To Build a Strong Brand within the Fashion Industry Essay

To Build a Strong Brand within the Fashion Industry - Essay Example This paper illustrates that interpretivism has been found to be applicable for this particular research study. Interpretivism combines varied approaches together and tries to comprehend the humankind as it is experienced and made considerable by the experiences of human beings. This philosophy takes into account the individual experiences and their beliefs and opinions to form a genuine conclusion that presents a study that lay concealed in such human experiences. In short, this approach takes the individual understanding to reflect the outcomes of the study. Thus this research philosophy has enabled the present study to focus on the details of the research to determine an understanding on building of a strong brand in the fashion industry. The research has been based on a secondary study involving both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Thus the data that have been collected and used for the study have both qualitative as well as quantitative information. For instance, t he business reports included financial status of the fashion companies, hence involving quantitative data. On the other hand, the theories and previous researches concerning build-up of strong brand in the fashion industry were qualitative in nature. Qualitative methods require the research study to describe the types and qualities of people or incidents without expressing them in the form of numerical figures.

Information Systems Essay Example for Free

Information Systems Essay This facility is one of the most leading and innovative healthcare organizations. It provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carolina. Our diverse network of more than 650 care locations includes academic medical centers, hospitals, healthcare pavilions, physician practices, destination centers, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nursing homes, and hospice and palliative care. Carolinas HealthCare System works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and a variety of collaborative partnerships and initiatives. Carolinas HealthCare System is an outgrowth of a community hospital originally founded in 1940. Since that time Carolinas HealthCare System has grown into one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive systems, with more than 48,000 employees, more than 6,200 licensed beds (acute care and post-acute care), and an annual budget exceeding $6. billion (comparable to many Fortune 500 companies). Premier facilities include Levine Cancer Institute, Levine Children’s Hospital, Sanger Heart Vascular Institute, CMC Neurology and The Transplant Center. Other specialties include maternity (regular and high risk), assisted reproduction, interventional oncology, radiation therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and many others. Through careful integration of services, Carolinas HealthCare System has built some of the nation’s largest accredited multi-hospital networks for treatment of stroke and heart attack. Ultimately, our success is determined not by the buildings we construct, but by the investment we make in the people and programs that bring each new facility to life. We are providing a broad framework of support that enables extraordinary professionals to bring caring, commitment, integrity and teamwork to a vitally important healing mission. The motivating force behind all of this activity is fulfilling our duty to meet community needs. Each of our hospitals is locally managed by a hospital administrator who makes ecisions that affect each hospital. Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) is governed by a group of people who are dedicated to serving our community by providing the healthcare resources needed for our growing region. The Board of Commissioners and Advisors meets on a regular basis to review policies and procedures, as well as current and changing healthcare rules and regulations for our state and nation that impact how we provide these services. Below are the members of these committees. CHS uses electronic records which is called Canopy. Canopy is Carolinas HealthCare System’s electronic medical record program, formerly called (EPACT). It is one of our most critical strategic initiatives and a significant leap forward to bolster our ability to improve clinical outcomes, ensure patient safety, and enhance our delivery of quality care through technology. All physicians and mid-level providers will use the electronic system for tasks such as CPOE, Medication Management and Structured Electronic Documentation. Transcription services will not change. The information that is dictated now may be dictated on and after conversion to CPOE. The expectation is that dictation will not increase, but will decrease over time. The physicians and nurses all play a big part in the facility. They use the information systems to document the health concerns of the patients, and to also transmit the information to documents that can be easily read and understood. Many employees use the system to add, obtain, and program the patient records and personal information. Carolinas Healthcare System provides convenient outpatient programs in physical, occupational and speech therapies throughout Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. We are also leaders in the field of workers compensation and vocational rehabilitation, aiding patients at their workplaces and helping them regain work skills if an injury or illness interferes with employment. Functional Capacity Evaluations are used to ascertain if a patient may return to work successfully. Designed to accelerate each patients recovery efforts, our outpatient facilities are staffed by accredited specialists utilizing the most advanced equipment and techniques available. With an extensive network of outpatient centers throughout the region, we are always within reach of individuals seeking therapy, and skilled at providing the care, support and confidence vital to successful rehabilitation. The facility is very discrete with the way they access their records. Everyone has a to login to a secure network to bring up the sites for the employees to use. With more than 30 hospitals and more than 600 other care locations, CHS is strongly committed to robust electronic medical record (EMR) solutions. The goal is to guarantee that a patients most recent information is quickly and securely available to all the medical providers who need it. This enables everyone on the care team to better coordinate and personalize treatments. Every patient encounter is electronically documented. For that reason, physicians at any point of contact can quickly research and gauge possible drug interactions, avoid or treat allergic reactions, or judge the possible impact of previous injuries or surgeries. Having all of this information immediately accessible not only saves time, it helps a patients record speak for them if necessary. Carolinas HealthCare’s Information Services Department worked with emergency-department physicians and Cerner Corp. (NASDAQ:CERN), its electronic-health-record vendor, to design the single-order entry computer application. The streamlined order-entry process was piloted in 2011 at CMC-Northeast, a Concord hospital that has one of the busiest emergency departments in North Carolina. It was launched simultaneously with the rollout of the health-care system’s electronic-health-record initiative which features computerized physician-order entry. During the pilot, order entries were reduced by nearly 2. 5 minutes per patient. That will save more than 2,600 physician hours per year. This facility has many positives about the employees and the site. I would like to be a part of this facility so I could put my skills to work and help the community have healthier people. Some of the strengths about the system are that it is very secure. There is a login for every employee to access in order to get in. Some of the downsides are that many others may try to hack the system and breach every ones privacy. It is important to have a secure system to protect the patients’ rights and information. It is possible to obtain policies, procedures, brochures, and training at this facility. They even provide different schools to educate their employees, and the new individuals that want to pursue a career with them. This would be a great company for interested people to work at. It is very important that they show that their interests are in the wellbeing of their employees and newcomers.

Early Egyptian Religious Beliefs and Akhenaten?s Reforms Essay

Early Egyptian Religious Beliefs and Akhenaten’s Reforms During the New Kingdom of Egypt (from 1552 through 1069 B.C.), there came a sweeping change in the religious structure of the ancient Egyptian civilization. "The Hymn to the Aten" was created by Amenhotep IV, who ruled from 1369 to 1353 B.C., and began a move toward a monotheist culture instead of the polytheist religion which Egypt had experienced for the many hundreds of years prior to the introduction of this new idea. There was much that was different from the old views in "The Hymn to the Aten", and it offered a new outlook on the Egyptian ways of life by providing a complete break with the traditions which Egypt held to with great respect. Yet at the same time, there were many commonalties between these new ideas and the old views of the Egyptian world. Although through the duration of his reign, Amenhotep IV introduced a great many changes to the Egyptian religion along with "The Hymn", none of these reforms outlived their creator, mostly due to the massive forces placed on his successor, Tutankhamen, to renounce these new reforms. However, the significance of Amenhotep IV, or Akhenaten as he later changed his name to, is found in "The Hymn". "The Hymn" itself can be looked at as a contradiction of ideas; it must be looked at in relation to both the Old Kingdom's belief of steadfast and static values, as well as in regards to the changes of the Middle Kingdom, which saw unprecedented expansionistic and individualistic oriented reforms. In this paper I plan to discuss the evolvement of Egyptian Religious Beliefs throughout the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms and analyze why Amenhotep IV may have brought about such religious reforms. The Old Kingdom of Egypt (from 2700 to 2200 B.C.), saw the commencement of many of the rigid, formal beliefs of the Egyptian civilization, both in regards to their religious and political beliefs, as they were very closely intertwined. "... There was a determined attempt to impose order on the multitude of gods and religious beliefs that had existed since predynastic times... and the sun-god Re became the supreme royal god, with the ki... ...oyal couple changed their names to Tutankhamen, demonstrating their renewed allegiance to Amen-Re. The king restored the old temples of the many gods, and reinstated the priesthoods" (David 158). The reforms, which Akhenaten brought to return the power once held by the Pharaoh in the Old Kingdom, were unable to be understood. The people who Akhenaten had to ensure comprehension of his reasoning did not, for they no longer were connected to the old order which he was trying to reestablish. Bibliography Aldred, Cyril. Akhenaten - King of Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson, 1998. Casson, Lionel. Ancient Egypt. New York: Time Inc, 1965. David, Rosalie. Discovering Ancient Egypt. New York: Facts on File, 1993. Hawkes, Jacquetta. Pharaohs of Egypt. New York: American Heritage Publishing, 1965. Matthews, Roy T., and F. Dewitt Platt. Readings in the Western Humanities. Third Edition. Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing, 1992 Montet, Pierre. Lives of the Pharaohs. Cleveland: World Publishing Company, 1968. Redford, Donald. Akhenaten - The Heretic King. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984. Strouhal, Eugen. Life of the Ancient Egyptians. London: Opus Publishing, 1992.

The Horrors of Animal Euthanasia Essay -- Euthanasia Physician Assiste

The Horrors of Animal Euthanasia   Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the domestication of cats and dogs their populations have skyrocketed. This is due in part to the lack of pet owners acting in a  responsible manner. These responsibilities include the spaying and neutering of   pets. These numbers of homeless animals in communities have caused humane societies to euthanize too many animals. This, I feel is a violation to animal rights and is a cruel way for these animals to have to leave this world. I disagree with the activists who believe that the way to keep animal populations down is to euthanize these poor animals. Nothing good could come from the slaughtering of these animals. Fostering large numbers of animals in communities is an overwhelming task, but there are many solutions to this problem. The euthanizing of animals is wrong and all shelters should switch to a no-kill policy.   Ã‚  Ã‚   There are too many animals in the shelters. Animal control officers are forced to put these animals to sleep that could have made loving and affectionate pets. ( Open Your Hearts Mission, p.1 ). Last year at the Vanderburgh Humane Society 2022 unwanted cats and dogs were put to death. These animals were taken to the E-room in the back where   they were injected with a syringe of cool-blue liquid death. After a few seconds the animal fell limp and eventually its heart stopped. Employees at the humane society have the task of deciding which of these animals should be euthanized. This is not something they enjoy and take pride in doing. Usually after a few days the animals which have not been adopted will be euthanized. The ones that are sick or hurt are the first ones to go. The events that take place in the process of the euthanization of... ... http://www.npsc.nbs.gov/resource/othrdata/crp/crp.htm Executive Summary.   (1997).   Fish and Wildlife Service   Internet. http://www.fws.gov/~r9mbmo/issues/arcgoose/parti/execsum.html The Goose Crisis.   (1997).   The Goose Crisis   Internet. http:www.und.nodak.edu/org/ndwild/sgcrisis2.html Kantrud, Harold A., Rolf R. Koford, Douglas H. Johnson, and Michael D. Schwartz. (1993).   The Conservation Reserve Program  Ã‚   Internet.   http://www.npsc.nbs.gov/resource/othrdata/crp/crp.htm Mountain Lion.   (1997).   Kidsfarm   Internet.   http://www.kidsfarm.com/lions.htm Too Much of a Good Thing.   (1997).   Internet.   http://udwild.psych.und.nodak.edu/HTMLPages/goosecrisis.html Trophy Hunting of Mountain Lions: A History of Deception.   (1995).   California  Ã‚   Mountain Lion   Internet. http://www.sierraclulb.org/chapters/ca/mountain-lion/history.html

Gender Stereotype

Stereotyping was an act of generalizing a group by observation of some group members, but later it becomes a popular belief and assumption to certain groups. Although sometimes these assumption made by stereotyping can be correct but most of the time it affects our judgment by oversimplifying our further observation on the others. People sometimes rationalize their stereotyping by ignoring evidence that contradicts the stereotype, thus created unconscious stereotype. Unconscious stereotype can lead to discrimination, under performance, and false understanding to certain groups. One of the unconscious stereotypes we hardly notice in our everyday life is the gender stereotype. Ever since we were kids, boys are socialized to be tough, aggressive, loud, and athletic; girls are socialized to be sensitive, passive, quiet, and nonathletic. â€Å"Parents encourage their sons and daughters to participate in sex-typed activities, including doll playing and engaging in housekeeping for girls and playing with trucks and engaging in sports activities for boy. † said by Susan D. Witt in â€Å"Parental Influence on Children’s Socialization to Gender Roles†. And because of this, boys tend to stand out more than girls, and girls did not usually speak out in public. Although it was only an issue of being passive or aggressive, but it had lead most male to stereotype female as less intelligent because of how most female did not speak out their opinions; so did I. And because of this stereotype, most men believe that women are not competent to work in a po sition higher than men and women are expected by men to be housewife. According to Chang Tianle, â€Å"If a successful woman does not assume traditional duties at home, she will probably be accused of being selfish and concentrating too much on her career and neglecting her family. † Women would get blamed if not doing most of the housework at home even though they are making the major earning for the family. As a male myself, I have thought that female were less intelligent and athletic than male. The main reason is because of the way media have portrayed female. In movies and TV shows, female were hardly the main haracters. In news, the important figures such as politicians were usually male. Even in a family, male usually seems to be the one that was supporting it. Later, there had been some false scientific belief that supports gender bias. According to Caryl Rivers and Rosalid C. Barnett in â€Å"The Difference Myth†, â€Å"Victorian-era scientists generally accepted as fact that larger brains of men made them intellectually superior; women’s smaller brains made them closer to children than to mature adults. But this had proven to be wrong; the brain size has now proven to be proportional to the body size and does not determine intelligence. But most false beliefs are still widespread and had lead to so many people believing that female were inferior to male, and I was just like most average male, believed that female were less intelligent, athletic, and not as worthy as male in the society. This unconscious bias created a world with most men having a higher status than women. According to J. D. Nordell in â€Å"Position of Power†, â€Å"women need to be 2. 5 more productive than men to be judged equally competent. It created an unequal work environment for women and took away their opportunities . Although now I try not to stereotype female as less intelligent, sometimes my judgments are still unconsciously affected by this idea of stereotype. In my biology lab, there is a girl in my group. At the first day of the lab, she was very talkative but slow on her work, so I unconsciously assumed that she might need my help in the following labs. But later I observed that she was actually doing better than me on lecture and had answered most questions that I did not know. It turned out that she does not need help at all. So I conclude that the reason why she was slow in lab was because she was being too talkative and was not focusing in the lab, and because of this, I had unconsciously labeling her with the stereotype of being less intelligent. The idea of stereotype affected my judgment while I was not aware of it. â€Å"Even though formal barriers to women’s workplace advancement have been dismantled, unconscious bias continues to interfere. †Said by J. D. Nordell in â€Å"Position of Power†. I agree with his statement because of a lot of phenomenon of unconscious gender bias still exist in our everyday life just like the experience I had in biology lab. People are too used to linking people to certain groups but not fully observing them, thus stereotyping occurred. As of now, I try not to let the thought of stereotype affect my judgment. But I believe that in some scale, stereotype has become a habit for me and also for most people. Although I try not to stereotype others, it still unconsciously affects my daily judgment. Being the same to aversive racism, unconscious stereotype is also hard to be eliminated. The reason of it is that people are not aware of it and they think that they are making rational judgment. And the self-fulfilling prophecies then lead the stereotyped to act in a way to confirm the stereotype. â€Å"If others perceive you as talented, you become more talented. If you are perceive as less able, your ability shrinks. † Said by J. D. Nordell. This unconscious bias then becomes a cycle. We perceive most women as passive, thus leading more of them not to speak up. Gender stereotype had made a great impact on people’s expectation on different gender. When we speak of stereotyping, we usually think of racism, but forgetting how it affects gender. And because of this, gender stereotype become so subtle. We usually do not realize it when we are stereotyping other gender. And sometimes the self-fulfilling prophecy can support our stereotyping. Stereotype then becomes a habit. Stereotyping not only affects the victim, it also affects the stereotyper. When we get used to stereotyping others, we eventually weaken our observation and reasoning skills. Gender Stereotype Stereotyping was an act of generalizing a group by observation of some group members, but later it becomes a popular belief and assumption to certain groups. Although sometimes these assumption made by stereotyping can be correct but most of the time it affects our judgment by oversimplifying our further observation on the others. People sometimes rationalize their stereotyping by ignoring evidence that contradicts the stereotype, thus created unconscious stereotype. Unconscious stereotype can lead to discrimination, under performance, and false understanding to certain groups. One of the unconscious stereotypes we hardly notice in our everyday life is the gender stereotype. Ever since we were kids, boys are socialized to be tough, aggressive, loud, and athletic; girls are socialized to be sensitive, passive, quiet, and nonathletic. â€Å"Parents encourage their sons and daughters to participate in sex-typed activities, including doll playing and engaging in housekeeping for girls and playing with trucks and engaging in sports activities for boy. † said by Susan D. Witt in â€Å"Parental Influence on Children’s Socialization to Gender Roles†. And because of this, boys tend to stand out more than girls, and girls did not usually speak out in public. Although it was only an issue of being passive or aggressive, but it had lead most male to stereotype female as less intelligent because of how most female did not speak out their opinions; so did I. And because of this stereotype, most men believe that women are not competent to work in a po sition higher than men and women are expected by men to be housewife. According to Chang Tianle, â€Å"If a successful woman does not assume traditional duties at home, she will probably be accused of being selfish and concentrating too much on her career and neglecting her family. † Women would get blamed if not doing most of the housework at home even though they are making the major earning for the family. As a male myself, I have thought that female were less intelligent and athletic than male. The main reason is because of the way media have portrayed female. In movies and TV shows, female were hardly the main haracters. In news, the important figures such as politicians were usually male. Even in a family, male usually seems to be the one that was supporting it. Later, there had been some false scientific belief that supports gender bias. According to Caryl Rivers and Rosalid C. Barnett in â€Å"The Difference Myth†, â€Å"Victorian-era scientists generally accepted as fact that larger brains of men made them intellectually superior; women’s smaller brains made them closer to children than to mature adults. But this had proven to be wrong; the brain size has now proven to be proportional to the body size and does not determine intelligence. But most false beliefs are still widespread and had lead to so many people believing that female were inferior to male, and I was just like most average male, believed that female were less intelligent, athletic, and not as worthy as male in the society. This unconscious bias created a world with most men having a higher status than women. According to J. D. Nordell in â€Å"Position of Power†, â€Å"women need to be 2. 5 more productive than men to be judged equally competent. It created an unequal work environment for women and took away their opportunities . Although now I try not to stereotype female as less intelligent, sometimes my judgments are still unconsciously affected by this idea of stereotype. In my biology lab, there is a girl in my group. At the first day of the lab, she was very talkative but slow on her work, so I unconsciously assumed that she might need my help in the following labs. But later I observed that she was actually doing better than me on lecture and had answered most questions that I did not know. It turned out that she does not need help at all. So I conclude that the reason why she was slow in lab was because she was being too talkative and was not focusing in the lab, and because of this, I had unconsciously labeling her with the stereotype of being less intelligent. The idea of stereotype affected my judgment while I was not aware of it. â€Å"Even though formal barriers to women’s workplace advancement have been dismantled, unconscious bias continues to interfere. †Said by J. D. Nordell in â€Å"Position of Power†. I agree with his statement because of a lot of phenomenon of unconscious gender bias still exist in our everyday life just like the experience I had in biology lab. People are too used to linking people to certain groups but not fully observing them, thus stereotyping occurred. As of now, I try not to let the thought of stereotype affect my judgment. But I believe that in some scale, stereotype has become a habit for me and also for most people. Although I try not to stereotype others, it still unconsciously affects my daily judgment. Being the same to aversive racism, unconscious stereotype is also hard to be eliminated. The reason of it is that people are not aware of it and they think that they are making rational judgment. And the self-fulfilling prophecies then lead the stereotyped to act in a way to confirm the stereotype. â€Å"If others perceive you as talented, you become more talented. If you are perceive as less able, your ability shrinks. † Said by J. D. Nordell. This unconscious bias then becomes a cycle. We perceive most women as passive, thus leading more of them not to speak up. Gender stereotype had made a great impact on people’s expectation on different gender. When we speak of stereotyping, we usually think of racism, but forgetting how it affects gender. And because of this, gender stereotype become so subtle. We usually do not realize it when we are stereotyping other gender. And sometimes the self-fulfilling prophecy can support our stereotyping. Stereotype then becomes a habit. Stereotyping not only affects the victim, it also affects the stereotyper. When we get used to stereotyping others, we eventually weaken our observation and reasoning skills.

Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Example

Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Example Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay A surety dialogue occurs when a condemnable utilizations guiltless people as bargaining french friess. The scenarios for these fortunes vary from a despairing female parent possibly who in fright may block herself with her ain kid to a bank robber who utilizes the people around to help in his pickup. In add-on. a more publicised type of surety state of affairs would be the terrorist type state of affairss where a wholly new set of regulations must be utilized to cover with these type incidents. For illustration. a female parent may be despairing and responding in fright. Most likely this type of individual the head set is non that of a felon and she has no existent purposes of aching anyone but for the most portion is making out for a solution of some type. The first occupation of the surety negotiant should be to make safety. When a negotiant arrives on the scene there may be several armed officers with emotions running high and general confusion. The environment escalates the fright that is already present in this adult female and she is most likely fearful for her life every bit good as the kid or surety she may be keeping. Brute force would non be the best method to utilize in this type of state of affairs as the adult female most likely is non looking to harm anyone and is really seeking some manner of flight. For the most portion the per centum of adult females who take sureties are well lower than that of a male perpetrating the same offense. Upon geting on the scene. it would be important for the negotiant to acquire organized and set up some kind of communicating with the surety taker to find what her issue may be. If the dialogue looks like it might take some clip it would be wise to see a place that would offer some type of lasting adjustment. The following measure would be to try to find as much information about the state of affairs as possible. For illustration. it would be of import to cognize how many sureties and if possible their names. Then it is important to find what they are demanding and from at that place find what is it that they are truly inquiring for. Since typically by nature. adult females tend to be more emotional it would be wise to find where her frame of head is at this clip. The inquiries to see is whether she is despairing and fearful or are her emotions running high with a sense of hopelessness where she feels she has nil to lose? Besides. if possible it would be good to find is she under the influence of any type of drug or intoxicant as these factors could do the state of affairs much more hard as it is frequently times impossible to ground with a individual under the influence. Their appreciation on world is greatly altered and what is apparent logic will non register obviously to them. Another type of surety state of affairs to see is a terrorist type state of affairs where the individual who the negotiant is covering with is non from this state and so a whole new set of issues would necessitate attending. Most terrorists who apprehend sureties may believe that they are genuinely making a heroic act and it is most likely a spiritual type of motivation. It is difficult to ground with a individual like this without understanding that this individual has no fright of decease. In fact. they most likely welcome it as they are under the feeling that they will be greatly rewarded in the after life because of what they are making. In add-on. many times when covering with surety takers from the in-between E they are so heartsick as they have lost much in the manner of ownerships and more significantly they may hold lost household members. In the instance of these type surety state of affairss they are non keeping the individual. for the most portion. in a edifice like possibly a bank robber type state of affairs. In these instances the sureties are more likely to be picked up from a public topographic point and carried off to another secret location. The surety takers in bend contact whomever they feel are the appropriate people and from that point make their demands. For the most portion they may supply some type of cogent evidence alarming the governments on the figure of people taken and confidence that they are still alive. In these type cases they may look. and frequently do. hold the upper manus and it is the negotiator’s responsibility to equilibrate the state of affairs. It is imperative to find at this point what the terrorists may be inquiring and if the petition if realistic and one that could be honored. From this point the cooperation of several authorities functionaries may come into drama and the determination on who to reach should be made well speedy. Another type of surety state of affairs would be when an person from an urban community is the condemnable. Many times these people are despairing and will non be unfastened to dialogue. Often times they are determined they will non be caught and their manner of life has reduced the regard of other people’s lives. as they have no great regard for ain. Another issue that is prevailing in these type state of affairss would be at that place besides may be the engagement of drugs and intoxicant so the negotiant may non be covering with a limpid personality.

Homosexual Marriage essays

Homosexual Marriage essays ÒMarriage has changed to suit society throughout timeÓ (Economist 161). From interracial marriages to procreation views, society has allowed itÕs favourite institution, marriage, the flexibility to change and grow with the times. Then why can society not accept the addition of homosexual marriage today? The arguments against homosexual marriage are close-minded and transparent, and have little place in modern society. Arguments on such topics as religion, procreation, and child rearing can be easily and logically discounted with a minimum of thought. Yet still legislation, such as the Defense of Marriage Act, continues to undermine the Constitution. Because of the act, which was signed into law in September of 1996 by Bill Clinton, the full faith-and-credit clause from Article 4 of the constitution is made worthless (Sullivan 167). Similar actions have been taken into society to prevent homosexual marriage, though many people do not give any actual thought to the matter, accepting what is considered to be a societal norm. In actuality, homosexual marriage would have a positive influence upon todayÕs society, which is consistently proven by the arguments between homosexual marriage advocates and opposition. The foremost argument about homosexual marriage is religious. According to most religions, sexual love between two persons of the same gender is an abomination in the eyes of the church. The Christian right states that Ògay activists are in fact attempting to poison the youth of America with same-sex propagandaÓ (Stengel 143). Many bibles state that their God does not love homosexual persons, and that they will be punished for their acts of love. Anti-sodomy laws reflect this assumption, implying that love for oneÕs gender is all right, as long as it is not acted upon. Places of worship refuse to host the marriages of same-sex couples, as they oppose the very foundations of many religious sects. However, these same religi...

Interdisciplinary Studies What Is It Should You Get a Degree

Interdisciplinary Studies What Is It Should You Get a Degree SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Colleges have a wealth of degrees to choose from that can lead you to all different kinds of career paths. But if you’re looking for something more specialized, something that can combine your love for multiple disciplines into one complete package, interdisciplinary studies might be right for you. If you have questions like what is interdisciplinary studies, what kinds of students will do best in these programs, and how can interdisciplinary studies lead to a great career, read on! What Is Interdisciplinary Studies? Interdisciplinary studies is unique among degree programs. Most traditional programs are focused on a specific field of study, such as mathematics, literature, or computer science. Interdisciplinary studies can include all of the above and more- it depends on what you hope to get out of these programs. The most basic interdisciplinary studies definition is that these programs allow students to choose their concentrations. You can effectively create your own major by choosing two areas of interest and combining them into one degree program that you’ll specialize in. For example, say you love psychology and art. You might combine an art program with a psychology program to create your own art therapy degree. Interdisciplinary studies are distinct from integrative studies, which have one primary focus with others supporting it. For example, if you wanted to study psychology and art in an integrative fashion, you might study how art feeds into psychology but not the other way around. Integrative study doesn’t treat your disparate fields as equal; you have one key discipline, and other programs inform that discipline. Why Choose an Interdisciplinary Studies Major? Interdisciplinary studies is great for students who have specific interests that won’t necessarily be met through a traditional degree. For example, maybe you have a deep interest in linguistics and biology and the ways that the two intersect. You might take linguistics courses and biology courses to get your degree, but the two may not typically cross over in traditional degree programs. If you study those fields as part of an interdisciplinary program, you’ll be designing your major specifically to understand the relationships between the two fields. If you have a specific field you’d like to work in the future, one that requires specialized knowledge, a degree in interdisciplinary studies may be a good approach. If you want to work as a biologist but specifically with the human body has evolved to suit speech, you can design your major to suit those interests. Even better, an interdisciplinary studies program means you’re personally choosing things that are interesting to you. In a traditional degree program, you might end up having to take animal biology or microbiology, neither of which have that much in common with linguistics. In an interdisciplinary program, your classes are more likely to line up directly with the things you want to study because you’re going to be working with advisers to create the ideal major. What Kinds of Students Succeed in Interdisciplinary Studies? Because interdisciplinary studies are a special field, it takes certain kinds of students to succeed. Students who are more likely to succeed in the field include students who are: Creative If you’re interested in interdisciplinary studies, you’re probably at least a little creative. You don’t want to follow the existing paths; you want to create one that’s new and unique to you. That trait will serve you well as you’re connecting different fields and planning out your course schedules, because part of an interdisciplinary studies program is forging new connections between disciplines. Motivated Because interdisciplinary studies doesn’t have a clear path the way many majors do, you’ll need to be a particularly motivated student to make it work for you. You’ll be designing your own course schedule and program with your advisers, which means more work than usual for you as a student. You need to keep your motivation high if you want to succeed as an interdisciplinary studies major. Collaborative You might be the only student at your school with your specific combination of fields in interdisciplinary studies, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be collaborating with others. Forming connections with people with similar interests is a great way to improve your own experience, particularly since you’re going to be forging your own path. You’ll also be working heavily with professors and advisers to create your academic pathway. So though you might be the only person doing exactly your program, it’s still important to work collaboratively with others! Critical Thinkers Many disciplines overlap in college, but for interdisciplinary studies, that overlap is something you’ll largely be figuring out for yourself. Critical thinking is a valuable skill for interdisciplinary studies students for that reason. You’ll be considering all of your courses in conversation with one another, even if the connections aren’t clearly laid out for you. If your program requires a thesis or capstone project, you’ll likely be covering all of the ways your courses and fields intersect. Being able to think critically about those courses will be invaluable to you as you progress through your program. Disciplined Motivation and hard work will get you far, but a sense of discipline will get you even further. Interdisciplinary studies requires that you adhere to a different set of standards than traditional degrees. That means you’ll be guiding yourself, a lot of the time- though you’ll likely work out a plan with your advisers and instructors, you’ll be the one in charge of properly executing it. People who are good at setting goals, hitting deadlines, and planning will have an easier time Pros and Cons of Interdisciplinary Studies There are a lot of considerations to be made in deciding on an interdisciplinary studies program. These programs have lots of unique benefits over other majors, but also some potential drawbacks. Pros: Learning multiple disciplines Understanding how fields overlap Opportunities for new research and development Passion about whatever you’re studying because you design it Cons: Professors may not understand your program Professors may not understand your unique needs as an interdisciplinary studies student Difficult to transition between subjects because work may not necessarily be connected It’s a specialized degree, so some jobs may not know what to make of it May be difficult to get into grad school Jobs may not understand what your degree is What Schools Offer Interdisciplinary Studies Programs? Though the major is an unusual approach, many great schools offer interdisciplinary studies as an option for their students. Some of those schools include: Boise State University Bowling Green State University Brown University College of William and Mary Creighton University Duke University George Washington University Lehigh University Lipscomb University New York University Purdue University Portland State University Stephen F Austin State University SUNY at Fredonia University of California - Berkeley University of California - Los Angeles University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Virginia Valparaiso University What Are Interdisciplinary Programs Like? Many schools throughout the US offer interdisciplinary studies programs. Not every college has an interdisciplinary studies program, and even if they do, it might not be particularly well-supported. The programs covered below all have plenty of information about their interdisciplinary studies programs, including how to apply, what the expectations are, and information on past successes of the department. UC Berkeley At UC Berkeley, interdisciplinary studies is considered part of the bachelor of arts program. You’ll graduate your program, no matter what fields you combine, with a BA. Berkeley also requires a minimum of three fields in your interdisciplinary studies program. The program should be designed to answer a specific research question, but the question can be approached in a multitude of ways, including regional, comparative, and historical approaches. Though interdisciplinary studies allows students to design their own major, Berkeley has a structure in place to ensure that the education students receive is well-rounded and comprehensive. You’ll be choosing from a list of acceptable courses to take to satisfy prerequisites, including introductory courses, world region courses, and methodology courses, with each requirement having an assortment of disciplines to choose from. Tufts Tufts makes it clear that interdisciplinary studies is not just a method of creating a unique major- it’s a dedicated field of study that should be taken seriously. According to their website, â€Å"it is a serious undertaking for the student who is committed to blending disciplines in a way that is demonstrably relevant to an identifiable area of intellectual inquiry.† Tufts has the requirements to match their feelings about interdisciplinary studies being a serious undertaking. Getting your degree requires a thesis and thesis defense in front of an advisory committee, representing the culmination of your work and research. Students create their own advisory committee with three instructors from different disciplines, one of which must be a tenured member of the Arts and Sciences faculty. With their advisory committee, students of interdisciplinary studies will develop their major. Major proposals must include a title, a description of why it needs to be interdisciplinary, what problems will be addressed through the program, and what methodology will be used to address them, as well as letters of support, a bibliography, and list of courses they plan to take. That proposal must be approved by the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty Committee before you can begin your program. University of Florida University of Florida has some interdisciplinary programs already in place, including biological illustration, sustainability studies, and Middle Eastern languages and culture. For students who wish to design their own major, they must apply separately to the IDS program through the Dean’s office. They must also find at least two tenured advisers to help them design their program. As in the Tufts program, students will be required to complete a thesis to graduate. Because interdisciplinary studies can be customized for each student who pursues it, programs can vary pretty widely between colleges. Here’s a look at three of the programs from some top schools: What Should You Look for in an Interdisciplinary Studies Program? Programs can vary from college to college, but there are a few things to look for if you’re interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary studies degree: A Track Record A college doesn’t need to have your specific interests clearly outlined, but having a framework for interdisciplinary studies makes it easier for you to get a good, well-supported education. Professor Support A traditional degree program has a pathway for success as well as advisers and professors who are well-trained in helping students make it through. That isn’t necessarily true of interdisciplinary studies, which means you have to be extra diligent about evaluating how well you’ll work with your professors. Unfortunately, since professors may not know what exactly your program is, it may be hard for them to understand exactly how one piece fits into another. Unlike traditional degree programs, there’s no real â€Å"stepping stone† approach- your courses may be in radically different fields with no attempt to bridge them. That’s why it’s so important to connect with your professors and your advisers. You need to be sure that you’re all on the same page as far as what you need to get out of each class, even if you are doing the bulk of the bridging yourself. When you are clear about your intentions and goals, it’s easier for your professors to help you meet them! What Kinds of Interdisciplinary Studies Jobs Exist? One of the benefits of a traditional degree program is that future careers will probably know what they mean, even if they’re highly specialized. Interdisciplinary studies degrees are a bit different- while a future job might recognize â€Å"communications† and â€Å"art history,† they might not understand exactly what it means to have an interdisciplinary degree covering both. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get interdisciplinary studies jobs- only that clarity and dedicated study are the best way to ensure your degree will help you down the line. Here’s a few jobs that benefit from the interdisciplinary approach: Job Degree Required Average Salary Job Description Best For People Who... Teacher Bachelor’s (minimum) $60,477 Teaching children or adults in a specific subject Understand education principles, have a firm grasp on one or more specific subjects, and enjoy working with others Accountant None, but a bachelor’s or higher is greatly preferred $77,920 Analyzes financial information to prepare reports for businesses Work well with numbers, have an eye for detail, and who enjoy analysis Counselors Bachelor’s degree minimum, but a master’s degree is preferred $42,840 Offers advice and guidance to people in a variety of contexts Have great listening skills, are able to remain objective, excel at communicating Journalist None required, but bachelor’s degree greatly preferred $40,077 Writes and researches a variety of topics to create news articles, videos, or other reports Are curious, have writing skills, enjoy research Archaeologist Bachelor’s degree $59,040 Participates in digs and excavations to learn more about history Have an eye for detail, are inquisitive, have flexibility in where they live and for how long Key Tips Taking on an interdisciplinary studies program can be a lot of work. You’ll be looking out for yourself more than you would in a traditional degree program, but the increased freedom and flexibility are worth it for many students. To be sure you’re getting the most out of your program, keep these things in mind: Do Your Research Schools that already have procedures in place for interdisciplinary studies students are likely to better support you. Know ahead of time if these frameworks for success exist, and if not, develop a plan for how you’ll approach your program. Seek out other interdisciplinary studies students and alumni to learn more about their experiences. Did professors support them? How about the school administration? Do they have recommendations about how to make the most of the program? Spending some time learning more about interdisciplinary studies at your school is a great way to ensure that you get the biggest benefit from the program. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions- it’s a skill you’ll need for the field! Pick a Focus and Stick With It Interdisciplinary studies is great for students who have a multitude of interests. But that multitude of interests can also be a problem if you struggle to stick with one project for an extended period of time. When you plan out your program with your advisers, be sure it’s a plan you can stick with throughout your time in college- changing your degree is difficult even for traditional programs, but the lost credit hours can be especially hard for interdisciplinary degree students. What’s Next? Looking for other unique ways of combining your interests in college? Consider a dual degree or double major, two other degree programs that let you explore multiple subjects. Curious how long it'll take to complete your interdisciplinary studies program? If you're doing a bachelor's degree, this article about how many years it takes to complete a bachelor's program can help! Journalism is a great field for interdisciplinary studies students. Want to know what schools have the strongest journalism programs? Check out this list!

Daoism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Daoism - Essay Example This may be because, since all other religious beliefs are exotic, Taoism is the only religion that the China inhabitants believe to be indigenous. Therefore, this document critically analyzes Daoism, its theoretical, practical, and social approach one of the world religions. Daoism (also called Taoism) is a religious belief whose origin comes from the Chinese traditions. Joachim Wach explained that there are three ways in which a belief qualifies to be named a religion (Kirkland 165). A religion must have its theoretical aspect. This means that it ought to have various verbal beliefs, to which the followers strongly adhere. Daoism accentuates veneration of the ancestral spirits and immortality of some beings in their religion. Taoism believes on the freedom of humanity from conformist limitations. Moreover, Taoism obtains its teaching from Lao-tze, an ancient philosopher who the followers deem to have established the first Taoism temple. However, the Taoism followers commonly consid er the history about Lao-tze as legendary; and they still keep up with his teachings from the earlier writings. Scholars believe Taoism to be mythological. In this sense, some critics claim their belief about immortality to be mythical. In addition, it highlights the story of a certain prince, who practiced Taoism in a deserted mountain until he became a supernatural and consequently an immortal being (Kirkland 166). The Taoists believe that a certain man, believed to be the true man, will come to the world in the end, and end chaos, bringing peace to the world. Additionally, the Taoists believe that Tao (the way) is the main guiding rule of their values and mannerisms (Ede 21). Moreover, Taoists believe in a hierarchy of gods and eternals. There is also the practical aspect of Daoism. Taoist believers practice various rituals. Taoists believe in achieving immortality through practicing the Tao values, both within and outside the bodily being. The Taos internal practices entail phys ical Tao exercises, which include breathing, intense meditation, and refinement of the inner elixir. Besides, the central objective of these activities is to improve oneself, spiritually and bodily. Tao also teaches external practices that involve being responsible in exemplary actions such as helping one another. Tao believers must strive to achieve these values by earnestly practicing both the internal and external activities, since they believe that the reward is to acquire the immortal nature. Additionally, the Tao followers practice martial arts, most commonly known as Kung fu (Ede 22). Besides, the Tao followers also have their own scriptures that they read and follow. This manuscript comes in diverse components. They refer these components as the Canon or the Daozang. They are arranged in the order of age, the earliest being the Tang Dynasty. The succeeding ones include versions compiled during the dynasties of Song, Jin, Yuan, and Ming. There are two distinct Tao sects. The two sects are the Zhengyi and the Quanzhen, with the Zhengyi being the most popular within the Chinese communities. However, these sects are similar in their fundamental Tao beliefs. They only have slight disparities in their norms and regulations. The Quanzhens are stricter in their regulations as opposed to their Zhengyi counterparts, since they practice a strict vegetarian diet and are celibate, spending their entire lives in the

Benefits of Developing Solid Government and Contractor Relationships Research Paper - 1

Benefits of Developing Solid Government and Contractor Relationships - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that governments need the help of contractors because governments do not have ample employees to function and also lack the sets of skills required for government operations; the GAO (government accountability office) in the United States of America came up with these findings in a survey in 1991. Now this need to depend on contractors may increase as the government functioning areas are getting wider and so are the skills required in operating those areas, but the number of federal employees possessing such wide range of skills is not increasing; since 1991 to 2004 the OPM (office of personnel management) estimated that the civilian workforce in federal government has decreased by 13 percent. The business relationship that exists between the government and the contractors provides both with a tendency to grow with mutual interests at the core of the business relationship. But it is crucial for Government employees to understand that the na ture of work they do is sensitive and a certain degree of risk is always there when treating the contractual employees as members of their team and should refrain from partiality or preference. Certain rules and guideline must be ensured between the two parties so that a solid and reliable relationship between the two is created; leading to the mutual success of both. The government personnel falls under the law and regulations of the federal government and the employees of the contractor fall under their contractor's contract. A solid working environment between the contractors and government ensures benefit to both. The business relationship between government and contractors allows for a mutual base for achieving shared goals and objectives when subjected to successful planning, and it is necessary for the employees of both the contractor and government to understand these goals and responsibilities. Shared vision and mission are also termed as Partnering.

Death penalty in the US Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Death penalty in the US - Research Paper Example Across the globe, the same practice continues to be observed, dating its inception to hundreds of years ago for countries that undertake the death penalty practice. By the end of the first quarter of the year 2008, up to 37 states in the U.S had embraced the death penalty practice, with 13 states and the District of Columbia remaining without this penalty (Mauer, Ryan & Malcolm 117). This practice was also upheld by the U.S military, and crowned by the fact that the federal government authorized its practice. Amid this pursuit, the ways through which the penalty is implemented remains diverse and dynamic over time. For the states in the U.S that uphold death penalty, the mechanisms used to actualize this penalty range from lethal injections to electric chairs (Campbell 78). Arguments for and against this practice remains evident, with the primary concern being human rights for the prisoners set for the capital punishment (Marquis 95). Around the globe different countries observe this form of punishment while others do not. There are countries that previously observed death penalty, but later revised their legal systems to alleviate the practice (Anckar 152). On the same note, there are countries that initially did not have capital punishment as a form of punishment according to their laws, but went ahead to formulate and implement legal provisions that allowed death penalty (Hodgkinson & Schabas 169-185). This implies that the global population remains divided for and against death penalty. This is the reason why there are countries that execute prisoners under the death provisions, while others fail to do so. In the U.S and the globe at large, decades ago realized exacerbating executions in accordance with death penalty laws. With the rising issues and agencies that promote human rights at all aspects, many countries, U.S included have embarked on a reform trail in relation to

Censorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Censorship - Essay Example In my personal case, I would consider censorship to be the deliberate suppression of speech, communication, information, ideas and opinions in order to influence another person. Additionally, censorship can also be either good or bad or both, depending on the situation or what the author of an article entitled â€Å"The Ed Sullivan Show and the (Censored) Sounds of the Sixties† had termed as the contexts in which censorship occurs (Inglis 565). This article is an examination of the general and particular contexts in which censorship was imposed on the content of written and performance songs during the 1950s and the 1960s. The music industry at that time had seen the need to exercise censorship on some forms of music which they had found to be offensive to public morals such as glorification of sex, drugs, violence or political views. In particular, music industry executives were concerned with the immense popularity of rock & roll music within the younger generations and its capacity to influence these people with regards to song content such as references to blasphemy, sexual content, violence, drugs and political extremism. The period mentioned in article was one of political conservatism. Censorship is controversial because it conflicts with rights under the First Amendment which is guaranteed by the Constitution. However, censorship can change over time because a societys mores and values also change over time. This is the same case with a persons values which can change over the course of his lifetime. In other words, a person while younger may be liberal in most matters but then gradually becomes a conservative with regards to certain issues such as sex, choice of music, clothing preferences and political views. The issue of censorship is also a matter of personal opinion and this is what makes it an extremely controversial topic to discuss. A person may have different opinions

Business Ethic and Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Business Ethic and Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example Oil is a major contributor to greenhouse gases which results in climate change. The company is on a drive to become more socially responsible by not only reducing its carbon footprints but by improving the safety of its work environment and is employees. In so doing it seeks to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities as well as the number of oil spills, blowouts and flarings at its operations globally. Shell has faced a lot of criticisms from the communities in which it operates and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) that are concerned about the companies safety practices, the environment and human rights. The company is currently working with communities, its partners and NGO’s in order to deal with potential impacts and also to share the benefits that derive from operations and projects. Shell’s Display of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) According to the company’s CEO Vosser (2010, qtd. in Shell 2010), strong principles as well as the development of trust are fundamental to shells approach and the respect for human rights is deeply entrenched in the company’s General Business Principles which it proudly boasts as having being developed since 1976. Vosser (2010, qtd in Shell 2010) also reveals that the company has adopted transparency as a way of dealing with some of its problems at its operations in Nigeria which has been plagued by operational spills, spills arising from sabotage and spills arising from the theft of fuel. This allows it to keep track of spills in order to determine the main cause. With respect to safety, the company has signed up with the UN Global Compact LEAD which seeks to reinforce commitment by businesses to the principles of Global Compact. Shell has been a member of this group since 2000. The company’s safety measures has been heightened as a result of the BP Deepwater Ho rizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico which dominated the news all over the world in 2010 and the oil spill that resulted. Shell believes that it has the necessary skills and technical expertise to avert such a situation in its operations based on its stringent operating standards which it applies globally. This is a demonstration of its ability to operate in a socially responsible manner despite the diversity of challenges the company faces. Shell’s goal is zero fatality and zero accidents (Shell 2010). In terms of safety in its deepwater operations the company ensures that the persons employed in this area of its operations are properly trained and are competent to handle the requirements of the job. Shell’s focus on the environment lies in some key areas, including CO2, flaring, spills, and the company’s use of water. The company has invested in technology that will lead to more energy efficient refineries and chemical plants. To this end the company has devel oped carbon capture and storage technology to effectively reduce carbon emissions. The company is working assiduously to reduce gas flarings in Nigeria; one of its locations in which it seeks to tackle environmental problems head on. In order to assist in the improvement of standards and practices that may lead to environmental sustainability the company is working with some leading environmental organisations in the quest to adhere to proper environmental management of the energy sector. In addition to providing jobs and training for its employees, Shell also shares the benefits of its operations with the communities in which it operates by providing contracts for goods and services and by

Censorship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Censorship - Essay Example In my personal case, I would consider censorship to be the deliberate suppression of speech, communication, information, ideas and opinions in order to influence another person. Additionally, censorship can also be either good or bad or both, depending on the situation or what the author of an article entitled â€Å"The Ed Sullivan Show and the (Censored) Sounds of the Sixties† had termed as the contexts in which censorship occurs (Inglis 565). This article is an examination of the general and particular contexts in which censorship was imposed on the content of written and performance songs during the 1950s and the 1960s. The music industry at that time had seen the need to exercise censorship on some forms of music which they had found to be offensive to public morals such as glorification of sex, drugs, violence or political views. In particular, music industry executives were concerned with the immense popularity of rock & roll music within the younger generations and its capacity to influence these people with regards to song content such as references to blasphemy, sexual content, violence, drugs and political extremism. The period mentioned in article was one of political conservatism. Censorship is controversial because it conflicts with rights under the First Amendment which is guaranteed by the Constitution. However, censorship can change over time because a societys mores and values also change over time. This is the same case with a persons values which can change over the course of his lifetime. In other words, a person while younger may be liberal in most matters but then gradually becomes a conservative with regards to certain issues such as sex, choice of music, clothing preferences and political views. The issue of censorship is also a matter of personal opinion and this is what makes it an extremely controversial topic to discuss. A person may have different opinions

I don't have a topic it just needs to not be ethical, moral or Research Paper

I don't have a topic it just needs to not be ethical, moral or religious in answering a policy question - Research Paper Example Many states in the United States, for example, are enacting laws that require corporate organizations to accommodate needs of domestic violence victims through granting leave (Martin, 2013). Understanding the root cause of domestic violence, and other forms of violence, may however inform the legal approach to the problem. Protecting children from witnessing instances of domestic violence, according to O’Brien, Cohen, Pooley, and Taylor, reduces possibility of the children’s engagement in domestic violence during their later stages of life (2012). This is consistent with Cycle of Violence theory that explains transfer of domestic violence traits from parents or other people in an environment to children and suggests that laws on domestic violence more stringent may be a long-term solution to the domestic violence problem (Gonzalez and Corbin, 2011). Domestic violence is a significant social problem whose implications extend to financial scopes. Its psychological and physical effects on victims reduce their potentials that even force them out of employment to grant them legal leave from duty. While a legal approach has failed to reduce incidences of domestic violence in the society, despite its perceived able framework, protecting new generations from experiencing or witnessing domestic violence may be a long-term solution to the problem because of its hypothesized ability to reduce aggression in the new generation (Martin, 2013; Gonzalez and Corbin, 2011). The study is significant in understanding significance of violence experience during childhood and the long-term cause of domestic violence in the society. Its results will determine the significance and establish a basis for legal policies that can address the problem. Establishing significance of children’s exposure to domestic violence will mean that strict laws, im plemented over a generation, are necessary for a long-term solution to

Steam Coal Crushing Plant Essay Example for Free

Steam Coal Crushing Plant Essay YIFAN machinery coal crushing plant with coal crushing and mill machine is for coal crushing processing line. Coal Crushing Plant Provide Coal Crusher|Coal Mill|Coal †¦ Coal processing plant with coal crushing and coal milling machine is for coal productione line. coal crusher machine,coal crushing plant,,coal crushers design Coal Crusher coal crusher design and overview. Coal crusher is the main crushing machine used in coal crushing plant. Coal crushing plant consist of many types of How to build a coal crushing plant, coal crushing equipment Coal crushing equipment introduction. Coal crushing plant consist of many types of crushers and grinding mills. In order toimpact cone crushers manufacturers in shanghai china use coal more rationally, efficiently and Mobile Coal Crusher,Portable Coal Crushers, mobile coal crushing Mobile Coal Crusher. Mobile Jaw Coal Crusher. Mobile Jaw Coal Crusher plant puts crushing and screening process on wheels. By combining feeding, crushing and coal crushing plant Indonesia,coal crusher machine for sale To use coal more rationally, helpfully ., the coal must be processefeatures and advantages of cone crusher in crushing processd and crushed into different sizes, 0 ~ 25 mm particle size for coal gas stove, 25 ~ 8 mm for steam Coal crushing equipment for coal preparation plant and washery RELATED PRODUCTS. Coal crusher machine; Coal mill; Coal conveyor; HOW COAL WAS FORMED. Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock †¦ Coal Crusher,Coal Crushing Plant Design by Caiman †¦ Coal is a very important sourfeatures and advantages of cone crusher in crushing processce of energy, mainly for combustion, coking, gasification, low temperature distillation, hydrogenation liquefaction. Steam Power Plants #2fishygirl on Scribd | Scribd Energy Conversion Engineering. Steam Power Plants General layout of steam power plant Schematic diagram of coal based steam power plant To chimney Coal †¦ Coal Handling Plant coal crushing machine †¦ We are a well-known mining machinery company.Production of Coal handling plant are sold around the world, like India, South Africa and other regions. Coal preparation plant for coal beneficiation process YIFAN machinery Crusher Coal preparation plant with equipment is used for coal beneficiation, cleaning including handling, Crushing, Screening, Gravity separation process. coal crusher machine,coal crushing process machine,coal †¦ The stone coal crusher machine from YIFAN machinery has broad market both at home and abroad. In coal crushing process, coal crusher equipment is the main machine to crush coal. Grinding Mill,Stone Crusher Machine,Crushing plant – YIFAN machinery †¦ Stone Crusher Machine.YIFAN machinery is professional Stone Crusher Machine,crushing plant,Grinding Mill and other crushing machine grinding machine manufacturer.If †¦ Fossil-fuel power station Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A fossil-fuel power station is a type of power station that burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or petroleum (oil) to produce electricity. Central station Steam Coal Price,Buy Quality Steam Coal Price from †¦ Steam Coal Price, Source Steam Coal Price Products at Coal, Charcoal from Manufacturers and Suppliers around the World Who Offer High Quality Steam Coal †¦ Mobile Jaw Crusher http://www.yifancrusher.com/Mobile-Jaw-Crusher.html Hydraulic drive crawler crushing screening station http://www.yifancrusher.com/Hydraulic-drive-crawler-crushing-screening-station.html Crawler hydraulic cone mobile crushing plant station http://www.yifancrusher.com/Crawler-hydraulic-cone-mobile-crushing-plant-station.html Vertical impact mobile crushing plant station http://www.yifancrusher.com/Vertical-impact-mobile-crushing-plant-station.html Mobile cone crusher station http://www.yifancrusher.com/Mobile-cone-crusher-station.html thermal power plant process flow diagram Coal processing †¦ Find the Right and the Top thermal power plant process flow diagram for your coal handling plant! YIFAN machinery, a mining machines manufacturer in china focus on your local Section 3.1 Pulverized Coal-Fired Subcritical Plant 400 MWe Market-Based Advanced Coal Power Systems 3.1-1 December 1998 3. PULVERIZED COAL The market-based pulverized coal power plant design is based on the †¦ 600mw ultra super critical power plant proposal, coal fired, steam Big Power Plant Projects : GE Gas Turbine Power Plant Project : 3x42mw gas turbine plant proposal : 15MW Heat recovery plant GE 6B Gas Turbine Plant FOSSIL (Also see Coal Power Plant Flash animation) Keith E. †¦ Characteristic: Carbon: Hydrogen: Sulfur: Ignition Temperature: 407 °C (765 °F) 582 °C (1080 °F) Highest of the three: 243 °C (470 °F) Lowest of the three: Heating Glossary U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Energy Information Administration EIA Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government mobile impact crusher station http://www.yifancrusher.com/mobile-impact-crusher-station.html Mobile teeth roll crusher http://www.yifancrusher.com/Mobile-teeth-roll-crusher.html Mobile Screening Station http://www.yifancrusher.com/Mobile-Screening-Station.html

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Information Technology Essay

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Information Technology Essay Rudolph Technologies Inc. (RTEC) is a global leader engaged in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance process control defect inspection, metrology, and process control software systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. The company provides a complete yield management solution to chip makers through a mix of hardware, software, and services. The three main lines of business comprise metrology, inspection and data analysis, and review. The metrology system evaluates composition, thickness, and other properties of transparent and opaque films to ensure that the material does not get too thick or too thin. The inspection system looks for defects such as tiny scratches or gouges in the surface of a silicon wafer, while the process control software offerings turn raw data collected during the production process into useful information. The company generated revenues of $78.7 million in 2009, with inspection systems sales contributing nearly 50%. The company s ells products to over 90 customers comprising of logic, memory, data storage, and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) device manufacturers located in 20 countries; among them Intel Corp accounts for around 14% of total sales. The company generates nearly three-quarters of sales outside the US, primarily in Asia. Rudolph has extensive world-wide network of direct sales, customer service and application support offices, while its manufacturing facility is situated in Bloomington, Minnesota. In highly competitive semiconductor capital equipment market, the company competes with several established companies, principal among them are KLA-Tencor and Camtek. Flanders, New Jersey headquartered Rudolph employs around 497 personnel. The companys common shares trade on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RTEC. Company Background Rudolph Technologies was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey in 1958, and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. The companys origins can be traced back to 1940, when Otto Curt Rudolph formed O.C. Rudolph Sons to import microscopes and scientific instruments, which was later renamed as Rudolph Research Corp. In 1977, the company launched the industrys first production-oriented ellipsometer for thin-transparent film measurements. Since then, through its engineering expertise and continuous investment in research and development, the company has broadened its portfolio with several new innovative products covering metrology, inspection and analysis solutions. In June 1996, Riverside Partners and Liberty Partners made major investments in the company to support its expansion in the semiconductor metrology market. To reflect the companys new strategic focus and plans for metrology, its name was changed to Rudolph Technologies. Three years later, in November 1999, Rudolph went public with its initial public offering 4.8 million common shares. The acquisition of ISOA Inc. in July 2002 added inspection and classification systems to the companys product portfolio, while the companys merger with August Technology Corp. in February 2006 further strengthened its position in macro defect detection and analysis markets. To be a complete supplier of back-end equipment and software, the company acquired the semiconductor business of Applied Precision LLC in December 2007, and the wafer scanner product line from RVSI Inspection LLC in January 2008. These acquisitions expanded the companys product offerings to precision wafer probe card metrology systems, wafer probe process management systems, and 2D/3D macro defect inspection. In august 2009, Rudolph became second largest supplier of process control software solutions with the acquisition of Adventa Control Technologies Inc. The acquisition of Adventa widened its software presence with a wide range of technologies including tool automation, run-to-run control, and fault detection and classification. Inorganic growth being an important part of the companys strategic growth plan, the management intends increase revenue and earnings with additional purchases during upcoming quarters. Table 1: RTECs subsidiaries Products and Services Rudolph is engaged in the engaged in the production and sales of macro-defect inspection, metrology and process control software systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. These process diagnostics and control equipments provide solutions for both front-end and back-end semiconductor manufacturing processes. Over the years, the company has reduced its dependence on front-end metrology market by adding defect inspection system, and process control software to its portfolio. At present, the company derives majority of revenue through the sales of inspection systems, followed by metrology and software systems. Source: Company Filing, RODM Research Inspection Systems The companys inspection equipment looks for defects not visible to the human eye, such as tiny scratches or gouges on the surface of a silicon wafer. The company is believed to be a market leader in both front-end wafer processing and final manufacturing inspection systems. The company entered into the macro-defect inspection market in September 2002 with the acquisition of ISOA Inc., a Texas-based OEM of defect inspection tools for lithography and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes. Since that, the share of inspection system sales in total revenue has increased significantly to reach 48% in FY2009. The company offers a wide range of macro-defect (defects greater than 0.5 micron) inspection systems for detection of front side, edge and backside defects during both front-end wafer processing and back-end IC manufacturing. AXi 940 Module B30 Module Explorer Inspection Cluster NSX Series PrecisionWoRx VX4 System WaferWoRx 300 System Inspection Test Systems Introduced Functionality Type of Fab Front-end Back-end AXi  Module 2003 Advanced detection of defects >0.5 micron Inspection of patterned and unpatterned wafers In line, high-speed, 100% inspection Full color review and waferless recipe creation à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ E30  Module 2003 2D defect detection of the wafers edge Metrology of edge feature Incorporated into the Explorer Cluster à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ B30  Module 2003 2D defect detection of the wafers backside Darkfield, brightfield and color imaging Incorporated into the Explorer Cluster à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Explorer  Inspection Cluster 2009 A family of multi surface inspection tools, using one or more inspection modules Automated handling platform Intelligent wafer scheduling à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ NSX  Series 1997 Fully automated defect detection >0.5 micron 2D wafer, die bump inspection In line, high-speed, 100% inspection à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Wafer Scanner Series 1999 2D/3D bump dimensional inspection 2D bump/surface defect inspection In line, high-speed, 100% inspection à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ PrecisionWoRx 2008 Probe card test analysis Configurable channels High load forces à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ ProbeWoRx 2003 Probe card production metrology 3D Optical Comparative Metrology High-speed test times Automated, one-touch measurements à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ WaferWoRx 2006 Probing process analysis 3D probe tip analysis Proprietary, advanced software à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ PrecisionPoint 2002 Probe card analyzer Tests devices simultaneously Upgradable à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Metrology System Metrology equipment monitors layers of conducting and insulating materials on silicon wafers to ensure that the material doesnt get too thick or too thin. Rudolph introduced the industrys first production-oriented microprocessor-controlled ellipsometer for thin transparent film measurements in 1977. The company currently offers a wide range of metrology systems that measures both transparent and opaque thin-films during front-end fabrication process. The percentage share of metrology systems in total revenue has come down from 63% in FY2005 to 11% in FY2009 as the company has diversified into other higher-margin products including inspection system. MetaPULSE Series The companys MetaPULSE series of metrology systems uses picosecond ultrasonic laser sonar (PULSE) technology for opaque film measurement. The companys patented optical acoustic metal film metrology technology simultaneously measures the thickness and other properties of up to six metal or other opaque film layers in a non-contact manner on product wafers. PULSE Technology uses an ultra-fast laser to generate sound waves that pass down through a stack of opaque films and sends back an echo to the surface that indicates film thickness, density, and other process critical parameters. The company has sold nearly 200 MetaPULSE systems worldwide; the majority of them have been deployed for copper applications as this technology is ideal for characterizing copper interconnect structures. Introduced in 1997, the MetaPULSE was the first, and remains the market dominant, non-contact production metrology system for thin opaque films, currently used by all of the ten largest semiconductor produc ers. The average selling price ranges from $1.0 to $2.0 million per system. S3000 Series MetaPULSE-III System MetaPULSE System MetaPULSE-IIIa System S3000 CD System S3000S SystemIntroduced in 2006, the companys S3000 series of metrology equipments incorporates ellipsometry technology for transparent film measurement. Ellipsometry is a non-contact, non-destructive optical technique that measures the thickness and properties of transparent thin films applied to wafers during the device formation process. The companys patented ellipsometry technique uses four lasers simultaneously for multiple-angle of incidence and multiple wavelength ellipsometry, providing strong analysis and measurement capabilities for newly introduced thinner films and newer materials for future generations of semiconductor devices. Compared to the white-light sources used in spectroscopic ellipsometers, the laser light sources increase the level of accuracy and speed of the companys transparent film systems. Some of the systems combine ellipsometry with reflectometry tool to analyze films that require a broader spectral coverage. The companys transparent film measurement sys tems are available in a price range about $250 k to $1.0 million per system. Process Control Software Along with inspection and metrology systems, Rudolph also offers a suit of yield management and process control software, making it a complete yield management solution provider to semiconductor manufacturers. The company offers a comprehensive range of software for front-end fabs, back-end packaging facilities and photovoltaic market. The software collects the vast amount of data through automated inspection of fab process, which can be analyzed to determine trends that eventually improve yield. The type of software offered includes equipment automation software, tool-monitoring and fault detection software, equipment control software, yield and defect management software, and defect analysis and data management software. The acquisition of Adventa Control Technologies in August 2009 added several software systems to the companys portfolio, making it the second largest supplier of process control software solutions for chip makers, as per Gartner Dataquest. The company now supplies a broad range of Advanced Process Control technologies specifically for tool automation, run-to-run control and fault detection and classification, all designed to enable chip makers to increase capacity and yield and to reduce rework and scrap. Advanced Process Control utilizes software to automatically detect or predict tool failure and calculate recipe settings for a process that will drive the process output to target regardless of variations in the incoming material and disturbances within the process equipment. In FY2009, software licensing generated revenue of $6.7 million, accounting for 8.5% of total revenue. Industry Analysis Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Rudolphs business is primarily driven by the annual spending patterns of semiconductor companies on capital equipments which, in turn, is dependent on other drivers such as the sales of PCs, mobiles and other electronic devices. Worldwide, capital equipment spending has been on a decline during the past 3 years due to the continued strong DRAM investments in 2007, when the market was experiencing oversupply, slower NAND spending growth, and disappearance of foundry capital spending. Subsequently, capital equipment spending eroded nearly 64% to $16.3 billion in 2009 from the 2007 levels, according to Gartner. However, equipment spending is expected to increase 56% to $25.4 billion in 2010 following the broad recovery in the semiconductor industry revenues, and related investment in the foundry and memory markets. In addition, the advancement of new technology nodes will drive the future spending. Gartner estimates an average 20% annual growth in capital equipment spending between 2009 and 2013. Wafer fab equipment spending, which accounts for almost three-fourths of total capital equipment expend is currently driven by advancements in memory technologies and related upgrades. The overall capacity utilization rates continue to run at 80-90% levels, while leading edge utilization rates will hit 90-95% by the end of 2010, which will power strong capacity additions by 2011. Process control equipment market Process control equipments are primarily used to measure the accuracy of the features of a wafer throughout the process flow, and inspect for any defects during the wafer fabrication process. Semiconductor manufacturing costs continue to rise as chip design is becoming smaller and more complex, leading to more time consumption and higher defects Complex chip designing not only increases the cost of buidling a fab, but the higher costs, in turn, increase production with imrpoved yeilds for superior profits and ROI. And this can be achieved by process control equipment which we believe is very critical to increase production yield, and minimize defects. In line with the downturn in semiconductor capital spending, the process control equipment spending declined 44% to $1.75 billion in 2009 from the 2008 levels, which had plunged 32% from $4.6 billion in 2007. However, as a percentage of total semiconductor equipment spending, the expend on process control equipment has increased magrinally from 10% in 2004 to 10.7% in 2009, indicating that this market conitnues to outpace overall semicondicutor capital spending. According to Gartners estimates, process control equipment spending is expected to grow >50% to reach $4.5 billion by 2012. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research In terms of overall market share, KLA-Tencor dominates with ~50% market share followed by Hitachi and Applied Materials with 15% and 11%, respectively. Although a market leader in several segments, Rudolph is a tier-2 player holding an 2% share. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research As a leading supplier of process control equipment for the semiconductor industry, Rudolph serves the macro defect inspection (both front-end and back-end), thin film metrology, and data analysis segments of the process control market. Macro Defect Inspection Macro defect inspection is one of the oldest metrology processes involved in the identification of defects of 0.5 microns and greater. Earlier, inexpensive manual techniques such as microscopes and cameras were the mainstay for identifying scratches, residual material, wafer edge irregularities, and several inspectors were employed at each process level. This compounded the cost of production and compelled production managers to resort to sampling where ~20% of the wafers in-line was inspected. Again, the limitations of this sample strategy restricted the ability to reduce errors leading to increasing number of misprocessed wafers to be scrapped. In response, automated macro defect equipments were introduced which made inspection (100%) both technically and economically feasible. The adoption of automated macro defect equipments has transformed this market into one of fastest growing sub-segments in the entire semiconductor capital equipment industry. Presently, the adoption of automated defect inspection is driven by the industry shifting to 300 mm wafers; where the wafers have more than 2X of the size and number of die compared to 200 mm. With larger wafers size, more chips are produced per wafer and, therefore, automated inspection improves the frequency of detecting defective chips, necessitating the use of automated defect inspection. An automated tool has a throughput of 120 wafers per hour compared, nearly double the manual inspection. We believe that as more devices continue to manufacture on 300mm wafers, the demand for automated macro defect inspection tools will enhance in the future. Macro defect inspection is classified into two sub-segments: 1) front-end inspection in wafer manufacturing; and 2) back-end inspection in packaging and assembly. Front-end macro inspection: The front-end inspection takes place at the front-end of manufacturing stages such as lithography, deposition, post-etches, post-clean, and CMP. Front-end macro inspection technique includes a) front-side inspection b) back-side inspection c) edge inspection; and d) surface inspection. Back-end macro inspection: The back-end inspection takes place in the assembly and final test phase of the manufacturing process which includes probe mark and bump inspection. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research The front-end macro defect inspection market declined 44% to $50 million in 2009, in line with the decline in the overall semiconductor equipment spending. Gartner estimate this market to reach $215 million by 2012, growing at >100% annually between 2009 and 2012. In terms of market share, Rudolph is the market leader with a ~50% market (enhanced after August Technology acquisition in 2006) followed by KLA-Tencor and Nikon with a market share of xx% and xx%, respectively in 2009. The back=end macro defect inspection participates in the $20 billion Outsourced Assembly and Test (OSAT) market, where Rudolph is the number one provider of inspection solutions, where all of it is from August Technology acquisition. Rudolph has a 34% market share in the back-end market, follwed by Camtek and Hitachi with 23% and 13%, respectively. Thin Film Metrology Metrology tools are used to measure and examine characteristics such as thickness and electrical properties of a wafer to maintain uniformity across the manufacturing process. These tools can be classified into metal film metrology and transparent film metrology. Metal film metrology is used to measure the thickness of each individual metal layer on a wafer; while transparent film metrology uses a process called ellipsometry to measure the thin films properties. Rudolph has pioneered in transparent thin film market launching the industrys first ellipsometer based thin film metrology equipment. The thin film metrology market stood at $169 million in 2009, down 43% compared to 2008, in line with downturn in the overall semiconductor equipment market. In terms of market share, Rudolph dominates the metal metrology market with a 90-95% share. KLA-Tencor is the market leader in the transparent film metrology market with a 70% share and Rudolph followed with 8% in 2009. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research The metrology market is currently driven by the transition of copper interconnect metallization into both DRAM and NAND memory market. Essentially, the fundamental shift to copper as a conductor material from aluminum is because an increasing number of semiconductor devices are being designed with more interconnect layers, since aluminum interconnects limit the overall chip speed. Whereas, copper interconnects handle geometries as small as 45 nm with more than 10 layers of interconnect circuitry and with higher speeds. Industry majors such as Samsung and Toshiba are progressing in the transition, indicating a substantial market opportunity. We believe Rudolph will be among the beneficiaries when memory suppliers transition to copper in the manufacturing process. The migration from 65nm to 45nm will require high-end metrology tools to measure the thickness of the copper layers. Being a market and technology leader, Rudolphs MetaPULSE solutions will experience gargantuan demand in the market, which has been very successful with leading memory suppliers such as Intel and AMD. Company Analysis A one-stop shop solution provider for yield improvement Rudolph Technologies presence across the value chain in the semiconductor manufacturing process is strengthened by its diversified product portfolio of metrology, macro inspection and software solutions. The transition from being a pure metrology company to a more diversified process control equipment and software provider has consolidated its presence in both wafer processing (front-end manufacturing), and packaging and testing (back-end manufacturing) with revenues from the former accounting for 60% ($47.19 MM) and the latter with 40% ($31.46 MM). Revenues from the metrology stream stood at $19.66 MM or 25% of the total revenue during 2009; while the inspection and software segments generated $47.2 MM and $11.8 MM, contributing 60% and 15%, respectively toward total revenues. The semiconductor device formation is referred to as front-end manufacturing wherein the raw wafer is subject ot various processes such as oxidation, lithography, diffusion processing, ion implanting etching, photo resist coating, washing, and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) to develop into a silicon wafer that contains multiple copies of integrated circuit devices. After the device formation stage, the back-end processing (usually outsourced to contract manufacturers) starts to fabricate the finished product or integrated circuit for the customer. The back-end processing starts with parametric testing and functional testing following by the packaging process which includes polishing, back grinding, die attaching, wire bonding, and hermetic sealing. Diversified product portfolio (present across the value chain) Source: Company Presentation The companys presence in the entire value chain of semiconductor manufacturing process not only diminishes the risk of exposure to the dynamics of single market, it also weathers the cyclicality inherent in the semiconductor industry. The successful transition from front-end metrology to a total solution provider has resulted in a much more balanced mix of product portfolio with exposure to both front-end and back-end process. This helps the company to overcome the industry cycles that always do not move in sync (refer chart book-to-bill ratio).Front-end manufacturing is driven by technology changes, while back-end manufacturing is driven by unit volume growth (market demand). The difference in the demand drivers for the front-end and back-end manufacturing equipments can also be validated by analyzing the book-to-bill ratio over the past two years, which clearly indicates the cyclicality. Book-to-bill ratio Source: Company Presentation Financial Performance Over the years, Rudolph has transformed from being a front-end metrology system producer to a total solution provider to semiconductor device manufacturers through a mix of proprietary hardware, software, and service offerings. During 2008 and 2009, semiconductor equipment market experienced a downturn as semiconductor device makers reduced their capital spending due to the global economic crisis. In line with the industry, Rudolphs revenue also declined, although at a rate slower than that of the industry. When the downside in the global semiconductor equipment market was approximately 46.0% year-over-year in 2009, as per a Gartners study, Rudolphs revenue was down 40.0% compared to the prior year. The companys revenue in FY2009 stood at $78.7 million compared to $131.0 million past year, while the gross profit was $28.9 million over $43.7 million a year ago. Consequently, the company incurred a higher adjusted net loss of $14.1 million or $0.46 per share as against a loss of $2.4 m illion or $0.08 per share. A majority of the revenue is derived from macro-defect inspection system sales, which represented 48.3% of the total earnings in FY2009. Rudolphs strategy for continued technological and market leadership is largely on its diversified revenue sources from just the front-end metrology system in 1999 to include higher margin macro-defect inspection system and software licensing in its portfolio, thus circumventing the risk of depending on a single market. The share of inspection system and software sales has increased from 14.0% and 1.5% in FY2005 to 48.3% and 8.5%, respectively in FY2009, whereas that of the metrology system dropped from 63.4% to 11.3% during the same period. The company also generates revenue from spare parts sales and services including maintenance service contracts, system upgrades, as well as time and material billable service calls. Revenue from the sale of spare parts and services accounted for 19.6% and 12.2% of total revenue in FY2009, respectively. Rudolph derives a significant portion of its revenue from customers outside of the US, specifically from Asia. In 2009, it derived 72.4% of its revenue from outside of the US, of which 60.8% was generated in Asia, and 11.6% was derived from Europe. Going ahead, we believe that the revenue generated from Asia will be a substantial percentage of the total earnings, as a Garner estimate forecasts the semiconductor capital equipment market in the Asia-Pacific region to outpace other regions over the next five years. The rebound in the global economic and capital spending in the semiconductor industry, surged the companys revenue for 1Q FY10 more than three-fold to $40.6 million from $11.1 million in the earlier year quarter. Capacity additions by major foundries in Taiwan and elsewhere, and increase in capital spending by memory manufacturers supported the revenue growth. The inspection business represented 68% of revenue, while metrology and software businesses accounted for nearly 23% and 9%, respectively. However, the share of metrology business in overall revenue is likely to enhance based on the current capacity addition plans of tier-1 memory manufacturers and the anticipated increase in metrology spending by the foundry sector. We believe that the company is well positioned to benefit from improving business conditions in foundry, memory, and logic markets with its strategic balance of front-end and back-end business. Along with revenue, the companys margins also improved to 49.9% from 20 .6% in the comparable quarter of last year, supported by an increase in higher-margin inspection system sales. Although the expected higher contribution of metrology systems sales in overall revenue could impart a slightly negative impact on the companys gross margin during the upcoming quarters, it is likely to be offset by improved manufacturing efficiencies as the companys newly introduced products mature. The adjusted operating margin also returned to historical levels, which improved to 13.2% in 1Q FY10 from -78.0% a year ago. Finally, the company swung to a non-GAAP net income of $3.3 million or $0.11 per share from a non-GAAP net loss of $6.7 million or $0.22 per share during the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Rudolph usually invests the cash generated by operating activities into marketable securities, acquisition of businesses and capital assets. Inorganic growth has always be a key factor in the strategic growth plan. The company has acquired five businesses since 2002, the payment in all the cases was made through cash, either partly or the entire purchase price, thereby, minimizing stock dilutions. In 1Q FY10, the company generated operating cash flows of $6.8 million compared to an outflow of $4.0 million a year earlier. The company had cash and marketable securities of $67.1 million as of March 2010 which, we believe, is sufficient for the future capital expenditure, and supports the company to pursue its inorganic growth strategy. The balance sheet validates Rudolphs strong liquidity level as well as its debt-free position. The current ratio of 5.4 as of March 2010 affirms the companys ability to meet short-term payment obligations. The absence of debt will preclude financial risks during a downturn, and provide adequate flexibility in its operations. Although the accounts receivable at the end of 1Q FY10 surged 175.2% year-over-year to $40.8 million, it increased at a much lower rate than the revenue, which grew 267.3% during the same period. Days sales outstanding during 1Q FY10 reduced to 94 from 130 a year ago, and inventory days dropped to 311 from 336, thereby, improving cash generation. The cash conversion cycle has declined to 327 days from 377 days over the prior year quarter.