Beta Pictoris: Planets? Life? Or What? :: essays research papers fc

BETA PICTORIS: PLANETS? LIFE? OR WHAT? JARA ASTRONOMY 102 SEC 013 The ultimate question is; Is there a possibility that life might exist on a planet in the Beta Pictoris system? First, one must ask, Are there planets in the Beta Pictoris system?. However, that question would be impossible to answer if one did not answer the most basic questions first; Where do planets come from? and do the key elements and situations, needed to form planets, exist in the Beta Pictoris system?. To understand where planets come from, one has to first look at where the planets in our solar system came from. Does or did our star, the sun, have a circumstellar disk around it? the answer is believed to be yes. Scientists believe that a newly formed star is immediately surrounded by a relatively dense cloud of gas and dust. In 1965, A. Poveda stated, â€Å"That new stars are likely to be obscured by this envelope of gas and dust (1).† In 1967, Davidson and Harwit agreed with Poveda and then termed this occurrence, the â€Å" cocoon nebula† (1). Other authors have referred to this occurrence as, a â€Å" placental nebula† (1), noting that it sustains the growth of planetary bodies. For a long time, even before there was the term cocoon nebula, planetary scientists knew that a cocoon nebula had surrounded the sun, long ago, in order for our solar system to form and take on their currents motions (1). In 1755, a German, named Immanuel Kant, reasoned that â€Å"gravity would make circumsolar cloud contract and that rotation would flatten it (1)." Thus, the cloud would assume the general shape of a rotating disk, explaining the fact that the planets, in our solar system, revolve in a disk-shaped distribution. This idea, about the disk-shaped nebula that was formed around the early sun, came to be known as the nebula hypothesis (1). Then, in 1796, a French mathematician named Laplace, proposed that the rotating disk continued to cool and contract, forming planetary bodies (1). Also, when investigating the evolution of stars, it was proposed â€Å"that a star forms as a central condensation in an extended nebula... The outer part remains behind as the cocoon nebula (1)† . During the same study it was also indicated that under various conditions such as: rotation, turbulence, etc. the nucleus of the forming star may divide into two or more bodies orbiting each other (1). This may be the explanation as to why more than half of all star systems are binary or multiple, rather than singles stars, like ours, the sun. This same fragmentation may also form bodies too small to become stars.

Performance of Cardboard Carton Forms

PERFORMANCE OF CARDBOARD CARTON FORMS Abstract: Cardboard carton forms (void boxes) are commonly used to form the void space between the bottom of grade beams and slabs over expansive soils. However, other than laboratory compression tests and 100% humidity tests, there is little documentation for the actual performance of these boxes in place. This paper summarizes field tests done in an attempt to simulate actual conditions to answer the following questions: †¢ Do the boxes deteriorate at an acceptable rate? Does the wax coating or impregnation and a polyethylene vapor barrier affect deterioration? †¢ Will the boxes fail under heave conditions? Are trapezoidal boxes appropriate and do they perform in an acceptable manner? †¢ Which type of boxes are appropriate in each situation? †¢ What are some of the construction considerations necessary to insure proper function of the boxes? Two configurations of boxes were used: Vertical Cell and Diagonal Type II. Initial T est 1 procedure: It was initially decided to pour a test slab over 4 sets of void boxes.Each box was 4 ft x 4ft x 8 in deep. Concrete was poured on top and all around each box to simulate actual conditions. Four 1 ft x 1 ft steel forms were placed on top of each box for the purpose of loading each box at different intervals to determine if they had deteriorated. All boxes for the first test were vertical cell. Each box was placed with different conditions: †¢ Void box with no poly anywhere †¢ Void box with poly wrapped all around †¢ Void box with poly on top only †¢ Void box with poly on bottom only Test set up with boxes and loading pads Placing concrete over boxes.The procedure was to pour the concrete and test the capacity of the boxes once a week to determine the rate of deterioration. Description of results: †¢ Week 1: Each box was loaded with 200 psf and no deflection was observed †¢ Week 2: Each box was loaded with 400 psf with no deflection â₠¬ ¢ Week 3: Each box was loaded with 400 psf with no deflection. The box with poly on bottom was flooded with water to accelerate deterioration †¢ Week 4: Each box was loaded with 400 psf. The box that had been flooded with water had 3/8† deflection.All the other boxes had no deflection †¢ Week 5: The test pad on the boxes with no poly and the one with poly on bottom were removed to view the boxes. It was discovered that the top of the cardboard had stuck to the concrete causing the cardboard to span across the opening thus giving erroneous information. Both of the boxes appeared to have significant strength but were destroyed in the removal process and could not be tested. †¢ Week 6: The two remaining boxes, the one with poly all around and the one with poly on top had the concrete removed to expose the boxes.The boxes were tested with over 400 psf and still had plenty of capacity with little deterioration. The box with poly wrapped all around had a little wate r in the box, maybe a cupful, but this did not deteriorate the box. The source of the water is unknown, possibly from when the adjacent box was flooded with water. III. Test 2 Procedure: 1. Two vertical cell boxes with no wax were buried in sand and uncovered after one week to view the rate of deterioration: The boxes and loaded with a 50 pound weight and they immediately. 2.A Vertical Cells beam box with wax and a Diagonal Type Beam Box with wax were buried in sand for one week. The buried boxes were tested by standing on them, there was nominal deflection which indicates the wax has a definite impact on the deterioration rate. 3. Two vertical boxes with wax were buried in sand for three weeks. One was completely covered in poly and the other had no poly. Both boxes showed no appreciable deterioration after three weeks. Since the boxes with no wax failed after one week under the same conditions, it is assumed that the wax and the poly significantly slow deterioration.IV. Test 3 Pr ocedure: Two boxes, one diagonal type box and one vertical cells were wrapped in poly with a cup of water added to simulate a 100% humidity condition. The next day, the vertical box collapsed immediately. The Diagonal box did not collapse Two boxes with no wax were buried in sand Box after one week sitting 50 pound block in middle except on the sides. A box with a capacity of only 200 psf was tested and failed with normal construction loads and therefore, considered not acceptable. V. Summary of Observations From Tests 1-3: 1. Testing the boxes from the top gives unsatisfactory results. . The bottom of the boxes deteriorate first and destroys the glue between the verticals and the bottom on the Vertical boxes. 3. Covering the bottom of the boxes with poly (the top of the sub-grade) slows down or stops the deterioration of the boxes. 4. There is not enough moisture coming out of the slab to deteriorate the boxes. 5. The Diagonal boxes are very weak on the sides and very strong in the middle. 6. The Diagonal boxes deteriorate slower because of the wax impregnation. 7. Boxes with no wax seem to deteriorate at an acceptable rate. 8.Covering the entire box with poly stopped any deterioration. VI. Initial Conclusions: 1. Boxes should be tested from the bottom, not the top. Since expansive soil heaves, the boxes should be tested from the bottom. The initial deterioration is on the bottom and therefore, the box is weaker when loaded from the bottom. 2. Boxes under the slab should be constructed with no wax if possible. 3. Diagonal Type boxes which are wax impregnated and have strong vertical and diagonal members deteriorate much slower and they possibly stay too strong under slabs. . New tests were devised using waterbeds to load the void boxes from the bottom. Refer to the description of waterbed tests. VII. Test 4: Water Bed Test It was determined by the initial testing procedure that the void boxes need to be tested in place from the bottom. A 25 ft x 37 ft test sl ab was built with one of the purposes to test the void boxes and another purpose was to test analytical methods of designing flat slabs for houses. Five waterbeds were placed below the sub-grade under the void boxes. One was queen size and four were twin size.Three of the waterbeds had Vertical Boxes with no wax on top of them, one had fully waxed Vertical beam boxes and one had a Diagonal slab box. The purpose of using the waterbeds was an attempt to simulate actual heaving of soil and to test an in place situation on an actual project. The waterbed was buried in the subgrade while constructing the slab. After a period of time, the waterbeds were filled to see if the void boxes collapse or if pressure is exerted on the slab indicating full capacity boxes without deterioration. Steel rods were welded to plates which rested on top of the sub-grade above the waterbed.This rod was sleeved through the slab with pvc pipe. The purpose of these indicator rods was that when the waterbed fil led up, if the top of the rod raised up also, the void boxes collapsed. VIII. Results The Water Bed Test: Three weeks after the slab was poured, the waterbeds were filled. All five waterbed indicators rose quickly and to a maximum height of 7 inches. The void boxes were 8 inches deep at these points, therefore, the boxes were fully collapsed. No deflection or distress was observed in the slab therefore, the test was successful. Three of the test were done with a subgrade that had ? nch rain on it the night before placing the concrete. The waxed boxes were placed in a very dry, sandy subgrade in over 100 degree weather, trying to simulate the driest of conditions. Observation holes which were 4 inch in diameter were located to monitor the deterioration of the void boxes. It was observed that for approximately two weeks after the slab was poured, the humidity was very high in the void space with a great deal of heat generated. Slab indicators showing the â€Å"heaving† of the s oil and therefore the failure of the boxes IX. Conclusions From Water Bed Tests: 1.After three weeks all boxes had lost enough strength to protect the slab from pressure. 2. After three weeks, even boxes which are waxed will fail adequately. All boxes tested were of the vertical cell type. 3. This test was very successful and the use of waterbeds is an excellent method to test void boxes. X. Test 5: Effect of Integral Retainers and Earth Forming: As published in the Fall, 1997 Proceedings of the Texas Section of The American Society of Civil Engineers, Mr. Robert Davis, P. E. tested trapezoidal void boxes to determine if they fail under construction loads.His conclusion was that trapezoidal boxes of the diagonal type fail when used under a grade beam. We have also seen this in the field and agree with the findings. However, some engineers still use the integral concrete retainers. This test was to determine if earth formed grade beams with trapezoidal boxes and the integral concrete retainers are appropriate. A testing apparatus was constructed to test different box and retainer configurations. The test was constructed to push up from the bottom with highly expansive fat clays below the simulated grade beam.Hydraulic jacks were used under the expansive soil to simulate the heaving of expansive soil. A weight equivalent to 200 psf was applied to the grade beam. The friction of the soil plus the bearing on the end of the concrete retainer caused the box to freely move upward. XI. Project Experience-Performance of Boxes under Grade Beams About the time of our tests, a construction project was completed using diagonal type beam boxes under formed concrete beams. Approximately 1000 feet of grade beams were set up in dry weather and normal conditions. The concrete was placed at inch slump and vibrated. After the forms were removed, it was discovered that approximately 20 percent of the void boxes failed. The contractor was instructed to chip off all excess concrete that invaded the void space which took approximately three days to accomplish. The next 1000 feet of grade beams were set up using vertical cell boxes under the same conditions with the same contractor. No boxes failed on this second pour. View of failed boxes XII. Suggested Procedure for Filling Gaps The weakest point of failure for void boxes is on the ends and especially at the intersection with piers.After experimenting with several methods, I have found that common expandable foam as found in hardware stores works excellent in filling gaps and providing a tight form during construction. I recommend all gaps and holes between boxes and at the intersection with piers be filled with this foam. The cost is nominal for a typical project. Expandable Foam used to fill gaps XIII. Final Conclusions and Recommendations 1. All boxes must have moisture in order to deteriorate properly. Therefore, the boxes should not be completely wrapped in poly which is a common practice of contractors. . The moisture from the subgrade plus the hydration of the concrete appear to provide adequate deterioration of the boxes. The void boxes appear to fail from the bottom to the top. 3. A moisture barrier (polyethylene) should not be used below the boxes because it does not allow deterioration from the subgrade below. 4. A moisture barrier (poly) on top of the boxes may affect the hydration of the concrete and therefore the humidity in the void space. This barrier also increases the probability of excessive shrinkage cracks and therefore should not be used for that reason.The question of if this barrier is necessary to prevent moisture migration through the slab and thus affect any floor covering is not a subject of this paper. However, this author has not encountered this problem and therefore, does not recommend placing a vapor barrier on top of the boxes. 5. A layer of ? inch thick masonite should be used on top of all boxes under a slab area. This distributes the concentrated load s due to the rebar bolsters and construction loads. It is our experience that the cardboard cover sheets supplied by the box manufacturers are not adequate for the construction loads.Masonite of less thickness will curl and is not recommended. Plywood or OSB board is not recommended because of termites. 6. Trapezoidal boxes should not be used because the concrete retainers transfer forces from the expanding soil to the concrete beam above. There is also evidence that these boxes fail during construction if they are of the diagonal cell configuration. 7. Expandable foam should be used to fill all gaps between boxes and at pier locations. REFERENCE: www. foundationperformance. org AUTHOR NAME _ DAVID K. ISBELL, P. E.

Cultural Similarities and Differences Essay

Mexico and Puerto Rico are two popular countries of South America. They share the passionate language of Spanish, though there are some differences in their dialects. There are similarities and differences between the two countries, such as expectations of family members and structuring, in addition to religious practices, traditions, and art. Both countries possess many unique traits and customs. Mexican and Puerto Rican societies have very similar familial structures. Both countries consider family the foundation of their social structure. They have close family connections and emphasize the concerns for the well-being of the family. Mexicans and Puerto Ricans also have many relatives, which may include a couple of generations on both the father and mother’s sides. In both countries there is a strong bond among the family members. Family members expect support from each other, such as physical, financial, and spiritual. Religion plays a significant role in the Mexican and Puerto Rican cultures. Both Mexico and Puerto Rico contain similar religious beliefs and practices with Roman Catholics. The Mexican characteristics are more rigid and the Roman Catholic Church has an influence on the rigidity of the country. Puerto Rico leans more toward a colorful and liberal religious practice. The most popular of arts and crafts in Puerto Rico are the caretas-papier-mache masks – – masks many wear during island carnivals (Arts & Crafts, 2012). The masks are terrifying, depicting half-animal, and half-demon traits that represent evil. Mexico makes papier-mache masks (papel pegado) but they consist of large heads with friendly faces. Although Mexico produces more arts and crafts than Puerto Rico, both countries use handmade tools and craftsmanship to make items. Mexico and Puerto Rico have many words they spell differently but have the same meaning and vice versa. For instance, the word bicho and pinche are two words both countries use but have different meanings. In Mexico the word Bicho means bug, but in Puerto Rico it refers to a part of the male anatomy.

Synergetic Solutions Report

The Synergetic solutions simulation helps in deciding what steps need to be taken to help the company succeed in the networking solutions market. There were different strategies that could be implemented, and also actions plans to take in making the company successful. In cases where productivity increases absenteeism was on the decline. This simulation allows for the identification of internal as well as external forces or change in synergetic solutions. The forms of communication needed to implement changes, the different levels of resistance the company will face, and the strategies leaders will have to employ to manage the different levels of resistance. Internal and External ForcesCompanies deal with many internal as well as external forces on a day to day basis. External forces can include technology, customer demands, and competitors. Internal forces include working in a positive work environment, communication, and people within the company. Businesses including Synergetic ha ve to make sure they are able to keep up with all the latest technologies to keep their business ahead of others.Customer demand can put a lot of stress on companies from having to stay ahead of competitors. Competitors can keep companies on their toes, and since the next move is never known staying ahead of the game is a must. Positive work environment is important because the behavior of other employees can influence other individual’s behaviors. Communication is always a good thing and it makes people feel like they have a voice. Working with a great group of Factors to Implement ChangeKotter has eight steps that help when implementing change within a company.  First of all people would want to be given a great example of how change will be for the good of the company. In addition, leaders will need to have enough power and drive to actually make the changes. Employers should be able to create visions and set goals to ensure that visions will be reached in the long run.M anagement at synergetic solutions should communicate the vision as well as encourage others that it will work and they should go along with it. Rewarding individuals for jumping on board with changes and adhering to all its entities will make other want to jump on the band wagon as well. Companies must make all necessary changes to new vision so that it will be successful. Finally, reinforcing changes and demonstrating behaviors and success are important (Kotter).Changes to CompanyThere were three different scenarios where decisions for the company were based on my opinion. In September, strategies that would help the company would be to improve workflow efficiencies and employee interaction. We would also need to improve organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. Making these things happen would mean the company would need to hire two individuals with relevant experience and certifications in networking design technologies. In addition, the synergetic solutions would nee d to outsource non critical tasks and business processes to reduce effort expended on projects (University of Phoenix, 2002).For the month of December we are going to reorganize the organizational structure and hierarchy, and invest in new technologies and tools. Charting a restructure plan and holding meetings to allow employees to voice concerns, and scheduling training for employees that need addition attention will help the company overall. When productivity goes up the percentage of absenteeism decreases with shows everyone is willing to do the work (University of Phoenix, 2002). In the final month as the company improves project accountability and establish processes. We as a company are able to focus on project performance, and encourage process improvements (University of Phoenix, 2002).ResistanceSynergetic solutions may see resistance both on an individual level as well as group level resistance. In my opinion, when individuals go work for a  company they are assigned cer tain tasks to complete. Over the course of time they may feel these are the only things that should be done. When change comes to companies it makes people feel different kinds of ways in regard to change. On the individual stand point people are not willing to change because they are not sure of the outcome. Sometimes change is a good thing, while other times it can be bad for everyone.Five kinds of ResistancePeople have a tendency to resist things based off of things such as habits, fear of the unknown, feelings of security, many economic factors, and also group inertia. The saying goes old habits never die young, and this is something that many people may believe. When people become use to doing things one way, they are more reluctant to change. In addition, some employees may fear whether or not the change will be good or bad for them.Changes can also cause employees to lose the feeling of security within a place of employment. In addition, economic factors play a role in the as pect of if the new task assigned is not completed correctly jobs may be lost to individuals (Kotter). The final type of resistance is called group inertia and this happens when even though individuals may want to change, it is normal to just go along with group norms.Strategies to Manage ResistanceThere are ways to help aid in the process of making people feel better when being reluctant. Management can tell workers why they feel the company needs changes, and why those changes will be good for the company. If employees have questions they should feel comfortable coming to talk to management about things so it can be discussed further. Educating employees about all the necessary changes will allow employers to explain things, and point out all the positive reasons for change (Kotter). When employees are not comfortable with change offering training can be a great thing because it allows the opportunity to take on new things. An employee will be more likely to go along with change un der the leadership of they can trust.ConclusionThe results of my individual performance at Synergetic shows that my decisions lead to a total revenue growth of over 6,050,000 with a networking revenue of eighty percent. The message from Harold Redd, CEO says that by my  decisions the company has a launch pad to succeed in the networking solutions market. Even though not all the decisions made were the best, my ability to overcome those decisions. Leadership and ability to manage change has enabled the company to boost revenue. In addition, they are also now recognized as a â€Å"design hothouse in the industry† (University of Phoenix, 2002). The decisions made for company were not what everyone may think are right, but the simulation shows those decisions still got the job done.

BUS205 CA MOD 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BUS205 CA MOD 1 - Essay Example The offer should be accepted as given and there should be no change of conditions. Counter offer occurs where new terms are suggested, and it may be rejected or accepted. Acceptance of the offer is the one which will terminate the negotiations which are establishing the contracts terms and condition. For a contract to be valid, it should have valuable considerations. In this case, one of the parties makes a promise to perform something and in return of the promise the offeree should give a benefit of the value. So consideration is any value each party offers to the other as they agreed. Intention of legal consequences is also an element of a contract; it needs the parties to engage themselves in a law binding agreement. The parties making the agreement should create a legal relation and they should know that also the agreement may be enforced by the act of the law. Not all the people who are allowed to enter into the contract which is valid. The following list of contracts of people who have problematic consent and they are dealt separately; minors or young people, bankrupts, those people with a mental disability, corporation and prisoners. For a person to enter into a contract, the action or decision should be out of goodwill. Consent of all the parties in the contract should be genuine. An appropriate consent will be influenced by; duress, mistake, undue influence and false statement. A contract is breached when one party fails to stick to the agreement and makes the other party not to perform (Richard 219). In this of Chappelle breached the contract because he did not stick to the agreement he had with Mustafa. Their agreement was that Abueljia was to manage his business and be paid though the contract was not in written form. A business contract as this one of Chappelle and Abueljia creates certain obligations that they had to fulfill because they were in a contract. Chappelle by dismissing

Emotional Models Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emotional Models Comparison - Essay Example It is stated by Robert Masters that feeling is an emotion that is physiologically based, but is sometimes also psychologically orientated; and emotion is psychosocially constructed, dramatized feeling. But there are a range of other definitions that defines emotion such as: In psychology and common use, emotion is the language of a person's mental state of being, normally based in or tied to the person's internal (physical) and external (social) sensory feeling. Love, hate, courage, fear, joy, sadness, pleasure and disgust can all be described in both psychological and physiological terms. Incidents of coordinated changes in several areas, including what has been called the 'reaction triad' of physiological arousal, motor expression, and subjective feeling, in response to either an internal or an external event of significant importance to an individual. To better understand the concept of emotion and the reason why it is difficult to define the term, it is necessary to compare the models developed by philosophers and academics such as William James, Carl Lange, Walter Cannon and Stanley Schachter. These are only some of the scholars who have made inroads in the field of emotions. This theory refers to the origin and nature of emotions theory developed independently by two scholars, William James and Carl Lange in the 19th century.

Sociology essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sociology - Essay Example Second, since impartiality is an illusion, science according to the ideological argument, subverts oppressed groups, females, ethnics, third-world peoples. Modernity came into being with the Resurgence. Modernity implies the progressive economic and managerial rationalization and differentiation of the social world. In essence this term emerged in the background of the development of the capitalist state. Anthropologists have been functioning towards studying modern times, but have now gone past that. The fundamental act of modernity is to query the foundations of past knowledge. Modernization: This term is frequently used to refer to the stages of social growth which are based upon industrialization. Modernization is a diverse unity of socio-economic changes generated by scientific and hi-tech discoveries and innovations. "Modern, overloaded individuals, greatly trying to maintain rootedness and integrity...in the end are pushed to the point where there is little reason not to believe that all value-orientations are equally well-founded. Therefore, more and more, choice becomes meaningless. We must now come to terms with the second revolution, that of the Twentieth Century, of postmodernity, which is the enormous process of the destruction of meaning equal to the earlier destruction of appearances. Whoever lives by meaning dies by meaning (Browning 10 2000) Some theorists define post-modernism as an eclectic movement, originating in aesthetics, architecture and philosophy. Postmodernism espouses a methodical skepticism of grounded theoretical perspectives. Applied to anthropology, this skepticism has shifted focal point from the observation of a particular society to the surveillance of the (anthropological) observer. Postmodernity concentrates on the tensions of dissimilarity and resemblance which erupts from processes of globalization: the accelerating flow of people, the increasingly dense and common cross-cultural interactions, and the unavoidable intersections of limited and global knowledge.Postmodernists are doubtful of authoritative definitions and singular narratives of any route of events. Post-modern attacks on ethnography are based on the conviction that there is no true objectivity. The genuine implementation of the scientific method is impossible. . Sceptical Postmodernists: They are tremendously critical of the modern subject. They think the subject to be a "linguistic convention". They also reject any consideration of time because for them the modern understanding of time is oppressive in that it controls and measures individuals. They reject Theory because theories are plentiful, and no theory is considered more correct that any other. They feel that theory conceals, distorts, and obfuscates, it is alienated, disparated, and dissonant,