Prediction Of Spark Ignition Engine Testing Engineering Essay

Prediction Of Spark Ignition Engine Testing Engineering Essay Introduction Internal combustion engines date back to the 1800s. Since then, they have improved considerably as the knowledge of the engine process has evolved. The engine process is seen as a complex one and so, calculating the various engine parameters is a complicated task. There have been a number of computer programmes with the aim of estimating these parameters; OpenWAM is relatively new simulation software that intends to do this. OpenWAM, or open wave action model, is a free, open-source code that has been developed to solve the thermo- and fluid dynamics of compressible flow through the different components of an engine. The aim of this project to use OpenWAM to generate a full set of engine performance and fuel economy prediction estimates and to then compare these with experimental results. The engine in question is that of a BMW-Mini Direct Injection Spark Ignition Engine. It will be tested over a range of different operating loads and speeds. A successful interpretation of this softw are, and the results, could optimise the operation of the internal combustion engine. This Interim Report details a synopsis of the literary review done to date. It includes the main principles of an internal combustion engine, including the intake and exhaust system as well as the in-cylinder process. The details of OpenWam software are mentioned and its applications. The aims of this project are also described. Literary Review Basic Principles Internal combustion engines have one main purpose, that is; the production of mechanical energy from the chemical energy contained in the fuel. The basic principles behind any reciprocating engine are the same. The cycle has four stages; intake, compression, expansion, exhaust. The intake stroke begins with the piston at the top of the cylinder (TDC) and the inlet valve open. As the piston moves down a vacuum is created and air-fuel mixture is drawn into the cylinder. When the piston reaches the bottom (BDC) the inlet valve is closed and the compression stroke begins. This involves the piston moving up and compressing the air-fuel mixture. This is then ignited in the expansion stroke. As the air-fuel mixture is heated it expands, pushing the piston down, to bottom centre (BC). The outlet valve is then opened and the exhaust gases are removed to the atmosphere. The piston moves up to TDC as the exhaust stroke finishes the cycle [1]. Figur-1 Basic Combustion Cycle The engine used in this project is a four-cylinder engine. Most engines used for automobiles have four cylinders. The number of cylinders is an important consideration for the overall performance of an engine. Each of the cylinders, contain a piston that is connected to the crankshaft. The movement of the piston rotates the crankshaft. The crankshaft is what turns the wheels. The more pistons powering the crankshaft means more power can be generated in less time. The engine used in this project is a Direct Injection Spark Ignition Engine. This means that the fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. With regular engines, the fuel and air is mixed before entering the cylinder. This will be discussed in further detail in preceding sections. Basic Components https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9z86HvptorfITtoGt6pTr3uMXmX7jKU_y-KpODWZnIsnTILUBXCo0nWF-fvhGZrRvgiib-Hi_d4n1E9yyHWZi3aqJCnSzwswX0CGCmi-HZVhwOg-MfjdIPXBDuPKRCvbQaXMoBE4YJU/s1600/BMW_S1000RR_ENGINE_CUTAWAY_700x462_700.jpg Figure-2 Engine Cutaway Intake The engine intake process governs many important aspects of the flow within the cylinder. The efficiency of combustion and the production of pollutants are strongly dependent on the flow of air during the intake stroke. Fluid Flow during Intake Process The gas flowing into the cylinder, through the intake valve, behaves as a conical jet. The axial and radial velocity components, of the jet, are up to ten times that of mean piston speed. High speeds of the fluid lead to turbulence. Turbulence is generated due to the large velocity gradient formed when the jet separates from the valve. Turbulent flow undergoes irregular mixing and the speed of the fluid is constantly changing magnitude and direction. By increasing the rate of momentum, heat and mass transfer of the fluid, turbulent flow encourages mixing within the cylinder. It leads to the formation of vortices. Vortices are large-scale rotating flow patterns that are unsteady and react with each other. These vortices are important governing factors of the overall behaviour of the flow. They remain until the end of the intake stroke, where they become unstable and break up. Turbulence is essential to the effective operation of an SI engine. It is a goal of any engine to maximise the turbulent effect, however this is complicated by the fact that flow patterns change during the engine cycle. They are largely dependent on the design of the intake system and are quite sensitive to small variations in flow. They are largely dependent on the design of the intake system and are quite sensitive to small variations in flow. This can lead to substantial cycle-to-cycle variations. The turbulent flow of air within the combustion chamber is almost exclusively generated during the intake stroke [3] Volumetric Efficiency Pg.209 Volumetric efficiency is defined is the measure of success with which air is inducted into an engine. It is defined as the ratio of the volume flow rate of air into the intake system, to the rate at which the volume is displaced by the engine. More simply, it is the actual rate at which air enters the cylinder, over a given period in time, to the theoretical rate at which it should enter, over the same time period [6]. C:Documents and SettingsucdMy DocumentsDownloadsCodeCogsEqn.gif Where; ÃŽÂ ·v volumetric efficiency Ma mass flow rate of air ÃŽÂ ¡a, 0 density of air Vd displaced cylinder volume N crankshaft rotational speed Volumetric efficiency is used to measure the overall effectiveness of an engine. It is mainly affected by the density of air entering the cylinder, the design of the intake and exhaust manifolds, and the timing of the intake and exhaust valves. The high temperatures within the combustion chamber have a limiting effect on the mass flow rate of air into the system, thus reducing volumetric efficiency. To counteract this, air with higher density, i.e. lower temperature and higher pressure, is preferred. This increases the amount of air entering the system, improving the volumetric efficiency. The intake and exhaust manifold and valve timing have similar limiting effects. The amount of air entering the cylinder is also largely dependent on these parameters. These parameters constrain the maximum possible engine power. This is why the volumetric efficiency of an engine is very important. Frictional Losses Pg.212 Losses due to friction have a major impact on the engines performance. During the intake stroke, losses due to friction, in every part of the intake system, mean the in-cylinder pressure (pc) is less than the atmospheric pressure (patm). The difference between these two values is dependent on the square of the speed. The total friction loss is the combined losses from each of the components in the intake system; air-filter, inlet manifold, inlet valve and inlet port. Each component adds a loss of a few percent, on average, pc can be 10-20% lower than atmospheric [1]. RAM effect During the intake process the RAM effect needs to be considered when calculating an engines performance. It occurs when the open valve phase is extended beyond that of the intake stroke to improve charging the cylinder and make best use of the inertia of the gases in the intake system. As the piston reaches TDC during the intake stroke, the inlet valve does not close immediately. Instead it remains open, as the compression stroke begins. This allows any extra air to be added to the cylinder. The momentum of the air during the intake stroke carries it into the cylinder even after the piston has reached the bottom of the cylinder. At high speeds, the intake valve can remain open for longer to optimize the RAM effect. The inlet valve isnt closed until a crank angle of approximately 40-60o after BDC to take advantage of this. However for engines running at lower speeds, the momentum is not high enough, this can cause the air already in the cylinder to be forced out. Adapting the inlet va lve open phase can have a major impact on the engines performance [2]. Overlap When considering both the RAM effect and the blowdown phase (discussed later), it is clear to see that there is a period of overlap, when both the inlet and outlet valves are open. If the pressure inlet to outlet ratio is less than one then backflow occurs. This involves a rush of exhaust gases out through the exhaust manifold that aids the intake of air into the cylinder during the intake stroke. This works best at higher speeds, when its main advantage of overlap is the improvement in volumetric efficiency. As with any fluid flowing through a system of intricate pipes, cylinders, valves, there are friction, pressure and inertial forces present. The importance of these forces is dependent on the both the velocity of the fluid and the geometry of the system. These forces along with the effects of changing engine design affect the volumetric efficiency. In-cylinder (NB Pg.372,) Gas motion within the engine cylinder is one of the major factors that control the combustion process. Both the bulk motion of the gas and the turbulence characteristics of the fluid are important. The in-cylinder combustion process can be divided into four distinct phases; Spark-Ignition Early Flame Development Flame Propogation Flame termination Spark Ignition Pg 585 Close to the end of the compression stroke, the discharge between the spark plug electrodes by the ignition system starts the combustion process. The spark develops a self-sustainable and propagating flame. The function of the ignition system is to initiate the flame propagation process, to repeat this for each cycle, over the full range of load and speed of the engine, at the appropriate time. Spark-timing is an important consideration during the engine process. It can have a number of affects on the efficiency, formation of pollutants and other parameters of the engine. Advancing the timing, so that combustion occurs earlier in the cycle, increases the peak cylinder pressure (compression stroke work transfer, which is work form piston to gases in the cylinder, also increases). This is because more fuel is burned before TDC and the peak pressure moves closer to TDC where the cylinder volume is smaller. Delaying the timing means the peak pressure occurs later in the cycle and is also decreased in magnitude. This is because more of the fuel is burnt after TDC. Higher peak cylinder pressure result in higher peak burned gas temperatures, and therefore higher NOx formation results. Maximum Brake Torque (MBT) is the use of optimal ignition timing to take advantage of internal combustion engines max power and efficiency. It occurs when the compression stroke work transfer (which is from the piston to the cylinder gases) is increased and the expansion stroke (which is from cylinder gases to the piston) is reduced. The MBT timing occurs when the magnitude of these two opposing trends just offset each other. Altering the timing from MBT lowers the torque [4]. Generally, spark timing is delayed so as to avoid abnormal combustion. Abnormal combustion refers to either knock or surface ignition. Knock is the name given to the noise transmitted through an engine when a spontaneous ignition of a portion of the end-gas occurs. End-gas is the mixture of fuel, air and residual gas ahead of the propagating flames. The spark plug ignites one flame front, however an uncontrolled combustion then occurs and an extremely rapid release of most of the chemical energy in the end-gas leads to the initiation of multiple flame fronts. When these multiple flame fronts collide, the cylinder pressure increases and causes the piston, connecting rods and bearings to resonate [5]. Knock has a direct impact on efficiency because it limits the maximum compression ratio that can be used in any cylinder. Surface-ignition is another type of abnormal combustion. It occurs when ignition is initiated by a local hot-spot located on the walls of the cylinder. Direct Injection Spark Ignition Direct Injection (DI) engines deliver the fuel directly into the combustion chamber. The traditional method pre-mixes air and fuel in the intake manifold and then delivers it to the cylinder. However with DI engines, air enters through the intake manifold, where a specific amount of fuel is sprayed into the cylinder. Early Flame Development Pg.846-850 During the in-cylinder process of compression and combustion, the increasing cylinder pressure forces some of the gas in the cylinder into the corners or narrow volumes connected to the combustion chamber, e.g. the volumes between the piston, rings and cylinder wall. Most of this gas remains unburned in the primary combustion process as the flame cannot enter these narrow regions. Spark-Timing Pg 585 There is always an optimal spark timing for all operating conditions of an engine. MBT is most ideal at WOT however is not desired when the engine is at idle. Although MBT is desired at WOT it is wise to retard timing slightly to prevent knock that may occur and to create a small safety margin. It is possible to calculate the MBT of an engine by taking into account of all the operating conditions of an engine through its sensors. Operating conditions are defined by the engine parameters lambda, engine load, internal exhaust gas recirculation, engine speed, and of course spark advance. Magnusson, J. 2007 An Investigation of Maximum Brake Torque Timing based on Ionization Current Feedback Exhaust ( Pg. 626,570,) The level of sulfate emissions depends on the fuel sulfur content. Unleaded gasoline contains 150 to 600 ppm by weight sulfur, which is then oxidized during the combustion process to form SOx. The emission of particles is increased when the engine is cold, i.e. following start-up. The exhaust temperature has a significant effect on pollutant formation. Particles form in the exhaust manifold and either are emitted immediately or deposit on the walls of the exhaust. Many of these are removed when the engine is suddenly accelerated. The exhaust geometry, specifically the diameter, determines the amount of particles emitted. Incomplete combustion due to bulk quenching of the flame in that fraction of the engine cycle where combustion is relatively slow, is a source of hydrocarbons in engines. Such conditions are most likely to occur during transient engine operation when the air/fuel ratio, spark timing, and the fraction of the exhaust recycled for emission control may not be properly matched. Engine Design The major combustion chamber design objectives which relate to engine performance and emissions are; Pg. 845-> A fast combustion process, with low cycle-by-cycle variability, over the full operating engine range A high volumetric efficiency at wide open throttle Minimum heat loss to the combustion chamber walls A low fuel octane requirement Faster burn process is more robust and results in the engine being able to operate satisfactorily with much more EGR, or much leaner, without a deterioration in combustion quality. Faster burning chamber designs exhibit much less cycle variation, this permits better control of NOx within the engine. This is achieved in a number of ways. Swirl is used to speed up the combustion process in some spark-ignition engines. Swirl is defined as the organized rotation of the charge about the cylinder axis. Swirl is created by designing the intake system such that the flow enters the cylinder with an initial angular momentum. This is done in two ways, either the flow is discharged into the cylinder tangentially towards the cylinder wall. or intake? High volumetric efficiency is required to obtain the highest possible power density. Effective vvalve open area, which depends on valve diameter and lift, directly affects volumetic efficiency. Swirl speeds up process and achieves greater combustion stability. Heat transfer to chamber walls has a major impact on efficiency. Blowdown amount of time/distance/degrees between exhaust port opening and the transfer port opening Muller. P, 2009, Muller Machine, http://www.muller.net/mullermachine/index.html The blowdown process is similar to that of the RAM effect. It is necessary to open the exhaust valve before the piston reaches the bottom of the stroke, as this allows any excess pressure, pressure left over from the last cycle, to be released from cylinder. This ensures there will be no pressure acting against the piston on the compression stroke. Accurate exhaust valve timing is essential. At higher speeds, the valve will have to be opened sooner, whereas for lower speeds if the valve is opened to soon means pressure is lowered and losses are incurred. AutoWare, 1998, Valve Timing Performance  , http://www.auto-ware.com/combust_bytes/valvetiming.html The exhaust manifold operates at pressures significantly above atmospheric. Pollutants (pg.626, 570, CO-Pg. 593, summary Pg.618,) Theoretically, the combustion process of hydrocarbon fuels, such as petrol, completely oxidizes the fuel and the only by-products are carbon dioxide and water. However, under actual conditions this is rarely, if ever the case. The products of combustion from an internal combustion engine produce pollutants. This is due to the varied composition of the fuel for each cycle. Impurities in the fuel itself mean complete combustion is not possible. Poor control of the air-fuel ratio and variations in the combustions temperature also contribute to the formation of pollutants. The main pollutants formed are sulfur oxides (SOx), nitride oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants have detrimental health effects. The presence of a catalytic convertor reduces the amount of harmful emissions entering the atmosphere by changing the composition of the pollutants. One of the most important variables in determining spark-ignition engine emissions is the fuel/air equivalence ration. GRAPH OF EMISSIONS!! To ensure smooth and reliable operation, SI engines are typically run close to stoichiometric, or slightly fuel-rich. From graph (ABOVE), lean mixtures give lower emissions until the quality becomes poor and back-fire occurs. In a cold engine, fuel vaporization is slow, the fuel flow is increased to provide an easily combustible fuel-rich mixture in the cylinder. Until the engine warms up and the enrichment is removed, the CO and HC emissions are high OpenWAM Simulation Software OpenWAM is a 1-dimensional gas-dynamics engine thermodynamic cycle simulation code. It was developed by the CMT- Motores Tà ©rmicos of the Universidad Polità ©cnica de Valencia, Spain. openWAM Modeling is an important technique for the optimization of internal combustion engines (ICE). The use of calculation models together with experimental tests is producing unquestionable successes due to the fact that both techniques complement each other. 1D wave action models simplify the engine by means of ducts, where only one dimension is considered, and volumes where mass accumulation is considered and the gas properties are uniform in the entire element. Finally, non dimensional models are used to solve connections between 1D and 0D elements. Thanks to more than 20 years, more than 10 PhD Thesis and many research projects and publications, CMT-Motores Tà ©rmicos has developed an own 1D gas dynamic tool called WAM which gathers an important know-how on air management, compressible flow, turbocharging, chemical species tracking, numerical analysis and many other aspects of engine modeling http://www.cmt.upv.es/WAM_02_02.aspx 1 dimensional modeling can reproduce the behavior of the engine under transient conditions when the injected fuel and the engine speed change during the simulation. For these applications, a heat transfer model is very important to take into account the heating process that the different parts of the engine undergoes during the transient. http://www.cmt.upv.es/img/WWam04.png http://giantmaw.com/Photo%20Album/Image%20Library/Cars/BMW/MWerks%20Forums%20the%20BMW%20Engine%20FAQ_files/4981_832.jpg

Motivation and Commitment for the Social Work Profession

X 1) Motivation and Ccommitment for the Social Work Profession As I reminisce back upon my life there are many experiences and factors that have affected and shaped who I am today. If you examine Nature vs. Nurture, Ive always coincluded that human expression is not just black and white, there is a definite grey area where both nature (genetics) and nurture (environment) combine. For example, childhood experiences or family dynamics can either make or break you as a person depending on whether you allow negative experiences or less than ideal environments to detrimentally affect the way in which you view the world.You can prevail forward or stay with the natural human tendency to digress in the past but you decide how long you want that period of digression to be. My immediate family growing up was my father, stepmother, mother, and my twin brothers. My parent's divorced when I was two. My mother was severely depressed; because of this I did not see her again until I was eight years old. I dont remember a lot from when I was young but I do recall my brothers and I visiting our mother under supervision in a playroom of a human services building. She explained to us that she was better and could soon keep us every other weekend.My mother was better for a while but the depression came in cycles, sometimes she was up and other times she was down. My twin brothers were born mentally challenged on the mild spectrum. As I watched my mother and brothers struggle with trials and tribulations of life, I realized how much I enjoy helping others cope with the obstacles and barriers that can come with life, with or without a disability that brings life into another realm. Which is how I came to work with several different companies serving various populations such as, mentally challenged, mentally ill, physically disabled and Traumatic Brain Injury.My interest in social work and psychology began as a teenager in my first psychology class my freshman year in high school. I w as fascinated with how the brain works and what influences and shapes the human mind. I told my parent's at this time my dream of becoming a therapist. As a teenager I always wanted to give support and give advice to my friends. I wanted to help others through their challenges. We all face challenges in life, we all have to face fear at one time or another, every challenge and fear is a chance to gain courage or strength you never knew you had inside you.I began pursuing my bachelors degree at the age of twenty one. I attended school, work, and at the same time held up the role of single motherhood. It was testing and exhausting at times but the feeling of accomplishment at the end was well worth it. After receiving my degree I knew eventually I would want to climb further up the education ladder when I was ready. I wanted a break to gain more work experience serving others. This year I decided was the right time to look into a masters degree program.I was fond of the multidimension al contexts mentioned in the Advanced Generalist Concentration description for the second year. It is important to learn the different levels and aspects of cultures and the influences thereof, in order to better understand and empathize with the individuals you serve as a social worker. My future career goals after I complete the program: I hope to work in a clinic or resource center for individuals with HIV and work towards further prevention and education to the public. I am going to obtain a minor in Drug and Alcohol Counseling so I can better serve this population.After gaining some work experience to broaden my perspective and knowledge, I hope to open my own therapy practice in order to help others through their challenges and succeed in life. 2) A Social Issue of Concern A social issue of concern for me is the stigmatizing of individuals with HIV in society. As the HIV/AIDS epidemic marks its thirtieth year, you can state a lot has changed since 1981 when what was thought of as the gay plague which had symptoms ssimilar to pneumonia and Kaposis Sarcoma, such as, fever, fatigue, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and sore throat.Although many individuals experience no symptoms at all, feel, and appear healthy for several years. A few years later this would come to be known as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Now thirty years later society, professionals, and doctors know more about HIV transmission, treatment, and prevention. Society may know more but do they know enough to keep ignorance and stigma at bay? A recent survey performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows substantial shares of Americans continue to express discomfort at the idea of interacting with people living with HIV.For example 45% say theyd be uncomfortable having their food prepared by someone who is HIV-positive, 36% with having an HIV roommate, 29% having their child in a classroom with an HIV-positive teacher, and 18 ppercent working with someone who is HIV-positive. One statistic th at does show some promise in decreasing stigma and ignorance within society is the share stating theyd be very comfortable working with someone who has HIV increased from about a third in 1997 to roughly half in 2011. (www. kff. org/kaiserpolls[->0]) Unfortunately other results show the public is still ignorant about modes of transmission of HIV.The KFF survey also shows that over the past twenty years, roughly one in four Americans have continued to either believe that one can get HIV from a drinking glass, or remain unsure whether it is the case. What do these statistics tell about stigma and ignorance within the general public? It says that potentially stigmatizing and dincriminating attitudes still persist. There are a few factors that I believe led to this outcome, 1) The public is not being educated enough in the schools, television, and doctors offices and hospitals are prime places where we can get the information out there. ) More doctors are suggesting HIV tests for non-el derly, 29% but so far it doesn't translate into an increase in reports of actually getting an HIV test. About one in five non-elderly adults say they have been tested for HIV in the past 12 months which is a ppercentage that has held steady since 1997. 3) The information about how HIV is contracted and testing routes/sites needs to get out not to just high-risk population but to the general population as well. Although society ddiscrimination, HIV itself does not discriminate. (statistics obtained from: www. kff. rg/kaiserpolls) 1. Society Response When speaking of HIV in general, people get defensive and uncomfortable. This is where peer advocacy at testing sites, community education sites, and in the clinics/hospitals is vital because those living with HIV can share their stories and show others the different types of people that contract HIV. So a face can be put with the virus, show others that you cant tell who has HIV by looking at someone. Also, a belief that comes into play is that if you talk about sex, even safe sex, that people will be encouraged to have more of it.In reality the opposite rings true. The more that educators and hospital professionals talk about safe sex and STDs, the more comfortable others are talking with their sex partners on the subject. The more you know about a topic, the more confident you feel to discuss it with others. 3) Personal Strengths, Skills, Knowledge, Qualities and Limitations Ive always had an altruistic personality, compassion for others, ability to empathize with external and internal human struggles. In high school I enjoyed giving advice and being the sympathetic ear to my friends.Growing older, I enjoyed listening to and talking with mature adults at work with every day contact I gained more knowledge about their life experience. I was always fascinated when discussing the way they handled their trials and tribulations. I always had a thirst for knowledge whether it is the spoken words of others, reading book s, enjoying new experiences, or researching online. Some professionals who receive vast education, or are in their chosen profession for a long time, come to believe they have learned it all. They get stuck in a rut like doctors treating numbers, not treating the patient.I dont believe I will ever get to that place in my career. At the start and at the end of the day, you need to remember your purpose for yourself and for others. Its innate for all of us to need human experience, to be loved and accepted, to feel needed, to make others happy. In summary, a thirst for human knowledge, an understanding that society and people are forever changing, the ability to empathize with others, and the human experience in general, is what makes an effective social worker. One of my limitations is that I often underestimate myself.Because of that I put limitations on myself that dont need to be there. I let fear of success get in the way of success. However, Ive come to realize this and I do my best to strive further and not give up. There are always obstacles in life whether it is emotional, physical, or environmental. One must learn to get around them, work with them, or run right through them. 4) Ethics and Values My personal values are seen in the work I have chosen to do tthroughout my life. Ive worked with the mentally challenged, mentally ill, and physically challenged individuals for many years.I believe no matter what the differences and limitations are, we as human beings all deserve respect, dignity, and the same opportunities that all Americans are provided. The right to vote, obtain an education, right to work, to serve in the community, have resources available, and to live and experience life to its fullest; are rights and privileges we all have. Some do not realize how in the past those that differ from the norm have had to fight and struggle for these rights, many had to experience anguish, despair, and isolation when institutionalization was standard and no rights were given to these individuals.In 1955 the institutions were slowly shutdown for the most part and deinstitutionalization became the standard. The mentally challenged, physically disabled and mentally ill were more accepted and iintegrated into the community, the educational system, into paid work and vocational positions, the government and state provided adaptions so they could gain access to the community and use their rights. There is always more work to do.The general public has little concept of how significant the population of disabled individuals is, more educating to the public needs to be put into place on how prevalent physical, intellectual, and mental disorders are, for example, the CDC reported 1 in 110 children in the United States have an Autism spectrum disorder, 13% of children have a developmental disability and the last count in 1993 the CDC found 1. 5 million children and adults ages 6-64 had intellectual disabilities.As a social worker one will work with people from all walks of life, characters, belief systems, religion, culture, race, and value systems. Also depending on these factors, the issues individuals deal with in their day to day lives will vary. You have to put your ego and your own beliefs that may be different from theirs aside and take your profession seriously, but dont take yourself too seriously. Put the person youre serving first and remember the service youre providing, whatever your field may be.People will come in with conflicting beliefs, religions, and backgrounds, but unless you have walked in their shoes its not for you to judge or change their mind. However, you are required to report incidents such as, abuse, homicidal and suicidal intentions (if there is a plan set out). You are there to offer help with resources and advice on the use of those resources available to the individual. 5) Meaningful Volunteer and/or Work experience For the year of 2007 I worked for Quality Living Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska , this is a rehab facility specializing in TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and Spinal Cord Injury.Never having worked with this population, it was an eye opening experience to see several people go from living an independent life, to losing the ability to walk or go to the bathroom, losing the ability to speak, process thoughts, control of their muscles, having to relearn everything and not fully gain back certain skills. Also teaching and helping struggling families gain skills to cope and work with their loved ones as well. One tough situation among many was a family with a seventeen year old daughter who was ran over by a vehicle at night; she had a TBI and was in a comma.I watched the family by her side and praying for her to wake up every day. This hit close to my heart because I have a daughter as well and I thought to myself how heartbroken I would be if that happened to her. You are reminded of how valuable life is and how important the moments are that you spend with those you love. I had never assisted people who were in such extensive need of various services. The individuals attended physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and relearning everyday living skills to gain back the skills they lost.I didn't know the need for this service was so extensive. There are few facilities like it which specialize in TBI and SCI. There are rehabilitation hospitals who offer ssimilar therapies and resources but not to this extent and not as individualized. The creator of Quality Living was one person and a community of families with loved ones who have TBI and/or Spinal Cord Injury who werent getting the services they desperately needed. Working with the individuals and those who work for them, reminded me of the power and perseverance of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle. ) Cultural Diversity Experience a. I have some experience working with diverse cultures. I worked as a nursing assistant in various facilities, nursing homes, group homes, a nd hospitals, assisting with personal care and daily living. Working with the elderly you see how people come from different backgrounds and how it affects who they are today. You also see how dementia and Alzheimers affects the brain and physical function. As I went over before, I worked with individuals with physical and mental disabilities; I still do to this day.I gained a lot of patience and understanding from this work. You come across various behaviors that can be aggressive, violent, emotional, and this will challenge you emotionally and intellectually as well. This will also at times drain you physically and emotionally. At the end of the day you get these reminders: a friendship gained, a smile, a thank you, an apology, a new experience, being able to teach someone and help someone. You see youve made a difference despite the difficult days that come and go. b.I have not had professional experience working with many different ethnicities and/or nationalities. However, I ha ve had personal experience with friendships and co-workers of various national origins such as, Africa, Persia, Mexico, India, Ecuador, Haiti, Columbia, France, Portugal and Britain. I myself love learning about different cultures, their views, beliefs, traditions, history, and food of course, its all very fascinating to me. c. I am most comfortable working with those my age or between 20-40 years of age because I can more easily relate and be at the same level maturity and intellect.I also am comfortable with those who have disabilities and mental illnesses, having professional and personal experience with this population I am more apt to see the person, not just their disability. d. After careful thought there is not a population I am uncomfortable working with. 7. ) Social Support and Financial Plan I plan on applying for school loans and sscholarships. As well as meeting with the financial assistance and sscholarship offices. Currently my husband and I are looking into starting a non-profit shelter for female veterans out of our home.We have already begun contacting individuals within The National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center which host retreats for veteran couples and also works constantly on assisting veterans with obtaining the resources that are available to them. While I am at school and doing work credit hours my husband will take care of the business, along with our business partners we will also hire extra people to assist us with running the business. I am very excited about this endeavor and feel my further education with New Mexico State would contribute a great deal to this and future endeavors. [->0] – http://www. kff. org/kaiserpolls

Mba Finance Sop Essay

It often happens that the very best of our competencies, strengths and creativities are brought to action when we willingly take on challenges. Right from my childhood, my parents taught me that whenever we face obstacles towards achieving a goal, there only two clear choices (1) to back out of goal-plans and stay in the comfort zone of being â€Å"reasonable† or (2) to take it on as a challenge, solve it and seize the opportunity to be in charge of destiny. I have always chosen the later. As a teenager, I would read through the profiles of business leaders – successful entrepreneurs and top managers in leading corporations. It became increasingly clear that a strong majority of them started early in their business careers and with a marked degree of focus. Realizing my acumen for finance as a subject area, I therefore decided to â€Å"get my feet wet† soon after pursing my Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Mumbai (Bombay). Extensive efforts and networking lead me towards a golden opportunity with ABC, the Indian arm of globally reputed Investment Bank. I joined the ABC team as a Junior Analyst. The exciting role involved reporting to senior managers and working in the Capital Markets industry and developing competencies in cutting edge Financial Products and services. At ABC, I realized that it does take a trained eye to read through different trades and analyze the logic and complexities behind them. The company turned out to be a world in itself! In the first three months (and as junior analyst), I learnt about the life cycle of a trade, the common terminologies used while trading and complexities involved in a trade, the final settlement processes and the nuances of reporting such details to senior management and clientele. I was then handed over the opportunity to handle such complex activities independently. At the company, Professional Trainers and guest lecturers have often been invited to train and develop personnel on various specialized knowledge areas. I thus had the opportunity to learn hands-on and in detail about Capital Markets, Futures and Options, Equity and Equity Derivatives, Foreign Exchange (Options, Spots and Forwards), Advanced Excel and many more knowledge and skill areas of finance. Within six months of taking my taking charge, a record collection of Commissions of over US$300 Mn. (having no outstanding commissions more than 90 days) was achieved. I received appreciations from senior management, clients and counterparts for 100% accuracy in reporting. Within a year, I was promoted as Analyst and  entrusted leading a team of 6 Junior Analysts. I was transitioned to the Foreign Exchange (FX) Settlements Team and developed competencies as a subject matter expert for the company’s operations with DEF. In August 2009, I received a quarterly award for outstanding performance. Having proven my mettle in handling high volumes of trading transactions, instituting process and ensuring efficient execution, I was entrusted with a special project – spearheading the company’s strategic initiative of direct membership arrangement with ABC. We had, so far, been a â€Å"Third Party Member† the world leader in Foreign Exchange settlements. To ensure this prestigious alliance, I located more than 100 prospects (â€Å"counterparties†) who could gain by conducting transactions with our company. I pitched our services extensively bringing home the fact that we had emerged to world class standards in credibility, liquidity and credit line in the industry. The project’s fruition resulted in revenue savings in excess of GBP 9 Mn to the company. Having achieved this goal, I took the lead in development and execution of all sub-process of Foreign Exchange – thus ensuring superior service levels to clientele. With nearly 4 years of success in investment banking, my post-MBA career goal is to grow to the position of a Senior Associate in the Capital Markets Prime Services division of a global Investment Bank. Such an experience will broaden my perspective to face challenges in the global financial services industry and bring in unlimited opportunities to innovate and add value. My long-term aspiration is to establish and operate a financial services firm that focuses on Investment management for Ultra High-Net-Worth Individuals and Enterprises and provide financial solutions to Governments, Corporations and Institutional clients. The firm will be focused on the leading edge in mixing asset classes to maximize returns while minimizing risk. The second phase plan includes setting up of a private equity firm that will help other entrepreneurs like me achieve their own dreams; this will provide me with utmost satisfaction. A Global M.B.A program From ABC university – School of business is crucial towards achieving my career goals at this stage in my career. The School’s approach of cultivating intuition through case studies in finance, strategy and other application areas will help me strengthen my fundamentals and devel  op well-trained managerial and entrepreneurial instincts. I stand to gain immensely through participation in challenging industry/consulting  assignments and thus widen my understanding to a global scale. The other area of importance to my goals is leadership development. In a people-driven financial services enterprise, the greatest asset is people – their knowledge, enthusiasm, loyalty and cohesion with organizational goals. In addition to specialist courses/training in leadership development, ABC University provides the platform to interact with globally renowned faculty and a diverse student community and develop interpersonal skills and comfort on a global scale. It also opens up vistas for networking extensively with the vast alumni network and learning through seminars from global business leaders. ABC University is thus my most preferred destination pursing an M.B.A program.

A Brief History of Adidas

Although urban legend has it that the word Adidas is an anagram of the phrase all day I dream about sports, the athletic wear company gets its name from its founder, Adolph Adi Dassler. He and his brother founded the company that would become a worldwide brand, but their history as members of the Nazi Party isnt as well known. Beginnings of Adidas Shoes In 1920, at the age of 20, avid soccer player  Adolph  (Adi)  Dassler, son of a cobbler,  invented spiked shoes for track and field. Four years later Adi and his brother Rudolph (Rudi) founded the German sports shoe company  Gebrà ¼der Dassler OHG—later known as  Adidas. T By 1925 the Dasslers were making leather  shoes  with nailed studs and track shoes with hand-forged spikes. Beginning with the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Adis uniquely designed shoes began to gain a worldwide reputation.  Jesse Owens  was wearing a pair of Dasslers track shoes when he won four gold medals for the US  at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. At the time of his death in 1959, Dassler held over 700 patents related to sports shoes and other athletic equipment. In 1978, he was inducted into the American Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame as one of the founders of the modern sporting goods industry. The Dassler Brothers and World War II During the war, both Dassler brothers were members of the NSDAP (The National Socialist German Workers Party)  and eventually even produced a weapon called Panzerschreck an anti-tank bazooka, made with the help of forced labor. The Dasslers both joined the Nazi Party prior to the war, and Adi supplied shoes to the Hitler Youth movement, and to German athletes at the 1936 Olympics. Its also believed that Adi Dassler used Russian prisoners of war to help at his factory during the war since there was a labor shortage due to the war effort. The Dasslers had a falling out during the war; Rudolf believed Adi had identified him as a traitor to American forces. In 1948, Rudi founded what would later become Puma, a rival shoe company to Adidas. Adidas in the Modern Era In the 1970s, Adidas was the top athletic shoe brand sold in the US. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were both wearing Adidas boxing shoes in their Fight of the Century in 1971. Adidas was named the official supplier for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Although still a strong, well-known brand today, Adidas share of the world sports shoe market dropped over the years, and what began as a German family business is now a corporation (Adidas-Salomon AG) combined with the French global concern Salomon. In 2004 Adidas bought Valley Apparel Company, a U.S. company that held licenses for outfitting more than 140 U.S. college athletic teams. In 2005 Adidas announced that it was purchasing the American shoemaker Reebok, which allowed it to compete more directly with Nike in the U.S. But the Adidas world headquarters are still located in Adi Dasslers hometown of Herzogenaurach. They also have an ownership stake in German soccer club 1. FC Bayern Mà ¼nchen.