Frederick McKinley Jones

Frederick McKinley Jones Frederick McKinley Jones was one of the most prolific black inventors and held over 60 patents at the time of his death. Some of his most important work changed the way we store and transport our food, and altered the transportation and grocery industries forever. Fast Facts: Frederick McKinley Jones Born: May 17, 1893 in Cincinnati, OhioDied: February 21, 1961 in Minneapolis, MinnesotaKnown For: Inventor who revolutionized the refrigeration industry and held over 60 patentsEducation: Orphaned at a young age, Jones had little formal education, but he taught himself automobile mechanics and became an engineerAwards and Honors: First African American elected to the  American  Society  of Refrigeration Engineers, and first African American to be awarded a National  Medal  of Technology (posthumously)   Early Years A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Frederick McKinley Jones was born on May 17, 1893, to an Irish father, John Jones, and an African American mother. By the time he was 7 years old, his mother had deserted the family, and his father sent him to live with a Catholic priest in a rectory in Covington, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. While in Kentucky, young Fredericks father passed away, essentially leaving him an orphan. When he was 11, Jones decided hed had enough of living with the priest, so he ran away and returned to Cincinnati. During his teen years, he found work doing odd jobs around the city, and soon found he had a natural aptitude for automobile mechanics. He also began to read a lot, although he had little formal education. At 19, he traveled north to a farm in Hallock, Minnesota, where he took a job doing mechanical labor on the farm machinery, and soon was able to obtain an engineering license. When war broke out, Jones enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was in high demand for his mechanical abilities. He spent much of the war making repairs to machines and other equipment, as well as maintaining communications systems at the front. After his military service ended, he returned to the farm in Minnesota. Inventions While living at the Hallock farm, Jones began to take an interest in electronics, and read as much as he could on the subject. According to Biography.com, When the town decided to fund a new radio station, Jones built the transmitter needed to broadcast its programming. He also developed a device to combine  moving  pictures with sound. Local businessman Joseph A. Numero subsequently hired Jones to improve the sound equipment he produced for the film industry. Numeros company, Cinema Supplies, was excited about Jones inventions, and within a few years, the two of them would form a partnership. Frederick McKinley Jones, inventor, refrigeration expert and cofounder of Thermo King Corp., holding a model of his refrigerated railroad car. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images Mobile Refrigeration In the 1930s, it was risky to transport perishable products. Grocery shipments were typically limited to short distances; ice melted quickly, and any sort of  electronic refrigeration unit required a layover at a power source, which delayed delivery time. However, by 1938, Jones believed he had found a solution, and in 1940 he obtained a patent for the first practical transport refrigeration unit for the trucking industry. Jones designed a portable air-cooling device, which included an undercarriage gasoline motor sturdy enough to handle the jolts of long-distance travel. Early modifications made the units even smaller and lighter, and moved them to the over-the-cab mount that is still in use on refrigeration trucks today. Suddenly, people in rural or isolated areas could have access to fresh produce, meat, and dairy items all year long. Further advancements soon led to standardized refrigerated containers which could be utilized on a truck, ship, or train, all without the need of unloading and repacking. The transport refrigeration industry boomed with the creation of these refrigerated boxcars, all of which used Jones technology. Together with Numero, who sold Cinema Supplies, Jones formed the U.S. Thermo Control Company, which grew rapidly in the 1940s. During World War II, the company provided refrigeration units that were used to help preserve not only food, but also blood and medicine for the military. In addition, U.S. Thermo Control cooling products were built into the cockpits of bombers and ambulance planes, and also provided air conditioning to personnel in field hospitals. Near the end of the war, Jones became the first African American inducted into the  American  Society  of Refrigeration Engineers, and by 1949, U.S. Thermo Control- which later became Thermo King- was worth several million dollars. Throughout the 1950s, Jones did consultant work for the Department of Defense, the Bureau of Standards, and other branches of the government. Although he is best known for his work with refrigeration units, during his lifetime, Frederick Jones patented over 60 inventions. He created X-ray machines, small and large engines, and sound equipment for radio and film production, generators, and even a machine that dispensed paper tickets. Jones passed away in Minneapolis, after a battle with lung cancer, on February 21, 1961. In 1977, he was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame. Thirty years after his death, President George H.W. Bush awarded the National  Medal  of Technology posthumously to Jones and Numero, presenting the awards to their widows in the White House Rose Garden. Jones was the first African American to receive the National  Medal  of Technology. Sources â€Å"Frederick Jones.†Ã‚  Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 19 Jan. 2018, www.biography.com/people/frederick-jones-21329957.â€Å"Frederick McKinley Jones.†Ã‚  The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Ed, Encyclopedia.com, 2019, www.encyclopedia.com/people/science-and-technology/technology-biographies/frederick-mckinley-jones.â€Å"Frederick McKinley Jones.†Ã‚  Invent.org, National Inventors Hall of Fame, 2007, www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/343.html.â€Å"Frederick McKinley Jones: How Has He Transformed the Scene?†Ã‚  Richard G. (Gurley) Drew, www.msthalloffame.org/frederick_mckinley_jones.htm.

How to Write About Pets Writing a Book About Pets Step-by-Step

How to Write About Pets Writing a Book About Pets Step-by-Step How to Write About Pets: 6 Steps for Writing a Book About Pets the Right Way Writing about pets is a great way to share your passion and get paid for it!But thats only doable if you know how to write about pets in a way that others will actually want to readBecause lets be real, wed all love to gush about how amazing our pets are ALL day long, but thats not whats going to sell.I have some tips for writing a book about pets (or just writing in general) to help you out.Here are the steps for writing about pets:Journaling or free-writing about petsResearching writing about petsDevelop your pets characterDecide on the themeRead books about pets to learnBuild your pets author platformNOTE: If youre ready to start your book about pets, we can help you with that. In our VIP Self-Publishing Program, weve helped hundreds (even thousands) publish their books, even some about pets. Learn more about it hereHow to Write a Book About PetsIf you’re ever having a bad day at work, you may indulge in scrolling through some kind of social media app to get your mind off y our problems.As you scroll, something catches your eye, so you stop. It’s a video of cat with no front legs, learning how to jump, run, and play while still managing to be cute and adorable.You can’t help yourself; you smile.Not only is the kitty’s antics a little funny, but the story is also inspiring. Despite its disability, the cat forges on as if it had four legs instead of only two. Well, if that sweet little kitty can overcome its obstacle, you can get through your bad day at work.This is the power of pet stories.Along with making us laugh, pets and animals have a way of tugging at our heartstrings. Even though they’re animals, their tails- I mean, tales- humanize us every day.Pets and animals- big or small, hairy, feathered, covered with scales, paws, wings, or hooves- have a way of impacting our lives, whether it’s with humor or heroism.Either way, there’s a big market for pet stories and they give you a strong reason to write a book about them.Besides, anybody who has ever had pets always has a few stories to tell.So, do you think your pet/s have a unique story to share? Ive got some tips to help you share it.#1 Journaling or freewriting about your petsSet aside a few minutes each day- let’s say, 20 minutes or more- to write about your pets. Developing this writing habit is crucial to actually finish your project.Try to focus on one memorable event and write it down. This doesn’t need to be perfect; you can always revise later.If you are still feeling a bit stuck, try these ideas for writing about pets:Write about the time you met your pet for the first time. Were they given to you as a present? Did you adopt them from the shelter? Or did you find each other through some sort of happenstance?Write down something funny your pet did. Did they fail at training? Did they have an odd habit? Why was this memory significant to you? Was anyone else there with you and were they also amused or no?Write ab out a time you lost your pet. How did this affect you? How was their loss significant? What brought you two back together again? If your pet passed away, how did you handle your grief after?If you are still feeling stuck, try using these pet writing prompts to help you get some ideas to write down.#2 Research and notesJust like any other form of writing, you will need to backup your brainstorming with sound book research.This research will provide background information to your pet’s story to give it a fuller narrative and may help you to develop a theme (we’ll talk about themes next).Here are some research topics for pets and animals:Species/breeds: Research your pet’s species and breed. Does your pet fit these characteristics? Make notes of your pet’s behaviors and habits and see if they are common. How do they communicate (think sounds and body language)? Do other pet owners experience the same behaviors with their pets? This kind of research is espec ially important for exotic pets, like tarantulas, snakes, and turtles. It is unlikely that many readers of your story will have any kind of experience exotic species and/or breeds, so be sure to share more information with themService animals: If your pet was a service animal of some kind- therapy, police, military, leading the blind, search-and-rescue- research about those services provided and the organizations out there that provide them. These animals have benefited people tremendously and have very moving stories. If you have done any kind of professional and/or volunteer work with service animals, readers will find your insights and experiences invaluable.Adopted/rescue pets: Perhaps you adopted your pet from an animal shelter. Research the specific shelter you adopted your pet from, as well as how shelters functions in general. How high is the need to adopt animals? If your pet’s species or breed is one that has a high rate of ending up in shelters, it’s imperat ive to conduct research on this issue and provide readers information on it and how to prevent it. For example, pit bull terriers and huskies are two dog breeds that are known to often be sent to shelter; pit bull terriers are sent in because people use them for dog fighting and believed to be an aggressive breed, while huskies have extremely high energy and are very clever, both of which make them difficult to handle. This will encourage readers to think carefully about pets they adopt into their family and prepare for the responsibility they require. Perhaps you volunteered with a pet or animal sanctuary. Research the history and the purpose and mission of the organization.Pet care advice: Taking care of pets requires a great deal of responsibility. Each pet has its own set of care instructions, and some even require special care. What is the best way to care for this particular pet? What kind of expenses has your pet incurred? For example, let’s say you bottle-fed a kitten because it was an orphan. In your story, detail where you bought supplies for bottle-feeding, how often you fed them and how much for each feeding, how long you had to bottle-feed them, and at what age is best to finally transition from milk to solid food. Readers may find this information handy in the future.It may be wise to research and share some advice on how to encourage kids to be responsible for their pets.Sometimes kids are eager for a new pet, but once they realize how much work it is to take care of them, they quickly lose interest and neglect the pet they so badly wanted before.This is an issue that many parents face and often end up taking care of the pet themselves. It’s important to hold children accountable to their choices, but there are ways to do that without making them begin to dislike their pet.#3 Developing your pets characterIf your pet is still in your life, observe them and take notes. What are their habits? How do they interact with people and oth er animals? Do they do anything unique or peculiar? This research will enable you to develop your pet’s character and endear them to your reader.Don’t assume that just because you love your pet, your readers automatically will as well. This may be hard to believe, but it’s true. What makes your pet any different from others? You have to develop their character just as deeply and richly as you would a human character.Your pet’s story won’t stand out to readers unless their character stands out to them as well.Here’s some character development tips and advice to help you out:Detail their backgroundNote their strengths and weaknessesObserve unique habits or traitsCreate a character arc for themThe following excerpt from Marley by John Grogan is a great example of developing a pet’s character by using the rule of show, dont tell:â€Å"Just as we were reaching the car, we heard a commotion coming from the woods. Something was crashing thr ough the brush- and breathing heavily. It sounded like what you might hear in a slasher film. And it was coming our way. We froze, staring into the darkness. The sound grew louder and closer. Then in a flash the thing burst into the clearing and came charging in our direction, a yellow blur. A very big yellow blur. As it galloped past, not stopping, not even seeming to notice us, we could see it was a large Labrador retriever. But it was nothing like the sweet Lily we had just cuddled inside. This one was soaking wet and covered up to its belly in mud and burrs. Its tongue hung out wildly to one side, and froth flew off its jowls as it barreled past. In the split-second glimpse I got, I detected an odd, slightly crazed, yet somehow joyous gaze in its eyes. It was as though this animal had just seen a ghost- and couldn’t possibly be more tickled about it.â€Å"Then, with the roar of a stampeding herd of buffalo, it was gone, around the back of the house and out of sight. Jenn y let out a little gasp.â€Å"‘I think,’ I said, a slight queasiness rising in my gut, ‘we just met Dad.’†Even though we only see the daddy dog for a just brief moment- literally- we’ve learned something about John’s new puppy, Marley; he is going to be a big, wild, hard-to-handle, and happy dog.This scene is foreshadowing the kind of main character Marley will be later in the story.#4 Think of a themeNow that you have some done some substantial brainstorming and research, think of a theme your pet’s story could fall into. Themes in pet stories help connect ideas and issues with stories. Often our experiences with our pets coincide with life-changing events. If this is true for you, consider how your pet’s presence helped you through that time in your life.Examples of themes include coming-of-age, new relationships/romances, new parents, twenty-something years, thirty-something years, historical events, etc. You could eve n write a pet-themed cookbook with recipes for fun pet treats!#5 Read books about petsTo better understand the niche market of pet and animal stories, read books about pets.Here are some examples of books about pets you can learn from:Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John GroganSeabiscuit: An American Legend by Lauren HillenbrandDewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki MyronAlex Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence- and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. PepperbergFor more examples, you can check out thislist of animal memoirs on Goodreads.As you read, ask yourself these questions: What kind of impact did this animal have on the writer?What’s the theme of the story?What kind of research about this animal did the writer have to do?What does the writer do with this story that you like?What would you do differently in your pet’s story?#6 Build the pets onlin e platformYes, you did read that right. While many pets have an online platform, its necessary for yours to have one if youre writing about them.As you complete your pet’s story, begin building an online platform†¦for your pet. Having an established online platform will help market your story once you publish it, so come up with a plan on how to promote your story, and your pet.Here are some creative ways to create â€Å"buzz† about your upcoming book about your pet:Create an Instagram account for themBlog on your author website about themHave a bunch of videos of your pet? Make an online video seriesTheir online platform can be about anything- funny things they do, the two of you traveling together, throwing birthday parties for them, and so on. You can even write posts and captions from their point-of-view.In fact, this will even help you with building their character to make them more relatable to your audience.If you’re still feeling at a loss on how to do this, read some pet blogs and search social media for examples. They may give you an idea of what you need to do to get followers for your pet.Ready to write about your pet?Your pet’s story deserves to be heard. Start writing today. Give your pet a kiss on the head and put your fingers to the keyboard while you sign up for this training thatll help you make headway on your book today.

Non Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Non - Essay Example The painting has a symmetrical balance. The characters in the painting get provided with equal weight as the artist appears to have evenly divided the painting into two equal pieces by an imaginary line in the middle of the peace. The characters on each half of the painting also get drawn through the middle of each pane. The artist uses balance to evenly contrast the two emotions of the characters in the painting (Clarke 34). The artist uses a vertical color that divides the piece evenly into two. The artist uses one half to present the happy and smiling character, and the other half he employs to depict the sad character. The artist also employs the use of a curved white line around the hair of the character with a smiling face which assists to further depict the softening effect, pleasing, and sensual quality of the character. The artist uses a variety of color to communicate the emotions represented by the characters in the painting. One half of the painting gets dominated by brig ht colors while the other gets dominated by dark colors. On the character with a smiling face and what appears to be a happy mood, the artist employs the use of white tints of yellow, brown, blue, purple, and black. The use of a variety of tinted colors makes this half of the painting easily striking compared to the other half. ... The use of these shades provides the character with a heavy look. The artist employs the use of diagonal lines on both halves of the painting. On the background of each character, there appear diagonal lines with varying tint and shades. On the background of the happy character, the artist uses cross-cutting diagonal lines of white tint lines of clue. The background of the sad character gets characterized by cross-cutting diagonal lines of brown shade. The use of diagonal lines in the piece by the artist assists to create movement within the picture and thus create varying focal points within the artwork. The artist also draws a balance at the center of the piece by using an almost vertical line that consists of multiple colors of different shades and tints. Through the use of various colors and lines, the artist employs the use of texture throughout the painting. The half with a happy character has a smooth texture. The artist achieves this by using white tint of various colors. The white tint used on this half of the painting provides it with a light feel. The artist also seems to have employed the use of smooth and gentle brush strokes on this half of the painting (Clark 67). The artist also uses straight diagonal lines in the background of the character making this half of the painting to have an overall smooth feel. The use of dark shade on the half with the sad character provides the painting with a rough feel. The dark shade paint used provides a thick feel to this half of the painting. The shade on this half of the piece appears to have gotten created seem to have gotten created out of broad and impulse brush strokes. This provides the sad character with a dynamic and rough feel. Emphasis on the painting is on the contrast of the two characters within

Role of transfer in second language acquisition Essay

Role of transfer in second language acquisition - Essay Example Most researchers now presuppose that innate principles and transfer interact in L2 development, but researchers have varying positions on how these interactions take place (Gass 1996). This paper explores second language (L2) acquisitions theories and their analysis of the role of transfer. Universal-grammar based approaches contend that transfer has a significant role to play in L2 acquisition through the exercise of innate principles (Universal Grammar or UG) (Gass 1996:330). Two major alternatives explanations have been expressed by studies. First, learners have access to UG either (a) completely, in the way that children do, or (b) partly, in ways that other variables, such as L1 may interrelate with UG and avoid complete access to UG. Second, learners cannot access UG (Gass 1996:330). When exploring these possibilities, the first (UG access) hints that UG is the preliminary access stage for L2 grammar development. In the strong account of UG access, UG limits grammar development through the complete process of L2 acquisition; in the weak account, UG is the initial point, but the L1 is a vital part of the process, successfully stopping the full use of UG (Gass 1996:330). The second likelihood indicates that the L1 is the preliminary point and provides the foundations on which L2s build up (Gass 1996:330). Principles are important in second language acquisition and accessible to all humans during the acquisition of L1.Otsu and Naoi (1986) studied the principle of Structure Dependence, which asserts that linguistic rules work through structural units, through investigating data from Japanese learners (ages 14-15) of English (Gass 1996:330). The focus was on L2 question formation with subjects that have relative clauses (Gass 1996:330). In Japanese, questions are made by adding a particle without changing the word order. This means that from L1, there is lack of available information on how question formation is processed in English (Gass 1996:330). Generally, the subjects observed the limitations of the structure dependency, although by the age of the subjects, the results may not directly shape L2 acquisition as adults (Gass 1996:330). The goal of the study was to establish access to a principle that cannot be found in L1. Nevertheless, White accurately recommends that this principle may still manifest in NL through other structures (Gass 1996:330). If this is true, it is not certain if UG is directly accessible to L2 learners or whether it is accessible through the L1 (Gass 1996:330). Another theory that has recently surfaced is the Full Transfer/Full Access theory (FTFA) (Schwartz and Sprouse 1996), which has greatly influenced the literature. This theory argues that at the beginning of L2 acquisition, the L1 grammar is being transferred in full (except the phonetic structures of lexical items). Consequently, this grammar will be restructured, as limited by the UG (Schwartz and Sprouse 1996). Hence, the L1 provides the foundation for L2 acquisition. It suggests that a Turkish speaker learning English will use grammar based on Turkey, so that the English language can be learned. For instance: 1) I see a red house. 2) Ben k?rm?z? bir ev gorurum. In order to learn number one, Turkish speakers use their L1 grammar. In the Competition Model (Bates and MacWhinney 1981), transfer plays a large role. The model assumes that form and function cannot be detached from one another, which is its

Someone Who Has Changed My Life Essay Example for Free

Someone Who Has Changed My Life Essay Romans chapter 4 is about how faith is the means for is proof that faith has always been the means for justification. Paul reflects back to the Old Testament patriarchs who were justified by faith, not works, to illustrate his point. Paul uses this illustration to prove that Gentiles were part of this promise given to Abraham. The whole world was blessed through him because he chose to believe God rather than his circumstances and because of this, his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Chapter 4 shows proof that faith is the true meaning of justification. It tell us in the beginning of the chapter that Abraham trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own. I believed that we all should do that because God is the only one that knows best for us. We all think we know when we have a situation in our hands but we actually don’t know anything if we don’t ask God to help us out in it. It also goes back to the Old Testaments to show us that patriarchs who were justified by faith, not by works alone. Paul uses this example to prove that Gentiles were part of this promise given to Abraham. The entire world was blessed through him because he chose to believe God rather than his circumstance and because of this, his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Chapter 5 had a lot of things to talk about. It lost me i had to read it a couple times to understand it. I believe that Paul was trying to tell us that after being justify we will be saved. It also shows that we rejoice in the glory of God. It also shows that tribulation produces patience. Sin, death, judgement, condemnation entered the world by one man but after it tells us that Jesus Christ brought grace, gift, justification, life and righteousness. I learned that sin reigned in death meanwhile grace reign in eternal life. I knew that from before but it reinforced it. Chapter 6 talks about different things. It teaches us that as born again believers, sin’s power over us is broken. I learned that we shall not continue in sin that grace may abound. i also learned that we are buried with Christ through baptism unto death. We shouldn’t allow sin to reign over us. The wage of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life.Paul explains that we are freed from sin and made alive to God through Jesus Christ. Our sin was taken away when he got crucified for us. Chapter 7 shows the difference between living bound to the law and living fresh b the spirit of God. Tells us to serve God with newness of spirit. The law is not sin but the law is holy and spiritual. Paul mentions the law of God, law in my members, law of my mind, law of sin. Paul also mentioned that he served the law of God with his mind. My favorite chapter of all 4 that I read was the first one I really got something out of it. Sometimes i find myself doing alot of work but my faith is still lacking. That is something I am improving in but at the same time i know that i shouldnt stop doing work either. I really want to gain the gift of God. My second favorite chapter was chapter 7 there was a lot of little details there that i didnt know of. I knew the different laws but i didnt find myself actually think each of them. I had never actually read the book of Romans before and i find it very interesting. It actually makes keep me interested. Theres somepart in the Bible that bore you because thats not what we like to read. I am enjoying my time reading the book of Romans and understanding and leaning new things from another prospective.

The Effectiveness of a Multicultural and Bilingual Education Essay

The Effectiveness of a Multicultural and Bilingual Education 1 There is a lot of controversy concerning our public educational programs. Opinions and lifestyles differ; [-- often] Often what is beneficial for one group of people is counterproductive for another group. Educational issues are complex and sensitive; [-- therefore] Therefore, we must analyze both sides of the issue before we make a decision. Two controversial issues in today's public educational program are multicultural and bilingual education. 2 Some experts believe there are many benefits we, as Americans, can experience in a multicultural education. James A Banks states; "An education that reflects the experiences of a nation across its racial, gender and socioeconomic boundaries-benefits all students." (96) [This is from the book editor, not from Banks.] Banks is a professor and director of the Center for Multicultural Education at the University of Washington in Seattle. [Put this before the quotation.] He also believes that an important goal should be to educate students so they can participate successfully in the workforce and in their civic communities to help the nation actualize ideals such as justice, equality and freedom (Banks 97). Studies show that student participation and test scores are increased when taught with group-oriented strategies consistent with their community cultures. Research indicates [whose authority?] students from diverse ethnic backgrounds do better in school when they have a better un derstanding of each other?s cultures (Banks 99). 3 Gena Dagel Caponi associate professor of American Studies at the University of Texas in San Antonio states; "Studying any one part of us does not divide us, it educates us. Occ... ...reenhaven Press Inc. 2000. 101-102. Chavez, Linda. "The Dangers Of Multiculturalism." Reprinted in: Williams, Mary E. ed. Are Multicultural Approaches Good For Education? Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego. Greenhaven Press Inc. 2000. 106. Chavez, Linda. "Bilingual Education Is A Failure." Reprinted in: Williams, Mary E. ed. Are Multicultural Approaches Good For Education? Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego. Greenhaven Press Inc. 2000. 130-134. ["Bilingual" goes before "Dangers"] Famularo, Thomas J. "Multicultural Education Is Counterproductive." Reprinted in: Williams, Mary E. ed. Are Multicultural Approaches Good For Education? Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego. 2000. 103-108. Garcia, Ofelia. "Bilingual Education Is Beneficial." Reprinted in: Williams, Mary E. ed. Are Multicultural Approaches Good For Education? Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego. 2000. 126-129.

Japanese Medical Beliefs Essay

Japanese Medical Beliefs Medicine is all around us. It comes in all forms and all types of beliefs. Each person has their own beliefs on what medicine can do to or for the body. No matter what country one visits, there will be a medical office to assist, however their views may vary that what one may be use to. In Japan, things are no different; however, Japan has some beliefs that contrast other countries. The Japanese has received influence from other countries, such as the Chinese, but they have turned everything into their own. They have their own superstitions, traditional medicine (including how they view modern medical needs), and different types of current trends that they follow. Every country has its own superstitions. Certain things that are not allowed to happen on certain days or even certain things must be kept away because of its meanings. In 1998, an experiment was done to see if the Japanese was using the Taian-Butsumetsu superstition when discharging patients. The basis of the study was â€Å"To determine the influence of superstition about Taian (a lucky day)-Butsumetsu (an unlucky day) on decision to leave hospital. To estimate the costs of the effect of this superstition† (Hira, Fukui, Endoh, Rahman, & Maekawa, 1998). They took figures from patients discharged from Kyoto University Hospital from the beginning of April 1992 to the end of March of 1995, 3 years worth of patients. In the Japanese world, the Taian-Butsumetsu belief is related to the six day lunar calendar and affects the Japanese culture in a variety of ways since the Taian is suppose to be a lucky day where as the Butsumetsu is supposed to mean unlucky. Due to this superstition, some patients have asked to extend their stay so that they can be released on the following Taian day, which means more costs to the hospitals. To get the most accurate data, they used hospital records and calculated the amount of days that patients were released on each day of the six lunar cycle, and then estimated the costs that the extension brought on to the hospital. They also took into consideration the patients age and gender. The results showed that â€Å"Of the 23677 patients discharged from the Kyoto University Hospital during the study period, 12613 (53. %) were female and 11064 (46. 7%) were male. The mean number of discharged patients was 21. 6 a day with the mean age 42. 3 years and the mean hospital stay 37. 1 days. The mean number, age, and hospital stay of discharged patients were highest on Taian and lowest on Butsumetsu. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant difference among the days of this cycle regarding the mean number, age, and hospital stay of discharged patients† (Hira, Fukui, Endoh, Rahman, & Maekawa, 1998). Reports also showed that 3. 3% of the discharged patients adjusted their discharge date due to their belief in Taian. It goes on to state the estimation that the mean of a typical hospital charge was 12 600 yen a day. The extra charges the patients caused the hospital to incur in order to stay to the next Taian, amount to 7. 4 million yen a year all due to a superstition. If the patients would have shorted their stay to a prior Taian, there could have been a savings of roughly 12. 1 million yen. Another superstition for the Japanese is blood type. According to superstitions, your blood type can tell your temperament and personality. A man named Furukawa Takeji suggested a link between the two after working in a high school and observing the temperamental differences between applicants. His theory suggests that type A were generally mild tempered and intellectual, while blood types B were opposite (Thatcher). This superstition has influenced the Japanese so much that some companies have actually grouped their workforce together depending on their blood type. In the 1920’s and 30’s blood type grew more intriguing. Scientists in the west found that type B was common in Asia, but rare in Caucasians. As type B was typical in animals, they argued that Asians were inferior, lower on the evolutionary scale. Japan does have some forms of traditional medicine. They are required to have independent licensees for Kampo, acupuncture, moxibustion, and anma-massage-shiatsu. Kampo is only able to be performed by physicians with western medical doctor’s license. Acupuncture and moxibustion can be given by a person graduated from senior high school and later completed a 3 year education at one of the educational facilities specified. Acupuncture, moxibustion and anma are classified within the framework of the Japanese medical care system (Katai). Of these, Kampo seems to be the most widely used in Japan. Kampo medicine is widely practiced and is fully included into their modern healthcare system. The word Kampo means Han Method, which refers to China’s herbal system which developed in the Han dynasty. It was used in ancient China but is believed that Kampo came to Japan from Korea in the 5th or 6th century. In 1976, it was added to Japans national health insurance plan. Although it relies on herb formulas, it uses acupuncture, moxibustion and a few other components. 70 percent of physicians in Japan regularly prescribe it to their patients (Tanaka, 2010). It has been used by gynecologists, urologists, cardiologists and even gastrointestinal specialists. In order to determine the right formula for each patient, they require a sho. This is a diagnosis based on patient’s symptoms and patterns of disease. In 2007 Japan’s Society of Oriental Medicine issued an evidence report which shows all the findings of the research published from 1999-2005. 8 papers were deemed qualified. Some double blind showings were, â€Å"Hypertension related symptoms (flashed faces, etc. ): The administration of Ourengedokuto (Huang Lian Jie Du Tang) decreased hypertension related symptoms (Muli-center study of 116 facilities) Upper Gastric Symptoms: Rikkunshito (Liu Jun Zi Tang) was effective in decreasing upper GI discomfort and related complaints, such as a l ack of appetite. Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Administration of Keishikashakuyakuto (Gui Zhi Jia Shao Yao Tang) decreased abdominal pain among IBS patients. The effects were more pronounced among diarrhoea-dominant IBS cases. Muscle Cramping: Shakuyakukanzouto (Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang) was effective for reducing muscle cramping among cirrhosis patients. Obesity: 24 weeks of administering Bofutsuseisan (Fang Feng Tong Sheng San) decreased visceral fats and waist circle, as well as improved insulin resistance among obese female patients. Allergic Rhinitis: Shouseiryuto (Xiao Qing Long Tang) was effective in improving symptoms of allergic rhinitis† (Tanka, 2010). Another form of traditional medicine is Acupuncture and Shiatsu massage. Acupuncture is where extremely thin needles are gently placed in certain areas of your body. It can be uses to help balance the flow of energy through pathways in the body or can be used to stimulate nerves, muscles and tissue. It can be a more natural way of making the body feel better, without medication. Shiatsu is a massage that is used to relax people. The massage therapist uses hand, thumbs, elbows and knees to help dig into the more â€Å"knotted† areas of the body. It is an acupressure therapy. By using these additional parts of the body, they can use their whole body to endure more pressure onto the person in order to offset tension. The difference between acupuncture and acupressure is that acupuncture uses needles, where as acupressure uses body part to dig into the tissue. Some people do not truly understand the alternative ways. â€Å"The biggest misconception about alternative medicine is that it’s just a different procedure–that one can just replace it with conventional medicine, like taking an herb instead of a pill. †(Gray 2009). The Japanese also has strong views on medical beliefs. Things such as organ transplants are strongly discouraged due to Japans belief. In 1987, the Medical Association declared brain death to be equivalent to the death of a human being (Masahiro, 1995). Some Japanese doctors practice â€Å"closed-door medicine†, which is where the doctor fails to properly inform patients about their condition or straight out lies to them about it. A study in 1992 showed that only 20% of terminal cancer patients knew they had cancer because of the doctor’s decision to inform them on the truth. This shows that 80% of patients were lied to or told nothing. Masahiro, 1995) Due to this, Through the brain death controversy quite a few people expressed great fear that in the process of the determination of brain death and transplantation no information might be given to family members, and in the worst case that the doctors might lie to family members. Some pointed out the possibility that doctors might psychologically threaten the family members if they refuse to agree to organ donations from a brain-dead relative. As time passed, it appeared that Japan accepted modern technology in almost every form except human birth and death. Research has shown that they believed a dead person goes to the next world as a soul. If parts of that body were to be donated, then body as a whole would not be together, thus making the soul unhappy in the next world. The Japanese has however become more willing to use terms such as â€Å"informed consent† or â€Å"patients rights†. It appears as if Japans beliefs will simply be based off of their own cultural beliefs, as oppose to something such as the Euro-American beliefs. Due to the fast paced living in Japan, they have begun trends to help ease the stressed out society and bring forth relaxation. They have opened oxygen bars, nap salons and animal therapy. In oxygen bars, you can have personal flavored oxygen cans that can help bring you energy and provide fresh air. You can also purchase them at salons and beauty halls. The canisters, such as Big Ox’s helpfully informs that â€Å"oxygen is an essential gas for human beings† and claims that its 89 per cent oxygen blend (normal air contains about 21 per cent) can help boost energy, particularly during exercise (Feelgood, 2008). In recent years, major cities in Japan have opened nap salons. A particular salon in Tokyo, Napia has over 1,500 members. Fatigued office workers can take a brief lunchtime nap on a daybed there for roughly equivalent of $4. 50 (US). Sleep studies have shown that their naps should not go beyond 30 minutes because it is then more likely for them to fall into a deep sleep and end up waking up feeling extremely groggy. To help ensure that customers do not sleep beyond 30 minutes, they provide customers with coffee right before their nap. Since it generally take 20 minutes for the caffeine to kick in, they can get a quick nap in, then the caffeine will kick in and allow the person to have a more natural wake up (Faiola, 2006). Some Japanese companies have even gotten their health insurance providers to cover the fees for nap salons. If they have not succeeded in that route, they simply take naps at their desk during lunchtime. This way they are not only getting their nap in but the office lights are being turned off which is saving energy. In Japan, bathing in mineral waters is popular as a health-promotion practice. (Miller, 2007) Onsen, which is a hot spring, is in their belief to be opposite of everything in their normal crazy lifestyle. It represents an opportunity for the Japanese to melt down the hierarchical nature of society through mutual nakedness and intimacy (Onsen, 2006-7). It is pretty much a public bath with natural hot spring water for them to use in order to relax from their hectic work schedules. It is their belief that the water holds healing powers. There are a few different types of hot springs: Simple Springs, Carbonate Springs, Salt Springs, Sodium Sulfate Springs, Iron Springs, Acidic Springs, Sulfur Springs and Radium Hot Springs. Most people sit back quietly and enjoy the silence that surrounds them while bathing for roughly 20-30 minutes. The extremely acid hot spring Onsen water is believed to ease neuralgia, alleviate muscle pain and the symptoms of chronic skin disease. It also relieves chronic fatigue and stress. Since ancient times, Onsen water has been renowned to help maintain a beautiful skin. In addition to its other health and beauty benefits, the hot springs energize the metabolism. The Onsen experience is also known to calm nerves and put the bather in a relaxed, meditative state† (Onsen, 2006-7) Unfortunately today there are only three hot spring resorts remaining. One is Kusatsu Thermal Spring which is in a small town roughly two and a half hours from Tokyo by train. It can either be visited for the day, or turned into a mini vacation. If only wanting to spend a day, you can visit one of 18 public hot springs in the town for a quick fix. Another location is Gero Thermal Spring. It is roughly three and a half hours from Tokyo by train to Nagoya, then about an hour and a half to Gifu, where Gero is located. Here, you can stay at one of the resorts or visit the public springs which allows you to test out three of the twenty. The final is Arima Onsen Thermal Spring. This final spring is roughly three hours from Tokyo then another 30 minutes to Kobe, where Arima is located. This spa is the oldest spa known to the country. Here, there is a public theme park which holds 17 hot springs. Another trend is fish pedicures. At some Onsen Springs, there are spas where you can dip you feet into the water and have these fish eat the dead skin off your feet. Although they are considered â€Å"flesh eating† they actually have no teeth, meaning that you will not get bitten. They basically suck the dead skin and cells off, leaving your skin silky smooth. No matter what country you look at, each will have its own beliefs on medicine. Some are traditional and some may by alternative. Japan is widely known for having a mixture of each. While receiving influence from other countries, Japan has incorporated other medical approaches into their own. They have their own superstitions, traditional medicine (including how they view modern medical needs), and different types of current trends that they follow.

How Humanitarian Logistics Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Supply Chains

Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics How Humanitarian Logistics Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Supply Chains: A View from the Field Michael Howden Humanitarian Consultant michael. [email  protected] com ABSTRACT Humanitarian logistics represents a broad range of activities taking place within humanitarian organizations, the bulk of these activities are also components of a broader humanitarian supply chain – the network involved with providing physical aid to beneficiaries.Humanitarian logistics information systems improve information flows, which integrates logistics units more efficiently with non-logistics units within the humanitarian supply chains and provides better feedback to donors, ensuring more effective operations. Humanitarian logistics activities occur across the disaster management cycle. Humanitarian logistics information systems not only improve logistics activities in each phase, but can improve the continuity of h umanitarian operations by sharing information throughout the transition of different disaster management cycle phases.Through collaboration between organizations, humanitarian logistics information systems also have the potential to reduce corruption and the market distortion which can occur during humanitarian operations. Keywords Humanitarian Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Information Systems, Disasters, Disaster Management AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY Michael Howden completed a Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Auckland and originally worked as a software engineer in New Zealand.He has worked for International Rescue Committee in Indonesia, Pakistan and Uganda developing and implementing their global logistics database ProLogs and for Save the Children US in Indonesia, developing logistics software and systems which were components of a broader supply chain management system. INTRODUCTION Within humanitarian operations logistics is requ ired to procure, store and distribute supplies for the assistance of beneficiaries. In order to function effectively humanitarian logistics must coordinate with other actors and be considered throughout the lifespan of humanitarian operations.This paper will explore how humanitarian logistics information systems can: 1. Integrate logistics units into the broader humanitarian supply chain throughout the organization. 2. Enhance logistics activities and provide continuous support across the preparedness, response, transition, recovery and mitigation phases of disaster management cycle. 3. Create new possibilities for collaboration between humanitarian organizations. In these ways humanitarian logistics information systems can also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian operations.HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN THE HUMANIATARIAN SUPPLY CHAIN Humanitarian Logistics Humanitarian organizations can include government agencies such as United States Agency fo r International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), multilateral agencies such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP), non-government organizations (NGOs) such as Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.Many humanitarian Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics organizations will engage in long term development activities as well as disaster management activities supporting people affected by disasters. This paper will only discuss humanitarian logistics as it is applied in disaster management. Humanitarian organizations usually include logistic units which can have different functions depending on the organizations or even the disaster and can include: Procurement †¢ Warehousing †¢ Fleet Management †¢ Transportation (of both supplies and people) †¢ Asset Management †¢ Building Management †¢ Security †¢ Information Technology (IT) †¢ Radio Communications Humanitarian operations consist of a diverse range of activities, therefore logistics in this context can have a broader scope than in the commercial sector. Areas such as security and IT may be considered under logistics due to respective military or technical experience of logisticians, either currently or historically within an organization.Humanitarian Supply Chains In this paper a humanitarian supply chain refers to the network created through the flow of supplies, services, finances and information between donors, beneficiaries, suppliers and different units of humanitarian organizations for the purpose of providing physical aid to beneficiaries (Mentzer et al. 2001). Humanitarian supply chains include functionalities whic h do not typically fall into the field of humanitarian logistics.Managing relationships with donors, performing needs assessments, planning for supplies required and monitoring and evaluating the impact of distributed supplies, are usually the responsibility of non-logistics program units. Figure 1 presents a summary of the major flows within both humanitarian supply chains and humanitarian logistics. Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics Figure 1.Humanitarian Logistics and Humanitarian Supply Chain Flows This paper will focus on the value of information systems for logistic units of NGOs within the humanitarian supply chain. Integrating Logistics into Supply Chain Management With the exception of organizations which specialize in disaster response or distribution, such as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and World Food Program (WFP) res pectively, the core business of humanitarian organizations tend towards health, education, protection and economic development.Logistics units are only considered as a function to support these activities of humanitarian organizations. Logistics units have traditionally been marginalized within organizations (Rickard, 2003) and logisticians have been â€Å"pigeonholed† in the field, making it hard to move into management positions (Chaikin, 2003). This has contributed to a silo mentality in regards to logistics within humanitarian organizations. Better integrating logistics with other units within the organization will form stronger humanitarian supply chains.In order to integrate logistics into broader humanitarian supply chains, a clear distinction is required between the two. In Indonesia, one major NGO moved all logistics functionality into a supply chain management unit. In the terms logistics and supply chain management are used interchangeably (Rickard, 2006) and perso nal discussions with humanitarian professional have revealed the there is not a clear distinction between the terms logistics and supply change management, and some have regarded any differences are semantics.In literature on humanitarian organizations there is a shift from logistics to supply chain management (Thomas and Kopczak, 2005) Humanitarian supply chains include units implementing programs, managing grants with donors, controlling budgets and monitoring activities which must coordinate with logistics units. Humanitarian supply chains cannot be built by solely increasing the capacity or responsibility of individual units, but are formed by Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. HowdenHow Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics the creation of stronger links between units within the supply chain. Humanitarian logistics information systems can improve the flow of information with other units, in a mutually constructive manner, improving the effectiveness of the humanitarian supply chain. Humanitarian logistics information systems can: †¢ Enhance needs assessments by ensuring that field staff know what supplies are available for beneficiaries, either in local warehouses, pre-positioned emergency stocks or from local and international markets. Share lists of supplies available in both local and international markets, including prices and lead times, logisticians to empower program staff to better plan their procurement activities. †¢ Keep program staff informed of procurement activities will help to develop an understanding of the constraints within logistics and create trust. †¢ Provide budget holder more accurate financial information regarding funds which are committed within the procurement process, to avoid the over or under spending of budgets. †¢Provide warehouse inventory reports to program staff to allow them to take more responsib ility for their supplies, and ensure that they are utilized effectively. †¢ Share information on the distribution of supplies to allow program staff to better monitor and evaluate activities and avoid the need for duplicate record keeping between logistics and programs. †¢ More accurately divide logistics overhead costs such as warehouse rental, transportation and logistic staff wages into program budgets according to the activities logistics is supporting.Information empowers program units to become more engaged consumers of logistic services. In this way information systems can integrate logistics into humanitarian supply chains and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian operations. The improved information flow from humanitarian logistics information systems will also contribute to the overall effectiveness of the humanitarian operation. The Value of Information in the Humanitarian Supply Chain Information plays a significant role in humanitarian suppl y chains.In humanitarian supply chains is that the end recipient of aid (the beneficiary) is decoupled from the commercial transaction and has no direct influence over what supplies they receive (Gray and Oloruntob, 2006). The key decision makers within the humanitarian supply chain are the donors who are funding the operation and many NGOs regard the donor as the customer in the humanitarian supply chain (Beamon and Balcik, 2006). In commercial supply chains, the end recipient decides what supplies they require, and fulfillment can be easily evaluated by monitoring the receipt of these supplies.In humanitarian operations as supplies are determined by external assessments of the needs of the beneficiary, evaluating fulfillment become more difficult, as additional analysis must be done to determine if these needs have been met by the supplies. Figure 2. Donors, Humanitarian Organizations and Beneficiaries within the Humanitarian Supply Chain Humanitarian logistics information systems can provide accurate and timely information on what supplies are required, what supplies have been delivered to beneficiaries and in which locations.With this information Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics evaluation units should be able to determine if those supplies have met the needs of the beneficiary. This feedback ensures that donors and humanitarian organizations are engaged and responsive to the beneficiaries, and supporting aid according to the beneficiaries needs.HUMANITARIAN LOGISITCS IN THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE Response, Transition, Recovery, Mitigation and Preparedness The operations of humanitarian organizations in disaster management can be separated into four major phases: response, recovery, mitigation and preparedness (Haddow and Bullock, 2004). During humanitarian operations there will be overlap between act ivities from different phases, and a separate transition phase can be considered between the response and recovery phase (Asian Development Bank, 2004).Humanitarian supply chains must provide supplies to beneficiaries in each of these phases (Kovacs and Spens, 2007) and these activities require logistic support (Perry, 2007), although the volume, variety of supplies and urgency will change according to the phase. Humanitarian logistics information systems improve the effectiveness of logistics units throughout the disaster management cycle and can provide continuity throughout the phases. Figure 3. Disaster Management Cycle (Haddow and Bullock, 2004). PreparednessThe preparedness phase involves building the capacity to respond to a disaster, such as working with communities to ensure they know evacuation options, pre-positioning emergency response supplies and building organizational capacity to respond to disasters. These activities are ongoing and are implemented prior to the onse t of a crisis. Pre-positioned emergency response supplies tend to be less varied, as they are specific life supporting items, such as food, medical supplies, water and sanitation equipment, shelter, household kits, etc.The necessities of life are less dependent on the social, cultural or economic context of the disaster, therefore it is easier to standardize the supplies required. Also, because it is not known if these supplies will be available in local markets, or if markets may be disrupted by the disasters, they will need to be procured internationally. Both Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Red Cross have standard catalogues of items for emergency response. These items can be procured internationally, with pre-existing arrangements with vendors, and are also pre-positioned in warehouses globally, ready to be deployed. Chomilier, Samii van Wassenhove, 2003; Coyne, 2006). Organizationally NGOs need to ensure that they not only have staff trained to respond to emergencies, but that they have the systems and process in place to support these staff. 80% of the disaster response phase consists of Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics logistics activities (Kovacs and Spens, 2007) therefore in the preparedness phase organizations should focus on building the capacity of logistics units. ResponseThe response phase occurs immediately after the disaster, and activities are focused primarily on saving lives and preventing further damage. Humanitarian operations are most reliant on logistics during the response phase as they distribute food, medical supplies and other necessities of life to affected populations, and lives will be dependent on the speed of logistics activities. The response phase may last from days to months, depending on the scale of the disaster. While the humanitarian logistics is most significant durin g the response phase, it is important to consider its role throughout the entire disaster management phase.Transition During the transition phase NGOs begin to look at providing ongoing assistance, such as temporary shelter and revitalizing basic social services (ref ADB). NGOs will also plan strategically to transition from implementing response activities to longer term recovery and mitigation programs. Logistics activities, such as identifying suppliers to in either local or international markets to provide supplies for longer term programs, ensure a smooth transition. Recovery The recovery phase involves aiding communities to return to their conditions prior to the disaster.These activities may include training people and distributing supplies for livelihood building, reconstructing houses, buildings and infrastructure and may be carried out over a period of months to years. Across both the recovery and following mitigation phases the supplies are no longer essential for the liv es of affected population and are therefore no longer required at such a high rate or with such short lead times. The activities across these phases are largely dependent on the social, cultural, economic and geographical conditions of the affected communities. These may vary hugely between different disasters.Humanitarian organizations supported fishermen affected by 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami by distributing new boats and fishing equipment whereas the needs of landlocked communities recovering from 2005 Kashmir Earthquake were quite different. Humanitarian organizations will also attempt to procure supplies locally in order to support local communities and avoid flooding local markets through the influx of external supplies. The recovery phase represents a significant proportion of the duration and funding of a humanitarian operation and may last from 5-10 years (ADB reference).In April 2005 the Government of Indonesia established a 5 year time frame for reconstruction after the In dian Ocean Tsunami, and activities are still ongoing at the start of 2009, indicating the long duration of the recovery phase. Recovery phase activities such as reconstruction and distributing supplies are essential for restoring the lives of affected people and require significant logistic support. Mitigation Mitigation involves increasing the resilience of communities to natural hazards to reduce the impact of disasters they cause. According to the specific vulnerability of the community these activities may include lanting mangroves to protect coastlines against cyclones, constructing dams and reinforcing buildings. Humanitarian organizations implementing these activities will require logistics support, although not typically at as large a scale as in the other phases. Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics Summary Phase Preparedness Response Transition Recovery Mitigation Period Long Term Continuous Days – Months Months – Years Long Term Continuous Logistics Volume Low High Medium Low SuppliesRequired Specific standard supplies prepositioned for disaster response Specific standard supplies: Food, medical supplies, water and sanitation equipment, shelter, household kits, etc. Varied supplies depending on the context of the disaster: reconstruction material, livelihoods equipment Varied supplies Urgency Low High: Lead times for supplies can make the difference between life and death. Medium: There may be government and donor pressure to complete recovery activities Low Procurement of Supplies Local International Local-International Local Table 1. Humanitarian Logistics Throughout the Disaster Management CycleHumanitarian organizations are required to provide physical aid to beneficiary throughout the disaster management cycle. Although these activities differ in volume, variety of supplies and urge ncy, there is enough commonality that standard processes and systems can be used by logistics units throughout the disaster management cycle. This avoids the overhead of developing multiple standards and implementing new systems when transitioning between phases. It is therefore important to consider humanitarian logistics as operating in each of the phases of the disaster management cycle. Humanitarian Logistics beyond the Response PhaseA large amount of literature on humanitarian logistics and supply chain management focuses on the response phase of a disaster and pre-positioning of supplies done in the preparedness phase (Beamon, 2004; Beamon and Balcik, 2008; Maspero and Ittman, 2008; Oloruntoba, 2007; Rodman, 2004; Thomas, 2003; Thomas et al, 2005). This could be influenced by a number of factors: †¢ This is the phase in which logistics plays the largest role in proportion to the humanitarian operation. †¢ The key focus of the response phase is the preservation of liv es therefore improved logistics can be directly linked to lives saved.During other phases of disaster management, the outputs become more varied, such as providing trainings to teachers and medical professionals. Therefore impacts, such as better education levels and healthcare in communities harder to measure. †¢ The disaster response is the phase that creates the most media coverage, therefore may be the phase which experts outside of the humanitarian domain get the most exposure to and are most familiar with. Media coverage could also create a perception of more status with disaster response. This paper has shown that the field of humanitarian logistics is more broadly focused than just disaster response.More focus needs to be placed on the role of humanitarian logistics in the transition, recovery and mitigation phases of disaster management. It could be argued that humanitarian organizations already have a higher capacity for disaster response than for disaster recovery. I n Indonesia the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR) claimed that in the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: â€Å"No one died of starvation, there were no deaths due to a lack of medical care or disease, law and order was maintained and major infrastructure—including telecommunications and electricity—was restored within a few weeks time. In contrast during the recovery phase there have been delays, underperformance and corruption. Humanitarian logistics information systems can improve logistics activities in each of the phases of disaster management and also help to provide continuity to logistics operations throughout the disaster management cycle. Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian LogisticsHumanitarian Logistics Information Systems across the Disaster Management Cycle Humanitarian logistics information sys tems must be able to operate across the entire disaster management cycle. In order to be applicable for all phases, they must be scalable to manage the large volumes of supplies during the response phase, as well as the high diversity of supplies across the recovery and mitigation phases and manage the flow of information from the preparedness phase to the response phase, and during the transition phase.A single humanitarian logistics information system which integrates information from all phases within the disaster management cycle will assist an organization in the complex task of transitioning their activities between the different phases. Preparedness NGOs prepare for disasters by pre-positioning emergency response supplies. It is equally important to implement humanitarian logistics information systems which can be utilized by logisticians responding to disasters.Logisticians must be trained to use these information systems and simulations should be run in preparation for thei r use in disaster response. Humanitarian logistics information systems should also be used to record what emergency response supplies are available at the onset of the disaster. In response to Cyclone Nagris in Myanmar one major NGO was better able to more efficiently send air shipment of emergency prepositioned supplies by having maintained records of the their volume and weight.This allowed the logistician to arrange the optimal charter flights required to transport the supplies. Response Humanitarian logistics information systems can eliminate the need for duplicate data entry and offer more timely and accurate information during the response phase (Lee and Zbinden, 2003). This not only increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the disaster response, but also assists in later phases of the disaster management cycle. After the response to the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake one NGO had a number of emergency response supplies remaining.However, due to a lack of proper information syste ms, it was unknown which donor funded the items, and what the donor’s regulations were regarding their use. As a result, they were unable to be distributed in response to flooding in Pakistan the following year. Where warehouse inventory reports are not maintained, it is common for surplus stock from emergency response not to be utilized and to go to waste. Transition Once the response phase is complete, humanitarian logistics information systems will enable organizations to know what supplies have been distributed, and what supplies are remaining.This will allow them to utilize surplus supplies in recovery activities or return them to pre-positioned stock and know what supplies were required, to better plan for the next disaster response. The transition phase will also typically involve the replacement of short term emergency response teams with longer term staff. If information regarding what supplies are currently stored in warehouses is not recorded, it may be forgotten a s staff leave, and the supplies may remain unutilized.Humanitarian logistics information systems can ensure that new staff are aware of what supplies are currently available, so they are able to utilize them. Recovery The recovery phase takes place over a period of years, which offers enough time for conditions to stabilize, and also the availability of funding, for humanitarian organizations to plan strategically and develop information systems. During disaster response humanitarian logistics operate in a realm of uncertainties and rapidly changing conditions. This is not an appropriate environment to develop, test or implement new systems.There are already enough unknown variables present, without introducing new systems or software, which may contain bugs or functionality which needs refining. Implementing new systems requires the investment of time and resources, and doing this during a disaster response will detract from the primary goal of the humanitarian operation – s aving lives. Developing humanitarian logistics information systems during the recovery phase provides the opportunity to involve the staff of the organization, which is essential, as the solution will be more appropriate to their needs and they will have ownership over it.New systems can be implemented through trainings and simulations, however it is more effective as having systems which have implemented within the operations of the organization and socialized with staff in the field. In this respect the recovery phase can offer a suitable environment to develop and test new information systems for humanitarian logistics which can then be applied to disaster response activities. In 2007 one major NGO developed a warehouse database in Indonesia to support their recovery activities following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.In September 2007, they were able to deploy the same database in Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Land gren and S. Jul, eds. Howden How Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics response to an earthquake in Indonesia. A staff member who was already using the database to manage supplies for the tsunami recovery effort was then easily able to use it to manage the distribution of emergency supplies in the area due to their familiarity with the system. MitigationAlthough logistics activities occur at a lower scale during the mitigation phase such as the procurement of supplies to reinforce buildings, it is important to ensure that humanitarian logistics information systems are still utilized by organizations, to ensure that they become standard practice with logistics units. This continuous use will institutionalize the systems within the organization and ensure the sustainability of their use across the disaster management cycle. HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS INFORMATION SYSTEMS BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONSHumanitarian supply chains could be viewed more widely to include the multiple org anizations providing physical aid to beneficiaries in the same region. Humanitarian logistics information systems have the potential to enable better information sharing between organizations which can enhance the overall humanitarian operation (King, 2005). One area which could be improved by information systems is local procurement. Procurement is vulnerable to corruption through collusion between organization staff and vendors and the payment of bribes to choose specific vendors.Analysis of procurement data is capable of revealing trends and irregularities, indicative of corruption, such as consistently purchasing from specific vendors or certain purchasers always receiving higher than average quotes. This analysis would be more effective using procurement data from different humanitarian organizations in the same region, as comparisons could be made between prices, to monitor if one organization is paying significant more for similar items, which could indicate corruption within that organization.Humanitarian organizations often rely on local markets to provide supplies, however the large amount of purchasing activity following a disaster can often lead to inflation over supply and stock-outs. Complex analysis of purchasing trends from multiple humanitarian organizations, and improved information sharing with local vendors, could mitigate this, by spreading requirements over multiple vendors and informing them of expected demand. This could also allow humanitarian organizations to sustainably support and stimulate local markets.Although there are many challenges in encouraging collaboration between humanitarian organizations, better humanitarian logistics information systems could facilitate collaboration by creating more incentives to do so. CONCLUSION Humanitarian logistics units are actors in a broader humanitarian supply chain and information systems can help to build logistics capacity of while also building better links with other units, better integ rating logistics in the humanitarian supply chain.Humanitarian logistics information systems can improve the effectiveness of humanitarian supply chains by providing timely and accurate information regarding what supplies are required and have been delivered, enabling donors to be more responsive to the needs of beneficiaries. Humanitarian logistics operates across the disaster management cycle. Humanitarian logistics information systems can improve logistics activities in each of the phases and also help to provide continuity to humanitarian operations throughout the entire cycle.Humanitarian logistics information systems could also provide opportunities for better corruption prevention and market control through collaboration between different humanitarian organizations. Humanitarian logistics information systems can strengthen logistics units and integrate them with other units and across to the disaster management cycle to create more efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian supply chains REFERENCES 1. Asian Development Bank (2004) Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy, At: http://www. adb. rg/Documents/Policies/Disaster_Emergency/Disaster_Emergency. pdf, accessed 20 February 2009 2. Beamon, B. M. (2004), Humanitarian relief chains: issues and challenges, Proceedings of the 34th International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering, San Francisco, CA. 3. Beamon, B. M. and Balcik, B. (2008) Performance measurement in humanitarian relief chains, International Journal of Public Sector Management, 21, 1, 4-25 Proceedings of the 6th International ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds. HowdenHow Information Systems Can Improve Humanitarian Logistics 4. Chomilier, B. , Samii, R. and van Wassenhove, L. (2003) The central role of supply chain management at IFRC, Forced Migration Review, 18, 18-19. 5. Coyne, J. (2006) Humanitarian Logistics: Musing Aloud, Monday Developments, 24, 20, 12-13. 6. Gray, R a nd Oloruntoba, R (2006) Humanitarian aid: an agile supply chain? , Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 11, 2, 115–120 7. Haddow, G. D. and Bullock J. A. (2004) Introduction to Emergency Management, ButterworthHeinemann, Amsterdam 8. King, D. 2005), Humanitarian Knowledge Management, Proceedings of the Second International ISCRAM Conference, Brussels, Belgium, 1-6 9. Kovacs, G. and Spens, K. M. (2007) Humanitarian logistics in disaster relief operations, International Journal of Physical, 37, 2, 99-114 10. Maspero, E. L. and Ittman, H. W. (2008) The rise of humanitarian logistics, 27th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 2008, South Africa. 11. Mentzer, J. T. , DeWitt, W. , Keebler, J. S. , Min, S. , Nix, N. W. Smith, C. D. and Zacharia, Z. G. (2001) Defining Supply Chain Management, Journal of Business Logistics 22,2 12.Oloruntoba, R (2007) Bringing Order Out Of Disorder: Exploring Complexity in Relief Supply Chains, Proceedings 2nd International Confe rence on Operations and Supply Chain Management: Regional and Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Bangkok, Thailand. 13. Perry , M. (2007) Natural disaster management planning A study of logistics managers responding to the tsunami, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37, 5, 409-433 14. Rickard, J. (2003) A logistician’s plea, Forced Migration Review, 18, 9. 15. Rickard, J. (2006) Humanitarian Logistics: Musing Aloud, Monday Developments, 24, 20, 6-7. 6. Rodman, W. K. (2004) Supply Chain Management in Humanitarian Relief Logistics, Thesis, Department of Operational Sciences, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air University 17. Thomas, A. (2003). Humanitarian Logistics: Enabling Disaster Response, The Fritz Institute. 18. Thomas, A. and Kopczak, L. (2005) From Logistics to Supply Chain Management: The path forward in the humanitarian sector, Technical Report, Fritz Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA. Proceedings of the 6th Internati onal ISCRAM Conference – Gothenburg, Sweden, May 2009 J. Landgren and S. Jul, eds.

Biography on Walt Whitman essays

Biography on Walt Whitman essays Walt Whitmans work has now become legendary. Although he has that accomplishment for his poetry, he had a rough beginning. Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in Long Island, New York. He was the second of nine children. He attended school in Brooklyn after his family moved there. From 1830-1835, Whitman learned the printing trade. Then, in 1836 he taught school in Long Island. It was then that he founded the weekly Long Island periodical, the Long Islander. There he worked on the newspaper until 1841, then moved to New York City and became deeply interested in journalism. He furthered his writing and wrote his first novel, Franklin Evans in 1842. Within the next few years he edited several newspapers and contributed to several others. He was dismissed from the Brooklyn Eagle because of political differences with the owner. Then for three months he traveled south to work for the New Orleans Crescent. The sheer physical beauty of the new nation made a vivid impression on hi m, and he was to draw on this experience in his later poetry. His brief stay in New Orleans also led his early biographers to suggest an early romance with a Creole woman, for which there is no evidence. (Encarta) Whitman claimed of having fathered six illegitimate children. During the period between 1848 and 1854, Whitman held many different jobs. After having moved back to Brooklyn, he edited a newspaper, worked as a carpenter, operated a printing office, and did free-lance journalism, built houses, and speculated real estate. In 1855, he wrote his first poetry piece. In the preface to his first edition of Leaves of Grass, he wrote that his poetry would celebrate the greatness of the new nation. His poetry was characterized by using slang expressions and writing in free verse. He stressed contemporary events and everyday happenings in his poetry. He drew his vocabulary from commerce and industry. Whitman sen ...

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High School Courses Needed for Chemistry Degree What special courses do you need to take in high school so that you can get a college degree in chemistry or chemical engineering? Basically, it boils down to science and math. You can talk with your guidance counselor and teachers for more information. Also, always feel free to contact the department chair in the college program that interests you to get more detailed advice. College catalogs are also a good source for learning about requirements. Algebra Understand ratios, direct proportions, and inverse proportion.Solve linear and simple nonlinear equations.Set up word problems.Identify dependent and independent variables.Understand the slope and intercept of a line.Be able to graph data points.Understand exponentials and scientific notation. Geometry Geometry is critical in understanding college-level  chemistry. Youll need this to understand bonding, molecular models, and crystal structures. Trigonometry Youll need trig for much the same reason as you need geometry. Plus, trig is essential for completing physics. Pre-Calculus Calculus is perhaps the most important math subject to take in high school for a future in the sciences. It may also help you place out of pre-requisites! You have a lot of calculus in your future. Hope you enjoy it! Physics Physics and chemistry are inseparable. If you major in chemistry, youll still take college physics. If you major in physics, youll take chemistry. Chemistry In addition to making college chemistry a bit easier, high school chemistry gives you a taste of what the science is all about. Be sure to master these concepts: Be able to define atoms, molecules, elements, and compounds.Be familiar with the periodic table and know the symbols of common elements.Understand how to read a chemical formula (e.g., H2O).Know what a mole us. In addition to this list, its a good idea to be proficient with a computer and keyboard. Statistics and biology are also useful courses, although your schedule probably wont allow you to take everything you want!

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