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A psychological effect of having a potentially viable sequestration strategy
Carbon Balance and Management volume 1, Article number: 4 (2006)
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Abstract
Purposeful carbon sequestration by direct injection into the deep ocean can store carbon for centuries. Even after injected carbon begins to leak back out to the atmosphere, much of the injected carbon will remain sequestered because of the acid neutralizing capacity of seawater. The slow leakage that occurs centuries into the future can give a false sense of security that the carbon and climate problem is under control. If this were to cause policy makers to become less vigilant about reducing the total emissions of anthropogenic carbon, our descendants would be penalized with having much higher carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere when leakage begins. This "carelessness feedback" would apply to other forms of sequestration that are not permanent. To avoid falling into this trap requires generations of policy makers to be aware of the feedback and committed to intergenerational equity.
Background
It is now widely recognized that the carbon dioxide (CO2) we emit to the atmosphere is the dominant agent of climate change in the Anthropocene . There is mounting pressure to curb emissions of this greenhouse gas from various segments of the global society, including advocates of environmental protection and sustainability, and citizens concerned with equity between counties and generations. A culmination of this movement is the 2005 entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. With the United States unwilling to ratify the protocol, it was essentially Russia's ratification that satisfied the 55% clause and allowed the protocol to enter into force. However, the realization that meaningful reduction in emissions is very difficult to achieve even with the Kyoto Protocol has prompted many countries to pursue geoengineering strategies to purposefully sequester carbon both on land and in the oceans. Research and promotion of purposeful sequestration are active. For example, in the US, there is an annual meeting devoted to this subject that is supported in part by the federal government (see http://www.carbonsq.com/).
There is potential danger in pursuing purposeful sequestration however, because it can give a sense of security that the solution to CO2 emissions problem is at hand. This sense of security may well erode what little political will there is to curb emissions. After all, if there is going to be an effective and long term means to store CO2, why should we even bother reducing fossil fuel consumption in the first place? Is it not just economically painful and politically unpopular? The real danger is if this sense of security is unfounded.
Here I discuss this danger in the context of direct injection of carbon into the deep ocean, a form of sequestration that involves leakage in the future. Implications will be relevant for all other forms of sequestration that also are not permanent.
Discussion
A primary reason why the oceans may be an attractive reservoir to purposefully sequester carbon is that they have a very large capacity to hold and absorb carbon due to the alkaline chemistry of seawater. This large capacity is evident from the fact that the oceans have about sixty times more inorganic carbon than the atmosphere. For this reason, a large fraction (but not all) of the CO2 that is emitted to the atmosphere will be taken up ultimately by the oceans. If the CO2 neutralizing capacity of calcium carbonate in ocean sediments is included, the capacity is even larger.
Today anthropogenic CO2 is accumulating in the atmosphere despite this, because the transfer of CO2 from the atmosphere to the oceans is rather slow. Roughly it takes about one year for the surface ocean to come into equilibrium with the overlying atmosphere with respect to CO2. One can think of this as the time it takes for the surface ocean to become saturated with CO2. The more serious time limiting step is the ventilation of the ocean interior. The time it takes to mix the CO2-saturated surface waters into the upper ocean (say the top 1000 m above the thermocline) and store CO2 there is decades. It takes centuries to ventilate the vast deep ocean.
Purposeful sequestration of anthropogenic carbon into the deep ocean by direct injection, as first proposed in 1977 by Marchetti , would bypass these slow transfer processes. Once sequestered, the long ventilation time assures that CO2 will remain in the deep ocean for centuries. The high sequestration efficiency has been confirmed in a number of modeling studies, as noted in a recent IPCC special report on CO2 capture and storage. However, ocean sequestration involves leakage, whereby some fraction of the injected CO2 will escape to the atmosphere. This occurs because the injected CO2 may reach the surface ocean without being sufficiently diluted by oceanic mixing. More importantly, it occurs because, as noted above, not all of the CO2 emitted will be absorbed ultimately by the oceans. The final, steady state fractions that will reside in the atmosphere and the oceans do not in fact depend on whether CO2 is initially injected into the oceans or emitted to the atmosphere . They are determined solely by the accumulated carbon perturbation (i.e., total CO2 released).
There is potentially serious consequence to the slow, centennial time scale leakage of CO2, if we were to not curb future emissions as a result of our feeling secure about the effectiveness and permanency of carbon sequestration in the deep ocean. The consequence is that we would be penalized with having much more CO2 in the atmosphere than anticipated, because the CO2 that we thought we had gotten rid of by sequestration would come leaking back out of the deep ocean. Christoph Heinze calls this the "carelessness feedback" (personal communication). This is somewhat analogous to a risk that already has been identified, namely that CO2 emissions in the future may increase, if today's carbon conserving practices are abandoned . For example, discontinuing fire control in forests (analogous to purposeful sequestration) may result in a rapid loss of at least part of the carbon accumulated during previous years (analogous to leakage).
Conclusion
The danger of becoming overconfident with purposeful sequestration is greater for those forms of sequestration, such as geologic sequestration, that offer even higher sequestration efficiency and slower rates of leakage. It should be noted that the magnitude of the carbon problem will likely prevent any one technology from solving it completely . So temporary carbon storage strategies will likely be small parts of a broader solution, but the negative effects of leakage coming back to haunt our descendants in the future will not go away. The slow rates of leakage require that succeeding generations of policy makers are cognizant of the "carelessness feedback" and seriously committed to intergenerational equity.
References
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Marchetti C: On geoengineering and the CO2 problem. Climatic Change 1977, 1: 59–68. 10.1007/BF00162777
Metz B, Davidson O, de Coninck HC, Loos M, Meyer LA: IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage: Prepared by Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press; 2005:431.
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Acknowledgements
The writing of this commentary was prompted originally by the work of C. Heinze. Support for this work was provided by the University of Minnesota and the Office of Science (BER) U.S. Department of Energy, Grant No. DE-FG02-06ER64216.
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The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
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Matsumoto, K. A psychological effect of having a potentially viable sequestration strategy. Carbon Balance Manage 1, 4 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1186/1750-0680-1-4
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Carbon sequestration is the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and may refer specifically to:
- "The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in a reservoir." When carried out deliberately, this may also be referred to as carbon dioxide removal, which is a form of geoengineering.
- The process of carbon capture and storage, where carbon dioxide is removed from flue gases, such as on power stations, before being stored in underground reservoirs.
- Natural biogeochemical cycling of carbon between the atmosphere and reservoirs, such as by chemical weathering of rocks.
Carbon sequestration describes long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to either mitigate or defer global warming and avoid dangerous climate change. It has been proposed as a way to slow the atmospheric and marine accumulation of greenhouse gases, which are released by burning fossil fuels.
Carbon dioxide is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical or physical processes. Some anthropogenic sequestration techniques exploit these natural processes, while some use entirely artificial processes.
Carbon dioxide may be captured as a pure by-product in processes related to petroleum refining or from flue gases from power generation. CO2 sequestration includes the storage part of carbon capture and storage, which refers to large-scale, permanent artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers, reservoirs, ocean water, aging oil fields, or other carbon sinks.
Contents
- 1 Biological processes
- 2 Physical processes
- 3 Chemical processes
- 4 Objections
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Biological processes
Biosequestration or carbon sequestration through biological processes affects the Global carbon cycle. Examples include major climatic fluctuations, such as the Azolla event, which created the current Arctic climate. Such processes created fossil fuels, as well as clathrate or limestone. By manipulating such processes, geoengineers seek to enhance sequestration.
Peat production
Peat bogs are a very important carbon store. By creating new bogs, or enhancing existing ones, carbon can be sequestered.
Forestry
Reforestation is the replanting of trees on marginal crop and pasture lands to incorporate carbon from atmospheric CO2 into biomass. For this process to succeed the carbon must not return to the atmosphere from burning or rotting when the trees die. To this end, the trees must grow in perpetuity or the wood from them must itself be sequestered, e.g., via biochar, bio-energy with carbon storage (BECS) or landfill.
Agriculture
Globally, soils are estimated to contain approximately 1,500 gigatons of organic carbon, more than the amount in vegetation and the atmosphere.
Modification of agricultural practices is a recognized method of carbon sequestration as soil can act as an effective carbon sink offsetting as much as 20% of 2010 carbon dioxide emissions annually. (See No-till)
Carbon emission reduction methods in agriculture can be grouped into two categories: reducing and/or displacing emissions and enhancing carbon removal. Some of these reductions involve increasing the efficiency of farm operations (i.e. more fuel-efficient equipment) while some involve interruptions in the natural carbon cycle. Also, some effective techniques (such as the elimination of stubble burning) can negatively impact other environmental concerns (increased herbicide use to control weeds not destroyed by burning).
Reducing emissions
Increasing yields and efficiency generally reduces emissions as well, since more food results from the same or less effort. Techniques include more accurate use of fertilizers, less soil disturbance, better irrigation, and crop strains bred for locally beneficial traits and increased yields.
Replacing more energy intensive farming operations can also reduce emissions. Reduced or no-till farming requires less machine use and burns correspondingly less fuel per acre. However, no-till usually increases use of weed-control chemicals and the residue now left on the soil surface is more likely to release its CO2 to the atmosphere as it decays, reducing the net carbon reduction.
In practice, most farming operations that incorporate post-harvest crop residues, wastes and byproducts back into the soil provide a carbon storage benefit. This is particularly the case for practices such as field burning of stubble - rather than releasing almost all of the stored CO2 to the atmosphere, tillage incorporates the biomass back into the soil where it can be absorbed and a portion of it stored permanently.
Enhancing carbon removal
All crops absorb CO2 during growth and release it after harvest. The goal of agricultural carbon removal is to use the crop and its relation to the carbon cycle to permanently sequester carbon within the soil. This is done by selecting farming methods that return biomass to the soil and enhance the conditions in which the carbon within the plants will be reduced to its elemental nature and stored in a stable state. Methods for accomplishing this include:
- Use cover crops such as grasses and weeds as temporary cover between planting seasons
- Concentrate livestock in small paddocks for days at a time so they graze lightly but evenly. This encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil. Stock also till the soil with their hooves, grinding old grass and manures into the soil.
- Cover bare paddocks with hay or dead vegetation. This protects soil from the sun and allows the soil to hold more water and be more attractive to carbon-capturing microbes.
- Restore degraded land, which slows carbon release while returning the land to agriculture or other use.
Agricultural sequestration practices may have positive effects on soil, air, and water quality, be beneficial to wildlife, and expand food production. On degraded croplands, an increase of 1 ton of soil carbon pool may increase crop yield by 20 to 40 kilograms per hectare of wheat, 10 to 20 kg/ ha for maize, and 0.5 to 1 kg/ha for cowpeas.
The effects of soil sequestration can be reversed. If the soil is disrupted or tillage practices are abandoned, the soil becomes a net source of greenhouse gases. Typically after 15 to 30 years of sequestration, soil becomes saturated and ceases to absorb carbon. This implies that there is a global limit to the amount of carbon that soil can hold.
Many factors affect the costs of carbon sequestration including soil quality, transaction costs and various externalities such as leakage and unforeseen environmental damage. Because reduction of atmosperic CO2 is a long-term concern, farmers can be reluctant to adopt more expensive agricultural techniques when there is not a clear crop, soil, or economic benefit. Governments such as Australia and New Zealand are considering allowing farmers to sell carbon credits once they document that they have sufficiently increased soil carbon content.
Iron fertilizationMain article: Iron fertilization
Ocean iron fertilization is an example of such a geoengineering technique. Iron fertilization attempts to encourage phytoplankton growth, which removes carbon from the atmosphere for at least a period of time. This technique is controversial due to limited understanding its complete effects on the marine ecosystem, including side effects and possibly large deviations from expected behavior. Such effects potentially include release of nitrogen oxides, and disruption of the ocean's nutrient balance.
Urea fertilisationMain article: Ocean nourishment
Ian Jones proposes to fertilize the ocean with urea, a nitrogen rich substance, to encourage phytoplankton growth.
Australian company Ocean Nourishment Corporation (ONC) plans to sink hundreds of tonnes of urea into the ocean to boost CO2-absorbing phytoplankton growth as a way to combat climate change. In 2007, Sydney-based ONC completed an experiment involving 1 tonne of nitrogen in the Sulu Sea off the Philippines.
Mixing layers
Encouraging various ocean layers to mix can move nutrients and dissolved gases around, offering avenues for geoengineering. Mixing may be achieved by placing large vertical pipes in the oceans to pump nutrient rich water to the surface, triggering blooms of algae, which store carbon when they grow and export carbon when they die. This produces results somewhat similar to iron fertilization. One side-effect is a short-term rise in CO2, which limits its attractiveness.
Physical processes
Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)Main article: Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage
BECCS refers to biomass in power stations and boilers that use carbon capture and storage. The carbon sequestered by the biomass would be captured and stored, thus removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
This technology is sometimes referred to as bio-energy with carbon storage, BECS, though this term can also refer to the carbon sequestration potential in other technologies, such as biochar.
Burial
Burying biomass (such as trees) directly, mimics the natural processes that created fossil fuels. Landfills also represents a physical method of sequestration.
Biochar burialMain article: Biochar
Biochar is charcoal created by pyrolysis of biomass waste. The resulting material is added to a landfill or used as a soil improver to create terra preta. Biogenic carbon is recycled naturally in the carbon cycle. Pyrolysing it to biochar renders the carbon inert so that it remains sequestered in soil. Further, the soil encourages bulking with new organic matter, which gives additional sequestration benefit.[clarification needed]
In the soil, the carbon is unavailable for oxidation to CO2 and consequential atmospheric release. This is one technique advocated by prominent scientist James Lovelock, creator of the Gaia hypothesis. According to Simon Shackley, "people are talking more about something in the range of one to two billion tonnes a year."
The mechanisms related to biochar are referred to as bio-energy with carbon storage, BECS.
Ocean storage
River mouths bring large quantities of nutrients and dead material from upriver into the ocean as part of the process that eventually produces fossil fuels. Transporting material such as crop waste out to sea and allowing it to sink exploits this idea to increase carbon storage. International regulations on marine dumping may restrict or prevent use of this technique.
Subterranean injectionMain article: Carbon capture and storage
Carbon dioxide can be injected into depleted oil and gas reservoirs and other geological features, or can be injected into the deep ocean.
The first large-scale CO2 sequestration project which began in 1996 is called Sleipner, and is located in the North Sea where Norway's StatoilHydro strips carbon dioxide from natural gas with amine solvents and disposed of this carbon dioxide in a deep saline aquifer. In 2000, a coal-fueled synthetic natural gas plant in Beulah, North Dakota, became the world's first coal using plant to capture and store carbon dioxide, at the Weyburn-Midale Carbon Dioxide Project.
CO2 has been used extensively in enhanced crude oil recovery operations in the United States beginning in 1972. There are in excess of 10,000 wells that inject CO2 in the state of Texas alone. The gas comes in part from anthropogenic sources, but is principally from large naturally occurring geologic formations of CO2. It is transported to the oil-producing fields through a large network of over 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) of CO2 pipelines. The use of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods in heavy oil reservoirs in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) has also been proposed. However, transport cost remains an important hurdle. An extensive CO2 pipeline system does not yet exist in the WCSB. Athabasca oil sands mining that produces CO2 is hundreds of kilometers north of the subsurface heavy oil reservoirs that could most benefit from CO2 injection.
Chemical processes
Carbon, in the form of CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere by chemical processes, and stored in stable carbonate mineral forms. This process is known as 'carbon sequestration by mineral carbonation' or mineral sequestration. The process involves reacting carbon dioxide with abundantly available metal oxides–either magnesium oxide (MgO) or calcium oxide (CaO)–to form stable carbonates. These reactions are exothermic and occur naturally (e.g., the weathering of rock over geologic time periods).
- CaO + CO2 → CaCO3
- MgO + CO2 → MgCO3
Calcium and magnesium are found in nature typically as calcium and magnesium silicates (such as forsterite and serpentinite) and not as binary oxides. For forsterite and serpentine the reactions are:
- Mg2SiO4 + 2CO2 = 2MgCO3 + SiO2
- Mg3Si2O5(OH)4+ 3CO2 = 3MgCO3 + 2SiO2 + 2H2O
The following table lists principal metal oxides of Earth's crust. Theoretically up to 22% of this mineral mass is able to form carbonates.
Earthen Oxide Percent of Crust Carbonate Enthalpy change
(kJ/mol)
SiO2 59.71 Al2O3 15.41 CaO 4.90 CaCO3 -179 MgO 4.36 MgCO3 -117 Na2O 3.55 Na2CO3 FeO 3.52 FeCO3 K2O 2.80 K2CO3 Fe2O3 2.63 FeCO3 21.76 All Carbonates
These reactions are slightly more favorable at low temperatures. This process occurs naturally over geologic time frames and is responsible for much of the Earth's surface limestone. The reaction rate can be made faster, for example by reacting at higher temperatures and/or pressures, or by pre-treatment, although this method requires additional energy.
CO2 naturally reacts with peridotite rock in surface exposures of ophiolites, notably in Oman. It has been suggested that this process can be enhanced to carry out natural mineralisation of CO2.
Industrial use
Traditional cement manufacture releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, but newly developed cement types from Novacem can absorb CO2 from ambient air during hardening. A similar technique was pioneered by TecEco, which has been producing "EcoCement" since 2002.
In Estonia, oil shale ash, generated by power stations could be used as sorbents for CO2 mineral sequestration. The amount of CO2 captured averaged 60–65% of the carbonaceous CO2 and 10–11% of the total CO2 emissions.
Chemical scrubbersMain articles: Carbon capture and storage and Carbon air capture
Various carbon dioxide scrubbing processes have been proposed to remove CO2 from the air, usually using a variant of the Kraft process. Carbon dioxide scrubbing variants exist based on potassium carbonate, which can be used to create liquid fuels, or on sodium hydroxide. These notably include artificial trees proposed by Klaus Lackner to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using chemical scrubbers.
Basalt storage
Carbon dioxide sequestration in basalt involves the injecting of CO2 into deep-sea formations. The CO2 first mixes with seawater and then reacts with the basalt, both of which are alkaline-rich elements. This reaction results in the release of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions forming stable carbonate minerals.
Underwater basalt offers a good alternative to other forms of oceanic carbon storage because it has a number of trapping measures to ensure added protection against leakage. These measures include “geothermal, sediment, gravitational and hydrate formation.” Because CO2 hydrate is denser than CO2 in seawater, the risk of leakage is minimal. Injecting the CO2 at depths greater than 2,700 meters (8,900 ft) ensures that the CO2 has a greater density than seawater, causing it to sink.
One possible injection site is Juan de Fuca plate. Researchers at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory found that this plate at the western coast of the United States has a possible storage capacity of 208 gigatons. This could cover the entire current U.S. carbon emissions for over 100 years.
This process is undergoing tests as part of the CarbFix project.
Acid neutralisation
Adding crushed limestone or volcanic rock to oceans enhances the solubility pump, which naturally removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Various other scientists have explored this technique, and suggested a variety of different bases that added to the ocean, increase CO2 absorption.
Hydrochloric acid removal
Electrolysis removes hydrochloric acid from the ocean for neutralization with silicate minerals or rocks. Electrolysis may contribute to carbon addition to the ocean if not carefully managed.
Objections
Danger of Leaks
Carbon dioxide may be stored deep underground. At depth, hydrostatic pressure acts to keep it in a liquid state. Reservoir design faults, rock fissures and tectonic processes may act to release the gas stored into the ocean or atmosphere.
Financial Costs
Some argue that the cost of carbon sequestration would actually increase over time. The use of the technology would add an additional 1-5 cents of cost per kilowatt hour, according to estimate made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The financial costs of modern coal technology would nearly double if use of CCS technology were to be implemented.
Energy requirements
The energy requirements of sequestration processes may be significant. In one paper, sequestration consumed 25 percent of the plant's rated 600 megawatt output capacity.
- After adding CO2 capture and compression, the capacity of the coal-fired power plant is reduced to 457 MW.
See also
- Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage
- CarbonFix Standard
- Carbon capture and storage
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- ^ World’s first network of demonstration projects, all of which are aiming to be operational by 2015 and commercially viable CCS by 2020
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- ^ House, K. Z.; House, C. H.; Schrag, D. P.; Aziz, M. J. (2007). "Electrochemical Acceleration of Chemical Weathering as an Energetically Feasible Approach to Mitigating Anthropogenic Climate Change". Environmental Science & Technology 41 (24): 8464–8470. doi:10.1021/es0701816. PMID 18200880.
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External links
Categories:
- Research Program on Carbon Sequestration at the Cluster of Excellence "Future Ocean", Kiel
- Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum International carbon capture and storage initiative.
- Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage Research Carbon Capture and Storage Research in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- UK Carbon Capture and Storage Consortium Overview of the UK academic consortium focused on researching issues related to Carbon Capture and Storage.
- Sieves put a lid on greenhouse gas
- The capture, utilization and disposal of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
- Carbon Capture and Storage Information Center (Chinese + English)
- Carbon Sequestration: Science, Technology, and Policy MIT program covers carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- Sequestration with Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery
- Carbon dioxide
- Emissions reduction
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Look at other dictionaries: | https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11556457/Carbon_sequestration |
It is encouraging that actors in the European Union are becoming aware of these types of technologies that, in combination with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) are essential tools in combating climate change.
Natural gas, although it emits less carbon dioxide (CO2) than other fossil fuels, contributes to global climate change.
It does, however, not seem likely that all natural gas power plants will be replaced in favor of renewable energy in the near future. The capture, transportation and permanent geological storage of the CO2 produced in this process is necessary to make gas power plants carbon neutral. This means that the level of CO2 in the atmosphere is not, or to a very little extent, affected by this production of power.
Bio-CLC in the EU
An important aspect of the usage of CLC is that it does not curtail production and economic growth, and even has the potential to support the growth of employment by contributing to increasing green jobs.
The potential of CLC to withdraw CO2 from the atmosphere is one of its most significant qualities. Whereas the application of CLC on gas power plants prevents fossil CO2 from entering the atmosphere, the sequestration of CO2 emitted if biomass is used effectively reduced the amount of atmospheric CO2. The permanent storage of biogenic CO2 can thus be seen as negative emissions.
The Negative CO2 project is a concrete example of real steps taken in the fight against climate change and the creation of green jobs that the European Union could benefit from in the effort to reach its own goals. | https://www.nordicenergy.org/article/chemical-looping-combustion-gains-momentum-in-the-eu/ |
NRG, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corp. and Hilcorp Energy Co., have broken ground on a new project near Houston that is expected to be the world’s largest post-combustion carbon-capture facility installed on an existing coal plant.
The partnership is the outcome of the WA Parish Petra Nova Carbon Capture Project that was proposed in July. The new facility is being built at the WA Parish power plant in Fort Bend County. Upon completion in 2016, the project is expected to capture 90 percent of the carbon dioxide in the processed flue gas from an existing unit at the power plant.
The captured CO2 will be compressed and piped about 80 miles to the West Ranch oil field, jointly owned by NRG, JX Nippon and Houston-based Hilcorp. It will then be used in enhanced oil recovery to increase domestic oil production from around 500 barrels per day to approximately 15,000 barrels per day.
When the project was announced in July, it was estimated to cost $1 billion. The companies said they would finance the project with up to $167 million from a Department of Energy Clean Coal Power Initiative Program grant. An additional $250 million in loans would come from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance-backed Mizuho Bank Ltd. NRG and JX Nippon said they would chip in about $300 million each to the project.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture and sequestration is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources, such as fossil fuel power plants, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere, normally an underground geological formation.
The aim is to prevent the release of large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere from fossil fuel use in power generation and other industries. Experts consider it to be a potential means of mitigating the contribution of fossil fuel emissions to global warming and ocean acidification.
Image courtesy of Eric Kayne. Excerpts from Houston Business Journal. | https://worldindustrialreporter.com/nrg-jx-nippon-hilcorp-team-develop-post-combustion-carbon-capture-facility/ |
Nature in the Balance - CO2 Sequestration : Geological SequestrationThe human contributions to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are described.Soil has great potential for trapping carbon dioxide. Details of capture and release into the atmosphere are presented. The process of terrestrial sequestration and its components are explained. The concept of value-added sequestration and its financial gains are explored in this video.
This feature is full of information on anthropogenic CO2: what it is, where it comes from, and what we can do to control it. The documentary also provides information on the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory's seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships and their role in assessing opportunities for carbon sequestration across North America.
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"Nature in the Balance: CO2 Sequestration" was produced by Prairie Public Broadcasting, Fargo, North Dakota, in collaboration with the PCOR Partnership managed by the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center. "Nature in the Balance" premiered to the general public May 12, 2005, on Prairie Public Television. "Nature in the Balance" is the first of five documentaries that will be produced by the PCOR Partnership and Prairie Public Broadcasting. | http://www.ndstudies.org/media/nature_in_the_balance_co2_sequestration_geological_sequestration |
By Dr Paula Carey, Co-founder and Technical Director
Some of the most iconic landscapes of our world are based on carbonate rocks – limestones and dolomites, or chalk. These rock types represent nature’s largest store of carbon dioxide.
Rocks like these have been storing CO2 through mineralisation for over 1000 million years. Carbonation, a form or mineralisation, involves the reaction of metal ions in the form of oxides, hydroxides and silicates, with carbon dioxide to form carbonates. Hence, the process naturally sequesters CO2.
Therefore, controlling and enhancing the natural mineralisation process to permanently capture anthropogenic CO2 emissions, is an intuitive and safe approach to capture carbon. Specifically as, the carbonate molecule is a more stable form of CO2. The transformation of CO2 to CO32- does not require the input of large amounts of energy because it is an exothermic process, i.e. it releases energy. In nature, the reaction takes 1000s to millions of years, because the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is relatively low. However, the reaction in its simplest form, CaO + CO2= CaCO3, can take place in minutes at atmospheric temperature and pressure conditions, with CO2 concentrations as low 10% by volume.
Carbon, capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
Mineralisation is nature’s way to sequester CO2. By controlling this reaction, CO2 can be captured, utilised and stored permanently in rock formations.
Thermal residues, such as steel slags, cement by-products, ashes from Energy from Waste plants or from the recycling of paper, are sources of calcium ions. In managed conditions, the residues can be used in the carbonation process and can be reacted with CO2to manufacture products for the construction industry. Thereby, permanently capturing the CO2, diverting waste from landfill and manufacturing a product with value. The white cliffs of Dover are not simply iconic landscapes with aesthetic value, they represent the vast potential in controlling the carbonation process to address some of the biggest challenges of our time. | https://c8s.co.uk/mineralisation-the-permanent-ccus-solution/ |
Biological Sequestration (Biosequestration): Concept, Importance and Need
Biosequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon in living organisms such as plants and algae. It is not a new process, but a process that was responsible for the formation of the extensive coal and oil deposits which are now being burned. The term 'biosequestration' was coined for one of the solutions to help balance greenhouse gas and carbon emissions as part of climate change policy. Here, we are giving the concept of Biological Sequestration (Biosequestration), its need and importance for general awareness.
Importance of Biological Sequestration (Biosequestration)
From Industrial Revolution to the Modern World, around 136,000 million tons (tCO2e) of greenhouse gas emissions have come from land clearing for agriculture and livestock production. Even in the contemporary world, more than 13% emission comes from human activities like the combustion of fossil fuels etc. Hence, Biosequestration concept is a shower of relief for the rehabilitation of cleared and degraded land.
1. It could sequester relatively large volumes of carbon at comparatively low cost
2. It will protect or improve the soils, water resources, habitat, and biodiversity
3. It enhance the rural income
4. It promotes more sustainable agriculture and forestry practices.
5. Land with more carbon in it tends to be more productive than similar land with less carbon. More carbon usually means more biological activity and this has many beneficial effects on production.
What is Green Muffler and how it is related with pollution
Why do we need Biological Sequestration (Biosequestration)?
Biological (or terrestrial) sequestration involves the net removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by plants and micro-organisms and its storage in vegetative biomass and in soils. But we must know how it will remove greenhouse gases: It is carbon opportunities for the rehabilitation of cleared and degraded land by regrowth of the woody vegetation on land because as the trees grow they will sequester carbon and leave less carbon in the atmosphere.
Biological Sequestration (Biosequestration) and Photosynthesis
Atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased from about 280 ppm in 1750 to 383 ppm in 2007 and is increasing at an average rate of 2 ppm (parts per million) per year. Hence, the process of Biosequestration can be enhanced by improving photosynthetic efficiency through modification in the plant genes by RuBisCO (Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). Through this modification, the catalytic and/or oxygenation activity of photosynthesis in the plant will enhance.
Green E-Clearance in India: Concept, Project and Importance
Biological Sequestration (Biosequestration) and Climate Change Policy
Biosequestration assists human beings to increase their collective and individual contributions to the essential resources of the biosphere. The policy case for biosequestration overlaps with principles of ecology, sustainability and sustainable development, as well as biosphere, biodiversity and ecosystem protection, environmental ethics, climate ethics and natural conservation.
Over Industrialisation created havoc situation in the emission of Carbon-di-oxide. Hence, Industrialists and Environmentalist came forward for offsetting the greenhouse gas production by the means of biosequestration. In Australia, university researchers are engineering algae to produce biofuels (hydrogen and biodiesel oils) and investigating whether this process can be used to biosequester carbon. There are several new bioenergy (biofuel) technologies like cellulosic ethanol biorefineries (using stems and branches of most plants including crop residues such as corn stalks, wheat straw and rice straw) are being promoted because they have the added advantage of biosequestration of Carbon dioxide.
The United Nations with the collaboration of FAO, UNDP and UNEP started programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) under which a trust fund established in July 2008 allows donors to pool resources to generate the requisite transfer flow of resources to significantly reduce global emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
In nutshell, global warming and the emission of carbon dioxide can only achieved through the emission reduction policy and biological Sequestration. The modified photosynthesis (Biosequestration) and the regrowth of the vegetation is the only way to reduce the greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, otherwise we have to move into more complex process of carbon trading rule to curb the serious effect of global warming. | https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/biological-sequestration-biosequestration-concept-importance-and-need-1511521543-1 |
Soil, long thought to be a semi-permanent storehouse for ancient carbon, may be releasing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere faster than anyone thought. In a new study, researchers showed that chemicals emitted by plant roots act on carbon that is bonded to minerals in the soil, breaking the bonds and exposing previously protected carbon to decomposition by microbes. In a study published in this week’s online edition of the journal Nature Climate Change, the researchers showed that chemicals emitted by plant roots act on carbon that is bonded to minerals in the soil, breaking the bonds and exposing previously protected carbon to decomposition by microbes. The carbon then passes into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2), said the study’s coauthor, Markus Kleber, a soil scientist in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences. He said the study challenges the prevailing view that carbon bonded to minerals stays in the soil for thousands of years. “As these root compounds separate the carbon from its protective mineral phase,” he said, “we may see a greater release of carbon from its storage sites in the soil.” It’s likely that a warming climate is speeding this process up, he said. As warmer weather and more carbon dioxide in the air stimulate plants to grow, they produce more root compounds. This will likely release more stored carbon, which will enter the atmosphere as CO2–which could in turn accelerate the rate of climate warming. “Our main concern is that this is an important mechanism, and we are not presently considering it in global models of carbon cycling,” Kleber said….
….”There is more carbon stored in the soil, on a global scale, than in vegetation or even in the atmosphere,” said Kleber. “Since this reservoir is so large, even small changes will have serious effects on carbon concentrations in the atmosphere, and by extension on climate.” One percent may not sound like much, he added. “But think of it this way: If you have money in the bank and you lose 1 percent per year, you would be down to two thirds of your starting capital after only 50 years.” Between 60 and 80 percent of organic matter entering the soil gets broken down within the first year in a chain of decomposition that ends with CO2, Kleber said. Most of the remaining carbon gets bound to the soil’s minerals through a variety of physical and chemical mechanisms. When this happens, the carbon is protected because the microbes can’t get at it to break it down. For the past couple of decades, scientists have assumed that these carbon-mineral bonds amounted to a long-lasting “sink” for soil carbon–keeping it out of the atmosphere by storing it in a stable form over many centuries.
“But from the beginning, there was a question that made a lot of folks uneasy,” said Kleber. “If carbon keeps going into the soil and staying there, then why aren’t we drowning in carbon? Isn’t there some process that takes it back into the cycle? That part was not very well researched, and it was what we were trying to find.” The researchers tested three model compounds for common “root exudates”–chemicals commonly excreted by plant roots–to see how strongly each one stimulated the microbes that drive organic-matter decomposition….
Marco Keiluweit, Jeremy J. Bougoure, Peter S. Nico, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, Peter K. Weber, Markus Kleber. Mineral protection of soil carbon counteracted by root exudates. Nature Climate Change, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2580
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide limits soil storage
Posted: 15 Apr 2015 06:00 AM PDT
Soil carbon may not be as stable as previously thought, scientists report, adding that soil microbes exert more direct control on carbon buildup than global climate models represent. This study, researchers say, provides insight into the mechanisms determining long-term soil carbon storage, knowledge that can be used to improve climate model representations of the global carbon cycle... Carbon dioxide, the major cause of global warming, is released to the atmosphere when oil, coal, and gasoline are burned. Soils contain the largest pool of terrestrial organic carbon, helping counteract rising carbon dioxide levels and thus potentially playing a key role in modulating climate change. Carbon accumulates in soil through many years of plant photosynthesis and is lost from soil as microscopic organisms, mostly bacteria and fungi, decompose soil carbon, converting it back to carbon dioxide and releasing it to the atmosphere. The balance of these two processes and the future of the soil carbon sink are uncertain. How much will soil organic carbon persist, and how much of this carbon will soil microorganisms convert back to carbon dioxide? By comparing data from experiments around the world with models of the soil carbon cycle, researchers have tested how soil carbon release by microbes responds to rising carbon dioxide. They found that higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase both carbon’s input and release from the soil. Thus, soil carbon may not be as stable as previously considered, and soil microbes have more direct control on carbon storage than is represented in today’s global climate models. | https://elliecohen.org/2015/04/17/carbon-and-soils-plant-roots-may-accelerate-carbon-loss-from-soils-increased-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide-limits-soil-storage/ |
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Carbon Dioxide Utilization for Global Sustainability
Publisher : Elsevier
Release Date : 2004-10-27
Category : Technology & Engineering
Total pages :626
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Addressing global environmental problems, such as global warming is essential to global sustainability. Continued research leads to advancement in standard methods and produces new data. Carbon Dioxide Utilization for Global Sustainability: Proceedings of the 7th ICCDU (International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization) reflects the most recent research results, as well as stimulating scientific discussions with new challenges in advancing the development of carbon dioxide utilization. Drawing on a wealth of information, this well structured book will benefit students, researchers and consultants looking to catch up on current developments in environmental and chemical engineering. * Provides comprehensive data on CO2 utilisation * Contains up-to-date information, including recent research trends * Is written for students, researchers and consultants in environmental and chemical engineering
Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Release Date : 2005-12-19
Category : Science
Total pages :431
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IPCC Report on sources, capture, transport, and storage of CO2, for researchers, policy-makers and engineers.
Developments and Innovation in Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Capture and Storage Technology
Publisher : Elsevier
Release Date : 2010-07-13
Category : Technology & Engineering
Total pages :544
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Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) is the one advanced technology that conventional power generation cannot do without. CCS technology reduces the carbon footprint of power plants by capturing, and storing the CO2 emissions from burning fossil-fuels and biomass. This volume provides a comprehensive reference on the state of the art research, development and demonstration of carbon storage and utilisation, covering all the storage options and their environmental impacts. It critically reviews geological, terrestrial and ocean sequestration, including enhanced oil and gas recovery, as well as other advanced concepts such as industrial utilisation, mineral carbonation, biofixation and photocatalytic reduction. Foreword written by Lord Oxburgh, Climate Science Peer Comprehensively examines the different methods of storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the various concepts for utilisation Reviews geological sequestration of CO2, including coverage of reservoir sealing and monitoring and modelling techniques used to verify geological sequestration of CO2
Greenhouse Gases
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
Release Date : 2016-03-30
Category : Science
Total pages :316
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Sustainability should be a key component of every process, safeguarding resources and reserves for future generations. This book shows how a responsible use of resources is possible, offering valid technological alternatives to fight climate change. We offer current technologies and valid methods for a wide range of activities: teaching, investigation, work, business and even daily life. We encourage all our readers to join us and become part of the solution to climate change, rather than the problem. After reading this book, we are certain that you will find justified reasons to start your own personal and social awareness campaign in favour of these effective technologies against climate change.
CO2 Chemistry
Publisher : Academic Press
Release Date : 2013-12-24
Category : Science
Total pages :416
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The Advances in Inorganic Chemistry series present timely and informative summaries of the current progress in a variety of subject areas within inorganic chemistry, ranging from bio-inorganic to solid state studies. This acclaimed serial features reviews written by experts in the field and serves as an indispensable reference to advanced researchers. Each volume contains an index, and each chapter is fully referenced. Features comprehensive reviews on the latest developments Includes contributions from leading experts in the field Serves as an indispensable reference to advanced researchers
International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilisation (ICCDU) 2016
Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
Release Date : 2018-11-02
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Total pages :129
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Carbon dioxide utilisation is a growing field of research that spans early stage laboratory chemistry through to commercial exploitation. In 2013 the CO2Chem Network (www.co2chem.com) made a successful bid to hold the 14th edition of this major conference. This was the first time it was held in the United Kingdom and attracted over 270 delegates from 32 different countries. It was a condition of presentation that all the work submitted was new and novel. We invited submissions of new work for this Research Topic and manuscripts were subjected to deep peer review. We are pleased that these papers are now being collated into an eBook. We value the range and quality of the papers submitted. These range from novel capture, integration and process through to policy, public perception and economic evaluation. CO2Chem was proud to be chosen to organise this prestigious conference. CO2Chem was founded in 2010 as one of the Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC) Grand Challenge Networks. It is now in its eighth year of operation and its third round of direct funding. It continues to be a forum for discussion and collaboration nationally and globally. We have for a long time associated ourselves with ICCDU and will continue to do so in the future. We hope that the papers presented here serve as a catalyst to further research in CDU and to engagement with ICCDU.
Gaseous Carbon Waste Streams Utilization
Publisher : National Academies Press
Release Date : 2019-02-22
Category : Science
Total pages :256
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In the quest to mitigate the buildup of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, researchers and policymakers have increasingly turned their attention to techniques for capturing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, either from the locations where they are emitted or directly from the atmosphere. Once captured, these gases can be stored or put to use. While both carbon storage and carbon utilization have costs, utilization offers the opportunity to recover some of the cost and even generate economic value. While current carbon utilization projects operate at a relatively small scale, some estimates suggest the market for waste carbon-derived products could grow to hundreds of billions of dollars within a few decades, utilizing several thousand teragrams of waste carbon gases per year. Gaseous Carbon Waste Streams Utilization: Status and Research Needs assesses research and development needs relevant to understanding and improving the commercial viability of waste carbon utilization technologies and defines a research agenda to address key challenges. The report is intended to help inform decision making surrounding the development and deployment of waste carbon utilization technologies under a variety of circumstances, whether motivated by a goal to improve processes for making carbon-based products, to generate revenue, or to achieve environmental goals.
Carbon Dioxide Mineralization and Utilization
Publisher : Springer
Release Date : 2017-03-04
Category : Science
Total pages :452
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This book focuses on an important technology for mineralizing and utilizing CO2 instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. CO2 mineralization and utilization demonstrated in the waste-to-resource supply chain can “reduce carbon dependency, promote resource and energy efficiency, and lessen environmental quality degradation,” thereby reducing environmental risks and increasing economic benefits towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In this book, comprehensive information on CO2 mineralization and utilization via accelerated carbonation technology from theoretical and practical considerations was presented in 20 Chapters. It first introduces the concept of the carbon cycle from the thermodynamic point of view and then discusses principles and applications regarding environmental impact assessment of carbon capture, storage and utilization technologies. After that, it describes the theoretical and practical considerations for “Accelerated Carbonation (Mineralization)” including analytical methods, and systematically presents the carbonation mechanism and modeling (process chemistry, reaction kinetics and mass transfer) and system analysis (design and analysis of experiments, life cycle assessment and cost benefit analysis). It then provides physico-chemical properties of different types of feedstock for CO2 mineralization and then explores the valorization of carbonated products as green materials. Lastly, an integral approach for waste treatment and resource recovery is introduced, and the carbonation system is critically assessed and optimized based on engineering, environmental, and economic (3E) analysis. The book is a valuable resource for readers who take scientific and practical interests in the current and future Accelerated Carbonation Technology for CO2 Mineralization and Utilization.
Transformations
Publisher : Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Release Date : 2019-10-21
Category : Science
Total pages :416
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The conversion of CO2 to chemicals and consumables is a pioneering approach to utilize undesired CO2 emissions and simultaneously create new products out of sustainable feedstock. Volume 2 describes several routes to transform CO2 into various compounds by catalytic and electrochemical as well as photo- and plasma induced reactions. Both volumes are also included in a set ISBN 978-3-11-066549-9.
Transformation and Utilization of Carbon Dioxide
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Release Date : 2014-01-27
Category : Science
Total pages :388
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Transformation and Utilization of Carbon Dioxide shows the various organic, polymeric and inorganic compounds which result from the transformation of carbon dioxide through chemical, photocatalytic, electrochemical, inorganic and biological processes. The book consists of twelve chapters demonstrating interesting examples of these reactions, depending on the types of reaction and catalyst. It also includes two chapters dealing with the utilization of carbon dioxide as a reaction promoter and presents a wide range of examples of chemistry and chemical engineering with carbon dioxide. Transformation and Utilization of Carbon Dioxide is a collective work of reviews illustrative of recent advances in the transformation and utilization of carbon dioxide. This book is interesting and useful to a wide readership in the various fields of chemical science and engineering. Bhalchandra Bhanage is a professor of industrial and engineering chemistry at Institute of Chemical Technology, India. Masahiko Arai is a professor of chemical engineering at Hokkaido University, Japan.
Recent Advances in Carbon Capture and Storage
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
Release Date : 2017-03-08
Category : Technology & Engineering
Total pages :266
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Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been considered as a practical way in sequestering the huge anthropogenic CO2 amount with a reasonable cost until a more pragmatic solution appears. The CCS can work as a bridge before fulfilling the no-CO2 era of the future by applying to large-scale CO2 emitting facilities. But CCS appears to lose some passion by the lack of progress in technical developments and in commercial success stories other than EOR. This is the time to go back to basics, starting from finding a solution in small steps. The CCS technology desperately needs far newer ideas and breakthroughs that can overcome earlier attempts through improving, modifying, and switching the known principles. This book tries to give some insight into developing an urgently needed technical breakthrough through the recent advances in CCS research, in addition to the available small steps like soil carbon sequestration. This book provides the fundamental and practical information for researchers and graduate students who want to review the current technical status and to bring in new ideas to the conventional CCS technologies.
Carbon Dioxide Utilisation
Publisher : Elsevier Science Limited
Release Date : 2014-09-12
Category : Science
Total pages :311
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"Styring, Quadrelli, and Armstrong's Carbon dioxide utilisation: closing the carbon cycle offers a comprehensive and diverse journey through carbon dioxide utilisation technologies, applications, and future perspectives. It is the first book that brings together world leading chemists, engineers, and social scientists to produce a whole systems approach to CDU -- from co-reactant choice to energy integration. The editors and experts examine all aspects of CDU, from its capture, chemical conversion, and ultimate use in a variety of chemicals. This body of work shows how the extra energy can be derived from intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and how to store excess energy in value-added chemicals. Examples of reactions and processes complement the thorough consideration of the market value, capacity, and supply chain, addressing where co-reactants will be sourced from, how energy can be integrated, and how these new chemicals can be introduced into the market place. The book combines catalysis, process engineering, and green chemistry in a logical approach to using CO2 on reasonable scales, without compromising the supply chain by using environmentally questionable sources of co-reactants and catalysts."--Back cover. | https://www.macnabclanuk.org/carbon-dioxide-utilisation/ |
Capturing Carbon – Research profile at University of Guelph, Ontario
How U of G engineers are reducing climate change by trapping carbon dioxide in soils.
Human actions, such as a gas-guzzling morning commute, have led to significant increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. In turn, high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere block the sun’s heat from escaping and is a recognized cause of global warming. Changes in our earth’s climate can have devastating repercussions, such as more frequent and unpredictable natural disasters and even the extinction of species. We need mitigation strategies.
University of Guelph engineers Emily YW Chiang, Rafael Santos, and their team have identified a calcium-silicate mineral called wollastonite that could help to reduce atmospheric CO2. Namely, this mineral can aid in a process called mineral carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration is where atmospheric CO2 is captured through a chemical reaction and stored in the soil. Although wollastonite has been commercialized for soil amendment in Ontario, we do not yet know how much CO2 is sequestered annually because of this mineral. Chiang’s work represents the first experimental research on wollastonite’s potential for carbon sequestration in a field setting. To understand the impact of wollastonite on carbon capture within a variety of agricultural settings, the team conducted experiments on three commercial farms in Ontario: a soybean farm, a vegetable farm, and a potato farm. The different sites varied in how much wollastonite was used and for how long. The team gathered soil samples and detected the carbon content analytically and estimated the level of CO2 sequestration by using a mathematical equation.
Chiang and her team found that the CO2 content in the soils was higher when wollastonite was used. Moreover, CO2 content was highest when wollastonite had been applied to soils over several consecutive years. Not only that, but the farmers also noticed improvements in their crops that grew from the soils where wollastonite was used.
“Wollastonite releases calcium and other micronutrients into the soil when it reacts with the dissolved CO2. In that way it may also improve soil fertility,” explains Chiang. “The results of this research offer convincing evidence for field producers to use wollastonite on their lands, and thus contribute to global climate change mitigation while enhancing crop quality.”
This work was supported by the Low Carbon Innovation Fund from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (formerly the Ministry of Research Innovation and Science, Ontario, Canada).
Haque F, Santos RM, Chiang YW. CO2 sequestration by wollastonite-amended agricultural soils–an Ontario field study. Int J Greenh Gas Con. 2020 Jun 1. doi:10.3017. | https://www.canadianwollastonite.com/capturing-carbon-research-profile-at-university-of-guelph-ontario/ |
The sense of mission and vision
The vision is a foresight about the ideals and imagery that want realized an institution/organization in the future, so as to answer the questions of the institution/organization would like to be like us?
While the missions have the sense of something that should be run by an institution/organization in accordance with his vision.
Vision (Vision) is a series of sentences that stated goals or dreams of an organization or company wants to achieve in the future. Or it can be said that a vision is a statement of your organization want to be or the company. The vision also is very crucial for a company to guarantee the sustainability and long-term success.
Mission is a series of sentences stating the purpose or reason for existence of the organization that contains what is provided by the company to the public, either in the form of products or the service.
The Mission of the company: the importance of a clear mission, the nature of the mission, the various components of the mission statement
The importance of a clear Mission
The mission is the starting point for the planning of the managerial duties, and above all, to the design of managerial structure, so the mission became the Foundation for the priorities, strategies, plans and the assignment of work.
A clear mission statement is very important to set goals and formulate strategy. Recommends the company to develop a mission statement for the following reasons:
- Ensure the basic purpose of the Organization
- Provide a base or standard for allocating resources in an organization
- Create the conditions of climate or public organization
- Be the main point for individuals in identifying the purpose and direction of the organization.
- Facilitate the translation of goals into the structure of the work involving the expulsion until the elements of responsibility within the Organization
- Provide the basic purpose of the Organization and the possibility of translate for the basic purpose of this being the goal in such a way to form the parameters of time, cost, and performance can be evaluated and controlled.
The nature of the mission
The mission statement is more than just a statement that details and specifics. The mission statement of purpose and scope of the operations in terms of product and market requirements. A strategic mission of providing general information about the products a company produced and want to market that will be served by using its internal core competencies.
An effective mission will build individual and uplifting, inspiring, and relevant to stakeholders.
Characteristics of a mission should reflect:
- Declaration of stance, the mission was a declaration of stance and expansive spaces in scope, including:
- Statement mission that both allows for alternative thinking and formulation of objectives and strategies that are feasible without compromising creativity management. Mission that is too specific, limiting the growth potential of the Organization, otherwise too general, makes the alternative strategies become dysfunctional.
- The mission statement should be broad enough to unite the differences effectively and have an attraction for shareholders. Stakeholders affect and are affected by the Organization's strategy, but demands different thinking and often contradictory.
- An effective mission should create positive emotions and sense of organization.
- Inspiring and motivating to action.
- Generate the impression that the Organization's success, have a direction, and is worthy to receive all the time, support, and investment from as much as stakeholders.
- The mission must also be dynamic in orientation
Customer Orientation, a good mission statement explains the basic goals, customers, products, markets, philosophy, the basic technology. A good mission should:
- Reflecting the anticipation of our customers, by always identify drivers and wants then provide products to meet the needs.
- Identify the usefulness of the product for the customer, then the mission was not focused on products, but function or usability.
Declaration of social policies (social responsibility), is the highest placement of the philosophy and the thought of founding the Organization and managerial. Social issues Sue strategist not only obligate towards the stakeholders. But also no less importance for the customer, environmentalist, minority groups, the public, and other groups. Social policies directly affect customers, products, markets, technology, profitability, self-concept, public image. Social policy should be integrate in all the activities of strategic management, including the preparation of the mission.
The various components of the mission statement
There are nine characteristics that should be embodied in a company's mission. Because the company's mission is part of the process of strategic management. That will be publish to the public, then the company's mission We recommend. That you include the principal components of the ninth, which consists of:
- Customer: mission should explicitly mention who become customers for the company's products
- Product or Services: in this case the company must specifically mention any product or service that is produced by the company.
- Markets: this statement is explained in the market where the company's products will compete with products produced by competitors.
- Technology: the mission statement mentions the direction of technology development companies to meet the needs of consumers.
- Concern for survival, growth, and profitability. In this case the mission statement clearly shows the company's commitment towards. The company's survival, growth and the ability to generate profits (Profitability).
- Philosophy: the mission will describe beliefs (beliefs), value (values), aspirations. The ethical priorities of the company.
- Self-Concept: the mission will explain what was to become the leading competency (distinctive competences) of a company compared to its competitors.
- Concern for public image: the mission will show what company has a response. To social problems, social as well as environmental issues.
- Concern for employees: in this mission statement will indicate. Whether the employee is a valuable asset for the company. | https://www.excel-pmt.com/2019/01/vision-and-mission-significance.html |
Daisy Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Policy
Intent:
Daisy is committed to offering a respectful, accessible, and inclusive environment in the provision services for both clients and employees. Daisy always strives to ensure that, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the standards, and all other applicable legislation about accessibility, are thoroughly observed.
Daisy’s goal is to focus on becoming an environment free of barricades and following the requirements of AODA and its policies and goals related to identifying, removing and preventing barriers to persons with disabilities that might interfere with their ability to make full use of the goods and/or services provided. This policy is available in alternate formats upon request.
Scope:
This policy applies to the provision of goods and services at premises owned and/or operated by Daisy and/or its Franchisees as well as the many exchanges with customers/clients and employees via telephone, video conference, email, or face-to-face. This policy also applies to employees, contractors, consultants, volunteers, interns, or other third parties who deal with the public or who act on behalf of Daisy.
Definitions:
“Disability” means
a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical coordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
d) a mental disorder,
e) An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
Guiding Principles:
Daisy will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the following core principles as outlined in the AODA:
Dignity – ensure persons with disabilities are provided with services in a manner that will allow them to maintain self-respect and the respect of others.
Independence – ensure persons with disabilities have their right to do for themselves and can do things in their way.
Integration – ensure persons with disabilities fully benefit from the same goods and services, in the same place and the same or similar manner as others. This may require alternative formats and flexible approaches.
It means complete participation.
Equal Opportunity – ensure persons with disabilities have the same chances, options, benefits, and results as others.
Procedures and Responsibilities:
Daisy is committed to using reasonable efforts in providing goods and services to all customers including persons with disabilities and will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:
Communication:
Daisy is committed to ensuring that all of our employees are fully aware of how to interact and communicate with persons with disabilities. We will train our employees who communicate with customers on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
Assistive Devices:
Daisy will ensure our staff are familiar with and aware of any personal assistive devices that may be used by persons with disabilities while accessing our organization and the goods and services Daisy provides. A personal assistive device is any device that is used, designed, made, or adapted to assist persons with disabilities in performing various, everyday tasks such as moving, communicating, reading, writing, or lifting.
Below are some assistive devices guidelines:
- Persons with disabilities are entitled to use personal assistive devices while accessing any service or location of the organization, except where the use of the device contravenes policies and/or legislation or poses any element of risk or hazard. For example, where elevators are not present and where an individual requires assistive devices for mobility, service will be provided in a location that meets the needs of the customer.
- Persons with disabilities are entitled to the protection of their privacy and are not required to disclose to the organization information about their disability and/or the need for a personal assistive device unless such information is required by the organization to create and implement an individualized accommodation plan.
- Employees and other individuals engaged in the delivery of service on behalf of the organization are required to cooperate with the use of a personal assistive device for reasons of improving access to the organization’s services or goods.
Billing:
We are committed to providing accessible invoices to all of our customers. Invoices will be provided in an alternative format upon request. We will answer any questions customers may have about the content of the invoice in person, by telephone or email.
Use of Service Animals:
Service animals or guide dogs and support persons accompanying Daisy clients with disabilities will be welcomed by the organization. Service animals shall be permitted on Daisy premises that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law. The organization will do all that it can to assist any support person who accompanies an individual with a disability in accessing Daisy services, and premises.
Please note that a “guide dog” is a dog trained by the regulations under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act. A “service animal” is defined as any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing, or fetching dropped items. For example, if it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reason relating to their disability or if the person provides a letter from a physician or a nurse confirming that the person required the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
Daisy will ensure that all employees are properly trained on how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
Support Persons:
If a client/customer with a disability is accompanied by a support person the client/customer, along with the support person, will be allowed to enter Daisy premises open to the public or other third parties. At no time will persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to that person while on our premises.
Daisy will not charge admission fees for support persons/workers to attend Daisy sponsored events. This policy will be included where admission fees are published.
Notice of Temporary Disruption:
In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities, appropriate notification of the disruption will be provided. Visual notices will be placed at entrances and exits onto the organization premises and in affected areas. The notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities, systems, or services, if available.
Notice will be given by posting the information in a visible place on premises owned or operated by the provider of goods and/or services. If an unexpected disruption occurs, notice will be given as soon as possible. In some circumstances, advance notice may not be possible.
Training for Employees:
Daisy will provide appropriate training to all employees, contractors, and others who deal with the public or other third parties on Daisy’s behalf, and to all individuals who are involved in the development and approval of the customer service policies, practices, and procedures.
Training will include information about:
- Purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service
- Purpose of the provincial Human Rights Codes as they apply to individuals with disabilities
- How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities
- How to interact with persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a guide dog or service animal or a support person
- What to do if persons with disabilities are having difficulty in accessing Daisy’s goods and services
- Review of Daisy policies and procedures pertaining to providing accessible customer service to persons with disabilitiesTraining will be provided to all current employees upon this policy taking effect and new employees will be provided such training as part of their orientation. Daisy will also provide revised training to all parties outlined above in the event of legislative changes or changes to policies or procedures and will maintain a record of training that includes dates the training was provided along with the information of the individuals who receive the training.
Feedback Process:
Comments on our services and our accessibility program regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
Feedback regarding the way Daisy provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made to Human Resources and should be directed to Natasha Cotzaoglou, in writing, in email, in person, or telephone, at the following address:
- Verbally provide feedback to a manager; or
- Email [email protected] with the subject “AODA”
- Email Natasha Cotzaoglou directly at [email protected] with the subject “AODA – Human Resources”
- In writing to the Attention to Human Resources, Natasha Cotzaoglou
- By telephone requesting Human Resources, Natasha Cotzaoglou
- In-person to Reception or HR at our 260 King Street East, 4th floor, Building A office
The customer is requested to provide their name, email address, and phone number. Once feedback is received, the following actions are taken to respond:
- The feedback is directed to the appropriate person at Daisy for action
- The feedback is assessed for appropriate action (note: the customer service standard does not require a response to be provided for all feedback)
- Customers who require feedback can expect an answer within 5 business days
The feedback process is readily available to the public through:
- A notice on the Daisy website
- Other communication channels, as appropriate:
Human Resources c/o Daisy Intelligence Corporation
260 King Street East, Suite A400
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 4L5
Phone: 647-271-0305
[email protected]
Questions about this policy exist to achieve service excellence to customers with disabilities. Questions about this policy can be directed to Human Resources at Daisy at [email protected] or [email protected] or by calling 647-271-0305.
Availability of AODA Policy:
In accordance with the AODA, all documents required by the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, including Daisy’s Accessibility Policy, notices of temporary disruption, training records, and written feedback process are available upon request subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”). Requests for accessible customer service documents should be made to a manager or Human Resources ([email protected]). If a person with a disability requests a copy of this policy, a copy of this policy or the information contained within the policy will be provided in a format to accommodate the person’s disability. | https://www.daisyintelligence.com/accessibility/ |
President and Representative Director, Oisix ra daichi Inc.
We clearly define the purpose of the use of personal information handled in all of our services and personal information of our employees to the extent necessary to conduct business activities, and acquire, use, and provide such information in an appropriate manner. We use the acquired personal information only within the scope of the purpose of use and take measures to do so, and hence we shall not handle personal information beyond the extent necessary to achieve the specified purpose of use. With respect to personal identification information, etc., we take measures to specify the purpose of use within the scope defined in each item of Article 19 of the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in the Administrative Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the "Act on the Use of Numbers") and shall use such information only within the scope of its purpose of use.
When sharing all or part of the personal information acquired pursuant to the measures set forth in the preceding paragraph, we shall select those who reach a satisfactory level of protection and take appropriate measures through a contract or the like concerning the protection of personal information.
We shall comply with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, the Act on the Use of Numbers, and other laws and regulations concerning the protection of personal information as well as the guidelines and other norms specified by the government.
We shall take reasonable safety measures and corrective measures against unauthorized access to personal information and risks such as leakage, loss, destruction, and falsification of personal information.
We shall respond to requests for disclosure, correction, addition, deletion, suspension of use, elimination of personal information, provision of such information to third parties, and information on the purpose of its use made by the provider of such information with the least delay. We shall also respond promptly to complaints, consultations and other inquiries concerning personal information made by customers, etc.
Personal information protection manager, Oisix ra daichi Inc.
We shall continue to review and improve our approaches to ensure the protection of personal information.
In order to provide better service, Oisix ra daichi Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") often ask for personal information including name, address, telephone number, email address and other relevant information, as well as personal identification number and personal identification information (which refers to personal information including personal identification numbers. Personal identification numbers and information shall hereinafter referred to as "personal identification information, etc.).
To ensure that customers trust the service Oisix offers, the Company shall comply with the laws and regulations concerning the protection of personal information (including the "Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in the Administrative Procedure") and stipulate the following as the Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information in the Company (hereinafter referred to as "the Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information").
In order to provide better service, the Company shall ask for accurate personal information of its customers including name, address, telephone number, fax number, gender, e-mail address, date of birth, bank account number, purchase history, family structure, occupation, title, qualifications, annual income, other property information, hobbies, preferences, ID, URL of blogs, websites, etc., SNS account ID, IP address, mobile phone's individual identification number, information on visited websites and other access logs, complaints, consultation and inquiry information, audio information, and image information such as face pictures, as well as information necessary for customization of products such as blood type, height, weight, ring size, and other physical information to be able to identify certain individuals based on one or a combination of two or more of the above categories when they wish to purchase personalized gifts. The Company shall ask for personal identification information of its employees and business partners in accordance with the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in the Administrative Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the "Act on the Use of Numbers") only when dealing with sole proprietors. In addition to personal information of customers themselves, personal information also includes information on their family, friends and shipping address, which is acquired indirectly through the customers.
We will use personal information of customers, etc. for the following purposes.
1．Personal information about customers (1) To conduct business operations related to sale, delivery, and payment of goods, rights, services, etc. (including the production of personalized items) of the Company and third parties.
(2) To deliver gift items on behalf of purchasers (the personal information of those designated as the recipients of such items shall be used).
(3) To send advertisements and publicity materials of products (including e-mails, leaflets and other direct mails) or newsletters of the Company and third parties.
(4) To send requests for campaign participation, questionnaires, interviews to improve service, etc.
(5) To conduct campaigns, contact prize winners, and send prizes, etc.
(6) To manage seminars and events.
(7) To provide point service and affiliate services.
(8) To conduct marketing activities and exploratory statistical analyses of marketing data.
(9) To manage customer information, service and other related information.
(10) To provide product and service support and respond to inquiries, etc.
(11) To conduct marketing activities including face-to-face sales.
(12) To conduct exploratory statistical analyses of marketing data.
(13) To develop and improve the Company's products and services.
(14) To maintain the system and deal with problems.
(15) To simplify operations such as membership subscription when those who have registered their personal information with the Company use different services provided by the Company or its subsidiaries.
(16) To carry out entrusted operations when the Company is entrusted with operations to handle personal information by business partners, etc. (including communications involved in shipment and surrogate shipment).
(17) To exercise rights and fulfill obligations according to contracts, laws, etc.
(18) To compare with sources held by other companies to confirm postal addresses and conduct marketing and advertising activities.
(20) To manage other contacts and services and send related materials.
When the Company is contacted by telephone, calls may be recorded for the above purposes and training purposes to assure smooth business operations.
2. Personal information about business partners (including individuals), members and employees of other companies (1) To make contacts necessary for business (including sending greeting cards), cooperate, negotiate, fulfill contracts, request implementation, etc.
(2) To manage business partner information and process payments and incomes.
(3) To suggest production areas and products to customers, etc. as well as to conduct sales promotions and publicity campaigns related thereto.
(4) To list in records such as corporate information, business reports, company history, etc.
(5) To inform of the Company's services, events, etc.
(6) To request cooperation in answering questionnaire and create other statistical materials.
(7) To identify individuals from the perspective of the Company's protection management of trade secrets, etc. when they visit the Company.
(8) To fulfill the obligations stipulated by the Act for Securing the Proper Operation of Worker Dispatching Undertakings and Improved Working Conditions for Dispatched Workers as well as laws and regulations such as the Industrial Safety and Health Law.
(9) To confirm the law compliance status of the Company's employees and business partners.
(10) To create payment records related to remunerations, fees, contract deposits, cash prizes, etc. based on personal identification information when dealing with sole proprietors.
3. Personal information about government officials, public officers, etc. (1) To make necessary contacts, reports, inquiries, etc. to government agencies for business operations.
(2) To confirm the law compliance status of the Company and its employees.
4. Personal information whose handling is entrusted with the Company by other business operators To fulfill contracts with business partners (fulfillment of entrusted businesses), etc.
5. Personal information about shareholders (1) To exercise of rights and fulfill obligations in accordance with laws and regulations.
(2) To afford facilities for their position as shareholders from the Company.
(3) To implement measures to smooth the relationship between shareholders and companies from the perspective of a corporation and its members.
6. Personal information about participants of events, etc. (1) To make contacts and provide information related to events.
(2) To provide information on related products or services and conduct surveys, analyses, promotions, advertising activities, etc. entrusted by business partners.
(3) To provide information on events etc. and conduct sales promotions and publicity campaigns related thereto.
(5) For other purposes specified separately for each event, etc.
7. Personal information about job applicants (1) To provide information on employment opportunities, etc. to job applicants (including internship) and make employment decisions.
(2) To manage recruitment procedures at the Company.
(3) To improve the Company's website for job applicants.
8. Personal information about employees To manage employees.
Personal identification information, etc. shall be used to the extent necessary to conduct business activities within the following scope of the purpose of use specified individually at the time of acquisition.
(1) Operations related to health insurance, employees' pension insurance, and employment insurance of the information providers and their dependents, as well as other operations concerning applications and claims related to social security.
(2) Operations related to tax withholding, individual inhabitant tax and declaration related to other taxes concerning the information providers and their dependents.
9. Personal information about those who have contacted or visited the Company and do not fall under the above categories 1 to 7. To manage contacts and services and send related materials.
The Company shall not use personal information of customers beyond the reasonable scope of the purposes of use advised upon the request for provision of such information. Should its use for purposes other than those becomes necessary, customers, etc. shall be notified.
The Company confirms credit card information through the service provided by GMO Payment Gateway, Inc., a payment agency approved by Mobile Content Forum, to facilitate the payment of goods and services with a credit card for customers making payments with their credit card, or to confirm the validity of account numbers and credit card with financial institutions, etc. for the payment of fees. In such cases, customers' credit card information shall be sent to GMO Payment Gateway, Inc., yet the Company shall not retain any of the information.
With respect to the arbitrariness of the decision to provide personal information and the consequences of not providing such information, although personal information shall be provided at individual discretion, the information is necessary for the Company to conduct its business. Therefore, if the provided personal information is inadequate or inaccurate, or an individual refuses to provide his/her personal information (including actions such as deletion or elimination of information) (hereinafter collectively referred to as "failure to provide personal information") and such cases create disadvantages including problems in the business operations of the Company, inability to provide adequate services to customers such as failure to deliver their orders, failure to communicate important information, and situations where an individual is required to handle procedural tasks on behalf of the Company, their consequences shall be attributed to the individual. Please also be advised that failure to provide personal information may result in the Company's inability to respond to inquiries, etc.
Regarding the handling of personal information of customers, etc., the Company manages information appropriately by placing the chief privacy officer in the department in charge of managing personal information. In addition to educating employees on privacy protection when they join the Company, it also thoroughly educates its employees by providing company-wide training courses on privacy protection on a regular basis.
Chief Privacy Officer, Oisix ra daichi Inc.
The Company may disclose the minimum personal information required about customers, etc. to its outsourcing contractors in order to carry out its business operations including shipment, payment, and credit of products, related after sales service, and communication of information related to new products and services in the online mail-order business. The company shall sign contracts concerning the protection of personal information with its outsourcing contractors and perform necessary and appropriate management as well as surveillance to ensure that they comply with the contract.
Note 1) The Company's outsourcing contractors include producers and manufacturers undertaking shipping arrangements of products directly sent from production areas, delivery agencies undertaking delivery of goods, payment agencies, printing and shipping agencies handling mailing labels for invoices, etc., credit companies and financial institutions, settlement proxy system companies, personal credit information agencies, debt collection agencies, marketing agencies undertaking communication of information on the Company's services, etc., research companies conducting analyses for improvement of the Company's services, etc.
When required by national institutions or local public entities, or those entrusted by such organizations to carry out duties prescribed by laws and regulations, and obtaining the consent of the provider of information may affect the execution of such duties.
When handling personal information about customers etc., the Company carries out appropriate management by placing the control manager and strives to prevent leakage. The company also implements appropriate and rational safety measures against unauthorized access from the outside as well as risks of loss, destruction, falsification, etc.
Note 2) On the website, personal information about customers, etc. is strictly managed and protected from external access by firewalls, etc. as well as by a reliable payment system using SSL (Secure Socket Later).
Note 3) With regard to the display on the website, pages displaying personal information that can facilitate identification of individuals cannot be accessed without password authentication.
This website may send information called cookies to the computer used to visit the site.
You must agree to the use of this technology to be able to shop on this website.
The Company shall neither view private information about customers, etc. nor change their usage environment by using this technology.
Cookies are a mechanism for websites to save browsing history and data entries sent and received between the browser and the server as a file in customers' computers. The next time they visit the same webpage, the information in cookies allows the operator of the site to change display for each customer. If customers allow the browser to send and receive cookies, the website can obtain cookies from the user's browser. Customers' browsers shall only send cookies sent and received by the server of the website to protect their privacy.
・Customers can select settings for the sending and receiving of cookies from "allow all cookies", "reject all cookies", "notify the user cookies are received", etc. The setting method varies from browser to browser. Check the help menu of your browser to find information on cookie settings.
・Please be aware that if you choose to reject all cookies, your online activities and usage of services requiring authentication and other information may be restricted.
When customers, etc. visit this website, information about the operations is recorded in the form of an access log. This information is collected for the future improvement of the usability of the site and cause investigation in the event of problems, as well as for statistical and analytical processing of the status of utilization, etc., and shall not be used for purposes other than those.
Websites and services operated by third parties that can be accessed through the links on this website do not fall within the competence of this website, and the Company shall have no concern with the use of personal information collected independently by them.
Changes in the "Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information"
The Company may revise the "Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information" as necessary at any time without notice in advance in accordance with changes in laws and regulations. Should this be the case, the Company shall post the latest "Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information" on its website. Regardless of the content of the "Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information" at the time of online activates of customers, etc., the Company shall always handle customers' information according to the latest "Regulations on the Handling of Personal Information".
Oisix Customer Support, Oisix ra daichi Inc. | https://www.oisixradaichi.co.jp/en/privacypolicy/ |
MSR Customs Corporation DBA eCustoms (“eCustoms”) has adopted this Privacy Shield Policy (“Policy”) to establish and maintain an adequate level of Personal Data privacy protection. This Policy applies to the processing of Personal Data that eCustoms obtains from Customers located in the European Union and European Economic Arrangement and Switzerland to which Privacy Shield applies.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has jurisdiction over eCustoms’s compliance with the Privacy Shield.
All eCustoms employees who handle Personal Data from EU and EEA countries and Switzerland are required to comply with the Principles stated in this Policy.
Definitions
“Business Data” means data that is entered on uploaded for processing by Customer in order to carry out International Trade Compliance functions. Depending on the function selected, Business Data may include information about trading partners and other types of business contacts, products or trade transactions.
“Customer” means a company or other institution who has contracted with eCustoms to use the Services.
“Customer/User Information” means information about Customer or its employees, agents or other persons acting on behalf of Customer who are registered users of the Services or communicate with eCustoms in relation to Customer’s use of the Services.
“Customer Personnel” means employees, agents or other persons acting on behalf of Customer who are registered users of the Services or communicate with eCustoms in relation to Customer’s use of the Services.
“Data Subject” means an identified or identifiable natural living person. An identifiable person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to a name, or to one or more factors unique to his or her personal physical, psychological, mental, economic, cultural or social characteristics.
“Europe” or “European” refers to a country in the European Union or European Economic Arrangement (EEA) that is be covered by the Privacy Shield program.
“Personal Data” as defined under the European Union Directive 95/46/EC means data that personally identifies or may be used to personally identify a person, including an individual’s name in combination with country of birth, marital status, emergency contact, salary information, terms of employment, job qualifications (such as educational degrees earned), address, phone number, e-mail address, user ID, password, and identification numbers. Personal Data does not include data that is de-identified, anonymous, or publicly available.
“Sensitive Data” means Personal Data that discloses a Data Subject’s medical or health condition, race or ethnicity, political, religious or philosophical affiliations or opinions, sexual orientation, or trade union membership.
“Services” means the SAAS software and related services provided by eCustoms.
“Third Party” means any individual or entity that is neither eCustoms nor a eCustoms employee, agent, contractor, or representative.
Scope
This Policy applies to the processing Personal Information that eCustoms receives in the United States concerning Customer Personnel who reside in the European Union (or EEA) or Switzerland. eCustoms provides products and services to businesses only.
This Policy does not cover data from which individual persons cannot be identified or situations in which pseudonyms are used. (The use of pseudonyms involves the replacement of names or other identifiers with substitutes so that identification of individual persons is not possible.)
eCustoms’s Role as an SAAS Software Service Provider
eCustoms provides a hosted SAAS software service that provides customers with a number of Export Compliance functions including but not limited to denied party screening and product classification. eCustoms also provides other related offerings to its Customers.
In providing the Service, eCustoms receives Business Data submitted for processing by the Service and Customer/User Data required to provide the Services and manage the business relationship between eCustoms and the Customer.
In receiving and processing the Business Data, eCustoms acts as a Data Processor, receiving, processing and storing any Personal Data it may contain only as directed by Customer.
Responsibilities and Management
eCustoms has designated the Legal Department to oversee its information security program, including its compliance with the EU – US Privacy Shield and Swiss-US Privacy Shield programs. The Legal Department shall review and approve any material changes to this program as necessary. Any questions, concerns, or comments regarding this Policy also may be directed to
eCustoms will maintain, monitor, test, and upgrade information security policies, practices, and systems to assist in protecting the Personal Data that it collects. eCustoms personnel will receive training, as applicable, to effectively implement this Policy.
Renewal and Verification
eCustoms will renew its EU – US Privacy Shield and Swiss – US Privacy Shield certification annually, unless it subsequently determines that it no longer needs such certifications or if it employs a different adequacy mechanism.
Prior to the re-certification, eCustoms will conduct an in-house verification to ensure that its attestations and assertions with regard to its treatment of Customer Contact are accurate and that the company has appropriately implemented these practices.
Collection of Personal Data
Business Data:
eCustoms is a provider of SAAS software subscription services that help Customers manage International Trade Compliance. In using these Services, Customer Personnel may, on behalf of Customer enter or upload Business Data for processing and storage on the Service. This data may include Personal Information about Customer’s trade partners and other individuals or legal entities. When receiving, processing and storing Business Data, eCustoms is acting solely as a Data Processor and performs these actions only as directed by Customer. Business Data regarding individuals and entities that is processed and stored on the Service consists of names and addresses as well as other optional information, as determined by the Customer.
Customer/User Data:
eCustoms provides the Services to companies who license the Services on a subscription basis. eCustoms collects Customer/User Data when Customer Personnel purchase Service subscriptions on behalf of Customer, set up user accounts, log-in to their account, complete surveys, request information or otherwise communicate with us. For example, eCustoms Customer Personnel may seek telephone or email support for the service or to manage their account.
The Customer/User Data that we collect may vary based on the types of interactions that Customer Personnel have with eCustoms. As a general matter, eCustoms collects the following types of Personal Data from its Customer Personnel: work contact information, including, a contact person’s name, work email address, work mailing address, work telephone number, title, and company name. In order to collect payment for Services, Customer company level credit card and/or bank account information may be collected.
When Customer Personnel use our services online, we will collect their IP address and browser type. We may associate IP address and browser type with a specific Customer.
Use of Personal Data
Business Data:
Business Data entered or uploaded to the Services by Customer Personnel is used only to carry out the functions and processes initiated by Customer Personnel on behalf of Customer. For example, Customer Personnel may initiate screening of trade partners or other individuals for presence on US or international watch lists or process trade transactions such as imports or exports in which such individuals have participated.
Customer/User Data:
eCustoms uses Personal Data that it collects directly from its Customer Personnel for the following business purposes, without limitation:
- maintaining and supporting its products, delivering and providing the requested products/services, and complying with its contractual obligations related thereto (including managing transactions, reporting, invoices, renewals, and other operations related to providing services to a Customer);
- Informing Customer of additional services that may be available or providing other informational communications;
- verifying identity (e.g., for online access to accounts);
- as requested by the Customer Personnel on behalf of Customer;
- and as otherwise required by law.
Disclosures/Onward Transfer of Personal Data
eCustoms will not disclose Personal Data to a third party, except as stated below:
eCustoms may disclose Personal Data to subcontractors and third-party agents who assist eCustoms in providing Services to its customers and prospective customers. Before disclosing Personal Data to a subcontractor or third-party agent, eCustoms will obtain assurances from the recipient that it will: (a) use the Personal Data only to assist eCustoms in providing the Services; (b) provide at least the same level of protection for Personal Data as required by the Principles; and (c) notify eCustoms if the recipient is no longer able to provide the required protections. Upon notice, eCustoms will act promptly to stop and remediate unauthorized processing of Personal Date by a recipient. eCustoms will remain liable for onward transfers to its subcontractors and third-party agents.
eCustoms may also be required to disclose, and may disclose, Personal Data in response to lawful requests by public authorities, including for the purpose of meeting national security or law enforcement requirements. If such a request involves Business Data being processed for a Customer, to the extent permitted, eCustoms will inform Customer before making such disclosure and provide it with a reasonable opportunity to object to such disclosure.
Sensitive Data
eCustoms does not collect Sensitive Data
Data Security
eCustoms has implemented physical and technical safeguards to protect Personal Data from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alternation, or destruction. For example, electronically stored Personal Data is stored on a secure network with firewall protection, and access to eCustoms’s electronic information systems requires user authentication via password or similar means. eCustoms also employs access restrictions, limiting the scope of employees who have access to Personal Data. Further, eCustoms uses secure encryption technology to protect certain categories of personal data.
Data Integrity and Purpose Limitation
Business Data:
Customer is responsible for a) limiting their collection of Business Data containing Personal Data to that which is necessary to accomplish the purposes disclosed to Data Subjects and compatible purposes; b) ensuring that Personal Data they collect is accurate, complete, current and reliable for its intended uses; c) providing eCustoms with instructions for the processing of Personal Data consistent with such purposes. eCustoms will process Personal Data only in accordance with the customer’s or prospective customer’s instructions.
In the performance of Services, eCustoms will request only information required to perform the applicable Services and will retain such information only for as long as necessary to provide the Services or for compatible purposes, such as to provide additional Services, to comply with legal requirements (such as document retention standards), or to preserve or defend eCustoms’s legal rights.
Customer/User Data:
eCustoms shall only process Customer/User Data in a way that is compatible with and relevant for the purpose(s) for which it was collected or authorized by the individual. To the extent necessary for those purposes, eCustoms shall take reasonable steps to ensure that Personal Information is accurate, complete, current and reliable for its intended use.
Access
Business Data:
When eCustoms receives Business Data, it does so on Customer’s behalf. Customer is responsible for providing access to, or correction, amendment or deletion of Personal Data contained within Customer’s Business Data to their Data Subjects.
Customer/User Data:
Customer Personnel have the right to know what Personal Data about them has been collected and stored and to ensure that such Personal Data is accurate and relevant for the purposes for which eCustoms collected it.
Upon reasonable request and as required by the Privacy Shield principles, eCustoms allows Customer Personnel access to their Personal Data, in order to correct or amend such data where inaccurate. Customer Personnel may edit their Personal Data by contacting eCustoms by phone or email. To request erasure of Personal Data, Customer Personnel should submit a written request to eCustoms.
Choice
Business Data:
When eCustoms receives Business Data, it does so on Customer’s behalf. Customer is responsible for providing their Data Subjects with the ability to request limitation of the use or disclosure of their Personal Data. eCustoms will cooperate with Customers’ instructions regarding Data Subjects’ choices.
Customer/User Data:
When required by the Privacy Shield, eCustoms will offer individuals the opportunity to opt out of (1) disclosures of Personal Information to a third party, or (2) our use of Personal Information for a purpose that is materially different from the purpose(s) for which it was originally collected or subsequently authorized by the individual. Customer may also opt out of any newsletters, product announcements or other informational communications.
Enforcement and Dispute Resolution
In compliance with the EU – US Privacy Shield Principles and Swiss – US Privacy Shield Principles, eCustoms commits to resolve complaints about your privacy and our collection or use of your personal information. EU, EEA and Swiss individuals with questions or concerns about the use of their Personal Data should contact us at
If a Customer’s question or concern cannot be satisfied through this process eCustoms has further committed to refer unresolved privacy complaints under EU – US Privacy Shield or Swiss – US Privacy Shield to an independent dispute resolution mechanism operated by the ICDR/AAA.
If you do not receive timely acknowledgement of your complaint, or if your complaint is not satisfactorily addressed by eCustoms, EU , EEA and Swiss individuals may bring a complaint before the ICDR/AAA Privacy Shield Program.
Finally, as a last resort and in limited situations, EU, EEA and Swiss individuals may seek redress from the Privacy Shield Panel, a binding arbitration mechanism.
Changes to This Policy
eCustoms may revise this Policy at any time. If eCustoms decides to materially change this Policy, eCustoms will post the revised Policy at this location. | https://www.ecustoms.com/ecustoms_privacy_policy/privacy-shield/ |
1.Definition of personal information
We refer to information about individual customers (hereinafter referred to as "personal information") that can identify customers, such as name, address, telephone number. It also includes information that can identify individuals by matching with other information.
2.Purpose of use
The purpose of our company to obtain customer's personal information is as follows.
- (1)Working with telephone and e-mail, such as executing various services associated with inquiries, answers, confirmation, contact etc.
- (2)We provide our services, campaigns, promotions and other information.
- (3)To improve our service.
- (4)In addition, in order to make necessary acts within the scope of the above tasks, in order to communicate in accordance with the necessary actions.
3.Proper Acquisition
We are not harvested by fraudulent use of your personal information, including by any other fraudulent means (including inappropriate methods or methods lacking properness).
4.Restriction by purpose of use
We will not handle personal information in excess of the range necessary to achieve the purpose of use specified without consent from the principal.
5.Safety measure
We will endeavor to keep personal data accurate and up to date within the range necessary for the purposes of use.
In order to prevent leakage, loss, tampering, etc. of personal information, we properly manage items necessary for other safety management.
6.Employee education and supervision
We are aiming for the safety management of personal information, and we are educating employees for proper supervision.
Employees are people in the organization who follow employment relations, part-time staff to accept supervision and guidance including business business.
7.To provide to third parties
We will not provide personal information to third parties except in the following cases.
- (1)Cases as prescribed by law.
- (2)In cases where it is difficult to obtain consent of persons who need protection of human life, body or property.
- (3)In some cases, with the consent of the person himself delegated to perform the affairs prescribed by the law, national agencies or local governments may hinder implementation of administrative work.
8.Handling complaints
We will endeavor to properly and promptly process complaints concerning the handling of personal information.
9.About content change
The content of this policy is subject to change without notice.
Regarding the conformity after the change, it is valid from the time of display unless otherwise specified. | https://www.nikki-tr.co.jp/english/html/aboutus01.html |
This resource aims to provide an overview of good practice for consultation on road improvement schemes for all civil engineers and other built environment professionals.
This information is based upon procedures used in England, but there are lessons and resources used in this overview, which could be applied internationally.
Why consult?
For road improvement schemes, public consultation is strictly an optional, non-statutory process aimed at informing stakeholders and the general public about the scheme and seeking their views This is a best practice two-way process with success dependent on both the quality of the presentation of the proposals and the adequacy of feedback response
Consultation good practice principles and engagement standards
The UK Government has an established code of practice for consultation. Primarily, this is used for when Government consults with stakeholders on changes to policy or practice, but the seven criteria offered are useful principles, which could be used by the consulting authority for a road improvement scheme:
- When to consult – Formal consultation should take place at a stage when there is scope to influence the policy outcome
- Duration of consultation exercises – Consultations should normally last for at least 12 weeks with consideration given to longer timescales where feasible and sensible
- Clarity of scope and impact – Consultation documents should be clear about the consultation process, what is being proposed, the scope to influence and the expected cost and benefits of the proposals.
- Accessibility of consultation exercises – Consultation exercises should be designed to be accessible to, and clearly targeted at those people the exercise is intended to reach.
- The burden of consultation – Keeping the burden of consultation to a minimum is essential if consultations are to be effective and if consultees' buy-in to the process is to be obtained.
- Responsiveness of consultation exercises – Consultation responses should be analysed carefully and clear feedback should be provided to participants following the consultation
- Capacity to consult – Officials running consultations should seek guidance in how to run an effective consultation exercise and share what they have learned from the experience
Consultation and engagement standards
The Consultation Institute publishes for sale, guidance on good practice for all involved in the consultation process called the Art of Consultation.
Aside from this publication, the Consultation Institute also recommend six standards of engagement:
- Keeping promises
Organisations should use their best endeavours to ensure that all implementation-related commitments made during a consultation be honoured, and that in the event that they cannot, an appropriate mechanism is created or used to discuss alternatives with key stakeholders
- Communicate progress
A lack of information fuels fear, uncertainty and doubt, so implementers must communicate clearly and honestly about all relevant aspects of post evaluation developments. Stakeholders should be able to identify easily who to contact for valid information about implementation.
- Maintain contact
Organisers should compile and continuously update details of all individuals and groups affected by implementation; it should include those that took part in the previous consultation. They should offer them a mode of staying in contact with the project and being informed of developments.
- Machinery for dialogue
There must be appropriate and adequate arrangements for implementers and affected stakeholders to identify and address issues of common interest with a view to minimising impacts and resolving problems. On occasions it may be desirable to ensure an independent element in the selected machinery.
- Updated impacts
Organisations should monitor the impacts of implementation on a continuous basis, paying particular attention to individuals and groups falling within the equalities categories. Where impacts change, they have a responsibility to have 'due regard' of the consequences and take steps to mitigate wherever practicable.
- Measure stakeholder perceptions
Implementers need to know what affected people and groups think about what's happening. Perception monitoring needs to be undertaken using techniques that are appropriate for the working environment, and ideally, implementers should publish transparent feedback on what has been said by those affected
Useful resources
ICE Books
- ICE Manual for Highway Design & Management (2011)
- Highways: the location, design, construction and maintenance of road pavements (2015)
- Principles of Pavement Engineering (2014)
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Principles into practice
- Achieving Sustainability in Construction
External resources
Highways England produces standards and documentation relating to the design, construction and maintenance of highways. Documents are available free online, including:
- The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) contains information about current standards, advice notes and other published documents relating to the design, assessment and operation of trunk roads, including motorways. The DMRB has been prepared for trunk roads and motorways. The basis of use of these documents by local highways authorities is given in the DMRB GD 1/08. Check with your local highway authority for their policy on this matter. The DMRB was introduced in 1992 in England and Wales, and following that in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Some standards and specifications have annexes specific to each devolved administration. You should contact the relevant devolved authority directly for guidance.
- The Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works contains the primary documents required for the preparation of contracts for trunk road works. It consists of several parts, including the administrative procedures for its use, the specification for highway works and the corresponding method measurements.
- Interim Advice Notes (IANs) issued by Highways England contain specific guidance, which should only be used in connection with works on motorways and trunk roads in England, subject to any specific implementation instructions contained within an IAN. IANs are not part of the DMRB and the MCHW but must be read in conjunction. They may incorporate amendments or additions to documents in these manuals.
- Eurocodes - As a public body, Highways England expresses its requirements for the design and modification of existing structures (including geotechnical works) in terms of Eurocodes. Highways England's technical experts were involved in the drafting of the Eurocodes and the National Annexes.
- The Network Management Manual (NMM) provides mandatory requirements, guidance and advice for the management of maintenance of the trunk road network.
- The performance requirements for routine and winter service activities on the trunk road network are included in the Routine and Winter Service Code.
- The Traffic Management and Maintenance Manual, published January 2013, set out requirements for the management and maintenance of traffic technology systems.
Further information related to standards for highways is also available on the Standards for Highways online resource webpage. | https://www.ice.org.uk/engineering-resources/briefing-sheets/road-improvement-scheme-consultation-good-practice/ |
Nivo1 provides various solutions to its Individual Customers who purchase its products. Nivo1 collects Personal Data from Individual Customers when they purchase its products, register with our website, log-in to their account, complete surveys, request information or otherwise communicate with us. For example, Nivo1 individual customers may choose to seek live support or post to a message board. The Personal Data that we collect may vary based on the Individual Customer’s interaction with our website, our software applications, and other requests for our services. As a general matter, Nivo1 collects the following types of Personal Data from its Individual Customers:
When Individual Customers use our services online, we will collect their IP address and browser type. We may associate IP address and browser type with a specific customer. We also may collect Personal Data from persons who contact us through our website to request additional information; in such a situation, we would collect contact information (as discussed above) and any other information that the person chooses to submit through our website for the purpose of collection of data required to fulfill Nivo1 products and services to the Customer.
The information that we collect from Individual Customers is used for managing transactions, reporting, invoicing, renewals, selling and servicing the products and services they buy from us, and other operations related to providing services and products to the Individual Customer.
Nivo1 serves as a service provider. In our capacity as a service provider, we will receive, store, and/or process Personal Data. In such cases, we are acting as a data processor and will process the personal information on behalf of and under the direction of our partners and/or agents. The information that we collect from our Individual Customers in this capacity is used for managing transactions, reporting, invoicing, renewals, other operations related to providing services to the Individual Customer, and as otherwise requested by our partner and/or agent.
Nivo1 uses Personal Data that it collects directly from its Individual Customers and for its partners indirectly in its role as a service provider for the following business purposes, without limitation:
Nivo1 does not disclose personal information to third parties for products and services that are unrelated or materially different than what it was originally collected for. Should this change in the future, we will provide individuals with the option to opt-out.
Nivo1 does not sell your information for the intents and purposes of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Except as otherwise provided herein, Nivo1 discloses Personal Data only to Third Parties who reasonably need to know such data only for the scope of the transaction and not for other purposes. Such recipients must agree to abide by confidentiality obligations.
Nivo1 may provide Personal Data to Third Parties that act as agents, consultants, and contractors to perform tasks on behalf of and under our instructions. For example, Nivo1 may store such Personal Data in the facilities operated by Third Parties. Such Third Parties must agree to use such Personal Data only for the purposes for which they have been engaged by Nivo1 and they must either comply with the Privacy Shield principles or another mechanism permitted by the applicable EU & Swiss data protection law(s) for transfers and processing of Personal Data or agree to provide adequate protections for the Personal Data that are no less protective than those set out in this Policy. Nivo1 also may disclose Personal Data for other purposes or to other Third Parties when a Data Subject has consented to or requested such disclosure.
Please be aware that Nivo1 may be required to disclose an individual’s personal information in response to a lawful request by public authorities, including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements. Nivo1 is liable for appropriate onward transfers of personal data to third parties.
Nivo1 does not collect Sensitive Data from its Individual Customers.
Nivo1 uses reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy and integrity of Personal Data and to update it as appropriate. Nivo1 has implemented physical and technical safeguards to protect Personal Data from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alternation, or destruction. For example, electronically stored Personal Data is stored on a secure network with firewall protection, and access to Nivo1’s electronic information systems requires user authentication via password or similar means. Nivo1 also employs access restrictions, limiting the scope of employees who have access to Individual Customer Personal Data.
Further, Nivo1 uses secure encryption technology to protect certain categories of personal data. Despite these precautions, no data security safeguards guarantee 100% security all the time.
Nivo1 personnel may access and use Personal Data only if they are authorized to do so and only for the purpose for which they are authorized.
Right to Access. Individual Customers have the right to know what Personal Data about them is included in the databases and to ensure that such Personal Data is accurate and relevant for the purposes for which Nivo1 collected it. Individual Customers may review their own Personal Data stored in the databases and correct, erase, or block any data that is incorrect, as permitted by applicable law and Niov1 policies.
Individual Customers may edit their Personal Data by logging into their account profile or by contacting Nivo1 by phone or email. In making modifications to their Personal Data, Data Subjects must provide only truthful, complete, and accurate information. To request erasure of Personal Data, Individual Customers should submit a written request to local Nivo1 office.
Requests for Personal Data. Nivo1 will track each of the following and will provide notice to the appropriate parties under law and contract when either of the following circumstances arise:
(a) legally binding request for disclosure of the Personal Data by a law enforcement authority unless prohibited by law or regulation; or
(b) requests received from the Data Subject. If Nivo1 receives a request for access to his/her Personal Data from an Individual Customer, then, unless otherwise required under law or by contract with such Individual Customer, Nivo1 will refer such Data Subject to the Individual Customer.
Satisfying Requests for Access, Modifications, and Corrections. Nivo1 will endeavor to respond in a timely manner to all reasonable written requests to view, modify, or inactivate Personal Data.
This Policy may be amended from time to time, consistent with applicable data protection and privacy laws and principles. We will make employees available of changes to this policy either by posting to our intranet, through email, or other means. We will notify Customers if we make changes that materially affect the way we handle Personal Data previously collected, and we will allow them to choose whether their Personal Data may be used in any materially different manner.
Individual customers may contact Nivo1 with questions or complaints concerning this Policy at the following address: [email protected]
Nivo1 commits to resolve complaints about your privacy and our collection or use of your personal information.
“Individual Customer” means an Individual customer or client of Nivo1. The term also shall include any individual agent, representative, of an individual customer of Nivo1 and all employee of Nivo1 where Nivo1 has obtained his or her Personal Data from such Individual Customer as part of its business relationship with Nivo1.
“Data Subject” means an identified or identifiable natural living person. An identifiable person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to a name, or to one or more factors unique to his or her personal physical, psychological, mental, economic, cultural or social characteristics. For Customers residing in Switzerland, a Data Subject also may include a legal entity.
“Employee” means an employee (whether temporary, permanent, part-time, or contract), former employee, independent contractor, or job applicant of Nivo1 or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries, who is also a resident of a country within the European Economic Area.
“Personal Data” means data that personally identifies or may be used to personally identify a person, including an individual’s name in combination with country of birth, marital status, emergency contact, salary information, terms of employment, job qualifications (such as educational degrees earned), address, phone number, e-mail address, user ID, password, and identification numbers. Personal Data does not include data that is de-identified, anonymous, or publicly available.
“Sensitive Data” means Personal Data that discloses a Data Subject’s medical or health condition, race or ethnicity, political, religious or philosophical affiliations or opinions, sexual orientation, or trade union membership.
“Third Party” means any individual or entity that is neither Nivo1 nor a Nivo1 employee, agent, contractor, or representative. | https://apexpress.ai/privacy-policy/ |
Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd. regards compliance as one of its top management priorities to be practiced and reinforced across the Company.
Specifically, each and every one of our officers and employees pledges to make decisions and act in compliance with laws and regulations under the Charter of Corporate Conduct and is required to comply with social norms and all applicable laws and regulations, including labor-related laws and regulations, and prohibited from insider trading, offering illicit advantages, and any other misconduct or improper practices under the Code of Conduct for Officers and Employees in order to ensure thorough compliance throughout the organization.
In addition, for the purpose of ensuring continuity and further reinforcement of our compliance systems, we have established Compliance Management Rules that clearly stipulate the laws, regulations, and other requirements to be observed by all officers and employees and set forth the framework for gathering compliance-related information and implementing countermeasures, including the internal whistleblowing guidelines, by the Compliance Office and the General Manager thereof.
Moreover, considering the world-wide operations of the Company, we have established the Compliance Code and created the Compliance Guide to make certain that not only our officers and employees but also each and every person engaged in any work for the Company, regardless of their contract type or place of work, act in accordance with laws and regulations and with respect to their purposes, such as social requirements, socially accepted ideas, and social ethics.
To ensure rigorous enforcement of the compliance systems, the Compliance Committee—comprised of the Chairperson, the Compliance Committee member of each department, and the Secretariat—is organized within the Board of Directors to gather and provide compliance-related information in and outside the Company and establish basic policies, action plans, etc. The Compliance Office, under the basic policy adopted by the Board each business year, develops a compliance action plan and monitors related activities, the results of which are periodically reported to the Board for review and incorporated in revising the action plan.
At OC Global, we strictly comply with community ethics and the law. We pursue a higher level of customer satisfaction by correctly understanding customers’ expectations and requirements and by always providing the best in intellectual service technologies, information, and solutions.
In order to achieve the objectives of the organization, we understand the following Five Principles of the overall management of our company, and each one of our employees will promote these principles.
1. Customer satisfaction
A customer exists in each and every part of the business internally or externally. The quality of our work has three aspects which are outcome, cost, and schedule, and each aspect is evaluated by the customer. Therefore, to accurately grasp the needs of customers we need to respond to them by investing the management resources we have to check the level of customer satisfaction, and obtain feedback on the results of our work.
At OC Global, we include stakeholders among our “customers.” This means that the customers of a job for which we receive an order are not only the ordering party, but also shareholders, employees, business partners, and the public. A company can never survive without customer satisfaction.
2. Consistency
We ensure consistency among our management philosophy, our vision, OC Global-wide goals, the goals of each office, and the goals of each job. All executive officers, officers, and employees are kept informed of the president’s policies, understand them, and put them into practice.
3. Creating shared awareness
The head of each organization shall be sure to create shared awareness through communications between its members and related people. Shared awareness improves the effectiveness of management and improves the quality of the organization’s activities.
4. Achieving goals
All officers and employees shall clearly specify their goals and implementation plans, and perform based on their goals and plans. They shall ensure a shared awareness among members and have them keep track of their progress. They shall take every possible measure to achieve goals and review plans. They shall detect in advance risks that may hamper the achievement of goals and take the necessary measures. They shall keep developing the abilities of members and improving the way of working, as well as the tools of the profession.
5. Continuous improvement
All officers and employees shall continue to improve their capabilities, the way of working, tools, management, as well as continuous improvement of the system. They shall keep on improving these aspects continuously as the business environment and customer needs keep changing.
ISO Certification
ISO-9001(QMS) certification (MSA-QS-4375)
Quality Policy
We place emphasis on information security as a social responsibility of independent consultants who strictly comply with ethics and the law and also on being deeply trusted by society as a company, and to ensure the following.
1. We formulate information security policies based on the establishment of a higher level of information management system than what is deemed as advanced in society and work proactively to operate and enforce the system and to continuously improve its effectiveness.
2. In order to specifically ensure information security we have an information security manager and we established an information security committee. We will also continue to build and operate an internal organizational structure aimed at ensuring information security.
3. All employees shall have the fundamental responsibility to maintain information security. We will thoroughly apply this policy to all employees, and with their understanding and cooperation, we will implement awareness-raising activities and education for putting the policy specifically into practice. We will handle any non-compliance of our information security policies with a strict attitude as an organization and punish the violation appropriately.
4. As a foundation of our information security management system, we separately classify information and manage the information including not only our information assets but also information assets and personal information of our clients and personal information of our employees in an appropriate manner in accordance with its importance.
5. To observe the information security policies and improve the information security management system continuously, we will continue to review the awareness of the information security policies and the information security management system, including confirmation of how it is operated, as a part of our periodic management reviews.
Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd., hereinafter called OC Global, is committed to protecting personal information and enforcing security measures in relation to providing comprehensive intellectual services in all infrastructure fields we are concerned, which OC Global acknowledges as our social responsibility.
1. Collection, Usage and Provision of Personal Information
OC Global uses personal information within the distinctive purpose of collecting information by lawful and impartial methods in compliance with our company rules, which are based on the “Act on the Protection of Personal Information”, “Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures”, other laws and regulations in Japan.
OC Global will not provide personal information to any third parties, unless the individual agrees, or if it is within the limit that the laws and regulations allow us.
2. Security Measures for Personal Information
OC Global ensures the accuracy of personal information and implements precautions on information security against loss, destruction, manipulation, leakage, and prevention of unauthorized access.
In case of outsourcing the handling of personal information, OC Global strictly monitors our clients or partners to confirm they are complying with OC Global’s rules.
3. Compliance of Laws and Regulations
In handling personal information, we comply with the laws and regulations administered in Japan, which are applied to protect personal information. Also, OC Global will conform our company regulations to those laws and regulations of the Japanese Government.
4. Continuous Improvement in Protection of Personal Information
To properly maintain the protection of personal information, we regularly review our methods and continuously improve them.
5. How We Handle Complaints or Consultation Requests
OC Global respects the rights of clients by promptly replying to complaints or requests for consultation at the request of clients for disclosure / revision / suspension / deletion of his / her own personal information, after verifying the identity person making such requests.
Please contact the person below to request any relevant personal information:
General Manager of the General Affairs Department
Contact him/her through our website, by selecting “Contact” in the upper row. Scroll down to the “Contact OC Global” form, input “Compliance” in the subject, any other necessary information, and click on “Submit”.
1. Purpose of Using Personal Information
OC Global will use clients’ personal information only within the scopes specified below. OC Global will not use clients’ personal information for any other purpose, unless clients’ have agreed to allow us to do so.
|Personal Information Handled and its Purpose of Use|
|Personal information of clients'
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・To communicate, negotiate, request the execution of contracts, demand for performance, give sales greetings, etc., related to the execution of the work.
|Personal information obtained through questionnaires, surveys or events at work
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・To tally and process the collected information and provide relevant information.
|Personal information of applicants for employment
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・To communicate with, and evaluate applicants.
|Personal information of employees
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・For personnel / labor management, service management, and health management.
|Personal information captured by surveillance cameras installed in the office
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・To ensure safety in the office.
2. Disclosure of Information to Other Countries
OC Global, as an engineering consultant, has provided services in investigations, planning, design, construction supervision and maintenance management for the development of social infrastructure in around 180 countries. As we promote and execute such services, OC Global may collect employment information, academic information, licenses, etc., of our employees, or employees of business partners we are contracted with. OC Global may provide such personal information to our overseas offices and subsidiaries within the minimum essential scope required to execute our services.
Also in the case of any applicant submitting his / her personal information or CVs through our website or through our employees for applying to be candidates for overseas projects, OC Global may share such information with our overseas offices and subsidiaries within the scope required for employment.
In the case of sharing such information, OC Global takes full responsibility in the proper handling of such personal information. | https://ocglobal.jp/who-we-are/corporate-governance/ |
AEC is committed to providing an environment that is accessible and inclusive to all persons who work, or use the services of the organization.
AEC will work to eliminate or minimize the adverse effects of barriers, including physical, environmental, attitudinal, communication and technological barriers that may prevent the full participation of individuals with disabilities in the organization.
AEC will provide employees, and to others as deemed appropriate, with opportunities for education and access to information regarding disability and the organizations policies on disability. At the same time, AEC will endeavour to protect the privacy, confidentiality and autonomy of its employees and clients with disabilities.
Dignity – Goods and services are provided in a manner that is respectful to persons with a disability and does not diminish the person's importance.
Independence – Accommodating a person's disability means respecting their right to do for themselves and to choose the way they wish to receive goods and services.
1. PURPOSE: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 ("AODA") is provincial legislation designed for the purpose of developing, implementing and mandating accessibility standards in order to achieve accessibility for persons with disabilities, with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises. The first regulation developed under the AODA is the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (the "Standards"), which established standards relating to customer service for organizations that provide goods and services to members of the public or third parties. All private and non-profit organizations in Ontario are required to be compliant with the Standards by January 2012.
2. SCOPE: This policy applies to all employees and agents of AEC International.
4. COMMUNICATION WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: When communicating with a person with a disability, AEC will do so in a manner that takes into account the person's disability and, to the extent possible, will act on requests from an individual regarding communication needs and preferences.
5. NOTICE OF PLANNED OR UNPLANNED DISRUPTION IN SERVICES AND FACILITIES: In the event of a service disruption affecting employees, clients, contractors or members of the general public, the AEC will take reasonable steps to report such disruption to its employees and clients in a timely fashion through appropriate information channels. Notice of the disruption will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or service that are available.
6. ASSISTIVE DEVICES: Personal assistive devices are permitted in all areas of AEC to which employees and the public have access. The provision, use and safety of personal assistive devices are the responsibility of the person with a disability.
7. SERVICE ANIMALS: Persons with a disability who are accompanied by a service animal may access the premises of AEC if the public has access to such premises and the animal is not otherwise excluded by law.
If a service animal is excluded by law, AEC will ensure that alternate means are available within reasonable time and location to provide persons with a disability access to the agencies services.
8. SUPPORT PERSONS: AEC welcomes staff, clients and visitors who are accompanied by a support person, when the support person has been hired or chosen by the person with a disability to accompany them in order to assist in accessing goods or services and/or for the purposes of providing support with mobility, personal assistance and/or communication. Individuals who are accompanied by a support person are encouraged to inform relevant persons of their participation.
Where there are fees for admission, membership or participation in an event organized by AEC, persons with a disability shall be expected to pay the same fee as other attendees, but no admission fee shall be charged to their support person.
When feedback is received, AEC will address the feedback and respond to the individual providing the feedback within 10 business days.
10. TRAINING: AEC shall provide training on AODA client/customer service to all current employees and contractors. New employees will be provided such training as part of their orientation. This training shall include a review of the AODA, the Standards and this policy. The training will address how to interact and communicate with persons with disabilities and those who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person. Training will also be provided on the use of various assistive devices and what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing the organizations goods and services.
11. AEC will not tolerate any type of discrimination on the basis of disability or handicap within the workplace or at work related activities.
12. A worker who subjects another worker, volunteer, client or other person to discrimination on the basis of disability, or refuses to provide service in accordance with this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination for cause, depending on the severity of the conduct.
13. All managers, supervisors and workers are equally responsible for complying with the terms of this policy in the workplace.
14. Every worker is responsible for promptly reporting to his/her supervisor or manager any issues of concern and/or opportunities for improvement related to this policy.
15. Every manager or supervisor is responsible for promptly responding to and investigating any issues of concern in accordance with this policy.
16. This policy is not intended to discourage or prevent any worker from exercising any other legal rights pursuant to any law.
17. This policy is available to any member of the public and AEC will, to the extent possible, provide the policy to an individual in a format that is accessible to them. | https://www.aecpropertytax.com/accessibility-ontarians-disabilities/ |
- Metro Housing Boston (formerly Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership) is a leading nonprofit dedicated to connecting the residents of Greater Boston with safe, decent homes they can afford. Metro Housing empowers families and individuals to move along the continuum from homelessness to housing stability. Serving more than 25,000 households annually, we work seamlessly to bridge the gaps among government, nonprofits, and corporations to continually increase our impact. With more than 30 years’ experience piloting and implementing housing programs, we have solidified our position as an industry-leading expert on navigating the affordable housing field.
Metro Housing|Boston’s mission: “We mobilize wide-ranging resources to provide innovative and personalized services that lead families and individuals to housing stability, economic security and an improved quality of life.”
Overview
The primary purpose of this position is to provide telephone and walk-in support to HCV callers and office visitors. The Call Center and Walk-in Program Assistant must have working knowledge of HCV policies and procedures and be able to answer questions and provide applicable follow-up information to applicants, participants, owners, co-workers and other HCV callers. Required areas of knowledge include, but are not limited to, waiting list management, eligibility, income and rent determination, recertification, interim recertification, moves, inspections, rent changes and program compliance. The Program Assistant may field questions related to both MTW and Non-MTW programs.
Reports to
Leased Housing Gateway Manager
Responsibilities May Include:
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- General DutiesThe statements below are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.
- Reviews and maintains knowledge of HCV and other Leased Housing Program policies and procedures and applicable regulatory requirements;
- Answers telephone calls and sees walk-in clients;
- Applies Metro Housing policies and procedures in answering phone call and walk-in inquiries;
- Determines customer needs and provides the information or assistance required to assist customers, including, but not limited to, program participants, prospective participants and families of current participants, landlords, employees, and offices of social services and community service organizations, employees and staff of HUD, and other housing authorities, other housing authority staff and city employees;
- Where applicable escalates inquiries to the appropriate HCV staff member.
- Communicates with applicants, participants, landlords/owners and co-workers in a professional manner;
- Responds timely to requests and inquiries from customers and staff, by phone, in person and by written communications;
- Maintains daily phone and walk-in logs;
- Enters client notes in the housing software system where applicable;
- Uses appropriate computer information to answer phone inquiries;
- Operates a variety of office equipment such as computer, calculator, photocopier, postage meters, etc; and
- Attends mandatory meetings and trainings.
- General DutiesThe statements below are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications
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- Associates degree in public or business administration, social work, or a related field or equivalent work experience required;
- Knowledge of HUD policies, and other Federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations related to low income housing and policies;
- Knowledge of general office practices and procedures, business English and basic mathematics;
- Ability to understand and implement HUD regulations and DHCD MTW policies and procedures;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate with and relate to persons of diverse backgrounds and abilities and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with participants, landlords and other employees;
- Ability to complete complex and detailed tasks in a timely manner;
- Ability to plan and prioritize duties;
- Ability to operate business machines and use housing software;
- Ability to work independently, performing relatively complex work in an accurate and timely manner without close supervision;
- Ability to exercise good judgment;
- Strong time management skills with the ability to handle large caseloads and high volume of work in a busy, fast paced environment;
- Ability to multi-task handling several tasks at once, anticipating and identifying problems and putting forward solutions;
- Ability to handle frequent interruptions without a loss of efficiency/productivity or accuracy;
- Attention to detail in all aspect of work.
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Preference Given To:
- Candidates with multilingual skills (verbal and written). We are seeking candidates that speak and write English and at least one of the following languages (for interpreting and translation): Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Toisanese, and Spanish.
- Candidates who live within two miles of Metro Housing|Boston’s headquarters at Roxbury Crossing.
Salary & Benefits
(This is a non-exempt position)
Salary: $48,450 with excellent benefits. Please see website: http://metrohousingboston.org/
To Apply, send resume and cover letter to: | https://www.metrohousingboston.org/program-assistant-123019/ |
The Accessibility Standards Act (“Act”) is new provincial legislation in Ontario that is in place to ensure equal access for persons with disabilities. This Act imposes requirements on CI Financial Corp and its affiliates (the “CI”) and CI’s employees, advisors and contractors, effective January 1, 2012. In particular, the Act sets specific legal standards regarding interaction and communication with customers and/or members of the public who have a disability, whether the disability is visual, audible, verbal, physical, mental, intellectual, or otherwise.
All of the Company’s employees, advisors and contractors must take individual needs into account when providing services to clients and/or interacting with the public. All such personnel must ensure that all persons receive the same value and quality of service regardless of any disabilities. This may involve making accommodations for a person who uses an assistive device, service animal or support person, and in some cases it may mean services are provided from an alternate more accessible location.
Outlined below is an overview of the key elements of CI’s Customer Service Plan.
CI is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities.
We will ensure that our staff is trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.
A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises.
In the event of planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities, CI will notify customers promptly where appropriate. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternate facilities or services, if available. The notice will be placed at the applicable location:
CI will provide training to:
a. All employees, students, volunteers and/or contractors that act on behalf of the Company; and
b. Those persons who are involved in the development and approval of policies, practices and procedures.
The training will be provided to all new employees within their first month of employment.
Training will include:
Staff will also be trained when changes are made to the plan and advised when updates to the legislation are made.
Customers who wish to provide feedback can:
All feedback will be directed to Compliance, Regulatory and Policy Matters. Customers can expect a response within 2 business days. Complaints will be addressed according to our regular complaint management procedures.
CI will also provide accessible formats and communication for individuals with disability supports upon request. Please use the above contact information to request accessible formats and communication supports.
CI’s documents and policies with respect to the Customer Service standard are available upon request using the contact information provided above.
Any policy of CI that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified. | https://www.cifinancial.com/ci-gam/ca/en/legal/accessibility/accessible-customer-service-plan.html |
Lindt is committed to breaking down barriers and increasing accessibility for persons with disabilities in five major areas: Customer Service, Information & Communication, Employment, Transportation and Built Environment. This policy was developed to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians Act (AODA) and supersedes the Customer Service Policy issued on October 2011.
Our Commitment
Lindt is committed to serving our customers and consumers, partnering with our suppliers and interacting with staff members in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and providing people with disabilities the same opportunity to access, and benefit from, our goods and services in the same place and in a similar way as other customers, suppliers and employees.
This policy will be implemented in accordance with the time frames established by the Regulation.
Accessibility Plan
Lindt has developed and maintains an Accessibility Plan outlining the company’s strategy for preventing and removing barriers from its workplace and improving opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years, and will be posted on the company’s website. Upon request, Lindt will provide a copy of the Accessibility Plan in an accessible format.
To view Lindt’s multi-year Accessibility Plan, please visit: www.lindt.ca.
Definitions
Under Lindt’s policy, a Disability is:
• Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, including diabetes, mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical coordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or devices.
CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS
Providing goods and services to people with disabilities
Staff are expected to foster environments whereby people with disabilities are able to access products and services with dignity and respect, and are educated on functions and responsibilities in the following areas:
Communication: Employees and representatives will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
Lindt is committed to ensuring that staff who communicate with customers will be trained how best to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities. Specifically, staff will communicate with customers over the telephone in clear and plain language and speak clearly and slowly. If telephone communication is not suitable for their communication needs or is not available, the Company will offer to communicate by email or letter.
Assistive devices: Staff will be educated about various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services. Assistive devices are technical aids, communication devices, or medical aids that are used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities.
Billing: Lindt agrees to provide accessible invoices to all of our customers. For this reason, invoices will be provided by email, hard copy or large print upon request.
Any questions customers may have about the content of the invoice can be addressed in person, by email or by telephone.
Use of service animals and support persons
Lindt welcomes people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public except where excluded by law. We will ensure that all staff are properly trained on how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
Similarly, Lindt is committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.
A Service Animal is an animal for a person with a disability if it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability, or if the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
Support Person is another person who accompanies the disabled person in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs or access to goods or services.
Notice of temporary disruption
Should there be an unexpected disruption in the facilities or service usually used by people with disabilities, Lindt will provide customers with notice. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
This notice will be placed at all public entrances and service counters at the affected location.
Training of staff
Lindt provides training on the AODA Act, the Integrated Accessibility Standards regulation and the Human Rights Code to all employees, volunteers and others who interact with the public on our behalf, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service polices, practices and procedures.
Training will be appropriate to the duties of the employees, volunteers and other persons and will be provided as soon as practicable after staff is hired.
Training will include the following:
• The purpose of AODA, the requirements of the Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standards and how it pertains to the Human Rights Code.
• Best practices with respect to interacting and communicating with people with various types of disabilities.
• How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or support person.
• What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing Lindt’s products or services.
• Lindt’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standard.
Lindt will keep a record of the training that it provides.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION STANDARDS
Lindt is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities.
Feedback process
Lindt is committed to ensuring that its process for receiving and responding to feedback is accessible to persons with disabilities by providing, or arranging for the provision of, accessible formats and communications supports for persons with disabilities, upon request in a timely manner and in a way that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability.
Ultimately, Lindt is committed to meeting and surpassing customer and employee expectations while serving customers with disabilities. Comments on our service regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
Consumer Affairs
900-181 University Ave
Toronto, ON
M5H 3M7
1-866-374-1914
Customers can expect to hear back within 7 business days.
Accessible Websites and Web Content
By January 1, 2021, Lindt will ensure that requirements set out in the legislation are met as relates to Internet websites, including web content, conform to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, at level AA except where this is impracticable.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Lindt provides fair and accessible employment practices to all its prospective and current employees and representatives. We are committed to preventing and removing barriers to accessibility in the workplace and providing everyone, including employees and representatives with disabilities access to the same opportunities in 3 major areas of employment standards: Recruitment, Accommodations for Staff and Performance Management, Careers Development and Redeployment.
Recruitment
The Lindt Human Resources team is committed to notifying its staff members and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process.
Similarly, the Lindt Human Resources team will notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate further in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.
If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, Lindt will consult with the applicant and provide, or arrange for the provision of, a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability.
When making offers of employment, Lindt will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Accommodations for Staff
Lindt will ensure that we are creating and following measures for any staff member who requires accommodation as a result of a disability.
Informing Employees of Supports: Lindt will continue to inform its staff of its policies (and any updates to those policies) used to support employees with disabilities, including policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account a staff member’s accessibility needs due to disability. This information will be provided to new employees and representatives as soon as practicable after commencing employment.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Staff: Upon the request of an employee or representative with a disability, Lindt will consult with the employee to provide, or arrange for the provision of, accessible formats and communication supports for information that is needed to perform his/her job, and information that is generally available to other employees, including information as it relates to conducting performance management, providing career development and advancement to employees, or when redeploying employees. In determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support, Lindt will consult with the employee making the request.
Workplace Emergency Response Information: Individualized workplace emergency response information will be provided to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary, and if Lindt is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. Lindt will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation.
Where the employee requires assistance, Lindt will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by Lindt to provide assistance to the employee.
Lindt will review the individualized workplace emergency response information when the employee moves to a different location in the organization and when the employee’s overall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed.
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans: For those employees who require individual accommodation due to a disability, Lindt is committed to documenting individual accommodation plans as well as maintaining a written process for the development of accommodation plans. Individual accommodation plans will include individualized workplace emergency response information (where required), and will identify any other accommodation including accessible formats and communications supports provided.
Return to Work Process: Lindt maintains a documented return to work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and who require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work. The return to work process outlines the steps Lindt will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.
This return to work process will not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute (ie. the Workplace Safety Insurance Act, 1997).
Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment
Lindt is committed to ensuring the needs of employees with disabilities are taken into account in all performance management, career development and redeployment processes.
DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES STANDARDS
Lindt is committed to meeting the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications in our retail stores by January 1, 2017. Lindt will work with its vendors and suppliers to ensure all parties are in compliance to legislative requirements. Public spaces include:
• Outdoor paths of travel, like sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas and accessible pedestrian signals
• Accessible off street parking
• Service-related elements like service counters, fixed queuing lines and waiting areas
Lindt will put the following procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces.
In the event of a service disruption, we will notify the public of the service disruption and the alternative available.
Changes to this policy
We are committed to developing policies and delivering a level of service that respects and promotes the dignity and independence of all people including people with disabilities. Therefore, no change will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities.
Questions about this policy
This policy has been developed to break down barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in the areas of customer service, information and communications and employment. If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, an explanation will be provided by: | https://www.lindt.ca/contact-us/accessibility-for-ontarians-with-disabilities-act-aoda/aoda-policy/ |
Aim and scope of policy
This policy applies to the processing of personal data in manual and electronic records kept by the Company in connection with its sales and marketing functions as described below. It also covers the Company’s response to any data breach and other rights under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Current Data protection Act.
This policy applies to the personal data of customers, potential customers and commercial enquirers. These are referred to in this policy as “relevant individuals”.
“Personal data” is information that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that information, for example, a person’s name, identification number, location, online identifier. It can also include pseudonymised data.
“Special categories of personal data” is data which relates to an individual’s health, sex life, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, political opinion, religion, and trade union membership. It also includes genetic and biometric data (where used for ID purposes).
“Criminal offence data” is data which relates to an individual’s criminal convictions and offences.
“Data processing” is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.
The Company makes a commitment to ensuring that personal data, including special categories of personal data and criminal offence data (where appropriate) is processed in line with GDPR and domestic laws and all its employees conduct themselves in line with this, and other related, policies. Where third parties process data on behalf of the Company, the Company will ensure that the third party takes such measures in order to maintain the Company’s commitment to protecting data. In line with GDPR, the Company understands that it will be accountable for the processing, management and regulation, and storage and retention of all personal data held in the form of manual records and on computers.
Types of data held
Personal data is kept in our IT systems and a paper filing system. The following types of data may be held by the Company, as appropriate, on relevant individuals:
Relevant individuals should refer to the Company’s privacy notice displayed when we collect your personal data for more information on the reasons for its processing activities, the lawful bases it relies on for the processing and data retention periods.
Data protection principles
All personal data obtained and held by the Company will:
In addition, personal data will be processed in recognition of an individuals’ data protection rights, as follows:
Procedures
The Company has taken the following steps to protect the personal data of relevant individuals, which it holds or to which it has access:
There are clear lines of responsibility and accountability for these different roles.
Access to data
Relevant individuals have a right to be informed whether the Company processes personal data relating to them and to access the data that the Company holds about them. Requests for access to this data will be dealt with under the following summary guidelines:
Relevant individuals must inform the Company immediately if they believe that the data is inaccurate, either as a result of a subject access request or otherwise. The Company will take immediate steps to rectify the information.
Data disclosures
The Company may be required to disclose certain data/information to any person. The circumstances leading to such disclosures include:
These kinds of disclosures will only be made when strictly necessary for the purpose.
Data security
The Company adopts procedures designed to maintain the security of data when it is stored and transported.
In addition, employees must:
Personal data relating to relevant individuals should not be kept or transported on laptops, USB sticks, or similar devices, unless authorised by senior management. Where personal data is recorded on any such device it should be protected by:
Failure to follow the Company’s rules on data security may be dealt with via the Company’s disciplinary procedure. Appropriate sanctions include dismissal with or without notice dependent on the severity of the failure.
International data transfers
The company does not transfer relevant individual’s data outside of the European Economic Area.
Breach notification
Where a data breach is likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of relevant individuals, it will be reported to the Information Commissioner within 72 hours of the Company becoming aware of it and may be reported in more than one instalment.
Relevant individuals will be informed directly in the event that the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of that individual.
If the breach is sufficient to warrant notification to the public, the Company will do so without undue delay.
Training
New employees must read and understand the policies on data protection as part of their induction.
All employees receive training covering basic information about confidentiality, data protection and the actions to take upon identifying a potential data breach.
The nominated data controller/auditors/protection officers for the Company are trained appropriately in their roles under the GDPR.
All employees who need to use the computer system are trained to protect relevant individuals’ private data, to ensure data security, and to understand the consequences to them as individuals and the Company of any potential lapses and breaches of the Company’s policies and procedures.
Records
The Company keeps records of its processing activities including the purpose for the processing and retention periods. These records will be kept up to date so that they reflect current processing activities.
Data protection compliance
The General Manager is the Company’s appointed compliance officer in respect of its data protection activities and can be contacted at: [email protected]
*£25.00 charge per additional 1000 contacts
Copyright © 2020 Booki - All Rights Reserved. | https://booki.solutions/privacy-policy |
Mentric is a technology-enabled global business services company and we partner with ambitious, progressive organizations around the world to future-proof their business through advanced technology interventions and stay ahead of the competition and customer expectations.
We help our customers organize their business and adapt to changes, and reach the organizational goals faster than they plan.
This Policy applies to all Mentric personnel, business partners, vendors and all other associates who must act consistently with the principles contained in the policy. Wherever applicable, Country and industry-specific laws and regolations shall take precedence over this policy. This policy is to be read along with relevant company guidelines as deemed essential.
Mentric remains committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of Personal Information of its Employees (including prospects and contractors), Clients, their Customers, Business Partners and other identifiable individuals including freelancers that it may receive, use, access, process, transfer or store as part of its business.
Mentric may collect personal information as part of the services it may render in the course of its business. Based on the information being collected and nature of services rendered, Mentric will apply suitable mechanisms to ensure that there is a lawfol basis for receiving, accessing, processing, storing and/or transferring or disposing such personal information.
The following principles apply related to handling of Personal Information.
Mentric will provide appropriate robust mechanisms for assuring compliance with the Principles, and address grievance and / or provide recourse for individuals who are affected by non-compliance with the Principles. | https://mentrictraining.com/privacy-policy |
Policy brief & purpose
Our data Protection Policy refers to our commitment to treat information of employees, customers, stakeholders and other interested parties with the utmost care and confidentiality.
With this policy, we ensure that we gather, store and handle data fairly, transparently and with respect towards individual rights.
Scope
This policy refers to all parties (employees, job candidates, customers and suppliers) who provide any amount of information to us.
Employees of our company, contractors, consultants, partners and any other external entity are also covered. Generally, our policy refers to anyone we collaborate with or acts on our behalf and may need occasional access to data.
Policy elements
As part of our operations, we need to obtain and process information. This information includes any offline or online data that makes a person identifiable such as names, addresses, usernames and passwords, digital footprints, photographs, financial data etc.
Our company collects this information in a transparent way and only with the full cooperation and knowledge of interested parties. Once this information is available to us, the following rules apply.
Our data will be:
- Accurate and kept up-to-date
- Collected fairly and for lawful purposes only
- Processed by the company within its legal and moral boundaries
- Protected against any unauthorized or illegal access by internal or external parties
Our data will not be:
- Communicated informally
- Stored for more than a specified amount of time
- Transferred to organisations, or countries that do not have adequate data protection policies
- Distributed to any party other than the ones agreed upon by the data’s owner
In addition to ways of handling the data the company has direct obligations towards people to whom the data belongs. Specifically, we must:
- Let people know which of their data is collected
- Inform people about how we’ll process their data
- Inform people about who has access to their information
- Have provisions in cases of lost, corrupted or compromised data
- Allow people to request that we modify, erase, reduce or correct data contained in our databases
Actions
To exercise data protection we’re committed to:
- Restrict and monitor access to sensitive data
- Develop transparent data collection procedures
- Train employees in relation to online privacy and security measures
- Build secure networks to protect online data from cyberattacks
- Include contract clauses or communicate statements on how we handle data
- Establish data protection practices (document shredding, secure locks, data encryption, frequent backups, access authorization etc.)
How Data Is Collected
We collect data in the following ways:
- When customers complete an account form to purchase products from us
- When customers contact us to place orders by email, phone or fax
- When a EmporioBagno Sales Manager collects contact details as part of regular visits to customers
- When a ‘contact us’ form is completed on one of the websites set up by us for EmporioBagno and other Farmiloe’s brands
- When employees complete their personal details on a registration form after accepting employment
Type Of Data Collected
Data collected will include:
- Names and contact details of individuals at companies that we have a business relationship with including email addresses, telephone numbers and postal addresses
- Names, contact details and payroll information for employees
- Bank details of customers, suppliers, employees and any other parties that require the processing of payments
Use Of Data Collected
Data collected may be used to: | https://emporiobagno.co.uk/privacypolicy/ |
On Monday I addressed an audience a the Ontario Regulatory Authorities continuing professional development conference on the topic of cybersecurity. It was a good chance to record an updated and concise view of the Canadian threat environment along with the cyber defence and incident response issues facing Canadian organizations. Here are the slides for your reading pleasure.
Tag: information security
Manitoba Ombudsman blesses response to e-mail incident
Manitoba Ombudsman Jill Perron has issued her report into Manitoba Families’ 2020 e-mail incident. The incident involved the inadvertent e-mailing of personal health information belonging to 8,900 children in receipt of disability services to approximately 100 external agencies and community advocates. It is such a common incident that it is worth outlining the Ombudsman’s incident response findings.
Manitoba Families meant to transfer the information to the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth to support a program review. It included information about services received. Some records included diagnoses.
Manitoba Families mistakenly blind copied the external agencies and advocates on an e-mail that included the information in an encrypted file and a follow-up e-mail that included the password to the file. It had made the same mistake about a week earlier. Several agencies alerted Manitoba Families to its error, and it began containment within a half hour.
The Ombudsman held that Manitoba Families’ containment effort was reasonable. She described it as follows.
Attempts at recalling the email began minutes later at 8:29 a.m. and continued at various intervals. Also, at 8:35 a.m., CDS sent an email to all unintended recipients noting in bold that they were incorrectly included on a confidential email from Children’s disAbility Services and requested immediate deletion of the email and any attachments. Follow up calls to the unintended recipients by CDS program staff began to occur that morning to request deletion of the emails and a list was created to track these calls and the outcomes. A communication outline was created for these calls which included a request to delete emails, a further request that emails be deleted from the deleted folder and that any emails that went to a junk email folder also be deleted…
In January 2021, we received additional written communication from the program stating that all agency service providers and advocates were contacted and verified deletion of the personal health information received in error. The log form created to track and monitor the name of the organization, the date and details of the contact was provided to our office.
The Ombudsman reached a similar finding regarding Manitoba Families’ notification effort, though she needed to recommend that Manitoba Families identify the agencies and advocates to affected individuals, which Manitoba Families agreed to do upon request.
What’s most significant – especially given class action proceedings have been commenced – is a point the Ombudsman made about evidence that Manitoba Families appears not to have gathered.
In addition to assuring families about the deletion of the email, additional information such as who viewed the email, if the attachment was opened and read, whether it was forwarded to anyone else or printed, whether it was stored in any other network drive or paper file or, conversely, that no records exist – can be helpful information to provide those affected by a privacy breach. It is best practice, therefore, to provide families with as much assurance as possible about the security of their child’s health information.
The question is, what is one to make of an arguable shortcoming in an incident response investigation? I say “arguable” because the probability of any of these actions occurring is very low in the unique circumstances of this incident, which involved trusted individuals receiving a password-protected and encrypted file. Manitoba Families ought to have collected this evidence because they called the e-mail recipients anyway, it is helpful and was probably available for collection. If it did not do so, however, I believe it is perfectly acceptable to for Manitoba Families to stand by the scope of a narrower investigation and and put the plaintiff to proof.
Acceptable use policies – answers to ten common employer questions
I’ve been doing substantial work on employer acceptable use policies lately and would like to publish a draft Q&A for feedback.
If you have feedback please comment or send me an e-mail.
Dan
1. What should employers do today to ensure their acceptable use policies effectively manage the implications of personal use?
In light of recent developments, employers should ensure that their acceptable use policies (1) articulate all the purposes for which management may access and use information stored on its system and (2) make clear that engaging in personal use is a choice employees make that involves the sacrifice of personal privacy.
2. What are the most common purposes for employer access?
Consider the following list: (a) to engage in technical maintenance, repair and management; (b) to meet a legal requirement to produce records, including by engaging in e-discovery; (c) to ensure continuity of work processes (e.g., employee departs, employee gets sick, work stoppage occurs); (d) to improve business processes and manage productivity; and (e) to prevent misconduct and ensure compliance with the law.
3. How should employers describe the scope of application of an acceptable use policy?
Acceptable use policies usually apply to “users” (employees and others) and a “system” or “network.” To effectively manage employee privacy expectations, policies should make clear that devices (laptops, handhelds…) that are company owned and issued for work purposes are part of the system or network even though they may periodically be used as stand alone devices.
4. Should employers have controls that limit access to information created by employees even though they don’t want to acknowledge that employees can expect privacy in their personal use?
Access controls are an important part of corporate information security. Rules that control who can access information created by employees (e.g., in an e-mail account or stored in a space reserved for an employee on a hard drive) are, first and foremost, for the company’s benefit. Access controls should be clearly framed as being created for the company’s benefit and not for the purpose of protecting employee privacy.
5. How should passwords be addressed in an acceptable use policy?
Password sharing should be prohibited by policy. Employees should have a positive duty to keep passwords reasonably secure. An acceptable use policy should also make clear that the primary purpose of a password is to ensure that people who use the company system can be reliably identified. Conversely, an acceptable use policy should make clear that the purpose of a password is not to preclude employer access.
6. Does access to forensic information raise special issues?
Yes. Acceptable use policies often advise employees that their use of a work system may generate information about system use that cannot readily be seen – e.g., information stored in log files and “deleted” information. It is a good practice to use an acceptable use policy to warn employees that this kind of information exists and may be accessed and used by an employer in the course of an investigation (or otherwise).
7. How should an employer address the use of personal devices on its network?
Ensuring work information stays on company owned devices has always been the safest policy, though cost and user pressures are causing a large number of organizations to open up to a “bring your own device” policy. Employers who accept “BYOD” should use technical and legal means to ensure adequate network security and adequate control of corporate information stored on employee-owned devices. For example, employers may require employees to agree to remotely manage their own devices as a condition of use and with an understanding that they will sacrifice a good degree of personal privacy.
8. Should an acceptable use policy govern the use of social media?
Only indirectly. An acceptable use policy governs the use of a corporate network. A social media policy governs the publication of information on the internet from any computer at any time. In managing social media risks, employers should stress that publications made from home are not necessarily “private” or beyond reproach, so putting internet publication rules in an acceptable use policy sends a counter-productive message.
9. Should employers utilize annual acknowledgements?
Annual acknowledgements are not a strict requirement for enforcing the terms of an acceptable use policy but are helpful. The basic requirement is to give notice of all applicable terms in a manner that allows knowledge to be readily inferred in the event of a dispute. “Login script” with appropriate warning language is also common and helpful. Nowadays, a good login script will say something like, “If you need a confidential means of sending and receiving personal communications and storing personal files you should use a personal device unconnected to our system.”
10. Are there special concerns for public sector employers?
Most public sector employers in Canada are bound by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and by freedom of information legislation. Many have workforces that are predominantly unionized. The guidance to public sector employers on their acceptable use policies is no different than to employers in general, but the need to manage expectations that employees may derive from personal use is particularly strong for public sector employers given the legal context in which they operate. | https://allaboutinformation.ca/tag/information-security/ |
All across the country Australians are reeling from the scale of our bushfire crisis. The impact has been unprecedented in terms of lives lost and homes and land destroyed and with more than a billion animals killed, the toll on biodiversity has been significant.
The trauma caused has cast a wide net, especially for those in bushfire threat zones and the realities of this national disaster have been felt across the country and on a daily basis, making it important for business to do what they can to support employees now and moving forward.
The extent of the tragedy will cause many people to experience heightened anxiety levels. The duration and ferocity of the fires, hazardous smoke haze in populated areas and a general feeling of helplessness may worsen underlying stress and anxiety among some staff members.
What the experts say
Trauma of any kind can result in lingering distress not only for direct sufferers, but also those who witness or read about a disaster or tragedy. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), natural disasters and climate-change-induced extreme weather fall into this ‘distress’ category.
In a recent Sydney Morning Herald article Professor Ian Hickie, co-director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney, said the impact of bushfires and smoke – combined with the drought – was a “serious mental health issue”.
Organisations like Lifeline experienced a significant spike in calls to its suicide prevention hotline on catastrophic fire days. On other days, its counsellors were also hearing people talk more about how the fires and the smoke affected their mental health.
The emotional toll of this crisis and its impact on the daily lives of all Australians may cause detrimental effects for some employees. Proactive preventative steps may help to minimise the effect on individuals and reduce the overall impact on business.
Here are some ideas on how to support your employees and ramp up existing channels to assist them through this national bushfire disaster and to support planning for our next bushfire season.
Communicate openly and frequently
To lead effectively and help reduce stress, adopt an open door policy. Acknowledge the issues and anxiety caused by the bushfire crisis, and ask your employees what they need at this time.
Compassion and clear communication can foster long-lasting results that benefit individuals and your business. Talk to your team through multiple channels, through team meetings and include one-on-one conversations to understand how they are feeling and what they need.
Listen to employee concerns and be prepared with solutions your workplace can offer.
Promote self-care and lead by example
You’ll be better able to support your team and model resiliency if you acknowledge and manage any stress and anxiety you feel yourself.
Ensure you and your team practice self-care including a good sleep routine, regular exercise and good nutrition. All of these are proven strategies for managing stress and enhancing productivity.
Examples of simple employee wellness initiatives that could be promoted in the workplace:
- Regular breaks
- Healthy snacks
- Free or subsidised fitness membership
- Access to stress reducing apps
- Lunchtime classes such as yoga or meditation.
Provide access to counselling services
Whether your employees have been directly impacted by the bushfires or are feeling overwhelmed by the situation, they may need extra support. Be sure to share your employee assistance program details with all your employees. Communicate the process and scope of confidential counselling and support services on offer. Ensure this resource is kept front of mind and is promoted throughout the coming year.
Offer greater flexibility for working hours and leave
Provide support and assistance by offering employees leave if they or their families have been impacted by the fires. Take a proactive role, as some employees may not feel comfortable asking for time off. Flexible working arrangements, such as remote working or reduced hours, may also be useful to some employees, even if just for the short term.
Empower your employees
Give your employees a role in the recovery effort and ask them for their ideas. Providing staff an opportunity to fundraise or volunteer as a team may support a reduction in stress levels by creating a positive focus.
A great example of a profession contributing free assistance to communities ravaged by the bushfire disaster are The Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). Their assistance includes donations of their time and skills by creating a pro bono register for members to volunteer their services.
Even small businesses can pool their skills, share their talents and services to offer some free assistance in their area of expertise.
Take care of customers and your community
Communicating with customers is key especially if your business has been impacted directly by the crisis. Keep them informed on your status and how you’re dealing with it. Acknowledge any uncertainty; be honest, open and accessible in all communications. Also, where possible, reach out and provide support to other businesses you’re associated with as well as your local community.
Monitor and follow-up
Reactions can vary between individuals, so be aware of changes in performance or attendance. It is possible for responses to develop over time and follow-up support may be required for some employees or teams. It’s important to remind staff as often as necessary about the support available in your workplace.
There has been a huge outpouring of support for businesses and communities directly impacted by the disasters but the national recovery effort will be ongoing.
The immense destruction from the bushfires has touched every Australian and business has a role to play in the recovery process. Supporting your employees through compassionate management and providing access to resources has far reaching benefits for your team, your community and your business.
Thanks to Alex Hattingh, whose insights helped write this article. | https://www.carecorporate.com.au/portfolio-item/supporting-staff-through-the-ongoing-bushfire-crisis/ |
- Published:
Effects of aversive odour presentation on inhibitory control in the Stroop colour-word interference task
BMC Neurosciencevolume 11, Article number: 131 (2010)
Abstract
Background
Due to the unique neural projections of the olfactory system, odours have the ability to directly influence affective processes. Furthermore, it has been shown that emotional states can influence various non-emotional cognitive tasks, such as memory and planning. However, the link between emotional and cognitive processes is still not fully understood. The present study used the olfactory pathway to induce a negative emotional state in humans to investigate its effect on inhibitory control performance in a standard, single-trial manual Stroop colour-word interference task. An unpleasant (H2S) and an emotionally neutral (Eugenol) odorant were presented in two separate experimental runs, both in blocks alternating with ambient air, to 25 healthy volunteers, while they performed the cognitive task.
Results
Presentation of the unpleasant odorant reduced Stroop interference by reducing the reaction times for incongruent stimuli, while the presentation of the neutral odorant had no effect on task performance.
Conclusions
The odour-induced negative emotional state appears to facilitate cognitive processing in the task used in the present study, possibly by increasing the amount of cognitive control that is being exerted. This stands in contrast to other findings that showed impaired cognitive performance under odour-induced negative emotional states, but is consistent with models of mood-congruent processing.
Background
The olfactory system is an integral part of the paralimbic system; smell can directly modulate emotions and can have profound effects on human cognition and behaviour . Odours may therefore be effectively applied to study the interaction of emotion and cognition. A central aspect of higher cognitive function is the ability to inhibit prepotent responses and irrelevant information. The Stroop task is believed to require such inhibitory processes. Positive emotional states have been shown to increase Stroop interference . In contrast, so far it remains unknown whether negative emotional states can influence performance on the Stroop task in general, and particularly if that holds for emotions that are elicited by smell. The present study seeks to shed light on this aspect of emotion-cognition interaction.
Emotions and emotional states can influence a variety of cognitive functions, and there is increasing consensus that largely overlapping brain networks are responsible for the regulation of both, cognition and emotion [3, 4]. However, many aspects of this interaction between emotional and cognitive processing remain unclear (see for a recent review). There are several studies on the role of experimentally induced affective states on cognitive functions such as working memory [6–8] and attention . Negative emotional states induced via video sequences, for instance, impaired the active maintenance of words in a 3-back working memory task, while positive emotional states improved performance, whereas the opposite pattern of results was observed when faces were used as stimuli . This cross-over interaction between affect and stimulus type was also observed in cortical activity in bilateral areas of the lateral prefrontal cortex.
Fewer studies investigated the effect of emotions on inhibitory control functions. Positive emotional states, for instance, have been shown to reduce the ability to inhibit task-irrelevant information . On the other hand, the influence of negative emotional states on inhibitory functions has so far mostly been studied in the context of mood disorders such as depression [10, 11], and it is unclear whether these findings are adequate in describing emotional influences on cognition in healthy individuals. It has been shown that negative emotional states can have facilitating effects on executive control in healthy volunteers . However, the different emotional conditions in this study were not under control of the experimenters, and the differences in cognitive functioning may therefore be related to factors other than emotional states. Hence, it remains unclear whether negative emotional states have an effect on inhibitory control. Research on cognitive processing styles, on the other hand, consistently showed that people in a negative emotional state show more focus on detailed information, whereas people in positive emotional states focus more on global information and generally accessible knowledge [e.g. [13–15]]. These findings would predict that negative emotional states increase the ability to exert inhibitory control. To test this hypothesis directly, the goal of the present study was to experimentally induce a negative emotional state and to study its influence on inhibitory control.
To induce the emotional state, the present study used odours, which have been shown to influence mood in a variety of ways [16, 17]. Neuroanatomical and neurofunctional findings also show a strong link between olfactory and affective neural processing areas [18–20]. The primary olfactory cortex, for instance, has direct connections to the limbic system, such as the amygdala . Increased activation of the right amygdala has been demonstrated with administration of an aversive odorant and increased activation of the right insula with administration of an appetitive odorant . Both of these brain areas are frequently associated with emotional processing. Odours therefore have the potential to influence affective and cognitive processes in a fairly direct manner, and have been used successfully to investigate their influence on a variety of cognitive processes [1, 8, 23, 24]. Using odours to induce emotional states may also have the advantage that they do not require higher-level cognitive processes (e.g. memory retrieval), and may also be less prone to social expectancy effects in the laboratory context.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which has the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs, was used to induce the negative emotional state in 25 healthy participants. We used Eugenol (C10H12O2), the main component in the smell of cloves, as an emotionally neutral odour. Both odorants were administered using a computer-controlled olfactometer, which embedded the respective odorants in a stream of ambient air of constant temperature, humidity and air flow. The odours were presented well above detection threshold. All participants received both odours in two separate experimental runs. Prior to and at the end of each run, participants rated the odours according to intensity, valence and arousal. To reduce potential effects of habituation, the odours were presented alternating with ambient room air, which also served as control conditions.
The influence of the induced emotional state on inhibitory control was measured in the context of the classical Stroop task [[25, 26] for a review]. Within each run, performance was compared between blocks of Stroop trials with (H2S, Eugenol) and without (ambient air) the olfactory stimulus. In the unpleasant odour run, we expected the Stroop effect to be reduced compared to its non-olfactory control condition, as previous findings demonstrated increased inhibitory control under negative emotional states , and decreased control under positive emotional states . Accounts of mood-dependent cognitive processing [13–15] would also suggest increased attention to details of the stimulus in a negative emotional state, and therefore reduced interference from the task-irrelevant stimulus dimension (word meaning). In contrast, the neutral odour should have no influence on the emotional state or on performance in the Stroop task.
Results
Odour ratings
The ratings of intensity, valence, and arousal of the two odours were submitted to separate repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) with odour (Eugenol vs. H2S) and rating time (pre vs. post run) as within-subject factors and order of odour presentation as between subject factor. Mean ratings are shown in table 1. There was no effect of these factors on rated intensity (all F < 1). As intended, ratings of valence were significantly different between the two odours, F(1,23) = 34.96, p < .001. H2S was rated as more unpleasant than Eugenol. Valence ratings did not change from pre to post run, F < 1, nor was there a difference between the two orders of presentation, F < 1. However, there was some indication that the difference in valence ratings between Eugenol and H2S may have been influenced by the order in which both odorants were presented (odour-order interaction, F(1,23) = 4.19, p = .052). Participants that were first presented with Eugenol indicated slightly larger differences in valence ratings between both odours, than those participants that first encountered H2S (see table 1).
Ratings of arousal were significantly lower for Eugenol than for H2S, F(1,23) = 5.63, p = .026. Averaging across odours and presentation order, arousal ratings did not change from pre to post run, F < 1. No other main effect and none of the two-way interactions were statistically significant, all F < 1. The three-way interaction of odour, test time and presentation order was also not statistically significant, F(1,23) = 3.12, p = .091.
Stroop performance
Given the low number of erroneous (1.18% of trials, M = 5.68, SD = 4.58) or missing responses (0.57% of trials, M = 2.72, SD = 3.89), accuracy data were not further analyzed. Prior to examining the effects of our experimental manipulations on reaction times (RT), incorrectly answered trials were excluded from the analysis. Post-error slowing was found to be significant, t(24) = 5.10, p < .001. Therefore, reaction times of trials following incorrect or missing responses were also excluded from the analysis (1.59% of the trials).
Mean reaction times in both odour runs for congruent and incongruent trials in the respective odour and air blocks are shown in Figure 1. To test the central hypothesis of this study, we computed a three-way repeated-measures ANOVA with odour RUN (H2S vs. Eugenol), PRESENCE of odour (odour blocks vs. air blocks) and word-colour CONGRUENCY (congruent vs. incongruent trials) as within-subject factors. Results of this ANOVA are shown in table 2. Of the main effects, only word-colour CONGRUENCY had a significant effect on reaction times. None of the two-way interactions were significant. On the other hand, and in line with our hypothesis, the three-way interaction revealed a specific olfactory influence of the unpleasant odour on Stroop interference.
As there was some indication that the ORDER in which participants performed the two runs had a small influence on odour ratings (see ratings analysis above), we included this factor as a between-subjects factor in a second, otherwise identical ANOVA. This resulted in two additional significant interactions (ORDER × RUN, and ORDER × RUN × CONGRUENCY), both of which, however, only indicated practice effects. None of the interaction effects involving both, PRESENCE of odour and ORDER of presentation, were significant. The difference in reaction times between the respective odour and control air blocks was therefore not affected by the order in which the two odours were presented to the participants.
To further characterize the three-way interaction of the first analysis, we computed two separate two-way ANOVAs, one for the H2S run and one for the Eugenol run, with odour PRESENCE and word-colour CONGRUENCY as the two remaining factors. The Stroop effect remained significant for both runs as indicated by significantly prolonged RTs for incongruent trials: F(1, 24) = 23.78, p < .001 for the H2S run, F(1, 24) = 34.25, p < .001 for the Eugenol run. For the H2S run, the main effect of odour PRESENCE was not significant, F(1, 24) = 1.68, p = .208, but there was a significant interaction of PRESENCE and CONGRUENCY in the H2S run, F(1, 24) = 6.184, p = .020. As shown in Figure 1, the presence of the negative odorant led to shorter RTs for incongruent trials compared to trials without the negative odorant, t(24) = 2.29, p = .031. RTs for congruent trials were not affected by the presence of the negative odour, t < 1. Similarly, the presence of the neutral odour did not significantly affect performance per se (main effect of odour presence, F < 1) and its interaction with congruency was also not significant, F < 1. Thus, the negative but not the neutral odour significantly shortened reactions times for incongruent trials only. When comparing reaction times between both odour runs for otherwise equivalent conditions (e.g. congruent trials under absence of the odorant), no significant differences could be found (all p's > .230). This indicates that the odorant effects were not large enough to be observed in direct comparisons between the two runs.
Discussion
In the present experiment we investigated the influence of odours with different emotional valence on the performance in a standard colour-naming Stroop task. Our reaction time analysis showed a reduction of the Stroop effect specifically during the presence of an odorant with negative valence and high arousal (H2S) compared to a condition in which it was absent. This reduction was the result of changes in reaction times for incongruent trials only. It appears that the negative emotional state induced by the odour resulted in a reduction of cognitive interference for incongruent stimuli, because it was easier to inhibit the task irrelevant information (word meaning) in the stimulus. This finding of reduced Stroop interference due to negative olfactory stimulation is compatible with the idea of a more analytic or focused style of processing under a negative emotional state [13, 14]. The task of naming the print colour (as opposed to reading the word) would be enhanced by such a processing style and thereby lead to faster reaction times for the incongruent stimuli.
An alternative interpretation of the observed effects in the H2S run is based on the fact that, in cross-run comparisons, RTs for incongruent trials numerically differed the most in the air conditions (not the odour conditions), so that differences between the H2S and Eugenol runs were primarily due to differences in the conditions in which these odorants were not present. This interpretation would mean that we observed an increase in RTs for incongruent trials in the absence of the negative odour instead of a decrease in RTs for incongruent trials in its presence. This interpretation may at first seem counterintuitive, as it would mean that conditions that are chemically identical (i.e. odour absent conditions of both runs) resulted in different responses, while conditions that differ chemically and in their psychological ratings (odour present conditions) did not affect performance directly. Given that significant differences between air and odour conditions were found only in the H2S run, it is clear that this odorant, and the negative emotional state it induced, must in some way be responsible for these differences. One possible explanation is that the negative odour primarily had an indirect influence, such that participants experienced a temporary positive emotion (e.g. 'relief') when stimulation with the negative olfactory stimulus was temporarily turned off during the H2S run. This positive emotion may then have resulted in reduced inhibition and thus increased Stroop interference, an interpretation that would be consistent with previous findings on Stroop performance . However, since no positive odour condition was tested in the present experiment, and because post-hoc comparisons between the negative and neutral odour runs did not show significant differences, it remains unclear from our results whether the effects of the negative odour on performance were direct or indirect.
In contrast to the unpleasant odour, the presentation of Eugenol had no consistent effect on reaction times. Neither congruent nor incongruent trials were processed differently under the presence of Eugenol than under control air. Intensity judgments did not differ between Eugenol and H2S, and could therefore not be the cause for the observed difference between the two odorants. The medium ratings of pleasantness and low ratings of arousal of Eugenol suggest that its presentation had no or little effect on the emotional state of the participants. On the other hand, the presentation of H2S seemed to induce a strong negative emotional state in the volunteers, as reflected in higher levels of perceived unpleasantness and arousal. The observed effects during the H2S run can therefore not be explained by a general attention mechanism that is recruited by the mere presence of an odorant. The observed modulation of the Stroop effect must therefore be related to the emotional state that was induced by the unpleasant odorant. Furthermore, while it is possible that a presentation of a pleasant odorant would result directly in an enlargement of the Stroop effect, the control odour that was used in our study did not appear to induce a positive emotional state and also failed to modulate the Stroop effect.
The observed modulation of Stroop interference by the negatively valenced H2S parallels findings on the recruitment of cognitive control in the Stroop task [27–29]. In analyses of trial-by-trial adjustments of performance, these studies showed that the Stroop effect is reduced following incongruent trials. The authors argue that the response conflict of the incongruent trials results in recruitment of control mechanisms that reduce the processing time for the following trial, if it is also an incongruent trial, and increases processing time for the following trial, if it is a congruent trial. Results of an fMRI study revealed left middle and superior frontal gyrus activation for trials with increased cognitive control. This finding is consistent with the notion that negative emotional states increase withdrawal related activity in the left prefrontal cortex, whereas positive emotional states lead to a decrease in activity in the left prefrontal cortex . This structure has also been implicated in the behavioural adjustment following response conflict . The observed modulation of Stroop interference via negative olfactory stimulation in the present study could therefore be due to a mechanism that is closely related to the recruitment of cognitive control during post-conflict adjustment. If the negative odours modulated activity in the left prefrontal cortex, it is possible that it hereby also modulated the ability to recruit cognitive control mechanisms during performance of the Stroop task. Further fMRI studies could shed light on this hypothesis.
Previous research on the effect of negative olfactory stimulation on cognitive functioning also found detrimental effects on performance in a working memory task, though there were large inter-individual differences in the degree to which performance was impaired by a negative odour [8, 30, 31]. It appears that, while the active maintenance of information in working memory may be impaired by negative olfactory stimulation, the inhibition of dominant or automatic response tendencies in the Stroop task might be enhanced by it. This differential effect of negative olfactory stimulation on cognitive function may be related to general task difficulty. Performance in a rather simple task like the Stroop task might benefit from the increased arousal following the onset of the negative odorant, while a more complex working memory task is impaired by the additional arousal. Such an interpretation would be compatible with the well-known non-linear relationship between arousal and performance first described by Yerkes and Dodson . Further studies are needed to address the possible differential roles of valence and arousal on performance and their interaction with task difficulty.
Several limitations of the current study should be mentioned. As stated above, we did not use a pleasant, positive odour, which would have allowed the testing of several alternative explanations for the observed effects. Second, the unpleasant and the neutral odour did not only differ in their valence, but also in the degree of arousal they caused. Thus, the effect of H2S on Stroop performance may also be related to increased arousal and not its unpleasantness alone. Lastly, we did not assess the emotional state of the participants directly, but rather asked them to judge how they perceived the olfactory stimuli in terms of their intensity, valence and arousal. It is possible that the affective state of the participants differed from their judgements of the odours as they may have engaged in processes that regulated their emotional state.
Conclusions
We studied the influence of a negative and a control odour on the Stroop effect. In this paradigm, inhibitory control was modulated by an olfactory induced emotional state, either by directly reducing Stroop interference during presence of the negative olfactory stimulus, or by indirectly increasing Stroop interference during the temporary interruption of negative odour presentation. The data argue for a partial overlap of emotional processing with cognitive control mechanisms, but extensions to positive valence, designs focusing directly on cognitive control, and neuroimaging could help to shed light on the exact nature of this emotion-cognition interaction. The use of olfactory stimulation to induce emotions provides an experimental paradigm that can modulate emotions controlled and rapidly. The involved paralimbic networks may give a better insight into the neural networks underlying emotions and their effects on cognitive process.
Methods
Participants
Twenty five healthy volunteers (7 female) between the ages of 22 and 58 years (M = 32.1, SD = 10.3) participated in the study. All participants were native German speakers. Participants were tested for olfactory function using the identification subtest of the Sniffin' Sticks Test , a multiple choice screening test of olfactory function. All participants identified at least 10 of the 12 tested smells correctly meaning that no participant had to be excluded due to basic olfactory deficits. Participants had a mean education of 13.2 years (SD = 2.5). Verbal crystalline intelligence was assessed for each participant using the MWT-B , a forced choice word recognition test. IQ scores ranged from 95 to 136, with a mean score of 115.4 (SD = 12.8). Participants received €10 for their participation. The research was approved by the research ethics committee of the School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University (reference number EK 073/05), and all participants gave written informed consent prior to participating in the experiment.
Apparatus and Stimuli
The visual stimuli were presented via a laptop computer with a 15 inch (38.1 cm) screen. It was placed in front of the participants at a distance of 60 cm. Visual stimulus presentation and data collection were performed using the software package Presentation (Neurobehavioral Systems Inc., San Francisco, CA). Words naming the colours red and green were presented in the centre of the screen in upper case letters ("ROT" red, "GRÜN" green). They were displayed on a black background in either red or green font. The words had a height of 1.8 cm and a width of 5.0 cm (red) and 7.2 cm (green). Each stimulus was presented for 1500 ms, with an interstimulus interval of 1500 ms, during which a white fixation cross was presented in the centre of the screen. Participants indicated the colour of each word by pressing one of two keys on the laptop's keyboard with the index and middle finger of their right hand (index finger for words presented in red, middle finger for words presented in green). This colour-to-key mapping was identical for all participants.
Olfactory stimulation was performed using an olfactometer (Burghart Medizintechnik, OM-4b), which allows the controlled delivery of odorants in a stream of humidified air with constant gas flow (8 l/min) and temperature (37° Celsius). Two different pure olfactory odorants without trigeminal component were presented. H2S solved in nitrogen (20 parts per million) was used as the negative olfactory stimulus. The nitrogen-H2S gas mix was further diluted with ambient air at a ratio of 7 parts gas mix (3.5 l/min) to 9 parts air (4.5 l/min). Eugenol solved in propylene glycol (C3H8O2; 6.2 per 100 ml) was used as the other olfactory stimulus . This preparation is liquid at room temperature and was diffused using one of the olfactometer's built-in diffusers. In general, Eugenol has a pleasant spicy smell and should therefore not elicit strong negative emotions. Nevertheless the valence ratings for Eugenol can vary and even show trends towards the negative direction . Individual ratings of odorant qualities were conducted in all participants. The respective odorant-air mix was delivered to the right nostril of the participants, intermitted with ambient air without the addition of an odorant (see below).
Procedure
All participants completed two runs of trials, each using one of the two odorant stimuli. The order of the two odour runs was counterbalanced across participants. The influence of the odorants on the affective state of the participants was assessed through ratings of intensity, pleasantness, and level of arousal associated with the odours. Prior to the beginning of each run, participants were asked to give these ratings after having received a short 2 second presentation of the odorant used during that run. Intensity ratings ranged from 1 (no perception of the odour) to 10 (very intense odour smell). Valence and arousal ratings were given on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 representing 'very pleasant' (valence) or 'very nervous' (arousal), and 5 representing 'very unpleasant', or 'very calm'. Participants performed these judgments again at the end of each run. While this method does not directly assess emotional state of the participants during the cognitive task, it avoids possible demand characteristics of other mood assessment techniques and may also be more sensitive to differences between the two odorants.
Participants performed 240 trials of the Stroop task per run. The total length of each run was 12 minutes. During each run, the olfactometer switched between (non-odorous) ambient air and the current odorant-air mix every 8 trials (i.e. every 24 seconds) thereby creating 15 blocks of 'air' trials and 15 blocks of 'odour' trials. Runs always started with an air block and ended with an odour block. One of two pseudo-randomized orders of Stroop stimuli was used that insured an equal number of congruent and incongruent Stroop stimuli among 'air' trials and 'odour' trials.
Statistical Analysis
Data were analysed using repeated-measures Analyses Of Variance (ANOVA) using the SPSS statistics software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The factors experimental RUN, odour PRESENCE, and word-colour CONGRUENCY were included in these analyses. Post-hoc comparisons were performed using matched-samples t-tests.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a grant from the RWTH Aachen University START Program to M. Reske and K. Mathiak (START 136/05). A. Finkelmeyer, T. Nießen and D. Bude gratefully acknowledge the support from the German Research Foundation (DFG, IRTG 1328).
Additional information
Authors' contributions
MR, KM and TK conceived of the study and participated in its design. DB, MS and TN participated in the collection of the data. AF carried out the data analysis and interpretation, and drafted the manuscript. All authors read, critically revised and approved the final manuscript. | https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2202-11-131 |
Humans are deeply affected by stories, yet it is unclear how. In this study, we explored two aspects of aesthetic experiences during narrative engagement - literariness and narrative fluctuations in appraised emotional intensity. Independent ratings of literariness and emotional intensity of two literary stories were used to predict blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal changes in 52 listeners from an existing fMRI dataset. Literariness was associated with increased activation in brain areas linked to semantic integration (left angular gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, and precuneus), and decreased activation in bilateral middle temporal cortices, associated with semantic representations and word memory. Emotional intensity correlated with decreased activation in a bilateral frontoparietal network that is often associated with controlled attention. Our results confirm a neural dissociation in processing literary form and emotional content in stories and generate new questions about the function of and interaction between attention, social cognition, and semantic systems during literary engagement and aesthetic experiences.
Introduction
Aesthetic emotions are a controversial and elusive concept1,2,3 (see review in refs. 4,5,6). While some argue that aesthetic emotions are a distinct class of emotions that are behaviourally and biologically distinguishable from other emotions1,6, empirical evidence to support this claim that aesthetic emotions are distinguishable from other affective states is lacking (see review in ref. 4). The process of aesthetics evaluation has subjective and cultural components both of which are affected by stimulus properties, perceiver preferences, self-relevance, and a dynamic interaction between stimulus and perceiver as well as the interaction between different systems within the perceiver and layers of a given stimulus6. Aesthetic experiences are thought to be an “emotionally and hedonically engaging, conscious experience of an aesthetic quality of a stimulus” and “arise from: (i) an aesthetic evaluation (i.e., the perception and higher-order processing of stimulus properties that are diagnostic of an aesthetic quality); (ii) a felt emotional component; and (iii) felt aesthetic (dis)pleasure”6.
Aesthetic emotions cannot easily be assessed by valence and arousal. For instance, the feeling of being moved is neither positive or negative, and has high emotional intensity while being low in arousal7,8. It is unclear whether aesthetic experiences are supported by domain general brain systems such as the reward system or whether different aspects or types of aesthetic emotions are supported by domain-specific brain systems. In this study, we explore aesthetic experiences when people engage with literary narratives. We investigate whether two different aspects of aesthetic engagement—appreciation of stylistic form of literary language and emotional intensity of fluctuations in the plot (e.g., suspense) are neurally dissociable or share common activations (e.g., in reward systems). This exploratory study further aims to generate hypotheses for neuroimaging and behavioural research on literary aesthetics and other narrative art traditions (e.g., films, theatre).
Narratives fluctuate over their durations in the literary language used and emotional intensity (suspense) conveyed. They are thought to be “the human brain’s way of consolidating and conveying the temporally evolving world we live in”9. Because of the dynamic nature of aesthetic engagement, narratives allow us to explore neural correlates of different aspects of aesthetic engagement that unfold over time. Previous research has broadly categorized affective responses to narratives into narrative emotions and emotions related to aesthetic experiences of the literary form (e.g., style of the writing, building of the plot structure). Narrative emotions are elicited when recipients are transported or immersed into the narrative world, e.g., the joy when someone projects themselves in the protagonist’s situation (emotions of empathy) or the suspense they feel when a carefree protagonist is happily walking in the woods, while the readers (or listeners or viewers) are keenly aware of looming danger (emotions of sympathy)10,11. In contrast, aesthetic responses to the writing or narrating itself are based on meta-features such as the style and place of a literary tradition, the narrative and figurative devices used, and the plot construction10,12.
While not everybody can write literature, most people have intuitions about what makes a text literary13,14,15,16. Mukařovský17 (see also ref. 18) proposed the idea of foregrounding, which entails the “systematic employment of a range of stylistic devices” such that literary language “becomes more conscious to the reader compared to language of standard spoken discourse or informative text.” For instance, reading “shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” from Shakespeare’s sonnets makes one aware of its language both because of the analogy offered and its archaic style.
Mukařovský17 proposes three levels of foregrounding: (i) the phonetic level (e.g., alliteration, rhyme), (ii) the grammatical level (e.g., inversion and ellipsis), and (iii) the semantic level (e.g., metaphors, irony). Crucially, foregrounding is always in relation to a given context. For instance, the context for a novel would be the text itself, what the recipient knows about the writer and their other works, including fan fiction, and the placement in literature (e.g., time, genre, style). Segments of a text are foregrounded, while others are backgrounded. The text and its context itself define segments that stand out and segments that are perceived as the background. In a story using a lot of flowery language, colloquial expressions might stand out, whereas in a text written in very clear report style language, a metaphor or an emotional word can stand out as foregrounded. While everyday language also contains foregrounding and stylistic features used in literature, the quality that differentiates a piece of literature from our daily discourse is the systematic use of such features in conjunction with skilful narration.
The hypothesized effects of foregrounding have been assessed empirically7,14,15,19,20,21. In cognitive terms, foregrounding produces a prediction violation that results from the context of the text itself and local use of stylistic markers22. Foregrounding—by definition—deviates from the norm and hence expectations based on the backgrounded narrative language within a given context. The brain predicts incoming linguistic information during comprehension at all linguistic levels including form (e.g., phonetic features, word form, syntax) and semantic contents (e.g., words, sentence contents) (see review in ref. 23). Prediction violations occur when linguistic information is not congruent with the reader’s expectation and typically produce electrophysiological potentials or increased blood flow in areas linked to language processing showing that cognitive demand is increased (see review in ref. 24 on prediction violation in emotion language processing).
It is important to point out that while prediction violation in psycholinguistics (often related to word frequency in linguistic corpora) and prediction violation in foregrounding in literature may produce similar cognitive effects, the concept of foregrounding is orthogonal to lexical frequency. Foregrounding is defined by probability within a given limited context. In fact, particularly frequent lexical items are often foregrounded in a story. A common example of foregrounding of frequent lexical items is when colloquial language in literary writing is used to contrast a more formal narrative style. Foregrounding is also not restricted to a linguistic level or language units (e.g., lexical items, words, or sentences). Rather foregrounding is a subjective experience of salience in parsing intentionally constructed language for aesthetic purposes. Since there are no agreed upon objective measures for foregrounding, a pragmatic approach of assessing foregrounding with subjective ratings of a group of naive participants and then testing for the reliability across raters is used to study foregrounding empirically.
Foregrounding in language can add cognitive load and increase aesthetic appreciation14,15,21,25,26,27. Moreover, experience or “training” in reading literature seems to be linked to different reading strategies when encountering foregrounded language. Van den Hoven et al.15 showed that frequent readers of literature tend to accelerate their forward eye movements during reading when encountering literary language. Infrequent readers in contrast are more likely to slow down and regress more often towards preceding language (see also ref. 28). The slowing down of reading upon encountering foregrounded language further predicted increased appreciation of the literary works, confirming Mukařovský’s theory that the disruption of rapid default processing and increased awareness of stylistic features contributes to aesthetic appreciation15. Neuroimaging evidence suggested that foregrounding devices such as alliteration modulate attention and semantic integration29. Evidence from neuroimaging research also showed that certain types of literary language (metaphors, idioms, and irony/sarcasm) increase activation in the parietal attention network30, presumably by increasing processing demands.
In contrast to foregrounding in literary style, backgrounding supports immersive processes like being absorbed in the text and feeling transported into the narrative25 (but see refs. 31,32). Immersion during reading literature is connected to engaging socially and emotionally with fictional characters, experiencing the problems and situations communicated in the story and appreciating the social and cultural implications of a story. The extent of immersion and its contribution to aesthetic evaluation is likely affected by individual differences in what type of stories and problems readers find interesting and relevant for themselves.
Previous neuroimaging studies on affective experiences during reading of literature tend to focus on responses such as suspense33 and story immersion34,35. Social and emotional engagement with literary characters has been associated with activations in brain areas linked to affective empathy34,36,37,38 as well as social cognition and predictive inference (using real world knowledge and previous context to have an expectation of story development39. Empathy with and social cognition about characters in narratives and predictions made may be crucial to producing suspense39,40. The neural systems underlying social cognition and empathy are neurally dissociable from the evaluation and reward system41, but their role in aesthetic appreciation is unclear.
One functional MRI study on the parametric effects of negative valence on neural activations during narrative comprehension showed that increased negative valence correlates with activation in the striatum and amygdala, which are strongly associated with reward and fear processing, as well as parts of the brain network linked to social cognition42. Liking of negatively valenced stories was further linked to increased activation in the medio-prefrontal cortex during story engagement43.
Despite a rich tradition in literary theory and neural evidence regarding emotion word processing and the effect of emotion on lexical processing (see review in refs. 24,44), it is unclear how aesthetic experiences and aesthetic emotions in narrative processing are neurally supported. Empirical evidence shows that words that are perceived as emotional as opposed to neutral correlate with increased activation in brain areas associated with semantic and lexical processing areas—which might reflect their saliency—and neural systems processing affective information (see review in ref. 24).
Narrative emotions are complex and cannot be reduced to lexical values of individual words37,45,46 (however, see ref. 35 for a successful implementation of this approach with popular fiction excerpts). Intensity in stories may arise without any overt emotion depicting words and vice versa emotion words can be neutral and without intensity in narrative contexts37. Moreover, arousal and valence for individual words can drastically change between narratives depending on the meaning assigned within the context of the story (narrative world). For instance, an enchanted object presenting luring dangers for the protagonists in a fantasy story can be associated with strong emotions, while the word itself referring to the object in standard vocabulary has low arousal and neutral valence. It is not clear how valence and arousal ratings associated with individual word meanings relate to narrative processing where the contextual embedding alone can produce emotional responses independent of word meaning and can likewise neutralize emotion semantics of words depending on the context.
Similarly, research on empathy with fictional characters (see review in ref. 38) and Theory of Mind (ToM) or mentalizing47,48 does not provide a framework that explains or predicts aesthetic processes outside of experienced reward for simulated (social) experiences and learning. Exploring the complexity of the social cognition relation and communicative intention between readers, narrators, authors, and characters is beyond the scope of this study (see refs. 45,46). Carefully designed behavioural studies are needed to disentangle these social relations systematically.
In this exploratory approach we focus on global modulations of plot related changes in emotional intensity. This operationalization of intensity is conceptually linked to suspense and arousal and is likely affected by empathy with the characters. Suspense and emotional content in narratives has been shown to modulate attention. In a study on visual narratives, narrative suspense has been shown to suppress attentional focus to peripheral sensory input and deactivation of the default mode network49. The default mode network also has been linked to accumulative plot formation50 (see also ref. 51). In a fMRI study on narrative emotions during processing of a highly culturalized folk fairytale, Wallentin et al.37 related independent appraisals of emotional intensity to heart rate variability and increased activation in areas linked to conditioned emotional responses such as the amygdala and thalamus in another group of subjects. Suspense has further been linked to increased activation in brain areas associated with predictive inference and social cognition39.
The aim of this study was to disentangle the neural bases of aesthetic experience linked to appreciation of the writing of a story from narrative emotions such as suspense and emotional intensity induced by the events in the story. We hypothesized that appreciating literary style and experiencing narrative fluctuations in emotional intensity are supported by different neural systems. Specifically, we hypothesized that literariness, in line with the foregrounding hypothesis, engages neural systems associated with language and attention. We had less specific predictions for brain areas associated with the processing of changes in emotional intensity during story engagement which, in the context of this study, are appraisals of global emotion intensity and arousal (conscious reflection of the emotional experience), rather than felt specific emotions that can be assigned into different emotion categories (physiological emotional states; see discussion in ref. 52). It is not clear whether such appraisals of intensity of narrative emotion would be reflected as a more physiological (resulting in increased activation in emotion processing areas) or a more emotion-appraisal response (resulting in increased activation in orbitofrontal stimulus evaluation areas). In line with previous research on related concepts such as suspense (e.g., ref. 39), we hypothesized that brain areas linked to attention and predictive inference are sensitive to emotional intensity. We had no specific predictions of the involvement of brain areas linked to social cognition and emotion processing since it is not conceptually or empirically clear how they relate to narrative emotional intensity.
We reanalysed a dataset from Hartung et al.53 in which 52 participants listened to two literary short stories while neural activity was measured with functional MRI (fMRI) in a similar design as in Wallentin et al.’s 2011 study37. The two stories are suspenseful and gloomy literary short stories that are constructed around a protagonist and their mental world in a threatening situation. Hence, the valence of both stories is overall negative and does not shift much; so for the purpose of this study, we focus on arousal and suspense as the main components for emotional intensity. To get word-by-word ratings for appraised literariness and emotional intensity, we recruited two independent groups of participants to rate the stories used in the previous experiment in two new online surveys. These ratings were used to predict hemodynamic responses to literariness and emotional intensity in the fMRI group in a whole-brain analysis to detect brain areas that are sensitive to these two aspects of aesthetic appreciation. We additionally correlated neural responses in regions of interest (ROIs) with measures of appreciation and individual differences in reading behaviour, social cognition, and subjective reward from solving cognitive or emotional problems. Based on these results we aimed to generate new hypotheses and questions guiding future research on neuroaesthetics of literature.
Results
Behavioural rating survey
Emotional intensity and literariness ratings are visualized in Fig. 1 and Supplementary Figs. 1 and 2. The validity of these word-by-word ratings (see Supplementary Data 1 for mean word ratings and level of agreement) were verified in two steps. First, we computed their intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC(2,k), which is a measure of absolute agreement in emotional intensity or literariness ratings after accounting for systematic errors from individual raters (e.g., people may have different baseline emotional intensities, or thresholds for literariness) and random errors54,55. The agreement of ratings in our dataset (ICC(2,k)emo = 0.86, ICC(2,k)lit = 0.89; both values classified as “good”54) shows that participants reported experiencing similar emotional intensity trajectories or literary experiences. Emotional intensity ratings had relatively small standard errors and followed a continuous trend across each story, with rises at the beginning (both stories were written to quickly capture a reader’s attention), in the middle (as the plot developed into major conflicts), and at the end (both stories had a surprising twist at the end) (Fig. 1a). Literariness ratings varied more between higher and lower values and highly rated segments tended to be short words or phrases which are highly salient and foregrounded in the context (Fig. 1a and see Supplementary Table 1 for segments rated the highest on literariness).
FMRI results for literariness
Whole-brain analysis
The parametric predictor with ratings of literary language correlated positively with increased activation in the left inferior and superior parietal lobules (precuneus), and left supramarginal gyrus extending into left angular gyrus. The same predictor correlated negatively with activation in bilateral superior and middle temporal gyri, and right Heschl’s gyrus (see Fig. 2a and Table 1).
ROI results
Correlation of aesthetic and experiential measures with Literariness ROIs
None of the three RCs of the story rating or the two SWAS components mental imagery during reading and emotional engagement with the protagonist correlated with activation levels in ROI derived from the literariness WBA. See Supplementary Fig. 3 and Supplementary Tables 2–6 for a complete overview of results.
Correlation of individual difference measures with Literariness ROIs
Individual differences between participants in their reading behaviour measures correlated significantly with activation levels in several ROIs (see Fig. 3a). How much participants care about style when reading correlated negatively with activation levels in left AG (ρ = −0.27, p = 0.006) and bilateral MTG (ρ = −0.27, p = 0.006). The ART also correlated with activation in the left SPL (ρ = 0.23, p = 0.02). However, none of these correlations survive multiple comparison correction with the Bonferroni method.
None of the individual differences that were related to reward (NCS, NAS) or social cognition (EQ, IRI fantasy scale) correlated with BOLD activation in ROIs relevant for literariness.
FMRI results for emotional intensity
Whole-brain analysis
No activation clusters positively correlated with the parametric predictor of emotional intensity. The same predictor correlated negatively with bilateral activations in postcentral gyri and sulci, precunei and cunei, dorsolateral precentral gyri, mid- to posterior cingulate gyri, medial frontal gyri, as well as activations in right inferior parietal lobule, right parahippocampal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, right middle and inferior frontal gyri, and the anterior part of the left dorsomedial cerebellum (see Fig. 2b and Table 1).
ROI results
Correlation of aesthetic and experiential measures with Emotional Intensity ROIs
The activation levels in the FPAN (ρ = 0.25, p = 0.01) and the FCN (ρ = 0.21, p = 0.03; see Fig. 3b) were correlated with the story rating component RC1 reflecting how interesting the participant found the narrative. After multiple comparison correction (Bonferroni), only the correlation of RC1 and FPAN survived statistical thresholding. None of the experiential measures (mental imagery during reading, emotional engagement with the protagonist) correlated with activation in ROIs for emotional intensity. See Supplementary Fig. 4, and Supplementary Tables 7–11 for complete overview of results.
Correlation of individual differences measures with Emotional Intensity ROIs
None of the reading related individual differences such as caring about style, liking fiction, number of novels read last year, frequency of reading, and ART correlated with BOLD activity in ROIs linked to emotional intensity during reading. Individual scores on the NAS questionnaire were negatively correlated with activation in the FCN (ρ = −0.20, p = 0.04) and the FPAN ρ = −0.22, p = 0.02; see Fig. 3c). However, only the correlation between NAS and FPAN survives multiple comparison correction (Bonferroni). See Supplementary Fig. 3, and Supplementary Tables 7–11 for complete overview of results.
Discussion
In this study we explored the neural correlates of implicitly engaging with literary language and emotional intensity when reading narratives. Two independent groups of raters provided subjective assessments of either stylistically remarkable language or appraisals of the subjectively felt emotional intensity evoked by the text for two literary stories. These ratings were used as parametric predictors to model BOLD activity in an independent group of participants who listened to the same stories while their brain activity was measured with fMRI for comprehension and enjoyment without being asked to pay attention to emotion or literary language. We found that literariness and emotional intensity activate different neural networks providing tentative evidence for our hypothesis that different types of aesthetic responses are supported by different neural systems. Literariness was associated with brain areas linked to language processing, while emotional intensity was linked to deactivation of the frontoparietal attention and control network. Sensitivity to literary language was further correlated with reading habits. Amplitude of deactivation in the frontoparietal attention network in response to emotionally intense segments correlated with how interesting the stories were rated. This finding shows that different aspects of aesthetic experiences are simultaneously supported by different brain systems and that aesthetic experiences cannot be reduced to a common neural basis. We discuss the findings in detail below.
Literariness
Segments of the stories rated as high in literariness compared to lower ratings of literariness were associated with increased activation in an area in the left temporo-parietal cortex including the angular gyrus and posterior parts of the supramarginal gyrus, as well as a region in the left precuneus. The reverse contrast showed negative correlations bilaterally in middle superior and middle temporal gyri and superior temporal sulci. We did not find related activation in the left IFG with our statistical thresholding, a pattern that has previously been linked to processing of figurative language56 (see review in ref. 57; but see Supplementary Method, Supplementary Table 12, Supplementary Fig. 5, Supplementary Discussion, and Supplementary References for results with a more lenient thresholding that include a positive cluster in the left IFG).
Cortical areas linked to language processing, specifically semantics, are sensitive to foregrounded or literary language (rated as “stylistically remarkable/well-written”). The (bilateral) middle temporal cortex is prominently involved in semantic memory and lexical knowledge (see review in refs. 58,59,60), while the left angular gyrus is hypothesized to be a core region for semantic integration61,62 (see also ref. 59). The left angular gyrus supposedly serves as a semantic binding hub, where meaning from multiple modality-specific regions converges to form abstract, integrated, amodal representations61,62. Processing literary language may require additional processing and integration of semantic meaning. An alternative explanation could be that foregrounding in literature often coincides with the expression of emotions which has been linked to saliency effects and increased workload in brain areas linked to semantic integration (unification58) in sentence and word processing studies (see review in ref. 24). It is important to point out that processing of local emotions in text is different from the global intensity modulation in our emotional intensity regressor that models narrative level of emotion intensity and suspense.
Alternatively, this effect could be driven by possible lower lexical frequency of words rated as literary, low frequency of unusual constructions, or retrieval of infrequent semantic features of words59 even though the lexical entry might be frequent. Low frequency and literariness are indistinguishable in our design since foregrounded language, by definition, occurs less frequently within a given context. One hypothesis we can derive from this observation is that low linguistic frequency correlates with experiencing language as being literary. It further opens the question if the role of the angular gyrus in comprehension is integrating rich semantic information or reacting to the increased semantic computational load. This contrast could be tested in a paradigm in which semantic complexity and strikingness are orthogonalized.
The bilateral deactivation in the middle superior temporal cortex could also be a result of the relation between perceived literariness and lower frequency in language use. These regions (bilaterally) are involved in lexical processing and word meaning63 and seem to causally contribute to lexical knowledge60,64,65. The deactivation of these regions in response to literary and hence low frequency language might reflect inhibition of default processing that facilitates semantic integration of features that are less prominent for typical word meaning. Targeted brain connectivity studies between bilateral middle temporal cortex, left angular, and left supramarginal gyrus could provide evidence for such an interaction between semantic processing regions.
Interestingly, the activation in the ROIs in the bilateral MTG and the left AG were negatively correlated with how much participants cared about style, meaning that people who prioritize the form of language show decreased activation in these areas when encountering literary language compared to participants that pay more attention to (semantic) content.
Literary language was further associated with activation in a region in the left precuneus. The precuneus is involved in many different cognitive processes including mental imagery66, self-referential thought, episodic processing and event integration67,68. It is part of the extended language network where its role is thought to be to support coherence69,70,71 and situation model building71,72. The precuneus has also been speculated to be involved in conceptual processing73 (see review in ref. 57), and processing of figurative language30 but its concrete role in narrative processing is unclear. In our study, activation in this area positively correlated with individuals’ scores on the author recognition test, a measure for literacy or education in reading. This means that in well-read participants this area is more sensitive to literary language. While it is hard to draw a conclusion from this finding given the various postulated roles for this region in language processing, we speculate that this region might contribute to integrating literary language in a more general contextual representation or possibly mental imagery of events which might be more practiced in educated readers. The precuneus is also part of the DMN, which has been hypothesized to play a crucial role in aesthetic appraisals1,74. However, since no other areas of the DMN were sensitive to literariness, we refrain from interpreting our findings as related to the DMN.
Knowledge about literary context and stylistic devices in a piece of literature can help comprehension. This aspect of aesthetic experience is linked to existing knowledge about the literature tradition such as genre, author, narrative devices, style, and historical context of a piece. Several of our measures of individual differences in reading habits and literacy correlated with sensitivity to foregrounded language in the language system. Training effects of fiction reading likely produce more effective strategies to process literary language and impose a lower cognitive load than experienced by less trained individuals (see e.g., ref. 15). Other than reducing cognitive load and supporting prediction in literary contexts, it is unclear how meta-knowledge and experience affect aesthetic appreciation and underlying brain systems. In the present study, we tested the effects of measures like literacy and frequency of reading fiction but do not have detailed data on individual’s experience with and knowledge about literature. Large and diverse datasets could appropriately address these important individual aspects of aesthetic appreciation.
Mukařovský’s theory proposed that foregrounded, literary segments “stand out” from other parts of a literary work and make readers aware of their stylistic unusualness, given preceding linguistic input. Foregrounding is contrasted with backgrounding. The latter supports immersion into a narrative (see also ref. 19). In our dataset this claim is confirmed by the fact that ratings for perceived emotional intensity and literariness from independent groups of raters are almost mutually exclusive. Foregrounding materializes at all levels of language processing (e.g., semantic, syntactic, or phonological) and as statistical outliers of linguistic features they are more salient. Increased brain activations with literary segments hence may reflect attentional modulation of the language network75. Literary segments appear to modulate language processing because statistically improbable linguistic features likely require greater integration of meaning and the inhibition of default processing. This suggestion is supported by the fact that activation in these brain areas were linked to individual differences in familiarity with literary fiction but not to measures of aesthetic or experiential responses in narrative engagement (cf. ref. 19).
Emotional intensity
This part of the study was largely exploratory as we had no specific hypotheses with respect to predictions of neural activity reflecting the appraisal of emotional intensity. No brain areas showed increased activations associated with high emotional intensity at the statistical threshold we applied (see Supplementary Method, Supplementary Table 12, Supplementary Fig. 6, Supplementary Discussion, and Supplementary References for results with a more lenient thresholding). However, judgments of increased emotional intensity were linked to deactivation in a large set of areas including bilateral postcentral gyri and sulci, precunei and cunei, posterior and middle cingulate cortex, medial frontal gyrus, as well as in right inferior parietal lobule, right IFG, and middle frontal gyrus. This set of areas resembles the frontoparietal network for controlled attention (FPAN) and the frontal control network (FCN). The FPAN has been implicated in tasks related to (top down) attention and executive control76,77,78,79. The observation that greater emotional intensity during engagement with literature is linked to decreased activation in the FPAN might be linked to suspended executive control and directed attention, as participants’ attention is guided by the story, rather than their active seeking of information. Similar findings have been shown for the related concept of narrative suspense39,49.
One core area of the FPAN that shows one of the largest effects in our study, the PCC, has been implicated as a central hub that controls internally vs externally directed attention and cognition80,81. We hypothesize that this deactivation may be linked to self-relevance in engaging with literature or narratives in general.
Another area that showed a large deactivation in response to intense emotional segments during literature engagement is a region in the right inferior parietal cortex extending into the temporo-parietal junction including the right supramarginal, angular, and inferior parietal gyri. This cluster overlaps with areas often associated not only with the FPAN but also with the mentalizing network. It is possible that during intense moments in a narrative, recipients pay less attention to the mental world of fictional characters and instead embrace their own emotional experience. This interpretation is in line with the simultaneous large deactivation in right IFG, an area which seems to be important for narrative understanding and event coordination as part of the extended language network82. We hypothesize that during emotionally intense moments, readers focus less on the events and characters in a narrative, and more on their own experience.
The results from the ROI analysis with individual differences further support the interpretation that suspense of controlled attention is an important aspect of getting lost in a narrative during intense moments. The deactivation of both the FCN and FPAN ROIs was linked to individual differences in need for affect (NAS) scores—a measure of reward experienced when engaging with social and emotional situations. The higher an individual scored on the NAS, the stronger the deactivation of the FCN and FPAN during emotional intense moments. Furthermore, the activation of both the FCN and FPAN ROIs was also correlated with how interesting participants rated a story to be.
Why did we not find any positive correlations in brain areas linked to emotional intensity? We think this observation might be attributed to the fact that the emotional intensity ratings were not from the same participants as from whom we gathered the functional MRI data. While the group rating data on emotional intensity is highly correlated across all subjects in the rater group, appraisals of emotional intensity are subjective. Future studies could implement experimental designs that allow exploration of individual variability of different aesthetic experiences with physiological and neuroimaging data.
It might also be surprising that we did not find activation in emotion processing areas given the highly negatively valenced stories we used and that previous research has reported activation in primary emotion areas such as amygdala (e.g., refs. 35,37). One difference between our study and the studies that report such effects is that our narratives were completely new material to the participants. Hsu et al.35 recruited specifically participants who were familiar with the Harry Potter storyverse to test for their emotional responses during engagement with passages that were already known to the participant. Similarly, Wallentin et al.37 used an extremely well-known folk tale The Ugly Duckling that is so enculturated that every participant could be assumed to have known this story since early childhood. It is hard to speculate about the potential differences between an individual and a cultural or communal experience of story engagement but it is clear that plot level prediction violation is substantially less likely for highly familiar stories and that the emotion processing is affected from memory of previous experiences of the story. The dissociation of emotional responses to novel vs familiar and individual vs enculturated stories is an extremely interesting and important avenue to pursue for future research.
Overall, highly emotional contents in our study appear to disengage FPAN and hence controlled attention and top down information seeking. We speculate that participants temporarily suspend control of directed attention and allow the stories to guide their cognition during emotional segments. Further research is needed to test whether deactivation in control and attention networks predicts different aspects of emotional engagement with stories and aesthetic experiences linked to affect or emotion regulation. Moreover, the connection with individual differences in reward to different types of content suggests that readers differ in their motivation to read and enjoy different types of reading materials.
General discussion
Our results support the hypothesis that literary form and fluctuation in emotional intensity during narrative engagement are facilitated by distinct neural systems which suggests that different aspects of aesthetic engagement rely on different processing systems. Brain areas associated with semantic processing seem to be sensitive to stylistic features while suspense of attention and executive function may mediate emotional content responses in aesthetic appreciation. These aspects of aesthetic appreciation can be related to the knowledge-meaning system (literariness) and the emotion-valuation system (emotion intensity or suspense) of the aesthetic triad framework83. Interestingly, we found that narrative induced emotions (such as suspense) are linked to aesthetic experiences during literary engagement, while aesthetic responses to the writing of a piece of literature were linked to individual differences in experience with reading literary texts and awareness of style.
Few studies have investigated continuous aesthetic experiences as a narrative unfolds (but see ref. 37 for a similar study in which they asked participants to rate their emotional experiences line by line on paper; see ref. 39 for an interspersed reading-rating approach). Our online survey enabled participants to rate every word differently without imposing boundaries. This high granularity of rating may be especially important for judging literariness. As shown in Fig. 1a, people tended to rate specific words rather than sentences as literary, and this information allowed us to model haemodynamic responses at a finer time scale.
Aesthetic appreciation generally activates areas linked to reward and pleasure, yet we did not find related regions such as the striatum in our analysis. While the current study deconstructed aesthetic appreciation into temporal ratings of two aspects of aesthetic engagement with narrative, there are many other aspects of aesthetic engagement and more importantly, it is difficult experimentally to anchor the experience of pleasure to specific time points. This methodological challenge for experimental designs needs to be addressed in future directions of neuroaesthetics to advance our understanding of the relation between aesthetic experiences—as we measured here—and aesthetic evaluation and the neural correlates of such an interaction.
A much discussed possible neural correlate for aesthetic appreciation is the DMN which is hypothesized to be involved in aspects of self-referential aesthetic experiences1,74. Associations between the DMN and aesthetic experiences are based on fMRI evidence from aesthetic experiences in visual art84. Whether these findings generalize to other types of aesthetic experiences is unclear but in our study, we find no indication that the DMN was linked to aesthetic experiences when people engage with literary stories. Given the many cognitive processes that engage the DMN, we are cautious about implicating the DMN in all aesthetic processes.
Our current study has limitations. Conceptually, we need further clarification on the ontology of “emotional intensity” and “literariness” as semantic concepts and as deconstructable phenomena that can be manipulated for neuroimaging studies. The values used in parametric modulations of emotion and literariness were averaged ratings from separate groups, which might not reflect individual fMRI participant’s aesthetic experiences. High granularity ratings from the same participants whose brain activity is repeatedly measured with different literary materials could offer a more accurate understanding of the meaning of these neural correlates.
One crucial issue is the distinction between appraisals of emotion and physiological emotional state (see ref. 52 and references therein). This distinction may explain the absence of subcortical activations typically associated with emotion (e.g., see review in ref. 85). Experimentally, the dominant changes in emotional intensity from a story arc develop over several minutes, an effect that may not be easily detectable because of the slow signal drift noises in fMRI. Future experiments could consider using literary stories of varying length and adjust high pass filters to optimize signal to noise ratio. More diverse stimuli in terms of topic, valence, and style could also be used to understand their shared neural responses as well as variabilities in stories and individuals.
Our reverse inferences of correlational activations need to be tested prospectively. Individual variability in brain regions and their connectivity profile, further divisions in each anatomical area that are beyond the detection ability of fMRI86 (see ref. 87 for an example illustrating subdivisions in angular gyrus), and the nature of reverse inference88 (also see ref. 89) are general problems that are relevant to the current study. Possible future directions include multiple session studies with fewer participants but more varied story materials, and careful meta-analyses that combine both forward and reverse inference for stronger function-to-area and function-to-network mapping90,91, particularly for large networks like the extended language network or the FPAN. Dynamic network modelling to dissociate interacting networks as well as nodes within each network (whether they are specific to a function or are domain specific such as attention modulation) may be helpful as well86,92.
Aesthetic emotions—in literature engagement and beyond—remain a controversial and elusive concept1,2,3,4,5. During engagement with literature, sensory, cognitive, attentional, and emotional experiences dynamically interact with and modulate one another. The aesthetic triad framework83 proposes that aesthetic experiences result from a dynamic interaction between sensory-motor, emotion-valuation, and knowledge-meaning neural systems. We confirm that the distinction between form and content in the visual arts also applies to literature. Brains simultaneously process stylistic form and emotional content of literature through different neural structures and the quality of activations in these neural systems is linked to aesthetic experiences and training with a certain art form (here literary narratives). We confirm that literariness is instantiated in language-specific neural systems associated with semantic integration. It appears that domain-specific subsystems (e.g., perceptual, language, and motor systems) facilitate appraisal of stylistic features that contribute to literary aesthetic experiences whereas domain general attention and executive control systems interact and modulate emotional appraisal. Based on our finding that experiencing emotional intensity during engagement with literature is linked to deactivation of controlled attention networks, we propose that appraisal of intense emotional content releases the reader from executive control.
Methods
This study combined two datasets with independent groups of subjects. Online behavioural data were collected from two groups (each N = 27) of participants who rated two stories word-wise for either literariness or emotional intensity. These ratings were used to model BOLD response in a previously collected fMRI dataset (N = 52) of participants who listened to the same two stories. There was no overlap in participants between any of the groups. From each group we also collected ratings of enjoyment and several individual differences measures querying reading behaviour and attitudes (see Table 3 and Supplementary Table 13 for comparison of the groups).
Stories
In Hartung et al., 201753, two Dutch literary short stories were recorded by a native speaker in Dutch. De Muur (“The Wall,” DM) by Peter Minten (published in 2013, 1121 words) and De Mexicaanse Hond (“The Mexican Dog,” DH) by Marga Minco (published in 1990, 1236 words) are both typical short fiction stories describing a single incident in the respective protagonist’s life. The stories are written from the protagonist’s perspective. Both original stories used first-person pronouns to refer to the protagonist. For purposes of the original study (see Hartung et al.53), the stories were also recorded with third-person pronouns referring to the protagonist. The changes were minimal as only pronouns and dependent verb conjugation were affected by this manipulation (113 word changes in DH; 93 word changes in DM; see Supplementary Note for English translations). The recordings were about 7 min for each story. We used audio recordings instead of text presentation to assure identical timings and durations in stimulus presentation across all subjects in the experimental design.
In the current study, we re-used the audio recording to acquire additional ratings to keep the recent rating studies as close to the original experimental design as possible.
Aesthetic and experiential measures of engagement with stories
Story appreciation
In Hartung et al., 201753 and the current study, story appreciation was measured directly after listening with ten adjectives that correspond to different dimensions of appreciation (translated into Dutch from ref. 93). The list consisted of the following items: interesting, well-written, of high literary quality, easy to understand, accessible, thrilling, beautiful, fascinating, emotional, and sad. To reduce the dimensionality of the data we performed a principal component analysis (PCA) on these ten items. This PCA was performed on the data from the two rater groups and then components were correlated with BOLD activity in the fMRI group. The PCA was based on eigenvalues (>1) with oblique rotation of factors (promax) and component decomposition based on the correlation matrix. The PCA resulted in three rotated components (RC): interest in the story (RC 1 “interesting”; items: interesting, thrilling, beautiful, fascinating), ease of understanding (RC 2 “accessible”; items: easy to understand, accessible), and quality of writing (RC3 “well-written”; items: well-written, of high literary quality, see Fig. 4). Because of a data collection error in the current study, the items emotional and sad were not collected for the online survey rating and hence not included in the PCA and subsequent analyses.
Experiential aspects of reading
In Hartung et al., 201753 and the current study, two subscales of the story world absorption scale (SWAS,94) were measured after each story. This measure consisted of 15 items testing (a) emotional engagement with the protagonists (9 items), and (b) the experience of mental imagery (6 items; see Table 3 for translated items). In addition, there was one item addressing third perspective taking (first-person perspective taking is already addressed by one item in the mental imagery scale) as part of the original study’s research question, which was not used for the current study.
Individual differences
In Hartung et al., 201753 and the current study, for all three participant groups, we collected measures for reading habits. We additionally collected several measures for individual differences from the participants in the fMRI sample including the fantasy scale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI95), Need for Cognition (NCS96), Need for Affect (NAS97), Author Recognition Test (ART98,99), and the Empathy Quotient (EQ100) questionnaire in this order (see Table 2 for overview).
Reading habits
In Hartung et al., 201753 and the current study, to assess participant’s self-reported reading habits, we used three items assessing liking of fiction (“Do you like fiction?”), frequency of reading (“How often do you read?”), and the number of books read in the past year (“How many novels/stories did you read in the past year?”). The answer choices of liking of fiction were on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (totally) in the fMRI sample, and from 0 (not at all) to 100 (totally) in the behavioural rater samples (which was converted to the 7-point Likert scale to match the fMRI sample).
The fMRI sample in Hartung et al., 201753 was additionally assessed on their sensitivity to style (“How much attention do you pay to style when reading?”) on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 7 (totally). For the frequency of reading question participants chose between daily, more than twice per week, once per week, not regularly, and never. The question regarding the number of books was a numerical estimate.
Additional measures in fMRI sample
In Hartung et al., 201753, for an estimate of print exposure, we used a Dutch version of the ART. ART contains 42 names, of which 30 are actual fiction authors and 12 are made up names. Participants mark the names they recognize. The score of each participant is computed by subtracting the sum of all incorrect answers from the sum of all correct answers. The total score can vary between −12 (only non-existent author names selected) to 30 (all correct names selected).
We used the six items from the Fantasy scale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). IRI is a self-report measure of individual differences in social sensitivity, consisting of four subscales. The Fantasy scale of the IRI tests individual readiness to get transported imaginatively into the feelings and actions of fictive characters in narratives. We also included the Empathy Quotient questionnaire to measure individual differences in empathy, (standardized Dutch version http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/arc_tests).
In addition, we used the Need for Cognition Scale to measure motivation to solve complex tasks, and the Need for Affect Scale to assess motivation to approach or avoid emotions. See Supplementary Fig. 7 and Supplementary Data 2 for correlations between individual difference measures with each other.
Behavioural rating survey
In the current study, the behavioural rating survey was conducted under approval of the local ethics committee of the Centre for Language Studies at Radboud University (number 8976). All participants gave informed consent before participating in the survey. Two independent groups of native Dutch speakers from Radboud University Nijmegen were recruited to rate the stories through a Qualtrics survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT). In the survey, each story was presented to participants auditorily in segments of 100−200 words (9 segments for DH and 8 segments for DM, segmented at paragraph breaks, see Supplementary Note) followed immediately by its transcript on a separate page to rate before the consecutive auditory segment was presented. Participants were instructed to rate based on their experience of listening rather than reading the segment. The rating process allowed participants to select and rate text flexibly (words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs). Participants rated all words in the story. One group (N = 27, 22 female, age range: 18–26 years, M = 20.8, SD = 2.7) rated the stories for literariness (forced binary choice between “stylistically remarkable/well-written” and “normal”). The other group (N = 27, 23 female, age range: 18–27 years, M = 21.4, SD = 2.6) rated both stories for their subjective level of emotional intensity (on a scale of 1 (“completely unaffected”) to 7 (“felt intense emotion”). Within each rater group, the order of the two stories was counterbalanced. Only recordings and transcripts of the original stories, which were in first-person perspective, were presented.
To ensure adequate quality of data, participants answered a multiple-choice question about the content of the audio segment (four choices, one correct answer) after each audio Qualtrics survey page. If the question was answered incorrectly, the participants moved directly to the next audio segment without rating the corresponding transcript of the audio segment (24 out of 918 segments (<3%) were skipped because of incorrect answers). Data from all participants were included in the analysis.
After each story, participants completed the story-specific measures, including story appreciation and experiential measures of story engagement and mental imagery. Because of data collection errors, ratings for “sad” and “emotional” in the ten-item story appreciation measure were excluded. For all story-specific measures, behavioural rating participants gave responses on point sliders ranging from 0 to 100 (0 = completely disagree, 100 = completely agree). The 0–100 ratings were converted afterwards to match the 4-point scale used in the fMRI study (i.e., 0–25 is converted to 1; 26–50 converted to 2; 51–75 converted to 3; 76–100 converted to 4). This conversion ensures that the standard deviations between fMRI and rater groups can be compared; see Supplementary Table 13 for Bonferroni-corrected t test results. At the end of the survey, participants completed the individual difference measures about their reading habits. All survey participants were compensated with either university credits or gift cards.
Both appreciation questionnaire and experiential measures (SWAS subscales) are established measures of reading engagement and used in previous studies (e.g., refs. 53,94). To test for consistency of story-specific questionnaire measures between the behavioural rater groups and fMRI group, we calculated the mean and standard deviation of each item and carried out Bonferroni-corrected t tests (see Table 3 and Supplementary Table 13 for results). The behavioural rater groups gave statistically significant higher ratings in the appreciation questionnaire than the fMRI group did, indicating greater narrative enjoyment across different dimensions among behavioural raters. This finding was likely due to the difference in comfort of their reading situation: when listening to the stories, the fMRI participants lay in a small, dark, and noisy scanner and had to remain still, while behavioural raters likely completed the survey in the comfort of their home or library, and could take breaks in between.
We additionally calculated Cronbach’s alphas (coefficient alphas,101,102) to test for internal consistency in experiential measures of mental imagery and emotional engagement with the protagonist for each story and for the fMRI group and both rater groups (see Table 3). Other than mental imagery item ratings by the fMRI group, internal consistency for SWAS subscales were good (>0.8).
FMRI
The neuroimaging data were reanalysed from Hartung et al.’s (2017)53 study in which a group of native Dutch speakers (N = 52, 29 female, age range: 18–35 years, M = 23.1, SD = 3.4, 8 left-handed) listened to the two stories while undergoing fMRI. There was no overlap between the three groups of participants. In the original experiment, participants listened to one of the stories with first-person pronouns and the other story with third-person pronouns referring to the protagonist. The order of stories and pronoun condition was pseudorandomized with equal proportions. Participants were instructed to listen to the stories for enjoyment.
After each story, participants responded to the ten-item story rating and experiential measures with a four-button response device using their right hand (index finger = disagree (1), little finger = agree (4); numbers manually reversed for one participant who responded with the left hand because of a hand injury). After the scanning session, participants completed a post-scan test battery of the individual difference measures discussed above.
Data acquisition and pre-processing
In Hartung et al., 201753, images of blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) brain activity were acquired with a 3T Siemens Magnetom Trio scanner (Erlangen, Germany) with a 32-channel head coil. Cushions and tape were used to minimize head movement. Functional images were acquired using a fast T2-weighted 3D EPI sequence103, with high temporal resolution (TR: 880 ms, TE: 28 ms, flip angle: 14°, voxel size: 3.5 × 3.5 × 3.5 mm, 36 slices). High resolution (1 × 1 × 1.25 mm) structural images were acquired using an MP-RAGE T1 GRAPPA sequence. Data were pre-processed using the Matlab toolbox SPM8 (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm). Images were motion-corrected and registered to the first image of each scanning block. The mean of the motion-corrected images was co-registered with the individual participants’ anatomical scan (mean of functional images for two participants in which the T1 scan was missing). The anatomical and functional scans were spatially normalized to the standard MNI template. Finally, all data were spatially smoothed using an isotropic 8 mm full width at half maximum (FWHM) Gaussian kernel.
Statistics and reproducibility
Behavioural rating survey
In the current study, the average ratings for literariness and emotional intensity were matched with the onset time and duration of every word in both stories (Fig. 1a). We then averaged the ratings within each semantic event in the story (mostly spanning between 1 and 3 s) to obtain the mean level of emotional intensity and literariness (Fig. 1b). A semantic event was defined as a minimal segment of one or more linguistic phrases that allow lexical meanings to be integrated into a single event. For example, “as soon as Mr. Kuisters saw me coming in, /he pushed the sliding door between the store and the living room open /and said that I should go inside, /because it would take a while” would be separated into four events. To ensure that the parametric predictors are orthogonal, we tested for correlation between literariness and emotional intensity ratings in both stories. There was minimal correlation between these predictors (p = 0.00466, Pearson’s r = 0.157). The coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.0246), which is the square of Pearson’s r, means that <2.5% of variance in one predictor could be accounted for by the other.
FMRI whole-brain analysis
In the current study, statistical analyses were performed using the Matlab toolbox SPM12 (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm) on the single-subject level. Separate general linear models (GLMs) were used to model emotional intensity and literariness with the two stories as separate sessions. The beta weight for each predictor was estimated for the time course of each voxel, using multiple regression analysis104. Within each GLM, we used an event-related design that modelled semantic events parametrically by their mean ratings of either emotional intensity or literariness. For sessions in which participants listened to stories with third-person pronouns, the mean event ratings were calculated without the mismatched words. Six motion regressors of no interest and one constant predictor to account for difference in mean session signal were added and orthogonalized to the two predictors. Only the event predictor and its parametric modulation (rating values) were convolved with the canonical hemodynamic response function, and the predictor of parametric modulation was orthogonalized to the event predictor. A high-pass filter was then applied to minimize low-frequency noise. To ensure that the signals of interest were not filtered out, we determined the high-pass filter size separately for emotional intensity and literariness by visual inspection of the power spectrum of each parametric predictor in frequency space after a fast Fourier transform. The default high-pass filter size of 128 s in SPM was used for literariness while a filter size of 256 s was used for emotional intensity so that the prominent emotional fluctuations throughout the 7-min narratives could be kept (see a similar approach in ref. 39).
On the group level, whole-brain analysis (WBA) was performed using the Matlab toolbox SnPM13 (http://warwick.ac.uk/snpm, last checked for updates on Nov. 8, 2019). Such permutation-based, nonparametric method for multiple comparison correction and thresholding is suggested to consistently minimize false positives105. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, we used SnPM to avoid false positives that could lead to false interpretation and hypothesis generation. Two group-level models comprising of subject-level contrast images with beta weights of parametric predictors in each GLM (emotional intensity or literariness) averaged over the two story sessions were entered into SnPM for permutation-based one-sample t tests and combined cluster-voxel-extent thresholding (5000 permutations, cluster-forming threshold p < 0.001, family-wise error correction p < 0.05 on the cluster level).
Region of interest analysis
In the current study, we performed an ROI analysis to look at covariation of percent signal change in certain brain areas and behavioural outcomes and individual differences to look at brain−behaviour correlations. Since we had no hypotheses regarding behavioural measures of aesthetic experiences and functional specialization of certain brain areas or networks in aesthetic experiences at this time scale, we performed this analysis at the ROI level. Post-hoc ROIs were based on approximation of the regions found to be significant in the WBA analysis to test relationships between BOLD responses and individual differences in aesthetic and experiential measures for each story and individual differences in reading behaviour and other measures. Based on the results of the WBA (see Fig. 2), we selected ROIs in the left angular gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus, left precuneus, and bilateral middle temporal gyrus for the literariness analysis (see Fig. 5a), and the frontal control network and the frontoparietal attention network for the emotional intensity analysis (see Fig. 5b).
We used anatomical and functional terms to generate meta-analysis maps using Neurosynth’s “association tests”106 (see Table 4 for details) that approximated the regions we found to be sensitive to literariness and emotional intensity in the WBA. The association test reveals brain regions that are more consistently activated in studies with the target term than in studies without (see https://neurosynth.org/faq/). All meta-analysis maps were corrected for multiple comparisons at false discovery rate (FDR) q < 0.01. We then thresholded the maps using z-scores to isolate one reasonably sized cluster around each anatomical region. A custom Matlab script was used to obtain the centre-of-mass coordinates in MNI space of each masked cluster. A spherical ROI of 8 mm radius was then drawn around each centre-of-mass coordinate using Matlab toolbox MarsBaR107. For large functional networks (labelled as frontal control network and frontoparietal attention network), we directly used the FDR-corrected meta-analysis maps with an arbitrary cluster-extent threshold of ten voxels as the ROI masks.
Individual participant’s percent signal changes (PSC) per story were extracted from ROIs by four GLMs on the single-subject level with the two predictors of interest (emotional intensity and literariness) and two stories (DH and DM). We built these GLMs with an event-related design without the parametric modulation by binarizing the parametric predictors (see Fig. 1c). An event was defined to have the onset and duration of a semantic event which has either an emotional intensity rating strictly over 4 (on a scale of 1–7, with 7 being the most emotional) or a literariness rating strictly over 1.5 (on a scale of 1–2, with 2 being the most literary). All other factors were kept the same as in the WBA. The PSC values per ROI were then correlated with story-specific measures and individual differences measures (see Table 2) using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient ρ.
Reporting summary
Further information on research design is available in the Nature Research Reporting Summary linked to this article.
Data availability
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available on Open Science Framework repository, https://osf.io/w2uad/.
Code availability
The custom code we used is available on Open Science Framework repository, https://osf.io/w2uad/.
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Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the Haverford College KINSC Summer Scholar funding awarded to Y.W., the Nederlandse Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO-Vidi-276-89-007) awarded to R.W., and the Dolores Smith Innovation fund awarded to Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics. We want to thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful input on a previous draft.
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Hartung, F., Wang, Y., Mak, M. et al. Aesthetic appraisals of literary style and emotional intensity in narrative engagement are neurally dissociable. Commun Biol 4, 1401 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02926-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02926-0
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BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and exposure to early childhood adversities (CA) are independently associated with individual differences in cognitive and emotional processing. Whether these two factors interact to influence cognitive and emotional processing is not known. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used a sample of 238 adolescents from a community study characterised by the presence of the short allele of 5-HTTLPR (LL, LS, SS) and the presence or absence of exposure to CA before 6 years of age. We measured cognitive and emotional processing using a set of neuropsychological tasks selected predominantly from the CANTAB® battery. We found that adolescents homozygous for the short allele (SS) of 5-HTTLPR and exposed to CA were worse at classifying negative and neutral stimuli and made more errors in response to ambiguous negative feedback. In addition, cognitive and emotional processing deficits were associated with diagnoses of anxiety and/or depressions. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Cognitive and emotional processing deficits may act as a transdiagnostic intermediate marker for anxiety and depressive disorders in genetically susceptible individuals exposed to CA. | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/54746/ |
Research on olfactory stimulation indicates that it can influence human cognition and behavior, as in the perception of facial expressions. Odors can facilitate or impair the identification of facial expressions, and apparently its hedonic valence plays an important role. However, it was also demonstrated that the presentation of happiness and disgust faces can influence the emotional appraisal of odorants, indicating a bilateral influence in this phenomenon. Hence, it’s possible that odor influences on emotional categorization vary depending on the intensity of expressions. To investigate this hypothesis, we performed an emotion recognition task using facial expressions of five emotional categories (happiness, fear, disgust, anger and sadness) with ten different intensities. Thirty-five participants completed four blocks of the task, each with a different olfactory condition, and we found that odorants’ effects varied according to the facial expressions intensity. Odorants enhanced the Reaction Time (RT) differences between threshold and high-intensity expressions for disgust and fear faces. Also, analysis of the RT means for high-intensity facial expressions revealed that the well-known advantage in recognition of happiness facial expressions, compared to other emotions, was enhanced in the positive olfactory stimulation and decreased in the negative condition. We conclude that olfactory influences on emotional processing of facial expressions vary along intensities of the latter, and the discrepancies of past research in this field may be a result of a bilateral effect in which the odorants influence the identification of emotional faces just as the facial expressions influence the emotional reaction to the odor.
Citation: Ferreira MH, Renovato Tobo P, Barrichello CR, Gualtieri M (2022) Olfactory interference on the emotional processing speed of visual stimuli: The influence of facial expressions intensities. PLoS ONE 17(5): e0264261. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264261
Editor: Alberto Greco, Universita degli Studi di Pisa, ITALY
Received: June 25, 2021; Accepted: February 7, 2022; Published: May 17, 2022
Copyright: © 2022 Ferreira et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files.
Funding: This work was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grant numbers #2014/50282-5 and #2017/07050-4) and by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (grant number #134562/2016-0). This study also received support from Natura Cosméticos S.A. (São Paulo, SP, Brazil; https://www.naturaeco.com/) in the form of salaries for PRT and CRB. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. The study also received funding and material support from the Center for Applied Research on Well-Being and Human Behavior, which was composed by Natura Cosméticos S.A., Fundação de Amparo à pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, (FAPESP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) and Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Introduction
Anatomical and physiological features of the olfactory system make it different from other sensory modalities and especially linked with emotional processing, since its neuroanatomy is reciprocally interlaced with primary emotional areas . Emotional responses to olfactory stimuli are associated to objective autonomic measures, such as heart rate, skin conductance, and facial musculature activity [2,3]. Studies have found that unpleasant odorants can increase heart rate [2–6], and stimuli to which individuals attribute high arousal (both pleasant and unpleasant) are associated with increased skin conductance responses, compared to odorants with low arousal [6,7]. As to cognitive implications, odors can influence the emotional processing of stimuli in other modalities, such as facial expressions [8–12]. As described by Marcel Proust in his book “In search of lost time”, odor stimuli presentation is capable of eliciting involuntary and vivid memories. This is an example of the powerful connections between olfaction and emotional memory, probably due to anatomical proximity with the limbic system .
Research on olfactory function have also demonstrated that it has implications on mental health disturbances. For example, schizophrenia patients have difficulty in odorant identification and lower olfactory sensibility. This could be linked to the connection between olfaction and emotion, or simply because of the social and cognitive deficit presented in this condition [13–15]. Clinical depression also might be linked to changes in odorant perception, [16,17]. Kohli et al demonstrated that not just depressive patients had a lower odor identification, but also individuals with olfactory deficits presented depressive symptoms . For some other neural disorders the findings are somewhat controversial, since subjects diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder frequently present impairment of odor recognition . These researches demonstrate the importance of odor-induced affective states and its intricate relation to different aspects of social interaction, in the present paper we considered the recognition of low-intensity facial expressions as a means to study the effects of odour-induced affective states.
Here we sought to bring further contributions to this topic, since previous experiments on identification of facial expressions concomitant with olfactory stimulation show heterogeneous results and are inconclusive in describing how the hedonic valence (pleasantness) of a smell interferes with the recognition of the emotion expressed. For instance, our study indicated that valence-congruent effects might be modulated by the intensity of the affective reaction elicited by the stimuli in both modalities, olfactory and visual, since facial expressions also influence the emotional state of the individuals. Leppänen and Hietanen demonstrated that reaction times (RTs) for identifying a facial expression were significantly shorter when happiness faces were paired with a pleasant odor, compared to unpleasant or neutral, but no differences were found for disgust faces . Similarly, Leleu et al. showed that the covert presence of a pleasant odor (i.e., strawberry) lowered the identification threshold for subtle facial expressions of happiness, and an unpleasant odor (butyric acid) improved the detection of expressions of disgust and anger . However, a third study found that expressions of disgust were identified faster in the presence of an olfactory stimuli, independently of their subjective valence; and expressions of happiness required longer RTs to be recognized, regardless of odor stimulation . These results suggest that both the positive and negative olfactory stimuli facilitated the perception of disgusted faces and no differences were found for happiness expressions. Also, Leleu et al. states that olfactory stimulation can facilitate the identification of low-intensity facial expressions of specific categories of emotion which meaning are congruent to the olfactory context, such as disgust and happiness .
It is important to note that other factors can affect the odor influences on face perception. For example, positive olfactory stimulation can improve the visual attention to happiness expressions, but this effect decreases with time . Also, Cook et al. showed that facial expressions presentation influences the emotional appraisal of odorants . This is an evidence of a bilateral influence between the olfactory and face stimuli. Apparently, there are three important factors modulating the olfactory influences on facial expressions identification. First, the congruency of the hedonic valence between the odorant and the facial expression [8,12]. Since olfactory stimulation per se can induce some basic emotions, such as disgust, but not others, such as sadness, the emotional category of the facial expression can also be considered as a significant factor . Lastly, the study of Cook et al. indicates a bilateral effect in this interaction, demonstrating that facial expressions presentation can also influence subject’s emotional appraisal of odorants . Considering that face stimuli influence the emotional response to odorants, we hypothesized that olfactory stimulation effects in facial expressions recognition could vary for different intensities of facial expressions. To test this hypothesis, we created a matching to sample task using the method described in Leleu et al. and measured the RT for different odor conditions.
Materials and methods
Participants
We based our sample size on similar experiments conducted previously. Sample sizes in these studies were almost fifty participants, but splitted in groups of less than 25 subjects to conduct the analysis [8,12,19]. Other experiments using similar experimental paradigm have also used a sample smaller than twenty-five subjects [21,22]. Our sample was composed by thirty-five participants (15 men and 20 women, mean age = 32.4 ± 9.8 years, range: 20–53 years). All subjects provided written informed consent before the experiment. The study protocol was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo (CEPH-IPUSP; CAAE 80319317.3.0000.5561), Brazil, and it complies with the Declaration of Helsinki for Medical Research involving Human Subjects .
Odor stimuli
The odor stimuli were butyric acid, isoamyl acetate (both from Sigma-Aldrich, Munich, Germany) and lemongrass essence (Fazenda Alpina, São Paulo, Brazil). The control, or neutral, condition consisted of no odorant presentation. Both butyric acid and isoamyl acetate were diluted in mineral oil at a concentration of 10−5 v/v and 10−2 v/v, respectively. The lemongrass essence was used at a 30% dilution, also in mineral oil.
Visual stimuli
We used the images of four models (2, 3, 21, and 36) from the NimStim set who presented facial expressions of happiness, sadness, disgust, fear, anger, and neutral. To obtain images with low-intensity expressions, we followed the protocol described by Leleu et al. to generate an incremental gradient of intensities . Each emotional expression was morphed with the neutral face, resulting in a gradient of 10 images with varying intensity of facial expressions from 10% to 100% (Fig 1A). A total of 51 images of each model were obtained (10 images of each emotion plus the neutral expression). The images were morphed using FaceMorpher software (Luxand, Rockville, MD, USA). As in Leleu et al. , we conducted a pilot study (n = 5) with members from our laboratory team to equalize the intensity between emotions (2 women; mean age = 33.4; range: 25–38). The objective was to measure the lowest intensity in which all participants correctly identified each expression category and create a new linear continuum set in which all emotions were equal (in terms of intensity).
(A) Illustrative example of the linear continuum of morphs created by morphing the neutral expression with the happiness face. (B) Illustrative example of the facial identification task. The large expression in the center is a sadness expression. These images do not correspond to the actual stimuli used in the experiment, and were created just for the purpose of illustrating the facial morphing procedure and the facial identification task in this article. The images used in the experiment (obtained from The NimStim set of facial expressions) are protected by copyrights and not freely available to be published.
In each trial, the target stimulus was presented in the center of the screen, together with six smaller 100% intensity faces that were displayed as references for the judgments on the left side (neutral, happiness, and fear) and right side (disgust, anger, and sadness). All of the images were presented on a gray background (Fig 1B).
Procedure
In a match-to-sample task, the subjects were instructed to look at a fixation cross that was presented for 2000 ms and then indicate the emotion they judged was expressed in the target image (facial expression) by selecting one of the six numbered options using a numeric keyboard. We modified the keyboard, following Schubert, Hagemann, Voss, Schankin, and Bergmann , so the position of the keys would match the positions of the numbers that were assigned to the faces on the screen. The target image only disappeared after the subject chose one of the matching facial expressions. The stimuli were presented and the participants’ responses were recorded using E-Prime 2.0 software (Psychology Software Tools, Sharpsburg, PA, USA).
The participants sat approximately 60 cm from the computer screen and were instructed to respond as soon as they identified the emotional expression. The full experimental session comprised three steps: (1) training, (2) four-block experimental session, and (3) subjective appraisal of the odorants (see Fig 2). The training session included 16 images with the neutral and most intense facial expressions of each emotion (80%, 90%, and 100%). The subjects had to correctly identify at least 13 of the 16 expressions that were presented before the experiment began, and no odor stimulus was presented during training. All subjects were able to correctly identify the minimum number of facial expressions during this training session. The experimental session was divided into four blocks with 51 images from the same model (i.e., 10 intensity levels of each of the basic emotions and the neutral face). The four blocks of trials differed according to the odor condition that was associated with it (butyric acid, isoamyl acetate, lemongrass and no odor). Olfactory stimuli presentation was conducted by applying the odorant into the foam cover of the microphone attached to the headphones . Each odorant was applied in a different headset, and clean (no odorant) headphones were used for the control condition. All odors were absorbed into the microphone immediately before its presentation, between task blocks. The volume of the substance that was applied was 50 μl (one drop) isoamyl acetate and 100 μl (two drops) for butyric acid and lemongrass. The volume of each substance to be applied in the microphone were defined in a pilot study (n = 6), conducted to equalize the intensity of the odors, in which participants rated the intensity of the three odorants after they were applied to the microphone. We used the volume that was established for butyric acid (100 μl) by Leleu et al. as a baseline for this pilot study.
Timeline showing the procedures conducted in pre-experiment, experimental session and post-experiment moments. The stages of the experimental session in which an odor condition was present (butyric acid, isoamyl acetate, lemongrass or no odor) are marked in grey.
Between each block, the subjects performed the Bells test, in which they were requested to mark as many bells as possible on a paper sheet . Odors presentation order was pseudo-randomized using an online website (www.random.org). After the four blocks of trials in the experiment, the experimenter informed the participants about the presence of odorants during the experimental session and requested them to rate the odorants in terms of valence (pleasant or unpleasant). We then organized the data according to the subject`s appraisal of the odorant, for example, the pleasant condition corresponded to the odorant that the participant considered as pleasant. In cases which more than one odorant were considered as pleasant/unpleasant, the odor chosen would be the one that the majority of subjects rated with the same valence. After the procedure, the foam cover of the microphone in each headset was replaced for a new one, in order to avoid fluctuations of odorant concentration between participants.
Data analysis
As described above, we organized the data according to the valence that each subject attributed to the odorants. The final dataset was composed of three conditions, unpleasant, pleasant and neutral. We first verified the threshold for correct identification of each emotion, by computing the lowest intensity in which the participants correctly identified the facial expression. Then we tested the null hypothesis of no difference among thresholds of each emotion by means of a one-way ANOVA with Emotion as within subjects factor. In cases where the subject presented a correct response for a determined intensity but committed errors for expressions of higher intensity, the threshold was established by calculating the mean value between the threshold intensity and the next intensity in which a correct response was presented . For example, if the participant correctly identified the facial expressions with 40% and 60% of intensity but was not able to detect the expression of 50%, the threshold for perception would be (40% + 60%)/2 = 50%. In the second step of the analysis we established two measures to analyze the influence of the olfactory stimulation in subject’s Reaction Time (RT), which were the Reaction Time for different facial expressions intensities and the Minimum Reaction Time for high-intensity facial expressions. A one-way ANOVA was performed using each expression intensity (from 10 to 100) of all emotions to test the null hypothesis of no difference among RT of each facial expressions intensities. The Reaction Time for different facial expressions intensities was established based on the results of the threshold analysis. We organized the data according to three different intensities, the threshold, medium and full expressions. Threshold expressions corresponded to the intensity nearest the mean threshold of all emotions. Conversely, the full category was composed by the photographs with highest expression intensity, represented by 100, and medium facial expressions would be the intensity in the middle of threshold and full expressions. For this measure, we performed a three-way ANOVA with Odor, Emotion and Intensity as within subjects factors. The second measure used to analyze the RT consisted of computing the minimum Reaction Time values for the most intense emotions (80, 90, and 100) in each olfactory stimulation conditions. Using these data, we also performed two-way ANOVAs, with odor and expression as within-subjects factors for testing the null hypothesis of no difference among minimum RT means of the emotion categories. Effect sizes were measured using partial-eta squared (ηp2), and for post hoc analysis we conducted Bonferroni correction. SPSS 23.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used to perform the statistical analyses. Values of p < .05 were considered statistically significant.
Results
First, we organized all data (both Reaction Time and threshold for correct perception) in three different conditions (pleasant, unpleasant and no odor), according to each subject’s appraisal of the odorants.
Threshold for identification of emotion
The Emotion factor was significant (F = 10.69; p < .001; ηp2 = .24). Fig 3 shows the means and standard errors of threshold for each emotion with all odors grouped. Sadness presented a higher threshold (54.3) than all other emotions (from 40.2 to 47.9; p < .05), and happiness (40.2) was significantly lower than anger (47.9; p < .005) in this measure. The differences between the other emotions were not significant. The mean threshold of all emotions grouped was 46.3 (SE 1.88), which means that the 50-intensity expressions are the best to represent a threshold intensity between the stimuli presented.
Mean intensities and standard errors for correct identification of each emotion for all odor conditions grouped. Sadness presented the highest perception threshold between the emotions, and fear was significantly higher than happiness. The significant differences are illustrated by asterisk brackets.
Reaction time for different facial expressions intensities
The means and standard errors of RT in each intensity for all emotions are illustrated in Fig 4. The Intensity factor was significant (F = 15.49; p < 001; ηp2 = .31) as the 10 and 100 intensities led to the lowest and highest RT means, respectively. For low intensities, (10 to 40) the RT means increased along with the facial expression intensity, forming an ascending curve, until it reaches the threshold level and the values start to decrease. in other words, after threshold level of a facial expression intensity is reached the RT tends to decrease resulting in a descending curve.
RT means and standard errors for each intensity with all emotions and odor conditions grouped.
We first established the threshold, medium and full intensities of facial expressions. Given that 50 was the intensity nearest the mean threshold of all emotions grouped (46.3), it was considered as the threshold intensity. Since there were no facial expressions which corresponded to the middle intensity between threshold (50) and full intensities (100), we decided to use 70 as medium intensity because it showed greater RT difference to the 100, as shown by Fig 4, compared to 80 intensity.
Results of the three-way ANOVA, using Odor, Emotion and Intensity (50, 70 and 100) as factors within subjects showed that the interaction between the three factors (Odor vs Emotion vs. Intensity) was significant (F = 1.68; p < .05; ηp2 = .04). Also, the interaction between factors Emotion vs. Intensity (F = 2.13; p < .05; ηp2 = .05) was also significant. This demonstrates that the RT means varied according to the emotion and intensity of the expression. The 50 intensity was significantly lower than others (both p < .001), and there was also a significant distance between 70 and 100 (p < .05). Hence, the highest difference in RT means was between 50 and 70 intensities. Emotion (F = 4.73; p < .005; ηp2 = .12) and Intensity (F = 25.59; p < .001; ηp2 = .42) factors reached statistical significance, but the Odor factor (F < 1) and the interactions between Odor vs. Intensity and Odor vs. Emotion were not. The one-way ANOVAs for each emotion revealed that the descending curve of RT means along intensities (threshold, medium and full) were significantly different between olfactory conditions for the disgust and fear expressions, but not for the other emotional categories. For disgust expressions (Fig 5), both pleasant and unpleasant conditions enhanced the angle of the descending curve across intensities. The difference between the highest and lowest RT mean along intensities for disgust expressions was 2025.6 ms for the unpleasant condition and 1826.6 ms in the pleasant. In contrast, the no odor condition only presented a 528.3 ms difference between the intensities. The unpleasant condition significantly enhanced the angle of the curve for fear expressions (Fig 5), presenting a mean difference of 1154.2 ms between intensities, but not in the pleasant and no odorant conditions (113 ms and 454 ms, respectively). S1 Fig illustrates the mean RT differences and standard errors between the intensities of happiness, anger and sadness expressions in each odor condition. Although results did not present any significant differences for happiness, it is interesting to note that it was the only emotional category which presented the lower RT means in the pleasant condition for all intensities analyzed. Also, the highest difference in RT means between the intensities was found in the pleasant condition (727.3 ms), (459.6 ms for unpleasant and 708.1 ms for no odor condition).
Graphs showing RT means and standard errors for disgust and fear at threshold, medium and high expression intensities in different odor conditions.
Minimum reaction time for high-intensity facial expressions (80, 90 and 100)
To compare the time for identification of high-intensity expressions, we computed the minimum RT value between 80, 90 and 100 intensities of each emotion in each condition. As illustrated by Fig 6, sadness and happiness significantly differed in this measure. Since the mean values of minimum RT for all emotions were significantly below the 2000 ms, responses greater than 3000 ms were considered as outliers and excluded from the next step of this analysis.
Means and standard errors of the minimum RT of each emotion for all odor conditions grouped. Happiness was recognized faster than sadness expressions (p < .005), but no other differences between emotions were observed. Significant differences are illustrated by asterisk brackets.
A two-way ANOVA was conducted using Odor (unpleasant, pleasant and no odor) and Emotion (happiness, fear, disgust, anger and sadness) as within-subjects factors (Fig 7). Results show that the interaction between factors (Odor vs. Emotion) was significant (F = 2.26; p < .05; ηp2 = .08). The Emotion factor also reached statistical significance (F = 4.13; p < .005; ηp2 = .14), but the odor factor did not. The One-way ANOVAs for each odor condition confirmed that the Emotion factor was significant only for the pleasant condition (F = 6.82; p < .001; ηp2 = .19), with happiness (983.7 ms) expressions presenting significantly lower RT than all emotions (all p < .05) except for disgust (1218.5 ms) (p > .05), but not in the neutral and unpleasant conditions. This means that the recognition speed superiority of happiness expressions compared to the other emotions were not present in the unpleasant condition. Although the emotion factor did not reach statistical significance in the no odor condition, pairwise comparisons showed a relevant difference between happiness (1083.1 ms) and anger (1260 ms) (p < .05).
Means and standard errors of the minimum RT for each emotion according to the odor condition.
Discussion
Our study has found significant effects of olfactory stimulation in participants’ Reaction Time (RT) when completing a facial expressions identification task. More specifically, we showed that the odor stimuli have enhanced the RT differences between the intensities of fear and disgust facial expressions. Reaction Time decline following the increase of facial expression intensity varied depending on the odor condition presented. It is important to note that, since participants varied substantially in their threshold levels for each emotion category, we analyzed the RT of both correct and incorrect answers. Hence, our data is indicating the mean time subjects needed to complete the identification process in each odor condition and facial expression intensity. This means that the results address how odorant stimulation can modulate the emotional processing speed of facial expressions, and not the interference on the identification rate.
As we expected, the greatest differences of RT occurred between the threshold and medium intensity for all emotions in general, as full expressions results were more similar to the medium intensity of expressions. Leppänen. & Hietanen used low intensity facial expressions in order to increase the chances of participants emotional states interfere in the categorization of expression . We believe that, after threshold intensity, the responses became more reliant in external (sensory) factors than internal emotional judgment. This is why, in our opinion, odorants probably influence differently the processing of facial expressions in these two distinct situations. There was a higher decrease in the RT mean of fear expressions between the threshold and medium intensities in the negative olfactory stimulation than other conditions. This pattern of results was repeated for other emotions, but in different olfactory conditions. In the case of disgust expressions, both the positive and negative odor stimuli presented a significant decline in RT after the threshold intensity that was not reproduced in the control condition . Although it did not reach statistical significance, the happiness expressions showed the same pattern of results. Higher differences of RT means between intensities were found in the pleasant condition, compared to control and unpleasant. Compared to the control condition, unpleasant odors showed the same pattern for the RT of fear and disgust. At the threshold levels, it slowered responses, as if it was extending the stimuli processing or retarding responses. However, at higher intensities the unpleasant odor presented faster responses than other conditions, as if it was accelerating responses or the processing of the faces. The positive olfactory stimulation presented this pattern of results only for the disgust expressions, and reduced the descending curve of fear category as if it was expediting the responses for the threshold intensity. We believe that, in low intensities, odorants may have induced extended processing of stimuli in order to reach precision. At higher levels of expression the task is less dependent on internal processing, and congruency effects between olfactory stimuli and the facial expressions may act in order to accelerate responses since there is no necessity of higher processing (appraisal/judging).
Considering our hypothesis that odor effects on emotion recognition may be different depending on facial expressions intensity, we also analyzed the minimum Reaction Time needed to complete the task for high-intensity expressions. The happiness facial expressions were processed faster than other emotional categories, corroborating with previous experiments , but this effect also varied according to the olfactory condition presented. Compared to the no odor condition, the happiness superiority was lower in the presence of unpleasant olfactory stimulation and higher in the pleasant condition. Considering these results, we believe that unpleasant odors reduced the differences in RT between happiness and other emotions, but the pleasant stimuli enhanced the discrepancy. It is interesting to note that disgust and anger were the only emotions that did not differ from happiness in the pleasant condition. Somehow, this is in line with previous researches that did not find impairment in the perception of disgust during pleasant olfactory stimulation [12,19].
Similar to our results, Seubert et al. also found that both pleasant and unpleasant olfactory stimulation, independently of its hedonic valence, have enhanced the difference in subjects RT between expression intensities . We suggest that, in a real world situation, the presence of an odor enhances the chances of people around to express facial expressions, considering human emotional reactivity in response to olfactory stimulation. Considering that disgust expressions were not influenced by the valence nature of olfactory stimuli, not just in our experiment, but also in Seubert et al. , we believe that a semantic element could play a role in this phenomenon. The pleasantness of an odorant is a subjective measure, as two people can have different emotional reactions to the same odor. Therefore, it is not unusual to see someone expressing a disgusted face while smelling an odorant that is considered as positively valenced by another person. That is why it may not be an advantage in social situations if the positive olfactory stimulation impairs the recognition of disgust facial expressions. Actually, the opposite would be a more logical explanation. In the presence of an odor, individuals may become more aware of emotional reactions that are congruent to the context of olfactory stimulation, which are happiness and disgust.
There may be other factors modelling the odor influences in emotion perception through facial expressions. In Cook et al. , happy and disgusted faces were rated as more pleasant in the positive olfactory stimulation, and less pleasant in negative odor condition. But the most important result of Cook’s experiment is that odorants were rated as more positive, in terms of hedonic valence, when presented with happiness expressions and as more intense in the case of disgust faces. This demonstrates a bilateral influence in the phenomenon, which highlights the importance of stimulus intensity selection, both visual and olfactory, and indicates that such aspect could also be one of the reasons for the contradictory results of previous studies. It was not just the set of odor stimuli that was not standardized, but also the visual stimuli set and its intensities (facial expressions). Different sets of faces probably differ in terms of the intensity of facial expressions, and possibly impact the emotional response to the odorants differently. As such, the differences in odorant and visual stimulation may be a contributing factor for the contradicting results in this field of research.
One example of the influence of stimulus selection for experiments involving odors was demonstrated by Pichon et al. . In two experiments, these researchers used two groups of odorants to analyze emotional reactions, both subjective and physiological. The authors found more pronounced differences in physiological reactions between odors with higher hedonic contrast, although differences in subjective valence were present for both groups of odorants. The experiment that used a group of odorants (perfumes) with low valence contrast found no significant variations in physiological reactions between the odors that were rated subjectively with opposite valence. Therefore, for a group of olfactory stimuli with low valence contrast, subjects may evaluate an odor as unpleasant but may not present significant differences in physiological reactions compared with stimuli that are considered as pleasant. Future studies that use odors to elicit emotional reactions should consider promoting the highest hedonic contrast between stimuli.
The results from this research indicate that odorant effects can also highlight divergence in the processing time of facial expressions with different intensities. The presence of an odor enhanced the RT differences between threshold and higher facial expressions intensities, which could indicate a bilateral effect as described by Cook et al. . The odorant influences the emotional response to the face but, considering the results of Cook et al. , the facial expressions can also elicit affective responses that influence the pleasantness rate of the olfactory stimulation. Therefore, compared to high-intensity facial expressions, threshold-intensity emotional faces may have a weaker influence on the affective reaction to the odorant. This means that, when a face is presented with a valence-congruent odorant (happy face and pleasant odor, for example), the facilitation effect may also depend on the intensity of the facial expression. If it is a low-intensity facial expression the affective categorization will possibly be slower and/or less effective, compared to a high-intensity one. The odorant stimulation in our study enhanced the RT differences between the facial expression intensities of fear and disgust. Nevertheless, high intensity facial expressions showed a different pattern of results, which may indicate that odorant influences may have varied between different facial expressions intensities. The bilateral hypothesis may explain why there is a significant divergence between the results of experiments in this field of research. In a recent review, Syrjänen et al discuss that individual differences in odor sensitivity related to age, gender or culture may also play a significant role in the phenomenon, and an experimental standardization is needed such as in the measures, testing procedures and also stimuli , which corroborates with our results. The differences in the affective impact of odorants and facial expressions, due to its intensity or intrinsic properties, between experiments in this area may influence the bilateral interplay between olfactory and visual emotional stimulation that is probably the key to this phenomenon.
In conclusion, although past studies have highlighted the role of hedonic valence in this phenomenon, there are several other factors that are possibly involved. Our results demonstrated that odors can induce an emotional response that may alter the emotional processing of faces, but this effect probably vary according to the intensity of the facial expression. This variation could be the result of a bilateral effect between the olfactory and visual stimuli, since the facial expressions can also interfere in the emotional processing of odorants . Hence, the high-intensity facial expressions possibly attenuate or enhance the odorants’ emotional priming effect in the identification of emotions on faces. Future studies should be careful with methodological differences such as the visual and olfactory stimuli set and its emotional intensity, in order to standardize the method as much as possible to avoid such kinds of difference. The results from this research indicate that odor effects in the identification of faces are also modulated by the intensity of facial expressions, due to a bilateral emotional influence of both visual and olfactory stimulation. Our results also corroborate with the global perspective of the odor influence in facial expression recognition, since fear and sadness are emotions whose meaning are not in line with odor contexts.
Supporting information
S1 Fig. Analysis of RT between intensities for happiness, anger and sadness.
Graphs showing RT means and standard errors for happiness, anger and sadness at threshold, medium and high expression intensities in different odor conditions.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264261.s001
(TIF)
S1 Table. Reaction times, thresholds and odorant evaluation for each participant.
Table showing individual data of the Reaction Times for each facial expression intensity, the thresholds for correct identification of each emotion and the subjective appraisals of odorants.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264261.s002
(XLSX)
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on a previous version of this paper.
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- 5. He W, Boesveldt S, de Graaf C, de Wijk R. Dynamics of autonomic nervous system responses and facial expressions to odors. Frontiers in Psychology. 2014;5. pmid:24478738
- 6. Pichon A, Coppin G, Cayeux I, Porcherot C, Sander D, Delplanque S. Sensitivity of Physiological Emotional Measures to Odors Depends on the Product and the Pleasantness Ranges Used. Frontiers in Psychology. 2015;6. pmid:25759672
- 7. Bensafi M. Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Odours: the Role of Pleasantness and Arousal. Chemical Senses. 2002;27(8):703–709. pmid:12379594
- 8. Leleu A, Demily C, Franck N, Durand K, Schaal B, Baudouin J. The Odor Context Facilitates the Perception of Low-Intensity Facial Expressions of Emotion. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(9):e0138656. pmid:26390036
- 9. Cook S, Kokmotou K, Soto V, Fallon N, Tyson-Carr J, Thomas A et al. Pleasant and unpleasant odour-face combinations influence face and odour perception: An event-related potential study. Behavioural Brain Research. 2017;333:304–313. pmid:28716674
- 10. Ohla K, Höchenberger R, Freiherr J, Lundström J. Superadditive and Subadditive Neural Processing of Dynamic Auditory-Visual Objects in the Presence of Congruent Odors. Chemical Senses. 2017;43(1):35–44. pmid:29045615
- 11. Syrjänen E, Wiens S, Fischer H, Zakrzewska M, Wartel A, Larsson M et al. Background Odors Modulate N170 ERP Component and Perception of Emotional Facial Stimuli. Frontiers in Psychology. 2018;9. pmid:29410642
- 12. Leppänen J, Hietanen J. Affect and Face Perception: Odors Modulate the Recognition Advantage of Happy Faces. Emotion. 2003;3(4):315–326. pmid:14674826
- 13. Zou L, Zhou H, Lui S, Wang Y, Wang Y, Gan J et al. Olfactory identification deficit and its relationship with hedonic traits in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and individuals with schizotypy. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 2018;83:137–141. pmid:29371026
- 14. Chen X, Xu J, Li B, Guo W, Zhang J, Hu J. Olfactory impairment in first-episode schizophrenia: a case-control study, and sex dimorphism in the relationship between olfactory impairment and psychotic symptoms. BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1).
- 15. de Nijs J, Meijer J, de Haan L, Meijer C, Bruggeman R, van Haren N et al. Associations between olfactory identification and (social) cognitive functioning: A cross-sectional study in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. Psychiatry Research. 2018;266:147–151. pmid:29864614
- 16. Croy I, Hummel T. Olfaction as a marker for depression. Journal of Neurology. 2016;264(4):631–638. pmid:27393116
- 17. Kohli P, Soler Z, Nguyen S, Muus J, Schlosser R. The Association Between Olfaction and Depression: A Systematic Review. Chemical Senses. 2016;41(6):479–486. pmid:27170667
- 18. Tonacci A, Billeci L, Tartarisco G, Ruta L, Muratori F, Pioggia G et al. Olfaction in autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Child Neuropsychology. 2015;23(1):1–25. pmid:26340690
- 19. Seubert J, Kellermann T, Loughead J, Boers F, Brensinger C, Schneider F et al. Processing of disgusted faces is facilitated by odor primes: A functional MRI study. NeuroImage. 2010;53(2):746–756. pmid:20627130
- 20. Syrjänen E, Fischer H, Liuzza MT, Lindholm T, Olofsson JK. A review of the effects of valenced odors on face perception and evaluation. Iperception. 2021;12(2):204166952110095. pmid:33996021
- 21. Syrjänen E, Liuzza M, Fischer H, Olofsson J. Do Valenced Odors and Trait Body Odor Disgust Affect Evaluation of Emotion in Dynamic Faces?. Perception. 2017;46(12):1412–1426. pmid:28708027
- 22. Dematte M, Osterbauer R, Spence C. Olfactory Cues Modulate Facial Attractiveness. Chemical Senses. 2007;32(6):603–610. pmid:17507456
- 23. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. JAMA. 2013;310(20):2191. pmid:24141714
- 24. Tottenham N, Tanaka J, Leon A, McCarry T, Nurse M, Hare T et al. The NimStim set of facial expressions: Judgments from untrained research participants. Psychiatry Research. 2009;168(3):242–249. pmid:19564050
- 25. Schubert A, Hagemann D, Voss A, Schankin A, Bergmann K. Decomposing the relationship between mental speed and mental abilities. Intelligence. 2015;51:28–46.
- 26. Gauthier L., Dehaut F., & Joanette Y. The bells test: a quantitative and qualitative test for visual neglect. International journal of clinical neuropsychology. 1989;11(2):49–54. | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0264261 |
What Is Stress?
Stress is a process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events appraised as overwhelming or threatening to one’s well-being. The scientific study of how stress and emotional factors impact health and well-being is called health psychology, a field devoted to studying the general impact of psychological factors on health. The body’s primary physiological response during stress, the fight-or-flight response, was first identified in the early 20th century by Walter Cannon. The fight-or-flight response involves the coordinated activity of both the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Hans Selye, a noted endocrinologist, referred to these physiological reactions to stress as part of general adaptation syndrome, which occurs in three stages: alarm reaction (fight-or-flight reactions begin), resistance (the body begins to adapt to continuing stress), and exhaustion (adaptive energy is depleted, and stress begins to take a physical toll).
Stressors
Stressors can be chronic (long term) or acute (short term), and can include traumatic events, significant life changes, daily hassles, and situations in which people are frequently exposed to challenging and unpleasant events. Many potential stressors include events or situations that require us to make changes in our lives, such as a divorce or moving to a new residence. Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to measure stress by assigning a number of life change units to life events that typically require some adjustment, including positive events. Although the SRRS has been criticized on a number of grounds, extensive research has shown that the accumulation of many LCUs is associated with increased risk of illness. Many potential stressors also include daily hassles, which are minor irritations and annoyances that can build up over time. In addition, jobs that are especially demanding, offer little control over one’s working environment, or involve unfavorable working conditions can lead to job strain, thereby setting the stage for job burnout.
Stress and Illness
Psychophysiological disorders are physical diseases that are either brought about or worsened by stress and other emotional factors. One of the mechanisms through which stress and emotional factors can influence the development of these diseases is by adversely affecting the body’s immune system. A number of studies have demonstrated that stress weakens the functioning of the immune system. Cardiovascular disorders are serious medical conditions that have been consistently shown to be influenced by stress and negative emotions, such as anger, negative affectivity, and depression. Other psychophysiological disorders that are known to be influenced by stress and emotional factors include asthma and tension headaches.
Regulation of Stress
When faced with stress, people must attempt to manage or cope with it. In general, there are two basic forms of coping: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Those who use problem-focused coping strategies tend to cope better with stress because these strategies address the source of stress rather than the resulting symptoms. To a large extent, perceived control greatly impacts reaction to stressors and is associated with greater physical and mental well-being. Social support has been demonstrated to be a highly effective buffer against the adverse effects of stress. Extensive research has shown that social support has beneficial physiological effects for people, and it seems to influence immune functioning. However, the beneficial effects of social support may be related to its influence on promoting healthy behaviours.
The Pursuit of Happiness
Happiness is conceptualized as an enduring state of mind that consists of the capacity to experience pleasure in daily life, as well as the ability to engage one’s skills and talents to enrich one’s life and the lives of others. Although people around the world generally report that they are happy, there are differences in average happiness levels across nations. Although people have a tendency to overestimate the extent to which their happiness set points would change for the better or for the worse following certain life events, researchers have identified a number of factors that are consistently related to happiness. In recent years, positive psychology has emerged as an area of study seeking to identify and promote qualities that lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in our lives. These components include positive affect, optimism, and flow.
Personal Application Questions
- Think of a time in which you and others you know (family members, friends, and classmates) experienced an event that some viewed as threatening and others viewed as challenging. What were some of the differences in the reactions of those who experienced the event as threatening compared to those who viewed the event as challenging? Why do you think there were differences in how these individuals judged the same event?
- Suppose you want to design a study to examine the relationship between stress and illness, but you cannot use the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. How would you go about measuring stress? How would you measure illness? What would you need to do in order to tell if there is a cause-effect relationship between stress and illness?
- If a family member or friend of yours has asthma, talk to that person (if he or she is willing) about their symptom triggers. Does this person mention stress or emotional states? If so, are there any commonalities in these asthma triggers?
- Try to think of an example in which you coped with a particular stressor by using problem-focused coping. What was the stressor? What did your problem-focused efforts involve? Were they effective?
- Think of an activity you participate in that you find engaging and absorbing. For example, this might be something like playing video games, reading, or a hobby. What are your experiences typically like while engaging in this activity? Do your experiences conform to the notion of flow? If so, how? Do you think these experiences have enriched your life? Why or why not? | https://opentextbooks.concordia.ca/fundamentalsofhealthandphysicalactivity/chapter/2-8-8-summary/ |
I keep trying to capture the essence of cognitive behavior management changework in its most simple and essential form. It seems to me that the constructs are simple, but that the field keeps trying to expand exponentially the language used to define it. As an example, I have now used the term cognitive behavior management to cover the range of activities from cognitive therapy [which generally is defined as correcting cognitive errors], cognitive reconstruction [which is generally defined as dealing with core beliefs] rational emotive therapy [which is generally defined as challenging irrational thoughts with rational logic], Psychosocial Rehabilitation [which is an actity oriented cognitive behavioral program]; NeuroLinguistic Programming [which defies definition]; occassionally psychoeducational [which includes social skill building]; cognitive behavior therapies [which seek to alter the way client construe themselves and their experiences; behavior therapy [which employs a wide range of methods nearly all of which overlaps other mentioned processes], under a single rubric.
All of these interventions use the same set of techniques and procedures and there is little use of defining them through different terminology except for the glorification of their creators and practioneers. We have in the past used the term cognitive rehabilitation, but increasining we found that people considered that different from all of the other terms. We selected rehabiltiation since it means to re-qualify. Thus, requalification of our thoughts seems to have some merit as our generalizaed term.
In attempting to organize the factors of this aspect cognitive behavior management , we have already identified in other writings, the components of Awareness, Attendance, Analysis, Alternatives and Adaption for correcting cogntive errors. To improve this outline, we need to be more specific about what we are being aware of, attending to, analyzing, finding alternatives for and adapting. This material is generated as an attempt to develop these responses in a manner which is generic to all helping situations.
At least two factors need to be articulated as background before we continue. The first is that in broad strokes, we consider three primary emotional contexts. These consist of fear, attraction, and anger. While there are many, many shades of variation and combination, these seem to us to be the primary emotional contexts. We can think of the three primary colors and how they are shaded into other colors as our analogy. To this configuration, we suggest that the major problems in living are easily placed within the confines of this primary triad: angry antisocial conduct, depression or anxiety, which fit neatly into these emotional contexts. The blurring of contexts into new colors can be seen in such problems as post traumatic stress, which embodies traumatic loss with fear of recurrence.
The primary triad context also helps us with a framework for evaluation as attraction has the continuum of loss to gain of a beloved object or experience. We either have lost, think we will lose, suspect we have lost or gained. Anger or its absence, on the other hand creates a direct interpersonal continum from hostile or amiable relations with others. Fear, of course separates into a continuum of threat to comfort. In this simplistic fashion, it seems that we can consider the details of each of the problems in living in similar categories.
The second factor is one best articulated by Eric Klinger . He suggest an “extensive linkage between emotion and cognition at both the molar level, on which moods and cognition influence each other, and at a much more molecular level on which emotional and cognitive processes are intertwined in the production of individual emotional reactions and cognitive events. Both emotion and cognition are in turn determined by motivational state [emphasis added] – by the goals to which people have committed and the incentives available to them.”
The significance of goals is, in my opinion, the most undervalued construct in all of psychology. Klinger goes on to state that it appears that “mood and cognition affect each other bidirectionally.” “What people attend to, recall, and think about is determined to a substantial extent by their current concerns, meaning the nonconscious internal states that correspond to pursuing particular goals. When we encounter cues associated with our goal pursuits, these cues tend to elicit cognitive processing. If our concerns are predominantly about avoiding threats, as in anxiety states, we keep noticing and thinking about cues of threat; if we are depressed while disengaging from a loss, we keep noticing and thinking about cues of loss and helplessness.”
Thus we must combine the concern [motivation] as linking directly to cognition which is interactive with emotions, which can be clarified by the following figure
emotion cognition
Motivation, the ability to develop a purpose or meaning for life, may be the single, most influential factor to quality living. We will not reiterate here the seminal work of Viktor Frankl in developing a meaning for life, a telos [for the sake of which] a life is lived. Without a clarity of meaning, purpose , and goals – the ability to decide what is valued or not valued becomes very difficult, if not impossible. Klinger articulates what we have stated elsewhere that emotions are an evaluative and valuing process. “…emotions assign values to the events that elicit them, or they reflect or even constitute those values. Unlike cognitions, emotional responses incorporate a valence and a mobilizing mechanism, an innately specified linkage of specific stimuli with arousal and action tendencies. Thus emotion transforms information into behaviorally meaningful evaluation.”
Cognition, on the other hand can be viewed as analyzing ambiguous data when the person does not know what value to assign. Therefore, cognition mediates emotion, which mediates behavior or action.
From a clinical perspective, then we have an opportunity to set the stage for what values are to be assigned to various cues, what cues will be attended to, and what memories will be recalled, by focusing the individual on their own intentions. It is with this in mind, we start the cognitive outline.
Awareness
While traditionally the focus is on awareness of present or current traits of thoughts and feelings; or states of beliefs and moods, we suggest that one might consider starting at the core of the problem – the mental state of intentionality. Without a defining summum bonum [life’s greatest good], there is not ability to measure right action and without right action, there is no coherence. As we have stated elsewhere goals are hierarchal in nature with the superordinate goal at the top, and a host of sub- and sub-sub goals below. The goals tend to be coherent, so that the events today are valued and the automatic thoughts are in accord with the superordinate frame of reference. We don’t normally think of this as a goal structure, since it is nonconscious. But if we believe certain things about ourselves and other, we respond to those things in ways that are coherent with us [our beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc which comprise our individual personality]. It cannot be any other way. We are the sum total of our thoughts.
It is not a trivial understanding that people with the most severe and persistent problems in living have the least well formed superordinate goals. In fact, merely raising the question of goals might trigger for the first time a conscious awareness of the lack. Certainly the angry and depressed will tend to indicate that they have no goals and they don’t expect to be around very long. This is the fringe of homicidal and suicidal thinking from which there is no continued life. The severely anxious may have the same expectation of the end, but it is out of their control. The request to focus on the future, on the purpose, on the goals and intentions; the awareness of themselves in the cosmos is a movement away from the pathos of their lives.
This redirection also is an attempt to frame the components of awareness: perceptions in the forms of cues and recall; automatic and core thoughts; the sensations of the body; and the specific intentions to be applied.
Attendance
Since 95% of what occurs is nonconscious, attendance indicates what we voluntary bring into consciousness. Clinicians have many methods of ensuring attendance by clients such as journals, counting, mantras, etc. What is used to ensure attendance is not as important as to what is attended to. As we have indicated we need to have clients attend to:
Cues and recall: what is it that the person perceives in the inner or outer world? If s/he is always seeing threats, it is important to quantify the number and qualify the intensity of these threats. This is so that s/he will have material observations to analyze.
Body sensations: what are the physical feelings that occur when an event is experienced? Does the hair stand up on end? Is there a feeling in the pit of the stomach? Do the palms sweat? When does this happen? How often does it happen? What is the frequency and intensity? Do we have appropriate language and concepts to identify it?
Automatic thoughts: when cues or memories are being consciously attended to: what thoughts do they engender? What emotional labels are used: rage, displeasure, bitterness? What are the attributions made about cause and effect? What judgments are made about self and/or others?
Intentionality: what were you intending to accomplish? Was the experience a barrier or support?
Analysis
Analysis occurs pragmatically. Is the element helpful or harmful to the individual and his/her goals? Are they rewarded or punished by the element being analyzed? Is the cue, thought or sensation a threat or comfort; loss or gain; or indicative of a hostile or amiable relation? One may also examine whether the judgement or valuation is true, in the sense of examining the context of the element and the frame of reference.
Cues and recall: What other cues or memories exist in the inner or outer environment that may support or deny the perception made? Through metaperception, the person can be asked to relive the situation from associated or dissociated positions to see if any other observations can be made. They can be asked to review their journals to see if other aspects exist which were overlooked.
Body sensations: are the sensations pleasant or unpleasant? Are the sensations connected to specific types of events? When pleasant sensations occur, what is happening. What labels are used to define the sensations? How frequently do they occur and in what intensity? Is there anything that reduces the intensity of unpleasant feelings? Is there any way to avoid events and experiences which cause unpleasant feelings? Is such avoidance helpful? Is there any way to increase the occurrence of pleasant feelings?
Automatic thoughts: Do these thoughts fall into the ‘cognitive error’ list? What kinds of cognitive errors occur? Are there one or two consistent errors? Are the thoughts correct/true? Are they helpful?
Intentionality: Does the concern ideation and subsequent thoughts and feelings interfere with the intentions/goals/summum bonum? Do you have a clear goal implementation plan?
Alternatives:
If the analysis demonstrates that the concern ideation and subsequent thought and feeling are interfering with the intentions; the client clearly needs to seek alternatives or suffer the continuation of the problem. If hostile attribution continues to create difficult interpersonal relations – it must either be changed or there will continue to be such interpersonal problems which are barriers to the client reaching his/her goals.
Cues and recall: it is difficult to change perceptions until one changes the concern ideation. In order to do this, several prostheses might be used:
- clients might develop mantras which self instruct to look for other cues or to avoid accepting the present cue structure.
- clients might keep journals in which they record the cue and an alternative cue.
- clients might metapercieve common events in which problem cues occur and perceive them with other more positive cues occurring
Body sensations:
- clients might reconsider the label that they have applied to the sensations generated: changing the intensity of the feeling.
- clients might metapercieve the experience and examine the sub-modalities of the body sensations and change them.
- clients can practice and use relaxation techniques to change the intensity of the sensations.
Automatic thoughts:
- clients can create alternative thoughts which are made into a mantra to be repeated consistently [reframing].
- clients can use journals to slow down the thoughts so that they can be reconsidered.
Intentionality: clients can revise their goal implementation plans to incorporate the alternative strategies. Clients can develop self reward statements for all achievements of implementation steps.
Adaption
Clients will implement their goal implementation plans using all of the alternative measures in their arsenal. This process is formatted as a self management strategy in which the person self instructs, self evaluates and self rewards. When difficulties arise, clients can ‘future pace’ to develop anticipatory strategies for events and experiences which are difficult and to inoculate themselves against relapse.
Closure
The client must ultimately choose to resolve his/her problems in living. There are many reasons why change may not be perceived as beneficial. Hopefully the clinical practitioner has been able to identify these and resolve them However, it always boils down to client choice. They can choose to be crazy. | https://cognitivebehaviormanagement.com/practice-concepts/generic-cognitive-behavior-management-practice/ |
The recollection of an event that has not occurred is said to be a false memory. When the belief in these false memories become so strong that it deeply affects the individual’s identity and relationships, then it is said to be a false memory syndrome.
False memories have known to be a very common phenomenon. In everyday life, people often have distorted memories that they actually believe to be true. In criminal trials, many a times, eyewitness testimonies are based on false memories created due to misleading information. The cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has even created false memories in experimental conditions.
Even though false memories are very common, false memory syndrome is suggested to be quite rare. The cognitive psychologist John Kihlstrom describes false memory syndrome as a condition in which a person’s identity and interpersonal relationships are centered around a memory of traumatic experience, which is objectively false but yet the person strongly believes in it. The syndrome, according to Kihlstrom, may be diagnosed when the memory is so deeply ingrained that it orients the entire personality and lifestyle of the individual, leading to disruption in all kinds of adaptive behavior.
The concept of false memory syndrome emerged in the early and mid- 1990s. A number of young girls had filed complaints against either their father or a close relative for sexually abusing them during their childhood. It was found later that there was no physical evidence regarding their complaint. A further investigation revealed that their claims of being sexually abused in their childhood were actually false memories that were implanted during therapy involving recovered memories.
In a number of cases, it has been found that false memories occur due to suggestion based therapies like hypnosis or hypnotic therapy, which involves recovery of lost memories. Hypnosis is a state of consciousness that is characterized by intense absorption with internal experience and a voluntary suspension of normal awareness of outside stimuli. In this dissociated state of focused awareness, it is possible to influence voluntary and involuntary behavior through suggestion. During such therapeutic sessions, a therapist, if not highly competent, leads the individual to believe something that may not be true.
These suggestions by the therapist are based on the responses of the individual, while being under hypnosis. It has often been found that such responses have no relation with their own life experiences, but may in fact be something related to another person’s life or something that they have read in popular media.
Hypnosis or hypnotic therapy, in fact, has been found to be one the major factors leading to the development of false memory syndrome. The recovered memories that people believe to have after hypnosis, are often something that comes out during the therapy due to its highly suggestive nature; it has nothing to do with any event of the individual’s life. Hypnotic therapy, at times, has been found to make people falsely believe in paranormal experiences and reincarnation.
If hypnosis is one of the major causes of false memory syndrome, then the personality trait of hypnotizability becomes associated with false memory syndrome. Hypnotizability is the hypnotic susceptibility of an individual or the extent to which an individual can experience hypnosis.
Hypnotizability is a stable trait. Research suggests there are individual differences in hypnotizability with people varying from low to high levels of hypnotizability. Among the general population about 15 to 20 percent of people are said to be high on hypnotizability.
Hypnotizability seems to be affected by childhood experiences of normal dissociation and is found to be stable through adulthood. The characteristics associated with high levels of hypnotizability are positive constructive day dreaming, use of vivid imagery, greater intensity of affect, and longer durations of alpha brain waves.
False memory syndrome generally occurs due to hypnosis. Therefore, it can be argued that a high level of hypnotizability – being highly susceptible to hypnosis – is associated with false memory syndrome.
People high on hypnotizability are also highly imaginative to the extent that they become deeply involved in the ongoing fantasy activity of hypnotic induction. This aspect of being high on hypnotizability also makes such people prone to false memory syndrome as it makes them tend to believe events that have never occurred.
The tendency to believe in fantasies and being involved in excessive day dreaming are also characteristics of the trait of fantasy proneness, which has been found to have a strong association with false memory syndrome.
The personality characteristic of fantasy proneness has been the focus of research in false memory syndrome. People high on fantasy proneness are known for their profound fantasy lives. Such people spend a lot of time in fantasizing. They have a lot of difficulty in differentiated between the real and imagined life. Many a times, when they report their fantasies, they feel as if they are reporting real events.
Fantasy proneness has been found to be associated with false memories of being sexually assaulted and pregnancies. It has also been found to be associated to a wide range of paranormal experiences such as alien abduction, out of body experiences, and sightings of ghosts or spirits.
There is also a strong association between fantasy proneness and hypnotizability. People high on fantasy proneness are highly susceptible to hypnosis. This association of fantasy proneness with hypnotizability also makes it prone to false memory syndrome.
Apart from hypnotizability and fantasy proneness, in some instances, extreme levels of the traits of openness to experience and neuroticism have been found to be associated with false memory syndrome. Openness to experience includes many facets such as curiosity, creativity, preference for variety, and being highly imaginative. Neuroticism is about the emotional stability or instability of an individual. It includes anxiety, fear, moodiness, worry, loneliness, etc. Specifically, neuroticism with respect to psychopathology has been found to be associated with false memory syndrome.
False memory syndrome is a rare phenomenon. It is not yet recognized by classification systems like Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD). However, there has been a lot of research on false memory syndrome in the field of parapsychology – the field of psychology concerned with the scientific investigation of paranormal and psychic phenomenon. The personality traits of hypnotizability and fantasy proneness, and to some extent extreme levels of openness to experience and neuroticism have been found to be associated with false memory syndrome.
Interesting article. I was thinking it was similar to what was described here: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/341/6144/387, but it is different :). | http://www.lifeandpsychology.com/2016/10/personality-false-memories-and-false.html |
A number of factors compound the problem of oligoanalgesia. These include physician attitudes, lack of specialized training in managing pain in urgent care settings, and biases related to patient race/ethnicity, gender, and/or age.3,4 This is particularly true with opioids because of concerns about patient misuse.4,5 These factors can lead to low patient satisfaction and insufficient pain relief.
Triage of Pain
When patients present to the ED, pain levels are commonly assessed first at triage. In a comprehensive review article, Motov and Khan identified key challenges associated with providing quality pain management in the ED.5 The authors highlighted deficiencies in pain assessment—including lapses in the assessment of pain levels when patients present with a primary complaint of pain as well as a lack of follow-up at regular intervals to assess pain relief.
Because there is a lack of biomedical diagnostic tests or objective ways to estimate an individual’s pain intensity, patient-reported pain remains the gold standard of pain assessment.6 There are a variety of self-report pain scales. One of the scales most commonly used in the ED is the numeric pain rating scale.7 The individual is asked to rate his or her pain on a scale of zero (no pain) to 10 (worst pain possible). Less frequently used scales include visual analog scales, for which the patient is asked to rate his or her pain intensity on a 100-mm straight line, and non-numeric scales, such as the Faces Pain Scale (often used with younger patients or patients with limited cognitive abilities).8,9
Novel methods of improved pain assessment in the ED, such as the automated pain tracker (APT), are being designed and tested.10 APT, a software application, can be uploaded onto a tablet, which can then be linked with a computer at a nursing station. Patients are able to use APT to report pain levels and the need for more analgesia. A pilot study using the APT showed that the tracker was associated with reduced pain and decreased oligoanalgesia.10
Clinical staff members also rely heavily on their clinical judgment of disease severity/level of tissue damage, as well as behavioral cues displayed by the patient, such as grimacing, to assess pain. Using these clues, clinicians commonly make treatment judgments based on their impression of the concordance between a patient’s pain rating and level of tissue damage, or even their vital signs.11-13 However, empirical studies have shown discrepancies between a patients’ and clinical staff member’s rating of pain assessment, with physicians giving considerably lower ratings than the patient.11 This discrepancy argues for the need for a better understanding of factors that may influence clinical staff member’s subjective judgments about individuals presenting to the ED, as well as about the important predictors of a patient’s experience of pain.
This article briefly reviews the literature on pain treatment disparities. We then share perspectives and preliminary results of studies conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama that examine the influence of psychological variables, including pain catastrophizing and state anxiety (anxiety as a result of a specific or ongoing stressor), on pain levels of patients presenting to an urban ED in the Southeastern United States.
Disparities in Pain Management in ED
Pain relief is one of the most basic health care needs, presenting a moral imperative for adequate pain management in the ED. However, pain treatment disparities are far-reaching and cut across race, sex, and age, with respect to both patient and physician characteristics.4,14 Urgent care settings are not the exception when it comes to disparities in pain management but rather reflect the overall state of the healthcare system.15 Apart from race and ethnicity, empirical evidence suggests that age-related disparities also exist in pain treatment in the ED.16 Published studies indicate that, compared to adults aged approximately 30-60 years, older adults are less likely to receive analgesics during an ED visit for acute pain. Similarly, older adults are less likely to receive opioids for severe pain and may not receive analgesic prescriptions at discharge.16
It is noteworthy that age-related disparities may not be limited to older adults. According to the Institute of Medicine report on pain in America, children have been identified as a vulnerable group in relation to pain management disparities.17 Indeed, previous research has indicated that children and adolescents are more likely to experience under treatment of pain in the ED due to a variety of factors.18
Emerging adults (defined as 18-29 years of age) constitute one of the most understudied populations in relation to pain conditions and disparities in pain treatment. The results of one of the University of Alabama study indicate that emerging adults were half as likely (odds ratio, 0.5) to be administered analgesics during their ED visit, although they reported equivalent levels of pain intensity, duration of current pain, and state anxiety than adults 30 years or older.19 Approximately 40% of emerging adults reported experiencing chronic pain and 23% presented to ED with exacerbation of their chronic pain (lower back pain, migraine, knee pain). Thus, it is imperative that the pain experience of this unrecognized and, consequently, understudied patient population be empirically studied. This would aid in tailoring interventions to address the specific health care needs of this young adult population, ensuring their healthy development and alleviation of pain.
Additionally, those in minority races/ethnic groups, primarily blacks and Hispanics, have long faced disparities in the emergency health care system,20 and this extends to pain treatment in the ED.21 A number of researchers have found that blacks and Hispanics are less likely to receive analgesia although they report comparable pain levels to non-Hispanic whites. However, administrative and clinical efforts focusing on reducing disparities appear to be resulting in improvements. A recent prospective study examining racial disparities over a 10-year period in an urban ED suggests that there were no discrepancies between whites and Hispanics in relation to analgesic administration, wait time, or satisfaction with pain treatment.22 This is consistent with the results of our study at the University of Alabama, such that there were no differences between the likelihood of receiving analgesia based on race or ethnicity.
Chronic Pain in the ED
Although urgent care settings traditionally were set up to manage acute conditions, almost half of the patients presenting for urgent care are those with exacerbations of chronic pain or recurrent pain.23 Patients with chronic or recurrent pain report visiting the ED several times because this setting provides 24-hour access to healthcare.24 However, given that emergency care providers are expected to provide acute care, often with patients presenting with life-threatening situations, repeated visits by patients with chronic pain, commonly with multiple physical comorbidities, may generate frustration in both the patient and the provider. A body of evidence corroborates the relationship between psychological distress/depression/anxiety and the experience of persistent pain.25. Moreover, extant research on pain in the ED has excluded such individuals whose source of pain cannot be verified, leaving little scientifically valid information regarding the possible differences between patients with acute pain and those with chronic pain.
The study conducted at the University of Alabama evaluating patients presenting with exacerbations of chronic pain, those presenting with acute pain, and those with acute pain who also experienced chronic pain.26 The results indicated that there were significant differences between those pain groups, with patients with exacerbations of chronic pain reporting the greatest levels of pain catastrophizing and those with acute pain reporting the lowest levels of catastrophizing. Surprisingly, there were no differences between the levels of anxiety between the groups. Given that patients with chronic pain consistently have been shown to be high users of health care, including urgent care, it is prudent to refer patients presenting to the ED with exacerbations of chronic pain for psychological interventions and pain management to reduce suffering and facilitate more efficient use of health care resources.
Psychological Distress
Patients presenting for urgent care with a primary complaint of pain commonly experience concurrent psychological distress.27,28 In addition, long wait times, delays in receiving analgesics, and insufficient pain relief, even after analgesic administration, may lead to heightened emotional distress.2 Since pain is not a unidimensional sensory experience but rather a perceptual phenomenon, psychological processes, both affective and cognitive, greatly influence an individual’s pain.29
There is robust evidence highlighting the role of increased anxiety, depression, and pain catastrophizing in intensifying perceived pain and suffering. Despite there being extensive literature and anecdotal clinical evidence corroborating such an association, there is a paucity of research pertaining to overseeing pain management in conjunction with psychological distress in urgent care settings.
In the University of Alabama study, patients presenting with a primary complaint of pain completed measures pertaining to pain intensity and psychological variables, including state anxiety and pain catastrophizing. The results of the study suggest that levels of pain catastrophizing and state anxiety significantly predicted self-reported pain levels of patients presenting with acute pain.30 Moreover, mediation analyses indicated that the patient’s level of catastrophizing mediated the relationship between state anxiety and self-reported pain rating at triage. However, it is important to be mindful that these results indicated that pain catastrophizing is a mediator, but they cannot prove causality because of the cross-sectional nature of the data.
The results of the second University of Alabama study mirror those of the first, indicating that there were significant differences between pain groups, with those with exacerbations of chronic pain reporting the greatest levels of pain catastrophizing and those with acute pain reporting the lowest catastrophizing. Again, there were no differences between the levels of anxiety between the groups.26,30
It is important to note that these findings do not indicate that distressed patients are experiencing psychogenic pain; instead, the findings underscore the importance of affect and cognition in the multidimensional experience of pain. Thus, it is likely that without addressing the associated cognitive distress of the patient with pain, it will be difficult to provide either adequate analgesia or a level of patient satisfaction that is expected of the ED staff. This, in turn, highlights the importance of assessing and treating the psychological distress in conjunction with pain intensity.
Practical Suggestions
Based on our experiences and the results of the studies discussed, we offer these brief suggestions for managing the psychological distress of patients presenting to the ED with pain to promote better patient outcomes (Table 1).
Discussion
Managing pain and providing adequate analgesia in the ED is a challenge, especially when patients are elderly or young adults. As discussed, researchers have identified an important potential age-related disparity in pain treatment with emerging adults (patients aged 18-29 years). These young adults are less likely to receive analgesics during an ED visit than adults and older adults. This population is virtually unstudied in relation to pain disparities, underscoring the need for further research.
The results also indicate that psychological variables play a crucial role in the pain intensity ratings given by patients. Additionally, there were important differences in these variables among those presenting with exacerbation of a chronic pain condition, those with only acute pain, and those with acute pain who also experience chronic pain. Application of knowledge regarding some of the common disparities associated with pain management as well as the importance of cognitive distress in patients’ experiences of pain might help reduce oligoanalgesia in EDs. | https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/psychological/addressing-psychosocial-factors-pain-management-emergency-department |
Emotion Essay Examples
emotional processes, including stress, are highly dependent on the experiences of an individual. The concept explains the intensity, duration, and quality differences among individuals and the time frame of a provoked stressful emotion in an environment with factors equal to all. As a result, it is assumed that appraisal patterns generate, maintain and alter the stressor’s environment. Situational and personal factors influence the appraisals (Khrone, 2002). There are two forms of appraisal: secondary and primary appraisals. The primary appraisal assesses; an individual’s relevance of goals he/she cares about; goals’ similarity in the relation of the stressor with personal goals; and ego...
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You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?
emotion of reunion and embrace, hug or endeavor to do all that he has not done in the past eight years in a single day. However, it is my prayer for the second possibility to happen. If he embraces me and gives me the audience, I would persuade him to come home and reconcile with my mother. I believe that time heals and it has been eight years; therefore, whatever their differences, I know it has been eroded with the passing time. Further, I would make him see the sense of how life has been to us especially to me by living without him for eight years during the most vital stage of my... | https://essays360.com/essay-samples/emotion/ |
Job satisfaction or employee satisfaction is a measure of workers' contentedness with their job, whether or not they like the job or individual aspects or facets of jobs, such as nature of work or supervision. One of the most widely used definitions in organizational research is that of Lockewho defines job satisfaction as "a pleasurable or positive Various - Satisfaction state resulting from the appraisal of one's job or job experiences" p.
Hulin and Judge have noted that job satisfaction includes multidimensional psychological responses to an individual's job, and that these personal responses Various - Satisfaction cognitive evaluativeaffective or emotionaland behavioral components.
Affective job satisfaction is a subjective construct representing an emotional feeling Various - Satisfaction have about their job. Cognitive job satisfaction is a more objective and logical evaluation of various facets of a job.
Cognitive Various - Satisfaction satisfaction can be unidimensional if it comprises evaluation of just one Various - Satisfaction of a job, such as pay or maternity leave, or multidimensional if two or more facets of a job are simultaneously evaluated.
Cognitive job satisfaction does not assess the degree of pleasure or happiness that arises from specific job facets, but rather gauges the extent to which those job facets are judged by the job holder to be satisfactory in comparison with objectives they themselves set or with other jobs. While cognitive job satisfaction might help to bring about affective job satisfaction, the two constructs are distinct, not necessarily directly related, and have different antecedents and consequences.
Job satisfaction can also be seen within the broader context of the range of issues Various - Satisfaction affect an individual's experience of work, or their quality of working life.
Job satisfaction can be understood in terms of its relationships with other key factors, such as general well-being, stress at work, control at work, home-work interface, and working conditions. The assessment of job satisfaction through employee anonymous surveys On The Rebound - Floyd Cramer - The Best Of Floyd Cramer commonplace in the s. They also note that in Hoppock conducted a study that focused explicitly on job satisfaction that is affected by both the nature of the job and relationships with coworkers and supervisors.
Edwin A. The main premise of this theory is that satisfaction is determined by a discrepancy between what one wants in a job and what one has in a job. Further, the theory states that how much one values a given facet of work e. When a person values a particular facet of a job, his satisfaction is more greatly impacted both positively when expectations are met and negatively when expectations are not Anti-Christmas - Lenny Lashleys Gang Of One - Illuminatorcompared to one who doesn't value that facet.
To illustrate, if Employee A values autonomy in the workplace and Employee B is indifferent about autonomy, then Employee A would be more satisfied in a position that offers a high degree of autonomy and less satisfied in a position with little or no autonomy compared to Employee B. This theory also states that too much of a particular facet will produce stronger feelings of dissatisfaction the more a worker values that facet.
The dispositional approach suggests that individuals vary in their tendency to be satisfied with their jobs, in other words, job satisfaction is to some extent an individual trait. A significant model that narrowed the scope of the dispositional approach was the Core Self-evaluations Modelproposed by Timothy A. Judge, Edwin A. Various - Satisfaction , and Cathy C.
Durham in Finally, lower levels of neuroticism lead to higher job satisfaction. Equity Theory shows how a person views fairness in regard to social relationships such as with an employer. They then compare Various - Satisfaction ratio to the ratio of other people in deciding whether or not they have an equitable relationship. For example, consider two employees who work the same job and receive the same pay and benefits.
If one individual gets a pay raise for doing the same work as the other, then the less benefited individual will become distressed in his workplace. If, on the other hand, both individuals get pay raises and new responsibilities, then the feeling of equity will be maintained. These three types are benevolent, equity sensitive, and entitled. The level by each type affects motivationjob satisfaction, and job performance. The concept of discrepancy theory is to explain the ultimate source of anxiety and dejection.
They will also feel dejection due to not being able to achieve their hopes and aspirations. According to this theory, all individuals will learn what their obligations and responsibilities are for a particular function, and if they fail to fulfill those obligations then they are punished. Over time, these duties and obligations consolidate to form an abstracted set of principles, designated as a self-guide. These achievements and aspirations also form an abstracted set of principles, referred to as the ideal self guide.
An employee's motivation to work is continually related to job satisfaction of Work With It - Various - Tough Mamas subordinate.
Motivating factors are those aspects of the job that make people Various - Satisfaction to perform, and provide people with satisfaction, for example achievement in work, recognition, promotion opportunities. Herzberg's model has stimulated much research. The five core job characteristics Various - Satisfaction be combined to form a motivating Stimulant - Divine Shell - Chamber Culture score MPS for a job, which can be used as an index of how likely a job is to affect Various - Satisfaction employee's attitudes and behaviors.
Not everyone is equally affected by the MPS of a job. People who are high in Various - Satisfaction need strength the desire for autonomy, challenge and development of new skills on the job are particularly affected by job characteristics. One of the most important aspects of an individual's work in a Threshold To Senility - Agathocles / Präparation-H - Eerluk Is Eerluk!
/ Fair Is Fair organization concerns the management of communication demands that he or she encounters on the job. Superior-subordinate communication is an important influence on job satisfaction in the workplace. The way in which subordinates perceive a supervisor's behavior can positively or negatively influence job satisfaction.
Communication behavior such as facial expression, eye contact, vocal expression, and body movement is crucial to the superior-subordinate relationship Teven, p. Nonverbal messages play a central role in interpersonal interactions with respect to impression formation, deception, attraction, social influence, and emotional. The manner in which supervisors communicate Various - Satisfaction their subordinates non-verbally may be more important than the verbal content Teven, p.
Individuals who dislike and think negatively about their supervisor are less willing to communicate or have motivation to work whereas individuals who like and think positively of their supervisor are more likely to communicate and are satisfied with their job and work environment. A supervisor who uses nonverbal immediacy, friendliness, and open communication lines is more likely to receive positive feedback and high job satisfaction from a subordinate.
Conversely, Various - Satisfaction supervisor who is antisocial, unfriendly, and unwilling to communicate will naturally receive negative feedback and create low job satisfaction in their subordinates in the workplace.
A Watson Wyatt Worldwide study identified a positive outcome between a collegical and flexible work environment and an increase in shareholder value. Suggesting that employee satisfaction is directly related to financial gain. It is possible that successful workers enjoy working at successful companies, however, the Watson Wyatt Worldwide Human Capital Index study claims that effective human resources practices, such as employee recognition programs, lead to positive financial outcomes more often than positive financial outcomes lead to good practices.
Employee recognition is not only about gifts and points. It's about changing the corporate culture in order to meet goals and initiatives and most importantly to connect employees to the company's core values and beliefs. Strategic employee recognition is seen as Various - Satisfaction most important program not only to improve employee retention and motivation but also to positively influence the financial situation.
However, innovation is not so easy to achieve. A CEO cannot just order it, and so it will be. You have to carefully manage an organization so that, over time, innovations will emerge. Mood and emotions at work are related to job satisfaction. Moods tend to be longer lasting but often weaker states of uncertain origin, while emotions are often more intense, short-lived and have a clear object or cause.
Some research suggests moods are related to overall job satisfaction. Frequency of experiencing net positive emotion will be a better predictor of overall job satisfaction than will intensity Various - Satisfaction positive emotion when it is experienced.
Emotion work or emotion management refers to various types of efforts to manage emotional states and displays. Emotion management includes all of the conscious and unconscious efforts to increase, maintain, or decrease one or more components of an emotion. Although early studies of the consequences of emotional work emphasized its harmful effects on workers, studies of workers in a variety of occupations suggest that the consequences of emotional work are not uniformly negative.
It was found that suppression of unpleasant emotions decreases job satisfaction and the amplification of pleasant emotions increases job satisfaction. The influence that genetics has had on a variety of individual differences is well documented.
One experiment used sets of monozygotic twins, reared apart, to test for the existence of genetic influence on job satisfaction. Genetic heritability was also suggested for several of the job characteristics measured in the experiment, such as complexity level, motor skill requirements, and physical demands. Some research suggests an association between personality and job satisfaction. Negative Marching On - Super Famicom - Texas is related strongly to the personality trait of neuroticism.
Individuals high in negative affectivity are more prone to experience less job satisfaction. Positive affectivity Various - Satisfaction related strongly to the personality Various - Satisfaction of extraversion. Those high in positive affectivity are more prone to be satisfied in most dimensions of their life, including their job. Differences in affectivity likely impact how individuals will perceive objective job circumstances like pay and working conditions, thus affecting their satisfaction in that job.
There are two personality factors related to job satisfaction, alienation and locus of control. Employees who have an internal locus of control and feel less alienated are more likely to experience job satisfaction, job involvement and organizational commitment. A meta-analysis of studies of job satisfaction concluded that high satisfaction was positively associated with internal locus of control. First, it is a phenomenological event, meaning that people are happy when they subjectively believe themselves to be so.
Second, well-being involves some emotional conditions. Particularly, Sans Le Savoir - En Bref - En Bref. well people are more prone to experience positive emotions and less prone to experience negative emotions.
Third, well-being refers to one's life as a whole. It is a global evaluation. PWB in the workplace plays an important role in determining job satisfaction and has attracted much research attention in recent years. Ultimately, Various - Satisfaction better understand job satisfaction and its close relative, job performanceit is important to take into account an individual's PWB.
The majority of job satisfaction measures are self-reports and based on multi-item scales. Several measures have been developed over the years, although they vary in terms of how carefully and distinctively they are conceptualized with respect to affective or cognitive job satisfaction. They also vary in terms of the extent and rigour of their psychometric validation. The BIAJS differs from other job satisfaction measures in being comprehensively validated not Various - Satisfaction for internal consistency reliability, temporal stability, convergent and criterion-related validities, but also for cross-population invariance by nationality, job level, and job type.
Reported internal consistency reliabilities range between. It measures one's satisfaction in five facets: pay, promotions and promotion opportunities, coworkers, supervision, and the work itself. The JSS is a 36 item questionnaire that measures nine facets of job satisfaction.
Finally, the Faces Scale of job satisfaction, one of the first scales used widely, measured overall job satisfaction with just one item which participants respond to by choosing a face. Job satisfaction can be indicative of work behaviors such as organizational citizenship, and withdrawal behaviors such as Various - Satisfaction and turnover.
One common research finding is that job satisfaction is correlated with life satisfaction. An important finding for organizations to note is that job satisfaction has a rather tenuous correlation to productivity on the job. This is a vital piece of information to researchers and businesses, as the idea that satisfaction and job performance are directly related to one another is often cited in the media and in some non-academic management literature. | https://gardanakalenfefyn.info/mp3/various-satisfaction.php |
This Upper Deck collectible card is of hall of famer, Wayne Gretzky. The card includes a piece of the game used jersey and stick and the card comes inside a card holder.
Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "The Great One", he has been called the greatest hockey player ever by many sportswriters, players, and the NHL itself. Gretzky was inducted into the hall of fame in 1999. | https://www.latitudesportsmarketing.com/products/wayne-gretzky-new-york-rangers-game-used-jersey-stick-pieces-upper-deck-card-2 |
Wird die Ehe zwischen Sportler Wayne Gretzky aus Kanada und seiner aktuelle Ehefrau, Janet Jones das Jahr 2021 überleben? Die 15 Heissesten Ehefrauen & Freundinnen Der Stars! Familie Namen des Vaters, Mutter, Kinder, Gebrüder & Geschwister: Paulina Gretzky (Tochter) Tristan Gretzky (Sohn) Emma Gretzky (Tochter) Trevor Gretzky (Sohn) Ty Gretzky (Sohn) Größe, Gewicht, Körpermaße, Tattoos. Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC (/ ˈ ɡ r ɛ t s k i /; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed The Great One, he has been called the greatest hockey player ever by many sportswriters, players, the NHL itself, and by The Hockey News, based. Wayne Gretzky war zu diesem Zeitpunkt Halter von 61. NHL-Rekorden. 40 davon erreichte er in der regulären Saison, 15 in den Playoffs und sechs in All-Star-Games. Noch im selben Jahr, 1999, wurde er in die Hockey Hall of Fame aufgenommen. Am 5. Juni 2000 wurde ihm eine Ehrendoktorwürde der Universität von Alberta verliehen. In seiner zweiten Karriere als Funktionär wurde er 2001. Wayne Gretzky urged everyone in Canada to jump on this amazing opportunity before the big banks shut it down for good. And sure enough, minutes after the interview was over, Toronto-Dominion Bank called to stop Wayne Gretzky's interview from being aired - it was already too late. Here's exactly what happened: The Strombo Show host George Stroumboulopoulos invited Wayne Gretzky on the.
CBanks and his buds head up to Brantford to play in the draft day brantford tourney at Wayne Gretzky tourne Emma Gretzky was born in Los Angeles, California USA, on 28 March 2003 - her zodiac sign is Aries and she holds American nationality. She is an athlete, but who is best known for being the youngest daughter of Wayne Gretzky, a former star Canadian professional ice hockey player
Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario. He was just a toddler when he began skating in the backyard. Early in his career, when he always faced much bigger kids, Gretzky staked out his favorite position—behind the opponents' net, where he could improvise startling shots and avoid goon tactics. Also called The Kid, Wayne Gretzky was only 5 when he made an all-star team. Finden Sie perfekte Stock-Fotos zum Thema Wayne Gretzky sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images. Wählen Sie aus erstklassigen Inhalten zum Thema Wayne Gretzky in höchster Qualität . He was coach and part-owner of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes until he stepped down on September 24, 2009. He also managed Canada's Olympic hockey teams in 2002 and 2006, as well as Canada's 2004 World Cup of Hockey team
On 26-1-1961 Wayne Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario. He made his 2 million dollar fortune with Professional Ice Hockey Player (Retired). The athlete is married to Janet Jones, his starsign is Aquarius and he is now 60 years of age Young kids who want to learn about Wayne Gretzky will love this book. It also has amazing vocabulary for kids to learn Lesen Sie weiter. Missbrauch melden. Rezensionen auf Deutsch übersetzen. Goodfella79. 5,0 von 5 Sternen Inspiring. Rezension aus den Vereinigten Staaten vom 14. Juli 2016. Verifizierter Kauf . Great book for kids. Lesen Sie weiter. Missbrauch melden. Rezensionen auf Deutsch. Unsere Los Angeles Kings Wayne Gretzky Trikots sind in Männer-, Damen- und Jugendgrößen erhältlich, so dass jeder in den richtigen Farben zum Spiel gehen kann. Egal, was Sie suchen, dies ist der Ort, um für Kings Trikots zu kaufen! Wenn du der ultimative Los Angeles Kings-Fan sein willst, dann brauchst du für alle Spiele in diesem Jahr ein New Wayne Gretzky Trikot. Kings Store hat eine. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Walter Gretzky, father, friend and ambassador at Wayne Gretzky Estates. A loving father figure, inspiring coach, avid hockey player and a man of profound humility, Walter leaves a great legacy behind him. From early mornings spent coaching his children and the neighbourhood kids at the Wally Coliseum, his backyard rink; to building benches and chairs.
Explore Wayne Gretzky's Bio-Wiki, net worth & salary in 2021. Learn about Wayne Gretzky's age, height, weight, dating, wife, girlfriend & kids. Is he dead or alive Kinder & Babys Taschen & Geldbörsen Kleidung für Frauen Kleider Wayne Gretzky AUTOGRAPH jede Gretzky Hockey Card YOUR CHOICE jede Karte Vorder- oder Rückseite der Karte jeder Kartenhalter, den Sie in Ihrer Sammlung haben SportsSignatureStore. 11,19 € Favorisieren Hinzufügen Wayne Gretzky PSA Grade 9 MINT - Oilers 1984 Topps Hockey #51 - Überprüfen Sie einfach die Preise auf Ebay. Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on 26 January 1961, in Ontario, Canada, to Walter Gretzky and Phyllis Leone. His father worked for 'Bell Telephone Canada.' The family had five children and they all played hockey as toddlers. When he was two years old, Wayne picked up the hockey stick for the first time at his grandfather's house. By the time he turned six, he was playing alongside the. Trevor Gretzky will Profisportler werden, allerdings nicht auf dem Eis, wie einst sein legendärer Vater Wayne. Die Kinder der Großen gehen oft ihren eigenen sportlichen Weg, so wie auch Joakim.
As Wayne was adjusting to his new job in Phoenix in late 2005, he lost his mother, Phyllis Gretzky, to lung cancer, and his maternal grandmother, Betty Hockin, who died from the results of a heart. Wayne Gretzky Net Worth 2020: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio-Wiki | Wealthy Person Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC (/ ˈ ɡ r ɛ t s k i /; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed The Great One, he has been called the greatest hockey player ever by many sportswriters, players, and the NHL itself
Zeitliche Einordnung Kind der 1960er: Gretzy und seine Zeitgenossen. Wayne Gretzky wird in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts geboren. Er kommt 1961 in der Zeit des Kalten Krieges als Kind der Baby-Boomer-Generation zur Welt. Bekannte Zeitgenossen seiner Altersgruppe sind Michael J. Fox (1961) und Jim Carrey (1962). Gretzky wächst in den 1960er-Jahren auf und verlebt seine Jugend in den. Shop for Wayne Gretzky jerseys, tees, collectibles, and other great Wayne Gretzky gear at the official online store of the National Hockey League. With all the top gear from all the best brands for men, women, and kids, shop.nhl.com is your source for all the best Wayne Gretzky apparel you will find online 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults Kids Wayne Gretzky Sports Decor 29.5x19.6 inch(75x50cm) Intellectual Decompressing Puzzle NO Frame. $45.09 $ 45. 09. FREE Shipping. Only 11 left in stock - order soon. Funko POP! NHL Legends Wayne Gretzky LA Kings. 4.8 out of 5 stars 204. $12.99 $ 12. 99 $13.90 $13.90. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon . This item will be released on. Wayne Gretzky, on the role hard work played in his success. At six years old, an already-impressive Gretzky joined a league filled with players four years his senior. He scored only one goal in his first season, but improved dramatically over the course of his minor league career and finished it off with an incredible 378-goal season. Gretzky continued to impress as a teenager, finishing. Walter Gretzky is survived by his five children — Wayne, Kim, Keith, Glen and Brent — as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung.
Köln/Los Angeles (RPO). Wayne Gretzky, der beste Eishockey-Spieler der Geschichte und so ganz nebenbei Kanadas Nationalheld, wird am Mittwoch 50. Er wil Kids; AdChoices. See inside Wayne Gretzky's 'Megamansion King'-designed house Georgie Mihaila 11/8/2020. SHARE. SHARE. TWEET. SHARE. EMAIL. A wildfire in New Jersey has damaged dozens of homes.
Personal Life: Affair, Girlfriends, Wife, Kids. Wayne Gretzky is married to actress Janet Jones whom he met in the Dance Fever show which he was judging. Wayne and Janet's marriage which was held on July 16, 1988, was then called as The Royal Wedding that cost over $1 million. The couple is blessed with five children Paulina, Ty, Trevor. Wayne Gretzky ist verheiratet und hat 5 Kinder, besitzt in Ontario ein Weingut und durfte bei den Olympischen Winterspielen 2010 in Vancouver zusammen mit Nancy Greene, Steve Nash, Boston Bruins und Legende Bobby Orr das olympische Feuer entzünden. Karriere Statistik of The great on
Wayne Gretzky Estate. Alle Produkte Nach seiner glorreichen Hockey-Karriere widmete sich Wayne verschiedenen Projekten, darunter auch dem Weinbau, den er ja von zu Hause aus kannte. Seit nunmehr 20 Jahren importieren wir erfolgreich Wein aus Kalifornien und so geschah es, das berühmte Momentum entschied wohl, dass Wayne beschloss, mit uns in der Schweiz zusammenzuarbeiten und wir Ihnen nun. Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC ist ein ehemaliger kanadischer Eishockeyspieler auf der Position des Centers, der während seiner aktiven Laufbahn von 1979 bis 1999 unter anderem für die Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues und New York Rangers in der National Hockey League aktiv war. Von einem Großteil der Eishockeyfans und -experten wird er als der beste Eishockeyspieler aller. Paulina Gretzky might be the daughter of famed hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, but that's not all she is known for.Over the years, the 31-year old model and actress has made a name for herself with a budding musical career, as well as her sultry snaps on social media
Produktbeschreibung. NHL - POP - Wayne Gretzky 4-Pack Gewicht: 470 g Warnhinweis: Achtung: Nicht für Kinder unter 36 Monaten geeignet. EAN: 0889698357913 Weitere Produktinformatione 7 responses to How my kids are like Wayne Gretzky Geoff says: June 28, 2014 at 4:35 pm . I agree with the article 1000% kids need to do all sports until they decide to specialize at age 14. It was a lot easier for those older players to take the summer off because everyone took the summer off. Today if a child doesn't play spring and summer hockey they are a step behind when they. Wayne Gretzky was always Wayne Gretzky — because even when he was young, he was a star on the ice. Home movies, shown in the video below, show glimpses of the superstar-to-be Gretzky officially begins his position on February 15, 2001, when the sale of the Coyotes is completed. 2002 - Establishes the Wayne Gretzky Foundation to connect underprivileged youth with hockey Wayne Gretzky set an NHL record with 212 points scored during the 1981-82 season. It was the first time that any player had reached the 200-point mark, which Gretzky would do three more times in.
Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux? Who was the real kind of hockey? Personally, Wayne was numero uno, in my opinion. Like poetry in motion. Update: i meant king of hockey not kind of hockey...typo. Antwort Speichern. 10 Antworten. Relevanz. little bling. vor 1 Jahrzehnt. Beste Antwort. Mario is the king, now and forever. He did almost as much as Wayne, but had a much shorter career. He often. Joey Moss, the Edmonton Oilers locker room attendant who died this week at the age of 57, was the heart of the team for generations, says his longtime friend Wayne Gretzky It's been a long time since ice hockey athlete Wayne Gretzky's rumored plastic surgery. His before and after pictures show us that his face looks a bit weird and unusual compared to before. His face is kind of feminine and is showing us that something went wrong there. Of course it's not only bad natural ageing that has had its toll on his face recently. Though his face looks a bit. Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery is Niagara's newest wine country destination. Have our world-class wines, whiskies and spirits delivered right to your door or visit us in Niagara-on-the-Lake to taste, tour and sip Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky is looking for a buyer for his sprawling Colonial Revival-style estate in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The gated (and highly private) compound has 13,000 square feet of luxury living space spread across a 6-bed, 8-bath main house and two guest houses, which Gretzky and his wife, Janet, are hoping will fetch them $22.9 million
Wayne Gretzky was the dominant figure in NHL during his 20-year career. He was a role model on and off the ice, a magician who perform tricks virtually with whatever he pleased and that's why Canadians love him for it. What You May Not Know. His father had Wayne on skates when he was only two years old and by five, he was already the local attraction. During the final year of peewee hockey. He was a remarkable man who loved life, loved family, Wayne Gretzky said. We'd be a way better world if there was so many more people like my dad. Very special, we're all hurting. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the funeral service was limited to family. But hundreds of people — including many kids wearing Gretzky jerseys — gathered outside St. Mark's Anglican Church in. Wayne Gretzky hat die Marke von 50 Toren in den ersten 50 Saisonspielen noch zweimal erreicht. 1983/84 in 42 und 1984/85 in 49 Spielen. Seither buchte nur noch Brett Hull 50 Tore in den ersten 50. Wayne Gretzky Gives Us a Tour of His Charmed Home and Life. By Us Weekly Staff. July 4, 2018. Janet and Wayne Gretzky Ken Weingart. 10. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to. Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. The trade not only changed the fortunes of the Kings, a team that had finished 18th in the then 21.
Wayne wasn't the biggest or fastest or strongest. But the way he played—his style and smarts—would change the game. Wayne Douglas Gretzky was a different kind of hockey player, almost from the time he could walk. Chapter 1: Growing Up Gretzky In Canada, hockey is THE sport. When Canadian children dream of being a pro athlete, most don't. TORONTO -- Wayne Gretzky paid tribute to his late father Walter on Saturday in a heartfelt eulogy during the Gretzky patriarch's funeral in Brantford, Ont. Below is a complete transcript of the. Wayne's NHL career ended on kind of a sad note. His last game against the Pittsburgh Penguins ended in an overtime loss. But even though the Penguins won, all eyes were on Gretzky in the moments after the game. Wayne has only happy memories of that night, remembering the little things that hockey is truly about. No matter your opinion of Gretzky, you can't disagree that The Great One has. The Gretzky family was closely-knit one, and the kids would regularly visit the home of their grandparents, Anton and Mary, on their farm. A tradition for the family was to get together on Saturday night and watch Hockey Night in Canada. These were young Wayne's first instances of seeing the NHL play the game, and the obsession took a grip early. At age 2, Wayne was trying to score goals.
Walter Gretzky has died. He was 82. Wayne Gretzky said in a social media post Thursday night, March 4, 2021, that his father battled Parkinson's disease and other health issues the past few. Wayne Gretzky (born January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario) known as The Great One, is a Canadian retired ice hockey player. Gretzky played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 20 seasons. He was coach and part-owner of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes until he stepped down on September 24, 2009. He also managed Canada's Olympic hockey teams in 2002 and 2006, as well as Canada's 2004 World Cup. Die Wayne Gretzky Action Figur überzeugt mit dem verspielten Eishockey-Design und den original Edmonton Oilers Trikotfarben. Die Figur kommt mit einer Standfläche zum praktischen Aufstellen auf deinem Regal, im Büro oder im NHL Fan-Cave. Natürlich originalverpackt. Größe: Die Figur ist ca. 9 cm groß. Nicht für Kinder unter 36 Monaten geeignet. Kleinteile. Erstickungsgefahr. Offiziell. — Wayne Gretzky . 9. We are in a tough situation because of teenage kids, and then we've a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, making my family and my responsibilities a kind of a juggle. — Wayne Gretzky. 10. It is easier for someone to lose than win. — Wayne Gretzky. 11. Procrastination is one of the greatest common & deadliest. | https://riescolycklig.com/de/kinder-t-shirt/11337156-wayne-gretzky11g-c2616ybve |
NHL Alumni Wayne Gretzky Deco Plaque With Puck Holder
Wayne Gretzky is a former professional ice hockey player and a former head coach. He played 21 seasons for the NHL. He played for the Indianapolis Racers, the Edmonton Oilers, the LA Kings, and the New York Rangers. Gretzky was inducted to the Hall of Fame at his retirement in 1999.
Did you know? The NHL retired his jersey number 99 league-wide. He is the only player to have received such an honor from the NHL league.
Increase the value of your hockey collection by adding this NHL Alumni deco plaque to it! | https://shop.inglasco.com/products/nhl-alumni-wayne-gretzky-deco-plaque-with-puck-holder |
Hockey-Reference.com’s adjusted points stat rates McDavid’s 2020-21 campaign ahead of Gretzky’s 1981-82 season, in which Gretzky scored 212 unadjusted points, the second-highest single-season points total in league history. McDavid is — how do you say — very good at hockey.
Is Connor McDavid one of the best ever?
Not only is McDavid leading all players in many of the most important offensive statistics that lead to points, but he’s outpacing his own lofty benchmarks set in past MVP seasons. Unequivocally, this is the best hockey we’ve ever seen from Connor McDavid.
Who does Gretzky think is the best player?
Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky compared the two Thursday, giving the nod to Crosby, per Craig Custance of ESPN.com: “Sid is still the best player in hockey. That’s a mantle you earn over time.
Who is considered the greatest hockey player of all time?
The 5 Greatest Hockey Players Ever
- Jaromir Jagr. This name might come as a surprise to some being so high on the all-time list. …
- Gordie Howe. Before Wayne Gretzky rolled around, Gordie Howe was and remains the only other play in NHL history to record 800-plus goals. …
- Mario Lemieux. …
- Bobby Orr. …
- Wayne Gretzky.
Is Connor McDavid the best player in the NHL?
Connor McDavid is letting the league know he’s the best player in the league this year. Through 20 games to start the year, he’s scored 12 goals and added another 25 assists totalling 37 points on the year — the latter two both leading the league at the time of writing.
Why is McDavid so good?
Connor McDavid has the ability to drop jaws, all the while taking his team on his back. He’s described as a generational player and there’s something very distinct that helped get him to that status.
Who is the best NHL player right now?
NHL Rank: Predicting the top 100 players for the 2021-22 season
- Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers. 2020 rank: 1. Age: 24. He’s the NHL’s human highlight reel. ” …
- Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche. 2020 rank: 2. Age: 26. …
- Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs. 2020 rank: 7. Age: 24.
Is Mario better than Gretzky?
Gretzky is widely regarded as the greatest player in NHL history and holds nearly every possible offensive record. Lemieux has the second-highest points-per-game rate in history and appeared in less than 1,000 games but remains one of the best to ever play.
Who is the goat of hockey?
Wayne Gretzky
|Wayne Gretzky CC|
|Hockey Hall of Fame, 1999|
|Gretzky in 2006|
|Born||January 26, 1961 Brantford, Ontario, Canada|
|Height||6 ft 0 in (183 cm)|
Who’s Better Crosby or McDavid?
Crosby has the team success, while McDavid has an edge on individual accolades – though he’ll have to keep playing his elite brand of hockey for a while in order to match or surpass Crosby’s trophy count in the coming years.
Who is the God of hockey?
He was known for his extraordinary ball control and goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, during an era where India dominated field hockey.
…
Dhyan Chand.
|Dhyan Chand PB|
|Birth name||Dhyan Singh|
|Nickname(s)||The Wizard, The Magician|
Is Gretzky still the greatest hockey player?
On Jan. 9, 1998, Gretzky is named the Greatest Hockey Player of All-Time as selected by The Hockey News. … Gretzky recorded four 200-point regular seasons: 212 in 1981-82; 205 in 1983-84; 208 in 1984-85 and 215 in 1985-86.
Can Ovechkin catch Gretzky?
Ovechkin is going to have a tall task ahead of him to catch Gretzky and it will require some of the best seasons ever by a player of his age each year for the rest of his career. … Truly, the impossible record of 894 now seems entirely possible for Ovechkin to catch, but it has to start with a big year in 2021-22.
Can McDavid catch Gretzky?
McDavid has a long, long way to go to even sniff Gretzky’s numbers, but stats like this one show he’s certainly on the right track. If he plays as many games as No. 99, he still has 1,081 games left to close the gap.
How much is a Connor McDavid rookie card worth?
Rare Connor McDavid rookie card sells for $135,811 at auction. Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. | https://hockey2k.com/hockey-clubs/is-connor-mcdavid-better-than-gretzky.html |
Shortly after winning the 1988 Stanley Cup, Gretzky was told by his father that the Oilers were looking to trade him. Pocklington’s business ventures weren’t doing well and he was in dire need of some cash. As a result, he was shopping Gretzky around with the demand of getting $15 million back in return.
Why did Gretzky leave Edmonton Oilers?
In a statement posted to social media, Gretzky cited an inability to give the role the attention it requires. “The Oilers, their fans, and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me and my family for over four decades — and that will never end,” Gretzky wrote.
When did Gretzky leave Edmonton?
Gretzky left the Kings when he was traded to the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 27, 1996.
What was Gretzky traded for?
The deal was announced Aug. 9, 1988, 12 weeks after the Oilers closed out a four-game sweep of the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final. Gretzky, McSorley and center Mike Krushelnyski went to the Kings in exchange for center Jimmy Carson, wing Martin Gelinas, first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million.
Why did Gretzky get traded to the Blues?
Gretzky was the player who would get them over the hump. Or so general manager and head coach “Iron Mike” Keenan believed at the time. The other obvious reason for the trade was the chance to place the game’s greatest playmaker on a line with one of the grandest pure goal scorers in Brett Hull.
Does Gretzky own the Oilers?
In September 2009, following the Phoenix Coyotes’ bankruptcy, Gretzky resigned as head coach and relinquished his ownership share. In October 2016, he became partner and vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group.
What did Oilers get for Gretzky?
On Aug. 9, 1988, the Oilers, just two months removed from lifting the Stanley Cup, sent Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, Los Angeles’ first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, as well as $15 million in cash.
How much money did Bruce McNall have to pay for Gretzky?
McNall paid $15 million and gave up two players and three first-round draft choices for Gretzky, eight times the league’s most valuable player and the most prolific scorer in NHL history.
Who is the greatest hockey player ever?
The 5 Greatest Hockey Players Ever
- Wayne Gretzky.
- Bobby Orr. …
- Mario Lemieux. …
- Gordie Howe. Before Wayne Gretzky rolled around, Gordie Howe was and remains the only other play in NHL history to record 800-plus goals. …
- Jaromir Jagr. This name might come as a surprise to some being so high on the all-time list. …
Is Gretzky still the goat?
Wayne Gretzky wins the GOAT of GOATs Bracket
It remains one of life’s most perplexing questions: Who’s the greatest athlete of all time? Well, we have our answer: it’s Wayne Gretzky.
What happened to Bruce McNall?
In 1994, McNall pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and single counts of conspiracy and wire fraud. McNall spent 70 months in jail and still owes the banks. … McNall was released from prison in 2001. The friends that he had before he went to prison were his friends still after he got out.
Who brought Wayne Gretzky to LA?
On August 9, 1988, the unthinkable happened. The Oilers traded Gretzky to the LA Kings. The trade was Gretzky, Marty McSorely (D) and Mike Krushelnski (C/LW), for Jimmy Carson (C), Martin Gelinas (LW), the Kings first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, along with $15 million in cash.
What hockey team does Gretzky own?
His career totals include 2,857 points and 894 goals. The NHL retired his jersey number (99) after his final game. Gretzky became a minority owner of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes in 2000, and he was named the Coyotes’ head coach in 2005. | https://canadanewslibre.com/what-to-see-in-canada/why-did-gretzky-get-traded-from-edmonton.html |
Wayne Gretzky Biography, Life, Interesting Facts
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Metal
Wayne Gretzky is arguably one of the most excellent hockey’s players of all time. To show his prowess at this juncture, he played for Kings, Blues, and the Edmonton Oilers. Not to mention he was the boulder of the New York Rangers throughout his career. Wayne’s talent manifested since the day he was born. At the age of two Wayne knew how to move independently while still skating. This is what gave birth to the world finest and ideal hockey player. Wayne played hockey for two decades where he opted to retire in 1999. It was the same year that he was listed in the Hall of Fame category. Read further to understand more about his life achievements.
Wayne Gretzky-The Man
During his teenage life, Wayne Gretzky spent countless of hours on the ice as he learned how to ice skate, shoot and pass. For success, he was selected to play or compete with a macho man.To him, size and age didn’t matter, but his final results spoke widely to all. Before retirement, Wayne managed to score over 400 goals.
Childhood and Early Life
On 26 January 1961, Wayne Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada to Phyllis Hockin and Walter Gretzky. At the age of two Gretzky gained interest in skating. During this time he started to spend countless time on ice. Over the following years, he continued to excel as a shooter, passer and eminent skater. At only 18 years old, Wayne had already penned the Canada waves by 90%.In 1977 he was listed as the third player in Ontario Major Junior Hockey. The following year, he became an NHL star where he went to play for the World Junior Championship in Quebec.
Career
It was in 1979 that Wayne Gretzky proved that he could do more than what he already did. He professionally took a professional turn in NHL where he showed the world that he was the Superman. He perfectly took a heavy blow that plunked the targeted ball into the net without much effort. In other words, Gretzky was his coach: he was a perfect scorer. It was tough for people to analyze whether he was an amateur or a perfect picture. He shined to the latter ranking with 86 assists and 51 goals. This positioned him for the Hart Memorial Trophy award. It is regarded as a valuable award when it comes to the sports industry.
During his career as an active sports player, several stores started to sell Wayne’s dolls. In the process, the Canadian government began to issue the Gretzky dollar coin. Being humble and down to earth person, Wayne Gretzky was loved by all. Simultaneously, he continued to play hard as well as towering undefined records. According to sources, Wayne had the highest number of assists and goals. His competence was equaled to none.
In the mid of 1998, Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles team where he wore the Kings Jersey outfit. For eight seasons, Wayne remained as an associate for the franchise group. Even though he didn’t seem to rule his club as before, he was still the triumphant one. Losing was something that was out of her dictionary. It was in 1993 that he led the Franchise club to the Stanley Cup finals. However, it was undoubted that they lost during the end of the competition. By the end of his last years, Wayne teamed up with St.Loius Blues and New York Rangers.
Personal Life And Achievements
Throughout his career, Wayne Gretzky stood in the line of the most decent and prolific players of all times. To date, he is mostly the highest scorer who shares the 61 NHL records. This includes most career assists; 1,900, most career goals; 894, most career points; 2857 among others. He became a former player in 1999.Over his career course, Gretzky also served as the coach. Early in 2002, he directed Canada’s men’s Olympic that won a gold medal in the final. He later resigned after seven years of service. Besides her active life as a hockey player, Wayne owns a restaurant and wine business. In 1988 he married the love of her life, Janet Jones. The couple has five children: Paulina, Emma, Tristan, Ty and Trevor Gretzky. | https://www.sunsigns.org/famousbirthdays/profile/wayne-gretzky/ |
November 2, 1978 - Wayne Gretzky was traded by the Indianapolis Racers, along with Eddie Mio and Peter Driscoll, to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for $700,000 and future considerations.
== ==
In 1978, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers
Wayne Gretzky was never drafted into the NHL. In 1978 he was signed to the Indianapiolas Racers of the WHA (World Hockey Assosication). He was soon after traded to the Edmonton Oilers, which were then also part of the WHA. In 1979, the WHA folded and the Oilers transferred to the NHL. Most players were sent into the entry draft, but due to a specialty in his contract, Gretzky enjoyed the luxury of staying with the Oilers. Gretzky was also never drafted into the WHA. The NHL regulations say no team can sign a player under 20 years old. The WHA allowed this, so Gretzky just signed with the Racers instead of being drafted.
probably at the most 500 dollars
Has to be at least $1,500
is it signed
I Don't know but I have a coca cola patch Wayne Gretzky jersey signed pardon the spelling maybe would you know how much that would be worth?
Assuming the signature is Real... between $400 to $500 USD.
Wayne Gretzky started playing major junior hockey for thePeterborough Petes in the 1976-77 season in the OMHL (Now OHL) and the Sault Ste. Marie Grehounds in the 1977-78 season. He then singed a 7 year contract worth $1.75 million US with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA when he was 17 the next season. The Racers where a struggling franchise always losing money, so he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. The Season of 1979-80, the Edmonton Oilers where expanded into the NHL along with teams like the Winnipeg Jets and the Quebec Nordiques.At the End of the 1987-88 season, the Oilers traded Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings were he would play for 7.5 seasons, before being traded off to the St. Louis Blues during the 1995-96 season. At the end of that season he signed with the New York Rangers where he retired 3 years later after the 1998-99 season.
If the stick is in good condition with no fading of signatures it is probably worth anywhere from 300 dollars up to 1000 dollars depending on how the condition of the key autographs are (Gretzky, Messier, Coffey and Kurri etc...) Is it a players stick? Or a regular stick? If you still have this stick email me [email protected]
Taylor Hall is famous for playing Ice Hockey for Canada. He is a left winger in NHL team playing for Edmonton Oilers. Taylor Hall is usually used to captain the team when the need arises. He first signed with Edmonton Oiler in 2010 as a professional player.
Wayne Gretzgy was never drafted. He was originally signed by the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA in 1978. The Racers sold his contract to the Oilers because of financial problems. The WHA merged with the NHL in 1979.
Gretzky has only ever signed one rookie card of his....and he kept it. $4.00 US
It would depend on some factors - What year is the jersey? What condition is it in? What documentation / provenance do you have? I have seen his game worn jerseys sell anywhere from $1,500-$4,000 depending on the above factors.
He was never drafted. On June 12th, 1978 we was signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Racers from the WHA. Was traded on November 2nd, 1978 by the Indianapolis Racers, along with Eddie Mio and Peter Driscoll, to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for $700,000 and future considerations.
It's difficult to estimate because there are just so many variables involved. I would take a guess somewhere between $100 and $200. If the signatures are faded in any way the value goes way down.
1600 dollars about.
$899.99
The value of the Barry Bonds signed jersey depends on the jersey and its condition. Jerseys in excellent condition that are signed and framed sell for close to 1000 dollars as of 2014.
Have it signed by the player on the jersey
Gretzky was traded to St. Louis from Los Angeles on February 27, 1996. He played 18 regular season and 13 playoff games for the Blues. Gretzky then signed with the New York Rangers in July 1996.
A hand signed Eli manning jersey costs about 365.00 dollars.
Anywhere from $75-$400
Usually 1 dollar, but if it's a numbered card it can be worth 100,000,'s or more For example, if you get a rookie signed jersey of Wayne Gretzky numbered 1 out of 1 it's worth about 100,000,000,000, dollars witch is hard and impossible to get. | https://sports.answers.com/Q/How_much_is_a_signed_Wayne_Gretzky_Edmonton_Oilers_jersey_worth |
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Related to Gretzky: Trevor Gretzky
Gretz·ky(grĕt′skē), Wayne Born 1961.
Canadian hockey player. A center mainly for the Edmonton Oilers (1978-1988) and Los Angeles Kings (1989-1995), he became the National Hockey League's all-time leading scorer in 1989 and the all-time leading scorer in North American professional hockey in 1999.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Gretzky(ˈɡrɛtzkɪ)
n
(Biography) Wayne. born 1961, Canadian ice-hockey player and coach; in his playing career (1979–99) he became the record point scorer in the National Hockey League
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
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|Noun||1.||Gretzky - high-scoring Canadian ice-hockey player (born in 1961)|
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc. | https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Gretzky |
I was blessed to be an Edmonton Oilers fan during the team’s dynasty. Watching such all-time greats as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe, Jari Kurri, and even the Randy Greg, a solid defenseman who retired from the Oilers to become an Edmonton-area doctor I came to know because I was involved as the Vice President of Edmonton’s Ronald McDonald House.
It was a great team; and, certainly, the entertainment value was ramped up to a high pitch when the Oilers had their run of Stanley Cup victories. No doubt, Wayne Gretzky was “The Great One;” but, perhaps the greatest leader on the team was Mark Messier. He was “large and in charge,” and his nickname “The Moose” tells something about his imposing presence on the ice and probably in the dressing room.
Related: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers’ Greatest Player of All-Time: A Look Back
Messier’s Growth Into a Great NHL Leader
When Mark Messier arrived with the Oilers, he was a big, raw but talented, home-grown (from nearby St. Albert) kid. However, by the time his tenure had finished with the Oilers, he’d helped Edmonton win five Stanley Cups and he had won another with the New York Rangers. Messier’s leadership, his scoring numbers, and his penchant for winning will stand the test of time.
Many hockey commentators call Messier – number 11 – the greatest leader in professional sports history. In fact, the NHL has instituted an award that suggests just that. There’s no argument that Messier is one of the best leaders – ever.
Although he so often played in the background of The Great Gretzky, there’s no doubt that the team’s success during its glory days has as much to do with Messier’s play as it did with Gretzky’s. In fact, the genius of the Oilers was that coach and architect Glen Sather was able to mold these young players into an amazing team where the sum of the players’ parts was more than the addition of their skills.
Messier Delivered for the Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers were a team, and Messier was a big part of that team’s success. “The Moose” was a great player in his own right; and, for five different seasons, he scored more than 100 points. He also won a wall full of hardware – including the Conn Smythe Trophy and a Hart Trophy during his time with the team. That said, Messier wasn’t defined by his offensive production. He was defined by the fear he brought to the table every game he played.
Like the iconic Gordie Howe before him, he was a nice guy off the ice and a powerhouse of a player on the ice. He scared people with good reason. If he thought an opponent needed a stick upside the head, he would deliver it without blinking. If he thought you needed an elbow in the teeth, he would deliver that as well. If he thought the team needed a goal, he could deliver that, too. The key idea lives within the verbs of those sentences – he delivered.
Oilers fans were blessed that Messier and Gretzky played together for so long, but when Gretzky got sold to the Los Angeles Kings before the 1988-89 season (in a story that was so wrong in so many ways for the city of Edmonton and Oilers fans), Messier showed what he could do on his own. He led the team to its fifth Stanley Cup in seven seasons during the 1989-90 season.
In many ways, it was a shame how the Oilers’ Era ended. Messier himself was traded to the New York Rangers in October 1991, but he remains a legend in the city where he grew up. He might not have been the greatest player in NHL history but he was one of the most complete players.
Related: Oilers Scribe Notes Team Might Trade Kris Russell
Messier Was a Tough Player Who Could Do It All
Messier had it all: he could skate, score, and scare an opponent with his physical game. In fact, he might have been scarier even than Gordie Howe. There are few players who can play the game however an opponent wanted and still beat them.
Messier could do it all. He ranks third in the NHL in career scoring with 1,887 regular season career points; and, of those points, he scored 1,034 when he was a member of the Oilers. The former Oiler captain was also a two-time Hart Trophy winner as the player most valuable to his team and the NHL’s MVP and a Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the MVP of the Stanley Cup series.
With the Oilers, Messier was “The Moose.” He was the second-best player who’s ever worn an Oilers uniform. That the NHL created the Mark Messier Leadership Award to recognize a player who’s a superior leader within the NHL and a contributing member of society probably says more about Messier than anything else could.
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Ron Francis, a 23-year veteran of the National Hockey League and former General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, recently joined NAI Carolantic Realty. Mr. Francis will focus primarily on working with clients considering various commercial real estate investments and work in conjunction with Chairman, Steve Stroud, SIOR.
Background
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the first round, fourth overall, of the 1981 NHL Entry draft where he played for nearly ten seasons, serving as captain for almost six and setting nearly every offensive record in franchise history. Ron joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 where he spent seven full seasons before rejoining the organization that drafted him, the Carolina Hurricanes (who had moved from Hartford the previous season).
Ron retired in 2004 after 23 years in the NHL, playing in 1,731 NHL regular season games, scoring 549 goals and earning 1,249 assists for 1,798 points to rank him fourth all-time on the league’s points list behind Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Gordie Howe. The Hurricanes officially retired Francis’ No. 10 jersey to the arena’s rafters on January 28, 2006 and on November 12, 2007, Ron was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
After his retirement from professional ice hockey, Ron re-joined the Carolina Hurricanes organization in a management capacity initially as the team’s Director of Player Development. He also served as Assistant General Manager, Director of Player Personnel, Director of Hockey Operations and ultimately Executive Vice President and General Manager. | http://carolantic.com/ron-francis.html |
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, born January 26, 1961, in Brantford Ontario, Canada. Gretzky played 20 seasons in the NHL; in doing so becoming one of the most talked about players to ever grace a rink. During his illustrious career, he set 61 NHL records, 60 of which still stand. Some that are likely never going to be broken. With a place in the hockey hall of fame, he is affectionately known as “The great one”.
He scored his last NHL career point and retired 20 years ago. Many newer fans might have missed his career. However, what follows is what shaped his 20-year record-setting NHL career and why he is still an idol to so many fans across the world.
Gretzky the Early Years
A young Canadian, Gretzky was in skates not long after he could walk. Learning to skate on the Ninth River near his grandfather’s farm in Ontario, Canada, and at public rinks on weekends he honed his edges. His father Walter who had always wanted to be a hockey player but was discouraged for his smaller stature built a rink for him behind their little house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford; many believe it is here where he truly developed his skating skills.
Gretzky was only six years old when he saw his first year in organized hockey. He scored one goal, the lowest yearly total of his career and he mastered a unique skating stride. One that never left him in his entire hockey life. In addition his dad’s advice to “skate to where the puck’s going to be” helped him score 196 goals in seventy-six games at the age of nine. Setting the stage for the years to follow.
“Its not god given, it’s Wally-given”Wayne Gretzky on the roll hard work his father encouraged played in relation to his success
At 16 playing Junior “A” league, high scoring continued and began to pack arenas with fans eager to witness his skills. Junior hockey was also where he acquired the now famous number 99. His idol Gordie Howe wore number 9. Because this was already taken by a teammate he wore number 99 instead. The number is now as synonymous with Gretzky as 9 is with Howe.
Being of slight build led one junior coach to suggest he pick an offensive position, a position in which he could avoid body contact. This was the beginning of Gretzky’s trademark spot: “Gretzky’s Office” behind the opponent’s net. A position that paid huge dividends as in his last season of peewee hockey he scored an immense 378 goals!
Turning Pro with the WHA
Some could say this whole situation happened by almost a fortuitous accident or series of destined events. Aged 17, not wanting to wait out three years in the OHA before becoming NHL eligible he joined the WHA. He signed with the Indianapolis Racers during the fall of 1978. The WHA was in its last years as a competing organization to the NHL. As an indicator of things to come, the franchise folded just 25 games into the season and Gretzky’s contract was sold to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Edmonton Oilers were admitted to the NHL in 1979-80 along with several other WHA teams as the association folded. During his first NHL season, he scored 51 goals; securing his first Hart Trophy for the most valuable player. He also won the Lady Byng Trophy for his sportsmanship and skating abilities.
Gretzky and his teammates went on to break almost every NHL scoring record to date. They won four Stanley cups and would score 400 goals per season as a matter of course.
20 Years in the NHL
Gretzky continued to play in the NHL for 20 years until his retirement in 1999. The summer of 1988, saw the ever popular player form part of a trade deal made between the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings. A trade that has been referred to as “the King’s ransom”.
During his time with the LA Kings, he saw little success with the team, with only saw one more Stanley Cup final; losing the five-game series to the Montreal Canadians. Despite the club setback and always a hard worker, he continued to grow as a player enjoying more personal successes; winning four more Hart and Art Ross trophies. His major success came in surpassing his childhood idol Gordie Howe in both all-time points and goal scoring records.
Gretzky surpassed Howe’s 801 career goals during the 1993-94 season. He broke the record in fewer games and went on to achieve a final career total of 894 goals. Despite his personal success, with few team accolades, he grew increasingly frustrated with the LA Kings and asked to be traded. He briefly joined the St Louis Blues in the 1995-96 season.
Following a fall out with the St Louis Blues coach and manager, he joined the New York Rangers for the 1996-97 season. He remained with the New York Rangers until he retired in April 1999.
Wayne Gretzky following his final game on 18th April 1999 vs Pittsburgh Penguins
“Not only am I mentally ready to retire, I’m physically ready to retire.” “It’s hard. This is a great game, but it’s a hard game. I’m ready.”
The Accolades of the Great One (Or at Least Some of Them!)
Arguably one of the greatest hockey players in history, his stats, records, and trophies are too vast to list in full. His career highlights include;
Goals in one season: 92 (1981-82, 80 games scheduled)
Most goals: 894 in 1487 games
Assists in one season: 163 (1985-86, 80 games scheduled)
Most assists: 1963
73 shorthanded regular season career goals
Four consecutive 70 goal seasons
Nine Hart trophies (Eight consecutive)
Four x 200 point seasons with the Edmonton Oilers
19 consecutive seasons averaging at least a point per game
Nine consecutive seasons averaging two points per game
Most consecutive 100 or more point seasons, 13 (15 in total)
Highest +/- in a single playoff year ( +28, 1994-95), +/- by a forward in a single season (+98) and +/- by a forward career (+518)
Fastest to 100 points: 34 Games (1984-85)
Youngest player to score 50 goals in a season: 19 years two months
Most all-star games goals: 13 goals in 18 games
Longest consecutive point-scoring streak: 51 games (1983-84)
The Statistics, Records and Trophies
Number 99 Retired and the Hockey Hall of Fame
April 1999 saw Gretzky retire from professional hockey. Following retirement, only nine players have been almost immediately ushered into the hockey hall of fame. There have been zero since Gretzky. With his personal retirement came the league-wide retirement of his trademark number 99 jersey.
The 20 Years Since Retirement
In the post-NHL years, one of his most famous achievements came in 2002 at the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. The ice hockey final saw Canada claim the gold medal for the first time in 50 years. Canada beat USA 5-2 in one of the most watched hockey games in history. Gretzky served as the executive director of the team.
Shortly after taking on international duties he became a managing partner, in 2001, of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. He spent his time there serving in the front office and as head coach. During his tenure, the club saw little success. The result was Gretzky stepping down as head coach in 2009. In the subsequent years, he eventually relinquished his ownership as well.
He channeled his energy into philanthropic efforts. He set up a charity in his name, the Wayne Gretzky Foundation. The foundation has raised over $1 million for the support of underprivileged youths in hockey. He is also involved in a multitude of other charitable projects.
Gretzky has also undertaken other ventures not related to his hockey career which include a popular Toronto bar Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant and becoming a winemaker with the Wayne Gretzky Estate Winery.
Is There Anyone Better?
Many will argue modern day players such as Alexander Ovechkin, Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby, are better players than Gretzky. That said 60 of his 61 official NHL records still hold strong. The legacy of the Great One looks set to stand for some time to come. It seems it is no wonder why 20 years on he remains an idol and favorite of hockey fans across the world.
Interested in learning more about Wayne Gretzky? Take a look at the timeline detailing videos and further highlights of the great one’s full life and career here. | https://allbeardnoteeth.com/the-great-one-gretzky-20-years-on/ |
We have some uncomfortable truth for you: even if your machine learning (ML) models aren’t wrong now, drift will inevitably affect any model and cause it to lose accuracy over time.
This post discusses some of the most common cues for retraining an ML model.
We’ll discuss why you need to retrain machine learning models, what causes the need for this retraining, and how to recognize the cues that indicate that it is time for retraining. We’ll also touch on the operational and engineering prerequisites to successfully retrain and debug models.
“All models are wrong but some are useful.”
~ George Box
What are the Causes for Retraining ML Models?
The knowledge embedded in a machine learning model is a frozen snapshot of a real-world process imperfectly captured in data.
The required change may be complex, but the reasoning is simple.
As the real world and the engineering around that snapshot change, your model needs to keep up with reality in order to meet the performance metrics achieved in development.
Some retraining schedules present themselves naturally during model development — when the model depends on a data source that is updated periodically, for example. Many changes in data, engineering, or business can be difficult or impossible to predict and communicate. Changes anywhere in the model dependency pipeline can degrade model performance; it’s an inconvenience, but not unsolvable.
Consider a user interacting with a website application. The application may capture clicks to represent this interaction, and these clicks may be monetized under specific business rules.
This data can be used to build a model to predict the lifetime value of that customer or the risk of losing that customer’s business (churn).
Another real-world scenario could be someone purchasing a vehicle. This process gets captured as a purchase order, which gets modeled and stored in a database. Business definitions are then used to calculate profit.
From this, we can build a model to predict profit per car or the length of time required to make a sale.
There is no shortage of ways that these models might fail over time.
- Externally, user profiles or macroeconomic trends may change, degrading our model.
- If the stock market crashes, people will no longer behave in the same way that they were behaving at the time that the model was trained.
- When the COVID pandemic occurred, eCommerce and physical retail behaviors changed drastically.
- Internally, business rules may change: new email subscribers might now be recorded as “warm lead” instead of “new member” within the internal data.
- An advertising campaign may increase demand, a new data source may be added to data capture, or a data source may disappear – the hazards are endless.
A change in any step in the model dependency pipeline may violate the statistical, technical, or business assumptions that were relied upon when the model was built, which will require the model to be retrained.
Cues for Retraining
While we may not have visibility into the entire dependency tree, changes in the pipeline that violate the assumptions of our model will have a measurable impact on the inputs and outputs of our model.
As part of a larger model monitoring strategy, we can monitor the input and outputs of our model and trigger model retraining upon the following events:
- The model’s performance metrics have deteriorated.
- The distribution of predictions has changed from those observed during training.
- The training data and the live data have begun to diverge and the training data is no longer a good representation of the real world.
The common thread running through all these events is monitoring.
Ideally, predictions and the inputs that produced them are logged and easily accessible to facilitate monitoring. The best approach is to tie the model calls to a unique ID which can be used to retrieve the prediction and logging data.
If possible, this prediction should either immediately or eventually be tied to a ground truth label. For example, in a propensity-to-buy model, you would want to update the model using information about whether a purchase actually occurred or not. These ground truths are then used to calculate and visualize a performance metric that should be made available to users across the organization.
Error Rate Based Drift Detection
Detecting drift based on model performance, or “error rate based drift detection,” ties directly to what we care most about — model performance — and is generally simple to implement. In this strategy, when we observe a significant dip in model performance, we retrain our model. The threshold for retraining should be determined based on the performance expectations set during model development.
This method presupposes that ground truth labels are eventually available so that the performance metric can be calculated.
If a manual labeling process was part of model development and training, a similar labeling process should also be included in a retraining step. While some model types may not have explicit labels (unsupervised, self-supervised), they should have some measurable business impact that we can monitor.
For example, we may monitor the time a paralegal spent summarizing a deposition after deploying a text summarization model. Monitoring these business metrics enables online experiments (A/B testing, for example) to assess the performance of a machine learning model and trigger retraining if necessary.
Sometimes it’s just not possible to close the loop and find out if our model’s predictions were actually correct; in those instances, we need to rely on other drift detection methods.
Drift Detection on the Target Variable
Even without available labels, we can still monitor the distribution of predictions and compare it to the distribution of predictions that we observed over the training data.
Prediction data for many use cases tend to be univariate or low dimensional, making some of the common methods for comparing distributions easier to implement and interpret.
Some of the more common statistical tests used to compare distributions are the Z-test, Chi-squared, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Jensen-Shannon, and Earth Mover’s Distance. No matter the chosen metric (similar to error rate-based drift detection) you’ll need to determine a threshold for when retraining becomes necessary.
Drift Detection on the Input Data
Given structured tabular data, we can extend the idea of detecting drift on the target variable to our input variables. In this case, we could generate baseline statistics from our training data for each feature and compare these statistics to those seen in the live data.
This strategy benefits from the possibility of using pre-existing data quality steps or metrics that may already be embedded or available in the data engineering pipeline. Some cloud providers also already have built-in offerings for this approach making it easier to implement than more advanced techniques.
Generating and comparing statistics between data sets should start to tickle our machine learning itch. Alternatively (or additionally), we can train a binary classifier to distinguish between training data and live data. Being able to distinguish between the training data and live data (a better-than-random AUC) suggests that the data has drifted.
Drift Detection is Just the Beginning
Retraining isn’t the end of fixing data drift. It’s a prompt to understand more deeply the internal and external model dependencies.
Debugging model degradation and error analysis can lead to insights about the real world, technical processes, and business processes reflected in the data. In order to facilitate error analysis, debugging, and retraining, machine learning operations, engineering teams need to lay proper groundwork around logging, monitoring, and automation in concert with data engineering teams.
Retraining is part of a larger scope of the model care and maintenance that doesn’t stop when you deploy your model to production. Much of this care and upkeep can and should be automated by a solid MLOps Architecture supported by a quality ML Engineering team.
As the real world and the business processes change, a strategy that doesn’t allocate time for data scientists to update models with analysis based on the latest data and debug models to identify potential problems is bound to fail. Even worse: your model might not fail in such a way that it stops functioning, but it may start to provide predictions and insight that are incorrect in ways that actively harm your business.
So What Should You Do?
- Trace and understand the dependencies of your model.
- Select a drift detection method that’s appropriate for your model and data:
- Error rate
- Target variable
- Input data
- Select a metric and threshold for retraining.
- When the threshold has been crossed:
- Perform error analysis and debug model dependencies for insights
- Retrain your model
- Iterate and improve.
Most cloud providers have services that help with many of the steps above, from setting up model performance monitoring and data quality to integrating notifications.
We prefer the simplest metrics and tests that meet the needs of the business. Complicated methods with negligible impact do nothing but generate technical debt and potentially skeptical end-users.
Takeaways
In this blog, we’ve given a brief overview of
- Why model retraining is necessary
- Where and how drift can occur in the pipeline of model dependencies
- Where to measure drift within your model pipelines, and
- Preliminary options for how to measure drift.
We’ve also established the need for automation and observability around the model dependency pipeline to enable retraining.
In a phrase, model retraining illustrates the prerequisite data engineering, MLOps, and machine learning engineering necessary to deploy a “production-ready” machine learning model. | https://www.phdata.io/blog/when-to-retrain-machine-learning-models/ |
Experience Needed:
Career Level:
Education Level:
Salary:
Job Categories:
Skills And Tools:
Job Description
- Manage distribution, warehousing, inventory and stock control, shipping and customs activities to achieve the most cost efficient and smooth material feed to the production lines and material support of non-direct (consumable) materials for all the company.
- Create/develop purchasing orders and manage the annual contracts for local parts
- Meet production demand requirements through established procedures to identify and select the best vendors, suppliers and contractors.
- Monitor and evaluate Vendors & OEM utilization and scrap / consumables usage and costs .
- Reviews PRs and POs for completeness, accuracy and compliance with policies and procedures.
- Monitors supplier performance against targets (quality / delivery / cost).
- Implement the company’s inventory management strategy with the aim of controlling costs within budget limits.
- Develop and execute ideas for annual cost saving
- Ensure incoming product is received and managed appropriately according to company procedure
- Research ideal shipping techniques, routing, and carriers.
- Monitor shipments & customs clearance.
- Monitor and follow the inbound deliveries importation process to assure releasing shipment on time to meet the forecasted demand.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in related field.
- Advance study in procurement is a plus .
- 10+ years of automotive industry experience (Local & foreign purchasing - Shipment & customs clearance).
- Fluent in English.
- Very Good knowledge in Computer and Microsoft office applications. | https://wuzzuf.net/jobs/p/ZBwkzWEwsdLP-Supply-Chain-Section-Head---Suez-Alarabia-for-Trading-Manufacturing-and-Transportation-Services-Suez-Egypt |
In the United States, new medicine undergoes rigorous clinical research to determine its safety and effectiveness before it can be commercialized. Drugs marketed to the public are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and are also subject to unique federal, state, and local statutes. For companies in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, the process of obtaining the necessary approvals before marketing a drug requires substantial time and financial resources.
We’ve analyzed the various steps companies need to take before they obtain FDA approval to commercialize a new drug, and discuss financial strategies to use during clinical trials to ensure success.
FDA Approval Process
The development and approval process required by the FDA usually involves:
- Completion of preclinical laboratory tests, animal studies, and formulation studies
- Submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application
- Approval by an institutional review board of clinical sites before each trial may be initiated
- Performance of human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the drug candidate for each proposed indication
- Submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA
- Review by an FDA advisory committee, if applicable
- Completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the product is produced
- FDA review and approval of the NDA
Clinical Trials: Finance Tips for Success
In an organization seeking FDA drug approval, the clinical operations team is responsible for the delivery of clinical trials that adhere to FDA regulations. It’s their task to design, plan, and physically run the phases of the trials.
To increase the chances of achieving approval, the clinical trials team must evaluate the internal capabilities of the company and its use of third-party vendors or consultants. They must then forecast the financial resources needed to support the strategy by:
- Developing a budget with the appropriate level of detail for:
- Financing sources
- Timing of financing
- Payment schedules to vendors
- Establishing and tracking the trial’s performance against the strategy
- Reconciling performance against budget
- Implementing changes as needed
The clinical operations team must work closely and consistently with the finance and accounting team to minimize overages and reduce any disruption in financial resources needed to support the go-to-market strategy. To achieve this, the company’s finance and accounting team must:
- Update the forecasting model monthly
- Request financial data from all parties involved, both internal and outsourced
- Reconcile data received to ensure prepayments and accruals for outsourced work have been properly reflected in the forecasting model, and are in accordance with milestones established in the agreements with the Contract Research Organizations (CRO), Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMO), and other vendors
- Discuss the financial results with the clinical operations team to determine the sufficiency for current resources or need for additional financing to support the strategy
- Revise plans as needed
Conclusion
Having a thorough process will help streamline the complicated path to FDA approval. By aligning the quality control requirements of the FDA with your clinical and marketing strategy, you’ll be able to gain more accurate and reliable data, keep better track of progress, establish accountability, and increase the probability of positive outcomes. | https://www.wolfandco.com/resources/insights/finance-tips-for-fda-drug-approval/ |
The Organizational Development Manager plans, develops, implements and administers development and training programs for all employees.
The manager also acts as liaison and advisor to the organization's leadership and facilitates initiatives across the organization.
Organizational Development:
• Design, plan, and implement OD programs such as engagement surveys, goal setting, performance management, leadership and functional competencies, and career development initiatives.
• Responsible to design & implement Succession plan model for retaining a strong talent pipeline.
• Design & implement initiatives for Cultural & Transformational shift.
• Facilitate organizational effectiveness through promotion of employee engagement and wellness programs.
• Research new OD techniques and suggests enhancements to existing OD programs.
• Manage all Internal Communications to ensure effective communication and consultation processes. Learning & Development:
• Directs the needs assessment for learning and development to enhance the effectiveness of employee performance in achieving the goals and objectives of the company.
• Designs and develops HR training programs for management and employees.
• Monitor and evaluate training program’s effectiveness, success and ROI periodically and report on them.
• Consults with management on performance, organizational and leadership matters. | https://www.rozee.pk/mobilink-microfinance-bank-executive-manager-organizational-development-islamabad-jobs-1116108.php |
The importance of a high forecast accuracy in today’s supply chains is higher than ever before – or if not having a high forecast accuracy, at least having a stable and unbiased forecast or forecast range. At the same time, the opportunities of applying more advanced forecast algorithms to the demand planning process have also increased. But how do we know that we are improving the forecast accuracy with a changed statistical model or with the promotion plan that we are currently running?
In this article, we are explaining how applying forecast value-add measures linked to the forecast accuracy of the different building blocks of the demand planning process can help organisations improve their forecast accuracy, increase the control of their forecast and streamline their process.
In the demand planning process, the different process steps are together constructing the final forecast. The forecast is constructed by reviewing and evaluating the product mix, applying statistical methods, incorporating seasonality knowledge based on historical consumption, collecting input from various stakeholders as sales and finance and adding on extra promotions.
It can be a challenging task to evaluate the input from the different areas, especially when we may miss forecast accuracy measures on the detailed level or if we are only able to compare the final released forecast with the historical actuals. By measuring the incremental shift of the forecast accuracy in each step of the demand planning process, we can evaluate the process steps to assure that the process is increasing the forecast accuracy and runs efficiently.
The forecast value-add measures the incremental shift in forecast accuracy of the process. When the forecast value-add is in place, learnings can be taken from the result. However, you should use the forecast value-add to find overall dysfunctional parts of the process, and therefore, it should be reviewed on an aggregated level as an average over multiple time periods.
When you analyse the forecast accuracy through the forecast value-add, the objective is mainly to answer two questions:
Therefore, it is important that the level at which the forecast value-add numbers are reviewed is similar to the responsibility level for the different input processes, e.g. product group, customer, sales area and industry.
The starting point for the forecast value-add calculation is a simple statistical forecast model. If you have multiple steps to get to a baseline forecast, e.g. seasonality calculations, then these should have their own forecast value-add calculation.
Then the learnings obtained from analysing the forecast value-add numbers can result in actions in the demand planning process going forward – which will result in a more efficient demand planning process and a higher forecast accuracy. The forecast accuracy is not a management KPI but should be used by the demand planners to increase their knowledge about their process, statistical models and their manual inputs to improve it for the future. Therefore, you should incorporate the review of these numbers into the normal planning cycle.
You can also use the forecast value-add foundation to support the demand planning process where the baseline forecast is derived from machine learning algorithms.
Today, many companies are experimenting with machine learning algorithms. We see a lot of transitions from a more classical statistical forecast model selection process to investigating the possibilities of using machine learning algorithms instead. To support this process to develop, deploy and operate machine learning models, we recommend using a forecast value-add approach linked to it.
We have met multiple companies that have started using machine learning algorithms based on proof-of-concept results. But to justify the implementation of machine learning, we recommend comparing the performance of the machine learning algorithm on an on-going basis.
This ensures that the model adds value and can help the data scientist highlight where models should be re-evaluated and adjusted. For the simple statistical forecast, we recommend one of the following algorithms to use as the baseline for the value-add calculation:
When implementing a new machine learning algorithm, it is important that you test and communicate in which areas the algorithm performs better than the previous model(s). This is vital, as those who enrich the forecast in the later phase need to change behaviour. Things that previously added value to the forecast and were not considered could potentially be part of the new machine learning model now.
This also means that segments where the planner previously was adding a lot of value can now be handled with the improved algorithm. This means that after the deployment of a new algorithm, you should monitor the value-add closely to ensure that the behavioural change is also successfully implemented. Otherwise, you risk not improving your overall forecast accuracy and the planners spending the same amount of time, where the only difference is a shift in the forecast value-add categories.
You should use this tracker to ensure that the planners can get to the same overall forecast accuracy with less inputs and incorporate the results from the new machine learning algorithm into their ways of working.
Tracking the forecast value-add and number of inputs is a delicate matter. We advise that you track it on a level where it adds value to understand the improvement potentials of the process. A natural next step for some could be to measure the incremental value-add per planner – however, we advise against that. If you monitor on a planner level and use it in planner evaluation, you risk introducing a suboptimal process step and incentives to harm the other process inputs to improve the personal forecast value-add.
As in all other areas of supply chain management, it is important that you have a holistic approach and ensure that measurements and KPIs support the overall process and ability to deliver goods on time, in full.
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– four steps to understand and formulate your purpose. | https://implementconsultinggroup.com/article/increase-your-forecast-accuracy-with-forecast-value-add/ |
The field of AI product management continues to gain momentum. As the AI product management role advances in maturity, more and more information and advice has become available. Our previous sections in this series introduce our own take on AI product management, discuss the skills that AI product managers need, and detail how to introduce an AI product to sell.
One area that “ve received” less attention is the role of an AI product administrator after the produce is deployed. In traditional software engineering, instance has been established for the transition of responsibility from occurrence crews to maintenance, user functionings, and place reliability teams. New features in an existing product often follow a same advance. For traditional software, the domain knowledge and skills required to develop new facets are different from those necessary to ensure that the commodity labor as intended. Because product development and concoction operations are distinct, it’s logical for different squads and processes to be responsible for them.
In contrast, many production AI systems rely on feedback loops-the-loops that require the same technical skills used during initial development. Similarly, in “Building Machine Learning Powered Applications: Departing from Idea to Product, ” Emmanuel Ameisen countries: “Indeed, uncovering a modeling to users in product come here for a pitch of challenges that mirrors the ones that come with debugging a model.”
As a solution, at the stage when concoction managers for other types of makes might change to developing brand-new aspects( or to other projects wholly ), an AI product director and the rest of the original developing team should be continued heavily involved. One intellect for this is to tackle the( likely) interminable backlog of ML/ AI simulate increases that will be discovered after the make participates with the real world. Another, of course, is to ensure that the concoction offices as expected and hoped over era. We describe the final responsibility of the AI PM as coordinating with the engineering, infrastructure, and site reliability units to ensure all sent facets can be supported at scale.
This article volunteers our perspective into the practical details of the AI PM’s responsibilities in the latter parts of the AI product hertz, as well as some revelation into best practises in hanging of those responsibilities.
Debugging AI Products
In Bringing an AI Product to Market, we distinguished the debugging phase of produce development from pre-deployment evaluation and testing. Such a distinction expects a slightly different definition of debugging than is often used in software development. We characterize debugging as the process of using logging and monitoring implements to spy and resolve the inevitable difficulties that is an indication in a product environment.
Emmanuel Ameisen again offers a handy framework for defining wrongdoings in AI/ ML lotions: “…three areas in particular are most important to verify: inputs to a pipeline, the trust of a pose and the yields it produces.” To substantiate verification in these areas, a make manager must first ensure that the AI system is capable of reporting back to the product team about its performance and usefulness over meter. This may attest in several ways, including the collection of definite used feedback or explains via directs outside of the product team, and the provision of mechanisms to disagree the production of the AI system where relevant. Proper AI product monitoring is essential to this outcome.
I/ O validation
From a technological perspective, it is entirely possible for ML systems to function on wildly different data. For example, you can ask an ML model to make an inference on data taken away from a rationing very different from what it was improved on–but that, of course, outcomes in unpredictable and often undesired rendition. Therefore, deployed AI products should include validation steps to ensure that model inputs and outputs are within generally expected restraints, before a simulate education or inference duty is accepted as successful.
Ideally, AI PMs would steer growth crews to incorporate I/ O validation into the initial improve of the production structure, along with the instrumentation needed to monitor model accuracy and other technical rendition metrics. But in practice, it is common for sit I/ O validation steps to be added later, when scaling an AI product. Therefore, the PM should consider the team that will reconvene whenever it is necessary to build out or revise commodity features that 😛 TAGEND
ensure that inputs are present and terminated, be held that inputs are from a realistic( expected) distribution of the data, and provoke horrifies, sit retraining, or shutdowns( when necessary ).
The composition of these teams will vary between companies and products, but a normal cross-functional team would likely include representatives from Data Science( for product-level experimentation and assumption undertaking validation ), Engineering science( for sit operation and assessment ), ML Engineering( for data and facet engineering, as well as model pipeline support) and Software/ Feature Engineering( for integration with the full load of the AI product–such as UI/ UX, cloud services, and dev ops tools ). Use together, this post-production exploitation squad should espouse incessant delivery principles, and prioritize the incorporation of any added required instrumentation that was not already implemented during the model development process.
Finally, the AI PM must work with production engineering teams to design and implement the alerting and remediation frame. Regards include where to set thresholds for each persona, alert frequency, and the degree of remediation automation( both what’s possible and wanted ).
Inference Task Speed and SLOs
During testing and evaluation, employment achievement is important, but not critical to success. In the production environment, when the outputs of an ML model are often a central( more disguised) factor of a greater application, rushed and reliability are critically important. It is quite possible for an AI product’s output to be absolutely correct from financial perspectives of accuracy and data quality, but too slow to be even remotely helpful. Consider the case of autonomous vehicles: if the outputs from even one of the many critical ML mannequins that comprise the vehicle’s AI-powered “vision” are delivered after a slam, who helps if they were correct?
In engineering for yield, AI PMs must take into account the moved at which intelligence from ML/ AI simulations must be delivered( to validation enterprises, to other organisations in the product, and to users ). Technology and techniques–such as engineering solely for GPU/ TPU performance and caching–are important tools in the deployment process, but “its also” additional factors that can fail, and thus be responsible for the failure of an AI product’s core functionality. An AI PM’s responsibility is to ensure that the evolution crew implements proper checks prior to release, and–in the case of failure–to support the incident response squads, until they are proficient in resolving issues independently.
AI product overseers is required to consider availability: the degree to which the service that an AI product stipulates extended to other systems and users. Service Level Objectives( SLOs) equip a handy framework for encapsulating this kind of decision. In an incident management blog post, Atlassian characterizes SLOs as: “the individual predicts you’re offsetting to that patron … SLOs are what adjust customer promises and tell IT and DevOps teams what objectives the work requires reached and bar themselves against. SLOs can be useful for both paid and unpaid accounts, as well as internal and external customers.”
Service Level Indicators, Objectives, and Agreements( SLIs, SLOs, and SLAs) are well-known, frequently used, and well-documented tools for defining the availability of digital assistances. For cloud infrastructure some of the most common SLO sorts are concerned with availability, reliability and scalability. For AI products, these same notions must be expanded to cover not just infrastructure, but also data and the system’s overall accomplishment at a uttered assignment. While helpful, these creates are not beyond criticism. Chief among the challenges are: choosing the correct metrics initiated with, weighing and reporting once metrics are selected, and the lack of incentive for a service provider to update the service’s capabilities( which gives rise to outdated apprehensions ). Despite these concerns, service statu frames can be quite useful, and should be provided in the AI PM’s toolkit in order to develop the kind of experience that an AI product should provide.
Durability
You must also make stability into account when building a post-production product plan. Even if well-designed, multi-layer fault detection and sit retraining systems are carefully projected and implemented, every AI-powered system must be robust to the ever-changing and naturally stochastic environment that we( humen) all live in. Product managers should assume that any probabilistic component of an AI product will interrupt at some moment. A good AI product allowed to self-detect and alert experts upon such a outage; a great AI product allowed to spot the most common both problems and adjust itself automatically–without significant interruption of services for useds, or high-touch intervention by human experts.
There are many ways to improve AI product stability, including 😛 TAGEND
Time-based model retraining: retraining all core poses periodically, regardless of performance.Continuous retraining: a data-driven approach that utilizes constant the surveillance of the model’s key performance indicators and data quality thresholds.
It’s worth noting that model durability and retraining can heighten law and policy issues. For example, in numerous regulated industries, varying any core functionality of an AI system’s decision-making ability( i.e ., objective roles, major changes to hyperparameters, etc .) compel not only revealing, but also observed testing. As such, an AI Product Manager’s responsibility here extend to publish is not simply a usable make, but one that can be ethically and legally consumed. It’s also important to remember that no matter what the approach to developing and maintaining a highly durable AI system, the make team must have access to high quality, relevant metrics on both example performance and functionality.
Monitoring
Proper monitoring( and the software instrumentation necessary to perform it) is essential to the success of an AI product. However, checking is a loaded period. The reasons for monitoring AI systems are often conflated, as are the different types of monitoring and alerting provided by off-the-shelf implements. Emmanuel Ameisen once again adds a handy and concise interpretation of model observing as a way to “track the health of a system. For models, this entails monitoring their performance and the equity of their predictions.”
The simplest case of mannequin monitoring is to compute key performance metrics( is attributable to both simulate fit and inference accuracy) regularly. These metrics can be combined with human-determined thresholds and automated notifying systems to inform when a sit has “drifted” beyond ordinary operating constants. While ML monitoring is a relatively new product area, standalone commercial commodities( including Fiddler and superwise.ai) are available, and oversight matters implements are incorporated into all the major machine learning platforms.
Separate from monitoring for mannequin freshness, Ameisen likewise mentions the need to apply technological province know in tailor monitoring systems that spy fraud, abuse, and strike from external actors. AI PMs should consult with Trust& Safety and Security squads to combine the best principles and technical mixtures within available AI product functionality. In some specific domains–such as financial services or medicine–no easy technical mixtures exist. In this case, it is the responsibility of the AI product team to build tools to detect and mitigate cases of fraud and abuse in the system.
As we’ve mentioned previously, it’s not enough to simply monitor an AI system’s performance characteristics. It is even more important to consistently ensure that the AI product’s user-facing and business purposes are is complied with. This responsibility is shared by the development team with Design, UX Research, SRE, Legal, PR, and Customer Support squads. The AI PM’s responsibility is again to orchestrate reasonable and readily repeatable mitigations to current problems. It is crucial to design and implement specific alerting abilities for these functions and units. If you simply wait for disorders, they will arise far too late in the round for your team to react properly.
No matter how well you research, designing, and assessment an AI system, once it is liberated, people are going to complain about it. Some of those complaints is very likely to have deserved, and responsible stewardship of AI products requires that users are given the ability to disagree with the system’s yields and heighten issues to the product team.
It is also entirely possible for this feedback to show you that the system is underserving a particular segment of the population, and that you may need a portfolio of simulations to perform more of the user base. As an AI PM, you have the responsibility to build a safe product for everyone in the population who might use it. This includes consideration of the complexities that come into play with intersectionality. For example, an AI product might cause great outcomes for affluent, American, cisgender, heterosexual, White women–and although it might be tempting to accept those outcomes would apply to all women, such an assumption would be incorrect. Returning to previous anti-bias and AI transparency implements such as Model Cards for Model Reporting( Timnit Gebru, et alia .) is a great option at this station. It is important not to pass this development task off to investigates or technologists alone; it is an integral part of the AI product cycle.
If done right, consumers will never be aware of all the product monitoring and alerting that is in place, but don’t made that manoeuvre you. It’s essential to success.
Post-Deployment Frameworks
One question that an AI PM might question when studying these post-production requirements is: “This seems hard; can’t I simply buy these capabilities from somebody else? ” This is a fair question, but–as with all things related to machine learning and artificial intelligence–the answer is far from a binary yes or no.
There are many implements available to help with this process, from traditional vendors and bleeding boundary startups alike. Deciding what investment to perform in MLOps tooling is an inherently complex assignment. Nonetheless, careful consideration and proactive actions often lead to defendable competitive advantages over time. Uber( private developers of Michelangelo ), Airbnb( make of zipline ), and Google have all taken advantage of superior tooling and business abilities to build market-leading AI products.
Nearly every ML/ AI library brags full end-to-end capabilities, from enterprise-ready loads( such as H2 0. ai, MLFlow, and Kubeflow) to the highly specialized and engineer-friendly( such as Seldon.io) and everything in-between( like Dask ). Enterprise level-frameworks often cater deep and well-supported integration with countless common production systems; smaller companies might find this integration unnecessary or overly cumbersome. Regardless, it’s a safe bet that getting these off-the-shelf tools to work with your AI product in the exact courses you need them to are likely to be costly( if not financially, then at least in time and human labor ). That said–from a scale, questions of safety and peculiarities perspective–such capabilities may be required in many evolve AI product environments.
On the other hand, construct and scaling a software tool stack from scratch requires a significant sustained investment in both developer occasion and technology. Facebook, Uber, AirBnB, Google, Netflix, and other behemoths have all spent millions of dollars to build their ML development scaffolds; they also hire dozens to several hundreds of employees, each tasked with building and scaling their internal abilities. The upside here is that such end-to-end development to deployment frameworks and tools eventually become a competitive advantage, in and of themselves. However, it’s worth noting that in such environments, hiring a single AI PM is no way. Instead, a cadre of PMs focused on different components of the AI product price chain are needed.
Where do we go from here?
Building immense AI products is a major, cross-disciplinary, and time-consuming undertaking, even for the most mature and well-resourced business. However, what ML and AI can reach at proportion can be well worth the speculation. Although a return on investment is never guaranteed, our goal is required to provide AI PMs with the tools and techniques needed to build highly committing and impactful AI products in a wide various types of contexts.
In this article, we focused on the importance of collaboration between make and engineering units, to ensure that your commodity not only capacities as intended, but is also robust to both the degradation of its effectiveness and the uncertainties of its operating environment. In the world of machine learning and artificial intelligence, a make exhaust has just begun. Product overseers have a unique place in the development ecosystem of ML/ AI products, because they cannot simply guide the commodity to exhaust and then turn it over to IT, SRE, or other post-production units. AI product directors have a responsibility to oversee not only the design and construct of the system’s capabilities, but also to coordinate the team during incidents, until the growth squad is now complete fairly learning convey for independent post-production operation.
The evolution of AI-enabled product suffers is accelerating at breakneck speeding. In parallel, the emerging role of AI product handling continue to evolve at a same gait, to ensure that the tools and produces delivered to the market supply true-blue utility and price to both both consumers and industries. Our goal in this four-part series on AI product handling is to increase parish awareness and sanction individuals and teams to enhance their skills and abilities in order to be allowed to to effectively steer AI product evolution toward successful outcomes. The best ML/ AI products that exist today were brought to market by squads of PhD ML/ AI scientists and developers who worked in tandem with resourceful and skilled produce crews. All were essential to their success.
As the field of AI continues to mature, so will the exciting discipline of AI product handling. We can’t wait to see what you build!
Generator:
MLOps: Continual delivery and automation pipes in machine learning( Google) MLOps: What you need to know( Forbes) SLA vs. SLO vs. SLI: What’s the difference ?( Atlassian) MLOps Tooling( Todd Morrill) Building Machine Learning Powered Applications( O’Reilly) Designing Data-Intensive Applications( O’Reilly)
Thanks
We would like to thank the many people who have contributed their expertise to the early sketches of the articles in this series, including: Emmanuel Ameisen, Chris Albon, Chris Butler, Ashton Chevalier, Hilary Mason, Monica Rogati, Danielle Thorp, and Matthew Wise. | https://myfitterbetterlife.com/ai-product-management-after-deployment/ |
Responsible for the procurement of goods and services to fulfill the company’s operational requirements in accordance with the proposed specifications and requirements so that the company’s operations run smoothly.
Receive requests for the procurement of goods and services from related work units in the form of purchase requests (PR), to verify and to coordinate with the related work units for clarification (if necessary) to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the PRs in accordance with the company’s goods & services policies, systems and procedures.
Analyze request requirements and to prepare the procurement mechanism as well as the required documentations to ensure its accordance with budgets and or needs as well as the prevailing policies, systems, and procedures.
Record vendors / suppliers based on price, availability, and delivery accuracy as well as the quality of goods and services each vendor / supplier provides to be used as a database for vendor / supplier selection.
Conduct vendor / supplier selection process, by direct selection or through a tender process, to ensure the company is engaged with the best vendor / supplier for procurement purposes by considering price, quality, delivery accuracy, and quantity.
Execute procurement process for goods / services and to monitor the progress status to ensure its specification and schedule compliance.
Identify, analyze and evaluate the cycle time process from PR to PO (Purchase Order), to prepare the related reports and to recommend recommendations so that the cycle time process from PR to PO can be in accordance with the pre-determined targets.
Review and recap monthly purchases and to analyze its accuracy based on budgets to ensure its compliance with the pre-planned budgets.
Review vendor performance on a yearly or ad hoc basis to ensure that the company is engaging with the best performing vendors. | http://adaro.com/jobs/job/ADR-20180515436119 |
Demand Planning:
- Interact with sales, marketing and finance to understand demand forecast drivers.
- Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with sales, marketing and finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
- Develop demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons.
- Review historical sales trend, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams to refine forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions.
Customer Collaborations:
- Ensure an appropriate order flow with the compliance to policies.
- Manage the communication with sales function and customers.
- Perform analytics and performance reporting. Monitor and evaluate order issues.
- Provide an interface with supply chain, commercial and customer teams.
- Lead resolutions of past issues and anticipate future issues through collaborations with internal and external stakeholders.
- Drive process improvements in order management processes.
Logistics – Warehousing & Distribution:
- Manage the operations of warehouse (inbound, storage, outbound, repack/relabel) directly or through third-party logistics provider.
- Ensure distribution of products is in accordance with customer requirements in terms of on-time, efficiency, accuracy and budget.
- Design and develop short- and long-term strategy for W&D network.
- Conduct regular reviews with 3PL to ensure delivery of goals and objectives.
- Prepare budget for logistics activities and operate within approved guidelines.
- Analyze logistics data for improvements in warehouse and transportation operations.
Required Skills and Abilities
- A Bachelor’s Degree is required (Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or related field is preferred); advanced degree is a plus.
- Zero to maximum 2 years of working experience after graduation.
- Proficiency in professional verbal and written English.
- Customer-centric mindset.
- Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with cross-functional teams.
- Analytical and process oriented; project management experience is a plus.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to a range of audience.
- Experienced with software packages including Microsoft Office applications; advanced Excel capabilities.
Closing in 4 days
- Job type:Graduate Jobs
- Disciplines:
Business and Commerce, Engineering, Logistics and...
- Citizenships:
- Locations:
Jakarta Raya
- Closing Date:14th Apr 2021, 6:00 pm
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Enter an employer or university you want to find in our search bar. | https://id.gradconnection.com/employers/johnson-johnson/jobs/johnson-johnson-supply-chain-management-trainee/ |
❶I suggest that students may like to undertake academic research studies on how supply chain integration is carried out by modern companies, by conducting on-field surveys and interviews. The students may chose a particular area and conduct on-site interviews of supply chain experts about how these practices are incorporated by organizations in their supply chain integration strategies.
However, you cannot slack off as well. This will play a significant role in your academic career and, as such, you would need to choose it wisely.
Of course, it also has to be something that you are interested in. This should help make the entire process of researching and writing a bit easier. It is important for you to be able to choose a topic that you can relate to, since you will be spending quite a bit of time talking and learning about it. To help you get started, here are a few interesting topics that might give you a few good ideas for interesting supply chain management dissertation topics. So there you have it, just a small compilation of topics that you might find interesting and useful when coming up with your own.
After all, everybody can use a little nudge when it comes to thinking up a good topic to work on. Remember that you are not limited to above samples of supply chain management dissertation topics. Feel free to discover interesting aspects of the subject, order dissertation or its parts at DissertationWritings. Buying dissertation is safe with us. Take a look at our Progressive Delivery feature. Want to get plagiarism-free dissertation of top-notch quality?
There is no better place to do it than DissertationWritings. Supply Chain Management Dissertation Topics Are you looking for supply chain management dissertation topics? The purpose is to give a description of the supply chain within a system that has great distances between sales units and production. You can choose to provide solutions to certain logistic issues as well.
A study on modern logistics. A number of metrics are taken as inputs to the strategic supply chain planning to ensure that optimum efficiency and effectiveness can be achieved. This research area may require on-site quantitative data collection, and quantitative analytics using SPSS and such other statistical analysis tools to arrive at the results. The students may have to discover independent and dependent variables and their interrelationships using statistical significance testing and other inferential statistical methods.
E Supply Chain Integration: This research area may be taken as an extension of functional integration point A. Other forms of integration in supply chain management are logistics integration, process integration, supplier integration, technology integration, data integration, information and information systems integration, quality integration, funds integration, and infrastructure and services integration. The student may like to study how companies are integrating with key suppliers and customers to improve flow of information about demands upstream and supply downstream and to reduce lead times.
The modern concepts like direct delivery from suppliers to customers , vendor managed inventories VMI , cross-docking, optimal procurement policy, optimal manufacturing strategy, inventory minimization, input and output control, aggregation planning, process integration, real time monitoring and control, optimization of operations, supply chain object library, enterprise supply chain integration modelling, 3PL and 4PL, quick response QR , efficient consumer response ECR , continuous replenishment planning CRP , and collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment CPFR are included in the scope of supply chain integration.
The students may chose a particular area and conduct on-site interviews of supply chain experts about how these practices are incorporated by organizations in their supply chain integration strategies. Bullwhip effect, beer gaming, order rationing, large batch sizes, inaccurate demand forecasting, stock outs, stock overruns, cost overruns, and high defects density Topic development in the area of triple bottomline economic, environmental, and social sustainability, lean, and six sigma in supply chain management is presented in an extension of this article please click here.
F Supply Chain Performance Drivers: The key performance drivers of supply chain management are - facility effectiveness, inventory effectiveness, transportation effectiveness, information effectiveness, sourcing effectiveness, cost effectiveness, speed effectiveness, delivery effectiveness, quality effectiveness, service effectiveness, green effectivness, economic effectiveness, social empowerment effectiveness, employee skills and competencies, supplier effectiveness, flexibility, lean effectiveness, agility, responsiveness, resilience, and market orientation effectiveness.
These drivers comprise multiple performance indicators that may be measured quantitatively by collecting data and applying them in SPSS. The studies in this area may primarily be quantitative with statistical significance analysis of interrelationships between variables.
The sustainable supply chain management to support the triple bottom-line equity, environment, and economy is also included in the scope of supply chain performance drivers. Topic development in this area is presented in an extension of this article please click here. The concept of demand forecasting is diminishing as more and more companies are now focusing on getting accurate and timely demand information rather than depending upon forecasts.
This is carried out by effective integration of information from all the nodes of the supply chain and disseminating upstream as well as downstream. However, there are many industries that will continue to depend upon push strategy and demand forecasting. The students may like to study about the drawbacks of traditional forecasting methods like time series forecasting, moving averages, trend analysis, etc. Many companies want to incorporate real time data in their forecasting models and focus on forecasting for shorter periods.
This requires lots of additional knowledge over and above the traditional ways of working upon past demand data. The modern forecasting models may be based on accurate knowledge of customer segments, major factors that influence forecasting accuracy, information integration, bullwhip effect, scenario planning, simulations, external factors, risks, and causal Fishbone or Ishikawa analysis.
Most of the studies may be qualitative or triangulated. Aggregation is carried out by a company to determine the levels of pricing, capacity, production, outsourcing, inventory, etc. Aggregation planning helps in consolidation of the internal and external stock keeping units SKUs within the decision and strategic framework for reducing costs, meeting demands and maximising profits.
The students may like to conduct qualitative case studies and modeling-based quantitative studies to research about modern practices of aggregation planning in various industrial and retail sectors. I Global Supply Chains: In the modern world, suppliers in a country are facing direct competition from international suppliers as if the latter are operating within the country. This has happened due to modernization of information management and dissemination, supply routes, payment channels, electronic contracts, leading to improved reliability and reduced lead times of international suppliers.
E-Supply Chains are linked with E-Businesses that use Internet as their medium for accepting orders and payments, and then using the physical channels to deliver the products. E-supply chain is an excellent example of pull strategy and short term demand forecasting. Information flow across the supply chain is instantaneous because both end points and the intermediate agents work through a single Internet enabled portal.
E-Bay and Amazon are viewed as the two most successful companies using this concept at global scales with built-in electronic contract signing and management, electronic payment processing, and electronic delivery processing. The students can find various case studies on E-Supply chains, although the empirical theories are still evolving. The research studies would be quite challenging, modern and unique as the field is still evolving.
The challenges are in the following areas: You will appreciate, supply chain risk is also a floating entity just like materials, funds and information. If the entire chain is integrated through an extranet portal system, and updates of every consignment code are uploaded periodically by all agents connected with the portal, there can be proactive risks generated by the software for the logistics managers such that they can take operating level, tactical level, and even strategic level mitigation actions.
Although such a system is still in its conceptual stage, academic researchers can contribute to its overall conceptualisation and design. It may be integrated as a layer above the traditional SCM software. An agent sensing any variations in delay or cost may log a threat and its probability against a consignment code.
It will be a quantitative research with descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The outcome of this model will be on-the-fly alerts on risk levels and their mitigation as soon as a risk is logged you will need to define mitigation actions against various risk levels, and the suggested authorities to make decisions. You may like to validate your model by surveying experts in your network.
A short, and to-the-point structured questionnaire may be used such that you can present validity and reliability analysis using SPSS. A large number of industry-specific studies are possible in this study approach and every researcher may come forward with a unique supply chain risk management model for a specific industry in a specific country and its location. Topic development in the area of triple bottomline economic, environmental, and social sustainability, lean, and six sigma in supply chain management is presented in an extension of this article please click here. | http://fanout.ml/pewy/doctoral-dissertations-assistance-logistics-and-supply-chain-management-3.php |
Oversee that the the following functions are executed according to Council’s mandate and legislative requirements:
Section: Strategic Services
Internal Audit
Acting Chief Audit Executive: Ms Pamela Lufele
Tel: 044 803 1422
Cell: 071 883 3062
E-mail: [email protected]
Internal Audit is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve GRDM ’s operations. It helps GRDM to achieve its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
The Chief Audit Executive (CAE), in the discharge of his duties, shall be accountable to the Audit and Performance Audit Committee to:
Section: Strategic Services
Performance Management
Manager: Performance Management
Ms Ilse Saaiman
Tel: 044 803 1425
E-mail: [email protected]
Organisational Performance
A Performance Management System can be defined as a strategic approach to management, which equips councillors, managers, employees and stakeholders at different levels with a set of tools and techniques to regularly plan, continuously monitor, periodically measure and review performance of the organisation in terms of indicators and targets for efficiency, effectiveness and impact. This system will, therefore, in turn, ensure that all the councillors, managers and individuals in the municipality are held accountable for their actions which should bring about improved service delivery and value for money.
Performance management is aimed at ensuring that municipalities monitor their IDPs and continuously improve their operations and regarding Section 19 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act (MSA), that they annually review their overall performance in achieving their constitutional objectives. The performance management system can assist to make a significant contribution to organisational and individual performance. The system is designed to improve strategic focus and organisational effectiveness through continually seeking to improve the performance of the municipality as a whole and the individuals in it.
Individual Performance
The performance of a municipality is integrally linked to that of staff. It is therefore important to link organisational performance to individual performance and to manage both at the same time, but separately.
Although legislation requires that the municipal manager, and managers directly accountable to the municipal manager, sign formal performance contracts, it is also a requirement that all employees have performance plans. These must be aligned with the individual performance plan of the head of the directorate and job descriptions. In this way, all employees are working towards a common goal. It is, however, the responsibility of the employer, to create an environment, which the employees can deliver the objectives and the targets set for them in their performance plans and job descriptions.
Section: Strategic Services
Communication and Graphic Design
Senior Communications Officer
Mr Herman Pieters
Tel: 044 803 1419
Cell: 081 4555 699
E-mail: [email protected]
Section: Risk Management
Risk Management Officer
Ms Lauren James
Tel: 044 803 1442
E-mail: [email protected]
Integrated risk management
We support the municipality’s departments in updating risk registers as and when needed as risks are identified and monitor and review all action plans documented in the risk registers to ensure that any risks which may impact on the departments’ ability to achieve their IDP (Integrated Development Plan) objectives are managed at an acceptable level. Integration from the IDP up to the SDBIP is our aim in identifying project risks before they even occur. Continuous monitoring on a monthly basis are doen by the departments and KPI’s developed to ensure action plans are adequately addressed. Annual review of the Risk Management policy, framework and strategies and methodologies are maintained. Internal audit also provides an audit on a yearly basis to ensure compliance. The Internal audit “Risk Based Audit Plan” is developed from the medium to high risk areas in the risk register. The function is regularly reviewed by the Risk Management Committee and APAC.
Compliance
We optimise assurance that the municipality comply with all relevant legislation within its departments. An electronic system is being used to monitor the compliance. This function is regularly reviewed by the Risk Management Committee and APAC. Internal audit also provides an audit on a yearly basis to ensure compliance.
Ms Nadiema Davids
Manager: Legal Services
Tel: 044 803 1408
Cell: 081 580 4692
Fax: 086 555 6303
Email: [email protected]
Duties and responsibilities: | http://www.gardenroute.gov.za/office-of-the-mm/ |
Job Description:
Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
•Assist in the assessment of current training programs in fulfillment and distribution centers
•Identifies skill or knowledge gaps among our employee population and develops training content in response to identified training needs. This may be in areas of process, machinery or other technical products
•Selects training tools or training delivery mechanisms based on the material being taught and the audience being targeted
•Creates and maintains course content, manuals or other training materials
•Identify future needs of training in PurFoods
•Participate in the development of a consistent and comprehensive program for new hire associates
•Identifies the needs and develops new hire training schedules
•Conduct new hire training classes as needed
•Perform observations to ensure associates are following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) to ensure consistency and accuracy
•Monitor, evaluate and report on training program’s effectiveness
•Work closely with facility leadership along with Human Resources to ensure needs are being met.
Job Requirements:
•Bachelor’s Degree preferred
•3-5 years of relative experience (Fulfillment experience preferred)
•Strong verbal and written communication skills
•Ability to speak in front of associate groups
•Excellent problem solving and strong organizational skills
•Ability to work independently and collaboratively
•Must be customer focused and able to react to changing priorities on short notice
•Must be proficient in MS Office
•Ability to plan, multi task and manage time effectively
•Travel is 25% (to other company locations)
•There may be occasional training needs that occur during regular daytime work hours
•Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) credential is preferred.
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Relationship Management
• Cultural Awareness
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms
All fields marked with * are required. | https://www.purfoods.com/join-us/fulfillment-training-specialist/ |
Assistant Pricing Manager, OfficerCore Duties:
Leadership and Management
- Lead and motivate staff
- Set and maintain standards of personal and professional performance/behaviour, ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures
- Agree objectives for staff annually; monitor and appraise their performance providing regular formal and informal feedback
- Assist with the recruitment of new staffManagement of Service Delivery
- Monitor and evaluate the continuing effectiveness of processes, system and procedures initiating remedial action as necessary
- Monitor errors and potential losses/breaches; complete loss/breach documentation and ensure remediation/training needs are identified and relevant remediation/training is completed
- Ensure that all team members follow procedures and complete checklists
- Monitor the service from internal groups and feed into the relevant forums for COE's.
- Ensure that KPI measures (where applicable) are achieved on a monthly basis and if the KPI is not green then initiate action to resolve
- Monitor absence levels and ensure absence management procedures are followedManage Relationships / Communication
- Develop and maintain good relationships with senior staff both within State Street and with clients & external parties
- Hold regular team meetings and 1:1s to ensure regular communication with staff. Communicate effectively with clients, COE's, third parties and colleagues
- Ensure the immediate line manager and others, as appropriate, are kept aware of all issues/problems/queries/work in progress that may impact the quality of service being given
Self-Management / Personal Development
- Manage own time and activities effectively (delegating where required) setting an example through good housekeeping and time management
- Take responsibility for personal development and training
- Keep up to date with legislative and regulatory changes affecting the business
- Actively participate in the objectives and appraisal processes by completing a self-evaluation and suggesting appropriate development to ensure own effectiveness in a changing business context.
Pricing Specific Duties:
Management of Service Delivery
- Manage the daily production of prices performing final checks to ensure accuracy
- Plan and manage all team deliverables with effective utilisation of resource with the support of the Pricing Manager
- Identify issues and problems in the service delivery and take remedial action, keeping the Pricing Manager informed
- Provide daily / weekly MI to AVP which clearly identifies the progress of the team
- Attend regular meetings with the COE's to maintain service levels and resolve issues
- Ensure effective logging and resolution of enquiries within agreed timescalesManage Relationships / Communication
- Act as a focal point for contacts and meetings with other departments in COE's and external contacts such as custodians, trustees, investment managers, auditors etc, providing technical expertise on the service provided
- Participate in Service Reviews and adhoc client meetings
Minimum requirements:
- Strong academic background, ideally including a post-graduate or professional qualification (CA, ACCA, CIMA, IMC, IOC).
- Self-motivated with strong sense of ownership, assertive follow-through and organisational skills.
- Prior experience in managing a team of 2 - 3 people, ideally in Financial Services industry.
- Understanding and managing change within an operational group.
- The candidate should be able to demonstrate a history of hands-on involvement in a Client Service Team.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to work in line with wider internal groups.
- Detail orientated - ability to review client deliverables to a high quality standard.
- Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, for discussion and communication at all level.
- Highly self-motivated with excellent people skills.
- Ability to perform well under pressure of multiple assignments, adapt to change, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. | https://www.efinancialcareers.co.uk/jobs-UK-London-Assistant_Pricing_Manager_Officer.id04381298 |
At Wellframe, we reimagine healthcare relationships through a new approach that uses high-tech to deliver the high-touch support people need, when and where they need it. We call it Digital Health Management. Our comprehensive suite of Digital Health Management solutions for care management, advocacy, and navigation help organizations forge more meaningful connections with members, across their healthcare journey.
Wellframe was founded to counter a pressing industry problem: the healthcare system has struggled to find ways to support people in between care settings, at scale. We believe health plans are in the best position to advocate for their members as they navigate their health and care, but know that technology alone can’t help us achieve this ambition. That’s why our team of physicians, clinicians, public health experts, data scientists, engineers, and healthcare industry experts ensure our patented technology works in service of the person-to-person connections that make healthcare work best.
Role Overview
The Services Manager will support daily operations and help to drive effectiveness and efficiency of the Support Services team, which is part of Client Delivery under Client Strategy & Operations. The Support Services team supports Wellframe-provided services for client staff, user support and app engagement. This individual will ensure nothing short of exemplary support and the most accurate information is provided consistently to end users in accordance with established policies and procedures. In addition, they will partner closely with internal teams to provide real-time insights that will allow for the optimization of service delivery and product improvements. The Services Manager will report directly to the Director of Support Services.
Areas of Responsibility:
Supervising the delivery of comprehensive and exceptional services
- Oversees team and daily operations, managing real time work volumes and not afraid to jump in and assist if needed
- Establish end user relationships and follow up as needed; ensure that escalations to various departments are seamless to our end users
- Handle escalated user incidents, complaints, and questions that impact daily operations and team / company initiatives
- Acts as a liaison to provide product and services information and resolve any emerging problems that our end users might face with accuracy and efficiency
- Monitors workflow, accuracy, and overall quality of work; ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures, correcting errors or problems
- Represent the voice of end users to provide feedback to internal teams helping to improve overall experience and product
Ensuring Service health and performance
- Lead / participate on multiple, ongoing projects focused on end user satisfaction, operational excellence and employee satisfaction
- Improve service quality results by studying, evaluating, and redesigning processes; monitoring, analyzing, and communicating standard metrics and KPIs for internal and external stakeholders
- Evaluate and audit compliance / performance and identify and implement quality improvement opportunities to increase overall productivity and effectiveness
- Develop, implement and maintain materials and programs ensuring production and quality standards are met
Team management and nurturing talent
- Manage a small team of direct reports (2-3)
- Ensure the team meets its goals and objectives through effective hiring, performance management, coaching and career development
- Train and assist team to handle / schedule work volume and issues in accordance with overall service level agreements, process and policies
- Evaluate and develop training curriculum and documentation for new hires and existing staff to improve training effectiveness
Education, Experience, & Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree, with 4-8 years of experience
- Customer service and/or call center experience; 1-2 years supervisory/managerial experience
- High degree of technical proficiency with online tools and systems; familiarity with Google Suite and CRM systems, Zendesk is a plus!
- Excellent oral and written communication skills required; fluency in Spanish or Haitian Creole a plus but not required
- Exceptional critical thinking skills and strong leadership skills; proven ability to be flexible and achieve goals and deliver bottom line results in situations where business priorities and the business environment are changing
- Participate in on-call rotations (some holidays as assigned) to respond to urgent issues when they arise; exhibits general flexibility to shift changes
Behaviors & Traits Required
- A passion for health, healthcare, and delivery transformation, including the role of digital technology and technology broadly in this transformation
- Customer-centric approach ensuring all communications are relevant, personalised, friendly and compassionate
- Strong demonstration of the company’s core values of Tenacity, Collaboration, and Humility
- "No task is too small" attitude, with a passion for service excellence, eagerness to learn, and ability to take a data-driven approach to identify areas for improvements
- A self-starter with a track record of delivering strong performance, professional maturity, and business acumen
Wellframe, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
This posting is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee and any percentages listed are approximate. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. | https://www.builtinboston.com/job/operations/manager-support-services/32340 |
Water Modeling Analyses
A hydraulic water model is a powerful tool that can aid in development impact assessment, master planning, fire flow analysis, and emergency response occurrences. Through the help of specialized software, such as InfoWater Pro, a community’s distribution system can be modeled as a network that includes many attributes such as diameter and length of pipes, pumps, valves, valve operation, storage tanks, etc. However, before a water model can be effectively used to perform various analyses, these details need to be input and then the model calibrated with actual field conditions.
Calibrating for an Accurate Model
The first step to utilizing a water model to its full capability is to calibrate the model so it mirrors actual operation in real time. A calibrated model should provide an overview of how a distribution system operates at any given time throughout the day. To ensure the accuracy; static, dynamic, and extended period calibration exercises need to be applied to the system. In addition, a diurnal curve of the community’s water consumption should be established and integrated into the model. This gives an accurate representation of when consumption peaks or drops throughout a 24-hour day. Calibration can be completed by utilizing data from two hydrant flow and residual pressure testing. Not every hydrant in the system needs to be tested in order to establish an accurate model. A number of hydrants in each pressure zone of a system can be used to calibrate a model. The results from these strategically selected hydrants are compared to the model to determine what changes need to be made to better reflect what’s happening in the system. With the hydrant calibration complete, system settings provided by a community (i.e. pump operation set points, typical tank levels, pressure reducing valve settings) further aids in creating an accurate model.
Development Impact Assessment
One of the benefits of the model is the capability to evaluate the impacts of a proposed development(s) on the existing system. When one or more developments are proposed to connect to a system, how do we know the existing infrastructure can adequately provide flow and pressure to those future customers? When reviewing the model in this type of assessment, we not only have to consider if flow and pressure can be provided to the future customers, but also the affects to the existing customers. Using the calibrated water model, the pipe headlosses, velocities, minimum pressures, and flow can be identified. For example, if a new, high-water demand development results in a large amount of headloss in the area, improvements to the system may be necessary. The model identifies where major headloss and high velocities occur so that the pipe can be identified, and proposed improvements established.
Fire Flow Analysis
While fire flow analysis could be lumped into the assessment of proposed developments, one of the most common uses for water modeling is determining available fire flows throughout a community’s system. Reviewing available fire flow is important for all communities, however, fire flow demands are typically the largest demands in the system which can have dramatic impacts on operation of the system. A water model can identify fire flow deficiencies in the system and evaluate system improvements needed to enhance fire flow, such as which pipes should be upsized. The model can also be used to help prioritize improvements by determining which improvements will have the most significant hydraulic benefits to the system. This aspect of fire flow analysis can start establishing the early workings of a master plan for a community.
Master Planning
Since we know that a model can be used for analyzing one or more developments and look into fire flow demands… can we use the model for planning, 5, 10, 20 years into the future? Most definitely! Because the calibrated water model realistically simulates how the existing distribution system is operating, the model can assess how facilities will perform in the future under a variety of future scenarios. The model enables us to make reliable recommendations for capital improvement projects for the near term and also into the future. The projects identified could vary from pipe replacement and installation, installation of major valves, pump station, or needed tanks. The model can also aid in predicting pump operational changes necessary as the distribution system continues to grow and change.
Emergency Response
We have a fully calibrated water model. We’re continuing to assess proposed developments and fire flow. We’ve established a master plan that we can use and periodically update for the next 20 years! Now what? Well, hopefully we never have to cross this bridge, but the model can be used for emergencies that can unfortunately occur. Say we have a major rainstorm that blows through town, the runoff from the storm has exposed a major line in the system. How long can this pipe be isolated and out of service so the exposed pipe can be addressed? With the help of a water model, we can identify how long this pipe can be out of service before ramifications are seen in the system.
This is a continuation of our series on Water Models, the previous post focused on Benefits of a Water Model. If you have a specific topic you’d like our team of engineers and experts to cover, email [email protected]. | https://www.ssr-inc.com/pressroom/water-modeling-analyses/ |
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://idr.nitk.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/8825
|Title:||Predicting stock prices using ensemble learning and sentiment analysis|
|Authors:||Pasupulety, U.|
Abdullah, Anees, A.
Anmol, S.
Mohan, B.R.
|Issue Date:||2019|
|Citation:||Proceedings - IEEE 2nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Engineering, AIKE 2019, 2019, Vol., , pp.215-222|
|Abstract:||The recent success of the application of Artificial Intelligence in the financial sector has resulted in more firms relying on stochastic models for predicting the behaviour of the market. Everyday, quantitative analysts strive to attain better accuracies from their machine learning models for forecasting returns from stocks. Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest based regression models are known for their effectiveness in accurately predicting closing prices. In this work, we propose a technique for analyzing and predicting stock prices of companies using the aforementioned algorithms as an ensemble. Datasets from India's National Stock Exchange (NSE) containing basic market price information are preprocessed to include well known leading technical indicators as features. Feature selection, which ranks features based on their degree of influence on the final closing price has been incorporated to reduce the size of the training dataset. Additionally, we evaluate the effectiveness of considering the public opinion of a company by employing sentiment analysis. Using a trained Word2Vec model, company specific hash-tagged posts from Twitter are classified as positive or negative. Our proposed ensemble model is then trained on a new dataset which combines the technical indicator data along with the aggregated number of positive/negative tweets of a company over time. Our experiments indicate that in some scenarios, the ensemble model performs better than the constituent models and is highly dependent of the nature and size of the training data. However, combining technical indicator data with aggregated positive/negative tweet counts has a negligible effect on the performance of the ensemble model. � 2019 IEEE.|
|URI:||http://idr.nitk.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/8825|
|Appears in Collections:||2. Conference Papers|
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Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. | https://idr.nitk.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/8825 |
Understanding the structure of the Milky Way’s gravitational potential is crucial for predicting the positions and velocities of stars at different points in time. Currently, most researchers model the Milky Way potential using a time-independent parameterized model that makes assumptions about its symmetry and shape. However, this project attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of a different kind of model, which uses basis function expansion, as opposed to an analytical model, to represent the potential. Using a simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy (where the density is known at all “snapshots” in time), expansion potential models were made for times throughout a period of approximately 3.8 billion years (Gyr).
We integrate orbits for a population of stars in the model over the time interval and compare their physical properties (phase space positions, energy, etc.) to the true values from the present-day to evaluate the accuracy of this potential model relative to the full and computationally expensive simulation, which would be instructive for using similar models for the actual Milky Way. The results suggest that time-dependence is important to consider when modelling a potential over such a long period of time, even if the model potential does not work perfectly for the star particles chosen. They also suggest that an axisymmetric halo potential model is not accurate, at least for the simulated galaxy we observed.
The most important thing I learned from this experience was a better understanding of how many open questions there are in the field of astrophysics. Reading papers about current developments and discoveries helped me realize how dynamic the field is today. On a more tangible note, I learned a great deal about galactic dynamics and how to code in Python, which added to my educational experience with a depth that would be difficult to obtain from a course. Furthermore, it was interesting to see how the topics I learned in the classroom, particularly from my classical mechanics class, turned out being extremely important while researching these topics. It was enjoyable to see these previously abstract ideas being crucial in a tangible setting. Because I liked working on this project so much, I will continue working for Dr. Sanderson this fall as a research assistant. | https://www.curf.upenn.edu/project/regan-christopher-evaluating-validity-time-dependent-expansion-models-galactic-potential |
The increasing current demand of water has caused conflicts between their multiple uses, being the agriculture responsible for the use of the largest portion of this natural resource. In this context, drip irrigation has shown growth in irrigated area due to their potential to achieve high efficiency in water application. Drip irrigation is characterized by the application of small volumes of water at high frequency directly in the root zone of plants, helping to maintain soil moisture near field capacity in a given volume of soil usually called the wet bulb. Knowing the dimensions of the wetted generated to be used in drip irrigation project is of fundamental importance for the proper design and operation of drip irrigation systems. The objective of this study was to test the performance of the mathematical models Schwartzman and Zur Reprinted and HYDRUS-2D in predicting dimensions of wet bulb generated generated by emitters of different flow flow rates. In its first part, held at the experimental field of Taubate University, were collected the dimensions of the wet bulbs generated by drip of 2, 4 and 8 L h-1 in a dystrophic red-yellow. In the second, were simulated the dimensions of wet bulb using Schwartzman and Zur Reprinted and HYDRUS-2D models. Statistical analysis used to evaluate the performance of these models have shown that the model Schwartzman Zur Reproduced predicted the experimental data set with an accuracy of 94%, whereas in the case of model HYDRUS-2D, this accuracy was 85%. It was concluded that the two studied models can adequately estimate the dimensions of the wet bulb, for the studied conditions, highlighting, however, that the model performed better was Schwartzman-Zur Reprinted. | https://repositorio.ufscar.br/handle/ufscar/9 |
Intimacy is closeness, familiarity between individuals – but intimacy can also be framed in a broader perspective. We live in a period of divisiveness, rife with political, social, and emotional isolation. In a society full of diverse and often diametrically opposed perspectives, can ideas and morals be fundamentally incompatible? If so, does this make intimacy impossible? Now more than ever, it is essential to recognize the role of intimacy in our everyday lives. At its core, intimacy is a fundamental aspect of human nature – a biological impulse and necessity needed for reproduction and cohabitation as both a society and a species. But intimacy as a concept carries a more sentimental weight – the connection of individuals on an emotional level. It is the bond between friends, family, lovers, ancestors, and cultures; it is what unites us in spite of our differences.
Sharing intimate knowledge, concepts, and experience has the power to strengthen relationships and create connections that transcend gender, sexuality, religion, and culture. This concept can be used to explore intimacy in a larger way than just the sensationalized perspective society has today. Are the relationships we create a result of intimacy between personalities, or intimacy between values and beliefs? Beyond this, intimacy can also manifest itself through spirituality: when a mind and higher force or state become connected through values, beliefs, and traditions. How is our spirituality, or lack thereof, influenced by our ability to be mentally and emotionally intimate with other people within our faith or belief system? Does intimacy enhance or inhibit our ability to understand and connect to belief systems outside of our own?
Historically, the body has been linked to intimacy through art and literature designed to showcase the allure and beauty of the human form. However, there is a large stigma towards showcasing physical intimacy in today’s society. Where is the line between art and bodily exploitation? How do our views on religion affect the way we perceive intimacy? Beyond physical attraction and scopophilia, how does personal intimacy affect our relationships with lovers, friends, and family? What does an intimate relationship with and without physical intimacy entail and how does that definition vary between social and ethnic groups? How does our level of intimacy and familiarity with another individual affect our attitude and speech towards them? How does intimacy complicate a relationship and should it be viewed as a positive, negative, or neutral entity?
Our relationship with death is as intimate and driving as our relationship with life, present in every illness, injury, and doctor’s visit, but also as a constant companion or shadow that highlights the fragility and brevity of our lives. They are intricately related through our rituals, treatment of, and beliefs surrounding death; some individuals become intimate with death when it claims a loved one, while for others death’s presence is apparent in every breath or thought. Some learn to accept death, and others don’t – because death is humanity’s ultimate vulnerability, and what is vulnerability if not intimacy? Can one truly be intimate with death, or do we each hold it at a distance out of fear and the inability to know what death truly is?
It takes time to develop an intimate relationship – be it with a close friend, a significant other, an ancestor, or a culture. How does intimacy grow and evolve from youth to adulthood? How does intimacy change within a moment – is intimacy different in times of hardship versus periods of prosperity? How does understanding our heritage connect us across different time periods? How can art or music capture a specific moment and preserve it through time, connecting us to the past? How does intimacy with a specific time period or event manifest in the form of nostalgia?
Intimacy, by definition, shuns distance. But what happens when we deny this traditional definition and broaden intimacy’s scope to encompass the spaces between people, cultures, and civilizations? Can intimacy exist between disparate entities? Can it grow between people, even when they’re far apart? How would you rewrite space into the definition of intimacy? Moreover, the proliferation of digital media has redefined intimacy into non-physical spaces already. Do you think this new definition has influenced the way we view intimacy? How will it continue to transform as further technological advancements emerge? | http://sapereaude.chapman.edu/?page_id=7842 |
Prof. Gary Siuzdak is visiting Switzerland this week.
With the support of the Swiss Chemical Society, Gary is lecturing in four cities, and on Wednesday, 29 May 2019 at 11:00 am at the University of Lausanne – Génopode A Auditorium (Génopode building, UNIL Sorge)
Title: Discovering Metabolites that Alter Physiology, an Omics Perspective
Abstract: Metabolomics and the comprehensive analysis of the metabolome and lipidome has traditionally been pursued with the aim of identifying biomarkers in the diagnosis and prediction of disease. However, the value of metabolomics has been redefined from a simple biomarker identification tool to a technology for the discovery of active drivers of biological processes. It is now clear that the metabolome affects cellular physiology through modulation of other ‘omics’ levels, including the genome, epigenome, transcriptome and proteome. In this presentation, I will focus on our recent progress in using metabolomics to understand how the metabolome influences other omics and, by extension, to reveal the active role of metabolites in physiology and disease. This concept of utilizing metabolomics to perform activity screens to identify biologically active metabolites — which we term activity metabolomics — is already having a broad impact on biology.
Nature Biotechnology 2018, 36 (4), 316-320. | http://www.genomyx.ch/prof-gary-siuzdak-will-give-a-seminar-1100a-m-in-aud-a-genopode-on-may-29-2019/ |
The concept of retirement is embedded in our minds as the natural conclusion to a life of work. As standards shift and people become more productive while also living longer, however, the concept of retirement itself needs to be redefined and must also include significantly more planning than conventional wisdom might suggest.
This is according to a new column in The Street authored by financial advisor Jamie Ebersole. To get an idea of how retirement has changed, it’s first necessary to understand what defined it in the first place.
“Our concept of retirement is derived from a late-nineteenth-century model ascribed to Otto von Bismarck in Germany,” Ebersole writes. “As laborers reached the end of their productive years, governments started to develop pension systems to care for retirees and arbitrary ages were assigned for when people should retire. In Bismarck’s Germany, the first retirement age was set at 70 years old and later reduced to 65. Life expectancy at the time was closer to 45 years, so it was an easy way for politicians to win votes by creating a benefit that most would likely never collect.”
That is no longer the case. As medicine and technology advance, life expectancies have increased and the ability for more people to work into their later years has expanded along with them.
“Many retirees can expect a traditional retirement to last for 20 years or more, which for many is a quarter of their lifetime,” he says. “So, what’s a person to do when faced with this new uncertainty about this last quarter of their life, when it has already been broadly defined as “retirement” by external forces? The short answer: it will require a lot more planning than we may have considered in the past.”
Asking a series of in-depth questions reasonably early, and well before you approach retirement age, can be the first major step in retirement planning, he explains. This can include having an idea of what you want retirement to look like; how a spouse, partner or significant other will envision retirement; whether or not a new job/career or hobby will factor into much of your time; and shoring up your investments.
“We need to ask hard questions now, while we have time, mental capacity and flexibility to change things, so that we can have the best chance at a retirement that is successful,” Ebersole writes. “The great news is that every one of us gets to determine what ‘successful’ means.”
Read the column at The Street. | https://reversemortgagedaily.com/articles/the-street-retirement-must-be-redefined-to-fit-modern-expectations/ |
Definition. 1 / 10. 1)Acquire and use materials and energy. 2)Actively maintain organized complexity. 3)Perceive and respond to stimuli.
What is a life in biology?
Life is defined as any system capable of performing functions such as eating, metabolizing, excreting, breathing, moving, growing, reproducing, and responding to external stimuli.
What is life in biology short answer?
Life is a unique, complex organisation of molecules expressing itself through chemical reactions which lead to growth, development, responsiveness, adaptation and reproduction.
What is life biology summary?
Biology is the science of life. All living organisms share several key properties such as order, sensitivity or response to stimuli, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, regulation, homeostasis, and energy processing.
What is the smallest unit of life?
- The cell is the smallest unit of life that can divide, multiply, grow and respond to stimuli from the environment.
- Almost all cells, except primitive cells such as bacteria and viruses, are composed of two parts: cytoplasm and nucleus.
- basic plasma (cytosol, colloidal structure)
Which of the following is not a characteristic of life?
The choice that is not a characteristic of life is C) composed of atoms. All matter is composed of atoms, including every solid, liquid, gas and plasma that exists. This includes many different types of non-living substances, such as rocks, water, and air.
What is the real meaning of life?
Experiencing reality by interacting authentically with the environment and with others. Giving something back to the world through creativity and self-expression, and, Changing our attitude when faced with a situation or circumstance that we cannot change.
What is the medical definition of life?
(līf), 1. Vitality, the essential condition of being alive; the state of existence characterized by such functions as metabolism, growth, reproduction, adaptation, and response to stimuli.
What are the characteristics of life in biology?
Big Ideas: All living things have certain traits in common: Cellular organization, the ability to reproduce, growth & development, energy use, homeostasis, response to their environment, and the ability to adapt.
What is the basic of life?
Cells are called as the basic unit of life because all the living organisms are made up of cells and also all the functions taking place inside the body of organisms are performed by cells. Cells provide the specific conditions, for the occurrence of the metabolic reactions.
What is life one word?
the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one’s life; a short life and a merry one. a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.
What is the life process?
The basic processes of life include organization, metabolism, responsiveness, movements, and reproduction. In humans, who represent the most complex form of life, there are additional requirements such as growth, differentiation, respiration, digestion, and excretion. All of these processes are interrelated.
What are the 5 characteristics of life?
- Homeostasis = The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment.
- Reproduction = The ability to form a new offspring.
- Metabolism = The ability to obtain and use. energy for growth and movement.
- DNA/Heredity = Genetic material that is passed on during reproduction.
What are the 8 characteristics of life?
All living organisms share several key characteristics or functions: order, sensitivity or response to the environment, reproduction, growth and development, regulation, homeostasis, and energy processing. When viewed together, these eight characteristics serve to define life. Figure 1.7.
What is the best definition of biology?
bi·ol·o·gy bī-ˈä-lə-jē : a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes. advances in the field of biology. a biology textbook. : the plant and animal life of a region or environment.
What is the study of cells called?
Cell biology is the study of cell structure and function, and it revolves around the concept that the cell is the fundamental unit of life. Focusing on the cell permits a detailed understanding of the tissues and organisms that cells compose.
Where do all cells come from?
All cells come from pre-existing cells by cell division. Schwann also proposed “Free Cell Formation” or spontaneous generation of cells — this was before Pasteur’s definitive experiments. Modern Cell Theory Also States: Life’s chemical processes, such as metabolism, occur inside of cells.
What keeps an organism alive?
All living organisms share several key characteristics or functions: order, sensitivity or response to the environment, reproduction, adaptation, growth and development, homeostasis, energy processing, and evolution. When viewed together, these characteristics serve to define life.
Can all living things reproduce?
All living things are capable of reproduction. Reproduction is the process by which living things give rise to offspring. Reproduction may be as simple as a single ce ll dividing into two cells.
Is sperm a living thing?
Yes, it is a mobile carbon-based lifeform. It is a living organism itself, speaking of the sperm of course. The egg, or Ovum is basically part of the female reproductive system, and is not so much a living entity, but part of a living entity.
Do all living things need oxygen?
Almost all living things need oxygen. They use this oxygen during the process of creating energy in living cells. Just as water moves from the sky to the earth and back in the hydrologic cycle, oxygen is also cycled through the environment. Plants mark the beginning of the oxygen cycle.
What is the ultimate meaning of life?
Ultimately, it is the temporary nature of human life that gives it shape and purpose. Within a limited timeframe, one might say the meaning of life is to live life meaningfully.
What is life and its purpose?
Your life purpose consists of the central motivating aims of your life—the reasons you get up in the morning. Purpose can guide life decisions, influence behavior, shape goals, offer a sense of direction, and create meaning. For some people, purpose is connected to vocation—meaningful, satisfying work.
Is there a meaning to life?
“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” As you can probably imagine, philosophers have spent countless hours considering the concept of meaning, as well as the “meaning of meaning.”
What are the 3 meanings of life?
The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. | https://scienceoxygen.com/what-is-life-quizlet-biology/ |
Life requires metabolic processes, which viruses lack. Viruses cannot replicate without the metabolic machinery of a host cell. This dependence is essential to the survival of many other organisms. Humans, for instance, depend on nitrogen-fixing bacteria and photosynthetic plants to provide energy. Without life, few organisms would survive. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, which means they have no ability to reproduce.
Viruses lack the hallmarks of life
Why do viruses lack the hallmarks of life? Viruses don’t make ATP, the energy molecule that allows us to live and grow. Viruses also lack cells or cellular machinery for making proteins. But unlike cells, they can replicate only once they have infected a host cell. Viruses can also live outside their host cells, though their life span is much shorter. Many scientists consider viruses to be non-living, but others disagree.
Viral diversity is one of the key factors contributing to the confusion. Scientists estimate that there are over one million virus species, and only about 4,900 have been identified. Viruses are significantly smaller than bacteria, with only a few genes. However, there are some viruses, such as the mimivirus, that have genomes larger than some bacteria. This may be the key to understanding viruses. But what is the nature of life?
They are obligate intracellular parasites
Viruses are obligate intracellular organisms that can only replicate within the host cell. Viruses have a number of characteristics that make them unique in the animal kingdom. They do not carry out metabolic processes, do not contain ribosomes, and cannot produce proteins independently of messenger RNA. They are therefore classified as obligate intracellular parasites. This classification, however, is subject to debate among scientists. Some believe that viruses are types of capsid-encoding organisms.
Viruses are obligate intracellular organisms, meaning that they must be infected by their hosts in order to multiply. In contrast, bacteria can multiply in both an extracellular position and in artificial culture media. These findings indicate that existing viruses evolved from a more advanced, parasitic form. Whether or not viruses evolved from an ancestor of this kind is an open question. But one thing is for sure, they were once a part of the animal kingdom.
They lack metabolic processes
Viruses lack the most basic life-sustaining processes. Because viruses lack ribosomes, they must use host cells’ ribosomes to translate viral messenger RNA into viral proteins. Viruses also do not produce their own adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Rather, viruses parasitize their host cells and extract basic building materials. Some researchers believe that viruses were protolife in the early evolution of the Earth, but that is unlikely to be the case.
While viruses have remained polemic biological particles, recent discoveries show that they rely on the metabolic machinery of their host cells for their survival. In addition to determining the role of cellular metabolic pathways in viral replication, metabolomics may help researchers develop new drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. The discovery of metabolic pathways is essential for developing new drugs and understanding the biology of viral replication. Viruses’ metabolic pathways have been uncovered using high-throughput technologies.
They lack the ability to reproduce
A virus is a non-living entity that can cause many harmful diseases in humans and animals. The definition of a virus is complex, as it combines features of both inanimate and living organisms. While a cell has the ability to reproduce by making a copy of its own genetic material, viruses lack the tools to do the same. Instead, viruses insert their genetic material into another cell and hope that the host will reproduce it, making more viruses. But this is not enough for a virus to be considered living.
Scientists have categorised viruses as neither living nor nonliving. Although they lack the ability to replicate outside of their host cells, they do share the genome of a cell, and their DNA and RNA make them appear as living organisms. However, some argue that viruses are nonliving entities because they rely on the cellular machinery to function. In recent years, some studies have suggested that the RNA and DNA genomes of viruses are likely segmented and are therefore not living. | https://www.thosemockingbirds.com/why-are-viruses-not-considered-living/ |
A theme of this blog has been that the purpose of life—our sense of a direction, or our craving for one—is rooted in our biological drive to survive and thrive. I’ve felt confident in that belief, but I’ve also been dancing around its complications. The term rooted is hazy, thrive covers a great deal of ground, and sometimes I’ve added the goal reproduce for good measure.
But most of all, I’ve made one big—and embarrassing— mistake. Survival is not the ultimate goal, the strongest drive, of organisms. The ultimate goal is offspring and the strongest drive is reproduction, not survival. From the evolutionary point of view, whether an organism survives to live a long life is irrelevant; what counts is that it survive long enough to reproduce. As Richard Dawkins wrote of selfish genes, “They are the replicators and we are their survival machines. When we have served our purpose we are cast aside.” It is no coincidence that before the era of modern medicine, most human parents began to suffer and die from illness in their 40s and 50s, soon after their children would have attained physical maturity.
And yet, although reproduction is the ultimate goal, survival is hardly a distant runner-up. Obviously they are closely linked. Survival is certainly indispensable if reproduction is going to happen. Moreover, the drives to survive and to reproduce share a basic characteristic: they are both future oriented, both about the continuation of members of the species. When I think of them this way, as the left foot and the right foot of life itself walking forward, the two blur together into the single process of being alive that is laden with purpose and direction.
But back to people. When we talk about the primacy of the drive to reproduce, what are we saying about how we spend our lives? For although raising children fulfills the lives of many parents, for many other adults fulfillment takes other forms as well.
It is human intelligence that complicates and enriches the picture. The brain adds power, variability, and vulnerability to the two biological tasks of surviving and reproducing. For not only do our brains help us survive in countless ways, but they also create offspring of their own. The desire to do or make something that will come from us, impact others, and perhaps live on after us takes countless forms: works of art, worldly success, social contributions, and more. To say that the brain’s visions are, like babies, conceived, developed, and eventually born is barely a metaphor.
So I’m seeing human survival and reproduction as life’s twin purposes, both of them forward-directed, both building on drives inherited from other species, and, thanks to our brains, both of them opportunities for inventiveness. I like it that this view builds on the biology of other species; it doesn’t disconnect human purpose from other living things. And I like the fact that, while genes may be selfish, these processes of surviving and reproducing are fundamentally life-affirming.
← “The reckless, the degraded, and the vicious”: Was Darwin a Bigot?
I especially liked this piece, and am thus now commenting, because to me “survive and reproduce” is what I have always seen when I look at life in the larger(est?) sense. The purpose of life is in its continuation. With this in mind, my aunt died last year(no condolences necessary) and her death provided an insight relevant to the edict of “survive and reproduce”.
She was 90+, never married, had no children, and actually lived with her parents, who preceded her in death, her entire life. She did, though, provide substantial educational financial support for myself, my brother, and 2 sisters. We were also somewhat surprised as beneficiaries in her will.
Survive and reproduce, and/or contribute to the well-being of the species.
Thanks so much for your encouraging comment. And I like your “and/or” addition very much. | https://38by.blog/2014/03/28/the-brains-offspring/ |
We have laid out ten basic concepts that characterize business decision making and can serve as a guide for its entrepreneurs, founders, management and stakeholders.
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The respect of the concept of the ‘market’
Enterprise, the market economy and the creation of added value are the three main axles for all thinking about development in a given society. It is not by chance that the development of our civilization is based on the notion of the ‘marketplace’ as a place of meeting and exchange of goods, services, raw materials and labor. The growth or decline of various civilizations throughout the ages has always depended on their ability to attract wealth and travelers. There is nothing wrong with accepting the concept of the market and its rules, as long as they are consistent with the following principles.
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The closed cycle, full circle, of bio-imitation
An enterprise is completely sustainable when it has framed its entire productions process, in the context of a ‘closed circle’ i.e. as happens in nature when the death or discarding of a given species or element results in food or life for another. Therefore an industry’s products and processes should be planned through imitating nature. For example, in the case of a single product it is necessary to design a means by which all of its components can be disassembled, recycled and metabolized without damaging the health of the planet and its citizens. It is necessary for both technology and management to study and reproduce the ‘magic’ that nature itself enacts in every place and occasion.
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Renewable energy
Given that solar energy is the only energy source that is eternally renewable that does not create entropic distortions or pollution; given that the present industrial and market economic model does not have the characteristics to extend itself for an indefinite period of time, as it is not self-sustaining; given that energy production is the prime source of power in today’s world, and given that the international conflicts of our time derive from the need to control this primary source; therefore making free and long lasting electrical energy available to all of the peoples of the world would vastly improve the possibilities for well being and world peace.
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Resource productivity
This principle includes two corollaries. The first, aimed at generating the lowest level of waste in the use of scarce natural resources, is obtainable via thoughtful planning of the processes themselves, and the implementation of the logic of a ‘closed cycle’. The second refers to the productivity of a resource in narrower terms, or its ability to exhibit constant productivity over time, without unnatural systemic strain or toxic waste which shows up in the final product.
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Compatible Value Chain (CVC)
Every factor of the Value Chain of each industry needs to be studied in order that in the mid to long term, each of these is compatible both with the logic of Sustainable Development and with the needs of the Market Place( i.e. value creation for the company and enjoyment and satisfaction of the actual needs of the public.) The Compatible Value Chain is a ‘long term’ chain that takes into account a company’s actions far past the traditional cycle of production and sales. It considers as well the lasting effects on the vitality of the Planet, the health and well being of its citizens, and the social equilibrium of the collectivity.
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Decentralization and value creation
The premise of the ‘economy of scale’, widespread in industry as a critical factor for success, is not always correct. In practice everything that is mass produced in a manner that exceeds certain dimensions generates waste, (redundancy) and unnecessary collateral costs. Small decentralized plants are at times more efficient than centralized ones, as they are more closely allied to local needs. Globalization and localization are in our opinion concepts that can live side by side as they solve specific needs. Globalization is fruitful when dealing with universal across the board mass needs (basic nutrition). Localization is called for when dealing with specific cultures or traditions, (a variety of grape stock that is hard to reproduce elsewhere) or a specific craft, (lace making.) In either case it is necessary that all of the added value generated by the industry be correctly spread among all of those involved in its creation, within and outside the industry. That form of ‘decentralization’ can enhance a balance in society, and reduce conflicts and tension.
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Satisfying the citizen’s needs and his enjoyment of life.
The concept of the quality of life is not derived exclusively from monetary logic. It also takes into account those immaterial values such as a livable environment, a community’s participation in wider social activities, a person’s intellectual and cultural fulfillment, and links to his own values and traditions, his personal relations, his free time activities that make room for aspirations and dreams, health and beauty as well. A sustainable model that forces its citizens to give up the above list will never be willingly accepted or adopted in a person’s daily life. A sustainable model must imitate nature in its expression of abundance, generosity, pleasure, vitality, energy , emotions and fecundity, otherwise it is not worth pursuing.
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Innovation and renovation
The success of any organization that wishes to create value is tied both to its capacity to discover the path leading toward growth, by keeping abreast of technology and innovative processes, (innovation) as well as its capacity to develop its own range of products and services in relation to the way the culture, society and life styles evolve, (renovation.) The basic challenge is that of adapting continually to the market forces in order to meet the demand. To do this one has to continually renew and modify the existing products to meet the expectations of the consumer.
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Fiscal correctness and government incentives.
A correct interpretation of both taxes and development incentives on the part of the government, would ideally reward the merits of those who act in a sustainable manner, in a logic of respect for the environment and the society at large. This would not be a partisan logic rewarding a specific ideology, but a purely economic fact.
Those who generate systemic inefficiency and externalize their real costs should pay these losses back in the form of higher taxes or lower incentives. They should be dissuaded from their behavior (either by fines or non-renewal of licenses or public opinion.) Those whose actions are the opposite, should be encouraged to continue in that manner, via grants or other incentives.
10. The population increase
This is perhaps that most critical point, for given that the present social model is leading to a doubling of the world population every thirty years, within a very few generations it will be impossible to survive despite the adoption of a sustainable economic model. This subject is not strictly part of the industrial culture, if not for the production of products that speculate on the increase of the population. It is one thing to produce goods and services that allow for a people to live better. It is quite another to encourage a people to have as many children as possible in order to generate more customers.
All of the behaviors that favor population growth for economic, political or ideological reasons have little place in a truly sustainable model. In this context the emancipation of women and their global right to choose how to manage their family unit, will become the determining factor in population control. | http://www.plef.org/en/who-we-are/our-guiding-principles/ |
On a subconscious level, we feel, we know, that the primary is a living energy field. On a conscious level, perhaps because our five senses, which we firmly believe in, do not recognize its radiation, the primary is the biological body.
Keywords:Living energy field; Cruel fate; Inanimate nature; Electrons “prefer”;Human biofield
In the modern science and philosophy there is not a generally accepted and unambiguous
definition of life. As an example, one well-known definition, offered by the theory of living
systems, is that living beings are self-organizing and autopoetic (i.e., able to reproduce
and maintain themselves) objects. However, despite their differences and ambiguities, all
currently existing definitions of life share one key underlying principle – that life is a property,
distinguishing objects that perform biological processes from those that do not. The living
objects’ biological processing is terminated at the arrival of death. The non-living objects, on
the other hand, never perform biological processes, and this is a key characteristic feature
of the so-called inanimate nature. From the above discussion becomes obvious that only the
objects that perform biological processes can be creative objects.
For now, man is the only living creature known to us which, because of performing biological processes, has developed intelligence. I define intelligence as the ability to think – to perceive, realize and use information. In my opinion, to be the only one, is a cruel fate. Such fate has developed in us, on a deep subconscious level, the belief that we are the most superior creatures in nature and, to continue our existence, we must maintain this status quo at all costs. This is how one of our main goals has formed - to constantly expand our range of existence until we dominate the whole universe. Moreover, if we come across other intelligent living beings, we must subdue them at all costs and keep our leadership. And all this is because we have accepted the principle quoted above as fundamental .
Dear reader, I think it is time to try and find a more meaningful explanation. It is time to take a step towards the vast and unified order that underlies everything in nature through a principle that is simpler and does not divide the living creatures into those that perform biological processes and those that do not. Let us define this principle as follows: “Nature consists of living energy fields . The concept of “inanimate nature” does not exist”. What would the world look like if we accepted this principle? And where, both the ancient esoteric knowledge and certain scientific facts of the modern science, meet this principle in a complete harmony? Here is my interpretation:
Until now, the term “energy” has been understood as a scalar physical quantity that characterizes the ability of a system to change the state of its environment. According to my hypothetical principle, I attribute to the energy fields not only the above-mentioned characteristic but also all the abilities that characterize a living being (according to our current understanding). In a nutshell, all energy fields in nature, from the fields of the microparticles to the dark energy field, are alive .
And so, according to my principle, all energy fields can expand or contract the area in which they are active. They can interact with each other and they are intelligent. In other words, all energy fields can think, they can perceive and realize information, as well as use it. They have consciousness and can understand reality, to make sense of it. Their consciousness is both individual as well as communal or collective. Energy fields do not die, they simply change from one form to another. I believe, the living beings, as we perceive life today, do not die either. However, I think that we are not yet ready to grasp this concept. The levels of intelligence, of consciousness, of interaction between the energy fields are infinitely varied.
Dear reader, for now, the hypothesis that the energy fields are alive does not have the support of direct scientific evidence. Nature only hints to us at this, and I see this “hint” in the following three examples:
The first example comes from the modern studies of the microworld and it refers to the science of the fermions. Recall that several microparticles, such as electrons, protons, neutrons, and quarks, are classified as fermions. Let me start with quoting Pauli’s famous principle, formulated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1925 for electrons and extended in 1940 to all fermions: “Two identical fermions cannot occupy the same quantum state at the same time, they must differ by at least one quantum number.” In other words, only one combination of matter can exist in the same space. This also means that each electron is unique. Another quality of electrons, namely that each energy level could contain at most two electrons, was discussed in 1919 by Irving Langmuir, and was proven in 1940 by Pauli within the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics and the wave function of a system of fermions. Electrons “prefer” to be at the lowest possible energy level - they can even release energy in the form of photons to ensure this. But who is unique in this world, who can show preferences? These are characteristics inherent to life and electrons seem to possess them. In other words, each electron can be views as a living micro energy field .
Now the second example: who, in our universe, has the highest level of consciousness, of intellect? This is a typical human question. To be able to understand things, we must classify them by all possible criteria, don’t we? This question has been asked by mankind since time immemorial and the answer has been, and still is, that it is God. God who resembles a human being but is almighty. According to my understanding, there is indeed a primary force that gives birth to and governs everything else, and that is the Dark Energy Field. However, we must come to terms with the fact that this primary force does not look like a human being at all. I have discussed this hypothesis in more detail in another one of my articles -” Time: Philosophy of Science “. The dark energy, which in my opinion coincides in its essence with the concept of Time, is the living energy field with the highest intellect and consciousness. And, in the rankings, we are probably immeasurably lower than the level of intelligence of the dark energy .
Dear reader, and now the third and last example which builds on the hypothesis that “nature is the living energy fields”. In this example, we will focus deeper on one specific energy field which characterized the human being, and which, I think, the higher energies in the universe likely also sense in us. This is the human biofield.
The concept of the human biofield, albeit without being stated in scientific form, has been known to many Eastern teachings and religions since thousands of years. Among those are the Indian Hinduism, the Chinese Taoism, the Tibetan Buddhism, and the Japanese esoteric Buddhism. In addition to the ancient teachings, some of the most famous scientists of the developing Western European civilization have proven, via their experimental work over the last two decades, that the human biofield does indeed exist. Here are several key discoveries on the subject, in chronological order:
A. 1810 – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in his work “History
of Colors” describes the visible light emitted by plants.
B. 1845 – Karl Ludwig Freiherr von Reichenbach studies the human aura. He presented the results of his work in the journal Annalen der Chemie und Physik, in a series of 7 articles, which he called “Study of magnetism, electricity, heat, light and their relations in the life force”.
C. 1885 – the American Professor of Psychology Joseph Rodes Buchanan.
D. 1895 – the Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla demonstrates the gaseous emission of living organisms with his camera.
E. 1904 – the Russian scientist Alexander Gavrilovich Gurvich recorded the energy radiation of human cells and created the concept of the biological field - the biofield. The scientist argued that the formation of the physical body as such occurs based on the “information energy skeleton”.
F. 1939 – Simeon Davidovich and Valentina Hrisanfovna Kirlian discover a new way to capture the invisible human auras using a high-frequency electric field. The method is called the Kirlian effect.
G. 1996 – Russian professor Konstantin Korotkov patented a device for gas-discharge visualization, thanks to which it is possible to capture and analyze the electronic image of the aura with the help of a computer.
Korotkov tried to analyze the post-mortem radiation and
connect it to the causes of death. At the end of the twentieth century,
more than a hundred variants of the aura fixation device were
developed around the world. Today, these discoveries are actively
used in the field of mental research – parapsychology, bioenergy,
and energy informatics.
Recently, the combination of modern fundamental discoveries in the field of bio-nanophysics and the philosophy of Eastern medicine has led to the creation of medical nanodevices. They have produced remarkable results in the treatment of very serious, even terminal, diseases. These devices first focus, collect and capture infrared radiation, that carries information about the state of the biofield. Their second function is to transmit the necessary healing instructions to the relevant control centers in the brain through biophysical stimulation of the energy meridians and acupuncture points known from the traditional Chinese medicine .
Dear reader, the rich knowledge discussed above offers a clear demonstration that nature is a collection of living energy fields, and that we, the human beings, are one microparticle of those fields. Perhaps the above examples did not completely convince you of this, because it is a vast subject. But I hope I have piqued your interest. I think that the exciting discoveries are yet to come, because a huge amount of scientific research has been conducted on the human biofield, but there is not in-depth look at the nature of the ongoing processes. What in these processes, both the ancient esoteric knowledge and modern science, fail to consider? It is the question “What is primary?”.
In words it is energy, but in practice it is always the biological material body that emits the aura, and it is subjected to research and experiments. On a subconscious level, we feel, we know, that the primary is a living energy field. On a conscious level, perhaps because our five senses, which we firmly believe in, do not recognize its radiation, the primary is the biological body. This fundamental mistake is an extreme obstacle on our way to achieving a higher level of intellect and consciousness. When most people overcome it, humanity is likely to achieve health and healing, knowledge, and wisdom, and even immortality .
© 2020 Berov G Lyubomir. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. | https://crimsonpublishers.com/cojrr/fulltext/COJRR.000550.php |
Parenting Roles: Can Fathers Be Mothers?
In today’s society we have witnessed significant changes in the American family, including considerable change in the culture of fatherhood. Less than 10 percent of American families, with children under the age of 18, fit within the traditional family ideal, in which the father works and the mother cares for the children. More and more mothers are entering the workforce and this has forced fathers to spend more time with children, which in turn has heightened cultural interest in fatherhood. Many scholars, Silverstein among them, assert that good parenting is not sex-specific or sex-related. They cite nurturance as the cornerstone of good parenting, and claim that although nurturance has been traditionally associated with mothering, this connection is cultural, and that fathers can nurture just as effectively as mothers. Popenoe and others, however, argue that fathers are not mothers, and that they should and do play different roles in childrearing. They reject the idea of a gender-neutral model of parenting, arguing that mothers and fathers have specific roles that are complementary; both parents are essential to meet children’s needs. They maintain that fathers have unique abilities that are necessary for children’s successful development.
In support of the idea that fathering must be redefined as nurturing and draw fathers more actively into caring for their children, Silverstein, in “Fathering Is a Feminist Issue” asserts, “âÂ?¦redefining fathering as nurturing is central to freeing woman from the interlocking inequalities of their public and private rolesâÂ?¦it is important to achieve a balanced view that neither overvalues the importance of fathers, nor defines them as peripheral to family lifeâÂ?¦” She cites research and studies that have been conducted by various individuals as proof that, “when fathers are thrust into the primary parenting role, they become capable of acquiring “mothering” skills.” Claiming that neither fathers nor mothers are “natural” caregivers, but rather, both parents learn “on the job.” Silverstein holds that “reinforcing men’s capacity to nurture would place intimacy and attachment at the center of masculine gender role socialization, in the same way that acknowledging and reinforcing women’s capacity to function in the public world of paid employment has begun to fin a place for instrumental thinking and active coping skills within the gender socialization of women.”
Popenoe, in his article “Parental Androgyny,” takes another view. He claims that the real “masculinity crisis” is not in the kind of father men are but that are just too few of them in general. Instead of focusing on re-creating the role of the father and trying to make him more nurturing or “motherly,” there should be a focus on teaching fathers on how to be fathers-not mothers. He holds that, “unlike in the work place, family organization is based on very real, biological differences between men and women. Parental androgyny is not what children need. Neither is it a good basis for a stable, lasting marriage.” Pointing to various findings through multiple research activities and studies, Popenoe asserts that optimal child development is dependent on the biological differences that men and women have, and that not only is it not natural for a father to nurture; “fathers are unique and essential figures in their children’s lives (particularly for their sons).” He argues that men simply are not wired biologically to care for their children stating “motherhood is a biological necessity, while fatherhood is mainly a cultural invention.” However, he is quick to state that men can make a significant contribution to childrearing, especially with regard to their sons, and that the lack of a male presence poses a handicap for children.
After reading both articles I can see strong points presented by both sides, I can see were Silverstein is right in saying that men should take a more active role in the rearing of their children. However, at the same time I support Popenoe in his assessment that men simply are not wired biologically for care giving in the same way that women are. I also agree with Popenoe and Silverstein in recognizing the importance of a father figure in a child’s life.
The main thing in all of this as far as I’m concerned is that yes, men are capable of being nurturing, and yes, men/fathers can take on many of the roles that women/mothers have traditionally held. However, I feel that even if a man does assume the place of the mother in child rearing to the best of his ability, it will never be the same as if the child had a woman playing the role of a mother. There is a lot to be said about the biological differences and capabilities of the different sexes. I would hold with Popenoe in saying that each sex is fundamentally different and there are simply some things that men and women have different capabilities in, and one of those is child rearing. Both a father and mother are essential to the development of a child, and the role of a mother and the role of a father are fundamentally different, yet of equal importance in the life of the child. | https://www.stepbystep.com/Parenting-Roles-Can-Fathers-Be-Mothers-143239/ |
A comprehensive examination of spreadsheet software. Students will build a variety of spreadsheets using simple and complex formulas, functions, graphics, database features, sorts, linkages within spreadsheet and between spreadsheets, and macros.
View Course Outcomes:
- Design, build, edit, and format workbooks.
- Use spreadsheet software to present and analyze quantitative information, draw conclusions, and evaluate the reliability of those conclusions.
- Practice advanced Excel capabilities.
The course is designed to provide students with a sound background in structured programming logic and design. These foundational concepts can be applied regardless of which programming languages a student eventually uses to write programs. The demonstration language for programming concepts will be Microsoft Visual Basic. The course covers the key mathematical and logical constructs that are the basis of much programming. Topics include the software development life cycle, particularly the programming phase; structured programming techniques; problem-solving and algorithm development; decision control structures, including selection (IF/CASE) and repetition (looping) structures; variables and arrays; and data structures.
This course introduces programming in the Windows graphical user interface environment, focusing on modular and object-oriented design, event driven activity, the use of controls, and integration with the .NET framework architecture. Upon completion of this course students will be able to develop programs that incorporate visual programming conventions, user interaction and interface, database interaction and interface, and other tools fundamental to visual programming.
View Course Outcomes:
- Understand the language by creating working C# programs using both the simple command line and the Visual Studio environment.
- Learn about data and how to input, store, and output data in C#.
- Explore classic programming structures—making decisions, looping, and manipulating arrays—and how to implement them in C#.
- Provide a thorough study of methods, including passing parameters into and out of methods and overloading them.
- Understand object-oriented concepts of inheritance and exception.
- Understand error and exception handling.
This course addresses the foundations of cybersecurity, including threats and vulnerabilities as well as the tools, technologies, and strategies used to manage those threats and vulnerabilities. PREQUISITE(S): None
View Course Outcomes:
- Define key concepts and terminology in cybersecurity.
- Identify threats to cybersecurity.
- Articulate strategies to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in information assets.
- Discuss the systemic components (including personnel) necessary for an effective cybersecurity program.
- Apply appropriate solutions to cybersecurity incidents.
In this introductory programming with Python course, students will have the opportunity to learn about data types, control flow, object-oriented programming, and graphical user interface-driven applications. The examples and problems used in this course are drawn from diverse areas such as text processing, simple graphics creation, and image manipulation. This course will explore the large standard library of Python 3, which supports many common programming tasks.
View Course Outcomes:
- Demonstrate the fundamentals of writing Python scripts.
- Develop a program using core Python scripting elements such as variables and flow control structures.
- Discover how to work with lists and sequence data.
- Write Python functions to facilitate code reuse.
- Use Python to read and write files.
- Develop robust code by handling errors and exceptions properly.
- Utilize the Python standard library.
- Explore Python's object-oriented features.
- Search text using regular expressions.
Students will have the opportunity to take their Python programming skills to the next level with this intermediate course. This course includes a review of basic concepts such as lists, strings, and dictionaries, and more advanced topics such as threading, multiprocessing, context managers, and generators.
View Course Outcomes:
- Write Python applications for data-analysis problems.
- Apply the concepts and use the constructs of Python libraries, including numpy, pandas, and the re (regular expression) package in a course project.
- Demonstrate ability to load, cleanse, and process data according to accepted professional standards.
- Use Web APIs and/or web scraping to download data.
- Create, load, and process data in a relational database.
- Write object-oriented programs.
This hands-on course outlines the fundamentals of web design. Students consider ethical use of information and best practices when creating websites using free web page design programs. Working with a basic design program, students explore layout, graphics, text, color, links, tables, frames and content. Students use website design software to create a simple website of their own, as well as examine publication and promotion options. NOTE: Basic computer competence is required. This course is not appropriate for Information Technology majors and may not be combined with other Information Technology courses to satisfy degree requirements.
This is a project-oriented software applications course to help the student gain competency with advanced features of office productivity software and to introduce more advanced database application concepts. NOTE: Excel is recommended for success in this course.
This course offers a practical study of the hardware and software of modern computing systems and networks. Participants increase their knowledge of hardware and operating system software by studying the functions and interactions of computer and peripheral components such as central processing units (CPU), memory, storage, print engines, etc. Learners also study the workings of network components such as protocols, hubs, routers, and switches. Through exposure to a mix of theory, extensive vocabulary, and specific knowledge about trends in contemporary systems, learners develop skills to effectively communicate with others regarding the specification, purchase, and installation of an office or home computer system/network.
View Course Outcomes:
- Demonstrate a deeper understanding of electronic data processing and data transport, developing both conceptual knowledge and practical skills.
- Explain the relationships that exist between performance considerations of the hardware and software components of a computer system.
- Describe representative network protocols, the constraints that system software and device selection may impose on protocol selection and the problems engendered by multiple (incompatible) protocols within an organization.
- Demonstrate a practical knowledge that focuses on the typical advanced user, types of questions pertaining to hardware and system-level software of common personal computers, its applications software, and its connections to a network.
- Use the vocabulary of the field to communicate effectively with technical professionals.
- Recognize the potential benefits and dangers of intranet/internet implementations.
- Identify and use current trade and professional resources to keep abreast of trends in the field.
This course introduces learners to advanced programming techniques in .Net Graphical User Interface as well as C#. Winforms, XAML and UWP (Universal Windows Platform) will be explored employing: Pattern Matching, Delegates, Events, Operator Overloading, Indexers, Extension Methods, Lambda Expressions, Query Expressions, Threads, Asynchronous Programming, Dynamic Objects, and Basic introduction to Windows forms.
View Course Outcomes:
- Design and develop applications and components using Visual Studio .NET., and C#.
- Apply Object-oriented concepts and techniques to code development.
- Describe and apply generics.
- Use collections, decouple application logic and handle events in a programming situation.
- Conduct query in-memory data through utilization of query expressions, Asynchronous Operations, Operator Overloading, and improve throughout by using tasks.
- Build Universal Windows Platform apps.
In this course students will have the opportunity to learn the fundamental concepts, components, infrastructure, as well as security and privacy considerations of cloud computing and virtualization systems. Course activities will address the skills and knowledge necessary to install, configure, and manage virtual environments and how to effectively plan, implement, and manage cloud computing.
View Course Outcomes:
- Identify the components of the cloud infrastructure and their functions.
- Examine service models such as Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service.
- Describe deployment models of the cloud.
- Create, manage, and troubleshoot virtual machines.
- Describe virtual networks and configure virtual switches and virtual storages.
- Examine the features and functions of different storage protocols, such as FC, FCoE, iSCSI, and NFS.
- Use troubleshooting methodology to fix issues in a virtualized environment.
This course builds an understanding of human behavior with interactive objects, focusing on how to develop and evaluate interactive software using a human-centered approach. This includes examining the many different types of interactive software, understanding the principles of effective graphical user interface design, evaluating human-centered software and software development and exploring aspects of collaboration and communication as they affect individual and group interaction with software systems.
View Course Outcomes:
- Articulate how different disciplines (human factors, cognitive psychology, engineering, graphics design) influence the design of computer systems.
- Classify input/output devices and techniques and their effect on human-computer interaction.
- Specify human-computer interaction dialogues.
- Describe the main concepts (conceptual model, metaphors and paradigms) that influence human-computer interaction) and demonstrate that influence.
- Describe the main theories of cognition and demonstrate how these are used when designing interactive systems.
- Describe and apply the process for designing interaction.
- Demonstrate why a user-centered approach is preferred.
- Choose the appropriate method for evaluating an interactive system.
- Model problems.
In this course, students will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into several advanced concepts of Python programming and explore larger-scale application development using the language. Students will also develop an understanding of the issues associated with more extensive software projects and undertake code reviews. This course also surveys web application development tools, along with specialized skills such as Client/Server application development.
View Course Outcomes:
- Demonstrate effective use of a debugger, PyUnit, docTest, logging, and special environments.
- Program decorators, closures, lambda, and list comprehensions.
- Describe how iterators, generators, threads, and multiprocessing work.
- Explore modern data structures to include collections, array, and queues.
- Utilize platform independent file manipulation, and file pattern matching in a course project.
- Apply mmap, temporary files, and Request module in a course project.
- Work with string files and set up a client-server program using WebApp2 or Flask.
- Understand and be able to process HTML, JSON, YAML, and REST.
This course introduces learners to a robust tool for creating high performance applications for the Windows Graphical User Interface and for the World Wide Web. The tools presented in this course prepare the learner for participation in large, potentially mission-critical projects at the enterprise level. Application of advanced algorithmic and programming techniques is expected.
View Course Outcomes:
- Create and modify console applications.
- Create and modify Windows applications.
- Create and modify Microsoft Foundation Class applications.
- Plan and implement well-structured C++ programs appropriate to the problem presented.
- Understand and apply the appropriate tools for successful memory management in a large application.
- Write functions using appropriate programming control structures.
- Create dialog-based applications.
- Create document-based applications.
- Create visual interface components. 1
- Create applications that interface and interact with database. 1
- Design and implement complex algorithms. 1
- Demonstrate fluency in the syntax and structure of Visual C++.NET.
This course introduces students to programming technologies, design, and development related to mobile applications. Topics include accessing device capabilities, industry standards, operating systems, and programming for mobile applications using an OS Software Development Kit (SDK). Through course activities, students will have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to create basic applications for mobile devices.
View Course Outcomes:
- Examine mobile application environments and technology.
- Explain the concepts and processes of mobile application development.
- Articulate the main design and development issues specific to mobile applications.
- Install and configure mobile application development tools.
- Design and develop user Interfaces for both the Android and iOS platforms.
- Save information across multiple operating system platforms.
- Apply Python programming concepts to mobile application development.
This course addresses modern website development using contemporary languages like PHP and Python. Development skills include presenting and receiving information through a website, validating entered information, and storing entered information in text files or databases. Students will have an opportunity to develop an understanding of the principles of web page and website design; standard object models, and the use of server-side programs for database and file access; testing, software quality assurance; and the process of publishing websites.
View Course Outcomes:
- Examine mobile application environments and technology.
- Explain the concepts and processes of mobile application development.
- Articulate the main design and development issues specific to mobile applications.
- Install and configure mobile application development tools.
- Design and develop user Interfaces for both the Android and iOS platforms.
- Save information across multiple operating system platforms.
- Apply Python programming concepts to mobile application development.
This course is a project-oriented capstone learning experience that is designed to integrate learning from coursework with related work or other experience. Students focus on best practices in information technology and project management, with specific attention to their area of specialty. Students will complete an integrative project related to their program option and career interests.
View Course Outcomes:
- Conceptualize the independent project including problem definition, general scope, and possible approaches.
- Compile a project plan for completing the independent aspect of the study.
- Develop functional and design specifications appropriate to the area of specialty.
- Analyze theory to select and document best practices for the independent project.
- Create a prototype of a specified portion of the independent project.
- Develop a test plan.
- Integrate design principles with methodology to create an implementation plan.
- Demonstrate an appropriate level of expertise in the professional application of tools in the area of specialty.
- Produce effective documentation for all aspects of the project. | https://catalog.granite.edu/course-descriptions/cmpl/ |
Two CNP Researchers awarded Ambizione Grants
Congratulations to Dr Marco Capogrosso and Dr Tomislav Milekovic who both succeeded in obtaining an SNF Ambizione Grant for their research projects.
SNF Ambizione Grants are aimed at young researchers who wish to conduct, manage and lead an independent project at a Swiss higher education institution. Obtaining these grants now allows Dr Capogrosso and Dr Milekovic to conduct their personnal research projects and to remain in the Lemanic area and keep collaborating with the CNP.
Here are brief descriptions of the two projects.
Dr Milekovic - Error-adaptive decoding algorithms for stable and independent brain-computer interfaces.
Paralysis has a severe impact on a patient’s quality of life and entails a high emotional burden and life-long social and financial costs. Restoring movement and independence for people with the most severe forms of paralysis remains a challenging clinical problem, currently with no viable solution. Recent demonstrations of brain-computer interfaces, neuroprosthetic devices that create a link between a person and a computer based on a person’s brain activity, have brought hope to millions of people with paralysis for their potential to restore movement and communication. The core of the interface is a decoding algorithm transforms continuously recorded neural signals to computer commands. Adaptive decoding algorithms can automatically adjust to neural signal changes, thus maintaining performance despite unstable neural signals and without the interference of technicians. However, effective adaptation requires accurate detection of decoding errors, which may be detected from error-related neural responses, evoked by a mismatch between an expected and observed command outcome. This project aims to develop approaches for independent and stable control of brain-computer interfaces based on error-adaptive decoding algorithms, thereby removing a major obstacle in their translation from clinical demonstrations into real-world assistive devices.
Bio sketch Tomislav Milekovic
My research focuses on studying (i) methods to extract neural features and translate them into stable and accurate neuroprosthetic commands, (ii) the neural mechanisms that result in instability of brain-computer interface performance and (iii) developing techniques that can maintain brain-machine interface performance over long time periods. I started my career with a background in mathematics and physics obtained during my Bachelor’s and Master’s Physics studies at the Zagreb University. During my studies, I was awarded the Best Student award of the Department of Physics and scholarships of the Croatian Ministry of Science and the city of Zagreb. I proceeded to do my PhD studies at the University of Freiburg and Imperial College London, mentored by Prof. Mehring. There I worked on design and development of brain-computer interfaces, devices that allow people to control computers, robotic limbs or even their own paralyzed limbs through electrical stimulation of muscles, by their brain activity. I developed one of the first brain-computer interface platforms based on recordings of cortical surface potentials (ECoG). In addition, I investigated error neural responses in ECoG signals, neural activity that follows movement or goal errors and used the findings to devise an algorithm that could detect error neural activity in real time and potentially use it to improve performance of brain-computer interfaces. After I graduated in 2012, I joined the lab of Prof. Donoghue at Brown University, where I worked with people with tetraplegia or locked-in syndrome, attempting to restore their ability to communicate or move using bran-computer interfaces. There, supported by the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund fellowship, I developed brain-computer interfaces based on local field potentials that allowed people with tetraplegia and locked-in syndrome to control a communication interface for up to four and a half months. In 2014, I joined the research group of Prof. Courtine at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). In close collaboration with Dr. Bloch and Prof. Bezard and with the support of the Mari-Curie EPFL Fellows fellowship, I work on developing brain-spinal interfaces, systems where spinal cord is stimulated based on motor states decoded from brain activity, in order to alleviate gait deficits resulting from a range of neural disorders. I continue to enhance the brain-computer and brain-spinal interface systems with the aim of translating it into clinical use and applying it to other neural disorders.
Dr Capogrosso - Design of epidural implants and electrical stimulation protocols for the recovery of ARM control after spinal cord injury
The most urgent need for the majority of people with cervical spinal cord injury is the recovery of reaching and grasping abilities that could allow them to return to an active work life.Here I propose to leverage my previous work on the recovery of leg motor control in animal models and humans to develop a neuroprosthetic framework for improving the recovery of arm/hand function after spinal cord injury.However, due to the complexity of arm/hand control, with respect to the stereotyped, patterned and reflex dependent control of the lower limbs, translation of spinal cord stimulation from the lumbar to the cervical region requires a deep understanding of the interactions between the stimulation and the neural control of arm/hand movement in the cervical spinal cord that are currently unknown.
To address this knowledge gap, I propose to develop and validate a computational model of the sensorimotor circuits embedded in cervical spinal cord, and to leverage this model to study how the stimulation interacts with these circuits during arm/hand movement. In parallel, I will establish an experimental platform to validate my models in experiments with non-human primates. Finally, I will exploit these combined results to demonstrate the ability of epidural stimulation to improve arm/hand movement in non-human primates with incomplete cervical SCI.
Bio sketch Marco Capogrosso
My main interest is the understanding of the neural control of movement with a focus on translational applications in motor disorders. My background in applied physics has strongly influenced my path since the beginning. Indeed, when I started my PhD program in Biomedical Engineering as a fellow of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, in Pisa, I was looking neither for a purely theoretical research program nor purely experimental. My intention was to understand the basic interactions between neuromodulation technologies and sensorimotor circuit dynamics. I wanted to develop theoretical tools to support translation and bring them all the way down to the clinics to test whether my findings and ideas had any impact at all on actual clinical applications. After a PhD and a 3-yr post-doc program under the supervision of Prof. Silvestro Micera first and Prof. Gregoire Courtine later I am deeply convinced that a theoretical approach to translational neuroscience can have a significant impact on clinical applications. Indeed I have used computational models to design and implement real-time neurotechnologies that I have tested in rats, non-human primates and humans. I have started with simple models of the peripheral nerve that I have slowly improved to complex neuro-biomechanical models of the spinal sensorimotor circuits, while at the same time performing animal experiments to test my models up to the implementation of real-time technologies able to restore sensation in human amputees and brain-controlled locomotion in non-human primates after spinal cord injury. Ultimately, I love science. | https://actu.epfl.ch/news/two-cnp-researchers-awarded-ambizione-grants-2/ |
Key Stage 3 Computing
Computing at The MFG aims to empower and enthuse students to develop digital literacy skills, practice logical thinking and problem-solving relevant to Computer Science, and gain understanding of the use of Information Technology in the wider world. This helps to ensure that students are provided with the tools they require to excel in the modern workplace and society. Students study the following at key stage 3:
Year 7:
Computing Basics
Introduction to Computer Systems
Scratch Programming
HTML Web Development
Year 8:
Cybersecurity & ELCE
Python Programming
Research Project
Data Representation
App Development
Year 9:
Hardware & Storage
Networks
Python Advanced Programming
Spreadsheets
Editing Graphics
E-Safety is a focus throughout various points of the year at key stage 3. It is vital that students understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely. Students are taught how to protect their online identity and privacy, recognise inappropriate content, how to conduct themselves, and how to report concerns.
GCSE Computer Science
Students will follow the OCR Computer Science specification; they have the chance to develop knowledge and understanding of a wide range of computing and programming. They will learn how to text based programming languages, build algorithms and develop different functionality to meet design criteria. Understanding of computer hardware and software will be taught in addition to wired and wireless networks. There is also a focus on developing students' computational thinking and ability to develop algorithms and applying the knowledge they have learned by developing a solution to a real-world problem.
Component 1 – Computer Systems:
(examination unit – combination of short and long answer style questions, some of which require the writing of code); 1 hour 30 minutes; 80 marks; 50% of qualification.
In this examined unit students will explore the fundamentals of computer systems. They will study computer architecture, computer hardware and its components. Students will look into how software is used to perform functions for user interfaces and explore custom written and off-the-shelf software. This component will also give students a detailed knowledge of the inner working of wired and wireless networks alongside the importance of systems security.
Component 2 – Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming:
(examination unit – combination of short and long answer style questions, some of which require the writing of code; 1 hour 30 minutes; 80 marks; 50% of qualification)
This component is another written exam, focused on computational thinking and algorithms. Students will be tested on the elements of computational thinking and logic. The main focus of the assessment is to test students' ability to write, correct and improve algorithms.
Component 3 – Programming Project
(Programming Project; 20 hours)
This is a practical unit where students will be asked to design and create suitable algorithms to provide a solution to a given problem and then develop the solution using a suitable programming language. They will then need to test and evaluate their solution to provide evidence of a programming solution and to build on techniques they have learnt.
BTEC Digital Information Technology
The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Digital Information Technology is for learners who want to acquire technical knowledge and technical skills through vocational contexts by studying the knowledge, understanding and skills related to data management, data interpretation, data presentation and data protection as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden the learners experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.
Component 1 - Exploring User Interface Design Principles and Project Planning Techniques
(coursework unit – internally assessed; 30% of qualification)
Learners will develop their understanding of what makes an effective user interface and how to effectively manage a project. They will use this understanding to plan, design and create a user interface.
Component 2 - Collecting, Presenting and Interpreting Data
(coursework unit – internally assessed; 30% of qualification)
Learners will understand the characteristics of data and information and how they help organisations in decision making. They will use data manipulation methods to create a dashboard to present and draw conclusions from information.
Component 3 – Effective Digital Working Practices
(examination unit – externally assessed; 40% of qualification)
Learners will explore how organisations use digital systems and the wider implications associated with their use. | http://www.mirfieldfg.org.uk/Students/KS4-ICT/ |
On behalf of a Warwickshire based electronics company, we are currently looking to recruit an embedded software engineer with experience programming at low level with C. Given the nature of the technology this client is involved with, it would be highly beneficial if the candidate has experience with either Cyber Security or Reverse Engineering in some capacity. Our client will consider people at fresh graduate level and more experienced engineers alike.
The role
- Use diagnostic tools to collect information about vehicle key learning procedures
- Reverse engineer and document diagnostic protocols used
- Reverse engineer and document algorithms used by automotive OEMs
- Reconstruct algorithms from assembler code
- Implement the key learning procedures using C/C++
- Validation of reverse engineered diagnostic functions and procedures
- Ability to go through legacy code and port it on another platform
- Travel local/international to reverse engineer specific systems
The Person:
- Ability to learn. Absorbing and relating diverse information effectively is the key
- Problem solving.
- Good analytical skills
- Proficient with C and Embedded systems (C++ is a plus)
- Knowledge of automotive electrical systems, networks and architectures (CAN Bus, KLine, J1850)
- Experience with at least one of the known cryptography algorithms o AES, DES, 3DES, RSA
- Experience using an automotive logging tool (Vector CanCase, Interpid NeoVI etc)
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team
- Understanding of software development methods
- Automotive Engineering or Electric Engineering background
Desirable Skills: | https://www.edisontechnical.co.uk/jobs/embedded-software-engineer/ |
WP 4.3: Image reconstruction algorithms
This sub-WP will adapt the best of the existing image reconstruction methods to the new types of data provided by the multi-telescope interferometers. To make the algorithms more user-friendly, specific R&D will be undertaken to simplify the control of the algorithms.
Whatever the on-line help provided by a software interface, a minimum level of knowledge is required to choose the most appropriate algorithm parameters and perform the best reconstruction for a given data set. We will therefore start by writing a background document describing the work flow of image reconstruction to explain its fundamental principles to the users. This document will serve to unify the methodologies being used and help to specify interfaces and to schedule the algorithm developments.
Means to account for the new types of data will be studied and implemented based on the description of the data generated by WP4.2. These studies will include: hyper-spectral image synthesis from multi-wavelength interferometric data which will take into account off-axis and on-axis phase referenced data and image reconstruction with a variable PSF. The deliverables will be either modified algorithms based on the existing state of the art (BSMEM, MiRA and Wisard) or recipes and case studies using existing algorithms (such as Airy-LN) which can best be used to obtain useful images from instruments such as Matisse, Gravity, LINC-Nirvana, VEGA/CHARA and Pionier.
To fully exploit the know-how of each partner (some of them are the authors of the above-mentioned algorithms), it is not sensible to work on a single implementation so a few different algorithms will be developed or improved. We will however pool as much work as possible. In particular, the tools produced will deal with the same input and output file formats (OI-FITS for the interferometric data and multi-dimensional FITS for the multi-wavelength images and other data) and use similar parameters to drive the reconstruction (e.g., pixel size, regularization method and hyper-parameters). Finally whatever the programming language used for their implementation, the different algorithms will have a similar command line interface to allow them to be driven with a common graphical interface. The specifications of this interface are part of WP4.4. | http://www.european-interferometry.eu/joint-research/fp7-ii-2013-2016-activities/image-reconstruction-algorithms |
At Immanuel we strive to provide children with excellent learning materials alongside a collaborative learning environment to develop their computational thinking, creativity and awareness of online safety. Through the computing curriculum, children will be taught to understand and utilise the functions of computers both within Computing as well as across the entire curriculum.
Computing at Immanuel
Computing is taught as part of the core and wider curriculum. We use a range of computing games and online platforms to embed computing into the curriculum and support children’s subject knowledge in 3 different ways:
- Provide support - to support a range of learning experiences from the practice of skills to developing conceptual understanding
- Development environment - where apps provide a micro-world that learners can explore, build and present their understanding
- Function – ICT is used as a tool to accomplish a task, as well as being used to support conceptual understanding and extend thinking within all subjects
Curriculum Overview:
KS1:
- Algorithms: Understand what algorithms are; how they are implemented as programs on digital devices; and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
- Creating programs: Create and debug simple programs
- Logical reasoning: Use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
- Creative technology: Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
- Technology beyond school: Recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
- Online Safety: Use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the Internet or other online technologies
KS2:
- Programming to problem-solving: Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- Sequence: selection and repetition: Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
- Logical reasoning: Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
- Computer networks: Understand computer networks, including the Internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the World Wide Web, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
- Search technologies: Use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
- Creative technology: Select, use and combine a variety of software (including Internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
- Online Safety: Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact
- Computing is also used as a mode of intervention, a platform to support learners with EAL, PP and SEND
- Children take part in online safety workshops a minimum of twice per academic year.
- All users of computers at Immanuel are expected to follow the acceptable use policy (this can be found at the bottom of this document).
Events:
At Immanuel we run online safety workshops during parents’ consultation evenings as well as once a term within Immanuel café (six times per year).
We run informative workshops to support children’s learning for parents and/or carers as and when the necessity arises.
We are excited about the launch of our Immanuel STEM week (10th – 13th June 2019), where children will have opportunities to take part in workshops within the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Internet safety day (February each year) is an important day for children at our school, and we use this to reinforce the current online safety issues and concerns specific to theme of the year.
Teams or Clubs: | https://www.immanuelschoollambeth.org/Computing/ |
The Computing department delivers an exciting and challenging curriculum. At KS 3 students study Computing for one lesson a week in years 7 and 8. At KS 4, students can opt to take either GCSE Computing or Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia, a vocational qualification equivalent to a GCSE. Achievement is high and reflected in external examination results.
The Computing curriculum is delivered in three strands:
Computer Science
- Learning how to write programs.
- Designing and making interactive games.
- Creating Apps.
Digital Literacy
- Learning how to access and use digital technology.
- Understanding the impact of technology on the individual and society.
Information technology
- Selecting and using a variety of software applications.
- Collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting information.
Subject Key Aims
Students will:
- Understand and apply fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms, and data representation .
- Analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve them.
- Critically evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, to solve problems.
- Be able to become responsible, competent, confident, and creative users of information and communication technology.
Curriculum Overview
The computing curriculum at Lowton has been developed so that our students leave with the fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding of computing they will need for the rest of their lives.
Through the new programme of study for computing at KS3, they will learn how computers and computer systems work, they will design and build programs, they will develop their ideas using technology, and create a range of digital content. Our students have one lesson of computing per week.
At KS4, students can opt for either OCR GCSE Computer Science or the Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia
Year 7
Topics/skills:
- Unit 1 – School Network and Email
- Unit 2 – E-Safety
- Christmas unit – Repeating Patterns
- Unit 3 – Binary and Control
- Unit 4 – Technology
- Unit 5 – Scratch programming
- Unit 6 – Adventure Story
- Unit 7 – Pivot Stick Animation
Year 8
Topics/skills:
- Unit 1 – Flash animation
- Unit 2 – Networks
- Unit 3 – Python taster unit
- Unit 4 – How Computers Work
- Unit 5 – Microbits
- Unit 6 – HTML website creation
- Unit 7 – Do Aliens Exist?
GCSE Computer Science
This course gives you an in-depth understanding of how computer technology works. It offers an insight into what goes on ‘behind the scenes’, including computer programming. It is a great way to develop critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills, which can be transferred to further learning and to everyday life
To gain this qualification students study three units:
Computer Systems
- Systems architecture
- Memory
- Storage
- Wired and wireless networks
- Network topologies, protocols and layers
- Network security
- System Software
- Moral, social, legal, cultural and environmental concerns.
Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming
- Translators and facilities of languages
- Algorithms
- High and low level programming
- Computational logic
- Data representation
- Current and emerging technologies.
Programming Project
This unit is designed to provide students with an opportunity to carry out a practical problem solving programming task using a high level language. Students are assessed on:
- Programming techniques
- Design
- Development
- Effectiveness and efficiency
- Technical understanding
- Testing, evaluation and conclusions.
Assessment
- Computer Systems (50%) This is assessed by a written exam paper of 1 hour 30 minutes. There will be a mixture of short and long answer questions.
- Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming (50%) This is assessed by a written exam paper of 1 hour 30 minutes. There will be a mixture of short and long answer questions, some of which require you to write program code.
- Programming Project You will create solutions to computing programming tasks chosen from a set of options supplied by OCR. This 20 hour project is a requirement of the course.
OCR Creative iMedia
Digital Media is a key part of many areas of our everyday lives and vital to the UK economy. Production of digital media products is a requirement of almost every business so there is huge demand for a skilled and digitally literate workforce. This qualification will help students develop specific and transferable skills such as research, planning, review, working with others and communicating creative concepts. The qualification’s hands-on approach has strong relevance to the way young people use the technology required in creative media.
Unit R081 – Preproduction Skills
This first unit underpins the other learning in this qualification. Students will learn about how to plan pre-production effectively including understanding of client requirements and reviewing pre-production briefs. They will use this knowledge in other units when they develop their own media products. This unit also provides excellent transferable skills such as project planning which will be useful in a wide variety of contexts.
Unit RO82: Creating digital graphics
Digital graphics are a key part of most digital products and this unit will help support other units in the suite. Students will learn the basics of digital graphics editing for the creative and digital media sector, considering client requirements that they learnt about in R081.
After studying this unit students will be able to:
- Understand the purpose and properties of digital graphics, and know where and how they are used.
- Plan the creation of digital graphics
- Create new digital graphics using a range of editing techniques
- Review a completed graphic against a specific brief.
Unit R086: Creating a digital animation
Whether used to entertain or inform, digital animation is used in a wide range of applications in the creative and digital media sector. In this unit students will plan and create a digital animation, learn about a range of techniques that fulfil the requirements of a client brief.
After study this unit students will be able to:
- Understand what animation is and identify where, when and why it is used
- Understand what digital animation is and identify where, when and why it is used
- Understand and use the tools and features of a digital animation program such as Flash, which allows for the creation of animated sequences suitable for use in multimedia productions
- Plan for and create digital animation sequences from a client brief.
Unit R087: Creating interactive multimedia products
Now used in a wide range of products, students will learn where and why interactive products are used and their different features. Students will plan and create interactive multimedia products, reviewing their solution against the client’s brief.
After studying the unit students will be able to:
- Understand the purpose and properties of interactive multimedia products.
- Plan and create an interactive multimedia product to a client’s requirements.
- Review their product and identify areas for improvement.
Assessment
Unit R081 Pre Production skills is assessed by exam paper, which will be taken in Year 10 and which will form 25% of the total marks.
All of the other units are assessed by practical coursework assignments, to be completed in lesson time.
Please contact Mrs Shaw on 01942 767040 to discuss anything further regarding our school curriculum. | https://www.lowtonhs.wigan.sch.uk/computing-ict/ |
KS3 & KS4 - Computing
Computing at Newlands is taught in three dedicated classrooms. Each computing classroom is equipped with a digital projector, allowing the teacher to guide the class effectively through the curriculum and to share informative video and DVD footage. A wide range of textbooks and worksheets are also readily available to support active learning.
As a department, our aim is to develop the students’ knowledge and understanding, enabling them, in turn, to understand and value computational thinking. The curriculum seeks to develop practical coding skills in a range of languages to promote and embed the needs of safe Internet use and encourage overall experimentation and interest in computing.
Why study computing?
Computers are an indispensable feature of the modern world; they have changed how we work, communicate, play and live. A sound education in computing is therefore directly relevant to all students.
- Students will learn about coding and programming.
- Students will come to understand the relationship between hardware and software uses and applications.
- Students will have opportunities (through practical investigation) to use a range of programming languages.
- Students will develop an understanding of how computing has had an impact on society and technology.
KS3
The topics taught at KS3 are based on the strands of the Computing National Curriculum. Students are taught a range of coding and programming tasks. The aim is to cover all aspects of the curriculum through practical application. Students are encouraged to work independently, using the computing skills they have acquired to solve more complex problems.
KS4
At KS4 students will study for the OCR Computer Science GCSE (9-1). This qualification enables students to develop valuable thinking and programming skills that are sought after in the modern workplace. Pupils are also able to gain a deeper understanding of computational thinking, learning in turn, how to translate their new skills into a chosen programming language.
Students will be able to:
- Understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of Computer Science, including abstraction, decomposition, logic, algorithms, and data representation
- Analyse problems in computational terms through practical experience of solving such problems, including designing, writing and debugging programs
- Think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically
- Understand the components that make up digital systems, and how they communicate
- With one another and with other systems
- Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and to wider society
- Apply mathematical skills relevant to Computer Science.
How is the GCSE assessed?
Computer systems written paper 1
1 hour and 30 minutes - 50% of total GCSE
Includes; Computer systems • Systems Architecture • Memory • Storage • Wired and wireless networks • Network topologies, protocols and layers • System security • System software • Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns. Data Presentatation.
Computational thinking, algorithms and programming written paper 2
1 hour and 30 minutes - 50% of total GCSE.
Includes; Algorithms • Programming techniques • Producing robust programs • Computational logic • Translators and facilities of languages.
For further information, please use the link below to the OCR Computer Science (9-1) GCSE specification. | https://www.newlandsgirlsschool.co.uk/page/?title=KS3+%26amp%3B+KS4+-+Computing&pid=67 |
The goal of the initial phase of this project is to develop algorithms that assist in achieving convergence for highly couple, nonlinear equation sets for vehicle performance simulation models. The strategy is to use logic to reduce the complexity of couple sets before applying sophisticated numerical methods. To accomplish this, two algorithms that were developed previously, the DeCouple and the SmartSwapper, will be refined. The second goal is to identify and implement these methods into transportation applications. This integration will include the implementation of the algorithms into the first version of the composite software program and implementation into the RDT (Rail Design Tool) software.
The two areas of focus for the third phase of the vehicle performance simulation project are the development and validation of an alternative fuel vehicle design and simulation software tool, SmartHEV and the testing and optimization of the FutureTruck Suburban.
A linear and nonlinear equation solving software tool called SmartSolve was recently upgraded as part of the UTC Vehicle Simulation Project Phase I objectives. The upgrading involved extensive rewriting of the logic and mathematics algorithms to make the computer code more efficient and modular. Using the new structure of SmartSolve, SmartHEV will be created. SmartHEV will be a versatile vehicle software model that simulates steady-state operation. A new graphical user interface (GUI) will be designed, however much of the underlying code will transfer directly. SmartHEV will give the user tremendous flexibility in setting up a vehicle simulation in that the design variables are not restricted to being known or unknown. This enables variables that are typically performance parameters, or unknown variables, to be specified as known. A design can begin with a performance goal and work towards the necessary vehicle component sizes. The program will also include a parametric study routine that will graphically output to the screen as well as to data tables.
Once SmartHEV is finished it will be further refined in order to use it to help predict the optimum operating point of UI’s FutureTruck. This includes integrating SmartHEV with the Clean Vehicle Energy Management (CVEM) simulator in order to predict vehicle performance through a standard driving cycle. Also, further work needs to be completed in integrating the onboard GPS system with an inclinometer to develop local driving cycles that include on-road elevation data.
Once the two programs are integrated, the resulting program will be validated with FutureTruck data. The FutureTruck is already setup with an extensive data acquisition system. Downloading this data and reducing it for analysis and comparison with SmartHEV will be essential in order to use the software to determine an optimized energy control strategy.
Once SmartHEV is integrated with CVEM and validated against the FutureTruck, it can be used to make component design and operation decisions. Optimization and parametric studies can be developed in order to determine the best operating points for the vehicle components and to better understand vehicle performance. The results can then be used to develop a comprehensive energy management control strategy that minimizes tailpipe emissions and maximizes fuel economy.
Finally, with the GPS and inclinometer system, a driving cycle can be developed and analyzed before having to drive the vehicle. SmartHEV can then be used to develop an optimized control strategy for that particular driving cycle.
The SmartHEV technology is an innovative software design tool that could improve vehicle research and development. Its unique algorithms provide valuable insight into vehicle operation and component relationships. Greater understanding of vehicle parameters will result in improved component configurations and better overall vehicle designs. These improvements result in a vehicle with fewer problems that is designed in a shorter amount of time. Transferring SmartHEV technology to other vehicle software applications will add value to the alternative fueled vehicle R&D industry. | https://vivo.nkn.uidaho.edu/vivo/display/n49980 |
Links:
Artemis
a free genome viewer and annotation tool that allows visualization of sequence features and the results of analyses within the context of the sequence, and its six-frame translation
Cell Electrophysiology Simulation Environment
Cell Electrophysiology Simulation Environment (CESE) is a comprehensive framework specifically designed to perform computational electrophysiological simulations, for example, simulations of cardiac myocyte electrical activity. CESE is useful for simulations of action potentials, individual ionic currents, and changes in ionic concentrations.
FORESTER
FORESTER is being developed as a framework for (automated) sequence function prediction based on phylogenic information - phylogenomics. Currently, it is composed of Java classes representing basic data structures, algorithms and tools to operate on phylogenetic trees.
GenPlay
GenPlay is a multi-purpose genome analyzer and browser. It is a fast, easy to use and stable tool for rapid analysis and data processing.
iLAP
iLAP (Laboratory data management, Analysis, and Protocol development) is a workflow-driven information management system specifically designed to create and manage experimental protocols and to analyze and share laboratory data.
JMV
a molecular viewer written in Java and Java3D. JMV is designed to be an easy-to-use, platform neutral, molecular visualization tool, which can be used standalone or integrated into a larger program
JSV
Java Structure Viewer
Mirth
Mirth is a cross-platform HL7 interface engine that enables bi-directional sending of HL7 messages between systems and applications over multiple transports.
MolSurfer
a graphical tool that links a 2D projection of a protein-protein interface to a 3D view of the protein structures. This Java-based software uses the representation of are projected onto the interface. The second window, WebMol, displays 3D representations of the molecules. The two windows are linked in such a way that mouse manipulations on the 2D-map window change the map and the 3D view
Pfaat
Pfaat is a Java-based protein sequence alignment application designed to facilitate the analysis, curation, and annotation of large protein sequence families. Key features of Pfaat include the ability to align collections of sequences, cluster and/or group sequences into subfamilies, analyze sequences based on a number of similarity criteria, visualize protein structure, and annotate sequences and specific residue positions with text descriptions.
Sequlator
Sequlator is a multiple sequence alignment editor with a pairwise alignment, reverse complement, editing and navigation functions. Sequlator can be used merely as a tool for viewing and manipulating multiple alignments of nucleotide sequences, but the main purpose of Sequlator is assembly and analysis of sequencing reads from newly isolated recombinant plasmids or PCR fragments.
Simbrain
Simbrain is a neural network which emphasizes ease of use, environmental interaction (most networks are abstracted from environments), creative design, and sophisticated gauging.
Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler
The Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler (STEM) tool is designed to help scientists and public health officials create and use spatial and temporal models of emerging infectious diseases. These models could aid in understanding, and potentially preventing, the spread such diseases.
Watchmaker
Watchmaker is an extensible, high-performance, multi-threaded, object-oriented framework for implementing platform-independent evolutionary computation (genetic algorithms, etc.) in Java. | http://www.linuxlinks.com/Java/Scientific/Biology/ |
Various mathematical tools are applied throughout the technology stack
Any new technology created today is fundamentally dependent on mathematics. Mathematics to understand real-world phenomena, mathematics to build devices with novel capabilities, and mathematics to control and take decisions. Mathematics is the art of creating models of reality, and using these models to develop better engineering and better algorithms.
If you are interested in creating new technology, you would be interested in some real-world phenomena, to which will interface one or more devices. The device(s) will have software embedded into it(them), and will further interface with the cloud and hand-held devices. Finally, there will be one or more user interfaces.
Most technology development outsourcing agencies concentrate on a few layers of this stack. Instead of concentrating on the engineering of these layers, Oneirix Labs concentrates on the appropriate use of applied mathematics throughout this technology stack. We will create the appropriate mathematical models for your specific problem, and use them to solve your technological challenges. We will help you develop better devices and control them better. Through various mathematical specializations, we will help you develop better algorithms that become an integral part of your technology. | https://www.oneirix.com/why-math/ |
Job Description:
Omitron is seeking a Junior System Integration and Test Engineer to join our team in Greenbelt, Maryland to support Space Network contract at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Specific areas of support include:
- Develop software to automate testing of current and planned modems
- Monitor and troubleshoot digital IF and baseband packets
- Configure and troubleshoot modem routers and switches
- Operate test equipment to evaluate modem performance
- Review requirements and interface control documents
- Develop test plans, procedures and reports
- Responsible for the development and execution of test code
- Integration of modems and test equipment, evaluation of RF signals, and configuration of network
Required skills:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field.
- Familiarity with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum analyzers and network analyzers.
- 1+ years programming language experience or related coursework.
- Ability to follow detailed work instructions and/or test procedures.
- Ability to learn and independently implement complex engineering algorithms
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Secret security clearance (interim Secret is acceptable) or the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.
Desired Skills:
- An understanding of RF communications, various modulation and coding techniques, and signal distortions.
- Proficiency with Python.
- Proficiency with Wireshark and Linux.
- Proficiency with MATLAB and SIMULINK.
- Experience with or coursework related to software radio transport protocols such as VITA-49.
- Experience with or coursework related to the configuration of networks.
- A Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
- Proficiency with MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Visio, and MS Word.
1+ years programming language experience or related coursework.
Required Degree:
Bachelor’s in an Engineering discipline
Security Clearance Requirements:
Secret or Eligible for Secret (US Citizen)
Company Overview:
Omitron is an Aerospace Engineering and Information Technology small business firm headquartered in Beltsville, Maryland with a field office located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since 1984, Omitron has provided excellence in engineering services and product development to government and industry customers for both civilian and military aerospace programs.
Omitron recognizes that outstanding people are the key to our success. Our goal is to select highly qualified and motivated individuals and provide them an environment necessary to stimulate and nurture engineering and business objectives. Omitron offers its employees competitive salaries, a full benefits package, and excellent career growth opportunities. We welcome talented professionals who wish to take advantage of the opportunities we offer. | https://jobs.jobvite.com/omitron/job/oJVMbfwl |
o A non-intrusive Smart Metering sensor networks at Railway System level.
o An open system and interface for data collection, aggregation and analysis in an open source Operational Data Management (ODM) Platform.
o A set of User Applications design and specifications. The Applications will exploit the energy analysis process with the aim of enhancing the energy decision making and the line operation patterns, as well as other possible improvements such as preventive maintenance.
“Dynamic Railway Information Management System (DRIMS)” (TD3.6) where the challenge is to generate knowledge from data and/or information – driven whenever necessary by the available domain knowledge - valid for life cycle management and intelligent asset maintenance planning including automatic detection of anomalies, discovering and describing the maintenance workflow processes and implement predictive models of decaying infrastructural assets.
o Analysis of existing components, systems and solutions that can be adapted to the railway environment for the measurement of energy and environmental related values. For example, analysis of smartphone or other low cost communicating sensors for on-board and track side energy measurements.
o Technological development of programmable smart sensors ready to be adapted in railway environment, on-board and trackside.
o Development of technologies for underground train geographical location and accurate train kinematic parameters measurements. These measurements will be integrated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) solution and synchronised with energy related measurements.
o Development of advanced methods for underground equipment cartography, such as ground LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) combined with GIS.
• Be self-powered, low energy, with wireless transmission capabilities and able to be used in tunnels, accompanied by detailed technical specifications for their physical installation in the railway environment.
• Be able to perform measurements of energy (voltage, current), motion, localization and environmental parameters (temperature, CO2, pollution, noise).
• Support Network Time Protocol (NTP) for data time stamping.
• Have resilient telecommunications capabilities adapted to railway environment in tunnels and at surface.
• Support intelligent algorithms for data prioritization and data transmission management.
o Analysis of existing frameworks, systems and solutions that can be adapted to the railway applications environment for the management of energy related data, including GIS.
o Specification and application of the most appropriate data distribution strategy within the data infrastructure, stating how data is acquired by the system, where is it processed, and how it is aggregated.
o Develop scalable solutions for the data processing architecture for handling large, heterogeneous data volumes in short times, such as data compression algorithms, etc.
o Develop adapted Data Storage solutions for a distributed and rapid data access, able to process streams of continuous data, as required by real-time sensing applications.
o Develop techniques for securing data such as encrypted databases and the associated secured analytic engines.
o Develop interfaces with railway control systems such as SCADA, etc. dedicated to railway operational data integration in the overall processing flow.
o Develop the software for human machine interface for operational purposes such as data visualization and big data management.
• Continuous data collection from meters and installed sensors as well as associated streaming data processing.
• Non-intrusive and loosely-coupled data transmission protocols such as message-oriented middleware.
• Ability of processing data provided by heterogeneous sources and in large volumes.
• Data formatting and reconciliation for ensuring the synchronization of captured data at different times.
• Data processing capability for removing non-relevant data (odd-blank-inconsistent).
• Analytics capabilities and specific algorithms for data-knowledge extraction.
• Elasticity of the data management architecture in order to be incremented by new nodes when the current configuration needs more performance.
Be able to interface with other possible data collection platforms such as GIS platforms, etc. and other possible data analytic engines.
o Data extraction and data visualization applications and integration in a GIS framework. Data coherence algorithms development.
o Public portal applications for enhanced customer experience: dedicated portals or applications will provide specific energy data and contribute to energy savings by highlighting travel energy footprint, proposing customer travel habits changes, etc..
o Railway system modelling application development in conjunction with measurement inputs. Embedded learning algorithms for energy estimation from train kinematic parameters.
o Predictive maintenance applications using energy measurements.
o Demonstrator specific energy market interface applications such as demand response, frequency regulation, or any other specific applications.
o Railway asset management applications.
The activity is expected to finish with a prototype of the user applications described above, validated in relevant environment (TRL5).
The activities under work stream 1 are expected to request a contribution of indicatively € 1.4 million.
a. IT solutions for data and transactions security and safeguarding data ownership rights.
b. Methodologies and related IT solutions for the extraction of (visual or rule-based) explicit knowledge from data-driven models, exploitable by decision makers to interpret phenomena underlying analytics algorithms.
c. Study and proof-of-concept on the metrics and methods/tools to measure the accuracy of analytics algorithms.
d. Study and proof-of-concept on the railway specific structural contract mechanisms for information and knowledge exchange in order to guarantee a proper management of the value of the information dealt with, and the exploitation of general accounting services.
The activity is expected to request a contribution of indicatively € 0.8 million in order to deliver a validation of the activities described in points a and b above in relevant railway environment (corresponding to TRL5) and to provide an experimental proof of concept (corresponding to TRL3) of the studies described in points c and d above.
S2R-CFM-IP3-02-2016: Intelligent maintenance systems and strategies.
As specified in section 2.3.1 of S2R AWP for 2017, in order to facilitate the contribution to the achievement of S2R objectives, the options regarding 'complementary grants' of the S2R Model Grant Agreement and the provisions therein, including with regard to additional access rights to background and results for the purposes of the complementary grant(s), will be enabled in the corresponding S2R Grant Agreements.
45 The scheduling of the deliverables is provided to facilitate the complementarity with the CFM actions and it is not binding. Additionally, each deliverable may have some flexibility in the scheduling.
Deliverables of work stream 2 are expected to be available by month 24.
Detailed knowledge of energy flows and consumers behaviour inside the railway system.
Energy profile prevision improvement. Refined knowledge of the traffic disturbances and consequences on system’s energy profiles.
Continuous supervision of power supply equipment status. Improved reliability and LCC based on predictive maintenance by continuous supervision of energy consumption and early identification of the abnormal variations.
Optimized return of investment (ROI) and ability for developing a better business plan, allowing optimal investments and asset management.
Better identification of electric infrastructure losses.
Better identification of auxiliary, maintenance facilities and stations energy consumption and of opportunities for savings and for demand-response.
Increasing the power supply quality and optimizing the line capacity.
Better coordination between the energy hourly variation prices and the traffic operation.
Better management of train lighting and air conditioning/heating when not in revenue service.
Significant LCC savings should be possible, due to new asset management approach.
Specific metrics and methods to measure and achieve impacts should be included in the proposals, with the objective to achieve by the end of the S2R Programme the quantitative and qualitative targets defined in the S2R MAAP related to TD3.6 and TD3.10 in line with the relative Planning and Budget. | https://www.up2europe.eu/calls/smart-metering-and-asset-management-of-railway-systems-s2r-oc-ip3-01-2017_1437.html |
In the world of rapid data growth, similarity search has emerged. Interesting questions are for example: Do we have in our dataset two different data items which represent the same real world entity? Which data items from two different datasets represent the same real world object? Are two data items similar and, if yes, how?
The similarity search is of interest in various domains. In the context of the thesis we focus on the similarity of tree-structured data. Trees are used to represent data spanning from RNA structures and carbohydrates to websites and sentence syntax. One way to show the similarity of trees is the tree edit mapping. Once computed, it specifies how to transform one tree into another by the means of simple edit operations on nodes. Excessive nodes are deleted, missing nodes are inserted and similar nodes are mapped together.
There are many algorithms to compute the tree edit mapping. One of them is the tree edit distance which computes the minimal mapping in the number of required edit operations. Unfortunately, many of these algorithms result only in raw (not visual) data. There is little research of how to represent the mappings and how to visualize them. In many domains, like biology, it would be interesting to see the actual results.
As for small trees the mappings can be easily shown, the larger the trees the more difficult it becomes. Another interesting problem is to decide on which edit mapping to show. One tree can be transformed to another in multiple ways.
The goal of the thesis is to exploit the above problems and develop a visualization tool which scales for large inputs. In particular the following steps are foreseen:
- get a deep understanding of the tree edit mapping computation based on the original research papers,
- develop a tool which can effectively visualize edit mappings especially for large inputs,
- the developed solutions should consider in particular: how to visualize complex mappings when the trees do not fit on the screen, and how to show multiple mappings of the same input (equivalent in the number of edit operations). | https://dbresearch.uni-salzburg.at/teaching/thesis-proposals/visualization-of-edit-mapping-for-large-trees |
Ridley, Damon D.
Information Retrieval: SciFinder® and SciFinder® Scholar
Information retrieval is arguably one of the most important skills a scientist needs in the 21st Century. The SciFinder interface to the world's scientific literature is both unique and innovative and while it is intuitive and has a very user-friendly interface, searches will be performed more effectively and efficiently with an understanding of the databases involved and the processes by which SciFinder searches.
This 'behind the scenes' look at SciFinder summarises the databases and explains how the user may creatively take advantage of the unique search opportunities provided.
I have done a search but why did I get this answer? This text explains why, and more importantly, discusses how you may best use the 40+ options in SciFinder, such as topic, bibliographic and chemical substance explore options, to get the best answers possible.
Complementary rather than an alternative to the proprietary websites and manuals the book explains:
* the content of electronic information resources and why it helps if scientists understand some basic issues involved with information retrieval
* why it is important, and how, to apply scientific method to information retrieval
* selected algorithms behind the operation of SciFinder/SciFinder Scholar and why it helps to understand them for effective searching
* how to set up the search question and how SciFinder/SciFinder Scholar, essentially a research tool, may be used creatively to initiate research ideas
* why certain answers are retrieved and how to revise answers in a way that maximises comprehensive and precise retrieval of information
- Author(s)
- Ridley, Damon D.
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons, Inc. | https://www.ellibs.com/book/9780470033630/information-retrieval-scifinder-174-and-scifinder-174-scholar |
While we have been in an era of rapid technological development for quite some time, we have seen significant maturation of the specific field of artificial intelligence over the last five years. As our access to larger data sets, more advanced hardware, and sophisticated algorithms progress, so too do our robotics capabilities. Defense and disaster response are key areas that will be transformed by artificial intelligence, and those who are able to adopt relevant technologies early – and optimize their use of them – will have major advantages.
There are several specific ways in which remote and automated systems will change the nature of defense and disaster response. Initially, these systems will augment current capabilities by accelerating a shift from manned to unmanned strategies for areas such as data processing, cyber operations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Over time, these remote and automated systems will become advanced enough to work in parallel with legacy systems. Once this side-by-side activity occurs, it will be easier to increase coverage of battlespace as well as the volume of ISR data that can be collected. Likewise, it will easier to increase coverage of a disaster response area.
Eventually, remote and automated systems will supersede some of our current capabilities, making them obsolete. Completely surrendering the human component of specific tasks, however, will require development in artificial intelligence to the point where we can trust that our reliance on remote and automated systems leads to equal or superior outcomes across time and contexts.
There are several aspects of defense and disaster response that will be modified based on advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. Observation is one area that will be revolutionized. For instance, there will be an enhanced ability for sensors and machine learning systems to outperform humans in pattern detection, which will inform us in new and sophisticated ways about the nature of spaces.
However, it is incorrect to assume that battlefields or disaster response areas will be able to be entirely observed, and it is important to remember that information collected from artificial intelligence can be inaccurate or biased. Relying completely on information provided by remote and automated systems can be dangerous, and it is imperative to continually monitor and test the quality and accuracy of the data from these systems. It is also critical to ensure that actions taken with respect to that data are appropriate and maximize the relevant intelligence.
Orientation can also be improved through artificial intelligence and will depend, in part, on determining how to best use monitoring systems in such a way that people do not become cognitively fatigued. The monitoring systems should be utilized so that people can easily become mentally engaged in the case of a crisis on the battlefield or opportunity in a disaster response effort. Creating intuitive human-machine interfaces will be critical for ensuring that this is the case.
When humans are interacting with machines, their mental engagement is higher if they are actively searching for a defined object or thing of interest. Ensuring that the human-machine interface is conducive to this type of activity, and that engaging in this type of activity requires as little extra cognitive effort as possible, can help to optimize orientation capabilities.
Decision and action are important end points that can be informed by artificial intelligence. Speed has historically provided advantages in war, and human-machine teams that can use artificial intelligence to rapidly execute deliberate, calculated actions may overmatch their adversaries. When it comes to the battlefield, slower groups are more likely to be detected, to miss essential information about their opponents, and to lack the ability to properly orient to threats or opportunities.
In disaster response, they are more likely to have lower success rates in helping victims and protecting themselves. To enhance speed, human-machine teams must not only have good situational awareness, but must also be able to rapidly determine which remote and automated systems are most appropriate for the task that they need to execute and those which are least appropriate.
As the data that we gather through these systems becomes more vast, it will be a challenge to determine how humans can handle that data effectively and efficiently. Counterintuitive to some, the newest and most expensive algorithms will not necessarily confer the best advantages. Instead, those who have the most effective human-machine teams, with intuitive human-machine interfaces, will have the greatest impact advantage.
The size of our data sets poses challenges for humans and computer algorithms alike. Humans’ mental capacity is not readily equipped to deal with large data or to think deeply in a statistical manner. Uncertainty and ambiguity in data create serious challenges for computer algorithms. As human-machine teams are created, findings ways to exploit the specific and unique strengths of humans and of machines – and in a way that counterbalances the weakness of each – will be of utmost importance.
Determining the best ways to outperform our opponents and to respond effectively and efficiently to disasters will require a high degree of experimentation and learning, as the relationships between technology, strategy, and tactics are complex. On the battlefield, it will require us to not only consider our systems in a vacuum, but also to consider how our systems relate to those that may be used by our opponents. Through experimentation, we will work to mitigate our opponents’ abilities to gain the same advantages. At the same time, we will learn to increase our situational awareness and reduce both physical loads and cognitive loads.
As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in our approaches to defense and disaster response, a central theme will be what – and to what extent – machines can take over. Humans can never be completely out of the loop because we will evolve our understanding of the best ways to apply machine learning to the battlefield and to disaster response scenarios and will continue to have new questions and need to be involved in the testing of those questions and in the evaluation of relevant technologies.
Nonetheless, given that there are certain types of tasks that computer algorithms can perform more accurately and more efficiently than humans, it’s reasonable to assume that those types of tasks will increasingly be taken over by machines. At the heart of many of these tasks will be data collection and processing. In war and in disaster response, the best human-machine teams will be those that best capitalize on both machine capabilities and human capabilities, and contextualize those to the most timely and relevant challenges.
Contact Mapware to help minimize or eliminate service interruptions or outages. | https://mapware.com/blog/send-in-the-drones-how-human-machine-teaming-is-changing-disaster-response/ |
We want our pupils to be successful members of society, who know how to use digital devices and the internet safely and appropriately. With the modern world having more of a focus on digital advances, we believe ‘computational thinking’ is a skill children must be taught so that they are able to participate effectively, successfully and safely in the digital world. Pupils should develop their skills and knowledge of using computers, IPads, programmable robots, and other digital devices including AAC resources. These devices should support pupils to develop their independence and organisational skills, enhance deeper thinking and engage and challenge pupils in the computing curriculum as well as throughout all subjects in the curriculum in a creative way. Our computing curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and modified to ensure all pupils can access learning and make positive points of progress. Using the internet safely is a key focus that is taught to all pupils, starting in EYFS and developed at ‘stage’ and ‘age’ appropriateness throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
Implementation
We have specific computing lessons to learn about all areas of the computing curriculum, including Computer Science, Digital Literacy, Information Technology and Online Safety. Each main area is a key focus for a full term and Schemes of Work are created and followed to ensure coverage of skills and progression. Computer science involves understanding algorithms, creating and debugging computer programs, using logical thinking and understanding how computers work. Information technology includes learning to use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content. Digital literacy is taught so that pupils use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly as well as the ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.
Online safety is taught throughout the full computing curriculum as well as through discrete lessons focusing on internet
safety.
In order to allow pupils to remember key skills, we revisit prior learning areas and build on them throughout their time at Benton Dene School. As well as discrete computing lessons, we encourage skills and knowledge to be used and applied in other subjects, for example, pupils might complete their English lesson by word processing their Talk4Writing stories. They might use the internet as a research tool for finding facts in history. They might use the iPad to record and present information in Science etc. In house CPD sessions are regularly on offer to support staff subject knowledge. Online safety is a key focus in all of our safeguarding CPD sessions.
Impact
Pupils will leave Benton Dene School with a greater understanding of how to use digital devices and understand how they link with general life as well as support them in future employment and enjoyment. Pupils will have acquired a set of skills to allow them to be safe citizens and have the knowledge of what to do if incidents happen when using the internet.
At the end of each academic year, pupils will have at least 12 pieces of evidence in their computing books that show the
progress they have made. They will also have an updated ‘general computer skills booklet’ showing progress made and
next steps in learning.
Staff will have attended various CPD sessions to develop their understanding and use of computing in order to deliver
strong computing lessons.
Red 4 have been creating their own videos from photographs they've taken themselves. They used the app Splice and added narration, transitions and music. Here are a couple of examples. | https://www.bentondeneschools.org.uk/learning-and-achievement/our-curriculum/computing |
At All Souls’ CE Primary, we are technologists! We want our children to love computing and technology. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be software programmers, coders, website creators or innovators! We want them to embody our core values. We all believe that: “there are no limits.’ The computing curriculum has been carefully crafted so that our children develop their computing knowledge and capital. We want our children to remember their computing lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the opportunities they are presented with! We have a computing club, which is hosted by our school E-Cadets, which takes place weekly, and the children have enjoyed experiences such as using the 3d Printer, Using VR goggles and flying a drone, to help provide inspiration for their own computing work. Bringing technology and computing alive is important at All Souls’ CE Primary School.
Curriculum Intent
The computing curriculum promotes curiosity and a love and thirst for learning. It is ambitious and empowers our children to become independent and resilient – like all curriculum areas.
We want to equip them with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the computing National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. We are committed to putting computing on the map here at All Souls’ CE Primary.
We want our children to use the vibrancy of our great town to learn from other cultures, respect diversity, co-operate with one another and appreciate what they have. We achieve this by providing a strong SMSC curriculum, with British Values and our core values placed at the heart of everything we do. This often feeds into the computing curriculum. For example, earlier this year we organised a celebration of online safety, which stemmed from a book stimulus. E –Cadets were integral to the planning of the work and children and parents had the opportunity to learn in depth about how to keep themselves safe online.
We enrich their time in our school with memorable, unforgettable experiences and provide opportunities, which are normally out of reach – this piques their interests and passions. For example, recently a group of pupils visited the ‘Crucial Crew’ in Bury, Manchester. The children were given the opportunity to learn about the dangers presented both in real life and virtual life. They had the opportunity to explore scenarios and ways in which they could seek help. Children were also taught about safety whilst on social media. We firmly believe that it is not just about what happens in the classroom, it is about the added value we offer to really inspire our children.
Curriculum Implementation
A complete audit of the computing curriculum was conducted. Following the findings from this audit, the computing curriculum has been carefully built and the learning opportunities and assessment milestones for each year group crafted to ensure progression and repetition in terms of embedding key learning, knowledge and skills. The way computing is taught at our school has been revamped and now follows a specific and consistent structure. Initially, pupils take inspiration from famous technologists throughout history to help generate ideas for their work. They explore and practice the practical skills and apply key knowledge needed to be fully immersed in the topic. Children record their work on the school server and create a class book to reflect other aspects of the computing curriculum.
Computing subject specific characteristics, which we expect the children to demonstrate, have been developed and shared with all stakeholders. These characteristics underpin all work in computing and form a focal point for display areas and provide a common subject specific vocabulary for staff and pupils.
These characteristics are:
- A passion for and a commitment to the subject
- design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
- use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
- understand computer networks including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the world wide web; and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration
- use search technologies effectively, appreciate how results are selected and ranked, and be discerning in evaluating digital content
- select, use and combine a variety of software (including internet services) on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information
- use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
Staff and SLT develop year group specific long-term curriculum maps, which identify when the different subjects and topics will be taught across the academic year. All subjects are taught discretely but staff make meaningful links across subjects. They link prior knowledge to new learning to deepen children’s learning. Our short-term plans are produced on a weekly basis for the duration of the topic. We use these to set out the learning objectives for each lesson, identifying the key skills and knowledge to be taught and engaging activities and resources, which will be used to achieve them.
Staff teach a bi-weekly computing lesson. This was a notable change after the computing audit. This helps to ensure sufficient time is allocated to computing and that the subject matter can be revisited frequently. We believe that by constructing our curriculum this way, we improve the potential for our children to retain what they have been taught, to alter their long-term memory and thus improve the rates of progress they make.
Curriculum Impact
We use both formative and summative assessment information in every computing lesson. Staff use this information to inform their short-term planning and short-term support. This helps us provide the best possible support for all of our pupils. The assessment milestones for each phase have been carefully mapped out and further broken down for each year group. This means that skills in computing are progressive and build year on year.
Our staff use computing formative assessment methods to systematically assess what the children know as the topic progresses and inform their future planning. These formative assessment grids then inform summative assessment judgements for each topic.
Assessment information is collected three times a year and analysed as part of our monitoring cycle. This process provides an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the quality of education in computing. A comprehensive monitoring cycle is developed at the beginning of each academic year. This identifies when monitoring is undertaken. Monitoring in computing includes: work saved on the W drive, whole class ‘Big Books’, lesson observations and/or learning walks, pupil/parent and/or staff voice.
All of this information is gathered and reviewed. It is used to inform further curriculum developments and provision is adapted accordingly.
Key Documentation
Computing programmes of study:
Key Stages 1 and 2
Purpose of study
A high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world. Computing has deep links with mathematics, science and design and technology, and provides insights into both natural and artificial systems. The core of computing is computer science, in which pupils are taught the principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use through programming. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology to create programs, systems and a range of content. Computing also ensures that pupils become digitally literate – able to use, and express themselves and develop their ideas through, information and communication technology – at a level suitable for the future workplace and as active participants in a digital world.
Aims
The national curriculum for computing aims to ensure that all pupils:
- can understand and apply the fundamental principles and concepts of computer science, including abstraction, logic, algorithms and data representation
- can analyse problems in computational terms, and have repeated practical experience of writing computer programs in order to solve such problems
- can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems
- are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology
Attainment targets
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the relevant programme of study.
We are not required by law to teach the example content in [square brackets].
Subject content – Key stage 1
Pupils should be taught to:
- understand what algorithms are, how they are implemented as programs on digital devices, and that programs execute by following precise and unambiguous instructions
- create and debug simple programs
- use logical reasoning to predict the behaviour of simple programs
- use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content
- recognise common uses of information technology beyond school
- use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies
Subject Content – Key Stage 2
Pupils should be taught to: | https://www.allsoulsce.rochdale.sch.uk/schoolcurriculum/subjectspecific/computing-1/rationale-7 |
In a unique holistic approach, Munich Quantum Valley follows a "full-stack" quantum-computer model implementing cutting edge research results of quantum information science. Multidisciplinary consortia developing all layers of a quantum computer, from hard- and software up to applications, create maximum synergy.
The hardware-layer of quantum computers is given by a platform which provides qubits and gates to create superpositions and entangled states necessary for the quantum advantage over classical computers. Different realizations of qubit systems each have their distinct advantages and might be better suited for specific applications. For this reason, MQV consortia span three of the most promising technology platforms: the Superconducting Qubit Quantum Computer (SQQC) consortium deals with qubits based on superconducting circuits, while the Trapped-Atom Quantum Computer (TAQC) consortium implements a platform with trapped neutral-atoms. In addition, a platform based on trapped ions will be investigated within MQV. The Hardware Adapted Theory (HAT) consortium supports the experimental efforts by providing strategies to optimize the performance of all three technology platforms.
To manage all the hardware components, a layer of classical control, including fast microelectronic devices, is essential. For the desired industrialization of quantum computers, it is important to work on the necessary micro-architecture already at an early stage. The Scalable Hardware & Systems Engineering (SHARE) consortium addresses these challenges for all three technology platforms. System software needed to access the quantum systems is developed by the Quantum Development Environment, System Software & Integration (Q-DESSI) consortium. As on the hardware layer, the Hardware Adapted Theory (HAT) consortium provides support in performance optimization.
Comprehensive software development is necessary, including system software, a suitable programming environment as well as user-facing tools. These challenges are addressed by the Quantum Development Environment, System Software & Integration (Q-DESSI) consortium which is also particularly concerned with developing techniques to link quantum computers with today’s high-performance computers. Theoretical guidance is provided by the Theoretical Quantum Computing (THEQUCO) consortium which is charged with tasks ranging from answering open questions in fundamental quantum information theory up to the development of quantum algorithms.
Identifying use-cases for research and industry, such as the simulation of chemical systems or complex optimization tasks, is one goal of the Quantum Algorithms for Application, Cloud & Industry (QACI) consortium. It further aims at making quantum computing accessible to end users by providing the necessary tools and services, such as a cloud-computing infrastructure.
The Superconducting Qubit Quantum Computer (SQQC) consortium will advance materials and fabrication methods for superconducting quantum processors, optimize processor designs and develop high-fidelity qubit control and readout schemes to improve the performance of quantum processors.
The SQQC consortium will put a focus on novel types of superconducting qubits with performance superior to typically used transmon-type qubits to overcome the hurdle of low-anharmonicity and subsequent cross-talk and leakage.
The system will be optimized for at least 24 qubits with the potential for scaling up to larger numbers. With the planned integration into an high-performance computing environment, the SQQC consortium will be able to run fast and efficient NISQ-type quantum algorithms, and make the quantum processor available also for external users.
Neutral atoms are a promising candidate for the realization of quantum computers with a clear perspective of scaling into a regime where first industry-relevant applications await. The Trapped-Atom Quantum Computing (TAQC) consortium will develop a platform that combines the scalability and homogeneity of optical-lattice qubit registers with fast two-qubit gates using highly excited Rydberg states in neutral strontium atoms. In addition, the TAQC consortium will explore alternative qubit realizations, quantum-enhanced metrology and analog quantum computation with neutral atoms, and by that pave the way for neutral atoms to create a quantum advantage for multiple applications.
The Theoretical Quantum Computing (THEQUCO) consortium aspires to establish new concepts for digital and analog quantum computing, to build new algorithms with quantum advantage, to develop tools for the verification, benchmarking and certification of quantum computers, and to design strategies to mitigate and correct errors.
In addition to mostly platform-independent research, algorithms and protocols will also be specifically adapted to the different quantum-computing implementations pursued with MQV.
The Quantum Development Environment, System Software & Integration (Q-DESSI) consortium is dedicated to the creation of a Munich Quantum Software Stack, a technology-independent software environment enabling both quantum and hybrid applications. It includes programming and runtime environments with optimized compilers, runtime systems and tools, the system software needed to control, access and operate quantum systems and the software to integrate them into existing computing structures as part of the larger high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem. The work inside the Q-DESSI consortium builds on the hardware work in the technology consortia within the MQV and partner projects, provides the necessary cross-technology abstraction layer as well as services to the application and library layers to the user community.
The Scalable Hardware & Systems Engineering (SHARE) consortium will focus on scalable hardware and systems engineering to develop qubit devices and system solutions for superconducting and trapped-atom quantum-computer platforms. In order to increase the capacity and performance of qubit platforms, the SHARE consortium will contribute on different levels of the quantum-computing stack. This includes technology and manufacturing, development of electronic components and systems for the quantum-computing architecture as well as real-time signal processing, control and pulse generation.
The Quantum Algorithms for Application, Cloud & Industry (QACI) consortium pursuits three main goals:
First, to develop quantum algorithms for complex industry use-cases, find the most suitable hardware platform for the particular use-case, optimize these algorithms with respect to criteria relevant to the user and provide an estimate for scope and time scale of the expected quantum advantage.
Second, to build an open-source ecosystem of easy-to-use high-level application libraries as well as tools and processes to enable easy and effective development, benchmark and verification of quantum applications also for non-specialists.
Finally, to provide user support, training and most importantly easy access to quantum-computing hardware and simulators.
The Hardware Adapted Theory (HAT) consortium will help to make best use of the planned hardware generations within MQV. It will also contribute to the hardware development itself by providing numerical modeling of hardware components and by developing tools to characterize the hardware and its errors. The consortium will develop hardware-adapted quantum control strategies and quantum error-correction protocols to optimize the fidelity and robustness of experimental quantum operations in the presence of noise and experimental imperfections and constraints. These approaches need to be scalable to medium-sized qubit registers. The HAT consortium thus provides theory support and strategies to maximize the performance of the hardware platforms developed within MQV.
QST-EB educates the next generation of researchers and users of quantum technology and quantum computing in Bavaria, both at the level of Master's students as well as doctoral candidates. Equally, it reaches out to the public for a general awareness about Quantum Science and Technology.
The QTPE consortium will create a Quantum Technology Park as well as a Quantum Entrepreneurship Centre. With these measures it will create a leading ecosystem for quantum research in Bavaria with an infrastructure that supports state-of-the-art research with an entrepreneurial pipeline. | https://www.munich-quantum-valley.de/research/consortia/ |
Hello Grade 5 and 6 students and parents:
Using critical thinking skills and collaborative communication, all students will solve problems and make informed decisions using multiple processes to manage computer activities so they can develop, create, complete projects and perform tasks necessary to accomplish their goals.
All of our class assignments are aligned to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for students. For more detailed information of these standards, follow the link to the left. During the course of this school year, we will use in-class assignments and projects to achieve the following goals:
Students will understand how to use the computer as a tool to help them develop creative and innovative projects.
Students will create a wide range of products by the end of this school year. Products will include word processing documents, spreadsheets, multimedia presentations, graphics, digital story-telling and writing code.
Students will gain strong keyboard knowledge and typing skills so that they will be able to focus on creating rather than typing.
Students will learn what it means to be a good digital citizen by demonstrating how to use the computer in a safe and ethical manner.
Students will learn how to use the internet critically and responsibly to research and gather information.
Students will contribute to each others learning and improvement of skills through online collaboration and communication.
Students will demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts and operations when using the computer. | https://www.octorara.k12.pa.us/domain/439 |
Designated as a foundation for occupational preparation in business or marketing, this course allows students to explore the roles of business and marketing in the free enterprise system and the global economy. Students also study how the American economy operates and prepare to make decisions as consumers, wage earners, and citizens.
Computer Solutions
Students develop or review correct keyboarding techniques and gain a basic knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics, and telecommunications applications. Students demonstrate an understanding of computer concepts through application of knowledge. Students learn to use software packages and local and worldwide network communications systems. Grade 8 Computer/Technology Standards of Learning are incorporated and reinforced in this course.
Computer Information Systems
Students apply problem-solving skills to real-life situations through word processing, spreadsheets, databases, multimedia presentations, and integrated software activities. Students work individually and in groups to explore computer concepts, operating systems, networks, telecommunications, and emerging technologies.
Digital Applications
This course is designed for secondary school students to develop real-life, outcome-driven approach skills for digital citizenship, basic computer operations, keyboarding, application software (word processing, spreadsheets, multimedia applications, database), and career exploration. This course promotes skills that can be applied across the curriculum and offers preparation relevant to 21st century skills and postsecondary education. Students who successfully complete this course may be eligible for a rigorous and relevant industry certification examination. Student skills may be enhanced by participation in work-based learning activities and/or the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
Design, Multimedia, and Web Technologies
Students develop proficiency in designing, and creating desktop-published projects, multimedia presentations/ projects, and Web sites, using industry-standard applications software. Students apply principles of layout and design in completing projects. Students create portfolios that include a resume and a variety of desktop-published, multimedia, and Wed-site projects produced in the course.
Cyber Security Fundamnetals
Cyber security affects every individual, organization, and nation. This course focuses on the evolving and all-pervasive technological environment with an emphasis on securing personal, organizational, and national information. Students will be introduced to the principles of cyber security, explore emerging technologies, examine threats and protective measures, and investigate the diverse high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand career opportunities in the field of cyber security.
Information Technology (IT) Fundamentals
Information Technology IT Fundamentals introduces the essential technical and professional skills required for students to pursue programs leading to professional careers and IT certifications. Students investigate career opportunities and technologies in four major IT areas: Information Services and Support, Network Systems, Programming and Software Development, and Interactive Media. Students will evaluate the impact of IT on other career clusters. The focus of the IT Fundamentals course is the introduction of skills related to information technology basics, internet fundamentals, network systems, computer maintenance/upgrading/troubleshooting, computer applications, programming, graphics, Web page design, and interactive media. Students explore ethical issues related to computers and Internet technology and develop teamwork and communication skills that will enhance their employability.
JROTC I
This is the introductory level to JROTC. It is the foundation upon which the program is built. Cadets are assigned to squads, consisting of 5-8 students. Course description: Students focus on the history, objectives, and the development of knowledge and skills in foundations of Army JROTC. Also, the study of leadership theory and application, being a leader, leadership skills foundations of success, communication skills, study skills, conflict resolution, knowing yourself, military customs and courtesies, physical training, service learning/community service, and demonstrate leadership potential as a role model within the JROTC program. | https://clements.pgs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2075322&type=d&pREC_ID=2130445 |
The Person County Technology Fair is an annual student competition that gives 3-12 graders the opportunity to showcase their innovative use of technology in daily learning. This competition is open to all Person County School (PCS) students and included a school level Technology Tournament, where all first place winners advance to compete in the district level PCS Technology Fair.
On February 16 the Technology Fair visited Piedmont Community College (PCC) where 45 students from the new Person Early College for Innovation and Leadership (PECIL) showcased their projects.
During the program students are required to demonstrate their project, demonstrate an understanding of the software they used as it relates to their project, explain the various aspects of the creation of their project, defend their choice of software for the project, and answer questions for the guest judges within a 15 minute time period. Project scores were based on originality, documentation, completion, understanding, and intended purpose.
The PECIL Technology Fair top awards were presented to:
Multimedia: computer-based reports or creative presentations using any combination of sound and/or images with text
• 1st place: Jalear Brogdon
• 2nd place: Sean Reaves, Austin Mathews
• 3rd place: Makayla Ridgeway, Gereka Richmond
Digital Video Production: edited original video content
• 1st place: Kenli Whitlow
• 2nd place: Jackson Evans, Jourdyn Harris
• 3rd place: Matthew Lopez
Digital Audio Production: original audio production that has been edited/produced with digital software
• 1st place: Caitlin Staton
• 2nd place: Casey Blalock
• 3rd place: Raul Rodriguez, Coleman Masten
Internet Applications: original creation of a web-based application
• 1st place: Tori Reed
• 1st place: Joshua Taborn, Kharon Gh’rael
3D Modeling: original artwork that has been created and can be modeled in three dimensions
• 1st place: Austin Vargo, Corey Reed
• 2nd place: Justis Ash
Non-Animated Graphic Design (Photo): original computer created project using original student photograph(s)
• 1st place: Mikalia Pervis, Haleigh Norton
• 2nd place: Kirsten Hatt, Lauralin Leonard
Animated Graphic Design: computer-generated, non-animated graphic design project
• 1st place: Jonithan Christian, Charlotte Fitzgerald
• 2nd place: Briana Bradsher, Rochelle Burgess
• 3rd place: Isaiah Chambers
Digital Game Design: original content and the rules of an interactive game
• 1st place: Jeremy Blackwell, John Conway
Productivity Design: student created, computer-generated project that uses desktop publishing or general productivity software
• 1st place: Marisa Smith, Aubrey Ray
Overall Winners
• 1st place: Jonithan Christian and Charlotte Fitzgerald (team); Tori Reed
• 2nd place: Jalear Brogdon
• 3rd place: Kenli Whitlow
“The students of Person Early College hosted a wonderful Technology Tourney!,” shared PECIL Principle, Shirlrona P. Johnson. “This was the first tournament the students had ever participated in and we are very proud of their hard work and their dedication to their school. We appreciated the time that the judges gave to us in order to see all the projects and talk with the students about the way in which learning is occurring in their classrooms.”
During the preparing process, students also identified the type of Digital Age learners they are based on the 2016 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards. These standards help learning become more of a student centered process as teachers design projects and activities for students that allow them to create, collaborate, and communicate.
About PECIL
PECIL is a small learning community where administration, staff, and students know each other and learn in a cohort of 20-25 students per class. The Mission of the school is “to provide a highly supportive and academically challenging learning environment for students in programs for Health Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Technology, and Transfer (HATT), so that they may graduate as service-oriented leaders prepared to enter college and to compete globally in STEM-related careers.”
Offering a unique learning experience with a curricular focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), PECIL offers pathways that provide comprehensive instruction allowing students a variety of avenues for learning critically and creatively. For example, all courses incorporate project-based and linked learning. As a result there are opportunities for mentorships with community business partners, field trips to businesses and colleges, and service learning projects (local, regional, national, and international).
Leadership is also encouraged through service learning, student council, competitive events, student led conferences, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and a character/leadership curriculum. | https://www.piedmontcc.edu/news-article-8926-forty-five-students-participate-in-person-early-college-for-innovation-and-lead/ |
Accounting: In this full-year course double-entry accounting is taught and skills are developed that assist students in obtaining employment. Theory and practical application are stressed to prepare students for the required college courses of a business major. The entire accounting cycle is covered and reports. Once students have learned accounting procedures through manual exercises, they record routine accounting transactions on the computer, Learning the techniques of inputting data, as well as preparing statements and interpreting financial results.
Digital and Graphic Tools: This course is designed to equip students with core tools for interactive development in a challenging technological environment. Communication skills, basic mathematical concepts and critical thinking are reinforced through software applications. Multidisciplinary projects involve the use of a variety of programs such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, image editing and graphic design, digital sound and video editing, web design and presentation software. Topics covered include history, hardware, computers and society, safe internet access, copyright issues and computer ethics. Hands-on projects focus on essential skills and provide experience in working in a broad range of media. Simulations, projects, portfolios and teamwork provide opportunities for the application of instructional competencies.
Digital Design for the Web: The one-year course introduces students to a variety of tools to design, develop, and deliver web-based multimedia projects using industry- standard authoring software. Students learn how to create images, animations, interfaces, and motion graphics for web-based multimedia. The course focuses on new and emerging technologies and applications, and investigates design processes and principles for creating digital products. Hands-on projects may focus on a variety of the following areas: Graphic Design, Web Page Design, Multimedia Authoring, Digital Sound, 2D-3D Animation and Digital Video. In addition, students study accessibility, copyright, and communication issues related to successful digital design. Technology explored may include digital cameras, digital video, movies and presentations. Writing and story script skills are emphasized in this course.
*Westmont students take the course online with students at Prospect. Prerequisite: Digital and Graphic Tools.
Video Production 1: The purpose of this course is to provide a project-based video media program which guides students to achieve the standards in the Arts, Media and Entertainment Pathway of career technical training by providing students with the technical instruction and practical experiences for aspiring video and film makers in the production of film, video, and new media projects. Students experience both the creative and technical aspects of filmmaking in conjunction with learning about historical and contemporary traditions and conventions. Students are instructed on the three stages of project creation.
Video Production 2: The purpose of this course is to provide a progressive, project-based video media program which builds on the skills learned in Video Production 1. Students work individually and as group members in the production of film, video, and new media projects. Students experience both the creative and technical aspects of filmmaking in the three stages of project creation: pre-production, production and post-production. An emphasis will also be given to traditional and new methods of distribution.
Video Production 3: This is the capstone course for the Arts, Media, and Entertainment Pathway of Career Technical Education. Building upon what the students have learned in Video Production 1 and 2, they will create and executively produce original films using industry standard equipment over the course of each semester. This will require advanced long-term planning, organizational, communication, and technical and artistic aptitudes that will prepare them for employment in the industry and/or post-secondary education. | https://prospect.cuhsd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=443436&type=d&pREC_ID=956151 |
As a Multimedia Design Specialist your work is collaboratively with the Education, Information Technology and Marketing activities to assist in the development of tools that support our online learning and marketing initiative and will be responsible for eLearning/multimedia design and development, which includes creating and maintaining learning assets. This position reports to the Director.
Position Title: Multimedia Designer (Full-Time)
Work Location: Chidambaram TN
Duties & Responsibilities:
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Work with the Director, eLearning, and eLearning teachers to build courseware that conforms to standards for effective e-learning and CITTER branding.
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Participate in the testing process of de-bugging e-learning modules for quality assurance of the course.
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Work with the Director, eLearning, and eLearning teachers to optimize user interface and user engagement for courseware and other learning tools.
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Assist with the management and administration of the learning management system, provide technical assistance and support materials for end users and other internal clients as needed.
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Provide multimedia support within the Education Department for blended learning programmes when needed.
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Serve on project teams and/or serve as project lead as necessary
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Other job-related duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Technical Experience:
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At least two (2) years of relevant experience
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Strong multimedia skills, which include video/audio editing and encoding, and web development
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Track record of delivering projects on time, to specification, and within budgetary constraints, with limited supervision
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Demonstrated attention to detail while working on multiple projects simultaneously Excellent interpersonal skills
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Openness to learning and adapting to new technology
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Ability to work in collaborative, cross-functional team environment and think creatively
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Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web-based applications
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Ability to anticipate problems and recommend solutions
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Knowledge of non-linear editing platforms
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Experience using Articulate Storyline or similar e-learning software
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Proficiency with the Adobe creative suit suite
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Professional experience using a learning management system
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Background in developing iOS/Android applications helpful
Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree (or higher) preferably in communications, educational technology, instructional design, graphic design, media studies or a related field.
What You’ll Do
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You will take charge of all the Multimedia needs the organisation expects with excellent results respected globally.
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All work is unique and original, well presented that creates a lasting impression on the work delivered and appreciated by the public.
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You will be a think tank of original work and creatively establishing a unique culture where you are able to touch the other person's needs and provide such to fulfill their aspirations.
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To look the best ways we can provide our on-line interaction throughout the world so that there is more connectivity that is warm and personal - heart warming between us and the other on screen.
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Look into 'Publication' Journalism and story writing.
Who You are
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A dedicated Professional, passionate to the cause of Citter activities, working to the success of the organisation as a global entity.
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To have the ability to create a variety of multimedia packages that combine sound clips, photography, video montages and animation. Enter the multimedia specialist who directs this technologically demanding convergence of media forms.
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To be an important part of this exciting field that is demanding and to be well-suited suited to technically adept creative types interested in an emerging realm that encourages experimentation and risk taking. A willingness to engage your creative impulses is essential to success in multimedia.
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To design good presentations in Education and Practices for On-line Courses to reach out to all the world and make unique presentations that will attract the masses using social networking and social media. Natural creativity must be the style – unique and mind blowing to the audience we seek and establish with.
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To have a creative impulse and technology know-how is the foundation to build upon. Designers don't need high-level programming skills, but need to understand the integration of technologies: "There definitely has to be a convergence.” You are someone who makes things on their own.
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Knowing the basics of many different aspects of computer design -- coding, design, databases and networking, to name a few -- will make meetings easier and allow you to provide well-informed decisions. As multimedia appears on a wider variety of devices, multimedia professionals need to demonstrate know-how not just in software but also in the variety of platforms on which multimedia projects will appear -- PCs, gaming devices, iPods, televisions and cell phones. "We are operating in a multiplatform world.” You need to understand how these things work. That is where the opportunity and future is. | https://www.citter.in/electrical-engineer |
PART A: Context for Digital Story Telling Project
This digital story telling (DST) project is for Stage 3 students studying about the life of refugees. The inspiration for this digital story came after co-teaching the unit on refugees to Year 5 students. The literature unit text was Mahtab’s Story by Libby Gleeson- the real-life story of Mahtab, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. The focus of the digital story is to compliment the text. Students will be engaged deeply in this digital narrative which will enhance students’ understanding about the journey of refugees. Students will gain an enriching experience and will be able to understand this complex issue through this powerful medium.
This digital story project on the life of refugees. Zara’s Story is a historical fiction that tells about the harrowing journey of refugees and unimaginable dangers in their life. Digital story telling (DST) is an excellent way to generate interest, attention and motivation for the students in the classroom. 80% of the students come from a non-English speaking background. Students will get a virtual experience and learn about the life of a refugee. This digital story will include a range of literary materials including images and poster.
This video is created to build students’ skills in response to literature and recent events surrounding asylum seekers and refugees in Australia and around the world. Students will explore Australian identity in the context of change and continuity and will get insight into the life of individuals and group as refugees. This digital story will enhance current lessons within a larger unit, as a way to facilitate discussion about the topics presented a story and as a way of making abstract or conceptual content more understandable. This experience will allow students to make deep connections to the content.
It will be incorporated into English curriculum and will also integrate information and communication technology (ICT); requirement of NSW National Education Standards Authority (NESA) Syllabus. The outcomes that will be covered ACELA1525, ACELA1518, ACELA1520, ACELT1613, ACELT1615, ACELT1617, ACELT1618, ACELT1800 and English Syllabus outcomes EN3-1A, EN3-3A, EN3-5B, EN3-7C, EN3-8D, EN3-9E.
Digital storytelling allows opportunities not just for reading, but for creating as well. For any curriculum area that entails writing, digital storytelling could transform students’ perceptions of and their actual abilities to express themselves through the written word (Tackvic, 2012). It will assist students who struggle with writing.
Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (2014) General Capabilities state that by the end of Year 6 students use ICT effectively and independently or collaboratively create and modify digital solutions, creative outputs or data representation/ transformation for particular audiences and purposes. Digital story telling can fulfill these criteria. When these kinds of topics and issues are taught in school, it develops empathy and tolerance in students.
Teachers and students will benefit from this resource as it will inspire to dig deep and learn more about the topic. The digital story is told by using the digital tools such as Adobe Spark and Canvas. These digital tools add a positive dimension to traditional literacy (Tackvic, 2012). Adobe spark is easy to use, and it allow students to co-edit their projects and share via twitter, Facebook, email, Instagram and more. Adobe Spark is free to use and supports all the web browsers as well as chrome books. It allows to tell story into a captivating animated narrated video form and also makes it possible to import only creative commons licensed images. All the images used in the video are from Adobe Spark.
One of the main objectives of this DST is to provide the diverse learners in the classroom with multiple opportunities to familiarise with the topic and gain better understanding. DST can be beneficial to diverse learners as instructional multimedia create opportunities for all learners to become active and empowered learners by facilitating problem solving and creativity and enhancing student learning. Also, students with disabilities often feel confident with the use of technology to support learning (Rhodes, 2007).
This Adobe spark video will be used as an experiential learning resource for students to support the understanding about seeking refuge and migration. Students can also create and share their digital project with sister schools as they are learning the same topic. Overall, it will demonstrate the richness of learning that will occur as students engaged in reading and writing through a great deal of talking, listening, observing and viewing with concrete materials, print and digital texts (Walsh, 2010).
At the end of the video, teachers can ask students to make posters to create awareness regarding the aid we can provide to refugees using tools such as canva.
Part B: URL
PART C: Critical Reflection
As I had mentioned in my blog 1, that I had experience with only the traditional literature presented in digital form. This subject has given me the exposure to different ways in which literature can be used in the digital world to provide engaging experience to students. Lamb and Walsh’s articles gave me an insight in to evaluating a digital literature.
I strongly agree that digital literacy has the ability to make meaningful connections between disparate ideas and to apply existing knowledge in new ways are key aspects of creativity (Sukovic, 2014). Digital storytelling provides a wealth of opportunities to engage students in content learning; no matter what content they explore, the process of research, writing, creating, and editing a digital story builds essential 21st century literacy skills.
Digital story is more than just technology. It gives students rich experiences and enhances their perceptions as it is a medium of expression, communication, integration, and imagination (Malita & Martin, 2010). Books with multimedia elements deepen the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the story. When students collaboratively create a digital story, they develop communication skills, learn to ask questions, express opinions, construct narratives and write for an audience, improving also their language and computer skills by using software that combines a variety of multimedia: text, images, audio, video and web publishing(Malita & Martin, 2010). Also, when digital stories are created, students not only become more technologically literate, but they also become designers, listeners, interpreters, readers, writers, communicators, artists, and thinkers (Kajder, 2004). It combines hands on creativity and technology making literacy a fun learning activity.
It is challenging for educators to continue to maintain students’ motivation to read books and to engage in sustained reading. However, the interweaving of digital technology motivates students and allows for a holistic learning experience with talking, listening, reading and writing being interdependent (Walsh, 2010). We need to incorporate basic aspects of digital communication technologies in relation to syllabus outcomes. I found Kinglesy (2007) article on 20 ways to empower diverse learners with educational and digital media very interesting. It provides practical ways to utilise digital tools to support classroom teaching and learning.
Today anyone can publish their digital book relatively easily and put it in the digital world and therefore it is very necessary to evaluate the quality of digital texts. Through this subject, some of the ways that I learnt to evaluate the digital text are as follows
- To check the content of the text
- To read the book and seek out the recommendations of others before suggesting it to children.
- To consider the ease of use, the promotion of understanding, and the literary worthiness of the text.
In today’s digital world, students come to school with a wealth of experience in the use of digital technologies for personal entertainment, learning and social interaction, schools need to provide an environment that exploits this digital familiarity (O’Connell, 2015). According to Dobler (2013), as educators we should teach children how to make wise decisions about book selections of all types, and also make these selections for children when necessary.
Teachers need to be aware of the copyright issue and fair use of digital learning materials. Module 6 provided insight into creative commons licensing and alternatives to source free digital literature. Through this subject, I became aware of the free digital resources. I emailed staff at our school and also included in the school’s newsletter regarding project Guttenberg, International Children’s Digital library, Aust Lit children’s Digital Resource and iBook store free iBooks or eBook Apps. As mentioned in my blog 1, the school has no eBooks subscription, so these free digital resources were highly beneficial and appreciated by the school community. During pandemic, these resources provided equitable and fair use to all our students.
To address this national expectation of the Australian Curriculum: English which aims to ensure that students ‘listen to, read, view, speak, write, create and reflect on increasingly complex and sophisticated spoken, written and multimodal texts across a growing range of contexts with accuracy, fluency and purpose’ (Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority, 2014), the learning of this subject of incorporating eBooks, interactive text and digital story telling will be very useful to me in future. I have thoroughly enjoyed making digital story telling video using Adobe Spark. I will continue to learn, explore and use digital storytelling further in my professional life.
References
Adobe Spark. (2020). Designing like a Pro. Retrieved from https://spark.adobe.com/sp/
Brahmbhatt, P. (2020, September 4). Critical Reflection of Experiencing Digital Literature Experiences. Retrieved from https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/priti/category/inf-533/
Canva. (2020). Canva- Collaborate & Create amazing graphic design for free. Retrieved from https://www.canva.com/
Dobler, E. (2013). Looking beyond the screen: Evaluating the quality of digital books. Reading Today, 30(5), 20-21.
Kajder, S. (2004). Enter here: Personal narrative and digital storytelling. The English Journal, 93, 64-68
Malita, L., & Martin, C. (2010). Digital Storytelling as web passport to success in the 21st Century. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 3060-3064. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042810005057
O’Connell, J., Bales, J., & Mitchell, P. (2015). [R]Evolution in reading cultures: 2020
vision for school libraries. The Australian Library Journal, 64(3),194-208. 10.1080/00049670.2015.1048043. | https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/priti/ |
ICT and Computing Members of Staff:
- Ms S Gregory: Head of ICT and Computing
- Mr J. Vyse: Learning Technologies Coordinator
Subject Overview
In an ever changing, technologically advancing society it is necessary to equip our students with the desired skills needed for future life and work. With new technological jobs emerging that did not previously exist, it is vital that students are digitally literate, logical and adaptable thinkers who have the knowledge and skills to meet ever challenging and new demands of future society. The Royal Society has identified three distinct strands within computing, each of which is complementary to the others: computer science (CS), information technology (IT) and digital literacy (DL). (See https://royalsociety.org/ education/policy/computing-in-schools/report/ for further details.) Each component is essential in preparing pupils to thrive in an increasingly digital world.(http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/index.php?id=secondary)
The new national curriculum for computing has been developed to equip young people in England with the foundational skills, knowledge and understanding of computing they will need for the rest of their lives. Through the new programme of study for computing, they will learn how computers and computer systems work, they will design and build programs, they will develop their ideas using technology, and create a range of digital content.
Key Stage 3
During Key Stage 3 students currently study a range of ICT and Computing projects.
Discrete ICT and Computing
In Year 7 students create a MicroPet within the Technology Rotation. They plan, design, create and program a MicroBit that acts like a pet.
In Year 8 and 9 students have an hour a week of ICT and Computing and cover a range of topics including:
- Graphic Design
- Ride Simulation using Scratch
- Coding with Python
- Spreadsheets
- Databases
- PC Basics
- HTML and Web Design
- Kodu
The curriculum covers a variety of topics and different software to give students a broad background of knowledge and skills within ICT and Computing.
Cross Curricular ICT
In order to develop the ICT and Computing skills taught in Key Stage 3, many other subjects use ICT skills to enhance their own topics.
Subjects and Projects include:
- Oxbow Lakes Animations
- Digital Music Creation
- Artistic Imagery
Key Stage 4
During Key Stage 4 students can opt to take the OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia.
http://ocr.org.uk/qualifications/creative-imedia-level-1-2-award-certificate-j807-j817/
Course Details
The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will provide learners with opportunities to develop, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.
The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will also challenge all learners, including high attaining learners, by introducing them to demanding material and techniques; encouraging independence and creativity and providing tasks that engage with the most taxing aspects of the National Curriculum.
How will I be assessed?
The OCR Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia consists of two mandatory units and two optional units.
|Unit||Assessment Method||Description|
|Mandatory|
|Pre-production skills||Written paper
|
OCR set and marked
1 hour 15 mins
|Developing the students’ understanding of preproduction skills that are used in the creative and digital media sector.|
|Creating digital graphics||Centre assessed tasks
|
OCR moderated
|Plan and create new digital graphics to meet a specific client brief.|
|Optional|
|Creating interactive multimedia products||Centre assessed tasks
|
OCR moderated
|Creating an interactive multimedia product.|
|Creating a digital animation||Centre assessed tasks
|
OCR moderated
|Designing and developing a digital animation.|
What skills will I gain from studying Creative I Media?
- Knowledge of the main preproduction skills and techniques that are integral to the planning and creation process when developing digital solutions.
- A range of skills in the use of digital packages to express creativity when designing a creative and digital media solution.
- Awareness of the associated legal requirements.
Is there anything else I need to know?
The Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia is equivalent in size to a GCSE.
The qualification is designed with both creative and practical elements. There is also synergy with practical subjects such as Information Technology and Computing where key elements such as the use of program coding, website design and legislative requirements are common themes.
Next steps for this course include the OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT.
What should I do if I need any further information?
Speak to Ms S. Gregory or Mr J. Vyse.
OCR GCSE – Computer Science (9-1)
COURSE CO-ORDINATOR: Mrs S. Gregory
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-computer-science-j276-from-2016/
Course Details
Relevant to the modern, changing world of computing, it’s designed to boost computing skills essential for 21st century. The course has been created in conjunction with Microsoft, Google, Cisco and Computing At School (CAS).
The course includes a focus on cyber security and has emphasis on ‘computational thinking’.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment includes two exams (1.5 hours – 50% each) and one programming project.
What units do I study within OCR GCSE – Computer Science?
|Component Title||Content Overview|
|Computer Systems||· Systems architecture
|
· Memory
· Storage
· Wired and wireless networks
· Network topologies, protocols and layers
· System security
· Systems software
· Moral, legal, cultural and environmental concerns
|Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming||· Algorithms
|
· Programming techniques
· Producing robust programs
· Computational logic
· Translators and facilities of languages
· Data representation
|Programming Project||· Programming techniques
|
· Analysis
· Design
· Development
· Testing and evaluation and conclusions
Is there anything else I need to know?
- Due to the technical nature of the content, to be accepted onto this course you would need to have a high level of competency in Maths.
- Next steps for this course include the OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical in IT or A-Level Computer Science.
What should I do if I need any further information?
Speak to Ms S. Gregory or Mr J. Vyse.
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Students also have the opportunity to study the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) in after school study sessions.
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is the leading IT certification in the world. More than 1 million MOS exams are taken every year in over 140 countries. Students demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to productively use Microsoft Office.
MOS promotes success in the classroom for students (and instructors), builds individual distinction, and prepares students for an increasingly competitive workforce.
Units covered:
- Microsoft Office Word
- Microsoft Office Excel
- Microsoft Office PowerPoint
- Microsoft Office Outlook
(http://www.certiport.com/portal/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=664&roleid=101)
Key Stage 5
At KEVI Sixth Form, we offer the OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT (http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/vocational-education-and-skills/cambridge-technicals-it-level-3-certificate-extended-certificate-introductory-diploma-foundation-diploma-diploma-05838-05842-2016-suite/)
Launching for first teaching September 2016, our Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in IT offer specialist pathways in IT Infrastructure Technician, Emerging Digital Technology Practitioner, Application Developer, and Data Analyst.
Students will apply their practical skills and knowledge in preparation for further study, Higher Education or the workplace.
Designed in collaboration with experts spanning the breadth of the sector, the Cambridge Technicals in IT focuses on the skills, knowledge and understanding that today’s universities and employers demand.
The course is 360 Guided Learning Hours which is equivalent to one A-level in terms of size.
Students will study two externally examined units and a choice of three further units which are centre-assessed and moderated by OCR. A specialist pathway must be followed. The Application Developer pathway has been chosen to offer variety and breadth of skill to students. Students will be able to develop the core knowledge, skills and understanding the IT sector required in the IT sector, and develop further skills.
Units covered: | http://www.keslichfield.org.uk/?page_id=484 |
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