Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation Essay -- Business, Aerospa

Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation is a leading provider of Aerospace hardware. They specialize in the design and development in imaging and precision attitude control. Ball Aerospace and DigitalGlobe have been working together since the mid 90’s and Ball has been a key partner in meeting the increased demand for earth imaging and enhancing the geospatial information market. With the success of QuickBird, which was launched in 2001, images as small as 2 feet can be identified. Because of this, the two Companies merged their technologies and started working towards higher resolution capabilities in the aerospace industry. That is how WorldView 1 and WorldView 2 were designed and built. They launched in 2007 and 2009 respectively and are currently in a low earth orbit. Once again DigitalGlobe will be the customer for an additional WorldView (3) , which was awarded to Ball Aerospace and ITT in August of 2010 and the expectations of the satellite are much greater th an the previous two WorldView spacecrafts (De Selding, 2010). Ball is currently in the production phase of WorldView 3, which has an anticipated launch date of 2014-2015. Once complete, it will have the highest resolution camera on a remote sensing satellite in the commercial sector. WorldView 3 is expected to provide DigitalGlobe with higher resolution images much quicker than WorldView 1 or 2. This can be largely attributed to emerging technology and modifications made to the two previous WorldView satellite designs. With minimal changes in design, WorldView 3 can provide images to several government and commercial customers to help with things such as: national defense, land mapping and natural relief. After WorldView 1 was launched in 2007, it ... ...e imagery and also national defense purposes. The impact of all three WorldView satellites has been phenomenal to satellite technologies around the world. Arial views of the earth have come to great lengths in providing customers with fast, clear images. WorldView 1 and 2 has been able to provide commercial businesses and the government with a new technology that can capture images very close to the ground and with high resolution. The demand for the high resolution imagery is so great; DigitalGlobe is already in preliminary discussions about adding a fourth satellite (WorldView 4) to its constellation. The remote sensing spacecraft industry will continue to be an emerging technology for years to come. I would venture to say the aerospace industry in general could also be viewed as an emerging technology as competition in the industry continues to grow.

Race and Ethnicity in Childhood Obesity Essay

Many early life risk factors for childhood obesity are more prevalent among blacks and Hispanics than among whites and may explain the higher prevalence of obesity among racial/ethnic minority children. Eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care is a national priority, and obesity is a prime target. During the last 30 years in the United States, the prevalence of obesity among children has dramatically increased, sparing no age group. Obesity in childhood is associated with adverse cardio-metabolic outcomes such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and type II diabetes and with other long-term adverse outcomes, including both physical and psychosocial consequences. By the preschool years, racial/ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence are already present, suggesting that disparities in childhood obesity prevalence have their origins in the earliest stages of life. Several risk factors during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of offspring obesity, including excessive maternal gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and smoking during pregnancy, antenatal depression, and biological stress. During infancy and early childhood, rapid infant weight gain, infant feeding practices, sleep duration, child’s diet, physical activity, and sedentary practices are associated with the development of obesity. Studies have found substantial racial/ethnic differences in many of these early life risk factors for childhood obesity. It is possible that racial/ethnic differences in early life risk factors for obesity might contribute to the high prevalence of obesity among minority preschool-age children and beyond. Understanding these differences may help inform the design of clinical and public health interventions and policies to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and eliminate disparities among racial/ethnic minority children. Race and Ethnicity in Childhood Obesity Race is a group whose inherited physical characteristics distinguish it from other groups. Races refer to broad division of people based on their biological characteristics such as color of skin, color of hair and their facial features. These differences developed among humans in prehistoric times due to different groups of people developing in different parts of the world isolated from each other. Originally all humans in the world belonged to one of the other of these pure races. However in today’s world it is difficult to find people of that time. Most of the people living now have mixed racial ancestry. Ethnicity refers to the common characteristics of a group of people that distinguish them from most other people of the same society. Ethnicity is based on commonality of ancestry, culture, language, nationality, or religion, or a combination of these things. Biological characteristics that play a part in racial differences may be visible in an ethnic group, but these characteristic do not form a criteria for defining an ethnic group. Although childhood obesity is increasing in all ethnic and racial groups, its prevalence is higher in nonwhite populations. The reasons for the differences in prevalence of obesity among groups are complex, likely involving genetics, physiology, culture, socioeconomic status, environment and interactions among these variables as well as others not fully recognized. The relationship between race and ethnicity in childhood obesity is that obesity disproportionately affects certain minority youth populations. NHANES found that African American and Mexican American adolescents ages 12-19 were more likely to be overweight, at 21 percent and 23 percent respectively, than non-Hispanic White adolescents (14 percent). In children 6-11 years old, 22 percent of Mexican American children were overweight, whereas 20 percent of African American children and 14 percent of non-Hispanic White children were overweight. In addition to the children and teens that were overweight in 1999-2002, another 15 percent were at risk of becoming overweight. In a national survey of American Indian children 5-18 years old, 39 percent were found to be overweight or at risk for overweight. In most of the states examined, blacks had the highest prevalence (number of existing cases in a defined group of people during a specific time period) of obesity, followed by Hispanics, and then whites. Greater prevalence’s of obesity for non-Hispanic blacks and whites were found in the Midwest and South. Among Hispanics lower prevalence was observed in the Northeast compared to other regions. At least three reasons may account for the racial and ethnic differences in obesity. First, racial and ethnic groups differ in behaviors that contribute to weight gain; second explanation may be differences in individual attitudes and cultural norms related to body weight. A third explanation may be differences in access to affordable, healthful foods and safe locations to be physically active; this limited access may negatively impact diet and physical activity levels. An ethnic group as subpopulations is that low -income and some racial and ethnic subpopulations are more likely to suffer from obesity. Inequities in the physical and social environment may contribute to disparities in pediatric obesity, but there is little empirical evidence to date. This study explored whether neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors attenuate racial and ethnic disparities in obesity among youth in the USA and whether individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) interacts with neighborhood deprivation. In addition, although some of the risk factors for obesity are relatively ubiquitous in settings where American children and youth spend their time in the mall or at home, epidemiologic evidence shows that African-American, Hispanic/ Latino, American Indian/Alaska. Native, and Pacific Islander populations and children experiencing poverty are more likely to live in environments with inadequate support for health-promoting behaviors. Assessing the impact of these different environments presents an enormous challenge for tracking progress against obesity in diverse populations. Racial/ethnic minority children bear a disproportionate share of the burden of obesity and its related comorbidities. The degree of obesity also differs among racial/ethnic minority children. Compared to non-Hispanic white children, non-Hispanic black girls and Hispanic boys had almost 2-fold greater odds of being severely obese. The urban populations of the United States are at a higher risk for obesity than their suburban and rural counterparts. The ethnicity of the urban residents plays a factor in their obesity. In the USA the prevalence of overweight among children aged 4–12 years rose twice as fast in Hispanic and African–American groups compared with white groups over the period 1986–1998. The socioeconomic aspect of the urban area neighborhoods is also a larger factor in the obesity of American urban youth. Culture can influence the utilization of health services; affecting the likelihood that childhood obesity can be prevented or effectively treated in specific ethnic groups. Although physical activity is obviously important in energy balance, intensive physical activity interventions in obese children have produced only small changes in body weight, with somewhat greater changes in metabolic and cardiovascular indexes. Obesity is disproportionately prevalent among racial/ethnic minority children and recent trends suggest these disparities are widening. Our findings suggest that modifiable risk factors throughout the life course, including factors during infancy and early childhood, as well as social conditions in childhood and trans-generational obesity, are critical to understanding how disparities in childhood obesity arise. They also imply that efforts to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in childhood obesity should focus on preventing these early life risk factors within the socio-environmental context in which they occur. Studies of race and health frequently invoke racism, prejudice, and discrimination as possible reasons for high levels of morbidity and mortality among black and among other racial and ethnic minorities. Obesity is highly stigmatized in our society. Overweight and obese individuals are vulnerable to negative bias, prejudice and discrimination in many different settings, including the workplace, educational institutions, and health care facilities and even within interpersonal relationships. Despite the increasing prevalence of obesity, it appears that incidences of weight discrimination are only becoming worse. Obesity now affects one in five children in the United States. Discrimination against overweight children begins early in childhood and becomes progressively institutionalized. Because obese children tend to be taller than their no overweight peers, they are apt to be viewed as more mature. The inappropriate expectations that result may have an adverse effect on their socialization. References Reilly JJ, Armstrong J, Dorosty AR, et al. Early life risk factors for obesity in childhood: cohort study. BMJ. 2005; 330(7504): 1357 http://pediatrics. aappublications. org/content/125/4/686. full Kimbro RT, Brooks-Gunn J, McLanahan S. Racial and ethnic differentials in overweight and obesity among 3-year-old children. Am J Public Health. 2007; 97(2): 298–305 Wang YC, Gortmaker SL, Taveras EM. Trends and racial/ethnic disparities in severe obesity among US children and adolescents, 1976-2006. International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2010 Mar 17; http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835398/ http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/books/NBK24680/ Puhl, R. M. , Andreyeva, T. , & Brownell, K. D (2008). Perceptions of weight discrimination: prevalence and comparison to race and gender discrimination in America. International Journal of Obesity. doi: 10. 1038/ijo. 2008. 22 http://www. obesityaction. org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-bias/weight- discrimination-a-socially-acceptable-injustice.

Personal Safety

STATE UNIVERSITY 2011 Bulletin for Students and Parents Personal Safety on Campus July 14, 2011 Overview State University prides itself as having one of the safest campuses in the entire northeast. Still, it cannot be stressed enough that personal safety, either on campus or off, is a shared responsibility. Students must understand that our campus security measures are only as effective as the precautions students take to ensure their own safety. In response to concerns over a 2010 incident in which a male student was accosted and robbed by a local resident, State University has prepared this bulletin as a primer on personal safety.Please talk with your student before the 2011—2012 school year begins about this increasingly important issue. If you have questions or specific concerns, please feel free to call our Campus Security Department at (555)  555. 1212. A Message from the President: —————————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- At State University, we consider the safety of our students and faculty of utmost importance. During the first week of classes, we will be offering daily seminars on campus safety. Students are strongly encouraged to attend one of these sessions. Personal Safety Know Your SurroundingsIf you detect suspicious activity, act immediately to remove yourself from danger. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, follow these steps: 1. Trust your instincts and don’t take unnecessary risks. 2. Call for attention while moving to a lighted or populated area. 3. Call campus police (x1099) or 911. 4. If there is a fire alarm nearby, activate it. 5. If necessary, defend yourself with your keys or a pen. 6. Get yourself out of the situation as quickly as possible. At Home Discuss safety issues with your roommates and make sure you all have an understanding when it comes to safety.Agree to keep doors and windows locked, especially at night. Ke ep important safety numbers near your phone (see the end of this bulletin). Never open the door for strangers or let strangers into the building, even if they claim to be friends with a resident. Take the following individual precautions: * Never leave messages on your door announcing your whereabouts. * Always have your keys ready before reaching the door. * Never loan your keys to anyone. * Never prop open an entry door. * Do not write your name or address on your keys. * Report any defective locks immediately. Property SafetyPerhaps the most common yet preventable crime on college campuses is property theft. Following is a list of the most commonly stolen items: * * MP3 players * Cash * Jewelry * Bicycles * Skateboards * Laptops * Wallets/Purses * Backpacks * CDs/DVDs * Books * Cell phones * Credit cards Take the same precautions you would use to protect yourself. There is no need for flashy or expensive jewelry on campus; leave especially valuable jewelry in the safety of your h ome. Remember that you have to rely not only on yourself taking precautions, but also your roommates being responsible for your belongings, so discuss this with them.Never carry large amounts of cash and never leave your belongings unattended in the library or other common areas. Keep a list of serial numbers in case stolen property is recovered. Consider registering your bicycle with the SUCSS–sponsored retrieval program. Common Safety Tips * Always carry your cell phone. Important numbers are given at the end of this bulletin. * Carry a safety whistle, available free of charge at the Student Center. * Learn to defend yourself with unconventional weapons, such as your keys or a pen. * Avoid walking alone or in poorly lit areas at night.Use the â€Å"Buddy System. † * If you must walk at night, get a portable flashlight. * Be prepared. Know how you will respond beforehand. * Consider taking a self-defense course. * Keep your purse or handbag draped over your shoulder. * Never hitch a ride with someone you do not know. * If walking or jogging near the road, always face oncoming traffic. Important Numbers Campus PDx1099Strickland Hall, 211 City Police91134 Post Road Fire Dept555. 31237 Post Road Hospital555. 123419 Liberty Street Campus MDx1010Strickland Hall, 110

Free Essays on In The Park

In the Park Isn’t it funny how life turns out? I had dreams once. Fantasies of youth I suppose. You know success, love, career, happiness, etcetera, etcetera. I was so sure of how things were going to turn out. I was going to finish school, get a degree, and marry a wonderful man who would give me two beautiful children. And I would be happy, so very happy. I had such faith in my dreams; they were as real to me as the sun rising in the morning and the turning of the tides. But now all the idealistic fantasies of my youth are gone and reality has reared its ugly head. I am twenty- eight years old, a single mother with three children. I work two jobs to maintain my little family, and yet I am still struggling to make ends meet. At high school I had been a good student. Never straight A’s mind you, but I was doing well. I was going to be a lawyer, really make something of myself. I was going to travel before university, and settle down with my wonderful boyfriend. Then one moments stupidity and my entire world unalterably changed. I fell pregnant. I felt so ashamed, I didn’t tell a soul. I dropped out of school halfway through my senior year and broke it off with my boyfriend. And there went my dreams. After that things went from bad to worse. I went from one dead end job to another and had a string of broken and meaningless relationships that resulted in my child gaining two younger siblings. So here I am sitting in the park. Two children are tugging on my out of date clothing, crying for things I do not have the means to provide, while the other sits playing in the dirt, wishing he had the toys other kids take for granted. And all I can wonder is what happened to my life. How did I lose control? Maybe the ability to control what we become as people is out of our hands, that outside influences shape the person we become. And as I sit here pondering destiny and other absurdities, I watch happy people stroll by, i... Free Essays on In The Park Free Essays on In The Park In the Park Isn’t it funny how life turns out? I had dreams once. Fantasies of youth I suppose. You know success, love, career, happiness, etcetera, etcetera. I was so sure of how things were going to turn out. I was going to finish school, get a degree, and marry a wonderful man who would give me two beautiful children. And I would be happy, so very happy. I had such faith in my dreams; they were as real to me as the sun rising in the morning and the turning of the tides. But now all the idealistic fantasies of my youth are gone and reality has reared its ugly head. I am twenty- eight years old, a single mother with three children. I work two jobs to maintain my little family, and yet I am still struggling to make ends meet. At high school I had been a good student. Never straight A’s mind you, but I was doing well. I was going to be a lawyer, really make something of myself. I was going to travel before university, and settle down with my wonderful boyfriend. Then one moments stupidity and my entire world unalterably changed. I fell pregnant. I felt so ashamed, I didn’t tell a soul. I dropped out of school halfway through my senior year and broke it off with my boyfriend. And there went my dreams. After that things went from bad to worse. I went from one dead end job to another and had a string of broken and meaningless relationships that resulted in my child gaining two younger siblings. So here I am sitting in the park. Two children are tugging on my out of date clothing, crying for things I do not have the means to provide, while the other sits playing in the dirt, wishing he had the toys other kids take for granted. And all I can wonder is what happened to my life. How did I lose control? Maybe the ability to control what we become as people is out of our hands, that outside influences shape the person we become. And as I sit here pondering destiny and other absurdities, I watch happy people stroll by, i...

Ancient Mayan Architecture - Temples and Palaces

Ancient Mayan Architecture - Temples and Palaces The Maya were an advanced society that flourished in Mesoamerica long before the arrival of the Spanish in the sixteenth century. They were skilled architects, building great cities of stone that remain even a thousand years after their civilization fell into decline. The Maya built pyramids, temples, palaces, walls, residences and more. They often decorated their buildings with intricate stone carvings, stucco statues, and paint. Today, Maya architecture is important, as it is one of the few aspects of Maya life that is still available for study. Maya City-States Unlike the Aztecs in Mexico or the Inca in Peru, the Maya were never a unified empire ruled by a single ruler from a single place. Rather, they were a series of smaller city-states who ruled the immediate vicinity but had little to do with other cities if they were far enough away. These city-states traded with and warred upon one another frequently, so cultural exchange, including architecture, was common. Some of the more important Maya city-states were Tikal, Dos Pilas, Calakmul, Caracol, Copn, Quirigu, Palenque, Chichà ©n Itz and Uxmal (there were many others). Although every Maya city is different, they tended to share certain characteristics, such as general layout.​ Layout of Maya Cities Maya tended to lay their cities out in plaza groups: clusters of buildings around a central plaza. This was true of the impressive buildings in the city center (temples, palaces, etc) as well as smaller residential areas. These plazas are rarely neat and orderly and to some, it may seem as if the Maya built anywhere they pleased. This is because they Maya built on the irregularly-shaped higher ground to avoid floods and dampness associated with their tropical forest home. In the center of the cities were the important public buildings such as temples, palaces, and the ball court. Residential areas radiated out from the city center, growing sparser the further they got from the center. Raised stone walkways linked the residential areas with each other and the center. Later Maya cities were built on higher hills for defense and had high walls surrounding most of the city or at least the centers. Maya Homes The Maya kings lived in stone palaces in the city center near the temples, but the common Maya lived in small houses outside the city center. Like the city center, the homes tended to be bunched together in clusters: some researchers believe that extended families lived together in one area. Their modest homes are thought to be much like the homes of their descendants in the region today: simple structures constructed mostly of wooden poles and thatch. The Maya tended to build up a mound or base and then build upon it: as the wood and thatch wore away or rotted they would tear it down and build again on the same foundation. Because the common Maya were often forced to build on lower ground than the palaces and temples in the city center, many of these mounds have been lost to flooding or encroaching wilderness. The City Center The Maya built great temples, palaces, and pyramids in their city centers. These were often mighty stone structures, over which wooden buildings and thatched roofs were often built. The city center was the physical and spiritual heart of the city. Important rituals were done there, in the temples, palaces, and ball courts. Maya Temples Like many Maya buildings, Maya temples were built of stone, with platforms on the top where wooden and thatch structures could be built. Temples tended to be pyramids, with steep stone steps leading to the top, where important ceremonies and sacrifices took place. Many temples are graced by elaborate stone carvings and glyphs. The most magnificent example is the famous Hieroglyphic Stairway at Copn. Temples were often built with astronomy in mind: certain temples are aligned to the movements of Venus, the sun or the moon. In the Lost World Complex at Tikal, for example, there is a pyramid which faces three other temples. If youre standing on the pyramid, the other temples are aligned with the rising sun on equinoxes and solstices. Important rituals took place at these times. Maya Palaces The Palaces were large, multi-storied buildings which were home to the king and royal family. They tended to be made of stone with wooden structures on top. Roofs were made of thatch. Some Maya palaces are spacious, including courtyards, different structures that were possibly homes, patios, towers, etc. The palace at Palenque is a good example. Some of the palaces are quite large, leading researchers to suspect that they also acted as a sort of administrative center, where Maya bureaucrats regulated tribute, trade, agriculture, etc. This was also the place where the king and noblemen would interact not only with the common people but also with diplomatic visitors. Feasts, dances, and other community social events could also have taken place there. Ball Courts The ceremonial ball game was an important part of Maya life. Common and noble people alike played for fun and recreation, but some games had important religious and spiritual significance. Sometimes, after important battles in which important prisoners were taken (such as enemy noblemen or even their Ahau, or King) these prisoners would be forced to play a game against the victors. The game represented a re-enactment of the battle, and afterward, the losers (which were naturally the enemy nobles and soldiers) were ceremonially executed. Ball courts, which were rectangular with sloped walls on either side, were prominently placed in Maya cities. Some of the more important cities had several courts. Ball courts were sometimes used for other ceremonies and events. Surviving Maya Architecture Although they were not on a par with the legendary Inca stonemasons of the Andes, Maya architects built structures which have withstood centuries of abuse. Mighty temples and palaces at places like Palenque, Tikal, and Chichen Itza survived centuries of abandonment, followed by excavation and now thousands of tourists walking and climbing all over them. Before they were protected, many ruin sites were scavenged by locals looking for stones for their homes, churches or businesses. That the Maya structures have survived so well is a testament to the skill of their builders. The Maya temples and palaces that have withstood the test of time often contain stone carvings depicting battles, wars, kings, dynastic successions and more. The Maya were literate and had a written language and books, of which only a few survive. The carved glyphs on temples and palaces are therefore important because there is so little remaining of the original Maya culture. Source McKillop, Heather. The Ancient Maya: New Perspectives. New York: Norton, 2004.

Current Health Care Economic issue - Prescription drugs Essay

Current Health Care Economic issue - Prescription drugs - Essay Example The paradox is that though there are more quality drugs produced and life expectancy prolonged, the results are that the government spends billions of dollars annually to keep the pharmaceutical sector thriving. This is occasioned by the fact that the patients need more of these prescription drugs year in year out creating a dependency chain. So, the question is: who actually pays for this medical progress? Economists argue that despite Americans willingness to pay for health insurance premiums and the government doing its part by sinking the tax payers’ money into more research and innovation, the overall results are inversely related to the efforts in the long run. Drugs that derail hospital admissions, curtail proposed surgical operations signify pharmaceutical are an economical success in the short run (Mark, 2006). When these procedures are to take place later, however, these prescription drugs are purely a waste of resources due to the added overheads. Regardless of the medical care inflation costs, pharmaceutical care economics is therefore a broad area with different approaches as per the diverse areas. For example, chronic illnesses will have different costs as compared to other

Information System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Information System - Essay Example By making the organization operate out of the internet, the need for a physical office is almost rendered obsolete and would be more for the compliance of a formal governmental requirement than an operational necessity. To illustrate: Company â€Å"A† is in engaged in buying and selling cars, traditionally a used car business would entail a large ground where the cars will be vetted and an office address where customers who are buying or selling can transact. However, this set-up is self-limiting for the business owners since all the transactions will be limited to customers who can be generated by the local community or the adjoining community. The traditional processes for Company A would be buying cars that would entail the following tasks, car check-up to determine its actual value and then assigning the right value for the car that would include a modest profit. Sale can be made only if a customer would visit the showroom, choose a car, inspect it at the lot and then make an offer or bid if the car meets the customer’s criteria. To reach a wider market base that would include not only the surrounding community, the owners of Company A at times conduct a road show where all cars under the dealership will be transported to other cities for display or exhibition. However road-shows are expensive to set-up and normally the amount of revenue generated is not commensurate to the cost of the entire road-show. The looming saturation point of the community where Company A is located was exacerbated by the emergence of other used car company within the same general location. Intending to look for good location for a road-show in another city, the owner went online following several weeks of zero sales. Piqued by the presence of advertisement in every corner of the PC screen, the owner tried to advertise one of the cars in a website frequented by bargain hunters. In a few minutes after posting the pictures and details about the car, the owner was contac ted by an interested buyer looking for cars to be demolished in a movie, three communities away. The sale was consummated and the owner of company A was able to sell the worst looking car in the lot at a higher price which was never even contemplated for the car. Inspired by the first success in internet commerce, the owners of company A decided to go online and consequently changed their business strategy. The company decided to advertise the content of its car lot in the internet by mainly advertising in several popular sites that are most frequented by its age demographics. Not only did the interest in used car peaked, the number of customers interested in several of their cars were outbidding themselves. In their first week of operation in the internet, all of their cars in the lot were sold and paid for and are just awaiting pick-up or transport to their new owners. The owners of Company A hungry for new inventory advertised their demand for more cars to sell. The response and acceptance of the new advertisement is similar to the initial sale through the internet, offers were overflowing at prices considerably lower even though in good running condition and only slightly used. Due to the robust sales, the owners of Company A discovered a new dilemma as they are now lacking the manpower to check and valuate the cars. The owners of Company A were compelled to personally transact with the car owners to check the condition and assess its