The role of temporary works in civil Engineering Construction Assignment

The role of temporary works in civil Engineering Construction - Assignment Example For example when setting up a scaffold it is advisable that your scaffold is supported by the ground but if that is not possible one can make it to hang above the ground or water using the hanging scaffold (Webster 1997). A good scaffold should also be able to have a safety mechanism in order to avoid injuries in case the scaffold fails thus in constructing a bridge one can chose to attach himself to the bridge to be safe incase the scaffold is failing. Formwork In his contribution Blackledge (1977) refers to formwork as the process that involves the addition of base material and also the addition of concrete that is in retaining wall so that they can be used as slabs during the construction of a bridge. Formwork is very essential since it helps to make the concrete last for long due to the fact that it makes it strong (Blackledge 1977). The strength property of formwork guarantees the much needed support that is needed in construction of the bridge. Formworks is used by making that needed shape using steel or aluminum so that the concrete is then poured into it so that a desired shape is produced. This is then allowed to harden. When it’s all dry the fabrications are removed and the formwork remains in place in that desired shape. Formwork is used to guarantees the strong support for the bridge during construction which always has to remain strong to avoid collapse (Blackledge 1977). Falsework In his book Webster (1997) talks of falsework as a term that is used to refer to the activity of supporting arches and spans in the process of constructing a bridge by using temporary support structures. This is a very essential practice in construction of bridges since it helps support the bridges from below in order to ensure that the bridges do not collapse as the construction is still continuing and can also be used to create a strong work base for the workers during the process of constructing a bridge. This always has to remain intact to the construction unt il that time when the bridge can self support itself without collapsing which in the long run helps to keep the bridge in position (Webster 1997). Temporary Support of Excavation During construction of a bridge it might involve excavating various sections of the work site so as to achieve a certain level of ease during the construction of bridge (Hummell 2011). For example during construction when the building is to start like two stories below the ground then excavation will have to be done in order to achieve this. Also good to notice is that sometime exaction is done for example when gravel is need for construction so that it is dug from a place. After excavation it’s a good practice to always support the excavations in order to avoid collapse of the walls during construction according to Hummell (2011). There are two types of excavation that can be used in supporting an excavation walls; this can either be flexible support or rigid excavation support. When one uses Flexib le support then it would take sheet pilling, soldier pile and lagging walls. On the other hand rigid support entails slurry walls, secant piles or even tangent pile (Hummell 2011). Construction Dewatering In his deep insight on dewatering Hummell (2011) talks of this process as a way that is used to achieve a certain degree of ease at the work site by ensuring that the water that may cause difficulty during the

Sustainable Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainable Tourism - Essay Example However, a decline in the tourism industry has been seen. It may be because of the declining consumer trend towards tourism due to the financial crisis. The industry is also helping in creating possibilities of low cost tourism that accommodates people from different phase of lifestyles to enjoy the beauty of nature. The tourism industry of Malaysia is said to be the second highest contributor in the Malaysian economy, which helps in generating foreign exchange as well as creates job opportunities for the locals. Malaysia is less developed as compared to other tourism places of the world, but Malaysia is renowned for its niche tourism due to world events and marketing strategies, which are employed. The Malaysian tourism can be improved; therefore, a report on ‘Sustainable Tourism Development’ is given to provides an in-depth view of the issues and gives a measure to deal with such issues which cater the heavy tourism industry of Malaysia. The report provides a stakeholder inclusive model which helps in resolving skirmishes between the local, national and international authorities. This model also provides realistic approaches, which are mandatory for the formulation planning and development process. The report gives a brief overview about the bodies, which are responsible for organizing and running the tourism industry of Malaysia. The repot discusses principle of planning as its core segment. The planning of tourism in Malaysia is done with highlighting the upcoming five years. This five-year plan includes the aim of developing and rehabilitating the tourism industry as it is the second highest contributor to the Malaysian economy. Then the principle of planning discusses its second part, which is the national ecotourism plan (Warn 2010). It is aimed at providing suitable strategies, which help in developing the tourism on the basis of sustainability factors with relation to ecotourism. The third part of

Streptococcus Mutans: Causes, Effects and Transmission

Streptococcus Mutans: Causes, Effects and Transmission Introduction Streptococcus mutans is the bacteria responsible for dental cavities in humans. The full taxonomy, or classification of the organism, is Bacteria Firmicutes Bacilli Lactobacillales Streptococcaceae Streptococcus Mutans (1). From S. mutans’ scientific name one can understand quite a bit about the bacteria. The domain and kingdom are Bacteria, meaning S. mutans is a one celled organism that doesn’t have a distinct nucleus. The phylum Firmicutes tells us that the cell wall is strong, thick, and most likely Gram-positive. The class Bacilli explains the rod-shape of the bacteria. The order is Lactobacillales and the definition of Lactobacillales is â€Å"lactic acid bacteria†. Streptococcaceae family classifies S. mutans as Gram-positive, facultative anaerobe, usually nonmotile, and found in pairs, chains, or tetrads. From the genus of streptococcus, we know that the bacteria is non spore forming, in pairs or chains, and usually requires a complex culture medium to gr ow. Finally, the species Mutans specifies that the bacteria lives in our mouths and causes dental cavities. Cavities are permanent tooth decay that makes holes in teeth and are usually painful. They can lead to more serious health complications. Morphology The morphology of S. mutans, or form and structure of an organism, is why this bacteria can create cavities so well and why it is so hard to kill. S. mutans is 0.5 to 0.75 micrometers in diameter, Gram-positive cocci, strepto arrangement(1,2). To put the size of S. mutans into prospective, a micrometer is one millionth the size of a meter. Gram- positive cells turn purple from crystal violet in the Gram stain test. Gram-positive cells turn purple because the cell wall is composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan, a polymer made from polysaccharide and peptide chains(1). The peptidoglycan holds onto the crystal violet and doesn’t let it get washed out. This component of the cell wall also prevents osmosis lysis. That means the cell will not burst from an imbalance of solvent concentration from inside the cell to the outside of the cell. Streptococci bacteria such as S. mutans are cocci, or a circular bacteria that sticks together in a line, or strepto arrangement. This single cell organism does not have a nucleus or organelles in its cytoplasm. The genetic material is kept in single strands that get duplicated during binary fission, which is how the cell reproduces because it does not produce spores. This bacteria has a capsule composed of polysaccharide and dextran glucose. S. mutans uses a protein on its surface to attach itself to a tooth, the bacteria then grows this dextran capsule that is a slime that binds the bacteria to the tooth enamel. In this slime is where the bacteria divides and produces colonies, this is a biofilm. S. mutans is a facultative anaerobe so the bacteria uses oxygen if it is present, but does not need oxygen to survive(2). This mesophilic bacteria grows best at 18 to 40 degrees Celsius (64 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit)(1). All of S. mutans morphology makes it completely adapted to living in such an extreme place as a mouth. Biofilm S. mutans is an animal parasite, especially in animals with a high carbohydrate diet. Because this bacteria is a parasite, it needs a host to survive and the host suffers from the bacteria. S. mutans is the main reason for dental cavities and is found mostly on the surface of teeth. It is found in higher concentration in the natural crevices and fissures of teeth. On these surfaces S. mutans creates plaque. Plaque is a biofilm. Biofilm is microorganisms sticking to a surface and to each other in an extracellular matrix that is usually self-produced. Plaque is formed in three steps. First the pellicle, or film, is formed. The pellicle is the dextran polymer capsule on the bacteria. This also becomes the extracellular matrix of the biofilm. Second is the cell to surface attachment of S. mutans to the tooth(1). Last is later S. mutans attaching to the first S. mutans that landed on the tooth. This plaque biofilm is 300-500 cells(1). Plaque formation begins immediately after the tooth su rface is cleaned and takes four to seven days for the plaque to become fully mature. After only one to two days of uninterrupted formation, the plaque is visible. Plaque can calcify and become hard, forming calculus. Plaque will continue to grow over calculus(3). Metabolism S. mutans have a fairly simple metabolism. A metabolism is the chemical processes that occur in an organism to maintain life. S. mutans cleave, or cut, sucrose from the host’s diet into glucose and fructose(1). They eat these food particles with channels in their cell wall that help molecules cross the cell wall and get into the cell(4). If there are no food particles the bacteria leaks an enzyme that attacks and breaks down certain tissues in its environment. The fructose that came from the sucrose is fermented and used as an energy source for the bacteria to grow. The glucose is polymerized into the dextran polymer that is the extracellular matrix that cements the S. mutans to tooth enamel(1). The dextran slime can later be depolymerized back into glucose. This glucose would be used as a carbon source that results in the production of lactic acid. The lactic acid in the plaque decalcifies the enamel and leads to cavities and infections of a tooth. Diseases Cavities caused by S. mutans cause many unpleasant symptoms and may cause more health issues. When a cavity is just beginning you may not have any symptoms, this makes cavities hard to catch unless you visit the dentist regularly. Once the cavity gets larger it can cause a toothache, tooth sensitivity to something as simple as the air we breathe, pain when eating or drinking anything sugary, pain brought on by hot or cold substances, pain while chewing or biting down, and a bitter taste in your mouth. Cavities will create visible holes, discoloration on teeth, and bad breath, which can lead to low self-esteem and poor social interactions. If cavities get deep enough to get into the pulp chamber of the tooth, it can cause an abscessed, or infected, tooth. The cavity causes inflammation in the center of the tooth and an infection forms. The infection will create a puss pocket, this is the abscess. Abscesses can spread to the gum and jaw bone, causing pain and inflammation. Sometimes th e pain caused by an abscessed tooth is so extreme it can’t be relieved by pain medication. If the abscess spreads quickly it can cause fever and swelling in the face. If an abscess pops it may cause flu- like symptoms. These abscesses that are caused by the cavities created by S. mutans can lead to another mouth disease, periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is divided into two categories: gingivitis and periodontitis(5). Gingivitis is less severe and more common, it is the inflammation of gum tissue. Periodontitis is an inflammatory response due to plaque that causes the gum to come loose from the tooth and recede and causes loss of bone in the jaw. In extreme cases, the gum recedes enough to expose the entire root of the tooth. The overall oral health of an individual is closely related to health throughout the body. Heart disease, stroke, endocarditis, premature birth and low birth weight, diabetes, and osteoporosis are all closely linked to periodontal disease and othe r mouth infections. S. mutans can cause some serious health issues if proper oral health is not maintained. The surgeon general has called tooth decay the â€Å"silent epidemic†. Transmittion S. mutans take up 30 to 60 percent of an adult’s normal oral flora(4). This means out of all the normal microorganisms that live in a mouth S. mutans is one of the most common. Adults have a higher concentration of this bacteria in their mouths, but children are more vulnerable to it(1). The most common transfer of S. mutans is from a caregiver to a child. It can be passed vertically, or from a mother to a baby immediately before and after birth. So, if a mother has a lot of S. mutans bacteria there is a good chance the child will inherit that trait. The bacteria can also be passed horizontally, or from one person to another. Saliva will pass S. mutans from one person to another. If a caregiver shares eating utensils with a child, they are giving that child the S. mutans bacteria. If the child doesn’t have teeth the bacteria will colonize in furrows of the tongue(1). Cavities are the most common childhood disease. A child is five times more likely to suffer from cavitie s than asthma. Prevention and Treatment Cavities are the reason for half of all dental visits and two billion dollars are spent a year in treatment(1). S. mutans are extremely hard to treat with medicine because biofilm cells are 1,000 times more tolerant to antibiotics(4). There is no cure for S. mutans because of its virulence factors. It contains water insoluble glycan, has an acid tolerance, and produces lactic acid. Although we can’t get rid of this bacteria, we can prevent and treat its diseases. Brushing at least twice a day, especially after meals, and flossing at least once a day can help prevent cavities causes by S. mutans. If there isn’t any food particles for the bacteria to break down, it can’t form lactic acid to break down the enamel. Fluoride treatments also help prevent cavities by strengthening the tooth enamel. Enamel is the human body’s most mineralized substance. Fluoride can also reverse some decalcification caused by the lactic acid through a process called remineralizati on. Visiting the dentist every six months for a cleaning is recommended. Dentists and dental hygienists will help prevent the damage done by S. mutans and will catch cavities in early stages. Dentists can also apply sealants to the crevices on the chewing side of molars. A sealant is a thin plastic-like coating that will prevent plaque from building up on the tooth itself. Everyone has the S. mutans bacteria and the only thing anyone can do to prevent cavities is to lessen the impact of the acid fermentation caused by this bacteria. Once cavities have formed a dentist will give fillings. Dentist’s drill a small area around the cavity to fit either an amalgam or a composite filling inside of the hole or divot created by the lactic acid. Amalgam fillings are the silver-looking fillings many people have. They are durable, strong, last 10-15 years, and are less expensive than the composite fillings. The negatives of amalgam fillings are they discolor the tooth, cause cracks and f ractures, allergic reactions, and destroy tooth structure. Composite fillings look better because they are made to look the same color as a tooth. They are also chemically bonded for better support and less tooth needs to be removed prior to putting the filling in. The negatives of the composite filling are they need to be replaced about every five years and they are double the cost of amalgam fillings. If a cavity is too bad the dentist may need to perform a root canal and remove the nerves from the tooth. That tooth will then be dead, but it will not hurt anymore. In some cases a dentist might just need to pull a tooth out. Future A University of Florida oral biology professor, Jeffrey Hillman has found a way to tweak the S. mutans bacteria in a way that the bacteria will stop converting sugar into lactic acid. Without lactic acid there are no cavities. S. mutans and humans used to live together in harmony until relatively recently when our diets contained more refined sugar. Hillman’s vision is to have patients swish the dominant modified bacteria in their mouths for a few minutes, then chew gum to activate it. At that point that person would be cavity free for life. Hillman calls this â€Å"replacement therapy†(6). Conclusion S. mutans can very easily live in our mouths because of factors such as its peptidoglycan cell wall that makes it hard to penetrate and polysaccharide and dextran glucose capsule that adheres the bacteria to teeth and forms its matrix. That same dextran slime creates lactic acid that breaks down the calcification on our enamel, creating cavities. Cavities can lead to more serious health issues. There is no guarantee to preventing diseases caused by S. mutans. Brushing, flossing, and dental visits are the best thing one can do to prevent the diseases. Maybe one day Hillman’s discovery will be utilized so humans and Streptococcus mutans can live in harmony again. References Streptococcus mutans. MicrobeWiki. The student editied microbiology resource. Microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Streptococcus_mutans Edited 2014 Heather Payne. Streptococcus mutans. Missouri ST. web.mst.edu/~microbio/BIO221_2005/S_mutans published 2005 Time and Rate of Plaque Formation. University of Illinois at Chicago. www.wic.edu/classes/peri/peri311/lec8sm/dentalplaque3.htm Amber Allmann. Streptococcuss mutans. University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Bioweb,awlax.edu/bio203/s2007/allmann_ambe/ Published 2007 Walter J. loesche. Microbiology of Dental Decay and Periodental. Medical Microbiology. www.ncbi.nlm.nh.gov/books/NBK8259 Published 1996 Explore. Tackling tooth decay. Researched at The University of Florida. www.research.wfl.edu/publications/explore/V09n2/feature_03.html Published summer of 2004

Satan or Santa? :: social issues

Satan or Santa? To Whom It May Concern: I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve Southern United States on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. I now serve only certain areas of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind. However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us. Differences Such As: There is no danger of a Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson." Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC cola and pork rinds [or a moon pie] on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy. Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flying' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace. You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen..." when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Wallace, on Martin and Labonte. On Rudd, on Jarrett, on Elliott and Petty." "Ho, ho, ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I her'd dat!" As required by Southern highway laws, Bu bba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words "Back off". The last I heard it also had other decorations on the sleigh back as well. One is Ford or Chevy logo with lights that race through the letters and the other is a caricature of me (Santa Claus) going potty on the Tooth Fairy. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area.

Friend Compare and Contrast

A Friend His name Is If you ever met this Individual you would certainly have a good or bad impression of him. I've basically grown up with him. We attended the same school all from elementary through high school, grew up in the same neighborhood. You could say that we both had a common thing. I'm not sure if meeting this person was a way to teach me a few things or not. I always wanted to think that him and I would get along and be good friends. Maybe that's the reason why I have kept him my friend for so long. Now days he resides as my roommate, I don't know if that session was a mistake or not.Time will tell or maybe it has already. His views are not like mine at all. We we're brought up completely different as was taught under a Latin background and him†¦ Well, that's a different story. I'll explain about us: he and have completely different personalities, different and same friends and diverse ethics about education. Ill explain this through. For example, I believe that per sonality Is one If the main things that leads a relationship, even Just as friends. When you think of someone you want to be friends with you think of the same things you might share with that person.To me, personality is one of the main ones. When I met Matt I was in 4th grade, a young child, you could say. I didn't really know much about how a person should be or how he should act as I was Just growing up. He seemed Like an okay kid and since we lived In the same neighborhood and hung out with the same friends I decided to start talking to him to see how things went. At the beginning everything was Just dandy but as time progressed I started to notice him being a controlling, self-righteous individual. His personality was completely different than mine. I was always a caring person but he†¦ Was more off â€Å"me first, me second and me third† kind of guy. For example, we always used to play football at my house, a quick game of 5 on 5. This might seem silly but when I saw him tackle someone I always used to see how much of a better person he wanted to be than the one being tackled. I could see that he was trying to show the other how much of greater man he was. After he would tackle someone he would slap them and say something rude or racist. According to him†¦ Anyone that isn't white isn't anything at all. It might seem harsh to say but to me that's what he comes off as.I'm the complete opposite. Sure I'm competitive too, but not to that level. If I was to beat someone at anything of course I would gloat and such but I would never demise that person to the point where the individual would feel less than me. It's a passive personality, me, to a very aggressive one, him. I wasn't the only one who would think about him this way, there were also our friends. Since Matt and I lived in the same neighborhood and went to the same school, we were bound to share the same friends. We were all group and till this day we still call ourselves â€Å"the farms boys†.Sharing the same friends brought upon me him talking Enid my back, and others too. Since we all always used to hang out with each other there wasn't much I could do. I couldn't Just leave him and the others behind, I wouldn't have friends! But now I see that he was no friend at all. Some of my friends that were also buddies of him viewed him as I started too, mean. Sure the kid had his 1 OFF good clays Ana Dad out Nils Dad were a lot more tan Nils good MY Eternal Dalton won was also friends with him till this day thinks Matt Just thinks for himself. I agree completely.Although we shared the same friends, we treated them differently and vice-versa. The ones that would hang out with Matt the most, would view him as a superior you could say but still saw that aggressiveness in him. Now take in consideration this was all during out middle school phase where we were all trying to be â€Å"a cool kid†. He was the kid that could say one thing and turn everyone agai nst you, at least everyone in the neighborhood. Even if it was Just a rumor, trying to fight your side to prove it wasn't true was a pain. So as the saying goes â€Å"keep your friends close, but your enemies closer†.Don't get me wrong. I don't consider the kid an enemy Just a bad seed. Even when it came down to education, we would have completely different work ethics about it. Ever since middle school, Matt has always been on top of his school work. He rarely had to study because the material we were going over Just came easily to him. Not with me. I had to take my time and review, review and then review some more before I could even think about acing a test. Although he was a smart kid†¦ He always had a way to brag about how well he did in school, or how much better he was at this than me.While me on the other hand, when I did good on something I would maybe how him Just to get a sense that â€Å"him I'm better than him†. I know it sounds a little self righteou s of me, but that's how I felt. Mat's work ethics when it came to school would never compare to mine. We had a test in our English class once and of course he got a better grade than me and Just boasted about it. While me, I kept quiet and was Just proud that I got what I deserved. It's almost like he was trying to prove to me that he could beat me or anyone at whatever he tried. In this case it was education. When we took our Sat, I got a better score than him.His excuse was â€Å"l went out the ay before therefore I wasn't at my fullest†. I didn't understand why he couldn't Just have said, â€Å"good Job man† or something along those lines. Although one thing that I have to admit is that him and I do have a very good habit of turning assignments in on time and doing pretty well on them. We both like to exceed ourselves on our work. That part of his work ethic is something I can compare to me in a good way. In a nutshell, my friend Matt is one of a kind. Him and I hav e our differences when it comes down to personality, friends and education†¦ Then again everyone has their differences.He has more of an â€Å"l own everything personality', while mine is a caring and courteous one. We do share the same friends and treat them differently, he with a kingship attitude and I with a friendly one. While when it comes down to education we both share some same characteristics and attributes. We finish our work with a timely manner even if he Just gets out of bed the day of and finishes while I take a week to do it. Now, Matt resides as my roommate. For now, I think it was a huge idea taking this mini adventure with him but only time will tell if I am right. After all, not everyone is perfect.

Juvenile Probation Officers Essay

All Juvenile Probation Officers (JPO) are required to complete 40 working hours per week following a flexible work schedule. JPOs are entitled to paid working holidays which includes, but are not limited to, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Please note that in the occasion that the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, another day off may be substituted, upon approval of the employer. JPOs may also be granted a vacation leave after six months of continuous service has been rendered. The number of vacation leave, however, will depend on the number of years in service, with a maximum of 15 days for those having rendered at least one year of continuous service. JPOs are also entitled to family leaves in cases of giving birth or conception-related cases, adoption, care of new-born child, family illness, child’s medical appointment of parent-teacher conference Health Insurance. All employees are entered in a group health insurance under a health maintenance organization (HMO) as approved by two-thirds of the majority during the General Assembly Meeting. The group insurance will cover hospitalization, health, long-tern disability, and accident expenses. Employer contribution starting January 2007 will be $557 per month. As such, premiums required for maintenance of the insurance, in excess of the employers contribution, shall be deducted by the state treasurer on the JPO’s salary on a monthly basis and upon employee’s written order. Retirement/ savings plan. After achieving five years of continuous service, provided that the employee is 50 years of age, a JPO is entitled to a retirement benefit which will be computed based on the employee’s age of retirement, length of service, and pre-retirement earnings. Employees may opt for a normal or early retirement, the latter, however, will deduct the accrued benefits for the years prior to the normal retirement age. The employee may choose to receive payment of benefits on a straight life annuity where the retiree will be paid on a periodic basis; or lump-sum payment where the retiree will receive the full one-time payment and no further benefits will be given to the employee upon receipt of payment. Other options will be joint-and-survivor annuity where benefits are provided for married participants. The amount of survivor annuity shall be between 50-100% of the amount payable for the time the couple is alive. The amount, however, will be lower than that received from straight life annuity. In cases where an employee become totally disabled or ill prior to his eligibility in the retirement plan, but has served the company for 10 consecutive years, he will be entitled for a disability retirement benefit, which he could defer or immediately claim. Life insurance. In cases of death or dismemberment of employees, they will be entitled to a life insurance benefit which will be paid in lump sum following the multiple-of-earnings formula. Using this formula, the length of service and earnings of the employee will be incorporated in the computation and will therefore increase following an increase in employee’s salary. Provisions for the life insurance includes accidental death and dismemberment benefits to the employee or his beneficiary equivalent to the basic life insurance and a percentage of the life benefit for dismemberment; monthly income to surviving family members of the employee; retirement from work; and reduction of life insurance for employees near or above 65 years.