The Basics of Magnetic Levitated Trains (Maglev)

The Basics of Magnetic Levitated Trains (Maglev) Magnetic levitation (maglev) is a relatively new transportation technology in which non-contacting vehicles travel safely at speeds of 250 to 300 miles-per-hour or higher while suspended, guided, and propelled above a guideway by magnetic fields. The guideway is the physical structure along which maglev vehicles are levitated. Various guideway configurations, e.g., T-shaped, U-shaped, Y-shaped, and box-beam, made of steel, concrete, or aluminum, have been proposed. There are three primary functions basic to maglev technology: (1) levitation or suspension; (2) propulsion; and (3) guidance. In most current designs, magnetic forces are used to perform all three functions, although a nonmagnetic source of propulsion could be used. No consensus exists on an optimum design to perform each of the primary functions. Suspension Systems Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) is an attractive force levitation system whereby electromagnets on the vehicle interact with and are attracted to ferromagnetic rails on the guideway. EMS was made practical by advances in electronic control systems that maintain the air gap between vehicle and guideway, thus preventing contact. Variations in payload weight, dynamic loads, and guideway irregularities are compensated for by changing the magnetic field in response to vehicle/guideway air gap measurements. Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) employs magnets on the moving vehicle to induce currents in the guideway. Resulting repulsive force produces inherently stable vehicle support and guidance because the magnetic repulsion increases as the vehicle/guideway gap decreases. However, the vehicle must be equipped with wheels or other forms of support for takeoff and landing because the EDS will not levitate at speeds below approximately 25 mph. EDS has progressed with advances in cryogenics and superconducting magnet technology. Propulsion Systems Long-stator propulsion using an electrically powered linear motor winding in the guideway appears to be the favored option for high-speed maglev systems. It is also the most expensive because of higher guideway construction costs. Short-stator propulsion uses a linear induction motor (LIM) winding onboard and a passive guideway. While short-stator propulsion reduces guideway costs, the LIM is heavy and reduces vehicle payload capacity, resulting in higher operating costs and lower revenue potential compared to the long-stator propulsion. A third alternative is a nonmagnetic energy source (gas turbine or turboprop) but this, too, results in a heavy vehicle and reduced operating efficiency. Guidance Systems Guidance or steering refers to the sideward forces that are required to make the vehicle follow the guideway. The necessary forces are supplied in an exactly analogous fashion to the suspension forces, either attractive or repulsive. The same magnets on board the vehicle, which supply lift, can be used concurrently for guidance or separate guidance magnets can be used. Maglev and U.S. Transportation Maglev systems could offer an attractive transportation alternative for many time-sensitive trips of 100 to 600 miles in length, thereby reducing air and highway congestion, air pollution, and energy use, and releasing slots for more efficient long-haul service at crowded airports. The potential value of maglev technology was recognized in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Before the passage of the ISTEA, Congress had appropriated $26.2 million to identify maglev system concepts for use in the United States and to assess the technical and economic feasibility of these systems. Studies were also directed toward determining the role of maglev in improving intercity transportation in the United States. Subsequently, an additional $9.8 million was appropriated to complete the NMI Studies. Why Maglev? What are the attributes of maglev that commend its consideration by transportation planners? Faster trips - high peak speed and high acceleration/braking enable average speeds three to four times the national highway speed limit of 65 mph (30 m/s) and lower door-to-door trip time than high-speed rail or air (for trips under about 300 miles or 500 km). Still higher speeds are feasible. Maglev takes up where high-speed rail leaves off, permitting speeds of 250 to 300 mph (112 to 134 m/s) and higher. Maglev has high reliability and less susceptible to congestion and weather conditions than air or highway travel. Variance from schedule can average less than one minute based on foreign high-speed rail experience. This means intra and intermodal connecting times can be reduced to a few minutes (rather than the half-hour or more required with airlines and Amtrak at present) and that appointments can safely be scheduled without having to consider delays. Maglev gives petroleum independence - with respect to air and auto because of Maglev being electrically powered. Petroleum is unnecessary for the production of electricity. In 1990, less than 5 percent of the Nations electricity was derived from petroleum whereas the petroleum used by both the air and automobile modes comes primarily from foreign sources. Maglev is less polluting - with respect to air and auto, again because of being electrically powered. Emissions can be controlled more effectively at the source of electric power generation than at the many points of consumption, such as with air and automobile usage. Maglev has a higher capacity than air travel with at least 12,000 passengers per hour in each direction. There is the potential for even higher capacities at 3 to 4-minute headways. Maglev provides sufficient capacity to accommodate traffic growth well into the twenty-first century and to provide an alternative to air and auto in the event of an oil availability crisis. Maglev has high safety - both perceived and actual, based on foreign experience. Maglev has convenience - due to a high frequency of service and the ability to serve central business districts, airports, and other major metropolitan area nodes. Maglev has improved comfort - with respect to air due to greater roominess, which allows separate dining and conference areas with the freedom to move around. The absence of air turbulence ensures a consistently smooth ride. Maglev Evolution The concept of magnetically levitated trains was first identified at the turn of the century by two Americans, Robert Goddard, and Emile Bachelet. By the 1930s, Germanys Hermann Kemper was developing a concept and demonstrating the use of magnetic fields to combine the advantages of trains and airplanes. In 1968, Americans James R. Powell and Gordon T. Danby were granted a patent on their design for a magnetic levitation train. Under the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, the FRA funded a wide range of research into all forms of HSGT through the early 1970s. In 1971, the FRA awarded contracts to the Ford Motor Company and the Stanford Research Institute for analytical and experimental development of EMS and EDS systems. FRA-sponsored research led to the development of the linear electrical motor, the motive power used by all current maglev prototypes. In 1975, after Federal funding for high-speed maglev research in the United States was suspended, industry virtually abandoned its interest in maglev; however, research in low-speed maglev continued in the United States until 1986. Over the past two decades, research and development programs in maglev technology have been conducted by several countries including Great Britain, Canada, Germany, and Japan. Germany and Japan have invested over $1 billion each to develop and demonstrate maglev technology for HSGT. The German EMS maglev design, Transrapid (TR07), was certified for operation by the German Government in December 1991. A maglev line between Hamburg and Berlin is under consideration in Germany with private financing and potentially with additional support from individual states in northern Germany along the proposed route. The line would connect with the high-speed Intercity Express (ICE) train as well as conventional trains. The TR07 has been tested extensively in Emsland, Germany, and is the only high-speed maglev system in the world ready for revenue service. The TR07 is planned for implementation in Orlando, Florida. The EDS concept under development in Japan uses a superconducting magnet system. A decision will be made in 1997 whether to use maglev for the new Chuo line between Tokyo and Osaka. The National Maglev Initiative (NMI) Since the termination of Federal support in 1975, there was little research into high-speed maglev technology in the United States until 1990 when the National Maglev Initiative (NMI) was established. The NMI is a cooperative effort of the FRA of the DOT, the USACE, and the DOE, with support from other agencies. The purpose of the NMI was to evaluate the potential for maglev to improve intercity transportation and to develop the information necessary for the Administration and the Congress to determine the appropriate role for the Federal Government in advancing this technology. In fact, from its inception, the U.S. Government has aided and promoted innovative transportation for economic, political, and social development reasons. There are numerous examples. In the nineteenth century, the Federal Government encouraged railroad development to establish transcontinental links through such actions as the massive land grant to the Illinois Central-Mobile Ohio Railroads in 1850. Beginning in the 1920s, the Federal Government provided commercial stimulus to the new technology of aviation through contracts for airmail routes and funds that paid for emergency landing fields, route lighting, weather reporting, and communications. Later in the 20th century, Federal funds were used to construct the Interstate Highway System and assist States and municipalities in the construction and operation of airports. In 1971, the Federal Government formed Amtrak to ensure rail passenger service for the United States. Assessment of Maglev Technology In order to determine the technical feasibility of deploying maglev in the United States, the NMI Office performed a comprehensive assessment of the state-of-the-art of maglev technology. Over the past two decades, various ground transportation systems have been developed overseas, having operational speeds in excess of 150 mph (67 m/s), compared to 125 mph (56 m/s) for the U.S. Metroliner. Several steel-wheel-on-rail trains can maintain a speed of 167 to 186 mph (75 to 83 m/s), most notably the Japanese Series 300 Shinkansen, the German ICE, and the French TGV. The German Transrapid Maglev train has demonstrated a speed of 270 mph (121 m/s) on a test track, and the Japanese have operated a maglev test car at 321 mph (144 m/s). The following are descriptions of the French, German, and Japanese systems used for comparison to the U.S. Maglev (USML) SCD concepts.  Ã‚   French Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) The French National Railways TGV is representative of the current generation of high-speed, steel-wheel-on-rail trains. The TGV has been in service for 12 years on the Paris-Lyon (PSE) route and for 3 years on an initial portion of the Paris-Bordeaux (Atlantique) route. The Atlantique train consists of ten passenger cars with a power car at each end.   The power cars use synchronous rotary traction motors for propulsion. Roof-mounted pantographs collect electric power from an overhead catenary. Cruise speed is 186 mph (83 m/s). The train is non-tilting and, thus, requires a reasonably straight route alignment to sustain high speed. Although the operator controls the train speed, interlocks exist including automatic overspeed protection and enforced braking. Braking is by a combination of rheostat brakes and axle-mounted disc brakes. All axles possess antilock braking. Power axles have anti-slip control. The TGV track structure is that of a conventional standard-gauge railroad with a well-engineered base (compacted granular materials). The track consists of continuous-welded rail on concrete/steel ties with elastic fasteners. Its high-speed switch is a conventional swing-nose turnout. The TGV operates on pre-existing tracks, but at a substantially reduced speed. Because of its high speed, high power, and anti wheel slip control, the TGV can climb grades that are about twice as great as normal in U.S. railroad practice and, thus, can follow the gently rolling terrain of France without extensive and expensive viaducts and tunnels. German TR07 The German TR07 is the high-speed Maglev system nearest to commercial readiness. If financing can be obtained, groundbreaking will take place in Florida in 1993 for a 14-mile (23 km) shuttle between Orlando International Airport and the amusement zone at International Drive. The TR07 system is also under consideration for a high-speed link between Hamburg and Berlin and between downtown Pittsburgh and the airport. As the designation suggests, TR07 was preceded by at least six earlier models. In the early seventies, German firms, including Krauss-Maffei, MBB, and Siemens, tested full-scale versions of an air cushion vehicle (TR03) and a repulsion maglev vehicle using superconducting magnets. After a decision was made to concentrate on attraction maglev in 1977, advancement proceeded in significant increments, with the system evolving from linear induction motor (LIM) propulsion with wayside power collection to the linear synchronous motor (LSM), which employs variable frequency, elect rically powered coils on the guideway. TR05 functioned as a people mover at the International Traffic Fair Hamburg in 1979, carrying 50,000 passengers and providing valuable operating experience. The TR07, which operates on 19.6 miles (31.5 km) of guideway at the Emsland test track in northwest Germany, is the culmination of nearly 25 years of German Maglev development, costing over $1 billion. It is a sophisticated EMS system, using separate conventional iron-core attracting electromagnets to generate vehicle lift and guidance. The vehicle wraps around a T-shaped guideway. The TR07 guideway uses steel or concrete beams constructed and erected to very tight tolerances. Control systems regulate levitation and guidance forces to maintain an inch gap (8 to 10 mm) between the magnets and the iron tracks on the guideway. The attraction between vehicle magnets and edge-mounted guideway rails provide guidance. The attraction between a second set of vehicle magnets and the propulsion stator packs underneath the guideway generate lift. The lift magnets also serve as the secondary or rotor of an LSM, whose primary or stator is an electrical winding running the length of the guideway. T R07 uses two or more non-tilting vehicles in a consist. TR07 propulsion is by a long-stator LSM. Guideway stator windings generate a traveling wave that interacts with the vehicle levitation magnets for synchronous propulsion. Centrally controlled wayside stations provide the requisite variable-frequency, variable-voltage power to the LSM. Primary braking is regenerative through the LSM, with eddy-current braking and high-friction skids for emergencies. TR07 has demonstrated safe operation at 270 mph (121 m/s) on the Emsland track. It is designed for cruise speeds of 311 mph (139 m/s). Japanese High-Speed Maglev The Japanese have spent over $1 billion developing both attraction and repulsion maglev systems. The HSST attraction system, developed by a consortium often identified with Japan Airlines, is actually a series of vehicles designed for 100, 200, and 300 km/h. Sixty miles-per-hour (100 km/h) HSST Maglevs have transported over two million passengers at several Expos in Japan and the 1989 Canada Transport Expo in Vancouver. The high-speed Japanese repulsion Maglev system is under development by Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), the research arm of the newly privatized Japan Rail Group. RTRIs ML500 research vehicle achieved the world high-speed guided ground vehicle record of 321 mph (144 m/s) in December 1979, a record that still stands, although a specially modified French TGV rail train has come close. A manned three-car MLU001 began testing in 1982. Subsequently, the single car MLU002 was destroyed by fire in 1991. Its replacement, the MLU002N, is being used to test the sid ewall levitation that is planned for eventual revenue system use. The principal activity at present is the construction of a $2 billion, 27-mile (43 km) maglev test line through the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, where testing of a revenue prototype is scheduled to commence in 1994. The Central Japan Railway Company plans to begin building a second high-speed line from Tokyo to Osaka on a new route (including the Yamanashi test section) starting in 1997. This will provide relief for the highly profitable Tokaido Shinkansen, which is nearing saturation and needs rehabilitation. To provide ever improving service, as well as to forestall encroachment by the airlines on its present 85 percent market share, higher speeds than the present 171 mph (76 m/s) are regarded as necessary. Although the design speed of the first generation maglev system is 311 mph (139 m/s), speeds up to 500 mph (223 m/s) are projected for future systems. Repulsion maglev has been chosen over attraction maglev because of its reputed higher speed potential and because the larger air gap accommodates the ground motion experienced in Japans earthquake-prone territory. The design of Japans repulsion system is not firm. A 1991 cost estimate by Japans Central Railway Company, which would own the lin e, indicates that the new high-speed line through the mountainous terrain north of Mt. Fuji would be very expensive, about $100 million per mile (8 million yen per meter) for a conventional railway. A maglev system would cost 25 percent more. A significant part of the expense is the cost of acquiring surface and subsurface ROW. Knowledge of the technical details of Japans high-speed Maglev is sparse. What is known is that it will have superconducting magnets in bogies with sidewall levitation, linear synchronous propulsion using guideway coils, and a cruise speed of 311 mph (139 m/s). U.S. Contractors Maglev Concepts (SCDs) Three of the four SCD concepts use an EDS system in which superconducting magnets on the vehicle induce repulsive lift and guidance forces through movement along a system of passive conductors mounted on the guideway. The fourth SCD concept uses an EMS system similar to the German TR07. In this concept, attraction forces generate lift and guide the vehicle along the guideway. However, unlike TR07, which uses conventional magnets, the attraction forces of the SCD EMS concept are produced by superconducting magnets. The following individual descriptions highlight the significant features of the four U.S. SCDs. Bechtel SCD The Bechtel concept is an EDS system that uses a novel configuration of vehicle-mounted, flux-canceling magnets.   The vehicle contains six sets of eight superconducting magnets per side and straddles a concrete box-beam guideway. An interaction between the vehicle magnets and a laminated aluminum ladder on each guideway sidewall generates lift. A similar interaction with guideway mounted null flux coils provides guidance. LSM propulsion windings, also attached to the guideway sidewalls, interact with vehicle magnets to produce thrust. Centrally controlled wayside stations provide the required variable-frequency, variable-voltage power to the LSM. The Bechtel vehicle consists of a single car with an inner tilting shell. It uses aerodynamic control surfaces to augment magnetic guidance forces. In an emergency, it levitates onto air-bearing pads. The guideway consists of a post-tensioned concrete box girder. Because of high magnetic fields, the concept calls for nonmagnetic, fiber-re inforced plastic (FRP) post-tensioning rods and stirrups in the upper portion of the box beam. The switch is a bendable beam constructed entirely of FRP. Foster-Miller SCD The Foster-Miller concept is an EDS similar to the Japanese high-speed Maglev but has some additional features to improve potential performance. The Foster-Miller concept has a vehicle tilting design that would allow it to operate through curves faster than the Japanese system for the same level of passenger comfort. Like the Japanese system, the Foster-Miller concept uses superconducting vehicle magnets to generate lift by interacting with null-flux levitation coils located in the sidewalls of a U-shaped guideway. Magnet interaction with guideway-mounted, electrical propulsion coils provides null-flux guidance. Its innovative propulsion scheme is called a locally commutated linear synchronous motor (LCLSM). Individual H-bridge inverters sequentially energize propulsion coils directly under the bogies. The inverters synthesize a magnetic wave that travels along the guideway at the same speed as the vehicle. The Foster-Miller vehicle is composed of articulated passenger modules and ta il and nose sections that create multiple-car consists. The modules have magnet bogies at each end that they share with adjacent cars. Each bogie contains four magnets per side. The U-shaped guideway consists of two parallel, post-tensioned concrete beams joined transversely by precast concrete diaphragms. To avoid adverse magnetic effects, the upper post-tensioning rods are FRP. The high-speed switch uses switched null-flux coils to guide the vehicle through a vertical turnout. Thus, the Foster-Miller switch requires no moving structural members. Grumman SCD The Grumman concept is an EMS with similarities to the German TR07. However, Grummans vehicles wrap around a Y-shaped guideway and use a common set of vehicle magnets for levitation, propulsion, and guidance.   Guideway rails are ferromagnetic and have LSM windings for propulsion. The vehicle magnets are superconducting coils around horseshoe-shaped iron cores. The pole faces are attracted to iron rails on the underside of the guideway. Nonsuperconducting control coils on each iron-core leg modulate levitation and guidance forces to maintain a 1.6-inch (40 mm) air gap. No secondary suspension is required to maintain adequate ride quality. Propulsion is by conventional LSM embedded in the guideway rail. Grumman vehicles may be single or multi-car consists with tilt capability. The innovative guideway superstructure consists of slender Y-shaped guideway sections (one for each direction) mounted by outriggers every 15-feet to a 90-foot (4.5 m to a 27 m) spline girder. The structural s pline girder serves both directions. Switching is accomplished with a TR07-style bending guideway beam, shortened by use of a sliding or rotating section. Magneplane SCD The Magneplane concept is a single-vehicle EDS using a trough-shaped 0.8-inch (20 mm) thick aluminum guideway for sheet levitation and guidance. Magneplane vehicles can self-bank up to 45 degrees in curves. Earlier laboratory work on this concept validated the levitation, guidance, and propulsion schemes. Superconducting levitation and propulsion magnets are grouped in bogies at the front and rear of the vehicle. The centerline magnets interact with conventional LSM windings for propulsion and generate some electromagnetic roll-righting torque called the keel effect. The magnets on the sides of each bogie react against the aluminum guideway sheets to provide levitation. The Magneplane vehicle uses aerodynamic control surfaces to provide active motion damping. The aluminum levitation sheets in the guideway trough form the tops of two structural aluminum box beams. These box beams are supported directly on piers. The high-speed switch uses switched null-flux coils to guide the vehicle through a fork in the guideway trough. Thus, the Magneplane switch requires no moving structural members. Sources: Sources:  National Transportation Library  http://ntl.bts.gov/

Meditation in Taoism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Meditation in Taoism - Research Paper Example Taoist meditation gives the mind an opportunity to focus wholly. This form of meditation is evident in the Buddhist religion2. Meditation is a religious aspect that seeks to define life and its forms and to connect with nature. It helps an individual realize meaning of life and peace. Since Taoist meditation is a humble form of meditation, people practicing it experience a new form of transformation that generates energy enough to do anything the individual intends. Evidently, a Taoist meditation serves to connect body, spirit, and mind. Taoist meditation is a common aspect among the different groups of Taos. For some, it is purely way to attain the transformation to immortality. The Taoist meditation has health benefits because it concentrates on establishing a healthy status of the mind and body. Taos believe that meditation can lengthen life and real Taos believe in n eternity3. Meditation makes the human spirit sensitive to spiritual matters. It leads to a new form of discovery that identifies with nature. From the Taoist view, they seek to establish knowledge of nature and reality and associate with the changing forms of nature. The ultimate goal of a Taoist is to observe nature and its complexity and patterns and then apply these patterns to drive life. Taoists believe that humans are part of the vast universe. The Taoist keeps making efforts to discover the true pure mind. The Taoist meditation is an inner exercise4. The meditation takes fifteen minutes or more. It requires a cool and still internal environment. The individual must create a balance in the body posture, regulate and slow down breathing and then concentrate on the inner self. The Taoists consider the body, breathe, and spirit as the three treasures. A comfortable body posture ensures that the body weight is under a good balance and the spine remains straight. An individual must give attention to sensations resulting from the physical senses. In some cases, Taoists involve

Disassembling a Nintendo Wii Console Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Disassembling a Nintendo Wii Console - Essay Example The first part may need a better introduction on why one would like to do what I am suggesting or why it may be a common problem. This would then support why what I am writing holds some consequence. To grab the attention of the reader, I must establish that the same mishap could happen or has actually happened to them. Another element that I have to take note of is the grammar and the tenses. Sometimes it gets confusing on whether I have to write one idea in the past tense or in the presence tense. There are also some sentences that get quite confusing because the commas are improperly placed or that the structure of the words is jumbled. But the images of the procedural steps are easy to follow and the identification of the parts is as accurate as I could identify them. Reading the piece, I feel that it still needs work and that there are things that could be done to improve

System Software, Development and Application Essay Example for Free

System Software, Development and Application Essay In the aspect of computer technology, several elements and factors must be critically considered because of their impact and relevance on the computing capacity, efficiency and effectivity in performing the tasks relevant to the public user. The basics among these important computer specifications are the processing capacity, memory storage and computing speed in terms of handling the relevant tasks, softwares, and programs needed by its users. Determining these factors requires software and hardware knowledge to determine their most intricate and critical specification as these factors are relevant to the processing ability of the computer unit. In analyzing the performance value of a specific computer, its ability to process important softwares such as for encoding purposes, internet surfing, image and file viewer and other must be considered. In addition to these, the personal preferences and usage intention of the user must also be considered in determining which specific specification or manufacturer’s brand is effective for such need. Considering the present brands of computer units, there are actually several financial options to choose from in the acquisition of a computer unit that is suitable for the user’s needs. In this paper, actual computer units and brands will be consider and analyze to determine their effectiveness under the disparity of the most and least expensive in the market. In the category of the most expensive, the latest brand of Alienware computer brands namely the Aurora ALX reign top in the list. The specifications of this brand loudly state the reason for this nature as the unit incorporates in its system the latest and highly advanced technology in the present information technology world. On the analysis of its hard disk capacity (storage) as the comparison medium, this unit to hold 128GB storage capacity, which can be further upgraded because of its 4 drives capacity slot. This extends the memory storage capability of this unit to 512GB of storage space. On the other hand, the least expensive brand comes from the most economical manufacturing brand namely the Dell Optiplex GX270, which is less than the quarter of the price of its price range counterpart. This unit offers what is considered storage capacity of 40 GB storage space. Indeed, based on the comparison of these two actual computer brands, price of the unit is commensurable to the capacity it has including the storage space it offers for their users. Storage space is indeed important in the computer unit, their efficiency, performance vale, and effectiveness in terms of their capable tasks and responsibility. However, considering the basic needs of the encoding, internet surfing, file and picture viewing, large storage space is not much of a necessity for these particular tasks. On further analysis and brand comparison, this paper will consider several actual softwares that are needed for certain computing tasks such as Microsoft Office Home 2007 for encoding needs, Adobe Photoshop CS Edition for file and photo viewing, and Netscape Navigator for internet surfing purposes. For the Microsoft Office Home 2007, the recommended storage capacity to use this software is 1.5GB. For the Adobe Photoshop CS Edition, it is necessary to have at least 280MB of available hard disk space. Finally, the Netscape Navigator requires 100 MB of free storage space for its effective function. Thus, consider this top and among the most required computer application softwares, the established least expensive computer unit in the previous comparison appears to be sufficient, with its basic storage capacity, to handle the common tasks of encoding, surfing, and file viewing for its users. Because of this, even the least expensive computer brand in the present is still within the recommended units particularly for users who only need to perform basic computer tasks to aid their actual tasks and responsibilities. In general, each computer units has their own system specifications determining whether they are among the fastest or more efficient computer model or just within the basic range. This system specification determines much the specific economic value of price of the said computer model, as they tend to be commensurable to the performance value of the unit. However, considering the price efficiency and performance capacity of those considered to be among the cheapest brand, these computer units namely the Dell Optiplex GX270 and the other models falling in its category are still effective enough to handle the basic computer tasks in the present society. As such, price and high-end specification are not the main standards in weighing the relevance factor of each computer brands but instead, their performance value and actual significance to the needs of their users in terms of computing tasks and operations

Alzheimers Disease Essay -- Alzheimers Disease Essays

â€Å"Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that gets worse over time. It leads to nerve cell death, and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting nearly all its functions. It gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn and carry out daily activities such as talking, eating, and going to the bathroom† (What Is Alzheimer’s). Early symptoms include personality changes, memory impairment, problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality. Alzheimer’s was named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who died of an unusual mental illness. After she died, he examined her and found plaques and tangles in her brain which are the two main features of Alzheimer’s. â€Å"Patients with Alzheimer’s often die earlier than normal, although a patient may live anywhere from 3-20 years after diagnosis.† Death often occurs from an infection or a failure of other body systems. â€Å"Early diagnosis relies largely on documenting mental decline. Biomarkers are reliable predictors and indicators of a disease process.† Alzheimer’s begins as early as 10 to 20 years before any problems are evident. It develops in your 30s, 40s, 50s, but usually after age 60. As many as 5.1 million Americans may have this disease. â€Å"There is no specific test today that confirms you have Alzheimer’s disease. Your doctor will make a judgment about whether Alzheimer's is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.† Doctors typically rely on physical and neurological exams to check your reflexes and sense of touch and sight, lab t... ... Researchers are looking for new treatments to alter the course of the disease and improve the quality of life for people with dementia. Works Cited 1. "Alzheimer's Disease." www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. . 2. "Alzheimer's Disease." helpguide.org. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. . 3. "Alzheimer's Disease." www.alz.org. 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. .. 4. "Alzheimer's Disease." www.nia.nih.gov. 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. . 5. Powell, Lenore S. Alzheimer's Disease. New York City, USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1983. Print.

Effects of Alcohol Consumption to the Cognitive Function of a Person

Excessive alcohol intake has a great impact on the cognitive function of a person. It leads to a person to have a poor cognitive function. Which can be affected the persons perception, attention, memory, motor skills, language, visual and spatial processing. To some extent, study indicates that high level of impulsivity in alcohol consumptions of a person has an effect on the frontal lobe related to their behavioral problem (Lyvers et. al. ). Furthermore, alcohol intoxication causes disruption of prefrontal cortical functioning and thereby impairs executive cognitive performance.As executive cognitive ability is concerned this is the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for problem solving, cognitive flexibility, planning, organization, abstract reasoning and social conduct. A person who is in inebriated situation is more likely to do risky, impulsive behavior such as unprotected sex, violence and drunk driving. In some situation, severe alcoholics’ gets complication, serio us organic cerebral impairment; it is the common complication occurring in about 10 percent of patient (Horvath 1975).Lishman 1981; American Psychiatric Association 1987, the diverse signs of severe brain dysfunction that persist after cessation of alcohol consumption have been conceptualize in terms of two organic mental disorders: alcohol amnestic disorder (memory disorder) and dementia associated with alcoholism. Alcohol amnestic disorder, commonly called Korsakoff’s psychosis or Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome, it is characterized by short term memory, impairments and behavioral changes that occur without clouding of consciousness or general loss of intellectual abilities.Dementia associated with alcoholism consist of global loss of intellectual abilities with an impairment in memory function together disturbance(s) of abstract thinking, judgment, other higher cortical function or personality change without a clouding of consciousness. These two mental disorders are also cau se by a severe deficiency of  Thiamine  (vitamin B1) and are often precipitated by a sudden influx of glucose. A number of things have been shown to lead to a severe enough thiamine deficiency to trigger wet brain.Wet brain or Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome  has a sudden onset–it is not something which happens gradually over time. The first stage of wet brain is called Wernicke's encephalopathy. When there is a sudden influx of glucose in a brain which is deprived of thiamine the brain cells begin to die. This is because the chemical reactions which supply these brain cells with energy for life use thiamine to turn glucose into energy in a chemical process called the Krebs cycle.When there is an influx of glucose and no thiamine to help metabolize it, these brain cells burn out like a car engine running on high octane gasoline at high speed with no oil. The brain cells which die first are the ones which require the most thiamine to function. These brain cells are located a round the middle of the brain and are the brain cells which are associated with memory and muscular movement. The brain cells of the cerebellum, which controls balance, are also affected.Korsakoff's syndrome includes loss of past memories, inability to learn new things, confabulation (remembering things which never happened), lack of coordination and unsteady gait, and in severe cases dementia. These are the possible reaction to a person who takes excessive alcohol consumptions. More evident in explaining the effect of excessive intake of alcohol in a person’s cognitive function is that he/she will experienced less adept at certain learning tests and visual- spatial integration. Likewise it cause premature aging (Tarter and Edwards, 1986) and it is still under active investigation.In addition, it has long been an established fact that actively drinking, alcohol dependent subjects have smaller brain volumes than normal control subjects who do not drink alcohol. Thus, early res earchers assumed that this was because alcohol killed the brain cells of alcohol dependent subjects, but other research disapproves this hypothesis but it could be partially true unless there has been brain damage as a result of  liver failure  or  thiamine deficiency, the majority of brain cells of heavy drinkers are intact even though the brain has shrunk.Meanwhile, in some study stated that alcohol consumption in a moderate mode has an effect to help a person to decrease the incidence of having diabetes. Likewise, it can help to preserve brain vasculature prevents sub-clinical strokes and could result in better cognition function. But drinking too much of alcohol leads to have poor cognitive function that causes to a person to have brain damage. Some research shows that alcohol adversely affects the brain.When health professionals encounter patients who are having cognitive difficulties, such as impaired memory or reasoning ability, alcohol use may be the cause of the probl em. The human brain consists of white cells and gray cells. The gray cells are responsible for thinking and feeling and decisions–they correspond to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the computer. The white cells are like the cables of the computer which connect the keyboard and the monitor to the CPU.Jensen and Pakkenberg (1993) did brain cell counts which compared the number of cells in the brains of heavy drinkers with those of non-drinkers. They found out that the number of gray cells was the same in both the heavy drinkers and the non-drinkers. However, there were fewer white brain cells in the brains of the drinkers which imply that alcohol kills a white brain cell that is responsible to the connection to pass the message or transaction of the brain to connect with the feeling and decision making of a person.Hence, excessive alcohol intake disrupts the connection or breaks the normal function of the brain to react and to have a better cognitive function. Moreover, Ge orge Fein (2009) discovered that there was one part of the brain in the parietal lobe–which is associated with spatial processing–where alcohol kills gray cells. Fein claims that this explains why even after alcohol dependent subjects regain use of all their other cognitive functions they still seem to have difficulties with spatial processing.Parker et al. (1983) stated that there is significant decrease in test performance have been found for people whose self-reported alcohol consumption was in the range of what was considered social drinking. They found it out when they conducted a certain neuropsychological tests, the results of one general population study (Bergman et al. 1983). Those people were not clinically impaired; they only exhibited certain performance deficits that correlated with alcohol consumption.Parsons (1986) concluded that data on the relationship of cognitive impairment to amount of alcohol consumed by social drinkers are inconclusive but has the chance to have similar correlation. There is some evidence that both the amount of brain shrinkage and the amount of cognitive deficit are dependent on the quantity of alcohol consumed and the number of years of heavy drinking. Thus, it only proves that there is an adversely effect on the cognitive function of a person in drinking too much of it. Hence, there is no good effect on the brain or body function of a person. (copyright of ISLA BONITAS 2012) |

A Plan of Action for Success in High School or College

Strategic plans are tools that many organizations use to keep themselves successful and on track. A strategic plan is a roadmap for success. You can use the same sort of plan to establish a route to academic success in high school or college. The plan may involve a strategy for achieving success in a single year of high school or for your entire educational experience. Ready to get started? Most basic strategic plans contain these five elements: Mission StatementGoalsStrategy or MethodsObjectivesEvaluation and Review Create a Mission Statement   You will kick off your roadmap for success by determining your overall mission for the year (or four years) of education. Your dreams will be put into words in a written statement called a mission statement. You need to decide ahead of time what youd like to accomplish, then write a paragraph to define this goal. This statement can be a little vague, but thats only because you need to think big at the beginning stage. (Youll see that you should go into detail a little later.) The statement should spell out an overall target that would enable you to reach your highest potential. Your statement should be personalized: it should fit your individual personality as well as your special dreams for the future. As you craft a mission statement, consider how you are special and different, and think about how you can tap in to your special talents and strengths to achieve your target. You might even come up with a motto. Sample Mission Statement Stephanie Baker is a young woman determined to graduate in the top two percent of her class. Her mission is to use the gregarious, open side of her personality to build positive relationships, and to tap in to her studious side to keep her grades high. She will manage her time and her relationships to establish a professional reputation by building on her social skills and her study skills. Stephanies motto is: Enrich your life and reach for the stars. Select the Goals   Goals are general statements that identify some benchmarks youll need to accomplish in order to meet your mission. Most likely you will need to address some possible stumbling blocks you may face on your journey. As in business, you need to recognize any weaknesses and create a defensive strategy in addition to your offensive strategy. Offensive Goals: I will set aside specific times to do homework.I will build relationships with teachers who write great recommendations! Defensive Goal: I will identify and eliminate time-wasting activities by half.I will manage relationships that involve drama and that threaten to drain my energy. Plan Strategies for Reaching Every Goal   Take a good look at the goals youve developed and come up with specifics for reaching them. If one of your goals is dedicating two hours a night to homework, a strategy for reaching that goal is to decide what else might interfere with that and plan around it. Be real when you examine your routine and your plans. For instance, if you are addicted to American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance, make plans to record your show(s) and also to keep others from spoiling the outcomes for you. See how this reflects reality? If you think something so frivolous as planning around a favorite show doesnt belong in a strategic plan, think again! In real life, some of the most popular reality shows consume four to ten hours of our time every week (watching and discussing). This is just the sort of hidden roadblock that can bring you down! Create Objectives   Objectives are clear and measurable statements, as opposed to goals, which are essential but indistinct. They are specific acts, tools, numbers, and things that provide concrete evidence of success. If you do these, youll know youre on track. If you dont carry out your objectives, you can bet youre not reaching your goals. You can kid yourself about many things in your strategic plan, but not objectives. Thats why theyre important. Sample Objectives Buy a planner and write in it every day.Sign a homework contract.Secure a device for recording my favorite shows.Take a learning style exam to determine my best learning style. Evaluate Your Progress   Its not easy to write a good strategic plan on your first try. This is actually a skill that some organizations find difficult. Every strategic plan should have in place a system for an occasional reality check. If you find, halfway through the year, that you are not meeting goals; or if you discover a few weeks into your mission that your objectives arent helping you to get where you need to be, it may be time to revisit your strategic plan and hone it.