Cost Estimation for Meeting Perths Water Needs

Cost Estimation for Meeting Perths Water Needs (a) Introduction 2.1 This career episode is based on my engineering activity at the University of Western Australia. It is about an assignment I carried out during the second semester of my masters degree in the unit Process synthesis and design, worth 25 % of the overall grade. The assignment was released on 11 August 2015 and was due on the 18 September 2015.Thus the entire task was completed in just five weeks time. (b) Background 2.2. The project on Cost Estimation for Meeting Perths Water Needs was carried out as an assignment for the unit Process Synthesis and Design. I was part of a group of six people. The project required the calculation of CAPEX and OPEX for two different scenarios and comparison of both to determine the suitable one for real life implementation. This assignment involved several design stages along with the study of flow in a pipeline in order to select the appropriate piping and the length required to meet the water requirement over a 50 year lifetime. The project was completed successfully under the guidance of Prof. Mike Johns, School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at the University of Western Australia. 2.3 Decreasing annual rainfall and subsequent decrease in water supply had become the talk of media and local government in Perth. This has caused an interest in techniques to supply fresh water to Perth. The project aimed at evaluating two different scenarios to meet with Perths increasing water demands. The first scenario considered in the project was a two stage RO Desalination plant that would intake seawater and produce fresh water at 1000 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦. The second scenario was the design construction of a 2435 km Kimberly pipeline from Argyle dam to Perth capable of meeting the same fresh water requirement per day. 2.4 Some of the core duties I was involved in are as follows: I performed literature reviews and referred several materials to understand various prospects of the project. I divided the task among my team members and ensured that they accomplished their assigned tasks effectively. I estimated the CAPEX and OPEX for two different scenarios. I contributed to the discussion with the members of my team on the merits and demerits of each case of the project. I attended meetings with my supervisor and team members to discuss the progress of the project and to exchange our contributions. I also compared and validated certain theoretical results with that of my calculated ones using appropriate approaches to suit the requirements of the project. I welcomed the challenge in completing a cost breakdown analysis by selecting the appropriate material based on its mechanical properties, pressure head, volumetric flow rate, velocity and followed by certain significant assumptions throughout the project. I prepared charts and tabulations of selection and cost analysis for different equipment and materials. I also prepared a report on the comparison of CAPEX and OPEX of two different scenarios and contributed more towards the design of reverse osmosis desalination plant and its functions. (c) Personal Engineering Activity The assignment required the comparison of CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure) for two scenarios. The first scenario given was the reverse osmosis desalination plant. This process consists of several stages. I analyzed the process to determine the amount of feed required to produce 1000 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ of fresh water. I discovered that from the 45% recovery of the RO membrane system, a 2222.2 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ of salt water feed will provide the required 1000 à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦ of fresh water to Perth. Figure 1: Reverse Osmosis design selection block diagram 2.6 In order to determine the OPEX, all the steps involved in the process had to be accounted. In order to do so, I broke down the process into independent steps. The first step was the pre-treatment of feed water to avoid fouling in the membrane system. Managing membrane fouling with pre-treatment methods reduces the replacement rate of membranes and lowers the ongoing OPEX costs. The next step involved in the process was coagulation. I chose Ferric Salts as a coagulant because of its tendency to disinfect microorganisms, partially degrade and oxidize the organic and inorganic impurities, and remove suspended particulate materials in a single dosing and mixing unit process. The next step in the process was the passage of feed water through Dual-filters. After extensive research, I decided that the Anthracite bed on silica sand was best suited to remove suspended solids and colloids formed in the ferric salt treatment. Lastly the feed was passed through micron cartridge filters to re move fine particles and bacterial matter before it was processed through a high pressure pump to the membranes. 2.7 The final and the most important step of the process was the selection of membrane. Referring to a number of papers, I found out that the best suited membrane for the specific purpose was the Toray TM820-440 membranes. These membrane elements had a high salt rejection percentage, large flux, low cost and are efficient on energy use to minimize OPEX costs. Before distribution, the permeate needs to be treated to maintain pH and remove corrosion potential. Lime contactors can increase hardness, alkalinity and pH while preventing calcium to leech from pipes into the distribution system. 2.8 I prepared the CAPEX by scaling up the capacity of an existing desalination plant to match the desired capacity. I considered The Perth Seawater Desalination Plant in Kwinana which has a capacity of 45à °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ºÃƒ °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã‚ ¿/à °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ‚ ¦Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ½Ãƒ °Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃ… ¸ and incurred a capital cost of $387 million AUD. I also took Southern Seawater Desalination Plant into consideration in Binningup which had a capital cost of $1400 million AUD and produces 100 GL/year. Of the two, I selected the Binningup desalination plant as it was built much more recently compared to that of kwinana. From calculations, I found that the proposed plant is 3.65 times larger than the Binningup plant and as such, the CAPEX could be approximated to $5110 million AUD. 2.9 Operating Costs can be classified as fixed or variable. Figure 2: Operating expenditure classification used in the project The table below summarizes the OPEX estimation for the Desalination plant. Table 1: Summary of RO Desalination OPEX Cost Components 2.10 The second scenario to be considered was the Argyle Dam Pipeline. The solution costs were based on quotes from two Australian companies:   Steel Mains and Flowserve. I selected these two companies based on a background study that I carried out. From the research, I learnt that these companies have been involved in numerous Australian water transport projects and abide by Australian standards. The final solution that I selected was based on Steel Mains cement mortar lined pipe model DN2200 and custom made pumps designed by Flowserve with an operating head value of 250 metres with inlet and outlet valves equal to the diameter needed. The 250 metres operating head was chosen as the pipes are designed to work at 2.7MPa. After discussion with the team members, two solutions were proposed: a real pipeline with outer diameter of 2159mm, 3 pipelines with 3 pumps per pipeline, and the other one having theoretical pipelines with outer diameter 2520mm, 2 pipelines with 3 pumps. The CAPEX estimation for the proposals is as follows: Table 2: Summary of Pipeline CAPEX Cost Components The OPEX estimation has been limited to the power requirements of the pumping stations and the personnel required to run the pipeline. Table 3: Summary of Pipeline OPEX Cost Components I compared the CAPEX and OPEX along with the advantages and disadvantages of both the scenarios to determine which of the two would be more suitable for real life application. For the Kimberley pipeline, the CAPEX cost ($36.6 billion AUD) heavily exceeds the desalination plant. This large CAPEX cost comes from the cost of purchasing DN2200 pipes which have an estimated lifetime of 100 years. The major factor contributing to the OPEX value from the pipeline is maintenance (77.7%). On the proposed desalination plant solution, the CAPEX cost is relatively low compared to the pipeline ($6.275 billion AUD). The majority of this cost comes from the installation of high pressure pumping station, and a seawater desalination system with energy recovery devices which are a long term investment to save on high energy costs of up to 50-60% associated with desalination. The majority of OPEX estimates come from the cost of power to run the plant (81%). Considering all the facts, I decided that the desalination plant should be selected over the Kimberley project. This is because the desalination plant is more economically feasible over a large time span. Even though the pipeline has been designed to facilitate this increase in demand, CAPEX estimates are too expensive to justify this project. I also carried out several calculations to determine the velocity of water running through the selected pipelines and was found to be 1.08 m/s. Table 4: Information summary of real (calculated values) and theoretical pipeline options Parameters such as Reynolds number, relative roughness, pressure drop, volumetric flow rate and pipeline elevation were also determined when selecting the appropriate pipeline for this project. Estimating the appropriate number of pumping stations at remote areas along the length of the pipeline was one of the tedious task in the project as it involved a lot calculations and literature reviews. A different approach to this project was the consideration of solar technology over wave supply to be the best present day strategy at remote areas as the supply of power to pumping stations was not be a viable option by the latter. Unfortunately, these winds are not a reliable option in the interior parts of Western Australia and so would not be a feasible selection for power supply to a potential pipeline. Overall, I was able to achieve all the objectives of the project successfully within the specified time and prepared a final report incorporating all the necessary design calculations, ide as and suggestions which could have improved the overall outcome of the project. A peer review was also submitted at the end of the project as a reflection on how each team member contributed individually for the project. (d) Summary 2.15 This project provided me with a valuable experience and great insight into an industrial project. I gained profound knowledge on process economics and also helped boost my confidence. During the course of the project, I understood the importance of team work and team management. I utilized my engineering knowledge for the successful completion of the project and as a whole, this project served as a stepping stone into the industrial world.

The Happy Trail Essays -- Descriptive Essay Examples, Observation

The Happy Trail    Sometimes people have a certain place to go to think about things. There are people that associate certain places with negative thoughts or feelings. I believe that people should have places to go that make them happy. Even though, there always seem to be places that make us cry and give us a feeling of great depression. Places in nature are very important to people and their ability to relax, to look at the beautiful scenery, and to have peaceful memories of the happier moments of their lives. I try to always associate nature with positive feelings and thoughts, and if it works for me I think everyone should try it. The truth is, I picture nature representing beauty, happiness, and memories.    Nature is a very beautiful thing in this world. Even at times when it seems as if nothing is beautiful. Whenever I go to the Mines of Spain Nature Preserve, in Dubuque, I think of my friend Karl. Walking on the trails reminds me of all the bugs that used to bother us as we journeyed to our special cliff. He used to jump up and down, waving his hands in the air as if his actions were going to make the bugs disappear. Of course the bugs were still there, and I had my laughs for the day! We would walk together on the trail slowly, and watch all the wilderness around us. There are so many trees and bushes, and during the fall there are the greatest colors of leaves imaginable. Occasionally we would see and hear an animal or two climbing the trees of crossing our path ahead. There are a few streams along this path. The water runs slowly and smoothly, even when in runs over the stones that are in the stream. Karl used to jump in and get both of us wet. It didn't matter how mad I got, becau se after I would l... ...ming weekend, and at times have thought of way to resolve a fight with a loved one. The scenery and quietness of the cliff would relax just about anyone. Maybe you, my reader, should find a place like this to go to, if you don't have one already.    When I climb the trail leading to my favorite place in nature, I am not only concentrating, but also I think o things such as what I will be doing the next day or week. In some cases I even think of what lies in my future. When I am angry with someone, I go there to try to become a rational thinker, and to try to see the other person's point of view. Once I am up on the cliff, I sit down and let the sun hit me. I take deep breathes and separate my thoughts from my feelings in my mind. It is still very quiet, and now I can hear my breathing in slow, soft rhythms and think about life, death, and happiness.    The Happy Trail Essays -- Descriptive Essay Examples, Observation The Happy Trail    Sometimes people have a certain place to go to think about things. There are people that associate certain places with negative thoughts or feelings. I believe that people should have places to go that make them happy. Even though, there always seem to be places that make us cry and give us a feeling of great depression. Places in nature are very important to people and their ability to relax, to look at the beautiful scenery, and to have peaceful memories of the happier moments of their lives. I try to always associate nature with positive feelings and thoughts, and if it works for me I think everyone should try it. The truth is, I picture nature representing beauty, happiness, and memories.    Nature is a very beautiful thing in this world. Even at times when it seems as if nothing is beautiful. Whenever I go to the Mines of Spain Nature Preserve, in Dubuque, I think of my friend Karl. Walking on the trails reminds me of all the bugs that used to bother us as we journeyed to our special cliff. He used to jump up and down, waving his hands in the air as if his actions were going to make the bugs disappear. Of course the bugs were still there, and I had my laughs for the day! We would walk together on the trail slowly, and watch all the wilderness around us. There are so many trees and bushes, and during the fall there are the greatest colors of leaves imaginable. Occasionally we would see and hear an animal or two climbing the trees of crossing our path ahead. There are a few streams along this path. The water runs slowly and smoothly, even when in runs over the stones that are in the stream. Karl used to jump in and get both of us wet. It didn't matter how mad I got, becau se after I would l... ...ming weekend, and at times have thought of way to resolve a fight with a loved one. The scenery and quietness of the cliff would relax just about anyone. Maybe you, my reader, should find a place like this to go to, if you don't have one already.    When I climb the trail leading to my favorite place in nature, I am not only concentrating, but also I think o things such as what I will be doing the next day or week. In some cases I even think of what lies in my future. When I am angry with someone, I go there to try to become a rational thinker, and to try to see the other person's point of view. Once I am up on the cliff, I sit down and let the sun hit me. I take deep breathes and separate my thoughts from my feelings in my mind. It is still very quiet, and now I can hear my breathing in slow, soft rhythms and think about life, death, and happiness.   

Emperor of China

Emperor K’ang-hsi was one of the greatest Chinese emperors of all time. Ruling from 1662 to 1722 he was also one of the longest ruling emperors in Chinese history and for that matter the world. K’ang-hsi brought China to long-term stability and relative wealth after years of war and chaos. Jonathan Spence writes from the eyes of K’ang-hsi getting his information from K’ang-hsi’s own writings. Though a little biased towards himself this book still provides important insight into his mind. Emperor of China is divided into six parts; In Motion, Ruling, Thinking, Growing Old, Sons, and Valedictory. In the first episode, In Motion, Spence tells the audience about K’ang-hsi’s travels and how much of an avid hunter he is. In a letter to Ku Wen-hsing, K’ang-hsi wrote, â€Å"he had traveled over 2,000 li†¦ in each of the four cardinal directions† and later states, â€Å"River, lakes, mountains, deserts- I’ve been through them all. † K’ang-hsi travelled the countryside to hunt and to win over the Chinese citizens. He hunted for pleasure stating, â€Å"Hunting’s basically for exercise,† and to train his military in shooting, camp life, and formation riding. The second episode, Ruling, goes more into detail on how the government was set up. K’ang-hsi had is set up so he had complete control over the economical and educational structure but did not have to deal with the small tidies problems of every county. Emperor K’ang-hsi thought a lot about his purpose in life. He goes into more detail in his third episode Thinking. The Emperor was a Neo-Confucianism but refereed to it mostly as Confucian Classic. He claims he wanted to find things out for himself and not pretend to have the knowledge. He would ask his elders questions and ask about their experiences so he would learn from their mistakes and gain from their accomplishments. Realizing in the fourth episode he was growing old and was going to die. He was very adamant about not wanting to die but he knew it was inevitable. He did try to prolong his life as much as possible with his awareness for his diet and medicine. K’ang-hsi tried to stay open with the public about his health, explaining that this is the â€Å"ultimate form of honesty. † Emperor K’ang-hsi tried to live forever through his children. He had 56 children all together but only one with his first wife, who later took over the thrown. The Emperor was very protective of his sons and made sure they got everything they wanted. He would often kill someone that threatened the chance of a power overthrow. He once killed three cooks and several servant boys for suspicion of homosexual activity with his son Yin-jeng. At the end of K’ang-hsi’s life, he became very senile and distant from reality and the Chinese people. Even though Spence goes into great detail about Emperor K’ang-hsi’s life than any history book could have. He does this by emphasizing his writings and not other sources. The downfall to this is he does not go into great detail about many of the facts or important historical events. By this time China had foreign intervention and influence; Spence did not address any of the foreign policies K’ang-hsi made during his reign. Spence only wrote one paragraph about the confrontations with Russia, but the real even actually lasted over several decades. And the only thing that was mentioned was how nice the Emperor was to the Russian prisoners. Emperor of China; Self Portrait of K’ang-hsi should not be read as a textbook or as a completely true historical resource. This is because it is told by one person and by his point of view with no one else able to tell the other side of the story. Granted this is what Spence wanted to do with his book but for the point most of his sources were of K’ang-hsi’s writings; we cannot believe everything that is written. If someone would read this book they would think K’ang-hsi was the greatest leader/person in the world. We do not get the dirty side of his life, the side that describes all the thousands of people that he killed for no reason. When they were addressed in the book K’ang-hsi put a positive twist on it so it would be justified in his mind. Every storyteller is going to tell their version of the story so it sounds better than it really was. On the other hand Spence takes us into K’ang-hsi’s head and we realize what K’ang-hsi was thinking behind some of his actions. For example, his easoning for restructuring the tax system in 1711 because the population was increasing but the farm land was not increasing so his thought was every â€Å"census year the tax quotas should be redivided among the entire surviving population, so that all would pay the same, and each year the tax burden could get lighter. † But he went with another plan we know what he was thinking and what his other options were. Knowing what is going on in someone’s mind is what everyone wants to know and especially for someone as important as the Emperor of China. Through K’ang-hsi’s writings you can feel the whole heartedness from him. He was a good person and Spence really expressed that while writing this book. Most emperors would not help out war criminals let alone treat them with medicine. Also he helped out average citizens of China that were in need of help. An example of this is when a citizen became very sick and was not able to bow in front of K’ang-hsi so he let him â€Å"incline the body forward instead of performing the full prostration,† and that same citizen was not able to sit down so K’ang-hsi offered him to sit on â€Å"a couch of cushions. † At that time most heads of government would behead that citizen because he was physically handicapped. K’ang-hsi knew he could not help his condition, he was born with a handicap so if did not want to discriminate against him for something he could not prevent. Spence did a very good job at writing a book from K’ang-hsi’s perspective and was able to log his thoughts fairly well. In the six episodes of the book he was able to go through K’ang-hsi’s young life, when he ruled over China, he thoughts and beliefs and what he thought about his sons. We could really feel how he felt about certain issues and who is loved and cared for, it was like we were seeing certain scenes through he eyes rather than a third party. The only thing that would have made it better is if Spence went in more detail about political affairs and foreign policies. Though if he had gone in depth over everything the book would have been 2000 pages or more. So as a reader you have to start this book with some background information; it is only from K’ang-hsi’s perspective, Spence leaves some important governmental issues out, and finally you do not want to read a boring book describing every little detail about someone’s life that lived three hundred years ago that is why Spence left those issues out.

Biography of Isoroku Yamamoto, World War II Admiral

Biography of Isoroku Yamamoto, World War II Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (April 4, 1884–April 18, 1943) was the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet during World War II. It was Yamamoto who planned and executed the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Initially against war, Yamamoto nevertheless planned and participated in many of the most important battles of the war. He was finally killed in action in the South Pacific in 1943. Fast Facts: Isoroku Yamamoto Known For: Isoroku Yamamoto was the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet during World War II.Also Known As: Isoroku TakanaBorn: April 4, 1884 in Nagaoka,  Niigata,  Empire of JapanParents: Sadayoshi Teikichi, and his second wife MinekoDied: April 18, 1943  in Buin,  Bougainville,  Solomon Islands,  Territory of New GuineaEducation:  Imperial Japanese Naval AcademyAwards and Honors:  Ã‚  Grand Cordon of the  Order of the Chrysanthemum  (posthumous appointment, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers  (April 1942),  Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun  (April 1940); the subject of many books and moviesSpouse: Reiko MihashiChildren: Yoshimasa and Tadao (sons) and Sumiko and Masako  (daughters)Notable Quote: Should hostilities once break out between  Japan  and the  United States, it is not enough that we take  Guam  and the  Philippines, nor even  Hawaii  and San Francisco. We would have to march into   Washington  and sign the treaty in the  White House. I wonder if our politicians (who speak so lightly of a Japanese-American war) have confidence as to the outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices. Early Life Isoroku Takano was born April 4, 1884, in Nagaoka, Japan, and was the sixth son of samurai Sadayoshi Takano. His name, an older Japanese term for 56, referenced his fathers age the time of his birth. In 1916, following the death of his parents, the 32-year-old Takano was adopted into the Yamamoto family and assumed its name. It was a common custom in Japan for families without sons to adopt one so that their name would continue.  At age 16, Yamamoto entered the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy at Etajima. Graduating in 1904 and ranked seventh in his class, he was assigned to the cruiser Nisshin. Early Military Career While on board, Yamamoto fought in the decisive Battle of Tsushima (May 27-28, 1905).  During the engagement, Nisshin served in the Japanese battle line and sustained several hits from Russian warships. In the course of the fighting, Yamamoto was wounded and lost two fingers on his left hand. This injury led to him earning the nickname 80 sen, as a manicure cost 10 sen per finger at the time. Recognized for his leadership skill, Yamamoto was sent to the Naval Staff College in 1913. Graduating two years later, he received a promotion to lieutenant commander. In 1918, Yamamoto married Reiko Mihashi with whom he would have four children. A year later, he departed for the United States and spent two years studying the oil industry at Harvard University. Returning to Japan in 1923, he was promoted to captain and advocated for a strong fleet that would allow Japan to pursue a course of gunboat diplomacy if necessary. This approach was countered by the Army, which viewed the Navy as a force for transporting invasion troops. The following year, he changed his specialty from gunnery to naval aviation after taking flying lessons at Kasumigaura. Fascinated by air power, he soon became the schools director and began to produce elite pilots for the Navy. In 1926, Yamamoto returned to the United States for a two-year tour as the Japanese naval attachà © in Washington. Early 1930s After returning home in 1928, Yamamoto briefly commanded the light cruiser Isuzu before becoming captain of the aircraft carrier Akagi.  Promoted to rear admiral in 1930, he served as a special assistant to the Japanese delegation at the second London Naval Conference and was a key factor in raising the number of ships the Japanese were permitted to build under the London Naval Treaty. In the years after the conference, Yamamoto continued to advocate for naval aviation and led the First Carrier Division in 1933 and 1934. Due to his performance in 1930, he was sent to the third London Naval Conference in 1934. In late 1936, Yamamoto was made the vice minister of the Navy. From this position, he argued strenuously for naval aviation and fought against the construction of new battleships. Road to War Throughout his career, Yamamoto had opposed many of Japans military adventures, such as the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the subsequent land war with China. In addition, he was vocal in his opposition to any war with the United States and delivered the official apology for the sinking of USS Panay in 1937. These stances, along with his advocating against the Tripartite Pact with German and Italy, made the admiral very unpopular with the pro-war factions in Japan, many of which put bounties on his head. During this period, the Army detailed military police to conduct surveillance on Yamamoto under the guise of providing protection from potential assassins. On August 30, 1939, Navy Minister Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa promoted Yamamoto to commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet commenting, It was the only way to save his life- send him off to sea. Following the signing of the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, Yamamoto warned Premier Fumimaro Konoe that if he were forced to fight the United States, he expected to have success for no more than six months to a year. After that time, nothing was guaranteed. With war almost unavoidable, Yamamoto began planning for the fight. Going against traditional Japanese naval strategy, he advocated a quick first strike to cripple the Americans followed by an offensive-minded decisive battle. Such an approach, he argued, would increase Japans chances of victory and might make the Americans willing to negotiate peace. Promoted to admiral on November 15, 1940, Yamamoto anticipated losing his command with the ascension of General Hideki Tojo to prime minister in October 1941. Though old adversaries, Yamamoto retained his position due to his popularity in the fleet and connections to the imperial family. Pearl Harbor As diplomatic relations continued to break down, Yamamoto began planning his strike to destroy the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, while also outlining plans for drives into the resource-rich Dutch East Indies and Malaya. Domestically, he continued to push for naval aviation and opposed the construction of the Yamato-class super-battleships, as he felt they were a waste of resources.  With the Japanese government set on war, six of Yamamotos carriers sailed for Hawaii on November 26, 1941. Approaching from the north they attacked on December 7, sinking four battleships and damaging an additional four- beginning World War II. While the attack was a political disaster for the Japanese due to the United States desire for revenge, it provided Yamamoto with six months (as he anticipated) to consolidate and expand their territory in the Pacific without American interference. Midway Following the triumph at Pearl Harbor, Yamamotos ships and planes proceeded to mop up Allied forces across the Pacific. Surprised by the speed of the Japanese victories, the Imperial General Staff (IGS) began to ponder competing plans for future operations. While Yamamoto argued in favor of seeking a decisive battle with the American fleet, the IGS preferred to move toward Burma. Following the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in April 1942, Yamamoto was able to convince the Naval General Staff to let him move against Midway Island, 1,300 miles northwest of Hawaii. Knowing that Midway was key to the defense of Hawaii, Yamamoto hoped to draw the American fleet out so that it could be destroyed. Moving east with a large force, including four carriers, while also sending a diversionary force to the Aleutians, Yamamoto was unaware that the Americans had broken his codes and were informed about the attack. After bombing the island, his carriers were struck by U.S. Navy aircraft flying from three carriers. The Americans, led by Rear Admirals Frank J. Fletcher and Raymond Spruance, managed to sink all four Japanese carriers (Akagi, Soryu, Kaga, and Hiryu) in exchange for the USS Yorktown (CV-5). The defeat at Midway blunted Japanese offensive operations and shifted the initiative to the Americans. After Midway Despite the heavy losses at Midway, Yamamoto sought to press forward with operations to take Samoa and Fiji. As a stepping stone for this move, Japanese forces landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and commenced building an airfield. This was countered by American landings on the island in August 1942. Forced to fight for the island, Yamamoto was pulled into a battle of attrition that his fleet could not afford. Having lost face due to the defeat at Midway, Yamamoto was forced to assume the defensive posture preferred by the Naval General Staff. Death Throughout the fall of 1942, he fought a pair of carrier battles (Eastern Solomons Santa Cruz) as well as numerous surface engagements in support of the troops on Guadalcanal. Following the fall of Guadalcanal in February 1943, Yamamoto decided to make an inspection tour through the South Pacific to boost morale. Using radio intercepts, American forces were able to isolate the route of the admirals plane. On the morning of April 18, 1943, American P-38 Lightning planes from the 339th Fighter Squadron ambushed Yamamotos plane and its escorts near Bougainville. In the fight that ensued, Yamamotos plane was hit and went down, killing all on board. The kill is generally credited to 1st LieutenantRex T. Barber.  Yamamoto was succeeded as commander of the Combined Fleet by Admiral Mineichi Koga.

Steroids the Silent Killer essays

Steroids the Silent Killer essays It is no secret that anabolic steroids have been used by athletes for decades, or that athletes will do anything to gain an edge in competition. Many athletes feel that they are pushed too far to reach the next level, that they must turn to an outside influence for help. Some think that anabolic steroids will give them an advantage. Unfortunately, these people are correct. Steroids make the user stronger and faster in less time than training naturally. However, anabolic steroids should be banned by all professional sports because they have terrible physiological and psychological side effects, they give an unfair advantage to those who use them, and steroid users set a bad example for todays junior athletes. The word anabolic means the ability to promote body growth and repair body tissue. Steroid refers to a number of compounds of a certain chemical nature. Anabolic steroids are defined as any of a group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone that promotes muscle and bone growth. Steroids occur naturally in the human body in many forms. Steroids that are synthetically created for illegal purposes contain some form of the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics after puberty. When testosterone is released in the body, it is carried in the bloodstream. Since it is carried in the blood, it travels to every organ in the body. Cells absorb the testosterone where it is processed by the nucleus. The nucleus produces new proteins which create new tissue or muscle. This is why steroid users become larger and stronger in less time. The high levels of testosterone in the body make it possible for cells to create more mu scles in less time. The idea that sex hormones might improve physical or athletic performance was first developed in 1939. Studies were conducted as early as 1944 to confirm this theory. At the same time it was...

The Corporate Giant WorldCom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Corporate Giant WorldCom - Essay Example As the E/R ratio imbalance kept increasing, the managers sought to cook the books so as to prevent investors and government from getting the consistent results. 1. Case Summary WorldCom, the Nation’s second largest long-distance Telecommunications Company filed for bankruptcy protection on July 21st, 2002 revealing that it had overstated earnings in 2001 and the first quarter of 2002 by more than $3.8 billion. Further on August 8th of the same year the company again admitted that it had maneuvered its reserve accounts also affecting another 3.8billion. Substantial accounting fraud was charged against the firm by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual cause of the corporate failure lies with the enormous oversupply that could be attributed to excessively optimistic projections of Internet growth. Evidently, the company’s projections on expense-revenue ratio flawed as â€Å"the industry conditions began to deteriorate in 2000 due to heightened competition, overcapacity, and the reduced demand for telecommunications services at the onset of the economic recession† (Kaplan & Kiron, 2007). Subsequently, the stock market value of the firms in the telecommunication industry plunged and people at the WorldCom’s helm of affairs intervened in the accounting practices to conceal the actual trouble from the public. In short, what they did was that they transferred a considerable part of current expense to a capital account as the capitalized cost would normally be considered an investment. 2. What were the pressures that led executives and managers to â€Å"cook the books?† Evidently, the company struggled to maintain its E/R ratio since the first quarter of 2000 ‘while facing revenue and pricing pressures and its high committed line costs’ (Kaplan & Kiron, 2007). WorldCom had to spend beyond its capacity due to unnecessary acquisitions of other firms. In order to overweigh the short term loss, managers were as ked to spend exceedingly so as to raise immediate revenue. There was incessant pressure from the top. For instance, CFO Sullivan directly insisted Myers and Yates carry out his plans. And on the bottom line, individuals like Betty were forced to partake in accrual releases and capitalization of line costs. These were the situations in brief that made executives and managers to â€Å"cook the books. 3. Why were the actions taken by WorldCom managers not detected earlier? What processes or systems should be in place to prevent or detect quickly the types of actions that occurred in WorldCom? The company officials could qualify a considerable amount of costs as an investment in 2001 and the first quarter of 2002, and this could have allowed the company to spread the costs to subsequent years if Cooper had not come across the issue. Obviously, the incident indicates the prevailing pitfall in the US corporate governance. Evidently, audit firms have to make strategic amendments to their processes and procedures to detect frauds and errors in the account books of the client on time. WorldCom was indirectly supported by the Andersen accounting firm, who ignored the fact that the organization’s practices were apparently unethical. Only government can safeguard the interests of its citizens against unscrupulous business practices. Likewise, various service institutions particularly that of banking and accounting must keep themselves reliable and sustainable to prevent this kind of fraud in future.  

Incorporate Comorbidity Problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Incorporate Comorbidity Problem - Essay Example Neurons, which are brain cells, are responsive to distinctive types of neurotransmitters having receptors built purposely for them (Porth & Matfin, 2009). Those neurons that tend to be sensitive to certain neurotransmitters cluster together, thereby forming circuits in the brain, responsible for processing certain types of information. Neurotransmitters are discharged from a neuron at the time it signals another brain cell; these neurotransmitters are discharged to the small space amid the two neurons known as the synapse (Porth & Matfin, 2009). Inside the synapse, the neurotransmitters tend to attach to the receptors at the ending of another neuron, thereby affecting the action of the new neuron. Consequently, the new neuron absorbs as much of the neurotransmitter as it possibly can and then discharges the excess back to the synapse. After that, the first neuron goes ahead to reabsorb the excess; this process through a process is referred to as reuptake (Porth & Matfin, 2009). In th e brain, there are various neurotransmitters, two of which are involved in schizophrenia symptoms, that is dopamine and glutamate (Craft, Gordon, & Tiziani, 2011). Dopamine happens to be primarily responsible for movement and thoughts, while, at the same time being related with novelty seeking, or concern in new experiences, as well as reward. Apparently, illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine act by affecting the function of dopamine in the brain; therefore, dopamine is related with feelings of not only pleasure but also well-being (Craft et al., 2011). Dopamine paths within the brain tend to be extremely specialized, thereby being capable of influencing different types of behavior or thinking. Thus, people with high intensities of dopamine in parts of the brain might also suffer from psychotic symptoms or even paranoid thinking that are symptoms of schizophrenia (Craft et al., 2011). Glutamate happens to be other neurotransmitter, which might play a significan t role in schizophrenia. Glutamate plays a key part in learning, formation as well as encoding of memory (Craft et al., 2011). There are hallucinogenic drugs such as PCP used in blocking glutamate receptors; however, amphetamines, PCP are capable of causing paranoia, which apes schizophrenic symptoms. In instances where people suffer from schizophrenia and use PCP, it worsens their symptoms (Craft et al., 2011). Research shows that an interaction between dopamine and glutamate happens to be the center of schizophrenia; nonetheless, dopamine receptors are capable of reducing glutamate action; in case there are unusually many dopamine receptors, the effects of glutamate will be blocked. Question Two Reports by the American Psychological Association (2001)