Writing a Sample of Nutritional Assessment Essay

Writing a Sample of Nutritional Assessment EssayWhen you are preparing to write a sample of nutritional assessment essay, you must understand that the results will be the results. It is just not good enough to present you own unique view. The assessment essay needs to reflect what you are all about.Most of the time, individuals are afraid of getting their work rejected on exam boards. However, the truth is that most of the time you will be wrong if you are not prepared to put in the effort.The most important part of this is to thoroughly prepare for the assessment essays. In order to prepare for an essay, it is best to prepare a list of things you will discuss and a short definition of your subject matter. You can check your outline for your sample of nutritional assessment essay. Make sure that you thoroughly cover the areas of your topic.Ask yourself about the things that could be covered in a report, such as any medical records, blood tests, urine tests, etc. When you do this, you can show that you really know what you are talking about. If you do not have medical records, you should explain in your assessment essay why you believe that you need medical records.Your essay should also include your personal story. This can help put your position in perspective and help answer questions from the committee.Once you have done that, you should make sure that you explain the entire idea clearly. Remember that assessment essays are written based on the answers provided by the committee and that your answers need to be coherent.If you feel that you are not ready to write this type of essay, it is recommended that you look at one or two others to see how they write an assessment essay. Check them out to see which one they prefer. This will allow you to write a sample of nutritional assessment essay that is effective and highly effective.

Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice

Company Characteristics and Products Janine Allis founded Boost Juice bars in 2001. The company’s home country is Australia. Janine’s aim was to provide a healthy alternative to fast food, especially for children. She enlisted the help of a nutritionist and came up with several menus. Thereafter, she raised funds from friends and with the help of her husband set up the first Boost Juice Bars Store.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company has grown through franchising and now has 190 stores spread all over the world. Initially, the menu consisted of various types of juice and smoothes. Today, snacks, soups, banana bread and wraps are served alongside the juice and smoothes. These are popular with customers especially during the winter. Boost Juice focuses on providing healthy snacks and fast food that can be eaten quickly or taken to the office. The company avoids using preservatives and other additives to food. Instead, natural cultures are used to preserve the food. This means that the company needs a constant supply of fruit and milk. Theirs is a short supply chain. It consists of the farmers who provide the milk and juice, the Juice Bars and finally the consumer. The farmers deliver the milk and fruits to the bars daily. Each bar has a cold room to preserve the products. The juices and smoothes are all made in the bars. The processes are standardized and this increases the employees’ efficiency in preparing them. A customer will usually wait an average of five to seven minutes for their order (Franchise Expo,3). Customers can now get some of the Boost Juice products from supermarkets as well as the Boost Juice Bars. This is quite convenient as there are more supermarkets than Boost Juice bars. This is a new distribution channel and has opened up new opportunities to the company (Kirby,23). T he Supply Chain The aim of Supply Chain Management is to provide value for the customer while minimizing the cost to the members of the supply chain. In the case of Boost Juice, customers would like to get healthy products at an affordable price. The task for the company therefore is to provide this healthy food and drink at that affordable price. This can only be done if all the components of the supply chain work together efficiently and effectively. Boost Juice operates a just in time system of procurement, purchasing only when absolutely necessary. The company has created excellent supplier relationships which are crucial to the success of this strategy. This system supports their low cost strategy as it helps in reducing the holding cost for inventory.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company has also managed to do away with a substantial proportion of the cost of r otten fruits and milk, which is common in the industry especially during summer. The company also operates an Electronic Data Interchange and an Intranet which aids communication with suppliers. Orders are placed automatically when inventory runs low and suppliers confirm whether or not they will be able to deliver (Boost Juice Bars Limited,2). The company bargains with suppliers for lower prices in return for purchase in bulk. This is possible only in Australia where their operations are large scale. In other countries like South Africa, suppliers have more power than the buyer, Boost Juice Bars. The company employs several tactics to find out what the customer wants. Research is done on focus groups and customers are encouraged to give their feedback via email. This has ensured Boost juice stays ahead of its competitors and satisfies its customers’ needs. Knowing what the customer wants and delivering it creates competitive advantage. Boost Juice has managed to succeed in t his area due to excellent management of its supply chain. The company’s supply chain management can be said to be effective as it has enabled it to meet its goal of venturing into the international market. The company also earns a profit of more than $10million annually. This indicates that whatever strategies they are employing are actually succeeding. Their good people skills have enabled them to recruit suitable people who share the vision of the company. Their Love Life philosophy also draws people to their Bars. Illustration Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Importance of Supply Chain management to The Company Supply Chain Management can be classified as a core competence for any business in today’s world. Failure in any part of the supply chain will usually result in customer dissatisfaction and loss of revenue. Thus, Boo st Juice needs to invest in management of information and materials that flow in its supply chain. Customer satisfaction is a critical success factor in business, without it, Boost Juice would be put out of operations in a short time. Customers require service and product providers to be responsive to their needs. Supply Chain Management empowers companies to respond promptly to their customer’s needs. Establishing open communication channels with consumers helps in predicting their needs and thus creating products that satisfy these needs (Boost Juice Bars Limited,4). Changes in supply and demand can be anticipated and dealt with in the best way possible as early as possible. This is also a result of management of the flow of information in the supply chain. Instances of stock outs or over production can be avoided through Supply Chain Management. It also leads to better supplier relationships which lead to credit and discounts. Supply Chain Management helps Boost Juice to s ave time and money. Information is available therefore reducing the uncertainty in the planning process. Efficiency in procurement and transport help in lowering operating expenses. This in turn raises the profit margins (Boost Juice Bars Limited,3). The Practise of Supply Chain management at Juice Boost Bars The company’s supply chain management is evident in the database and IT system LeaseEagleâ„ ¢. This system enables the company to manage its franchises all over the world while keeping in touch with suppliers and other business partners. Multiple users can work on the system simultaneously, improving information sharing. The selection of partners who will own the franchise stores is also an element of supply chain management. There is a set criterion that prospective partners have to meet before joining the Boost Juice family. This is an attempt at ensuring efficiency in the production stage. New partners are required to work in their juice bars (Boost Juice Bars Limi ted,1).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finance flows along the supply chain in the same way as information. Boost Juice ensures it pays its suppliers promptly in order to keep them in business. The company recognizes that they need the farmers if they are to continue in operations. Late payment of suppliers is poor practise in Supply Chain Management as it leads to poor supplier relationships. This will impact negatively on the supply chain and result in poor value for the customer with high cost on the members of the supply chain. The company relies on customer feedback in order to create new products. This feedback is collected by the individual Juice Bars and analysed centrally. If the juice bars fail in their duty to collect customer feedback, the company may find itself losing revenue to competitors. Suppliers are crucial because they provide the raw materials necessary to make the food and drink. Recommendation Boost Juice should consider vertical integration as a means of securing a constant supply of fruits and m ilk for its juice bars. This is a form of backward vertical integration. The implementation of such a plan would require the company to purchase fruit and dairy farms. Owning the farms will enable the company to control the quality of produce delivered to its Juice Bars. High quality raw materials should lead to high quality end products and greater customer satisfaction than before. Transport costs can also be minimized by locating the Juice Bars close to the farms. The company can also benefit from the profit margins on the milk and fruits. The coordination between the farms and the juice Bars can also benefit greatly from such an arrangement. There are several considerations Boost Juice Bars has to make before adopting this proposal. The company should consider whether it has or can obtain the necessary manpower to manage the farms. Vertical integration is expensive and suitable sources of funds would have to be sought. In case the company finds vertical integration to be too exp ensive or unsuitable to its mode of operations, then other options can be sought. This would include long term contracts with the best suppliers or joint ventures with the farm owners (Franchise Expo,4). Works Cited Boost Juice Bars Limited. Boost Juice Bars. 6 March 2005. 12 February 2011 https://www.boostjuice.com.au/#/home. Franchise Expo. Boost Juice Bars. 16 May 2010. 12 February 2011 https://www.franchiseexpo.com.au/franchise_locations/new-zealand. Kirby, James. Janine Allis: Business Secrets of the Woman Behind Boost Juice. Chicago: John Wiley and Sons, 2005. This report on Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice was written and submitted by user Madeline Albert to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Axolotl Facts (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Axolotl Facts (Ambystoma mexicanum) According to Aztec legend, the first axolotl (pronounced axo-LO-tuhl)  was a god who changed his form in order to escape being sacrificed. The sneaky transformation from terrestrial salamander to a fully aquatic form did not save later generations from death. The Aztecs ate axolotls. Back when the animals  were common, you could buy them as food in Mexican markets. While the axolotl may not be a god, its an amazing animal. Learn how to recognize an axolotl, why scientists are fascinated by them, and how to care for one as a pet. Fast Facts: Axolotl Scientific Name: Ambystoma mexicanumCommon Names: Axolotl, Mexican salamander, Mexican walking fishBasic Animal Group: AmphibianSize: 6-18 inchesWeight: 2.1-8.0 ouncesLifespan: 10 to 15 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Xochimilco Lake near Mexico CityPopulation: Less than a hundredConservation Status: Critically Endangered Description Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. andrewburgess / Getty Images An axolotl is a type of salamander, which is an amphibian. Frogs, newts, and most salamanders undergo a metamorphosis to transition from life in the water to life on land. The axolotl is unusual in that it doesnt undergo a metamorphosis and develop lungs. Instead, axolotls hatch from eggs into a juvenile form that grows to become its adult form. Axolotls keep their gills and permanently reside in the water. A mature axolotl (18 to 24 months in the wild) ranges in length from 15 to 45 centimeters (6 to 18 inches). An adult specimen weighs anywhere between 2 and 8 ounces. An axolotl  resembles other salamander larvae, with lidless eyes, a wide head, frilled gills, long digits, and a long tail. A male has a swollen, papillae-lined cloaca, while a female has a wider body that is full of eggs. The salamanders have vestigial teeth. Gills are used for respiration, although the animals sometimes gulp surface air for supplemental oxygen. Axolotls have four pigmentation genes, giving rise to a wide range of colors. The wild-type coloration is olive brown with gold speckles. Mutant colors include pale pink with black eyes, gold with gold eyes, gray with black eyes, and black. Axolotls can alter their melanophores to camouflage themselves, but only to a limited extent. Scientists believe axolotls descended from salamanders that could live on land, but reverted to water because it offered a survival advantage. Animals Confused With Axolotls This is not an axolotl: Necturus maculosus (common mudpuppy). Paul Starosta / Getty Images People confuse axolotls with other animals partly because the same common names may be applied to different species and partly because axolotls do resemble other animals. Animals confused with axolotls include: Waterdog: A waterdog is the name of the larval stage of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum and A. mavotium). The tiger salamander and axolotl are related, but the axolotl never metamorphosizes into a terrestrial salamander. However, its possible to force an axolotl to undergo metamorphosis. This animal looks like a tiger salamander, but the metamorphosis is unnatural and shortens the animals lifespan. Mudpuppy: Like the axolotl, the mudpuppy (Necturus spp.) is a fully aquatic salamander. However, the two species are not closely related. Unlike the axolotl, the common mudpuppy (N. maculosus) is not endangered. Habitat and Distribution The lake Lago Acitlalin in the Ecological Park (Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco) is a vast nature reserve in the wetlands of Xochimilco in the south of Mexico City, Mexico. stockcam / Getty Images In the wild, axolotls only live in the Xochimilco lake complex, which is located near Mexico City. The salamanders may be found on the bottom of the lake and its canals. Neoteny The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) exhibits neoteny, meaning it remains in its larval form throughout life. Quentin Martinez / Getty Images The axolotl is a neotenic salamander, which means it doesnt mature into an air-breathing adult form. Neoteny is favored in cool, high-altitude environments because metamorphosis requires a huge energy expenditure. Axolotls can be induced to metamorphose by injection of iodine or thyroxine or by ingesting iodine-rich food. Diet This captive axolotl is eating a piece of meat. Argument / Getty Images Axolotls are carnivores. In the wild, they eat worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish, and mollusks. The salamanders hunt by smell, snapping at prey and sucking it in like a vacuum cleaner. Within the lake, axolotls  had no real predators. Predatory birds were the biggest threat. Large fish were introduced into Lake Xochimilco, which ate the young salamanders. Reproduction and Offspring This is a newt in its egg sac. Like newts, salamander larvae are recognizable within their eggs. Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images Much of what we know about axolotl reproduction comes from observing them in captivity. Captive axolotls become mature in their larval stage between 6 and 12 months of age. Females typically mature later than males. The increasing temperature and light of spring signal  the start of the axolotl breeding season. Males expel spermatophores into the water and try to lure a female over them. The female picks up the sperm packet with her cloaca, leading to internal fertilization. Females release between 400 and 1000 eggs during spawning. She lays each egg individually, attaching it to a plant or rock. A female may breed several times during a season. The tail and gills of the larvae are visible within the egg. Hatching occurs after 2 to 3 weeks. Larger, earlier-hatching larvae eat smaller, younger ones. Regeneration Starfish regenerate lost arms, but they are invertebrates. Salamanders regenerate, plus they are vertebrates (like humans). Jeff Rotman / Getty Images The axolotl is a model genetic organism for regeneration. Salamanders and newts have the highest regenerative ability of any tetrapod (4-legged) vertebrates. The incredible healing ability extends well beyond replacing a lost tail or limbs. Axolotls can even replace some parts of their brains. In addition, they freely accept transplants (including eyes and brain portions) from other axolotls. Conservation Status Tilapia added to the lake near Mexico City are one of the main threats to axolotl survival. darkside26 / Getty Images Wild axolotls are headed to extinction. They are listed as critically endangered by IUCN. In 2013, no surviving axolotls were found in the Lake Xochimilco habitat, but then two individuals were found in the canals leading from the lake. The decline of axolotls is due to multiple factors. Water pollution, urbanization (loss of habitat), and introduction of invasive species (tilapia and perch) may be more than the species can withstand. Keeping an Axolotl in Captivity An axolotl will eat anything small enough to fit into its mouth. Argument / Getty Images However, the axolotl wont vanish! Axolotls are important research animals and fairly common exotic pets. They are uncommon at pet stores because they require a cool temperature, but may be obtained from hobbyists and scientific supply houses. A single axolotl needs at least a 10-gallon aquarium, filled (no exposed land, like for a frog), and supplied with a lid (because axolotls jump). Axolotls cannot tolerate chlorine or chloramine, so tap water must be treated prior to use. A water filter is a necessity, but the salamanders cannot tolerate flowing water. They do not require light, so in an aquarium with plants, its important to have large rocks or other hiding places. Pebbles, sand, or gravel (anything smaller than the axolotls head) pose a risk because axolotls will ingest them and may die from gastrointestinal blockage. Axolotls need a year-round temperature in the low to mid-60s (Fahrenheit) and will die if exposed to prolonged temperature about 74  °F. They need an aquarium chiller to maintain the proper temperature range. Feeding is the easy part of axolotl care. They will eat bloodworm cubes, earthworms, shrimp, and lean chicken or beef. While they will eat feeder fish, experts recommend avoiding them because salamanders are susceptible to parasites and diseases carried by fish. Sources   Luis Zambrano; Paola Mosig Reidl; Jeanne McKay; Richard Griffiths; Brad Shaffer; Oscar Flores-Villela; Gabriela Parra-Olea; David Wake. Ambystoma mexicanum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2010. IUCN. 2010: e.T1095A3229615. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T1095A3229615.enMalacinski, George M. The Mexican Axolotl,  Ambystoma mexicanum: Its Biology and Developmental Genetics, and Its Autonomous Cell-Lethal Genes.  American Zoologist. Oxford University Press.  18: 195–206, Spring 1978.Pough, F. H. Recommendations for the Care of Amphibians and Reptiles in Academic Institutions. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1992.

Eastern European democratisation has greatly increased the number of Essay

Eastern European democratisation has greatly increased the number of presidential regimes in Europe. Explain and comment - Essay Example he masses with the environmental factors that have significant impact and which are capable of influencing any future recourse to the formation of a new political equation. Indeed, increasing democratization of Eastern and central European states into presidential regimes is an exemplary example of the dynamics of evolving society and the reorganization of political blueprint that have laid the foundation of democratization. The historical background of the political instability of Balkan region, in the last hundred years, aided and abetted the cause and consequences of the recent wars. Before the World War I, greater part of Balkan region was ruled by large empires. Serbia and Bosnia was under the rule of Ottoman Turks and greater part of Croatia was dominated Austria-Hungary jointly. Serbia became the first Slavic region to revolt against the bad administration and looked at Russia for military support. Though the Turks suppressed the uprising, they realized that further discontent among the Serbs may influence Russia to give support so in 1829, they gave more autonomy to them. The autonomous status provided to Serbia, made it more politically ambitious and it had its eyes on Croatia and Bosnia so that it could gain access to sea route and thereby become economically independent. WWI was all about power and territorial gain and had involved almost all the political powers including Bulgaria, Greece etc. By the end of WWI, ‘Kingdom of Serbs, Croat and Slovenes’ was created which included Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, and Macedonia. The Balkan region was greatly influenced by the communist Russians whose economic dependency played vital role in their political alignment. During and after WWII, under the influence of USSR, Balkan region consolidated into strong communist states to counter the Allied forces led by America, Britain and France. The disintegration of USSR and emergence of Boris Yeltsin as the popular leader

Quality management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Quality management - Assignment Example constitute an organization’s stakeholders. Any of these variables has the potential to affect or be affected by the actions of an organization or project. For instance, when aligning goals management should ensure that there is an investor value proposition which can attract and satisfy investors. In the same way, only if the program involves buyer value, it can attract and retain its customers. However, the value attributed to each group can add to the overall success of the business only if reciprocity ensured. If the suppliers do not keep a favorable stance, the company cannot meet its customer needs in proportion to the customer value. This is the context when a business management has to demonstrate its ability to align the stakeholders. When a firm offers high quality products to its customers, it should also ensure that its suppliers are also treated with fair price. Obviously, a profit driven organization tends to fail in this regard. As Jeston and Nelis point out, one of the primary steps of any project is the ‘identification and analysis of the project stakeholders’; and this analysis involve understanding the leadership styles, stakeholder position in the organization, their personal drives etc (264). Stakeholders possess a significant role in the progress of the business. For instance, meeting the expectation of the stakeholder in a responsible manner is important. Every organization or company has its own goal or target; and completion of such strategy always assures company’s and stakeholders’ prosperity. Theories of Cornell University are the perfect examples for this as it always focuses on three aspects such as â€Å"understanding expectation, measurement and accountability† ("Stakeholder Alignment Model"). Economic growth and achieving targets are always the two pillars of a strong business firm. There are numerous hurdles to overcome in order for achieving a common goal. First of

US homeland security related critical infrastructure matters

US homeland security related critical infrastructure matters The statement: The Department of Homeland Security has complete responsibility for all U.S. homeland security related critical infrastructure (CI) matters is not entirely accurate; originally, matters of national security were the sole responsibility of the federal government (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 7). Today, national critical infrastructure protection is a joint effort among the federal government, public and private sectors. The Department of Homeland Security was established to protect and secure the homeland from both domestic and foreign threats. According to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the development of a plan which will ensure the security of critical infrastructure is the responsibility of the DHS (Homeland Security, 2009). Likewise, the DHS is also responsible for recommending the measures necessary to protect the key resources and critical infrastructure of the United States (Homeland Security, 2009, p. 2). The mission of DHS is one that involves the protection of infrastructure and critical facilities and networks (Homeland Security, 2010, p. 33). The DHS is responsible for the identification and assessment of all components which make up critical infrastructure. In addition to mitigating potential vulnerabilities; improving the resilience of critical infrastructure, is also a top priority of the DHS. This includes but is not limited to: stand-alone facilities and interdependent systems and networks within and across critical infrastructure sectors (Homeland Security, 2010, p. 34). The DHS serves as the leader and facilitator for those agencies who share responsibility for protecting the nations critical infrastructures (Homeland Security, 2010, p. 31). Those agencies include territorial, tribal, local and state governments, as well as the private sector and other agencies not associated with the government (Homeland Security, 2003). Conversely, when a disaster occurs these agencies are the first line of defense for national critical infrastructures. Even though the DHS is responsible for leading critical infrastructure efforts, coordination of security measures within local and state governments and critical sector industry leaders are the responsibility of federal lead departments and agencies (Homeland Security, 2003). Similarly, it is the responsibility of state and local governments to provide protection to critical infrastructures that are located within their jurisdictions (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 10). If and when a catastrophic event should occur which exhaust the capabilities of local and state governments, it is up to the federal government to coordinate a response (Homeland Security, 2003). A majority of our nations critical infrastructures are privately owned or operated, which means that the private sector are initially responsible for providing protection against threats to their facilities (Homeland Security, 2003). When the threat becomes more than the private sector can handle then the government will step in to assist and ensure that our nations critical infrastructures and assets are protected (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 11). Likewise, the federal government will be there to provide support for an environment in which the private sector can better carry out its specific responsibilities (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 11). The chemical sector is one of the most vulnerable critical infrastructures to natural disaster and terrorist attacks, that being said the DHS is working with the EPA to enhance security at chemical facilities (Homeland Security, 2003). In addition, special attention is being paid to those facilities which house large quantities of hazardous chemicals (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 78). Studies conducted by the DHS and private sector are currently underway to identify and understand physical vulnerabilities within the telecommunications infrastructure and their associated risks (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 61). Even though the private sector must occasionally seek assistance from the DHS, there are times when the federal government must rely on the private sector to lend a hand in emergency response and recovery. An example of the federal government calling on the private sector for assistance was the anthrax scare of 2001. A large Washington D.C. construction corporation was contracted to oversee the abatement and restoration of the Brentwood Post office in Washington D.C. and the Trenton Post office facility in New Jersey. One must also understand that quite a few of our nations critical infrastructures cross international borders (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 35). Therefore the federal government has partnered with the neighboring countries to provide security for our interconnected infrastructures (Homeland Security, 2003, p. 35). The United States partnership with Canada is is a vital asset to national critical infrastructure, efforts are being made to provide protection for international interconnected infrastructures. An example of this partnership is the Alaskan Canadian hightway. In order to transport goods and supplies to Alaska we must travel cross Canadian territory. It is evident that matters of critical infrastrucutre involves not only the DHS but the public and private sectors as well. The DHS would not be able to carry out their responsibilites without the assistance of local and state agencies, the private sector and vice versa. The U.S. government has made great strides in developing techniques and strategies to harden U.S. critical infrastructures which will make them more resistant to terrorist attack and natural disasters. One of the U.S. governments goals is to establish a strong partnership that spans across all levels of government, in addition to the private sector and the American people (Homeland Security, 2009). The Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program is just one of many steps taken by the U.S. government to harden critical infrastructure. This program provides protection to security-related critical infrastructure information (Homeland Security, 2009, p. 5). By breaking down each critical infrastructure sector it is easier to understand how the U.S. government has been successful in hardening each critical infrastructure. The agriculture and food sector is one of the most vulnerable critical infrastructures, that being said, efforts to harden this sector are an ongoing challenge (Mark Sauter James Carafano, 2005). The U.S. government has revised its measures by providing more protection through the hiring of more health inspectors, and adding more reporting requirements (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 291). Contamination of our nations water supply is often a topic of concern; efforts are being made by the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a vulnerability and threat assessment (Sauter Carafano, 2005). These assessments will improve not only site security at high threat locations it will also enhance monitoring and sharing of information (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 292). With regards to the critical infrastructure of public health the U.S. government has implemented measures to harden biomedical surveillance (Sauter Carafano, 2005). This is extremely important because of the risks of a biological attack. There have also been improvements in hardening security of emergency stockpiles of medical supplies (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 294). In order to improve the physical security of medical structures the U.S. government has provided incentives to the private sector (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 294). In response to hardening the critical infrastructure of emergency services the U.S. government has established measures to harden interoperable and redundant communication networks (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 295). The U.S. government has instituted a tougher national emergency preparedness exercise program which teaches better security and promotes consistent protection planning and response protocols (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 295). Since the defense industrial base critical infrastructure sector is owned by a majority of the private sector the U.S. government has implemented new measures to include critical infrastructure protection requirements in contract processes (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 296). Likewise, security is being strengthened in the defense related commercial production and distribution processes (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 296). The telecommunications critical infrastructure has been assessed by the U.S. government, and in return a program has been designed to identify where the most vulnerable areas are in the communication architecture and then address the security issue (Sauter Carafano, 2005). Conversely, there have also been efforts made in the energy critical infrastructure sector to enhance resilience of the energy facilities (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 298). Facility equipment is being repaired and replaced and there have also been improvements in restoration and recovery of services (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 298). Significant improvements have been made to harden the transportation critical infrastructure sector; for example, security initiatives have been established to provide commercial airliners with protection from shoulder fired missiles (Sauter Carafano, 2005, p. 299). There have also been new developments in screening technology which help identify potential threats to transportation as well as aiding the postal service sector in identifying suspicious mail (Sauter Carafano, 2005, pp. 301-302). Despite the many efforts being made to harden critical infrastructure, there are still several weaknesses in the U.S. governments strategy. Lets face it, the only other thing that is more costly than hardening critical infrastructure is the disruption or potential loss of operations in those critical infrastructures. It is clear that trying to harden all critical infrastructures is too daunting of a task and is not cost effective. The U.S. government needs to focus on those areas of the United States where our critical infrastructures are most vulnerable (e.g. New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. etc.). The federal government also needs to look at the protection of our nations water ways. Information security systems need to be deployed to guard the locks on the Mississippi and St. Lawrence seaways (Bruce Don David Mussington). By employing an information security system it will enable the monitoring of vessels and ships while in locks or approaching locks (Don Mussington). To provide another level of security, river marshals could be deployed to accompany dangerous shipments through the locks (Don Mussington). Many people dont realize that a large majority of our nations goods are transported through inland waterways, which is why it is important that more attention be paid to the transportation sector.

Analysis of the Poem: The Darkling Thrush Essay

Speaker: The speaker in the first two stanzas is portrayed as pessimistic and dark, but this changed in the two last stanzas. In any case, the speaker is conveyed to have strong feelings for nature. Form: Rhyming scheme is clearly visible giving to poem a rhythm. The 3rd stanza’s rhyming scheme seems to have been modified, if not a little disturbed having a not as good phonetic ending at the end of each stanza conveying the speaker’s disturbance and surprise at the appearance of the thrush. Imagery: L.1 the coppice became a gate conveying that it’s not in its natural state, humans could have modified it. L2: â€Å"When Frost was spectre-grey† a spectre/ghost is something dangerous, menacing, conveying Frost is dangerous, and cold is dangerous, deadly. The Frost being as cold as a ghost. L2-3: Frost and Winter with capital letters, this personifies them. ïÆ'   Cold, winter, death theme introduced. They will be the two â€Å"main characters â€Å"of the poem. L3: â€Å"Winter’s dregs† winters residue, conveys the snow. L3-4: â€Å"Winter’s dregs made desolate, The weakening eye of day† The snow is taking over the day, dark over light. â€Å"Eye of day† conveys the sun symbolizing light, happiness, warmth, is being taken over by â€Å"Winter’s dreg’s† darkness, snow, cold. L5-6: â€Å"The tangled bine-stems scored the sky, like strings of broken lyres† this simile compares plants that are reaching for t he sky, like broken lyres, lyres are instruments symbolizing usually illusion, and mostly the instruments of the gods. Lyres are therefor in the sky with the gods, and the plants are trying to do the same, but will never reach it â€Å"Broken Lyres† or broken â€Å"illusions†. This simile conveys somehow the sky in contrast to earth, heaven, and hell that plants are trying to flee â€Å"score the sky†. L7-8: â€Å"And all mankind that haunted nigh† all the men that were hunting close by, â€Å"Had sought their household fires† had gone back to their house by the fire for warmth. Winter, or death, is more powerful than men with guns. L9: â€Å"The land’s sharp features seemed to be† sharp here conveys the cold. This verse introduces the nature or â€Å"land† as main theme of the stanza. L9-10 â€Å"The land’s sharp features seemed to be† the lands cold features seemed to be â€Å"The Century’s corpse outleant† the Century’s dead body. This metaphor connects the two verses and develops them further in doing so. The land’s â€Å"features† are now clearer to convey member’s like body members. This metaphor also connects â€Å"the land† to the â€Å"Century’s dead body† the speaker here could also convey his thoughts that our present Century is dying. L11-12: â€Å"His crypt the cloudy canopy† This verse conveys the transformation of the â€Å"cloudy† canopy, the unclear, mysterious conveying menace canopy (human being afraid of the unknown) into a crypt, chamber for the dead. Once again the death (here of nature specifically) is here conveyed. This continues the metaphor of the dying land by â€Å"his† asserting a personification of the land. This verse transforms the â€Å"cloudy canopy† into the chamber of death â€Å"crypt† of the land. Finally, to finish the portraying image of a dead body in a crypt, the image of a funeral is clearly conveyed through the 12th verse. â€Å"The wind his death-lament.† This image portrays the wind as the relative, or witness, grieving the land’s death. L13-14: â€Å"The ancient pulse of germ and birth† the verse bring through the image of a â€Å"pulse† of life, that is now no more â€Å"ancient† used to be, but no longer is. â€Å"Was shrunken hard and dry† this continuation of the verse beforehand confirms the death of the â€Å"pulse of germ and birth†, of life, that was â€Å"shrunken hard and dry† that was killed by winter. The use of â€Å"shrunken hard and dry† contrasting â€Å"the pulse of germ and birth† is very well chosen. The pulse of germ and birth is something soft, happy, promising, whereas the use of â€Å"shrunken† shrinks the promising life, turns it into something hard and dry. The contrast of life and death is portrayed here through nature. L15-16: â€Å"And every spirit upon earth seemed fervourless as I† This conveys the desperation and hopelessness that seems to be shared by â€Å"every spirit upon this earth† the whole world seems to have no more hope for better days. With these two last verses, it leaves the second stanza on sorrowful â€Å"fervourless† tone. L16-17: â€Å"At once a voice arose among the bleak twigs overhead† The 3rd stanza starts off with an element of surprise, raising the curiosity of the reader creating suspense of who this might be, or what. This also somehow creates a certain feeling of hope. The 3rd stanza also starts of unlike the other first stanzas through hearing, and not seeing. Therefor the images that were up to now conveyed through the eyes, is not conveyed through the ears. L19-20: â€Å"In full-hearted evensong of joy unlimited† this element brings about hope and joy which was not brought through so far. L21-22: â€Å"An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small, in blast-beruffled plume† The suspense is now broken, we find out what this element of surprise and joy is, a bird, a â€Å"Thrush† like indicated in the poem’s title. The sense goes back to seeing now, and the bird is portrayed as â€Å"frail, gaunt, and small† in contrast to the merciless powerful cold winter and death that was conveyed beforehand transforming an entire land into corpse, and yet this bird is full of joy and life unlike â€Å"every spirit on earth†. The bird’s appearance is further more explicit in verse 22 â€Å"In blast-beruffled plume† This feeds further the contrast between the bird and the harsh winter. Indeed the thrush is not only portrayed as markedly frail, but the sharp wind has ruffled his feathers, and we can imag ine the tail-feathers blown nearly inside-out by the sharp blast. L23-24: These verses are very important as they mark another contrast between the bird’s appearance, and â€Å"character†. Indeed this feeble blast-beruffled bird that was conveyed earlier on â€Å"had chosen thus to fling his soul upon the growing gloom† This small bird is like a brave small weak, and yet brave soldier â€Å"flinging† his soul into the midst of a battle, â€Å"upon a growing gloom† that menaces to kill him at any moment. The 3rd stanza brings through an element of hope and surprise. L25-29: The senses are now changed into hearing again as the speaker describes the â€Å"carolings† of the little bird that seems to light up â€Å"terrestrial things â€Å"afar or nigh around† (near or far) into this growing gloom that the speaker doesn’t seem to understand. L30-32: The final 3 verses of the last stanza are very important as they will change the view of the speaker. Indeed the â€Å"happy good night air† of this bird â€Å"some blessed Hope† which is conveyed to be brought through to the speaker by this thrush â€Å"whereof he knew, and I was unaware† The speaker here conveys the relief and comfort and wisdom that was brought to him through the natural wisdom and bravery as well as optimism of this feeble and delicate, yet brave, and tenacious thrush. On this the poem ends on a good note full of hope and optimism for the future.