Nantucket Nectars Case Study Memo structure Essay - 1

Nantucket Nectars Case Study Memo structure - Essay Example The analysis will be carried out by the use of the net present value method. The reason as to why the method has been used is the fact that the method makes use of discounted cash flows and there is a clearly decision criteria that should be used in the making of a decision. The present value for the future projected incomes for the company is equivalent to $20,662.79. That will mean that the decision that will be made by Nantucket Nectar should bear into mind the net present value obtained. That means if the company decides to float shares, the income should be greater than $ 20662.79, if the managers decide to sell the company, the best price should be greater than $20662.79. Nantucket Nectar should consider the bids that are been offered and the company should also calculate the amount of money that will arise from the initial public offer. The value that should be considered should be greater than $ 20662.79 and that will form the basis for making the decision since the best offer should be taken by the company. If none of the offers turn out to be more profitable, then the company should be maintained at its current state (Gerald et al,

Developing a question and identifying a problem Essay

Developing a question and identifying a problem - Essay Example Therefore, nurses would need some form of training. Critically thinking, they would need an advanced training aside from their formal training on basic nursing. In retrospect, does this form of advanced training in prevention of patient falls impact on patient outcomes compared to no training? Patient falls present a significant physical health risk to the patient. Additionally, the complications that arise from patient falls incur significant hospital costs to both the patient and the hospital. The patient would have to incur extra costs for the management of the complications of the falls, whereas the hospital would put forth extra resources necessary for the management of potential complications of the fall. Besides, health care institutions could face a lawsuit with concomitant legal implications. Patient falls within health care institution in an occurrence that needs to be considered with utmost concern. Therefore, this paper will explore falls among elderly patients, its impact on the work environment, and quality of care, patient outcomes, and its significance to nursing and proposed solution. Falls in long-term care institutions and health care facilities are common. Tack, Ulrich and Kehr (2010), observe that approximately 25.5% of patients who experienced a fall had a neurological condition. Additionally, they opine that neurological patients are considered as among the high risk population. Elderly patients present with a number of neurological conditions attributed to age and lifestyle. For instance, Snijders , Van de Warrenburg , Giladi and Bloem (2010), observe that gait disorders are prevalent among the elderly can present devastating health outcomes such as reduced quality of life, increased incidence of falls and increase in mortality. Neurological diseases diagnosed in elderly patients exist with other clinical conditions. Lauretani, et al. (2014) posits that Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly could present with extrapyramidal signs

Compare The Grid And Air Gap Techniques Information Technology Essay

Compare The Grid And Air Gap Techniques Information Technology Essay The research design for this study is of a comparative quantitative, quasi-experimental nature. The rationale for this comparative study is to see what effect two different anti-scatter techniques have on image quality. The properties that make this a quasi-experimental study are manipulation of specific variables and control in experimentation and testing (Parahoo, 2006). True experimental research is characterised by three properties: manipulation, control and randomisation (Parahoo, 2006). As the researcher will not randomise any variables, this study is considered as quasi-experimental and not a true experimental study. In this research manipulation was achieved since a standard anti-scatter technique was compared to an air gap technique adapted for the projection of the hip in the lateral position. Exposure factor variables were also manipulated using an automatic exposure control (AEC). Control was maintained by testing the two techniques under the same conditions using the same research tools. Furthermore, the researcher kept control of the study by testing only the anti-scatter techniques on one specific projection. Therefore the results achieved by this study are specific to the lateral hip projection. However, the principle could be applied to other projections in order to discover which technique works better in providing good image quality in that specific projection. 3.3 Research Method 3.3.1 Background of the study The following methodology was adapted from a study carried out in the United Kingdom by Goulding (2006) who looked at the air gap and the grid technique used to image the hip laterally in the University Hospital she trained in. The study was conducted with the help of reporting radiographers in the Accident and Emergency (AE) department where they performed both grid and air gap technique as routine projections on patients. Goulding (2006) looked at image quality by attaining the hip radiographs performed with both anti scatter techniques separately. Goulding (2006) collected her data by asking reporting radiographers to comment on these radiographs. In Gouldings (2006) study the radiographs on which she based her findings and results were conducted on patients of different size and this may have lacked reliability due to different exposure factors used for each examination, different patient dose depending on patient size as well as image quality. Using a similar methodology in this study the researcher assessed image quality using a quality control phantom and an anthropomorphic phantom. In doing so the researcher will made sure that tests done on both anti-scatter techniques to assess for image quality were more precise. The methodology for this research and the tools used to measure image quality in both grid and air gap technique are explained in the following sub-sections. 3.3.2 Research tools In this study the tools discussed in this section were used to gather the data. They were used to test the anti-scatter techniques being compared and investigated in this study which will be explained further on in this chapter. Since this research looks at image quality in two anti-scatter techniques, a lead quality control phantom (PTW Normi 13) was a very important tool used to collect the data. According to Carlton Adler (2006), spatial resolution and contrast resolution are the most important properties upon which devices and techniques can be tested. The lead quality control phantom (Appendix B) is designed to perform constancy and acceptance tests on plain digital x-ray systems and is able to test image receptors for their homogeneity, spatial resolution and contrast resolution (PTW-Freiburg, 2005). However, in this research, spatial resolution and contrast resolution were the two relevant key tests for image quality. Spatial resolution is measured by counting the largest amount of line pairs per millimetre (Lp/mm) while contrast resolution is measured by the low contrast steps seen on the resultant image. The areas on the phantom that are used to measure spatial and contrast resolution are shown in Appendix B. In collecting the data, the researcher made use of an anthropomorphic pixy phantom AR10A (Appendix B) to image the hip laterally using a horizontal beam. This phantom was used so that the exposures of both grid and air gap technique performed on the quality control phantom could be done to image a hip that resembles that of a human. As the anthropomorphic phantom used had the same attenuation coefficient of a human body, it stops the radiation passing through it in the same way that a human body would. Although this study evaluates image quality in two anti-scatter techniques, the radiation given to the subject/object at each exposure using the air gap and grid technique was also recorded and compared.   The amount of radiation exposed by the tube at each exposure was also measured using a dose area product (DAP) metre. This was important in order to see how much radiation was being used at each exposure to produce an image using the grid and air gap technique. All the exposures (in this experimental testing) were made using an automatic exposure control (AEC) which is incorporated in the erect bucky in the digital x-ray system used. This device determined how much mAs was used in each exposure so that the right amount of x-ray photons irradiated the image receptor to produce an image with adequate quality. This device was used since the mAs that is used in an exposure determines how good the image quality is as well as the patient dose. Therefore when the readings using the tools mentioned were gathered from all exposures, the researcher could compare these results and identify the ideal technique and exposure that should be used in imaging the hip laterally. This technique and exposure should ideally produce a good quality image with as low a dose as possible. 3.3.3 Method The following two subsections will explain in detail how the data was collected during the experimentation on the anti scatter techniques. The researcher made sure that the tools used in the testing were kept the same to test both techniques. The same digital x-ray system was also used throughout the entire experimentation. 3.3.3.1 The Grid Technique Testing for this technique was divided in two stages. In the first stage the researcher made use of the quality control phantom (PTW Normi 13). The phantom was placed on a custom made table in contact with the erect imaging receptor. A stationary parallel grid was placed between the phantom and the receptor since this is the type of grid used in a lateral hip shoot through projection. In this technique, the object to image distance (OID) was that of 0cm since the phantom was in contact with the grid and image receptor. The source to image distance (SID) used was that of one metre (100 cm) since this is the standard SID used in such a projection in the radiology department of the local hospital. The kV used was kept constant at 75 kV and the phantom was centred to the central AEC. The light beam diaphragm was set around the contours of the quality control phantom. A further exposure was made using the same grid technique setting. However, this time the grid was removed. This was done in order to find out whether the grid was working effectively in absorbing scatter radiation, which in turn could affect image quality. The DAP metre was recorded so that the researcher could have an approximate idea of the dose given to the phantom. The second stage in testing the grid technique was done by using the anthropomorphic phantom. The researcher set up the pixy phantom AR10A with the hip in contact with the grid and receptor. The hip was centred with the central AEC and exposed. The kV and the SID were the same as the ones used in testing the quality control phantom 75kV and 100cm SID. The set-ups used to test the grid techniques using both phantoms can be found in Appendix B. 3.3.3.2 The Air Gap Technique To test for the air gap technique the researcher also divided the tests into two stages. The same quality control phantom used previously in the grid technique was also utilised in this test/experiment. The PTW Normi 13 was placed on a custom-made table. However, in this technique, an air gap between the phantom and the image receptor was applied. There were a total of six air gaps applied, varying from 10cm to 60cm. This was done in order to see which air gap was more effective in reducing scatter radiation reaching the receptor. To achieve this aim the object to image distance (OID) was increased by 10 cm after each exposure to a maximum of 60 cm. The source to object distance (SOD) was kept at 100 cm to reduce object magnification as much as possible since this may create a loss in image sharpness. The source to image distance (SID) depended on what OID was used. Therefore when an OID of 20cm was applied, the SID was that of 120cm. This was done to ensure that the distance of the source to the object remained at 100cm. In each exposure the phantom was centred to the central AEC and the light beam diaphragm was set around the contours of the quality control phantom. The researcher also made use of the DAP metre to see which air gap produced a good quality image with a reasonably low dose. This was done so that the air gap exposures could be compared with the standard grid technique. In the second stage of testing for the air gap technique the researcher also used the same anthropomorphic phantom. The setting of the technique to image the hip laterally was adapted from Gouldings (2006) study by using the same patient positioning that the author used in her study. This setting involved applying an air gap between the phantoms hip and the receptor, keeping the SOD at 100cm. A total of six exposures were also performed on the pixy phantom AR10A with the same OIDs and SIDs used to image the quality control phantom. The researcher made sure that the phantoms hip was centred with the central AEC of the erect image receptor. Both settings used to perform testing on the air gap technique can be found in Appendix B. 3.4 Data Collection The data was collected during February 2010. The data record sheets used to record the data can be found in Appendix A.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Exposure Factors The exposure factors used to produce the images in the grid and air gap technique were recorded. The kV was a constant factor while the mAs changed according to the technique used and its setting. The mAs was manipulated by means of the AED. This was done so that the amount of x-ray photons needed to produce the image and  the length of the exposure was recorded depending on the technique used.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Object to Image Distance (OID) The OID used in testing the grid and air gap technique was recorded. This was important, particularly in the application of the air gap technique. This is because the OID in the air gap technique determined the magnitude of the air gap that should be used to achieve a good quality image while keeping the radiation dose as low as possible. Therefore the researcher could see and analyse the effect on the image quality each time a specific OID was used in relation to exposure factors. In the air gap technique the SID depended on what OID was used. The researcher kept the SOD at 100cm to reduce as much as possible magnification of the resultant image.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dose Area Product (DAP) The DAP metre was recorded at each exposure for both grid and air gap techniques. Although this metre does not measure the radiation dose given to the phantoms at each exposure, it gives an indication of whether the dose would be low or high. A high DAP reading would mean that more radiation was used in the exposure and therefore the resultant patient dose may be higher. The readings from this metre for both techniques were compared in relation to image quality of the radiographs.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Signal to noise ratio (SNR) The signal to noise ratio (SNR) consists of the un-attenuated photons that have penetrated the subject without interaction (signal) and the Compton scatter and other factors that degrade image quality (noise). The SNR was used to determine how much contrast resolution an image had after each exposure. The higher the SNR the better the contrast resolution of an image (Dendy Heaton, 2006). However a high SNR also means high mAs and consequently a high patient dose. The SNR was calculated by dividing the mean pixel value by the standard deviation of the signal of each exposure. The mean pixel value and standard deviation of the signal were recorded after each exposure provided by the digital x-ray system. Therefore the equation used was: Signal to Noise ratio = mean pixel value/standard deviation (reference)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Spatial Resolution and Contrast Resolution The spatial and contrast resolution readings were recorded by the researcher from the radiographs achieved using the quality control phantom in the grid and air gap technique. The line pairs per millimetre (Lp/mm) were measured to test for spatial resolution, while for contrast resolution the low contrast steps were counted. The data recorded was tabulated in tables 2a and 2b respectively in the data record sheet. This recorded data enabled the researcher to compare the image quality in both techniques. Unlike Goulding (2006) in this study two independent radiologists that were chosen randomly from the researcher were asked to report on image quality on all the radiographs performed on the anthropomorphic pixy phantom AR10A. Radiologists were chosen in this study since in Malta there are no reporting radiographers that report on the appendicular skeleton. The radiologists were asked to report on the images by answering a likert scale (1=very poor and 5=very good) to assess image quality. The results were tabulated in table 3 of the data record sheet. 3.5 Validity and Reliability Validity refers to the degree the research instrument used in the study measures what it is intended to measure. Therefore: Validity reflects the accuracy with which the findings reflect the phenomenon being studied (Parahoo, 2006, p.80) In this study, the researcher consulted with the medical physicist at the local hospital who was asked to assess the content validity of the research tools used to collect the data. The medical physicist considered the research tools valid since the same tools are used in the medical imaging department to test for image quality on the digital x-ray systems. As the research tools were deemed to be totally valid, the data collected to measure image quality in the grid and air gap technique can also be said to be valid. Reliability refers to how consistent an instrument is in measuring what it is intended to measure (Parahoo, 2006). To maintain the equivalence reliability of the lead quality control phantom used for assessment of image quality, two independent observers were asked to measure both spatial and contrast resolution of the two images achieved using the same exposure factors, OID and SID. The researcher tested for the reliability of the automatic exposure device used. This was done by exposing the lead phantom twice without manipulating the setting or exposure factors and the results were recorded. The spatial resolution, contrast resolution and DAP metre readings were the same in both images and so the AEC was considered reliable enough to use in the testing and data collection. 3.6 Ethical Considerations Ethics is defined by Polit Beck (2006) as a system of moral values that are designed to protect the participant from the research procedures as the researcher has professional, legal and social obligations towards the participants involved in the study. However, in this research, no human subjects were involved in the experimentation and collection of data, so there were no ethical issues regarding the exposures done on the PTW NORMI 13 phantom and the anthropomorphic phantom pixy AR10A. Permission was sought for the use of the x-ray equipment from Medical Imaging Department at the local hospital. Experimentation was performed under supervision and precautions were taken to ensure that radiation would not harm any other members of the staff or public where the study was performed. 3.7 Limitations of the study Limitations were encountered by the researcher throughout this study. The study was conducted using a quality control phantom and an anthropomorphic phantom. Although both phantoms are manufactured to mimic and represent a patient as well as to produce equivalent scatter radiation, patient size was a variable that could not be added to the study. The DAP metre was used in this study so that the researcher could have an idea of the dose being attenuated by the phantoms used. Ideally the actual patient dose should be measured but this could not be done since no human subjects were used. Expansion of this study would lead to a better understanding of the dose given to patients while comparing the air gap and grid technique for the lateral hip shoot through. This study was carried out using a digital x-ray system in the radiology department at the local hospital. Tube output and technique setup may be different when using other systems. In the radiology department, computed radiography is used to perform a lateral hip shoot through examination rather than a digital system which is what the researcher used in this study. In data analysis the readings from the quality control phantoms were interpreted by the researcher himself and not by a number of people. If more than one person interpreted the results, the results may have varied. Although these limitations are valid, they had no effect on the data collected and the results achieved. 3.8 Conclusion This chapter described the methodology and the research design of this study. The next chapter consists of presentation, analysis and discussion of the data.

Renaissance Drama and Staging :: Free Essays Online

Renaissance Drama and Staging Margaret Jane Kidnie states â€Å"an area significantly impacted by William Shakespeare, Renaissance Theater developed into an influential period of drama deviating upon various elements of perception in each performance† (456-473). Many scholars wrote responses about renaissance drama and staging. There was a diversity of focus portrayed throughout each presentation, therefore resulting in differentiation between performances. Jealousy, gender, and spectatorship were some of the many topics that were represented in theater throughout the Renaissance Era, influenced greatly by William Shakespeare. Having written numerous plays performed during the Renaissance era, â€Å"Shakespeare’s influence on drama and staging can be shown through the language of performance criticism,† (Masten 341). interpretation of the drama, different focal points, and the way these plays were performed in relation to the text. During the seventeenth century, most plays that were written had a focal point of jealousy and had tragic endings. According to Katharine Eisaman Maus, â€Å"Anxiety about sexual betrayal pervades the drama of the English Renaissance† (561) and becomes the plot of many plays. Many critics cannot understand why many characters have the quality of being jealous and also to being curious. Maus continues to state, â€Å"Some critics are inclined to look for cultural explanations; for then the phenomenon reflects in a particularly telling way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (561). English Renaissance dramatists are more likely to include jealousy, sexual disloyalty and anxiety rather than non-dramatists. Shakespeare uses sexual fidelity that lead up to jealousy in many of his dramas such as Othello, and The Winter’s Tale. Maus reveals an answer to the question of why jealousy always becomes in a Renaissance drama. She states â€Å"sexual jealousy fascinates English Renaissance playwrights n ot only because it is a psychologically and socially interesting phenomenon but because the dynamic of sexual jealousy provides a complex analogy to theatrical performance and response to culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Maus 563). When people come to the theater, they want a good performance. A good issue to represent in most Renaissance dramas is sexual jealousy and anxiety. This allows the audience to enjoy the play, while having their own interpretation as well. Many historians and Shakespeare scholars show a great interest in how to connect the script and the performance of the play. The script or text of a play is only half of what the drama turns out to be. In order to understand the whole drama, one must comprehend the relationship between the text and the performance. Renaissance Drama and Staging :: Free Essays Online Renaissance Drama and Staging Margaret Jane Kidnie states â€Å"an area significantly impacted by William Shakespeare, Renaissance Theater developed into an influential period of drama deviating upon various elements of perception in each performance† (456-473). Many scholars wrote responses about renaissance drama and staging. There was a diversity of focus portrayed throughout each presentation, therefore resulting in differentiation between performances. Jealousy, gender, and spectatorship were some of the many topics that were represented in theater throughout the Renaissance Era, influenced greatly by William Shakespeare. Having written numerous plays performed during the Renaissance era, â€Å"Shakespeare’s influence on drama and staging can be shown through the language of performance criticism,† (Masten 341). interpretation of the drama, different focal points, and the way these plays were performed in relation to the text. During the seventeenth century, most plays that were written had a focal point of jealousy and had tragic endings. According to Katharine Eisaman Maus, â€Å"Anxiety about sexual betrayal pervades the drama of the English Renaissance† (561) and becomes the plot of many plays. Many critics cannot understand why many characters have the quality of being jealous and also to being curious. Maus continues to state, â€Å"Some critics are inclined to look for cultural explanations; for then the phenomenon reflects in a particularly telling way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (561). English Renaissance dramatists are more likely to include jealousy, sexual disloyalty and anxiety rather than non-dramatists. Shakespeare uses sexual fidelity that lead up to jealousy in many of his dramas such as Othello, and The Winter’s Tale. Maus reveals an answer to the question of why jealousy always becomes in a Renaissance drama. She states â€Å"sexual jealousy fascinates English Renaissance playwrights n ot only because it is a psychologically and socially interesting phenomenon but because the dynamic of sexual jealousy provides a complex analogy to theatrical performance and response to culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Maus 563). When people come to the theater, they want a good performance. A good issue to represent in most Renaissance dramas is sexual jealousy and anxiety. This allows the audience to enjoy the play, while having their own interpretation as well. Many historians and Shakespeare scholars show a great interest in how to connect the script and the performance of the play. The script or text of a play is only half of what the drama turns out to be. In order to understand the whole drama, one must comprehend the relationship between the text and the performance.

Computer Hacking

Criminology Hacking Exposed Jacqueline Hunt June 10, 2012 Week 9 Assignment 6 Computer hacking has become a more frequent crime in today’s society. Due to the fact that computers are widely used throughout the world and all information is right at your fingertips in a matter of seconds, hacking is an effortless crime, but it comes with a tremendous gain. Albert Gonzalez was fascinated by technology â€Å"computer nerd† but he took it all as an easy way for monetary gain. Gonzalez stole 170 million credit and debit card numbers and either used them or sold them to other cyber criminals.Gonzalez case is the biggest hacker case in history it all ended in him serving a two twenty year concurrent sentences. â€Å"His parents, who had immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the 1970s, bought him his first computer when he was 8. By the age of 9 he was reported to be actively removing computer viruses. Gonzalez, a Cuban-American, attended South Miami High School in Miami , Florida, where he was described as the â€Å"troubled† pack leader of computer nerds . In his senior year at the school he and friend used the library computer to hack into computer systems of the government of India where they left messages about their culture.Reportedly India had to cancel government checks as a result. Gonzalez was not charged and was warned to stay away from a computer for six months. In 2000 he moved to New York City where he lived for three months before moving to Kearny, New Jersey. †(Wikipedia, 2012) Gonzalez ran a scheme with a group of hackers called Shadow crew. They managed to traffic 1. 5 million stolen credit and debit card numbers while in New Jersey. The domain name Shadowcrew. cc was being investigated by The Secret Service â€Å"Operation Firewall† and it is believed that $4. million was stolen. The investigation involved countries like Bulgaria, Belarus, Canada, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and the U. S. Gonzalez avoided jail time by providing evidence to the United States Secret Service against his associates. After 19 of Shadow crew hackers were indicted he then returned back home to Miami. As a Secret Service informant he earned 75, 000 a year and he continued his hacking business right under their noses. He used SQL injections and malware backdoors as tools to his biggest heist.He called the scheme Operation: Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which is a famous movie about the life of rapper 50 cent, he breached systems like Citibank, 7-Eleven, Hannaford Brothers, J. C. Penny, Target, T J Maxx, Dave & Busters and stole credit card data and resold it to international cyber criminals. His goal was to earn up to 15 million dollars, buy a yacht, and then retire. Those plans were foiled by the investigation which leads to end of his schemes. The debit from the crimes totaled a staggering 4. 1 million dollars. This type of hacker is known as the Addict. In the trial he was sentenced to two twenty year concurrent sentences, ordered to pay a 25,000 dollar fine, and he was ordered restitution. He claims his motive for the crimes he committed, was that he possessed technical curiosity and he had an obsession with conquering computer networks. He also stated that his work for the secret service was to seek out cyber criminals, which he used to his advantage to make his plan work. †(Zetter, 2010) I feel that Gonzalez is an addict hacker because he committed the crime more than once.Gonzalez was even in a situation where he worked for the people who put criminals away and he still could not stop his criminal acts. The sentence he is now serving is just. This crime could have been deterred by the idea that a criminal should not get a second chance. If he was serving time for his first crime the operation: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ would have never came about because he would not have had the access to international cyber criminals. The government should have more strict p olicies on who is used for informants and the hiring process.Gonzalez proved to be a very skillful and intelligent hacker. References Guadin, Sharon Computerworld. com. Government Informant is called kingpin. 18 August 2009 Wikipedia. com. Albert Gonzalez. 4 June 2012 Zetter, Sharon Wired. com. Tjx hacker charged with Heartland. 25 March 2010 < http://www. wired. com/threatlevel/2009/08/tjx-hacker-charged-with-heartland/> Computer Hacking Criminology Hacking Exposed Jacqueline Hunt June 10, 2012 Week 9 Assignment 6 Computer hacking has become a more frequent crime in today’s society. Due to the fact that computers are widely used throughout the world and all information is right at your fingertips in a matter of seconds, hacking is an effortless crime, but it comes with a tremendous gain. Albert Gonzalez was fascinated by technology â€Å"computer nerd† but he took it all as an easy way for monetary gain. Gonzalez stole 170 million credit and debit card numbers and either used them or sold them to other cyber criminals.Gonzalez case is the biggest hacker case in history it all ended in him serving a two twenty year concurrent sentences. â€Å"His parents, who had immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the 1970s, bought him his first computer when he was 8. By the age of 9 he was reported to be actively removing computer viruses. Gonzalez, a Cuban-American, attended South Miami High School in Miami , Florida, where he was described as the â€Å"troubled† pack leader of computer nerds . In his senior year at the school he and friend used the library computer to hack into computer systems of the government of India where they left messages about their culture.Reportedly India had to cancel government checks as a result. Gonzalez was not charged and was warned to stay away from a computer for six months. In 2000 he moved to New York City where he lived for three months before moving to Kearny, New Jersey. †(Wikipedia, 2012) Gonzalez ran a scheme with a group of hackers called Shadow crew. They managed to traffic 1. 5 million stolen credit and debit card numbers while in New Jersey. The domain name Shadowcrew. cc was being investigated by The Secret Service â€Å"Operation Firewall† and it is believed that $4. million was stolen. The investigation involved countries like Bulgaria, Belarus, Canada, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and the U. S. Gonzalez avoided jail time by providing evidence to the United States Secret Service against his associates. After 19 of Shadow crew hackers were indicted he then returned back home to Miami. As a Secret Service informant he earned 75, 000 a year and he continued his hacking business right under their noses. He used SQL injections and malware backdoors as tools to his biggest heist.He called the scheme Operation: Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which is a famous movie about the life of rapper 50 cent, he breached systems like Citibank, 7-Eleven, Hannaford Brothers, J. C. Penny, Target, T J Maxx, Dave & Busters and stole credit card data and resold it to international cyber criminals. His goal was to earn up to 15 million dollars, buy a yacht, and then retire. Those plans were foiled by the investigation which leads to end of his schemes. The debit from the crimes totaled a staggering 4. 1 million dollars. This type of hacker is known as the Addict. In the trial he was sentenced to two twenty year concurrent sentences, ordered to pay a 25,000 dollar fine, and he was ordered restitution. He claims his motive for the crimes he committed, was that he possessed technical curiosity and he had an obsession with conquering computer networks. He also stated that his work for the secret service was to seek out cyber criminals, which he used to his advantage to make his plan work. †(Zetter, 2010) I feel that Gonzalez is an addict hacker because he committed the crime more than once.Gonzalez was even in a situation where he worked for the people who put criminals away and he still could not stop his criminal acts. The sentence he is now serving is just. This crime could have been deterred by the idea that a criminal should not get a second chance. If he was serving time for his first crime the operation: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ would have never came about because he would not have had the access to international cyber criminals. The government should have more strict p olicies on who is used for informants and the hiring process.Gonzalez proved to be a very skillful and intelligent hacker. References Guadin, Sharon Computerworld. com. Government Informant is called kingpin. 18 August 2009 Wikipedia. com. Albert Gonzalez. 4 June 2012 Zetter, Sharon Wired. com. Tjx hacker charged with Heartland. 25 March 2010 < http://www. wired. com/threatlevel/2009/08/tjx-hacker-charged-with-heartland/>

Case Study, Mall of Americas

IntroductionThe purpose of this paper is to present the marketing success, retail & consumer trends, expansion and future marketing plan for â€Å"Mall of America: Shopping and a Whole Lot More. For over 20 years Mall of America has been able to attract over 40 million annual vistors driving by both local patrons and tourism. I will discuss my view on what I would like to see at Mall of America’s expansion facility and how that compares to the current facility. In addition to the selection of what vendors will occupy the space, but a marketing plan to appeal to new consumers to increase the number of annual visitors to Mall of America.Paragraph 1The Mall of America has been successful at marketing and maintaining a product that most did not expect to succeed, this is due to the fact that they have something for everyone in their retail and family entertainment complex and is viewed as more than a mall, Mall of America is a destination. Regardless of the weather conditions, yo u can always come to Mall of America and ride a roller coaster and enjoy all the features of the mall. The selection of the anchor stores and specialty stores appeals to different economic levels. In addition to the retail selection, there are activities for the entire family that include movies, a theme park and an aquarium.Paragraph 2Since the opeing of the Mall of America in 1992, consumers have seen large discount retailers that have been able to provide name brand products at a discounted rate. The consumer is always looking for a deal, especially during the time when the economy is slow. Consumers are less likely to go to a mall and spend when they can go to one store and purchase the necessary items at a discount. As we see a recovery in the economy, Mall of America needs to keep in mind that a majority of the consumers are not willing to go back to paying full price for their items and should consider the mix of high end specialy stores to those that are more economical.Para graph 3Mall of of America should use the following criteria to add new facilities to its complex; will this bring new consumers to the mall, will the reason for the visit encourage the consumer to stay an extended period of time at the facility and will the interest be enough for the consumer to return to the facility. Once you have the consumer at the mall, it is not enough to have them fulfill what they are there for, but to entice the consumer to want more. Example would be to add a small concert venue that would bring in concert goers for dinner, the concert and possible hotel stay.Paragraph 4Mall of America managers should continue to market as a destination. When you market as a destination this relates to the local consumer and those visiting from outside the area. If hotels are added, marketing can offer vacation packages to include hotel stay, theme park tickets, movie tickets and aquarium tickets at discounted rates. In addition, the vacation package could include a 10% di scount to all retailers in the mall for a specified period of time. Vacationers like to plan their vacation at a discounted rate, but also prefer to handle all the planning in one location and not have to contact several companies to plan a vacation. If Mall of America adds facilities that is similar to an all inclusive vacation package, they will continue to build on their success.ConclusionMall of America has been very successful launching and maintaining a concept that most people did not expect to succeed. The success has been driven by offering their vistors a retail and family entertainment complex that is viewed as more than a mall, Mall of America is a destination. During the expansion, Mall of America will need to determine which facilities will increase the number of annual visitors up from 40 million. Changing this destination from a one day visit to a multiple day vacation site.

My Experience in Junior Achievement

My Experience in Junior Achievement Free Online Research Papers My name is Ekong Kubiateno Michael. I obtained my secondary education at Access High School Calabar, Cross River State. I aspire to study Economics at one of the prestigious universities in the United States of America. I joined the Junior Achievement family on the 6th of April 2009. It all started with the zeal and willingness to contribute to the society before proceeding to further my studies. Junior Achievement is a non-governmental organization with the mission to inspire and educate young people to become conscientious business leaders leading a vibrant economy. Mrs. Kunbi Wuraola, the Executive Director of Junior Achievement has been instrumental in helping underprivileged children bridge the gap between the classroom and workplace. She has been impact in the society where she and her team has inspired and educated over 100,000 students in Nigeria towards becoming conscientious business leaders leading a vibrant economy. She helps in inspiring and educating young people in Nigeria on the economic realities of the country and how they can find their feet in whatever circumstances they find themselves. She helps prepare Youth Corp Members for the world of business as managers and entrepreneurs through one of the programmes of Junior Achievement. Venture in Management Program (VIMP). She has contributed to the positive empowerment of disadvantaged young people helping to reduce poverty level in Nigeria. She is a phenomenal woman and I aspire to be like her. The first week was strange, unaccustomed to life in a corporate environment, I was a bit unsure of myself trying to get used to the environment. I caught up quickly I guess it was borne out of my zeal and excitement to impact something great into the lives of young people like me. During the induction process, I was introduced to the various programs conducted in Junior Achievement and their respective program officers by the Human Resource Personnel, Miss Rita David. Mr. Afolabi coordinates the Elementary School Program (ESP), which includes six age-specific themes. It highlights the relevance of education to the work place and prepares students for the secondary school lifelong learning. Mr. Akin coordinates the Company program (CP), which is JA Nigeria’s flagship program. It is popular amongst students of public and private schools in several locations in the country, due to its practicality and profit-making potential. Miss Rita coordinates Careers with a Purpose (CWAP). Mr. Ayo coordinates JA It’s my Business, which focuses on conveying entrepreneurial concepts, cultivating entrepreneurship and instilling the entrepreneurship spirit in young people.. After the induction process, I was assigned to the program department where the economic education programs are being organized and executed. Miss Rita took me to Aunty Ayo’s Comprehensive Secondary School to have an idea of the practical aspect of CWAP. I enjoyed every bit of the session and was eager to volunteer for the program. In April, I had training on the Elementary School Program delivered by the program officer Mr. Afolabi Salaam. I learnt how to teach financial literacy to kids of age 5-11. I visited some schools like, Tomobid School Ikeja, Estaport Gbagada, Chrisland School etc. In May I had two volunteer training; Career with a Purpose and Company Program. Mr. Akin delivered the Company Program volunteer training. Company Program is an extremely practical program where students establish and run their own company. I learnt how to guide the students in setting up a company by selling shares, electing company officers, designing, producing and marketing a product and finally liquidating the company and paying out dividends to shareholders. Careers with a Purpose volunteer training was delivered by Rita David. I leant how to guide students of age 14-17 on how to make career decisions that match their skills, values, interest and fulfill their noble purpose in life. I assisted Mr. Afolabi in planning and executing the Arts and Craft program. I assisted him in contacting schools and pupils for the competition. I visited a lot of places in order to aid our selection for a venue for the competition like Nigerian Law School, British Council, Terra Kulture and Afterschool graduate Development office. I registered and coordinated the children as they came in for the competition. The program is organized yearly for elementary schools pupils to show case their creative ability. This year’s competition was held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island on the 27th of May 2009. With the theme â€Å"Lagos our Mega City†. It was a wonderful experience watching the kids expresses themselves through their works. I volunteered for Careers with a Purpose at Eko Akete Grammar School. I visited Eko Akete Grammar School with Miss Rita in order to seek permission to run CWAP in the school. The principal was very pleased with the idea and asked me to return after two weeks and start the program. I was asked to visit the students on Wednesdays by noon. My first presentation was a great experience. During the first session I introduced myself and gave them some information about my background. I shared briefly with the students an overview of JA Careers with a Purpose and went ahead to carry out the instructions in the Volunteer guide. I visited the students on a weekly basis by noon and continued with the program. I assisted sixty students in seeking careers that help them realize their life potential. I guided the students towards realizing the importance of positive values, life maxims and ethical decision-making within the context of career and life decisions. Apart from the regular programs of the organization, I also carried out other day-to-day general office operations, which included handling daily recording of petty cash itinerary where I learnt how to keep financial record, which is key to business operation and how to distribute meager resources to meet necessary ends. I was able to use basic accounting principles. Doing my internship at Junior Achievement is one of the best decisions I have made so far in life because it created an avenue for me to learn new and exciting stuffs everyday and in everywhere I go to. I have gotten a unique personal experience that obviously will influence me as a future professional in a very good way. Research Papers on My Experience in Junior AchievementStandardized TestingInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Project Managment Office SystemHip-Hop is ArtThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseTrailblazing by Eric AndersonTwilight of the UAWPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice