Soil Consolidation during Construction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Soil Consolidation during Construction - Essay Example Generally, any undrained loading or unloading will produce excess pore pressures in the loading area. Hence, construction of any type of infrastructure generates pressure on the soil on which the construction takes place. The excess pore pressures may be positive or negative, depending on the long term steady state pore pressures. In time, these excess pore pressures give rise to hydraulic gradients which cause seepage flow which then results to changes in the volume of the soil. Hence, the changes in soil volume are based upon the changes of effective stress as the excess pore pressures disperse. The gradual reduction in volume of a fully saturated soil of low permeability which is caused when stress is what consolidation refers to. More specifically, consolidation is the union of seepage caused by hydraulic gradients with compression due to the flow of the leakages and changes of effective stress placed against the soil. Consolidation leads to drainage of some of the pore water, which triggers the continuity of soil consolidation until the excess pore water pressure caused by the stress against the soil has completely dispersed. Through the test of time, consolidation leads to settlement of foundations or constructions due to the gradual softening of soil in excavations. Therefore, consolidation settlement is basically the vertical dislocation of the construction as a result of the volume change of soil during the consolidation. Hence, if a building is built over a layer of saturated clay, consolidation settlement will cause a stratum overlying a clay layer. Likewise, if an excavation is made in a saturated clay, crowding, the reverse of settlement, can be observed in the bottom of the excavation. This, on the other hand, is due to swelling of the clay resulting to a gradual increase in volume of the soil. The most basic case of consolidation is that of one-dimensional on which the strain generated against the soil is zero-lateral. One-dimensional consolidation occurs when all seepage flow and the effective stress placed against the soil is vertical. Hence, there should be no radial seepage or strain. If effective lateral stress is placed against the soil, the settlement will occur faster. This is because of the deformation of the soil under undrained conditions, in addition to consolidation settlement. Immediate settlement can be estimated using the results from elastic theory, which will be able to determine the elastic properties of the soil. Furthermore, before a structure is completely conceptualised, the magnitude and the rate of consolidation settlement should first be predicted using effective tools. One of the popular processes used in predicting the progress of consolidation is by setting up piezometers in order to document the change in pore water pressure with time. The scale of consolidation settlement can be determined by recording the levels of appropriate reference points on a construction and in the surface on which it will be built. In such measurement, levelling of the reference points should be accurate, working from a point of reference which is not subject to any type of settlement. During this process, every output should be documented, as this will determine the competence of theoretical methods to be used. The attributes of a soil during one-dimensional consolidation can be measured through oedometer test. This test, developed

Business Law (Case study) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Law ( ) - Case Study Example The management of Silver's Gymnasium is insisting on the 3 day notice period from the date of signing of the agreement for the enforcement of its termination. There are extenuating circumstances under which members may cancel membership in health clubs in the city of New York as per Section 624 under supplementary rights of cancellation. (New York Consolidated Laws). Under Section 624, Sub section 3 states that under mitigating circumstances in certain cases the clients may cancel memberships in local health clubs, notwithstanding 3 day notice period, "if the buyer becomes significantly physically disabled for a period in excess of six months, or moves his residence to a location more than twenty-five miles from a health club operated by the seller." (New York Consolidated Laws). It has also been clarified by Section 624 of the McKinney's Consolidated Law of New York- annotated, that in case any payments have been made to the seller of health services, it has to be returned forthwith to the buyer, "within fifteen days of the receipt of " communication of cancellation of contract. (New York Consolidated Laws: Additional Rights to Cancellation). This is howev... The rights of the buyer envisage that under no circumstances could the demand for payment of goods and services by the buyer exceed the contract price. (New York Consolidated Laws). In this case it is $720. ($20X12X3 years) Conclusions: In this case, it is seen that both X and his brother Y could rescind the contract of health Service provision made to Silver's Gym under the provisions of Section 624. This is because both incapacity due to health reasons for a period of 6 months, duly validated by a health care practitioner is applicable in the case of X, and the relocation of the member in a place beyond 25 miles from the present location of the gym, is applicable in case of X's brother, Y, and are validated by the provisions of the New York Laws.Further, they could also exercise their rights to have the excess contract money paid (if any) refunded to them, i.e. $ 720- $60 (services provided by gym) as per existing New York laws. In case these monies are not made available to the brothers X and Y, it is possible for them to institute legal proceedings against the management of Silver's Gym for recovering of the unused proportion of health care fees under contract. Works Cited New York Consolidated Laws: Additional Rights to Cancellation. FindLaw: For Legal Professionals. 2008. 14 Nov. 2008. . New York Consolidated Laws. FindLaw: For Legal Professionals. 2008. 14 Nov. 2008.

Prisoner Rights Essay Example for Free

Prisoner Rights Essay Of all forms of punishment, the death penalty is by far the most controversial and also the most rarely used. Capital punishment was once almost the only penalty applied to convicted felons. By the time of the American Revolution, the English courts had defined more than 200 felonies, all of which were â€Å"capital offenses†. However, many death penalties were not carried out; instead, offenders were pardoned or banished to penal colonies. Over time, courts and legislatures began to recognize other forms of punishment, such as imprisonment and probation. In the times of the American colonies, capital punishment was used extensively in England and in the early American colonies, as many crimes other than murder resulted in a penalty of death. Corporal punishments, often very brutal, also often resulted in death as the imposition of such torture severely injured the offender. Both torture and executions were often carried out in public, as a deterrent to others. The idea was that if others saw what the punishment was for such a crime, that perhaps the said crime would be prevented from happening altogether. Public executions, however, were ceased in 1936 when several thousand people witnessed the execution by hanging of a black man convicted of raping and murdering a white woman in Kentucky. Prisoner rights are based on a general principle that each prisoner will be deprived of liberty, but will still be entitled to basic human rights. Many advocates for prisoner rights will argue that many prisoners are deprived of the basic human rights. Many people believe that the prisoner should not be entitled to any rights and the only exception to this belief is that the prisoner may not be put to death without a fair trial (Net Industries, 2011). The most common view of society is that a prisoner is sentenced to prison as a way to pay for their crime. Prisoner rights are necessary to avoid violations under the law of the United States. Even though these individuals have committed a crime against the law he/she is still a human being and under the United States laws he/she is still entitled to individual rights on a basic level. It is crucial to be aware of what is a violation under the United States law of a prisoners right. The Eighth Amendment recognizes that a legal precedent for prisoners and acknowledging that prisoners are not exempt from being treated fairly. The Eight Amendment recognizes that the prisoner still has the right to be free from inhumane conditions. The Eight Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the united State Constitution states: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments imposed (Article Myriad, 2010).  For several centuries this amendment did not apply to prisoners, as they were not considered eligible for this right. The main purpose of this amendment is to ensure that the prisoner is treated in fairness and humanely. Many prison systems provide the basics of everyday life to accommodate this Amendment. Some examples of this are toiletry items, food, basic shelter, basic clothing, medical assistance, and minimal recreational options for mental and physical well-being. As the prisons accommodate the Amendment the prisoners are served according to the conditions of the Eight Amendment. Prison can have both positive and negative effects on an inmate. As the prisoner begins his/her sentence the reduction of rights can have positive and negative effects. The positive effects that result can include a chance to learn new ways to conduct themselves behaviorally upon release, rehabilitation for drugs or alcohol, and significant reduction in responsibility of everyday life that cause stress and adverse behaviors. More commonly prisoners will have a negative impact by becoming incarcerated. By having such drastic restrictions in a very short period many behavioral changes can occur. Some of these behaviors include prison talk (altered communication style), increased hostility, violence, gang affiliation, and a gradual disconnect from any societal influences (family, friends, etc.) (Uplink.com, 2010). Another common adverse effect of prison is that of the sudden confinement, which leads to possible psychological detriments, altered self-perceptions, and can exacerbate pre-exiting mental illnesses increasing risks to the well-being of the prisoner (Uplink.com, 2010). There was a common distress among prisoners of feeling as if their rights had been violated by and official of the state or federal systems. In the 1970s-1980s a common lawsuit was pursued called the Section 1983 lawsuit (Burk Foster, 2006, p. 332). It became one of the most influential civil rights litigations of the period and is still pursued to this day. This lawsuit states Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom or usage, of any State or Territory, subjects of causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States of other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities security by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit at equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.  (Burk Foster, 2006, p. 332). This was often a result of a government official accused of depriving a prisoner of constitutional rights. This has impacted the policies and procedures of contact between government officials and inmates. The implementation of prisoner rights is important, but needs to be limited as the purpose of prison is to punish an individual for wrongdoing against society. If more than the basic human rights are adhered to the prisoner would be receiving no form of punishment, in my opinion. As stated before, prisoner rights are necessary to avoid violations under the law of the United States. Works Cited: Article Myriad. (2010). What Rights Should Prisonerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Have?: An Analysis of Issues Surrounding Prisoner Rights. Retrieved from http://www.articlemyriad.com/31.htm Burk Foster. (2006). Prisonerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Rights. Retrieved from Burk Foster, CJS230-Corrections A World Apart website Chapter 12 Net Industries. (2011). Prison-Prisonersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Rights. Retrieved from http://law.jrank.org/pages/9386/Prison-Prisoners-Rights.html Uplink.com. (2010). The Psychological Effects of Imprisonment. Retrieved from http://www.uplink.comau/lawlibrary/Documents/Docs/Doc82.html

Preserving Minority Languages

Preserving Minority Languages On the other hand, according to Anthony Ellis, it would be trifling to insist that extinction of language causes extinction of culture because language is not whole culture but just one part of it (Ellis, 2005). Nevertheless, according to David Harrison, linguist and professor of the Swarthmore College, languages have been shaped by people to serve as repositories for cultural knowledge, efficiently packaged and readily transmittable across generations. (Harrison, 2007:7). In other words, it is crucial for human race to keep the conservation of minority language due to its cultural values: academic, ethnic and social values. The first cultural value of minority language is its academic value. Linguists especially have academic passion for protecting and researching minority languages. They should study many different languages to restore their all functions and structures of endangered languages. It must also be noted that linguists need to train many youngsters at school to transmit their native languages to next generations. Moreover, one of most important reason why it is needed to keep minority languages researching is that academically new and attractive facts are always discovered in minority languages. Ubykh, one of minority language of the North-western Caucasian group spoken by the Ubykh people until the early 1990s, was regarded as a language which has a large number of consonants (Romaine, 2007). Recent researches, however, show that some African language have more consonants than Ubykhs. Furthermore, linguists found an African language called Hixkaryana, which has about 350 speakers. The reason why this language and its adjacent languages have an attention is that they are cases of language which place their object first when they make a sentence. For an instance, if the English sentence, I love you, is made, the sentence in Hixkaryana should be you love I instead of I love you. In the case of Korean and Japanese, they have the archetypal structural order, Subject + Object + Verb(SOV). They say I you love whilst English speakers say I love you. It is clear that contemporary English has self-evident sentence order, Subject + Verb + Object(SVO). However, Irish puts its verb firs t. Unfortunately, linguists predict that object-initial languages such as Hixkaryana will vanish in the next century. (Nettle Romaine, 2000:11) At this point, it should be academically asked that why object-initial languages are hard to survive in the modern era. This is the academic question which needs to be examined by researching minority languages. There will be a number of these kinds of academic questions from minority languages. This academic knowledge will be a great legacy for human race. This is why we preserve minority languages. The second cultural value of minority language is the value about its ethnic identity. One of the most important factors of ethnic identity is language. In the time of globalisation, identity of people is defined by the language that they speak and write rather than the region that people live. For an example, although every people in London speak common language, English, it is unsure that all of them are English people because some of them have their native languages. It means that people can find their ethnic identity when they speak their native languages. The importance of ethnic identity acquired by using native languages is closely related with national stature of each country. For example, one of the urgent issues of Ukraine after independence in 1991 was to establish its linguistic identity to rise up the stature of nation-state. After breaking up Soviet-union, one of differences between other nation-states and Ukraine was the influence of Russian. Unlike other nation-states, Russians was used in more widely and still made an impact on culture, science, management and so on in Ukraine. In this situation, Ukraine declared the new constitution and it expressed clearly that there is only one national language. By this process, Ukrainian became only one official language of Ukraine. People who used Ukrainian thought that people who still used Russian didnt have any ethnic identity as the member of Ukraine (Zhurzhenko, 2002). For another example of historically dark side, during the Japanese occupation in the past, Hangeul, Korean native language made by Sejong the Great in 1443, was strictly banned to use among Koreans as a colonial policy for ethnocide. Koreans were forced to change even their Hangeul names to Japanese names. Koreas national stature could not help fall. These historical facts above clearly demonstrate that language can not be divided from the ethnic identity. For this reason, if minority languages become extinct, the ethnic identity of those who use minority language will be disappeared as well. The third cultural value of minority language is its aesthetic value. Every language has its aesthetic values. This is expressed by art works through languages such as novels, poets and even music. Research has shown that there is the tendency to regard analogies between artforms and linguistic structures as relevant and illuminating. (Kraut, 2007:177). It is said that Jazz improvisation is analogous to spontaneous speech.'(ibid). In other words, it means that all minority languages have their unique aesthetic values. For an instance, China is unified multiracial nation and 56 tribes are living together in an extensive land. The numbers of minority tribes languages are around 60. Even though they are minority languages, their aesthetic values are proved by their literatures. Tibetians literary value is excellent and its Gesaer, written in the 13th century BC, has been well-known as the longest heroic epic over the world. Dong, one of minority ethnic groups in China has their native language, Kradai. It is told that Kradai is a profusion of musical value because it has various tones and vocabularies. Kradai has been developed in unique musical ways of Dongs people. It is known that Kradai is the most complex language over the world because it has 15 tones whilst the language of the Han race in China has 4 tones. As a matter of fact, its complexity contributed to make its aesthetic value. Therefore, it is natural that this great value dies if minority languages of Chinas minority ethnic groups die. For these three cultural values, which are academic, ethnic and aesthetic values, it is self-evident that minority languages are definitely deserved to be protected and transmit to their next generations as their great legacy. That is to say, minority languages are not a part of culture and a method of communications but culture itself. When a language dies, a culture dies. Conclusion In conclusion, it is urgently asked at this time to protect minority languages. Firstly, it is essential that the endangered languages ought to be found, stabilised all linguistic functions and all people help them be transmitted to next generations. Secondly, it is needed to make preserving minority languages be an important part of Conservation ethic. It means that people should realise that our language is equally one of the great natural environments and endeavour to protect our linguistic environment. Lastly, there has to be unremitting exertion for native language education even if it is minority language. For an instance, some Korean scholars pointed out to Koreas education environment just focused on English instead of Hangeul, Korean language and predicted there will be no Hangeul after 200 years if we keep this education system. Minority language education is important especially for next generations. Therefore, the fact that extinction of a language engenders extinction of a culture should be remembered to all generations and make a great effort to preserve minority languages. Bibliography Ellis, Anthony (2005). Minority Rights and the Preservation of Languages. Cambridge Journals: 199-217. The Royal institute of Philosophy. Harrison, David. K. (2007). When Languages Die: The Extinction of the Worlds Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge. USA, Oxford University Press. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7206411.stm (Accessed 08 November 2010). Kraut, Robert. (2007). Artworld Metaphysics. Oxford Scholarship Online: January 2008. Nettle, D. and S. Romaine (2000). Vanishing voices : the extinction of the worlds languages. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Romaine, Suzanne. (2007). Preserving Endangered Languages. Language and Linguistics compass 1/1-2:115-132. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Zhurzhenko, Tatiana. (2002). Language Politics in Contemporary Ukraine: Nationalism and Identity Formation. IWM Junior Visiting Fellows Conferences, Vol. XII/2.

Special Education Implementation For Native American Girls Essay

Special Education Implementation For Native American Girls Quality education for children has been an ongoing issue for today's society. There has also been an increasing concern for the education of students with special needs. The effect of these concerns has been noted in many communities, such as the Native American community. The population of special education students in the Native American communities is not necessarily higher than others, however, their community is effected, therefore also in need of quality special education programs. The need for quality special education is strongly felt by the women and girls within the Native American culture because of the pressures of their cultures and societies. Woman and girls have always held distinctive roles within the Native American community. These role have withstood the test of time. In a discussion with Juan Zuniga, a bilingual educator with an emphasis on Hispanic and American Indian cultures, I found that women in the Native American society are very much so, encouraged to stay at home and be homemakers. They are far less likely to pursue further education and often find it hard to gain the support to complete high school. The importance of education among females in their society is not as predominant as in others (J.Zuniga). In some cases it is necessary for young Indian people to leave their homes and families to obtain an adequate education for the preparation of today's society (National Indian Child Conference 1979). They are also faced with being torn between modern American ways and their tribal customs and beliefs. Because of this it is often instilled in them that they are incapable of achieving. This sense of self worthlessness ... ...e, Michael, and Others. "Your Rights: A Handbook for Native American Youth in Arizona." Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1982. Foster, Carl G., and Gable, Emma. " The Indian Child in Special Education: Two Persons' Perceptions." ERIC, 1980. Grossman, Herbert. "Special Education In A Diverse Society." Allyn and Bacon: Boston, 1994. "Report of The National Indian Child Conference." Administration for Children, Youth, and Families: Washington, D.C., 1979. "Resource Directory: Migrant and Indian Exceptional Children." Department of Education: Washington, D.C., 1981. Winzer, Margret A. "The History of Special Education From Isolation to Integration." Gallaudet University Press: Washington, D.C., 1993. Zuniga, Barbara. Personal Interview. March 26, 1999. Zuniga, Juan. Personal Interview. March 25, 1999.

Atmosphere through Detailed Language in Snow Falling On Cedars :: Snow Falling Cedars Essays

Atmosphere through Detailed Language in Snow Falling On Cedars Snow Falling On Cedars, by David Guterson, is an emotional story. The death of a fisherman, Carl Heine, on San Piedro Island, turns into a murder trial for Japanese American, Kabuo Miyamoto. Also an inter-racial childhood romance between Ishmael Chambers and Hatsue Miyamoto shifts back and forth in time and the World War II Japanese Internment story unfolds as part of the romance. David Guterson creates atmosphere in the opening chapters through detailed language. The story is set on a pacific island where society is very small and the fishing community is very important to islanders. Guterson uses the sea, weather and landscape to describe many features in the opening chapters; this creates links between the setting and story. The use of flashbacks creates an interesting aspect to the novel. Guterson introduces the characters in very detailed portraits; this enables the reader to have a clear identity of each one. Tension is created in the courtroom through prejudice language and Guterson creates an atmospheric feeling to all court scenes. Kabuo Miyamoto is described as a criminal from the beginning of the murder trial; already the reader gets the impression that he is guilty for murdering Carl Heine. "†¦.his stillness suggested a disdain for the proceedings", this shows how Kabuo is feeling a dislike towards the trial, and creates a static atmosphere for the trial ahead. Kabuo also shows that he has no respect for the court as, "†¦.he sat proudly upright with a rigid grace", and he does not acknowledge anything that is going on, "†¦did not appear moved at all". Throughout the detailed description of the opening court room scene we can see that the atmosphere is very tense, and creates a feeling of suffocation, "It was a place of gray-hued and bleak simplicity". Kabuo Miyamoto comes across to the reader as a sensitive individual who is taking this murder trial in his stride. David Guterson shows that Kabuo was depressed whilst, "been exhiled in the county jail for seventy seven days - the last part of September, all of October and all of November, the first week in December", here Guterson lengthens the description of how long he was in jail for and creates a sense of boredom for Kabuo. The weather and sea descriptions that Guterson uses to represent and describe many scenes, are essential as they represent the San Piedro way of life.

Book and Grade Level Essay

Tuesday: Hats ON for Reading – Wear your favorite hat to show your reading spirit. Wednesday: Reading Takes You Places – Dress like a Tourist. â€Å"Name that Book Trivia† – Every hour an excerpt from a book will be read over the intercom and classrooms will have the opportunity to guess the book. Thursday: Reading BRIGHTENS your World – Dress in bright colors. Friday: Wear your shades for SURFF day – Silent, Uninterrupted Reading For Fun! Each grade level will determine how they choose to participate in Literacy Week. Here are some suggestions; of course your grade level team can come up with your own ideas: * Decorate the outside of your door with your favorite book or literary characters. The emphasis is on student participation and student decorated doors. * Book Talks. Students can write Book Talk reviews for books they are reading. * Character Museums. Students can create posters of a book character with face cut-outs. The student places their face in the opening and holds the poster up to create a character museum. Visitors tour the museum and travel from character to character learning about each book. * â€Å"Book, Blankets and Bears† – Students bring their favorite blanket, and stuffed animal to read outside during the day. * â€Å"Poem in your Pocket† – Students create a poem and recite them to each other throughout the day. * â€Å"The Book Swap† – Students bring in a gently used book to swap with another student in their class or grade level. * Reader’s Theater. * Book Chain – Students fill out a strip of paper with a title of each book they read during celebrate literacy week. * Bookmark decorating contest * Create a book jacket. Use paper bags to make a new book cover for a library book. Mrs. Ward will put them on display. * Story mobile to retell a favorite book. * Tri-oramas representing the beginning, middle and end of a story. * Character dress up day. Dress up as your favorite book character. * Book Buddy collaborative activities.