daughter. According to their knowledge and understanding they are correct because of their individual preference of autonomous for freedom and to make a choice to meet their needs and desires (Rogers, 2007). They think that sons are care taker for their old age and help in keeping family name (Sumner,2009). In India statistics revealed that, from last decade the ratio of girls is continuously decreasing as compared to male child, which further create imbalance and great challenge for social fabric (Sharma, 2003). Sex determination should be totally banned and must be impleme nted on priority basis. At least, these should be prevented by punishment and implementation of adequate educational programmes to change behaviour and attitudes of communities and to improve importance of female child (Zeng, 2005). Evidence suggested that worldwide there are so many couples who want to adopt child at any circumstance (Bitler, 2002). Health care professionals should be encouraged to understand the value of adoption as an option to teach the vulnerable groups (like teens, people with unplanned pregnancies, unwanted children) to reduce the abortion rate and prevention of foetal murder (Young, 2006).Therefore adoption and care homes may be an acceptable alternative for those unwanted children, who will then be ill treated after birth by their parents. It is observed that, there would be a serious ethical dilemma in forcing women for continuation of unwanted pregnancy (Gevers, 1999) because maternal interest is the most leading factor for abortion. Research also recommended that, adoption is not an alternative to abortion. It is only an option. Conclusions Ethics cannot and should not justify every thing. In some places ethical imperatives coincide with public policy and /or practice, while in other places they diverge. Policy in no nation surveyed answers entirely to all of the ethical demands. However, there is a crucial need to use and improve specific public issues such as health care, abortion and bioethics. After passing the abortion act society has not become more welcoming to children. Parents are going away from their responsibilities for their children as well as their partners. With the existence of legal abortion thousands of children have lost their lives at the hands of doctors. Every abortion is a human tragedy for the child and for its mother. It should be avoided at any cost. Every child is an individual with its own future to respect. Abortion is a major social injustice, directed at those who are most vulnerable. The ethical status of abortion will remain controversial for the foreseeable future. Restrictive abortion law deserve greater attention. School based educational programmes and availability of contraceptive are more important to help in reduce the teenage abortions. Strategies will then need to focus on self esteem and reducing the idealization of pregnancy as a solution to general life dissatisfaction to gain positive carrier. Health care professional should be motivated to raise the ethical issues of in their practices for social justice and equity through successful educational programmes through out their carrier. To face the complexity of bioethical issues public appreciation can also play a pivotal role in the modern society.   References American Nurses Association (1997) â€Å"Position statement on cultural diversity in nursing practice†.   Washington: DC The Association Ashcroft R, et al (2009) â€Å"Prenatal diagnosis and abortion for congenital abnormalities†.  Ã‚   American Journal of Bioethics, 9 (8): pp. 48-56 Ballantyne A, et al (2009) â€Å"Prenatal diagnosis and abortion for congenital abnormalities: is it ethical to provide one without other?†Ã‚   [online] Available at:http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=107sid=dcefef83-ac24-4940-81e5-ada17cbdcf35%40sessionmgr110vid=11   (accessed on 10th November 2010) BBC (2009) â€Å"Ethics: Abortion†. [online]   Available at: bbc.co.uk  Ã‚   (accessed on 30th November 2010) Belshaw C(1997) â€Å"Abortion, value and sanctity of life†. Bioethics, 11 (4) p. 130-1150 Bitler M, et al (2002) â€Å"Did abortion legalization reduce the number of unwanted children? Evidence from adoptions†. [online]   Available at: http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=105sid=b66b57c0-0a98-4bca-b69a-8eb2c57250fc%40sessionmgr114vid=10   Ã‚  (accessed on 10th January 2011) British Medical Association (2007) â€Å"The laws and ethics of abortion†.   [online]   Available at: bma.org.uk  Ã‚  Ã‚   (accessed on 28th November 2010) British Pregnancy Advisory Services (2010) â€Å"Abortion†.   [online]   Available at: bpas.org/bpaswoman/abortion  Ã‚   (accessed on 9th January 2011) Brown M (2000) â€Å"The morality of abortion and the deprivation of futures†. Journal of Medical Ethics, 26 (2) p. 103-7 Canadian Code of Ethics (2009) â€Å"Nursing code of ethics: Guidelines for making ethical decision making†. [online]   Available at:registered-nurse-canada.com/nursing_code_of_ethics.html#top  Ã‚   (accessed on 5th January 2011) Card R (2000) â€Å"Infanticide and the liberal view of abortion†. Bioethics, 14 (4) p. 341-51 Department of Health (2001c) â€Å"Seeking consent working with people with learning disabilities†. Department of Health, London Department of health (2007) â€Å"Statistical Bulletin. Abortion statistics, England and Wales†. [online]   Available at: dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/75/74/04117574.pdf  Ã‚   (accessed on 8th January 2011) Department of health (2009) â€Å"Statistical Bulletin: Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2009†. [online]   Available at:dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_116336.pdf  Ã‚   (accessed on 20th November 2010) Dworkin R (1993) â€Å"Life’s domination: An argument about abortion and euthanasia†. Harper Collins, London Finnis J (1999) â€Å"Abortion and health care ethics†. Bioethics, Blackwell publishers, Malden p. 13-20 Gevers S (1999) â€Å"Third trimester abortion for fetal abnormality†.   Bioethics, 3 (4) p. 306-15 Human Rights Watch (2005) â€Å"Decisions denied†.   [online]   Available at:http:www.hrw.org/en/reports/2005/06/14/decisions-denied-0  Ã‚  Ã‚   (accessed on 6th January 2011) Hussain R et al (2000) â€Å"The role of son preference in reproductive behaviour in Pakistan†. [online]   Available at:http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/detail?hid=105sid=b66b57c0-0a98-4bca-b69a-8eb2c57250fc%40sessionmgr114vid=14bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=rzhAN=2000037256   (accessed on 10th January 2011) Noble –AdamsR (1999) â€Å"Ethics and nursing research†. British Journal of Nursing, 8(14) p.956-60 Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008)†The code Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurse and midwifes†.   NMC, London Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2004b) â€Å"The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion†. [online] Available at:rcog.org.uk/resources/Public/pdf/induced_abortionfull.pdf  Ã‚   (accessed on 2nd January 2011) Sharma DC (2003) â€Å"Widespread concern over India’s missing girls†.   [online]   Available at:http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=107sid=a11620b1-6ce4-4dbf-9588-f697b3506632%40sessionmgr110vid=5  Ã‚   (accessed on 3rd January 2011) Sumner MM (2009) â€Å"The unknown genocide: how one country’s culture is destroying the girl child†.   [online]   Available at: http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=107sid=a11620b1-6ce4-4dbf-9588-f697b3506632%40sessionmgr110vid=7   (accessed on 3rd January 2011) Tan LH, Quinlivan JA (2006) â€Å"Domestic violence, single parenthood and fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy†.   [online]   Available at: http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/detail?hid=110sid=350eac2f-9fb6-45ee-a11f-6d8f884ecbe7%40sessionmgr114vid=3bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=rzhAN=2009152510     Ã‚  Ã‚  (accessed on 15th December 2010) Thomson J (1999) â€Å"A defence of abortion†. Bioethics, Blackwell Publishers, Malden p. 36-45 Tooley M (1999) â€Å"Abortion and infanticide†. Bioethics, Blackwell Publishers, Malden p. 21-35 Rogers W et al (2007) â€Å"Is sex selective abortion morally justified and should it be prohibited? [online]   Available at:http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=105sid=b66b57c0-0a98-4bca-b69a-8eb2c57250fc%40sessionmgr114vid=18   (accessed on 8th January 2011) Raatikainen R (1989) â€Å"Values and ethical principles in nursing†.   Journal of Advance Nursing, 14(2) p. 92- 6 Sheldon S, Wilkinson S (2001) â€Å"Termination of pregnancy for reason of fetal disability†. Med Law Rev 9 (2) p. 85-109 Young R (2006) â€Å"Vermont   Children’s Aid Society offers free training on Understanding Infant Adoption to health care†. [online]   Available at:http://0-web.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=105sid=b66b57c0-0a98-4bca-b69a-8eb2c57250fc%40sessionmgr114vid=12   (accessed on 10th January 2011)

The Simple 10-Step Guide to Character Development

The Simple 10-Step Guide to Character Development The Ultimate Guide to Character Development: 10 Steps to Creating Memorable Heroes You’ve settled on the idea for your novel. You’ve narrowed it to a sentence or two, and you’re ready to tackle what seems an insurmountable task- breathing life into your lead character. If you’re an Outliner (one who outlines your novel first), it’s time for character development, an endeavor not for wimps. Spellbinding stories feature believable characters who feel knowable. Yes, even if your genre is Fantasy or Allegory or Futuristic. Your character may even be a superhero, but he* must be real and knowable within your premise. [*I use male pronouns inclusively here to represent both genders only to avoid the awkward repetition of he/she or him/her, fully recognizing that many lead characters are female and so are a majority of readers.] I’d love to impart some gem that would magically make you an expert at character development. But, sorry, no shortcuts. This is as hard as it sounds. Fail at this task, and it shows. You cheat your readers when your lead character doesn’t develop and grow. No growth, no character arc. No character arc, fewer satisfied readers. What About Us Pantsers? Our name comes from the fact that we write by the seat of our pants. No outlines for us. We write by process of discovery. As Stephen King advises, â€Å"Put interesting characters in difficult situations and write to find out what happens.† I identify as a Pantser, so I’m sympathetic if you can’t imagine creating a character and giving him a personal history before starting to write. My characters introduce themselves to me and reveal their histories as the story unfolds. To a new writer or an Outliner, it may sound exciting and dangerous to wade into a story counting on characters to emerge and take over. Believe me, it’s both. Frankly, Outliners have some advantages over Pantsers here. They know a lot about their lead characters before they start writing. Fellow Pantsers, don’t ignore or discount this training. We must start with some idea who’s populating our stories. And when we get stuck, there’s no shame in going back and engaging in this exercise. Regardless which kind of a writer you are, character development- character arc- can make or break your novel. Consider some of literature’s most memorable characters- Jane Eyre, Scarlett O’Hara, Atticus Finch, Ebenezer Scrooge, Huckleberry Finn, Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter. Can you name the novels they come from and what they have in common? Larger than life, they’re also universally humanThey see courage not as lack of fear but rather the ability to act in the face of fearThey learn from failure and rise to great moral victories Compelling characters like these make the difference between a memorable novel and a forgettable one. So, what are the keys to making a character unforgettable? Want to save this 10-step guide to read, save, or print whenever you wish? Click here. Character Development in 10 Steps Introduce him early, by nameGive readers a look at himGive him a backstoryMake sure hes human, vulnerable, and flawedBut also give him classic, heroic qualitiesEmphasize his inner life as well as his surface problemsDraw upon your own experience in Character DevelopmentKeep Character Arc in mind throughoutShow, dont tellDont skimp on research Step 1. Introduce him early, by name The biggest mistake new writers make is introducing their main character too late. As a rule he should be the first person on stage and the reader should be able to associate his name with how they see him. Naming your character can be almost as stressful as naming a newborn. You want something interesting and memorable, but not quirky or outrageous. Leave Blaze Starr and Goodnight Robicheaux to the melodramas. (Actually, I wish I’d thought of Goodnight Robicheaux; Ethan Hawke plays him in The Magnificent Seven.) Allegories call for telling names like Prudence and Truth and Pride, but modern ones should be more subtle. I wrote a Christmas parable where the main character was Tom Douten (get it? Doubting Thomas), and his fiancee was Noella (Christmasy, a believer in Santa) Wright (Miss Right). For standard novels, typical names are forgettable. Ethnicity is important. You shouldn’t have a Greek named Bubba Jackson. Your goal is to connect reader and character, so the name should reflect his heritage and perhaps even hint at his personality. In The Green Mile, Stephen King named a weak, cowardly character Percy Wetmore. Naturally, we treat heroes with more respect. Give naming the time it needs. Search online for baby names of both sexes, and most lists will categorize these by ethnicity. Be sure the name is historically and geographically accurate. You wouldn’t have characters named Jaxon and Brandi, for instance, in a story set in Elizabethan England. I often refer to World Almanacs to find names for foreign characters. I’ll pair the first name of a current government leader in that country with the last name of one of their historical figures (but not one so famous that the reader wonders if he’s related, like Franà §ois Bonaparte). Step 2. Give readers a look at him You want a clear picture of your character in your mind’s eye, but don’t make the mistake of forcing your reader to see him exactly the way you do. Sure, height, hair and eye color, and physicality (athletic or not) are important. But does it really matter whether your reader visualizes your blonde heroine as Gwyneth Paltrow or Charlize Theron? Or your dark-haired hero as George Clooney or Ben Affleck? As I teach regarding descriptions of the sky and the weather and settings, it’s important that your description of your main character is not rendered as a separate element. Rather, layer in what he looks like through dialogue and during the action. Hint at just enough to trigger the theater of the reader’s mind so he forms his own mental image. Thousands of readers might have thousands of slightly varied images of the character, which is all right, provided you’ve given him enough information to know whether your hero is big or small, attractive or not, and athletic or not. Whether you’re an Outliner (in essence interviewing your character as if he were sitting right in front of you) or a Pantser (getting to know him as he reveals himself to you), the more you know about him, the better you will tell your story. How old is he?What is his nationality?Does he have scars? Piercings? Tattoos? Physical imperfections? Deformities?What does his voice sound like? Does he have an accent? Readers often have trouble differentiating one character from another, so if you can give him a tag, in the form of a unique gesture or mannerism, that helps set him apart. You won’t come close to using all of the information you know about him, but the more you know, the more plot ideas will occur to you. The better acquainted you are with your character, the better your readers will come to know him and care. Step 3. Give him a backstory Backstory is everything that’s happened before Chapter 1. Dig deep. What has shaped your character into the person he is today? Things you should know, whether you include them in your novel or not: When, where, and to whom he was bornBrothers and sisters, their names and agesWhere he attended high school, college, and graduate schoolPolitical affiliationOccupationIncomeGoalsSkills and talentsSpiritual lifeFriendsBest friendWhether he’s single, dating, or marriedWorldviewPersonality typeAnger triggersJoys, pleasuresFearAnd anything else relevant to your story Step 4. Make sure he’s human, vulnerable, and flawed Want to save this 10-step guide to read, save, or print whenever you wish? Click here. Even superheroes have flaws and weaknesses. For Superman, there’s Kryptonite. For swashbucklers like Indiana Jones, there are snakes. A lead character without human qualities is impossible to identify with. But make sure his flaws aren’t deal breakers. They should be forgivable, understandable, identifiable. Be careful not to make your hero irredeemable – for instance, a wimp, a scaredy cat, a slob, a dunce, or a doofus (like a cop who forgets his gun or his ammunition). You want a character with whom your reader can relate, and to do that, he needs to be vulnerable. Create events that subtly exhibit strength of character and spirit. For example, does your character show respect to a waitress and recognize her by name? Would he treat a cashier the same way he treats his broker? If he’s running late, but witnesses an emergency, does he stop and help? These are called pet-the-dog moments, where an otherwise bigger-than-life personality does something out of character- something that might be considered beneath him. Readers remember such poignant episodes, and they make the key moments even more dramatic. It was George Bailey’s sacrificing his travel-the-world dreams to take over the lowly savings and loan that made his standing up to the villainous Mr. Potter so heroic in the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Want to turn your Jimmy Stewart into a George Bailey? Make him real. Give him a pet-the-dog moment. Step 5. But also give him classic, heroic qualities While striving to make your main character real and human, be sure to also make him heroic or implant within him at least the potential to be heroic. In the end, after he has learned all the lessons he needs to from his failures to get out of the terrible trouble you plunged him into, he must rise to the occasion and score a great moral victory. He can have a weakness for chocolates or a fear of snakes, but he must show up and face the music when the time comes. A well-developed character should be extraordinary, but relatable. Never allow your protagonist to be the victim. It is certainly okay to allow him to face obstacles and challenges, but never portray him as a wimp or a coward. Give your character qualities that captivate and compel the reader to continue. For example: a character with a humble upbringing (an underdog) rises to the occasion a character with a hidden strength or ability subtly reveals it early in the story and later uses it in an unusual or extraordinary way Make him heroic, and you’ll make him unforgettable. Step 6. Emphasize his inner life as well as his surface problems What physically happens in the novel is one thing. Your hero needs trouble, a problem, a quest, a challenge, something that drives the story. But just as important is your character’s primary internal conflict. This will determine his inner dialogue. Growing internally will usually contribute more to your Character Arc than the surface story. Ask yourself: What keeps him awake at night?What is his blind spot?What are his secrets?What embarrasses him?What passion drives him?   Mix and match details from people you know – and yourself – to create both the inner and outer person. When he faces a life or death situation, you’ll know how he should respond. Step 7. Draw upon your own experience in Character Development The fun of being a novelist is getting to embody the characters we write about. I can be a young girl, an old man, a boy, a father, a grandmother, another race, a villain, of a different political or spiritual persuasion, etc. The list goes on and the possibilities are endless. The best way to develop a character is to, in essence, become that character. Imagine yourself in every situation he finds himself, facing every dilemma, answering every question- how would you react if you were your character? If your character finds himself in mortal danger, imagine yourself in that predicament. Maybe you’ve never experienced such a thing, but you can conjure it in your mind. Think back to the last time you felt in danger, multiply that by a thousand, and become your character. What ran through your mind when you believed you were home alone and heard footsteps across the floor above? Have you had a child suddenly go missing in a busy store? Have you ever had to muster the courage to finally speak your mind and set somebody straight? There’s nothing like personal experience to help you develop characters. Step 8. Keep Character Arc in mind throughout Whatever message you’re trying to convey through your story, it must result in a transformation in the life of your character. A well-written novel that follows a Classic Story Structure plunges its main character into terrible trouble quickly, turns up the heat, and fosters change and growth in the character from the beginning. That’s the very definition of Character Arc. Remember, as I covered above, a perfect character isn’t relatable or believable. But every reader can relate to a flawed character who faces obstacles that force him to change. How does your character respond to challenges? Does he learn from them or face the same obstacle repeatedly because he fails to recognize his mistakes? Every scene should somehow contribute your to hero’s Character Arc. Step 9. Show, don’t tell You’ve heard this one before, and you’ll hear it again. If there’s one Cardinal Rule of fiction, this is it. It also applies to character development. Give your readers credit by trusting them to deduce character qualities by what they see in your scenes and hear in your dialogue. If you have to tell about your character in narrative summary, you’ve failed your reader. Your reader has a mind, an imagination. Using it is part of the joy of reading. As the life of your character unfolds, show who your character is through what he says, his body language, his thoughts, and what he does. Would rather be told: Fritz was one of those friendly, gregarious types who treated everyone the same, from the powerful to the lowly. Or be shown this: â€Å"How’s that grandson doing, Marci?† Fritz asked the elevator operator. â€Å"James, right?† â€Å"Jimmy’s doin’ great, thanks. Came home from the hospital yesterday.† â€Å"Vacation was the tonic, Bud,† Fritz told the doorman. â€Å"You’re tanned as a movie star.† As he settled into the backseat of the car, Fritz said, â€Å"Tell me your name and how long you’ve been driving Uber†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Show and you won’t have to tell. For more on this, see my blog post:Showing vs. Telling: What You Need to Know. Step 10. Don’t skimp on research Resist the temptation to write about something you haven’t experienced before conducting thorough research. Imagination can take you only so far. But you can bet the first time you guess at something, astute readers will call you on it. For instance, I can imagine myself as a woman. I had a mother, I have a wife, I have daughters-in-law and granddaughters, a female assistant, women colleagues. So I can guess at their feelings and emotions, but I’ll always be handicapped by the simple fact that I’m not a woman. I recently ran into an old friend who told me she was homeless. I mentioned to some women friends that I doubted her because she looked put together, as if she’d been to the beauty shop. I said, â€Å"If you were living in your car, would you spend money on getting your hair and nails done?† Naturally that’s the last thing a man would think about. But women in my orbit said, sure, they could see it. Camouflaging your predicament and maintaining a modicum of self-respect would be worth skipping a few meals. Say you’re writing about what you’d feel if you lost a child. I hope you would only be guessing about such a horror, but to write about it with credibility takes thorough research. You’d have to interview someone who has endured such a tragedy and has had the time to be able to talk about it. Is your character a teacher? A police officer? A CEO? Or the member of another profession with which you have no personal experience? Spend time in a classroom, interview a teacher, arrange a ride-along with a cop, interview a CEO. Don’t base your hero on images from movies and TV shows. The last thing you want is a stereotype readers cannot identify with and whom some would see through instantly. You’ll find that most people love talking about their lives and professions. The #1 Mistake Writers Make When Developing Characters Making a hero perfect. What reader can identify with perfect? Potentially heroic, yes. Honorable, sure. With a bent toward doing the right thing, yes! But perfect, no. In the end your hero will likely rise to the occasion and win against all odds. But he has to grow into that from a stance of reality, humanity. Render a lead character your reader can identify with, and in your ending he’ll see himself with the same potential. That way your Character Arc becomes also a Reader Arc. You can do this. Develop a character who feels real, and he could become unforgettable. Want to save this 10-step guide to read, save, or print whenever you wish? Click here. Questions about character development? Ask me in the comments below.

Biography of Lucrezia Borgia, Italian Noblewoman

Biography of Lucrezia Borgia, Italian Noblewoman Lucrezia Borgia (April 18, 1480–June 24, 1519) was the  illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) by one of his mistresses. She had three political marriages, arranged for her familys advantage, and likely had several adulterous alliances. Borgia was also for a time a papal secretary, and her later years were spent in relative stability as the Good Duchess of Ferrara, sometimes acting as de facto ruler in her husbands absence. Fast Facts: Lucrezia Borgia Known For: Borgia was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI and an important Italian noblewoman.Born: April 18, 1480 in Rome, ItalyParents: Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia (Pope Alexander VI) and Vannozza dei CattaneiDied: June 24, 1519 in Ferrara, ItalySpouse(s): Giovanni Sforza (m.  1493–1497), Alfonso of Aragon (m.  1498–1500), Alfonso dEste  (m.  1502–1519)Children: Seven Early Life Lucrezia Borgia was born in Rome in 1480. Her father Rodrigo was a cardinal in the Catholic Church when she was born. Lucrezias mother was his mistress of some years, Vannozza Cattanei, who was also the mother of two older children by Rodrigo, Giovanni and Cesare. After Rodrigo became Pope as Alexander VI, he advanced the career within the church of many Borja and Borgia relatives. Not much is known about Borgias childhood, but by about 1489, she was living with her fathers third cousin Adriana de Mila and her fathers new mistress Giulia Farnese, who was married to Adrianas stepson. Adriana, a widow, had care of Lucrezia, who was educated at the nearby Convent of St. Sixtus. When Cardinal Rodrigo was elected Pope in 1492, he began to use that office to his familys advantage. Cesare, one of Lucrezias brothers, was made an archbishop, and in 1493 he became a cardinal. Giovanni was made a duke and was to head up papal armies. First Marriage The Sforza family of Milan was one of the most powerful families in Italy and had supported the election of Pope Alexander VI. They also were allied with the French king against Naples. A member of the Sforza family, Giovanni Sforza, was lord of a small Adriatic fishing town called Pesano. It was with him that Alexander arranged a marriage for Lucrezia, to reward the Sforza family for their support and to bind their families together. Lucrezia was 13 years old when she married Giovanni Sforza on June 12, 1493. The marriage was not a happy one. Within four years, Lucrezia was complaining of his behavior. Giovanni also accused Lucrezia of misconduct. The Sforza family was no longer in favor with the pope; Ludovico had provoked an attack by the French that almost cost Alexander his papacy. Lucrezias father and her brother Cesare began to have other plans for Lucrezia: Alexander wanted to switch alliances from France to Naples. Early in 1497, Lucrezia and Giovanni separated. The Borgias began the process of annulling the marriage, charging Giovanni with impotence and nonconsummation of the marriage. Eventually, Giovanni agreed to the annulment in exchange for keeping the substantial dowry Lucrezia had brought to the marriage. Second Marriage Lucrezia, age 21, married Alfonso dAragon by proxy on June 28, 1498, and in person on July 21. A feast much like that at her first marriage celebrated this second wedding. The second marriage soured more quickly than the first. Only a year later, other alliances were tempting the Borgias. Alfonso left Rome, but Lucrezia talked him into returning. She was appointed governor of Spoleto. On November 1, 1499, she gave birth to Alfonsos son, naming him Rodrigo after her father. On July 15 of the next year, Alfonso survived an assassination attempt. He had been at the Vatican and was on his way home when hired killers stabbed him repeatedly. He managed to make it home, where Lucrezia cared for him and hired armed guards to protect him. About a month later on August 18, Cesare Borgia visited Alfonso, who was recuperating, promising to complete that which had not been finished earlier. Cesare returned later with another man, cleared the room, and, as the other man later recounted the story, had his associate strangle or smother Alfonso to death. Lucrezia was devastated by the death of her husband. After returning to Rome, Lucrezia began to work in the Vatican at her fathers side. She handled the popes mail and even answered it when he was not in town. Third Marriage A still-young daughter of the pope remained a prime candidate for an arranged marriage to solidify Borgia power. The eldest son, and presumed heir, of the Duke of Ferrara was a recent widower. The Borgias saw this as an opportunity for an alliance with a region that was physically between their current power base and another they wanted to add to the familys lands. Ercole dEste, the Duke of Ferrara, was understandably hesitant to marry his son, Alfonso dEste, to a woman whose first two marriages had ended in scandal and death, or to marry their more established family to the newly powerful Borgias. Ercole dEste was allied with the king of France, who wanted the alliance with the Pope. The Pope threatened Ercole with the loss of his lands and title if he did not consent. Ercole drove a hard bargain before consenting to the marriage in exchange for a very large dowry, a position in the church for his son, some additional lands, and reduced payments to the church. Ercole even considered marrying Lucrezia himself if his son Alfonso did not agree to the marriage- but Alfonso did. Lucrezia Borgia and Alfonso dEste were married by proxy at the Vatican on December 30, 1501. In January, she traveled with 1,000 in attendance to Ferrara, and on February 2, the two were married in person in another luxurious ceremony. Death of the Pope The summer of 1503 was oppressively hot and mosquitos were rampant. Lucrezias father died unexpectedly of malaria on August 18, 1503, ending the Borgia plans for solidifying power. Cesare was also infected but survived, but he was too ill at his fathers death to move quickly to secure treasure for his family. Cesare was supported by Pius III, the next pope, but that pope died after 26 days in office. Giuliano Della Rovere, who had been a rival of Alexander and long an enemy of the Borgias, tricked Cesare into supporting his election as pope, but as Julius II, he reneged on his promises to Cesare. The Vatican apartments of the Borgia family were sealed by Julius, who was revolted by the scandalous behavior of his predecessor. Children The main responsibility of a Renaissance rulers wife was to bear children, who would in turn either rule or be married into other families to cement alliances. Lucrezia was pregnant at least 11 times during her marriage to Alfonso. There were several miscarriages and at least one stillborn child, and two others died in infancy. Five other children survived infancy, and two- Ercole and Ippolito- lived to adulthood. Patronage and Business In Ferrara, Lucrezia associated with artists and writers, including the poet Ariosto, and helped bring many to the court, distant as it was from the Vatican. Poet Pietro Bembo was one of those she patronized and, judging from the letters surviving to him, its possible the two had an affair. Recent studies have shown that during her years in Ferrara, Lucrezia was also a shrewd businesswoman, building up her own fortune quite successfully. She used some of her wealth to build hospitals and convents, winning the respect of her subjects. She invested in marshy land, then drained it and recovered it for agricultural use. Later Years Lucrezia received word in 1512 that her son Rodrigo dAragon had died. She withdrew from most social life, though she continued her business enterprises. She eventually turned to religion, spending more time at convents, and even began wearing a hairshirt (an act of penance) under her fancy gowns. Visitors to Ferrara commented on her melancholy and noted that she seemed to be aging rapidly. She had four more pregnancies and perhaps two miscarriages between 1514 and 1519. In 1518, she wrote a letter to her son Alfonso in France. Death On June 14, 1519, Lucrezia gave birth to a stillborn daughter. Lucrezia contracted a fever and died 10 days later. She was mourned by her husband, family, and subjects. Legacy Because of her scandalous reputation, Lucrezia Borgia has become a popular character in fiction, opera and drama. Her life has been dramatized in works such as Victor Hugos Lucrà ¨ce Borgia, the 1935 Abel Gance film Lucrezia Borgia, and the BBC series The Borgias. Sources Bradford, Sarah.  Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy. Penguin Books, 2005.Meyer, G. J.  The Borgias: The Hidden History. Bantam Books, 2014.

Manufacturing Industry Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Manufacturing Industry Evaluation - Essay Example As a result, the larger firms keep acquiring other small firms as they continue dominating in the markets, effectively reducing competition in this industry (Lynn, 2002). The Envelope industry is such other industry of the US that has low competition. The larger firms control most of the US markets for this industry. Oligopoly refers to a market condition, where the market has many buyers and very few sellers. In an oligopolistic market, just a few firms, mostly the larger ones, dominate the market (Elmer, 1999). Since there are few sellers in such a market, every firm operating in that market has the chances of knowing the moves and the trends that the other firms are making in order to achieve a competitive advantage in the market. Consequently, the firms operating in an oligopolistic market conditions are most likely going to make their decisions based on those decisions made by other firms. Thus, in an oligopolistic market, the decision made by one firm affects the other firms and vice versa (Case, Fair, and Oster, 2009). The characteristic oligopoly market involves the firms producing and selling their products at the quantities and prices they feel are suitable to grant them the profit margin they require. Thus, oligopolies set the market prices for their products, other than selling their products at the existing market prices (Elmer, 1999). In the US, the Envelopes and the Fluid Milk industries qualify as oligopolies. The Fluid milk industry in the US is an example of an oligopolistic market condition, where the market in the industry is dominated by few firms. The dairy cooperative of the country called the Dairy Farmers of America have effectively established close alliances with the other players in the industry, notably the Dairy Market services, which has on its side collaborated with the US major milk manufacturers (Lynn, 2002). This

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 142

Discussion - Essay Example Accordingly, the flooding led to the need for leadership especially in Mesopotamia where there was lack of natural borders and lack of natural materials. Mesopotamia was also characterized by irregular flooding that disrupted the way of life and caused dependence on foreign natural resources, political instability and strict law codes whenever necessary in order to instill leadership. The ancient Egypt was characterized by plenty of raw materials and rivers that isolated the kingdoms from invaders. The unique geography contained soap stones that facilitated building of fortresses and plenty of human labor due to the high population. Ancient Egypt did not have contact with external invaders and experienced political stability due to uniform culture. There was a high focus on after life or immortality due to beliefs on various gods and thus pyramids were constructed in order to store the remains of the kings. The old kingdom of Ancient Egypt (2500-2100 BC), Middle kingdom (2000-1600 BC ) and new kingdom (1500-1100 BC) experienced political unity and stability due to high importance placed on the Pharaoh. The old and middle kingdoms where characterized by unprecedented cultural and technological revolutions such as Hieroglyphic writing, the use of Rosetta stone in building Pyramids and unified belief systems such as prayers to gods such as Osiris, Amon-Re and Isis. The sense of insecurity in Mesopotamia led to establishment of detailed legal codes such as code of Hammurabia that was inscribed in stone pillar in order to unite Mesopotamia in 1792-1750 B.C.E. The sole purpose was to promote the welfare of the people through justice and eliminating any evil through protecting the poor. The code comprised of written decisions by the King in various injustices thus allowing for equity in the eighteenth-century Babylonian society. The status of women and children in Mesopotamia society was

Festival and event organisation of your choice Essay - 1

Festival and event organisation of your choice - Essay Example in the globe and has evolved from an agricultural festival to become a large-scale activity characterized by entertainment and activities on a large scale for the last two centuries. Conversely, the historical aspects of the Bavarian culture still exist and are currently celebrated as rituals as well as traditional experiences with the expansion of cultures resulting in the introduction of inventive and challenging ideologies at the yearly trademark festival. Each year, almost six million individuals visit the Theresienwiesn to drink beer together, relish the traditional German delicacies and dance to music throughout the day (Schulte-Peevers, 2010, p. 314). Seven hundred beer tents as well as trading booths can be found in the Oktoberfest grounds, along with fourteen dedicated tents which are constructed based on particular themes such as the flirt tent that can hold up to ten thousand people. Among the exceptional characteristics of Oktoberfest is that regardless of the fact that t here are no marketing or sponsorships, this huge event continues to be successful with a high degree of economic stability (Stephenson, Mintzer and Stephenson, 2008, p. 274). Oktoberfest came into existence for the first time in 1810 as a means of honoring the marriage of Ludwig, who was a Bavarian crown prince (Yeoman, 2004, p. 34). These events occurred four years after Bavaria had become a Kingdom with the traditional festival being employed to develop a dynasty of the new Bavaria and the promotion of Munich. Traditionally, the last week of Oktoberfest was in October and this tradition is still being used in the present times (Schulenkorf, 2008, p. 3). Horse races that were incorporated into the first Oktoberfest festivals and at one time the most popular activity during the festival are not held in the present (Hall and Sharples, 2008, p. 174). However, agricultural shows, which were also an attraction in the past, are still held every three years as Oktoberfest progresses in the

Exploration of Nazi captivity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Exploration of Nazi captivity - Essay Example It is undoubtedly true that Adolf Hitler and slave owners exploited the unfortunates, using tragic inhumane methods. Before Hitler’s death he uttered, â€Å"Brutal force has not won anything durable.† Nazi slavery, or American chattel slavery were alternative beats of the same wicked heart, against the races that were at a highly disadvantageous position. Were the captives taken by the Nazi’s slaves? As far as history can retell the tales of these camps that were established to keep thousands of Jews in prison, one finds horrific tales of people who were brutally killed and the massacres; if we may use the term; to eliminate them. What happened in those camps will be discussed in the following text as we move step by step through articles found related to this topic. Amongst these articles are tales of eyewitnesses as well as som survival stories which shed light on the activities that went on in those prison camps. Before we set on to discover what and how the people or prisoners were treated and humiliated in the German camps set up under Hitler’s command, let’s go down the road of history to the time that Romans ruled one can see how they treated their slaves. Watching the slaves being tortured and killed was a game that the rulers of the Roman Empire enjoyed the most. (Femi Akomolafe, 1994) A review of a book on the survival of a captive from the Auschwitz in 1945 describes how the slaves were being treated. It fore tells how the slaves entered the gates where the sign  read â€Å"Arbeit  Macht Frei†. They were made to stay in cold rooms for hours, while the rooms were filled with freezing water that reached the ankles. Completely undressed and asked to remain naked even the shoes were not allowed. While in that condition the barbers were sent in to shave the heads of all the captives. The men were kept for hours in the same condition and they kept on thinking about their families and what was happening to the females

Fair Shares Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Fair Shares - Essay Example Despite (or perhaps because of) your love of all things amphibious, you currently lack the funds to pay each of the others their probable fair share. You will not receive the collection, but wish to receive as much money as possible. You have no knowledge of the amounts in each of the sealed bids, but strongly suspect that Abraham will bid between $10,000.00 and $12,000.00. Soln. As I know that I cannot pay the others their probable fair share and so I won’t be able to win the collection and I also believe that Abraham will bid between $10000 to $12000 than I would think about putting a value that is just below the one that Abraham will put which in this case would be $9999. The reason for putting this value is that it will give me the highest possible fair share without having a chance of winning the items as the fair share that I will get if Abraham bids $10000 and wins it would be: And so the total amount that I will receive would be 2499.75+250.0625=$2749.8125. This is the highest amount that I can win considering that I cannot win the collection and Abraham’s bid will be between 10000 to

Exploration of Nazi captivity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Exploration of Nazi captivity - Essay Example It is undoubtedly true that Adolf Hitler and slave owners exploited the unfortunates, using tragic inhumane methods. Before Hitler’s death he uttered, â€Å"Brutal force has not won anything durable.† Nazi slavery, or American chattel slavery were alternative beats of the same wicked heart, against the races that were at a highly disadvantageous position. Were the captives taken by the Nazi’s slaves? As far as history can retell the tales of these camps that were established to keep thousands of Jews in prison, one finds horrific tales of people who were brutally killed and the massacres; if we may use the term; to eliminate them. What happened in those camps will be discussed in the following text as we move step by step through articles found related to this topic. Amongst these articles are tales of eyewitnesses as well as som survival stories which shed light on the activities that went on in those prison camps. Before we set on to discover what and how the people or prisoners were treated and humiliated in the German camps set up under Hitler’s command, let’s go down the road of history to the time that Romans ruled one can see how they treated their slaves. Watching the slaves being tortured and killed was a game that the rulers of the Roman Empire enjoyed the most. (Femi Akomolafe, 1994) A review of a book on the survival of a captive from the Auschwitz in 1945 describes how the slaves were being treated. It fore tells how the slaves entered the gates where the sign  read â€Å"Arbeit  Macht Frei†. They were made to stay in cold rooms for hours, while the rooms were filled with freezing water that reached the ankles. Completely undressed and asked to remain naked even the shoes were not allowed. While in that condition the barbers were sent in to shave the heads of all the captives. The men were kept for hours in the same condition and they kept on thinking about their families and what was happening to the females

Death penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Death penalty - Essay Example This paper will examine the benefits and the fall backs of the death penalty, and argue if it should be allowed or banned based on the evidence in the paper. According to Chan and Oxley, capital punishment is a legal process sanctioned by the state that allows for the termination of a felon offender’s life, who has committed one or multiple heinous offences (Janet and Oxley 2). This process is usually prohibited in many countries for the same questions that this paper raises and seeks to answer. Is capital punishment morally wrong? Does capital punishment deter crime? Can capital punishment be justified when done in consideration to the welfare of the public? Many people have found the death penalty or capital punishment to be morally wrong but when atrocities are committed against their loved ones, they quickly have a change of heart. Over the years, there has been a growing base of activists advocating for the abolishment of the death penalty all across the world, therefore, influencing many countries to abolish the act. Even the United Nations does not support the death penalty, citing a law borrowed from the American Bill of Rights, which stresses on the right to life. However, the United States of America has not given in to International pressure to abolish the death penalty but insists that the death penalty is neither cruel nor an unusual punishment when it is employed non-discriminatively and in an unarbitrary manner (Dezhbakhsh and Shepherd 512). Many individuals consider the death penalty to be morally impermissible. They argue that the act is constitutionally cruel and uncivilized. They claim that imposing capital punishment, no matter how humane the method of administration is, is still a transgression of the rule of law. They also say that capital punishment would lead to the wrongful death by execution to some innocent people whose cases were marred by false evidence. They argue that if the justice system was to make a mistake and realize it later after the death penalty has already been executed, the damage would be irreversible and unfair to the family and the individual. They also argue that capital punishment shows arbitrariness, in that the criminals may prefer that form of punishment. Capital punishment has also been said to be discriminative. Critics argue that racial discrimination is evident in the justice system, where criminals declared guilty of killing white people were four times more likely to be served with the death penalty than those who killed non-white individuals. This shows that the death penalty is discriminative even though it is said to be non-discriminatory (Sunstein and Vermeule 2). Capital punishment seems to have a few shortcomings but despite all that it can be regarded as an efficient tool to deter the occurrence of certain crimes. Research studies carried out two decades ago showed that the death penalty did not prevent or influence the occurrence of certain crimes. These research stud ies have refuted by new research that show that capital punishment has a powerful deterrent effect. The study proposes that for every execution carried out, an average of eighteen murders are prevented. With such an effect on crime, capital punishment should not be abolished as it seems to serve as a lesson to all those plotting some heinous crimes. Failing

A Hybrid Vehicle Is a Vehicle That Uses Two Essay Example for Free

A Hybrid Vehicle Is a Vehicle That Uses Two Essay Mopeds, electric bicycles, and even electric kick scooters are a simple form of a hybrid, as power is delivered both via an internal combustion engine or electric motor and the riders muscles. Early prototypes of motorcycles in the late 19th century used the same principles to power it up. * In a parallel hybrid bicycle human and motor power are mechanically coupled at the pedal drive train or at the rear or the front wheel, e. g. using a hub motor, a roller pressing onto a tire, or a connection to a wheel using a transmission element. Human and motor torques are added together. Almost all manufactured Motorized bicycles, Mopeds are of this type. [2] * In a series hybrid bicycle (SH) the user powers a generator using the pedals. This is converted into electricity and can be fed directly to the motor giving a chainless bicycle but also to charge a battery. The motor draws power from the battery and must be able to deliver the full mechanical torque required because none is available from the pedals. SH bicycles are commercially available, because they are very simple in theory and manufacturing. [3] The first known prototype and publication of an SH bicycle is by Augustus Kinzel (US Patent 3884317) in 1975. In 1994 Bernie Macdonalds conceived the Electrilite[4] SH lightweight vehicle which used power electronics allowing regenerative braking and pedaling while stationary. In 1995 Thomas Muller designed a Fahrrad mit elektromagnetischem Antrieb in his 1995 diploma thesis and built a functional vehicle. In 1996 Jurg Blatter and Andreas Fuchs of Berne University of Applied Sciences built an SH bicycle and in 1998 mounted the system onto a Leitra tricycle (European patent EP 1165188). In 1999 Harald Kutzke described his concept of the active bicycle: the aim is to approach the ideal bicycle weighing nothing and having no drag by electronic compensation. Until 2005 Fuchs and colleagues built several prototype SH tricycles and quadricycles. [5] Heavy vehicles Bus Rapid Transit of Metz, a diesel-electric hybrid driving system by Van Hool[6] Hybrid power trains use diesel-electric or turbo-electric to power railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, mobile hydraulic machinery, and ships. Typically some form of heat engine (usually diesel) drives an electric generator or hydraulic pump which powers one or more electric or hydraulic motors. There are advantages in distributing power through wires or pipes rather than mechanical elements especially when multiple drives—e. g. driven wheels or propellers—are required. There is power lost in the double conversion from typically diesel fuel to electricity to power an electric or hydraulic motor. With large vehicles the advantages often outweigh the disadvantages especially as the conversion losses typically decrease with size. With the exception of non-nuclear submarines, presently there is no or relatively little secondary energy storage capacity on most heavy vehicles, e. g. auxiliary batteries and hydraulic accumulators—although this is now changing. Submarines are one of the oldest widespread applications of hybrid technology, running on diesel engines while surfaced and switching to battery power when submerged. Both series-hybrid and parallel hybrid drivetrains were used in the Second World War. Rail transport Main article: Hybrid train East Japan Railway Company HB-E300 series Europe The new Autorail a grande capacite (AGC or high-capacity railcar) built by the Canadian company Bombardier for service in France. This has dual mode (diesel and electric motors) and dual voltage capabilities (1500 and 25000 V) allowing it to be used on many different rail systems. [7] The locomotive has been on trials in Rotterdam, the Netherlands with Railfeeding, a Genesse and Wyoming company. China The First Hybrid Evaluating prototype locomotive was designed and contracted by rail research center MATRAI in 1999 and the sample was ready in 2000. It was a G12 locomotive that was converted to hybrid by using a 200KW diesel generator and batteries and also was equipped with 4 AC traction motors (out of 4) retrofited in the cover of the DC traction motors. Japan The first operational prototype of a hybrid train engine with significant energy storage and energy regeneration capability was introduced in Japan as the KiHa E200. It utilizes battery packs of lithium ion batteries mounted on the roof to store recovered energy. [8] North America In the U. S., General Electric introduced a prototype railroad engine with their Ecomagination technology in 2007. They store energy in a large set of sodium nickel chloride (Na-NiCl2) batteries to capture and store energy normally dissipated during dynamic braking or coasting downhill. They expect at least a 10% reduction in fuel use with this system and are now spending about $2 billion/yr on hybrid research. [9] Variants of the typical diesel electric locomotive include the Green Goat (GG) and Green Kid (GK) switching/yard engines built by Canadas Railpower Technologies. They utilize a large set of heavy duty long life (~10 yr) rechargeable lead acid (Pba) batteries and 1000 to 2000 HP electric motors as the primary motive sources and a new clean burning diesel generator (~160 Hp) for recharging the batteries that is used only as needed. No power or fuel are wasted for idling—typically 60–85% of the time for these type locomotives. It is unclear if dynamic braking (regenerative) power is recaptured for reuse; but in principle it should be easily utilized. Since these engines typical need extra weight for traction purposes anyway the battery packs weight is a negligible penalty. In addition the diesel generator and battery package are normally built on an existing retired yard locomotives frame for significant additional cost savings. The existing motors and running gear are all rebuilt and reused. Diesel fuel savings of 40–60% and up to 80% pollution reductions are claimed over that of a typical older switching/yard engine. The same advantages that existing hybrid cars have for use with frequent starts and stops and idle periods apply to typical switching yard use. [10] Green Goat locomotives have been purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway, and Union Pacific Railroad among others. Cranes Railpower Technologies engineers working with TSI Terminal Systems are testing a hybrid diesel electric power unit with battery storage for use in Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes. RTG cranes are typically used for loading and unloading shipping containers onto trains or trucks in ports and container storage yards. The energy used to lift the containers can be partially regained when they are lowered. Diesel fuel and emission reductions of 50–70% are predicted by Railpower engineers. [11] First systems are expected to be operational in 2007. [12] Road transport, commercial vehicles 2008 GMC Yukon hybrid version Early hybrid systems are being investigated for trucks and other heavy highway vehicles with some operational trucks and buses starting to come into use. The main obstacles seem to be smaller fleet sizes and the extra costs of a hybrid system are yet compensated for by fuel savings,[13] but with the price of oil set to continue on its upward trend, the tipping point may be reached by the end of 2015. [dated info] Advances in technology and lowered battery cost and higher capacity etc. developed in the hybrid car industry are already filtering into truck use as Toyota, Ford, GM and others introduce hybrid pickups and SUVs. Kenworth Truck Company recently introduced a hybrid-electric truck, called the Kenworth T270 Class 6 that for city usage seems to be competitive. [14][15] FedEx and others are starting to invest in hybrid delivery type vehicles—particularly for city use where hybrid technology may pay off first. [16] Military off-road vehicles Since 1985, the U. S. military has been testing serial hybrid Humvees[17][18] and have found them to deliver faster acceleration, a stealth mode with low thermal signature/ near silent operation, and greater fuel economy. Ships Ships with both mast-mounted sails and steam engines were an early form of hybrid vehicle. Another example is the diesel-electric submarine. This runs on batteries when submerged and the batteries can be re-charged by the diesel engine when the craft is on the surface. Newer hybrid ship-propulsion schemes include large towing kites manufactured by companies such as SkySails. Towing kites can fly at heights several times higher than the tallest ship masts, capturing stronger and steadier winds. Aircraft Taxiing and other ground operations of Boeing 737NGs will soon be done using hybrid electric drives as WheelTug ground propulsion systems become available. [19][20] By using the APU (powered by a turbine) to energize a Chorus electric motor mounted in the landing gear for ground movement, aircraft will be operating in a hybrid configuration where the main engines are used only for take off, landing, and flight. Boeing 737–800 The Boeing Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane has a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor, which is coupled to a conventional propeller. The fuel cell provides all power for the cruise phase of flight. During takeoff and climb, the flight segment that requires the most power, the system draws on lightweight lithium-ion batteries. The demonstrator aircraft is a Dimona motor glider, built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, which also carried out structural modifications to the aircraft. With a wing span of 16. 3 meters (53. 5 feet), the airplane will be able to cruise at approximately 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) on power from the fuel cell. [21] Hybrid FanWings have been designed. A FanWing is created by two engines with the capability to autorotate and landing like a helicopter. [22] Engine type Hybrid electric-petroleum vehicles Hybrid New Flyer Metrobus Hybrid Optare Solo Main article: Hybrid electric vehicle When the term hybrid vehicle is used, it most often refers to a Hybrid electric vehicle. These encompass such vehicles as the Saturn Vue, Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h and 450h and others. A petroleum-electric hybrid most commonly uses internal combustion engines (generally gasoline or Diesel engines, powered by a variety of fuels) and electric batteries to power the vehicle. There are many types of petroleum-electric hybrid drivetrains, from Full hybrid to Mild hybrid, which offer varying advantages and disadvantages. [23][not in citation given] Henri Pieper in 1899 developed the first petro-electric hybrid automobile in the world. In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche developed a series-hybrid using two motor-in-wheel-hub arrangements with a combustion generator set providing the electric power, setting two speed records[citation needed]. While liquid fuel/electric hybrids date back to the late 19th century, the braking regenerative hybrid was invented by David Arthurs, an electrical engineer from Springdale, Arkansas in 1978–79. His home-converted Opel GT was reported to return as much as 75MPG with plans still sold to this original design, and the Mother Earth News modified version on their website. [24] The plug-in-electric-vehicle (PEV) is becoming more and more common. It has the range needed in locations where there are wide gaps with no services. The batteries can be plugged into house (mains) electricity for charging, as well being charged while the engine is running. Continuously outboard recharged electric vehicle (COREV) Given suitable infrastructure, permissions and vehicles, BEVs can be recharged while the user drives. The BEV establishes contact with an electrified rail, plate or overhead wires on the highway via an attached conducting wheel or other similar mechanism (see Conduit current collection). The BEVs batteries are recharged by this process—on the highway—and can then be used normally on other roads until the battery is discharged. Some of battery-electric locomotives used for maintenance trains on the London Underground are capable of this mode of operation. Power is picked up from the electtrified rails where possible, switching to battery power where the electricity supply is disconnected. This provides the advantage, in principle, of virtually unrestricted highway range as long as you stay where you have BEV infrastructure access. Since many destinations are within 100 km of a major highway, this may reduce the need for expensive battery systems. Unfortunately private use of the existing electrical system is nearly universally prohibited. The technology for such electrical infrastructure is old and, outside of some cities, is not widely distributed (see Conduit current collection, trams, electric rail, trolleys, third rail). Updating the required electrical and infrastructure costs can be funded, in principle, by toll revenue, gasoline or other taxes. Hybrid fuel (dual mode). Ford Escape Hybrid with a flexible fuel capability to run on E85 (ethanol) In addition to vehicles that use two or more different devices for propulsion, some also consider vehicles that use distinct energy sources or input types (fuels) using the same engine to be hybrids, although to avoid confusion with hybrids as described above and to use correctly the terms, these are perhaps more correctly described as dual mode vehicles: * Some electric trolleybuses can switch between an on board diesel engine and overhead electrical power depending on conditions (see dual mode bus). In principle, this could be combined with a battery subsystem to create a true plug-in hybrid trolleybus, although as of 2006, no such design seems to have been announced. * Flexible-fuel vehicles can use a mixture of input fuels mixed in one tank — typically gasoline and ethanol, or methanol, or biobutanol. * Bi-fuel vehicle:Liquified petroleum gas and natural gas are very different from petroleum or diesel and cannot be used in the same tanks, so it would be impossible to build an (LPG or NG) flexible fuel system. Instead vehicles are built with two, parallel, fuel systems feeding one engine. For example Chevys Silverado 2500 HD, which is now on the road, can effortlessly switch between petroleum and natural gas, and offers a range of over 650 miles. [25] While the duplicated tanks cost space in some applications, the increased range, decreased cost of fuel and flexibility where (LPG or NG) infrastructure is incomplete may be a significant incentive to purchase. While the U. S. Natural gas infrastructure is partially incomplete, it is increasing at a fast pace, and already has 2600 CNG stations in place. [26] With a growing fueling station infrastructure, a large scale adoption of these bi-fuel vehicles could be seen in the near future. Rising gas prices may also push consumers to purchase these vehicles. When gas prices trade around $4. 00, the price per MMBTU of gasoline is $28. 00, compared to natural gass $4. 00 per MMBTU. [27] On a per unit of energy comparative basis, this makes natural gas much cheaper than gasoline. All of these factors are making CNG-Gasoline bi-fuel vehicles very attractive. * Some vehicles have been modified to use another fuel source if it is available, such as cars modified to run on autogas (LPG) and diesels modified to run on waste vegetable oil that has not been processed into biodiesel. * Power-assist mechanisms for bicycles and other human-powered vehicles are also included (see Motorized bicycle). Fluid power hybrid Chrysler minivan, petro-hydraulic hybrid French MDI petro-air hybrid car developed with Tata. Hydraulic and pneumatic hybrid vehicles use an engine to charge a pressure accumulator to drive the wheels via hydraulic or pneumatic (i. e. compressed air) drive units. In most cases the engine is detached from the drivetrain merely only to change the energy accumulator. The transmission is seamless. Petro-air hybrid A French company, MDI, has designed and has running models of a petro-air hybrid engine car. The system does not use air motors to drive the vehicle, being directly driven by a hybrid engine. The engine uses a mixture of compressed air and gasoline injected into the cylinders. [28] A key aspect of the hybrid engine is the active chamber, which is a compartment heating air via fuel doubling the energy output. [29] Tata Motors of India assessed the design phase towards full production for the Indian market and moved into completing detailed development of the compressed air engine into specific vehicle and stationary applications. [30][31] Petro-hydraulic hybrid Petro-hydraulic configurations have been common in trains and heavy vehicles for decades. The auto industry recently focused on this hybrid configuration as it now shows promise for introduction into smaller vehicles. In petro-hydraulic hybrids, the energy recovery rate is high and therefore the system is more efficient than battery charged hybrids using the current battery technology, demonstrating a 60% to 70% increase in energy economy in U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing. [32] The charging engine needs only to be sized for average usage with acceleration bursts using the stored energy in the hydraulic accumulator, which is charged when in low energy demanding vehicle operation. The charging engine runs at optimum speed and load for efficiency and longevity. Under tests undertaken by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a hydraulic hybrid Ford Expedition returned 32 miles per US gallon (7. 4 L/100 km; 38 mpg-imp) City, and 22 miles per US gallon (11 L/100 km; 26 mpg-imp) highway. [33][34] UPS currently has two trucks in service with this technology. [35] Although petro-hybrid technology has been known for decades, and used in trains and very large construction vehicles, heavy costs of the equipment precluded the systems from lighter trucks and cars. In the modern sense an experiment proved the viability of small petro-hybrid road vehicles in 1978. A group of students at Minneapolis, Minnesotas Hennepin Vocational Technical Center, converted a Volkswagen Beetle car to run as a petro-hydraulic hybrid using off-the shelf components. A car rated at 32mpg was returning 75mpg with the 60HP engine replaced by 16HP engine. The experimental car reached 70 mph. [36] In the 1990s, a team of engineers working at EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory succeeded in developing a revolutionary type of petro-hydraulic hybrid powertrain that would propel a typical American sedan car. The test car achieved over 80 mpg on combined EPA city/highway driving cycles. Acceleration was 0-60 mph in 8 seconds, using a 1. 9 liter diesel engine. No lightweight materials were used. The EPA estimated that produced in high volumes the hydraulic components would add only $700 to the base cost of the vehicle. [34] While the petro-hydraulic system has faster and more efficient charge/discharge cycling and is cheaper than petro-electric hybrids, the accumulator size dictates total energy storage capacity and may require more space than a battery set. Research is underway in large corporations and small companies. Focus has now switched to smaller vehicles. The system components were expensive which precluded installation in smaller trucks and cars. A drawback was that the power driving motors were not efficient enough at part load. A British company has made a breakthrough by introducing an electronically controlled hydraulic motor/pump, the Digital Displacement motor/pump, that is highly efficient at all speed ranges and loads making small applications of petro-hydraulic hybrids feasible. [37] The company converted a BMW car as a test bed to prove viability. The BMW 530i, gave double the mpg in city driving compared to the standard car. This test was using the standard 3,000cc engine. Petro-hydraulic hybrids using well sized accumulators entails downsizing an engine to average power usage, not peak power usage. Peak power is provided by the energy stored in the accumulator. A smaller more efficient constant speed engine reduces weight and liberates space for a larger accumulator. [38] Current vehicle bodies are designed around the mechanicals of existing engine/transmission setups. It is restrictive and far from ideal to install petro-hydraulic mechanicals into existing bodies not designed for hydraulic setups. One research projects goal is to create a blank paper design new car, to maximize the packaging of petro-hydraulic hybrid components in the vehicle. All bulky hydraulic components are integrated into the chassis of the car. One design has claimed to return 130mpg in tests by using a large hydraulic accumulator which is also the structural chassis of the car. The small hydraulic driving motors are incorporated within the wheel hubs driving the wheels and reversing to claw-back kinetic braking energy. The hub motors eliminates the need for friction brakes, mechanical transmissions, drive shafts and U joints, reducing costs and weight. Hydrostatic drive with no friction brakes are used in industrial vehicles. [39] The aim is 170mpg in average driving conditions. Energy created by shock absorbers and kinetic braking energy that normally would be wasted assists in charging the accumulator. A small fossil fuelled piston engine sized for average power use charges the accumulator. The accumulator is sized at running the car for 15 minutes when fully charged. The aim is a fully charged accumulator with an energy storage potential of 670 HP, which will produce a 0-60 mph acceleration speed of under 5 seconds using four wheel drive. [40][41][42] In January 2011 industry giant Chrysler announced a partnership with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design and develop an experimental petro-hydraulic hybrid powertrain suitable for use in large passenger cars. In 2012 an existing production minvan will be adapted to the new hydraulic powertrain. [34][43][44][45] PSA Peugeot Citroen exhibited an experimental Hybrid Air engine at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. [46] The vehicle uses nitrogen gas compressed by energy harvested from braking or deceleration to power an hydraulic drive which supplements power from its conventional gasoline engine. The hydraulic and electronic components were supplied by Robert Bosch GmbH. Production versions priced at about $25,000, ? 17,000, are scheduled for 2015 or 2016. Mileage was estimated to be about 80 miles per gallon for city driving if installed in a Citroen C3. [47] Electric-human power hybrid vehicle Another form of hybrid vehicle are human power-electric vehicles. These include such vehicles as the Sinclair C5, Twike, electric bicycles, and electric skateboards. Hybrid vehicle power train configurations Main articles: Hybrid vehicle drivetrains and Micro HEV. Parallel hybrid Honda Insight, Mild Parallel Hybrid Toyota Prius, series-parallel hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid, a series-parallel drivetrain In a parallel hybrid vehicle, the single electric motor and the internal combustion engine are installed such that they can power the vehicle either individually or together. In contrast to the power split configuration typically only one electric motor is installed. Most commonly the internal combustion engine, the electric motor and gear box are coupled by automatically controlled clutches. For electric driving the clutch between the internal combustion engine is open while the clutch to the gear box is engaged. While in combustion mode the engine and motor run at the same speed. The first mass production parallel hybrid sold outside Japan was the 1st generation Honda Insight. Mild parallel hybrid These types use a generally compact electric motor (usually 20 kW) to provide auto-stop/start features and to provide extra power assist[48] during the acceleration, and to generate on the deceleration phase (aka regenerative braking). On-road examples include Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight 2nd generation, Honda CR-Z, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mercedes Benz S400 BlueHYBRID, BMW 7-Series hybrids, General Motors BAS Hybrids, and Smart fortwo with micro hybrid drive. Power-split or series-parallel hybrid Passenger car installations include Toyota Prius, Ford Escape and Fusion, as well as Lexus RX400h, RX450h, GS450h, LS600h, and CT200h. In a power-split hybrid electric drive train there are two motors: an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. The power from these two motors can be shared to drive the wheels via a power splitter, which is a simple planetary gear set. The ratio can be from 0–100% for the combustion engine, or 0–100% for the electric motor, or anything in between, such as 40% for the electric motor and 60% for the combustion engine. The electric motor can act as a generator charging the batteries. Modern versions such as the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive have a second electric motor/generator on the output shaft (connected to the wheels). In cooperation with the primary motor/generator and the mechanical power-split this provides a continuously variable transmission. On the open road, the primary power source is the internal combustion engine. When maximum power is required, for example to overtake, the electric motor is used to assist. This increases the available power for a short period, giving the effect of having a larger engine than actually installed. In most applications, the engine is switched off when the car is slow or stationary reducing curbside emissions. Series hybrid Chevrolet Volt, series plug-in hybrid. Honda Civic Hybrid used by Zipcar car sharing service Ford Escape plug-in hybrid A series- or serial-hybrid vehicle has also been referred to as an Extended Range Electric Vehicle or Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (EREV/REEV); however, range extension can be accomplished with either series or parallel hybrid layouts. Series-hybrid vehicles are driven by the electric motor with no mechanical connection to the engine. Instead there is an engine tuned for running a generator when the battery pack energy supply isnt sufficient for demands. This arrangement is not new, being common in diesel-electric locomotives and ships. Ferdinand Porsche used this setup in the early 20th century in racing cars, effectively inventing the series-hybrid arrangement. Porsche named the arrangement System Mixt. A wheel hub motor arrangement, with a motor in each of the two front wheels was used, setting speed records. This arrangement was sometimes referred to as an electric transmission, as the electric generator and driving motor replaced a mechanical transmission. The vehicle could not move unless the internal combustion engine was running. The setup has never proved to be suitable for production cars, however it is currently being revisited by several manufacturers. In 1997 Toyota released the first series-hybrid bus sold in Japan. [49] GM introduced the Chevy Volt EREV in 2010, aiming for an all-electric range of 40 miles,[50] and a price tag of around $40,000. [51] Supercapacitors combined with a lithium ion battery bank have been used by AFS Trinity in a converted Saturn Vue SUV vehicle. Using supercapacitors they claim up to 150 mpg in a series-hybrid arrangement. [52] Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Main article: Plug-in hybrid Another subtype added to the hybrid market is the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The PHEV is usually a general fuel-electric (parallel or serial) hybrid with increased energy storage capacity (usually Li-ion batteries). It may be connected to mains electricity supply at the end of the journey to avoid charging using the on-board internal combustion engine. [53][54] This concept is attractive to those seeking to minimize on-road emissions by avoiding – or at least minimizing – the use of ICE during daily driving. As with pure electric vehicles, the total emissions saving, for example in CO2 terms, is dependent upon the energy source of the electricity generating company. For some users, this type of vehicle may also be financially attractive so long as the electrical energy being used is cheaper than the petrol/diesel that they would have otherwise used. Current tax systems in many European countries use mineral oil taxation as a major income source. This is generally not the case for electricity, which is taxed uniformly for the domestic customer, however that person uses it. Some electricity suppliers also offer price benefits for off-peak night users, which may further increase the attractiveness of the plug-in option for commuters and urban motorists. Fuel cell, electric hybrid. The fuel cell hybrid is generally an electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell. The fuel cell as well as the electric battery are both power sources, making the vehicle a hybrid. Fuel cells use hydrogen as a fuel and power the electric battery when it is depleted. The Chevrolet Equinox FCEV, Ford Edge Hyseries Drive and Honda FCX are examples of a fuel cell/electric hybrid. Road safety for cyclists, pedestrians A 2009 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report examined HEV accidents that involved pedestrians and cyclists and compared them to accidents involving combustion-engine vehicles. The findings showed that, in certain road situations, HEVs are more dangerous for those on foot or bicycle. For accidents where a vehicle was slowing or stopping, backing up, entering or leaving a parking space (when the sound difference between HEVs and CEVs is most pronounced), HEVs were twice as likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash than CEVs. For crashes involving cyclists or pedestrians, there was a higher incident rate for HEVs than CEVs when a vehicle was turning a corner. But there was no statistically significant difference between the types of vehicles when they were driving straight. [55] Environmental issues Fuel consumption and emissions reductions The hybrid vehicle typically achieves greater fuel economy and lower emissions than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), resulting in fewer emissions being generated. These savings are primarily achieved by three elements of a typical hybrid design: 1. relying on both the engine and the electric motors for peak power needs, resulting in a smaller engine sized more for average usage rather than peak power usage. A smaller engine can have less internal losses and lower weight. 2. having significant battery storage capacity to store and reuse recaptured energy, especially in stop-and-go traffic typical of the city driving cycle. 3. recapturing significant amounts of energy during braking that are normally wasted as heat. This regenerative braking reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into electricity, depending upon the power rating of the motor/generator; Other techniques that are not necessarily hybrid features, but that are frequently found on hybrid vehicles include: 1.using Atkinson cycle engines instead of Otto cycle engines for improved fuel economy. 2. shutting down the engine during traffic stops or while coasting or during other idle periods. 3. improving aerodynamics; (part of the reason that SUVs get such bad fuel economy is the drag on the car. A box shaped car or truck has to exert more force to move through the air causing more stress on the engine making it work harder). Improving the shape and aerodynamics of a car is a good way to help better the fuel economy and also improve handling at the same time. 4. using low rolling resistance tires (tires were often made to give a quiet, smooth ride, high grip, etc. , but efficiency was a lower priority). Tires cause mechanical drag, once again making the engine work harder, consuming more fuel. Hybrid cars may use special tires that are more inflated than regular tires and stiffer or by choice of carcass structure and rubber compound have lower rolling resistance while retaining acceptable grip, and so improving fuel economy whatever the power source. 5. powering the a/c, power steering, and other auxiliary pumps electrically as and when needed ; this reduces mechanical losses when compared with driving them continuously with traditional engine belts. These features make a hybrid vehicle particularly efficient for city traffic where there are frequent stops, coasting and idling periods. In addition noise emissions are reduced, particularly at idling and low operating speeds, in comparison to conventional engine vehicles.