High Performance And Energy Efficient Homes Construction Essay

High Performance And Energy Efficient Homes Construction Essay An energy efficient home combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems to reward its owner with significantly reduced energy consumption. An energy efficient home like any other home, is connected to the utility grid, but overall it produces as much energy as it consumes. With net metering, the homes electric meter runs backward when the home is producing more power than it is using. With its reduced energy needs and solar energy systems, an energy efficient home can, over the course of a year, produce as much energy as it uses. Such homes are thought to have a number of advantages, including improved comfort, protection against electricity price spikes, reduced peak load on the utility grid, and environmental sustainability. Diffusion-of-innovations theory has guided much research in public acceptance of solar energy and energy efficiency innovations (Rogers and Shoemaker 1971; Rogers 1995). The theory is based on numerous studies of national, regional, and statewide populations that involve a myriad of innovations. Diffusion-of-innovation theory is widely accepted in the energy analysis community. HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOMES AS AN INNOVATION: The high-performance homes are innovative for several reasons. Although the concepts of whole-building energy efficiency have been implemented by builders in various parts of the world, the resulting homes did not necessarily contain solar water heating or solar electric systems. On the other hand, many custom homes are energy efficient and contain either solar water heating or solar electric systems, or both, but they have generally been built one-at-a-time, and most are not tied to an electricity grid. The high-performance home project is innovative because it offers homes that approach the energy efficient home concept for both nuclear and joint families living in Tamil Nadu. Thus, the innovation of focus in this study is the high-performance home as a precursor of near-zero energy homes. These homes contain four key elements namely: (1) They are highly energy efficient; (2) Their water is preheated by the sun; (3) They produce electricity; and (4) They can supply electricity to, store, and take electricity from a utility grid. The significance of such an offering will be realized when they become routine rather than unique specialty commodities offered only by custom builders.3 The successful reutilization of energy efficient homes will ensure higher quality homes that are widely available, less expensive than conventional homes to operate (all other things being equal), and environmentally friendlier than conventional homes. INNOVATION ATTRIBUTES: HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOME: Five most important attributes of novelties are thought to influence their rate of adoption, namely: (1) Comparative Benefits (2) Complexity (3) Compatibility (4) Observability (Rogers, 1995) (5) Ability of trial Each of these can be examined in turn for their potential relevance in the acceptance of high-performance homes. In this case, there are two levels of adopters: (1) Builders who must adopt these kinds of homes before (2) Home buyers have the opportunity to do so. The diffusion of innovations in the form of best building practice applies to the voluntary spread of innovative practices through networks of builder companies. ENERGY: The IEA report on key world energy statistics, has projected that India alone uses primary energy of around 24.9 EJ of the total 503.5 EJ used by the world. With a population of 1123 million as of 2009, each Indian uses an energy equivalent of 22.2GJ/ person/ year. Further the estimated amount of electricity spent by each Indian is 543/ capita/ year (IEA, Key World Energy Statistics, 2009). The goals outlined for the Indian energy sector include: providing affordable access to convenient energy services, making new technology attractive to investors and developing sustainable energy systems. WATER: In the twenty first century safe water has become one of the most important need of the hour and developing countries have started to feel the pinch on public health. The year marked 2005 is the beginning of International Decade for Action: Water for Life along with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) has proposed a reduction to half the proportion of the worlds population with the focus of giving viable access to sanitation and safe drinking water by the year 2015. It is estimated by United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) that around 2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation and an average of 1.2 billion people lack access to improved water supplies. It has been estimated that diarrheal morbidity can be reduced by an average of 6-20 per cent with improvements in water supply and by 32 per cent with improvements in sanitation. In India, approximately 72.7 per cent of the rural population does not use any method of water disinfection and 74 per cent have no sanitary toilets. The key to providing microbiologically safe drinking water lies in understanding the various mechanisms by which water gets contaminated, and formulating interventions at critical points to decrease and prevent contamination of drinking water. Geographic information system (GIS) tools can be used to demonstrate spatial relationships for a clearer understanding of problems and possible solutions. TAMIL NADU HOUSING: AN OVERVIEW: Tamil Nadu is located in the southern tip of India alongside Kerala. It is the Eleventh largest state and it covers more population rate and also contributes the 5th place in GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It has a population of 62405679 people, residing in an area that spans 130058 sq.km. The energy requirements of the state are not met indigenously. Requirements of water are met from the dams in Karnataka and Kerala and water shortage is the name given for the game that is been played for a very long time. Now a days researchers have found out that the ground water table column or aquifers level are dropping down and in over some years there would be no water found in the aquifers. This is mainly because people in India use water from ground water column for their domestic purposes. Each house in India have their own deep bored wells from which water is drained either physically or mechanically via motors, these practices causes an impact towards the aquifers or the ground water tab le column in India leading to face draught condition in the nearest future. India also faces problems like frequent power cuts for more than 8 hours a day. Indian Government has taken a decision to have hourly power cuts in each area to conserve electricity but, electricity is one of the major resources, which we need daily to lead a compatible life. Frequent power cuts are a norm throughout the state also as the consumption of electricity exceeds production on any given day. It is hence vital that homes be designed to be energy efficient so that the consumption of power and water is regulated in such a way to contribute to make the state self sufficient in terms of energy and water requirements. Maximizing personal prosperity aligned with ecological effects of a lifestyle has become a noticeable fact for a very long time now. There is always a change in the climate. There is very frequent occurrence of tornadoes and earth quakes and it has become the order of the day and a natural phenomenon. There are simultaneous occurrences were, polar caps and melting and the glaciers have started to retreat. There is also an increase in the number of natural disasters day by day, reaching to an unknown level till now. Drought and flood on the one hand have started to cost millions of lives year after year. The whole atmosphere is polluted with bad air, and fine dust has loaded the surface of the earth, which in turn has a telling effect on ozone and this in turn raised CO2 levels on earth. The greatest challenge of the millennium is the protection of climate and there is a worldwide alarm and awareness spread across to make the earth livable. Hence it is both prudent and agreeable to st art with the four walls of our house. EFFICIENT HOUSING REDEFINED: An energy efficient house is just defined by its inner values. The energy efficient house implies a standard stating that no active energy is need to make the house get heated or cold. In energy efficient houses the main heat sources would be the sun, and the main cooling source will be the wind. This can be achieved by using energy efficient components. For example, the window that has a thermal insulation helps with efficient insulation and heat exchange systems. The standards to fulfill todays energy efficiency requirement for tomorrow has become the energy efficient house standard. The energy consumption of a house is indicated by its typical energy values. The potential to save energy on an energy efficient house has almost raised its energy saving efficiency to 90% which would be the average energy cost of an existing residential and corporate building which has no restrictions for it architectural design. Further studies that were done by Dr. Wolfgang Feist in May 1988, has brought to its fore front triumphant advancement into construction of ecological housing, with thousands and thousands of examples explaining in detail on the energy efficient housing standards. Whether building complex, row house or detached house, which has been already built, is entitled to adjudged excellence and also be moved into an energy efficient structure. The freedom to architecturally manipulate a design is basically unlimited as there is no fundamental difference in the structure of an energy efficient houses and a conventional building. Research and Evaluations that are done on building project have proved that an energy efficient house will always results in extensive energy saving and also has put a benchmark for improving the quality of construction. The future of housing and shelter are houses that are designed to increase the energy efficiency and environmental performance. The long-term objective is to transform the housing market to one in which a majority of residential new construction in the state is net zero-energy i.e. extremely efficient buildings whose low energy needs can be met by on-site renewable energy generation. It is vital to support the transition to a residential new construction energy code that favors energy conservation standards to ensure a better tomorrow. There are a lot of market barriers in constructing a new energy efficient house, namely: conflicting design criteria, lack of knowledge transfer with regards to the benefits of an energy efficient house and the ecological performance on the part of builders, consumers, appraisers, lenders, realtors and others, limited technical skills on the part of some of the builders and their subcontractors to address key elements of efficiency; and the lack of ability of consumers, appraisers, lenders and others to differentiate between standard and efficient homes. MARKETTING ENFFICIENT HOMES: Single family and joint-family homes can both benefit if the home is designed to be energy efficient. An important limitation is building Affordable Housing regardless of their location. Larger homes as in homes designed for joint families are likely to inherently use more energy, and promoting energy efficient housing allows total home energy use to grow with size. A cooperative marketing offer for participating builders will drive homebuyer demand for qualifying homes. An aggressive consumer focused marketing campaign will be essential to maintain builder participation (and therefore market share). Areas for research in residential new construction may include the performance metering of program homes and optimized new home designs for significant reduction or elimination of cooling energy requirements.it is also vital to consider opportunities to solicit creative proposals for pilot-scale promotions associated with the development of energy efficient homes. Energy consumption mete rs and monitoring will be built into these homes to enable future tracking of actual performance. To meet the challenges of a slow residential new construction housing market, increased energy standards, reward high performance homes, transition to a market-based, home energy rater network, the following program strategies and tactics are being proposed: Carbon footprint labeling for high performance homes, creating consumer awareness and demand, differentiating builders in the growing green building consciousness of consumers. It is vital to attract media attention to relevant projects and associated savings realized by residents, especially for home projects, which incorporate both energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Further, it is important to build relationships with residential builders through educational seminars and training to increase higher performance building practices and to help build a Green Workforce. Energy-efficient homes help lower energy costs, increase affordability, increase durability, and improve health and safety. High performance homes reduce impact on the environment. It is a call for every home to be a part of the solution for sustainable living to help combat global warming. Feature stories focusing on energy and financial savings, new technologies (solar), and environmentally sound building practices herald a new era of efficient homes. Homes that feature new energy-saving technologies, renewable energy, and very high performance homes, in terms of their energy rating and reduced environmental impact give us a promise for a better life in the future. AWARENESS IS THE KEY: Increased awareness of green and sustainable living practices, and impact of carbon footprint reduction, greater awareness of residential indoor air quality, health and safety issues for better living, promotion of energy saver plans to reduce energy use 20% supporting the increased development of a green workforce by promoting green job training are vital steps towards achieving an ecofriendly building culture. The current economic uncertainty may suppress numbers of energy efficient homes, particularly if residents are not well educated on the benefits of such homes. As such, the awareness of energy efficient homes among realtors and residential home buyers/builders remains relatively low. Along with endorsing for energy efficient homes comes the responsibility for ratings. It is incumbent upon the program to assure that a robust system for identifying and communicating quality issues exists to manage the credibility of the savings and certifications offered. Not only must the design of the house be energy efficient but also the appliances used within the house. For this, it is important to promote the purchase of efficient home heating, cooling and water heating equipment, and the quality installation of such equipment. Its long-term goal is to make the high quality installation of high efficiency residential equipment the norm in the market. BARRIERS TO ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME CONSTRUCTION: The program must continue to address several market barriers to achieve its goals such as, the consumers inability to differentiate, and therefore value, the difference between a poor quality construction and a good quality construction and installations, the consumers lack of information on the benefits (both energy and non-energy) of quality installations, efficient equipment and low value perception of contractor and the sense of difficulty to program participation. These barriers can be overcome by endorsing the use of: ENERGY STAR-qualified energy-efficient water heaters and gas heating equipment; high efficiency electric cooling and heating equipment; installation of solar domestic water heating systems; accurate analysis of building cooling and heating loads and the proper sizing and selection of cooling and heating equipment according to established industry standards. WATER CONSERVATION: Water conservation is another vital component of an energy efficient house. There are various principal designs for rainwater harvesting system but the general outlined over is that it collects water from a roof top which is linked with a roof pipe which is then directed to a storage tank which is either outside or inside the building. These designs for storage of water ranges from simple rain barrel which is placed at the bottom fitted with a motor, which helps in watering the plants to extensive water tank systems that can provide an adequate quantity of the water that someone uses. It has also come up with new treatment and filtration technique to make rainwater harvesting easy relatively. DESIGN OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM: Rainwater harvesting systems can either be incorporated into a new construction or be installed in existing buildings. A basic system that is used of rainwater harvesting includes a basic roof, roof drains, gutters and a piping system to transport water to the storage tank or from the storage tank or cistern to meet the required need. Storage tanks can be either outside or inside, below or above the ground, or partially below the ground or partially above the ground. The best place to fit the storage tank will be the basements as this helps the water get its gravity and also be protected from freezing. There is a huge variety of rain water collection systems and individual components available commercially in the market. CRITEREA FOR SELECTION OF HARVESTING SYSTEMS: Each rain water harvesting system is unique and should be evaluated separately. Proper sizing is important when designing rain water harvesting systems. It is essential to know how much rainwater is expected to collect and how much water is expected to be used. Determining the right sizing will affect installation cost, operation, and on-going maintenance. CONCLUSION: The average family spends about 2000 to 4000 rupees per month on electricity. Knowing where exactly this money goes can help plan usage and reduce the power bill. Electricity provides many of the conveniences enjoyed every day. Making informed decisions about how electricity is used can help meet the need for energy better without having to build additional power generating plants. The Energy efficient housing plans have established ambitious goals for energy efficiency. Currently available efficiency measures, and the initiatives that deliver them, will not be able to achieve these goals. AIM: In concern, with the above factors the aim is to build a virtual, energy efficient house for a nuclear family with moderate rooms and room sizes. In this virtual house, energies like water, electricity, domestic waste and environmental impacts will be prevented and shall be maintained properly. These energies can be maintained by adopting automatic lights in some areas of the house and having automatic taps in bathrooms also by adding up renewable energy like solar energy and by encouraging some new techniques from home exnora. Since, India is not contributing for renewable energy in a high level each houses can be built with renewable energy source with the individual interest of the people so, there will be no power cuts in future. EXNORA Excellent Novel Radical, home exnora includes many techniques in maintaining a good environment. They also have several techniques to recycle and reuse domestic waste water and wastes. Such techniques can be used in the virtual house to sustain a n energy efficient house in Tamil Nadu.

Apple History Essay examples -- essays research papers

Symptoms Since its inception, Apple has had major changes at the top of the organization. In, as little as, ten years four CEO’s were giving the position and then dismissed because of inabilities to bring the company to profitability and an increase in market share. Apple had no clear business strategy, no statement of direction that could be used as a plan for deciding for which businesses the company should be in and which not. Executives and managers created their own strategies, with each strategy going into different directions. Other symptoms include the computer industry in general. Personal computers have become a commodity and the industry itself has reached a level of maturity. Major players in the computer industry have to constantly remain innovative and invest heavily in research and development to sustain a competitive advantage. In the beginning, of the computer era when personal computers were in development Apple became the industry leader during the mid 1970s. In 1981, IBM produced its first personal computer. During, the time IBM developed and launched its first PC IBM approached Bill Gates to provide an operating system for the company’s product. By giving Microsoft total rights to license the operating system put both IBM and Apple at a disadvantage while establishing Microsoft as the dominant leader in the software industry. Apple also faces aggressive competition in the hardware sector. The inability to react to competitors aggressive strategies such...

Irony in Oedipus the King Essay -- Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

Irony in Oedipus Rex Oedipus Rex, by the Greek playwright Sophocles, is, without a doubt, one of the greatest examples of dramatic irony. There are many instances where the audience knows so much more than the main characters, and Sophocles uses irony to point to Oedipus as Laius' murderer as well. Additionally, Oedipus is most definitely a tragic hero-he had a tragic flaw, namely that he was relentless and often rash in his search for the truth about Laius' death and his killer; this ultimately lead to Oedipus' own destruction. He also refuses to compromise or humble himself before others and stubbornly refuses to allow others to express different opinions from their own. Oedipus is so arrogant and self-confident that he challenges the will of the gods (hence, the entire basis of the play). One of the early examples of dramatic irony in the play is during the scene in which Oedipus accuses Creon of plotting against him with Teiresias, an old, blind prophet. Creon is a great friend to Oedipus, and Teiresias, by at first refusing to reveal the murderer is trying to p...

Anatomy Case paper Essay

You are a first-year RN student and you volunteered to work for San Antonio Hospital in the ER Department. Patient John Doe was brought by the ambulance after he collapsed at work. The triage nurse is assessing him for further evaluation by the ER Physician on duty. Based on your study of Anatomy and using your critical thinking skills, you were given the following criteria about Mr. Doe: 1. Personal History: 65 years old, married with two children. 2. Medical History: Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Renal Stones, Anemia, Acne, Prostatic Hyperplasia, Muscular Dystrophy, Hemiplegia, Coronary Artery Disease, G.E.R.D. and ED. The Triage Nurse asked the patient to wait for his turn, until Dr. Johnson examines him. A. Definitions: Diabetes Mellitus: a disorder in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin, or cells in the body stop responding to the insulin being produced. This causes high levels of glucose in the blood and cannot be absorbed into the cells in the body. Hypertension: is abnormally high blood pressure, blood pressure is a type of measurement to be able to tell what the force is against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. Renal Stones: a Kidney stone is a solid mass which is made up from crystals that separates from the urine and builds up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Anemia: is a condition where the body has a deficiency of healthy hemoglobin (red blood cells) to carry adequate oxygen to the tissues in the body. Acne: is an inflammatory skin disease that occurs when the hair follicles becomes inflamed or infected due to clogging of sebaceous glands. Prostatic Hyperplasia: benign enlargement of the prostate gland. Muscular Dystrophy: is a group of inherited disorders that involve muscle weakness and muscle loss gradually decline over a period of time. Hemiplegia: is paralysis of one side of the body. Coronary Artery Disease: condition due to a blockage or narrowing of small blood vessels that supply the blood and oxygen to the heart. Gastroesophagel Reflux Disease (G.E.R.D.): condition due to when the muscle at the end of the esophagus doesn’t close causing the stomach contents (food or gastric acid) that leaks backwards from the stomach into the esophagus. Erectile Dysfunction (E.D.): a sexual dysfunction which is the inability to achieve, or maintain an erection of the penis long enough to engage in satisfactory sexual intercourse. Blood Calcium level: Normal values range from 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL. Note: gm/dL = grams per deciliter Hemoglobin: Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL Female: 12.1 to 15.1gm/dL C. Based on your knowledge of the normal values and Mr. Doe’s condition, explain the homeostatic disturbance of each problem that Mr. Doe suffers from. Diabetes Mellitus: Hemostasis in correlation with diabetes is the hemostatic system which is responsible for checking, maintain, and balancing the proper rise and fall of glucose levels in the blood. In Mr. Doe’s body since he had diabetes, his pancreas produces too not enough or no insulin. People with type II diabetes is normally developed later in life and becomes resistant to the effects of insulin overall, but can be reversed and controlled. Hypertension: Homeostatic disturbances that could be responsible for Mr. Doe’s HTN could be a result from some of the medication he is taking. Another factor is his weight, diet, and lack of physical exercise. In a normal system the force of blood against the artery walls doesn’t have a negative effect. Therefore, would not cause physical him to have any serious health conditions. However, when a person like Mr. Doe suffers from HTN, the force of the blood against the artery wall thus resulting in heart disease. Renal Stones: In a normal system the calcium levels in the blood are at a safe level, and helps with contracting muscles, releasing hormones making sure that nerves and the brain are functioning properly. In like Mr. Doe who has too high calcium levels in his blood can cause renal stones can begin to develop. Renal stones block the ability of homeostasis to occur. When these calcium deposits get lodged and block urine from being able to exit in order empty out the bladder, thus the body isn’t able to function properly. Anemia: Healthy hemoglobin (red blood cells) are extremely important in a person’s system, because they are rich carriers of oxygen to the tissues in the body. When a person like Mr. Doe loses this ability many negative symptoms can occur in the body. The cause of Mr. Doe’s anemia may be a result from any Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) he may be on for any number of the other complications he is suffering from. He may also have a vitamin deficiency which would be a factor in low iron levels. Without proper homeostasis it would be easy to understand why a patient like Mr. Doe is experiencing this condition. Acne: In a normal system the hair follicles on different surfaces of the body function properly and do not become clogged. When a person has hair follicles becomes plugged with oil from the sebaceous glands mixed with dead skin cells will result in acne. Homeostasis correlates to the removal of toxins from the body, and causes a disturbance which results inflammation and infections in the skin. Prostatic Hyperplasia: As men age they are more prone to experience enlargement of their prostate glands. Mr. Doe is experiencing this condition which is more common for men his age, due to the homeostatic disturbance in his hormones and cellular growth. Muscular Dystrophy: Muscle fibers in a normally functioning system are extremely touch and resistant to damage and injury. In a person who is suffering from muscular dystrophy these fibers become weaker gradually over time and become more susceptible to damage. This is caused to defective genes that are involved in making proteins that protect the muscle fibers. Disturbance in homeostasis could factor that is responsible for some of these genetic mutations. Hemiplegia: Most people have normal functions with movement on both sides of their body. When someone like Mr. Doe suffers from one side of their body having the same paralysis and limitations of movement. This is most often the leading culprit that is heard about hemiplegia. The homeostatic disturbance in Mr. Doe’s system related to HTN which could also be what is causing his movement disorder. Having a stroke could also be responsible for this condition and may have gone un-detected and untreated because Mr. Doe may not have realized he was having a stroke. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): The coronary arteries (which are the major blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen, blood and nutrients) can become damaged if a high amount of cholesterol is continuously deposited over time. Homeostatic disturbances such as HTN and diabetes are indicators of why Mr. Doe is experiencing this disease. This is turn can cause him to suffer from a heart attack. G.E.R.D.: In a normal functioning system after a person eats a meal the food goes to the stomach to begin the digestion process. The homeostatic disturbance that causes a patient like Mr. Doe to experience a reflux of stomach acid relaxation of muscles in the lower esophageal sphincter and its failure to close and prevent the back flow of food or liquid from returning upwards. E.D.: As most men age and are in Mr. Doe’s age begin to start experiencing issues, or complications with their prostate and the ability to perform sexually. A patient that is younger is able to maintain an erection for a longer period of time and perform a satisfactory sexual intercourse. Not have to worry or be concerned with experiencing this complication. Due to the fact Mr. Doe has an enlarged prostate gland and diabetes could be a leading indicator resulting in some of the homeostatic disturbances that is resulting in him having erectile dysfunction. D. Upon histological examination of mammal pancreas under the microscope, describe the different features of this Specimen. Figure 1 Anatomy of the pancreas Upon histological examination of a normal human pancreas the Aplha cells which produce glucagon, and Beta cells which produce insulin can easily be identified under the microscope. The bulk of the pancreas is an exocrine gland secreting pancreatic fluid into the duodenum after a meal. However, scattered through the pancreas are several hundred thousand clusters of cells called islets of Langerhans. Upon histological exam of a human pancreas with diabetes it is easy to identify the difference in the cells from a healthy pancreas. The reason is due to the fact the Beta cells are either attacked, or rejected the insulin which is causing the insulin production to be affected. The alpha cells are responsible for elevating the glucose levels in the blood which are also being affected due to the diabetes. The following describes the process of insulin in the pancreas: The islets are endocrine tissue containing four types of cells. In order of abundance, they are the: †¢ beta cells, whi ch secrete insulin and amylin

Intellectual Property of Lasik Surgery

The procedure of Lasik Surgery is an innovative technique that could provide life lasting changes to individuals afflicted with ophthalmic disorders.   Patents continue to develop and new and improved technologies released.  Ã‚   In considering and evaluating the intellectual property of Lasik surgery, it is important to look at the procedure from a variety of angles so as to better understand the complexity of the process.Lasik surgery is a privately owned business.   Additionally, private as well as public owned corporations have the ability to research and investigate new procedures in Lasik Surgery.   As a procedure is released, individual practitioners are eligible to practice the business if they have the correct licensures.   The procedure of Lasik Surgery is FDA approved, and all patents to further develop and improve upon Lasik surgery procedures must also be approved by the FDA.   Furthermore, while the Lasik Surgery business is privately owned, it is still subj ect to the legal regulations of the Federal trade commission.There are countless patents involving Lasik Surgery and its technological improvements.   As of Fall 2003, VISK and Summitt were the only two companies authorized by the FDA to hold Lasik Surgery patents.   Recently, the companies of Summitt Technology and VISX were charged with price fixing and violating the standards of the Federal Trade Commission.  Ã‚   As a result of the price scandals reveled by the FTC, patents became released to the patent pool, but were still subject to veto power by VISK and Summitt (Perry, 2003).   As a result of the release to the public pool, the competing patents would no longer be held by a single entity (FTC.gov, 1998).There are several individual physician that can also hold ophthalmic patents.   For example, Dr. Richard Lindstrom, Founding Manager of Minnesota Eye Consultants, holds twenty-eight patents involving ophthalmology and improvements in laser procedures (Minnesota Eye Consultants, 2006).At current time, there is no approval for the development of generic Lasik procedure products.   This is due to the sensitive nature of the industry, as a generic procedure may cause harm to the patient and may not comply with all FDA regulated standards. One recently released patent related to Lasik Surgery was patent number 6,951,556.   This patent was issued to an individual by the name of Robert L. Epstein, MD.   Dr. Epstein is the director of 800-I-CAN-SEE, the Mercy Center for Corrective Eye Surgery in McHenry, Illinois. The release of the patent provides a new way for physicians to correct off-center laser ablations that periodically occur as a result of the Lasik procedure.   As a result of the patent, correction of off-center laser ablations can now be incorporated into newer laser correction machines (Epstein, 2005).The Lasik Surgery industry is an evolving and constantly improving technology.   It is important to understand the intellectual pr operty laws and patent regulations so as to determine what the future holds for the industry.   It will be interesting to see what changes result from the increased privatization of the Lasik Surgery process.ReferencesEpsetin, Robert (2005).   New Patent for Correcting Centering of Lasik Vision  Ã‚  Ã‚   Treatments.   Retrieved October 20,  Ã‚   2006 from http://eye.taragana.net/archive/new-patent-for-correcting-centering-of-lasik-vision-treatments/FTC.gov (1998).   FTC Charges Two Firms that Control that Market for Laser Eye Surgery with Price-Fixing Conspiracy.   Retrived October 20, 2006 from http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1998/03/eye.htmMinnesota Eye Consultants (2006).   Laser Vision Correction.   Retrieved October 20, 2006 from http://www.seewithlasik.com/docs/lasik-minneapolis.html.Perry, Martin (2003).   Laser Eye Surgery Patent Pool.   Retrieved October 20, 2006 from http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:qadHX0VPSOQJ:econweb.rutgers.edu/perry/389/lectures/PPTB38 9.F03.PatentPools.doc+number+of+lasik+surgery+patents&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=11.

Donald Trump Essay

Trump's early years are a major part of what has made him successful in the past and in the present Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946 in the city of Queens, New York into the family of Frederick C. And Mary McLeod Drum p. His father, Frederick C. Trump was a realest developer and builder. He owned multiple middle income apartment buildings in Queens. Dona's mom was a plinth rapist, working with different charities. Donald Trump was an energetic and assertive e child and according to the site Biography. Com â€Å"His parents sent him to the New York MilitaryAcademy, hoping the discipline would help channel his energy in a positive m inner. † Trump was very successful in the academy, in both social and academic aspect TTS. In Biography. Com it continues to states that â€Å"Trump did well academically and socially, rising to be star athlete and student leader by the time he graduated in 1964 Trump's efforts and work in the business world have made him the extremely we althy man he is today. He is currently worth currently is 4$ Billion, and owns multiple realest properties.He also owns many hotels, restaurants, c salons, ND even various golf courses in the United states as well as internationally. T rump also hosts the reality Television show ‘The Celebrity Apprentice†. These properties, realest investments and his successful TV show would not have been poss. able if it were not for his hard work during his younger years in business. His massive f retune and wealth were acquired through hard work, connections, as well as his exec Lent knowledge Of the business world. Trump began his career working in the fame business, the Trump organization, which built and operated apartment build nags.Trump later moved to Manhattan, where he began expanding his business career be cause he became convinced of the economic opportunity there. Trump involved himself fin various building projects and opportunities in the city that would earn him high pr ofit s and recognition. Trump's personality and attitude are some of the defining factors that make him a very notable businessman, entrepreneur, and celebrity today. Trump's charisma and charm have helped him in his career as well. His charisma and personality as well as knowledge and communication skills are key to his such as.Donald Trump's interpersonal abilities are key to making connections in the b equines world and to achieve personal success. His ability to combine business knoll edge and Mr. Frangible great communication skills would seem to be one of the main factors that were e beneficial in becoming the successful businessman that he is. Trump's wealth, knowledge, and personality are a part of his major success. His wealth and success will leave behind a legacy and is an example of the economic opportunity in the United States.He would continually â€Å"set high tankards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, sports an d entertainment† Biogra phy-asp). Donald J. Trump has been a success in his personal life as well as in his professional and busing sees life. His entrepreneurial skills and his savvy knowledge and assertive skills put him In a successful pathway leaving a legacy and example of the economic opportunity y in the United States.

Night World : Huntress Chapter 7

She emerged on the rooftop. There was a sort of roof garden here-anyway, a lot of scraggly plants in large wooden tubs. There was also some dirty patio furniture and other odds and ends. But the main feature was a small structure that sat on the roof the way a house sits on a street. Morgead's home. The penthouse. It was as stark and unlovely as the rest of the building, but it had a great view and it was completely private. There were no other tall buildings nearby to look down on it. Jez moved stealthily toward the door. Her feet made no noise on the pitted asphalt of the roof, and she was in a state of almost painfully heightened awareness. In the old days sneaking up on another gang member had been a game. You got to laugh at them if you could startle them, and they got to be furious and humiliated. Today it wasn't a game. Jez started toward the warped wooden door-then stopped. Doors were trouble. Morgead would have been an idiot not to have rigged it to alert him to intruders. Cat-quiet, she headed instead for a narrow metal ladder that led to the roof of the wooden structure. Now she was on the real top of the building. The only thing higher was a metal flagpole without a She moved noiselessly across the new roof. At the far edge she found herself looking four stories straight down. And directly below her there was a window. An open window. Jez smiled tightly. Then she hooked her toes over the four-inch lip at the edge of the roof and dropped gracefully forward. She grabbed the top of the window in mid-dive and hung suspended, defying gravity like a bat attached upside down. She looked inside. And there he was. Lying on a futon, asleep. He was sprawled on his back, fully clothed in jeans, high boots, and a leather jacket. He looked good. Just like the old days, Jez thought. When the gang would stay out all night riding their bikes and hunting or fighting or partying, and then come home in the morning to scramble into clothes for school. Except Morgead, who would smirk at them and then collapse. He didn't have parents or relatives to keep him from skipping. I'm surprised he's not wearing his helmet, too, she thought, pulling herself back up to the roof. She picked up the fighting stick, maneuvered it into the window, then let herself down again, this time hanging by her hands. She slid in without making a noise. Then she went to stand over him. He hadn't changed. He looked exactly as she remembered, except younger and more vulnerable because he was asleep. His face was pale, making his dark hair seem even darker. His lashes were black crescents on his cheeks. Evil and dangerous, Jez reminded herself. It annoyed her that she had to remind herself of what Morgead was. For some reason her mind was throwing pictures at her, scenes from her childhood while she was living here in San Francisco with her Uncle Bracken. A five-year-old Jez, with shorter red hair that looked as if it had never been combed, walking with a little grimy-faced Morgead, hand in hand. An eight-year-old Jez with two skinned knees, scowling as a businesslike Morgead pulled wood splinters out of her legs with rusty tweezers. A seven-year-old Morgead with his face lit up in astonishment as Jez persuaded him to try the human thing called ice cream†¦. Stop it, Jez told her brain flatly. You might as well give up, because it's no good. We were friends then-well, some of the time-but we're enemies now. He's changed. I've changed. He'd kill me in a second now if it would suit his purpose. And I'm going to do what has to be done. She backed up and poked him lightly with the stick. â€Å"Morgead.† His eyes flew open and he sat up. He was awake instantly, like any vampire, and he focused on her without a trace of confusion. Jez had changed her grip on the stick and was standing ready in case he went straight into an attack. But instead, a strange expression crossed his face. It went from startled recognition into something Jez didn't understand. For a moment he was simply staring at her, eyes big, chest heaving, looking as if he were caught in between pain and happiness. Then he said quietly, â€Å"Jez.† â€Å"Hi, Morgead.† â€Å"You came back.† Jez shifted the stick again. â€Å"Apparently.† He got up in one motion. â€Å"Where the hell have you been?† Now he just looked furious, Jez noted. Which was easier to deal with, because that was how she remembered him. â€Å"I can't tell you,† she said, which was perfectly true, and would also annoy the life out of him. It did. He shook his head to get dark hair out of his eyes-it was always disheveled in the morning, Jez remembered-and glared at her. He was standing easily: not in any attack posture, but with the relaxed readiness that meant he could go flying in any direction at any moment. Jez kept half her mind on watching his leg muscles. â€Å"You can't tell me? You disappear one day without any kind of warning, without even leaving a note†¦ you leave the gang and me and just completely vanish and nobody knows where to find you, not even your uncle .. . and now you reappear again and you can't tell me where you were?† He was working himself into one of his Extremely Excited States, Jez realized. She was surprised; she'd expected him to stay cooler and attack hard. â€Å"What did you think you were doing, just cutting out on everybody? Did it ever occur to you that people would be worried about you? That people would think you were dead?† It didn't occur to me that anyone would care, Jez thought, startled. Especially not you. But she couldn't say that. â€Å"Look, I didn't mean to hurt anybody. And I can't talk about why I went. But I'm back now-â€Å" â€Å"You can't just come back!† Jez was losing her calm. Nothing was going the way she'd expected; the things she'd scripted out to say weren't getting said. â€Å"I know I can't just come back-â€Å" â€Å"Because it doesn't work that way!† Morgead was pacing now, tossing hair out of his eyes again as he turned to glare at her. â€Å"Blood in, blood out. Since you're apparently not dead, you abandoned us. You're not allowed to do that! And you certainly can't expect to just walk back in and become my second again-â€Å" â€Å"I don't!† Jez yelled. She had to shut him up. â€Å"I have no intention of becoming your second-in-command!† she said when he finally paused. â€Å"I came to challenge you as leader.† Morgead's jaw dropped. Jez let her breath out. That wasn't exactly how she'd planned to say it. But now, seeing his shock, she felt more in control. She leaned casually against the wall, smiled at him, and said smoothly, ‘I was leader when I left, remember.† â€Å"You†¦ have got to be †¦ joking.† Morgead stared at her. â€Å"You expect to waltz back in here as leader?† â€Å"If I can beat you. I think I can. I did it once.† He stared for another minute, seeming beyond words. Then he threw back his head and laughed. It was a scary sound. When he looked at her again, his eyes were bright and hard. â€Å"Yeah, you did. I've gotten better since then.† Jez said three words. â€Å"So have I.† And with that, everything changed. Morgead shifted position-only slightly, but he was now in a fighting stance. Jez felt adrenaline flow through her own body. The challenge had been issued and accepted; there was nothing more to say. They were now facing each other ready to fight. And this she could deal with. She was much better at fighting than at playing with words. She knew Morgead in this mood; his pride and his skill had been questioned and he was now absolutely determined to win. This was very familiar. Without taking his eyes from her, he reached out and picked a fighting stick from the rack behind him. Japanese oak, Jez noted. Heavy, well-seasoned, resilient. Good choice. The fire-hardened end was very pointy. He wouldn't try to use that first, though. First, he would go for disarming her. The simplest way to do this was to break the wrist of her dominant hand. After that he'd go for critical points and nerve centers. He didn't play around at this. A minute change in Morgead's posture alerted her, and then they were both moving. He swung his stick up and down in a perfect arc, aiming for her right wrist. Jez blocked easily with her own stick and felt the shock as wood clashed with wood. She instantly changed her grip and tried for a trap, but he whipped his stick out of the way and was facing her again as if he'd never moved in the first place. He smiled at her. He's right. He's gotten better. A small chill went through Jez, and for the first time she worried about her ability to beat him. Because I have to do it without killing him, she thought. She wasn't at all sure he had the same concern about not killing her. â€Å"You're so predictable, Morgead,† she told him. â€Å"I could fight you in my sleep.† She feinted toward his wrist and then tried to sweep his legs out from underneath him. He blocked and tried for a trap. â€Å"Oh, yeah? And you hit like a four-year-old. You couldn't take me down if I stood here and let you.† They circled each other warily. The snakewood stick was warm in Jez's hands. It was funny, some distant part of her mind thought irrelevantly, how the most humble and lowly of human weapons was the most dangerous to vampires. But it was also the most versatile weapon in the world. With a stick, unlike a knife or gun or sword, you could fine-tune the degree of pain and injury you caused. You could disarm and control attackers, and-if the circumstances required it-you could inflict pain without permanently injuring them. Of course if they were vampires, you could also kill them, which you couldn't do with a knife or gun. Only wood could stop the vampire heart permanently, which was why the fighting stick was the weapon of choice for vampires who wanted to hurt each other†¦ and for vampire hunters. Jez grinned at Morgead, knowing it was not a particularly nice smile. Her feet whispered across the worn oak boards of the floor. She and Morgead had practiced here countless times, measuring themselves against each other, training themselves to be the best. And it had worked. They were both masters of this most deadly weapon. But no fight had ever mattered as much as this one. â€Å"Next you're going to try for a head strike,† she informed Morgead coolly. â€Å"Because you always do.† â€Å"You think you know everything. But you don't know me anymore. I've changed,† he told her, just as calmly-and went for a head strike. â€Å"Psyche,† he said as she blocked it and wood clashed with a sharp whack. â€Å"Wrong.† Jez twisted her stick sharply, got leverage on his, and whipped it down, holding it against his upper thighs. â€Å"Trap.† She grinned into his face. And was startled for a moment. She hadn't been this close to him in a long time. His eyes-they were so green, gem-colored, and full of strange light. For just an instant neither of them moved; then-weapons down, their gazes connected. Their faces were so close their breath mingled. Then Morgead slipped out of the trap. â€Å"Don't try that stuff,† he said nastily. â€Å"What stuff?† The moment her stick was free of his, she snapped it up again, reversing her grip and thrusting toward his eyes. â€Å"You know what stuff!† He deflected her thrust with unnecessary force. â€Å"That I'm Jez and I'm so wild and beautiful' stuff. That ‘Why don't you just drop your stick and let me hit you because it'll be fun' stuff.† â€Å"Morgead†¦ what are you†¦ talking about?† In between the words she attacked, a strike to his throat and then one to his temple. He blocked and evaded-which was just what she wanted. Evasion. Retreat. She was crowding him into a corner. â€Å"That's the only way you won before. Trying to play on people's feelings for you. Well, it won't work anymore!† He countered viciously, but it didn't matter. Jez blocked with a whirlwind of strikes of her own, pressing him, and then he had no choice but to retreat until his back was against the corner. She had him. She had no idea what he meant about playing on people's feelings, and she didn't have time to think about it. Morgead was dangerous as a wounded tiger when he was cornered. His eyes were glowing emerald green with sheer fury, and there was a hardness to his features that hadn't been there last year. He does hate me, Jez thought. Hugh was wrong. He's hurt and angry and he absolutely hates me. The textbook answer was to use that emotion against him, to provoke him and get him so mad that he gave her an opening. Some instinct deep inside Jez was worried about that, but she didn't listen. â€Å"Hey, all's fair, right?† she told him softly. â€Å"And what do you mean, it won't work? I've got you, haven't I?† She flashed out a couple of quick attacks, more to keep him occupied than anything else. â€Å"You're caught, and you're going to have to let down your guard sometime.† The green eyes that had been luminous with fury suddenly went cold. The color of glacier ice. â€Å"Unless I do something unexpected,† he said. â€Å"Nothing you do is unexpected,† she said sweetly. But her mind was telling her that provoking him had been a mistake. She had hit some nerve, and he was stronger than he'd been a year ago. He didn't lose his temper under pressure the way he'd used to. He just got more determined. Those green eyes unnerved her. Move in hard, she thought. All out. Go for a pressure point. Numb his arm- But before she could do anything, a wave of Power hit her. It sent her reeling. She'd never felt anything exactly like it. It came from Morgead, a Shockwave of telepathic energy that struck her like a physical thing. It knocked her back two steps and made her struggle for balance. It left the air crackling with electricity and a faint smell of ozone. Jez's mind spun. How had he done that? â€Å"It's not hard,† Morgead said in a calm, cold voice that went with his eyes. He was out of the corner by now, of course. For a moment Jez thought he was reading her thoughts, but then she realized her question must be written all over her face. ‘It's something I discovered after you left,† he went on. â€Å"All it takes is practice.† If you're telepathic, Jez thought. Which I'm not anymore. The Night People are getting stronger, developing more powers, she thought. Well, Hugh had been right on that one. And she was in trouble now. Whack! That was Morgead going for a side sweep. He'd noticed her lack of balance. Jez countered automatically, but her head wasn't clear and her body was ringing with pain. He'd shaken her, distracted her. â€Å"As you said, all's fair,† Morgead said, with a small, cold smile on his lips. â€Å"You have your weapons. I have mine.† And then he threw another of those Shockwaves at her. Jez was better braced for it now, but it still rocked her on her feet, took her attention off her weapon- Just long enough for her to screw up and let him in. He drove upward to catch her stick from below. Then he twisted, sweeping her stick in a circle, forcing her off balance again, trying to topple her backward. As Jez fought to recover, he struck to her elbow. Hard. Wham! It was a different sound from the crisp whack when wood hit wood. This was softer, duller, the sound of wood hitting flesh and bone. Jez heard her own involuntary gasp of pain. Fire shot up her arm, into her shoulder, and for a moment she lost her grip on the stick with her right hand. She forced her fingers to close on it again, but they were numb. She couldn't feel what she was holding. She couldn't block properly with one arm useless. And Morgead was advancing, that deadly cold light in his eyes. Absolutely merciless. His movements were relaxed and easy; he knew exactly what he was doing now. Two more whacks and he got through her guard again. The oak stick slammed into her ribs and she felt another wave of sickening pain. Gray dots danced in front of her eyes. Fractured? Jez wondered briefly. She hoped not. Vampires could break each other's ribs in fun and know that everything would heal in a day or two. But Jez wouldn't recover like that. Morgead might kill her without even meaning to. She couldn't let him keep striking her-but she couldn't retreat, either. If he got her into a corner, she'd be lost. Whack-wham. He got her on the knee. Pain sparked up and down her leg, lighting every nerve. She had no choice but to back up. He was crowding her relentlessly, forcing her to the wall. Morgead flashed a smile at her. Not the cold smile. This one was brilliant, and very familiar to Jez. It made him look devastatingly handsome, and it meant that he was in absolute command of the situation. â€Å"You can give up anytime, now,† he said. â€Å"Because I'm going to win and we both know it.†