Marketing Exploratory Research Essay

Researchers employ exploratory research when little is known about the topic and previous theories or ideas do not apply. For example, if you wanted to study how to get students to use the computer lab in a college environment, you might first have to do exploratory research to figure out which students might need the lab and what appeals to this demographic. Exploratory research clarifies problems, gathers data and creates initial hypothesis and theories about subjects. The primary point of exploratory research is to give researchers pertinent information and help them to form initial hypotheses about the subject. Exploratory research is challenging in the sense that it tackles vaguely defined hypothesis and tries to find answers to questions. This kind of research is social in nature and requires some preliminary work in the direction of the research. In fact, sociologist Earl Babbie treats exploratory as the purpose of the research saying this kind of research proves to be useful when the hypothesis has yet not been formed or developed. There are certain basic premises that need to be tested at the start of an exploratory research. With the help of these hypotheses, the researcher hopes to arrive at more generalizations. Exploratory research is a form of research conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined. Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection method and selection of subjects. It should draw definitive conclusions only with extreme caution. Given its fundamental nature, exploratory research often concludes that a perceived problem does not actually exist. Exploratory research often relies on secondary research such as reviewing available literature and/or data, or qualitative approaches such as informal discussions with consumers, employees, management or competitors, and more formal approaches through in-depth interviews, focus groups, projective methods, case studies or pilot studies. The Internet allows for research methods that are more interactive in nature. For example, RSS feeds efficiently supply researchers with up-to-date information; major search engine search results may be sent by email to researchers by services such as Google Alerts; comprehensive search results are tracked over lengthy periods of time by services such as Google Trends; and websites may be created to attract worldwide feedback on any subject. When the purpose of research is to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or acquire new insight into it in order to formulate a more precise problem or develop hypothesis, the exploratory studies ( also known as formulative research ) come in handy. If the theory happens to be too general or too specific, a hypothesis cannot to be formulated. Therefore a need for an exploratory research is felt to gain experience that will be helpful in formulative relevant hypothesis for more definite investigation Descriptive Research Descriptive research is done with a specific research question in mind. It gives a set view of the subject, population, market segment or problem. An example of descriptive research would be a report that provides an age and gender breakdown of the users of a particular online service. Descriptive research provides research questions, populations or methods of analysis before the research is started. In marketing, it often consists of longitudinal studies, which study the behavior of individuals over time, and cross-sectional studies, which examine many populations at one specific time. As the name implies, a descriptive research is descriptive in nature and gathers statistics, which is later carefully studied to arrive at conclusions. In fact, descriptive research often leads to formulation of hypothesis as collation and analysis of data produces conclusions that form the basis of another research. So, if there is a research about the use of alcohol among teenagers, it typically begins with collection of data that is descriptive in nature and lets people know the age and drinking habits of students. Descriptive research is helpful for calculations and to arrive at statistical tools such as median, averages, and frequencies. Descriptive research, also known as statistical research, describes data and characteristics about the population or phenomenon being studied. However, it does not answer questions about e.g.: how/when/why the characteristics occurred, which is done under analytic research. Although the data description is factual, accurate and systematic, the research cannot describe what caused a situation. Thus, Descriptive research cannot be used to create a causal relationship, where one variable affects another. In other words, descriptive research can be said to have a low requirement for internal validity. The description is used for frequencies, averages and other statistical calculations. Often the best approach, prior to writing descriptive research, is to conduct a survey investigation. There are three main types of descriptive methods: observational methods, case-study methods and survey methods. Observational Method With the observational method (sometimes referred to as field observation) animal and human behavior is closely observed. There are two main categories of the observational method — naturalistic observation and laboratory observation. The biggest advantage of the naturalistic method of research is that researchers view participants in their natural environments. This leads to greater ecological validity than laboratory observation, proponents say. Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research can be used in real-life situations. Proponents of laboratory observation often suggest that due to more control in the laboratory, the results found when using laboratory observation are more meaningful than those obtained with naturalistic observation. Laboratory observations are usually less time-consuming and cheaper than naturalistic observations. Of course, both naturalistic and laboratory observation are important in regard to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Case Study Method Case study research involves an in-depth study of an individual or group of indviduals. Case studies often lead to testable hypotheses and allow us to study rare phenomena. Case studies should not be used to determine cause and effect, and they have limited use for making accurate predictions. There are two serious problems with case studies — expectancy effects and atypical individuals. Expectancy effects include the experimenter’s underlying biases that might affect the actions taken while conducting research. These biases can lead to misrepresenting participants’ descriptions. Describing atypical individuals may lead to poor generalizations and detract from external validity. Survey Method Survey method research, participants answer questions administered through interviews or questionnaires. After participants answer the questions, researchers describe the responses given. In order for the survey to be both reliable and valid it is important that the questions are constructed properly. Questions should be written so they are clear and easy to comprehend. What is the difference between Descriptive and Exploratory Research? †¢ Descriptive research, being quantitative in nature, is restrictive in terms of open ended questions, which can be better answered using exploratory research. †¢ Flexibility of design is offered by exploratory research more than by descriptive research. †¢ Descriptive research is used more to arrive at statistical tools such as mean, average, median and frequency. On the other hand, exploratory research allows the researcher to develop designs that are more qualitative in nature. †¢ The amount of information known to the researcher at the start of the research plays an important role in deciding upon the type of research. With only vague ideas in the minds of the researcher, it is better to go for exploratory design. On the other hand, more information such as quantitative data allows a researcher to go for descriptive research that leads to unearthing causal relationships. †¢ Exploratory research needs to be conducted first to have a platform that allows for collation of data required in descriptive research.

Classical Education Essay

Some people hold the view that the classics are classics because they have stood the test of time. Therefore, they are to be treasured by people of all generations, ours being no exception. Others believe that the classics represent the wisdom of the past. As we are advancing towards the future, it is our responsibility to venture into the unknown and generate new understanding of man and nature. What is your view on this issue? Write an essay in 300 – 500 words in response to this question and give reasons to support your position. Classical education is ‘ communicates to the mind †¦ a high sense of honor, a disdain of death in a good cause, and a passionate devotion to the welfare of one’s country’ , which proposed by Oxford classicist Edward Copleston. Classics studies indeed have stood the test of time and represent the wisdom of the past which treasured by all generations. Therefore, it is our responsibility to venture into the unknown and generate new understanding of man and nature. Traditionally, the study of classics was the principal study of the humanities. It is connected to the study of languages, history, art, literature, philosophy, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean word, especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. For example, every European language today such as the Romance languages and Modern Greek was evolved and influenced by the classical language of the Ancient Mediterranean. Nevertheless, classical study now expanded to Northern Africa and Middle East. It has become our references in many different arenas and immensely contributed to our culture today which proves that classic studies have the ability to transform self’s understanding. According to Charles Augustin Sainte-Beure’s idea and belief, a true classic is an author who has enriched the human mind and revealed some eternal passion through his thought, observation, or invention. Therefore, it could be opposed by anyone since each and everyone have different thoughts and ideas influenced by their present lifestyles, culture or even discovery.

Art in dark, Dark in art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Art in dark, Dark in art - Essay Example On the other hand, art may not always be depicted in the same positive scenario. In fact, the opposite side of what is picturesque and ecstatic is shown through bloody images that sometimes evoke negative feelings on those who view the art. Gloomy colors, grotesque bodies, and distorted imagery characterize art in dark. Does art in dark have a place in people’s sight, thoughts, and emotions? Why is there such a thing as dark in art and for what purposes does it serve? During the Late Renaissance period, a distinct type of art emerged in Florence, Rome, Italy and eventually the rest of Europe (Esaak). While it was considered a down time for artists in general, there was a group trained in the ancient styles who focused on a different kind of art that was the exact reverse of those during the High Renaissance. This was aptly called the Mannerism and it showed masterpieces packed with unsettling characters with very long limbs, uncanny emotions and ideas, and conflicting colors. The same could be observed with the nude characters that were modeling strange positions. Mannerism was said to be a mixture of Christianity, Classicism, and mythology. Esaak adds that even Michelangelo himself joined in the craze as a reflection of his adaptability and tendency toward emotional art. Michelangelo typically seem to be a bit uncaring when it comes to his portrayals of human beings. In the modern day era, lots of other artists have delved in the same artistic but pessimistic theme. Some of them have graduated in traditional art schools with flying colors. While they have started out in the mainstream, others became confident enough to express their real emotions in their art. Feelings of fear, emptiness, aggression, confusion, anxiety, anger and defeat surround their art works. Despite this inclination towards art in dark, most of these artists have been successful in their respective fields of endeavor. For instance, Anthony Clarkson, a

Compare online education at Grantham University to that of ground Essay

Compare online education at Grantham University to that of ground education on any University of your choice - Essay Example Universities have the job of training students in the design of society. This role goes beyond just giving them basic education. They also have to mould them to be successful. An integral part of this training according to the current competiveness should be to make students highly competitive. Therefore the university curriculum should include programs aimed at bringing the students up to date with current technological advances. The new advances being made in the field of studies should also be taken into account while making their curriculum. We live in a highly digitalized and a highly fast paced track of streams of networks racing to catch up with one another. This only translates into the fact that what a person does today in one part of the world, can easily be tracked and checked in the other part of the world. Today, our schedules demand more from us. For those who don’t know how to multi-task or how to juggle their ever-increasing responsibilities, the Darwinian rules might apply to them – survival of not only the fittest, but also the fastest and smartest. However, it’s not all that threatening. With advanced technology requirements come, advanced technological benefits as well and now the world stays connected regardless of the geographical locations. The internet has indeed changed our very perceptions of how we see distance. In this technological era, it is best to make the most of what gadgets and hi-tech facilities we have available today. This includes not only the youth, rather, people of all ages and backgrounds. We all know the importance of well-developed and well groomed educational background. This is so because the perception of a man’s capabilities and his talent is based or judged on the amount of education or training one has received in his/her interested field. This judgment is not only made by the society but most importantly the organizations that hire. They make sure that they

Quality and Process Improvment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Quality and Process Improvment - Essay Example These three processes of quality and process improvement are interdependent and, hence, to be successful in our improvement process, we have to undertake all the three processes. As for quality and process improvement, I have learned how re-engineering of business processes can assist in achieve substantial improvement in business performance. This process involves rethinking and radical redesigning of business processes. Using this knowledge, I can redesign the business processes of my father’s small appliance repair company to enhance its performance. The knowledge I have obtained could help me in putting into consideration various critical measures of business performance like operational cost, reliability of services, and the speed of the processes during the re-engineering process. This could enhance the success of the process and thus making me a successful business manager. The knowledge I have obtained about quality and process improvement can help me to be able to ref ine various elements of the processes during the re-engineering process. Some of the elements of the processes that require refining during the re-engineering process are jobs and tasks undertaken by different individuals in the business. Preference constraints that determine what to be done first and what to follow and the flow management protocol also need refining. By refining these elements, I could increase the chances of obtaining the dramatic change that I will be seeking to obtain through the re-engineering process. I have also learned the importance of incorporating information technology during the process of quality and process improvement. One of the advantages of incorporating information technology in this process is that it can help in increasing the efficiency of various elements of the business processes. Moreover, introducing this technology can increase chances of obtaining more accurate performance measures, thus, enhancing the process of re-engineering. It can a lso enhance the process of evaluating the re-engineering process. With all these knowledge about the importance of information technology in promoting quality and process improvement in the business, I could select the appropriate information technology to apply. This will enhance the quality of services it provides, as well as improving its processes of business. Another thing that I have learned that will be very important in my career as a business manager is the importance of having a comprehensive trouble-shooting catalogue. This could give an inexperienced person in business an idea on the services provided, the time they can take, and their costs implications. The customers would, thus, get the required information without consulting the person who has specialized in proving those services. In return, the turnaround time on service delivery will reduce, thus, resulting in more customer satisfaction and, hence, customer loyalty. Using this knowledge, I would design a trouble-s hooting catalogue for my father’s small appliance repair company, thus, improving how it serves its customers in order to increase customer satisfaction. During my learning on quality and process improvement, I have come to understand the importance of inculcating the process of monitoring and evaluation in the business structure. This could help in revealing the places in which the business is

Ethical, Social and Environmental Standards and Practices of World Essay

Ethical, Social and Environmental Standards and Practices of World Bank - Essay Example The World Bank cordinates with a multiplicity of actors that include government agencies, civil society organization and private sector; thus, high degree of Ethical, Social and Environmental Standards and Practices should be maintained by the World Bank. Social and Environmental Standards and Practices The World Bank has received serious criticism from international and internal level because of the inequality of distributing funds to the need countries. Thus, it has changed its policies as it has persistently been developing new and diverse methods to support socially and environmentally sustainable development by involvement in World Bank projects. There are formulated safeguard policies that are compulsory strategies for every decision, or measure undertaken by the World Bank representatives (Marshall, 2008). The aim of these safeguards is to keep certain social and environmental standards in projects that are managed by the World Bank. Thus, social and environmental soundness is currently a crucial requirement in the project’s valuation of progress, especially for the loan agreement. Although, there is always interference of political and economic activities, the World Bank article of agreement demand that a measure be economically efficient and avoid political considerations. Meanwhile, there is a stronger connection between social and environmental considerations; the World Bank gives the social and environmental rights more weight than the economic development. Manske and Frey (2004) indicate that the environmental standards have to be compiled in every internal or external of World Bank decision and development measures with emphasis on the ecological aspect that act as conditions in a loan agreement. The environmental standards comprise the considerations of labor, health, safety gender and community issues of the developing countries. They contribute to promotion of democracy and human rights because the political awareness and participation i n activities of ecological concern is maintained. Thus, the World Bank has active responsibilities in setting social and environmental standards and promoting exceptional corporate governance. Its key principles are a standard for the financial industry in managing social and environmental issues in projects financing. The organization supports the management of social, environmental of its members, and signed corporate governance approach to promote reasonable governance practices. The approach supports the right and equitable treatment of its members on matters of social and environmental issues. Meanwhile, it supports the disclosure and transparency of the information to its members with a suggestion of the duties of representatives. According to Manske and Frey (2004), the transparency and disclosure of the information provides extra reputation to transparency for the natural resource development among the members. The disclosure of information of dangerous population to its mem bers has helped these members to implement various measures to stop the carbon emulsion into the environment. The organization has managed to introduce flexibility that is vital to customers because it comprises varying capacities and diverse financing products to its members. It enhances effectiveness and strengthens the significance of safeguards in changing its member’

Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 16

Questions - Assignment Example If it were not for the allowance of the comments, the verdict would not be the same in the case. The police would not police violate a suspect’s Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure by secretly placing a GPS tracking device on the suspect’s car for an extended time without first securing a warrant to do so. The warrant should be for a good cause and backed by an oath with description of what to be searched. The constitution is not clear on what extend the public nudity scope is. This is the constitutional challenge on this case. In the case of T See City of Erie v. Pap’s A.M., 529 U, the owners of Kandyland should not be held liable since there is constitutional space for debate. This should be an opportunity for setting the debate straight. This is backed by the 5th amendment of the bill of rights, where no person shall be held to answer to infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger (McDams

Precede Proceed Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Precede Proceed Model - Essay Example As per the research conducted by Stanford University Medical Center (2003), South Asian Indian Women are more prone to heart diseases and diabetes compared to other women of the world. The primary reason behind this is their reluctance to the insulin resistance syndrome that causes high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. There is no doubt that diet plays an important role in controlling diabetes but reluctance towards insulin is one of the major problems that often aggravate the problem. Thus, it is important for health planners, policy makers and evaluators to design an effective and efficient health program pertaining to the diabetes control among South Asian Indian Women. The role of health care institutes and communities is of great importance in creating awareness along with changing the health care systems and patterns along with educating women suffering from diabetes. There is a need of global initiative and a systematic utilization of the health framework to attain he alth objectives. It is important to incorporate Precede Proceed Model’s elements while designing an effective framework for controlling diabetes along with keeping a tab on related diseases. ... There has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of Diabetes in South Asian Indian Women living in different parts of the world. The primary reason behind this is low physical activities and high fat diet. There is no denying that genetics play an important role in determining a disease but apart from it, health initiatives and perceptions also play a deciding role. It is important to create local level awareness among these women along with guiding them in an informative and logical manner on the use and importance of insulin. An initiative needs to be taken by creating health care communities bringing changes along with managing and guiding people suffering from diabetes (Gielen, McDonald, Bone, (2008). This would help in addressing the problem in a systematic manner offering great results and solutions. Precede Proceed Model Lawrence Green (1976) stated that Precede Proceed Model is a framework that helps and guides health planners, policy makers and evaluators to assess a hea lth problem along with designing an effective health programs. It includes enhancing of health and quality life by designing and implementing effective health initiatives and programs. This model requires active participation of targeted audience in order to understand problems and issues pertaining to a specific disease. This model states that health problems are influenced by both environmental and personal factors and need to be analyzed well. In this discussion, the basic health problem to be assessed and analyzed is diabetes and community based health solutions would be designed based on Precede Proceed Model. This would help in achieving the proposed objective of the discussion in a desired and systematic manner. Description of the Model The

Trade Unions Should Care About Equality, Ecological Sustainability, Coursework

Trade Unions Should Care About Equality, Ecological Sustainability, and Democracy and Collaborate with Unions in Other Countries - Coursework Example In order to move progressively forward in improving global economic, ecological, and social conditions, a decrease in disuniting nationalism between trade unions is necessary. In capitalist economies, businesses gain profit from exploiting the time of the workers. Because capitalist systems exist in a dynamic balancing act of dividing profit based on time between workers and their employers, wherein business strive to maximize their profit often resulting in poor wages and benefits for the individual, trade unions are a natural response to the pressures of this type of economic system (Yates, 2003, p. 203). Trade unions help to maintain high levels of employment and real income for skilled workers within a nation, though traditionally little international cooperation has existed. In the post-Second World War period economic boom, many trade unions were repressed by political forces. In the United States, these entities attempted to generate employer loyalty during the Cold War, resulting in the creation of labor-leader-statesmen that were unprepared for the struggles the working class would undergo after the economic boom (Yates, 2003, p.230-231). In developing nations, such as India, labor unions remain ineffective often because of the large portions of those unemployed, those marginally employed, and those employed in extremely poor conditions (Yates, 2003, p. 231). Some progress has been made by organizations such as the International Confederation of Free Trade Union in uniting multinational trade unions (Camdessus, 1996). Globalization is a force that cannot be fought, and trade unions must learn to function across national boundaries in the new global economy. Equality within an economy and between different nations is an important issue for trade unions.  

Controversy impacts the community and community policing Research Paper

Controversy impacts the community and community policing - Research Paper Example Since its establishment, NYPD has done a lot to ensure that New York City is safe for all its residents. In particular, the department has been very effective since 1994 when William Bratton became the commissioner of the department. He introduced one of the policing strategies; proactive policing or otherwise publicly called the Stop and Frisk policy, which has improved security in the city vis-Ã  -vis a lot of criticism from citizens (Ron, 2009). With the proactive policy, Bratton focused on combating crime in all crime hotspots and taking care of victims. This operation entailed the use of police undercover, decoys, relying on informants, raiding, shadowing offenders, and saturating streets with police officers. Note that criminal acts are not evenly distributed with the city (Ferreira, 1996). To handle this challenge, Bratton ordered police officers to patrol certain areas more than the other areas. Another key factor that proactive policy used is encouraging good relationship b etween the police department and the people. This strategy incorporates the people into security issues. Citizens were encouraged to call the police using the public number; 911. Although many citizens are of the opinion that the presence of police officers in the streets cannot deter crime, but proactive policy has proved that aggressive patrol makes a lot of difference. However, the citizens seem to like this policy but object the way the police officers stop and frisk them yet they are not crime suspects (Franklin, 2012). The credits of Stop and Frisk policy can be justified by the tremendous reduction in crime incidence in the city. In January 2013, Ray Kelly the New York police commissioner reported that the strategies used in proactive policy has helped the police department to keep crime cases in New York at very low rates. In addition, this policy

Learning children to play percussion instruments Essay Example for Free

Learning children to play percussion instruments Essay The role of a teaching assistant is to maximise learning, create a safe and positive learning environment and to minimise behaviour problems. I would contribute to the lesson by trying to achieve this goal in the following way: I would ensure all the instruments are ready for the lesson, having checked they are in good repair and unlikely to cause injury. I would supervise the children using the instruments, i.e. check they hold them correctly, use them appropriately be a good role model demonstrating how instruments should be held and used. I would support children who are experiencing difficulties I would monitor childrens ability to use instruments, follow instructions, achieve outcome of lesson Safety would be about the state of the instruments, childrens use of them and ensuring mouth pieces are hygienically treated and maintained Making sure that music sheets are available if needed. I would also monitor their behaviours by supervising and to try and minimize disruptive behaviour, which will help the children keep interest in the lesson. I would also ensure that I carry out observations on the children to make sure they have the ability to use the instruments and to achieve the outcome of the lesson. As a teaching assistant I should also be prepared to offer feedback at the end of the session to either the children or the teacher.

Utility of Domesticated Animals Essay Example for Free

Utility of Domesticated Animals Essay The biosphere around us comprises of plants, animals and humans. Each has its own role and part to play. They contribute immensely to make it functional and viable for each other. It is indeed true that it would not be full circle if one part or whole would be missing. Man however has utilized his supreme intelligence to extract the best from plants and animals for his very existence and to lead a luxurious lifestyle. Man has domesticated animals since times immemorial. It is man who has used camels, horses, cows, sheep, goat and dogs for his own needs. A camel is an amazing animal inhabitant to the dry desert. The shorter, two-humped Bactrian camels are cold climate camels while the Arabian camels having a single hump live in hot deserts. Camels provide transport, shade, milk, meat, wool and hides. Their gait like a rolling boat has earned it the adage of being the ship of the desert. Camel has a large mouth with sharp teeth to eat thorny bushes, grass, grains, seeds and dates. Long eyelashes, ear hair and sealable nostrils protect it from sand. Camels have long, thin legs with powerful muscles which carry heavy loads over long distances. Camels milk is more nutritious than cows milk; low in fat and is sweet. Young male camels have the best camel meat and its hump is a delicacy. Camels hair makes high quality coats, artists brushes and garments. a camel draws energy from its hump fat during its long and tedious journeys. the God gifted camel is the symbol of adaptability and toughness. A cow is a gentle animal. It is revered as the second mother to millions for its milk. They are found in herds on farms. They are raised for milk, meat and leather. They graze on grass and feed on grains, crops and legumes. India has the largest number of cattle in the world followed by Brazil and China. Its milk is used to make cheese, butter, ghee, cottage cheese, curd, whey, sweets and ice-cream. Its hide is used for leather to make shoes and clothing. Combs are made from its horns. The small, honey-brown Jersey cow is famous for the high butterfat in its milk and its genial disposition. In Hinduism the cow is a symbol of wealth, strength, abundance and selfless giving. A horse is a noble animal. It has four strong legs, a stout body and a short tail. The mane on its shoulders makes it look magnificently powerful. Arabian horses are the best in the world. In old days horses were used for traveling and in wars and games. Later they were harnessed to carts and carriages to pull goods. Now-a-days horses are seen in cavalry, circuses and race courses. Horses feed on grass and lentils. Horse is the symbol of power and courage for its great speed and splendid look.

Determination of Uranium Concentration in Uranium Ore

Determination of Uranium Concentration in Uranium Ore Investigation of effective Parameters on determination of uranium concentration in uranium ore by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy A. AliValiOllahi*, Gh. Alahyarizadeh, S. A. Ahmadi, A. Minuchehr, A. Zolfaghari Abstract Uranium concentration in four different sample solutions (A, B, C and D) of uranium ore was determined by X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The effect of several different parameters on the XRF results including types of acid digestion, sample amount and calibration methods were also investigated. Regarding to absent of uranium ore standard, the samples were prepared as solutions. Three different microwave acid digestions, (HNO3: HCl: HF-6:2:2), (H3PO4: H2SO4: HF-3:3:3), (HNO3: H2O2: HF-4:2:2), were used. The highest uranium concentrations for three samples (A, C and D) were obtained by third acid digestion method and another sample (B), was obtained by second acid digestion, which were 10.8, 4.8, 9.8 and 12.5 ppm, respectively. To study the matrix effect, different standard calibrations such as external calibration, internal addition were applied. The results were also confirmed by the measurements which wer e performed by ICP-OES. Keywords: Uranium ore, X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy, ICP-OES, Microwave acid digestion, internal addition Introduction Uranium is the famous element from the actinide series in the periodic table which has an atomic number of 92. it is silver color, ductile, flexible and slightly paramagnetic metal which has high density. Uranium is the material of vast technological importance because of its use as the main fuel in nuclear reactors. The usual source for uranium production is uranium ores which are too limited. Therefore, determination of uranium concentration in the uranium ores has very high importance [1, 2]. Several techniques have been developed for determination of uranium. Including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) [3, 4], inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) [5], inductively coupled plasma optic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) [6, 7], flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) [8], graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) [9], X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) [10, 11]. Geological samples which contain uranium are most commonly analyzed by XRF method. Many studies have been carried out on the use of XRF for determination of uranium concentration in ore samples. P. Arikan et al studied quantitative analysis of uranium in ore deposit by XRF; their experiments clearly show the capability of XRF method for analysis of uranium in uranium bearing ores [12]. M. A. Al-Eshaikh determined uranium content in phosphate ores using different measurement techniques; they concluded that XRF provides the accurate results for heavy elements such as uranium [15]. Furthermore, many researches have been issued on the use of ICP-OES for the determination of uranium in uranium matrices. P. Murugesan et al studied determination of total concentration of uranium in borehole core samples by ICP-OES; they concluded that the ICP-OES results obtained compare favorably by using differential technique in laser-induced fluorimetry, which they used as a reference measurement procedure [13] and J. S. Santos et al studied operating condition for determination of uranium by ICP-OES; their results agreed with the results achieved using ICP-MS [14]. In the present study, XRF spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of uranium in four different uranium ore samples which was prepared by three various acid digestion strategies. The effect of different acid digestions and also different addition methods were studied on the results. ICP-OES method was also used for the results validation. Materials and methods Instrumentation The analytical determination of uranium was carried out with ICP-OES spectrometer: Spectra Genesis and XRF spectrometer: Spectra Xepos. A Spectra Xepos XRF spectrometer that uses a 50 watt end-window X-ray tube to excite samples was used for XRF measurements. The target changer, with up to 8 polarization and secondary targets, offers many different excitation conditions ensuring optimum determination of all elements from Na to U. The detector is a state-of-the-art silicon drift detector and measurements can be conducted in a He gas. And also a Spectro Genesis spectrometer that is equipped with powerful automation functions for the safe unattended analysis of a large number of samples with an optional autosampler, several hundred samples can be processed without operator intervention. An extensive package Such as a wide range of sample introduction systems, autosamplers, an autodilutor, an ultrasonic nebulizer and hydride generator accessories is available for the Spectro Genesis and it covers the entire relevant wavelength range from 175 to 777nm. A free-running generator with a frequency of 27.12 MHz and a power output of 0.7 to 1.7 kW is utilized. It includes automatic plasma ignition as well as an energy and argon-saving standby mode. The software uses for the Spectro Genesis is The Smart Analyzer Vision software. Table 1 shows some operating conditions and basic information about the devices used in this study. Table 1 Operating parameters of ICP-OES and XRF The sample digestions were arranged using the Multiwave 3000 Anton Paar Microwave Digestion System with eight digestion vessels was used for microwave assisted acid digestion procedures. Table 2 shows operating conditions used for the acid digestion procedures. Table 2 Operating programs of microwave acid digestions Fan Hold(min) Ramp(min) P-Rate( bar/sec) Power Watt Program 1 3 15 15 5 0 0.5 600 0 Cleaning 1 2 45 20 5 0 0.5 700 0 Main 1 2 20 20 0 0 0.5 600 0 Complexing Reagents and solutions The acids were used; hydrochloric acid (37% w/v), nitric acid (67% w/v), hydrofluoric acid (40% w/v), sulfuric acid (95% w/v), phosphoric acid (424% w/v) and hydrogen peroxide (521% w/v) were suprapure reagents (Suprapure, Merck). Boric acid (2% w/v) was analytical-reagent grade (AnalaR; BDH, Chemical Poole, England). High-purity water (electrical resistivity >18Mà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦cm) was produced with a Milli-Q system (Millipore, MA, USA). Calibration was obtained with external standards. Standard solutions were prepared by diluting a 1000ppm uranium standard solution (ICP Multielement Standard IV, Merck, Darmstadt, FRG). Sample preparation Four different uranium ore samples were collected from various regions of Iran that named A, B, C and D. To prepare the liquid sample for examination with XRF and ICP-OES spectrometers, the ore samples should be completely digested using acid combinations. Due to the silica in the samples, HF acid had to be used to achieve complete digestion. Three different acid combinations were used, first 6ml of hydrochloric acid, 2ml of nitric acid plus 2ml of hydrofluoric acid (HNO3:HCl:HF-6:2:2) [16], second 3ml of phosphoric acid, 3ml of sulfuric acid and 3ml of hydrofluoric acid (H3PO4: H2SO4: HF-3:3:3) [17] and third 4ml of nitric acid, 2ml of hydrogen peroxide and 2ml of hydrofluoric acid (HNO3: H2O2: HF-4:2:2) [18, 19]. 0.4g of each ore sample ( Results and discussions Calibration of XRF method Standard 1000ppm uranium solutions were available; five solutions (100ppm, 20ppm, 5ppm, 2ppm and blank) were prepared, 3.5ml of each solution was analyzed in the XRF and the uranium method was created. For determining different elements in XRF method usually KÃŽ ± or LÃŽ ± is used, since uranium is a heavy element, LÃŽ ± was measured [21, 22, 23]. Intensities of uranium peaks and calculated concentration of uranium in standard solutions is summarized in table 3 and the calibration curve is plotted in figure 1. Table 3 Normal impulses and calculated conc. of U in Standards Figure 1 Calibration plot of standards using X-Rays Influence of different acid digestions on uranium measurement The uranium ore samples (A, B, C and D) were digested using three different acid digestion strategies. Using the uranium method obtained from calibration 3.5ml samples were prepared and analyzed in the XRF and their uranium concentrations were measured, results are summarized in table 4. Table 4 Uranium concentration (ppm) of U-ore samples by XRF Influence of the volume of samples on uranium measurement To check the influence of the volume of samples on measurements, 2ml, 3ml, 3.5ml and 4ml samples were also prepared using sample B 3:3:3 and analyzed in the XRF and their uranium concentrations were measured using the uranium method previously obtained. Table 5 shows the results and it can be seen, the volume of samples has insignificant effect on the results. Table 5 Uranium concentration (ppm) for different amount of sample Influence of addition on sample matrices in XRF measurement Since the matrix structure of samples has a significant influence on XRF measurements, the influence was studied using the addition method. One of the uranium ore samples (sample B) was used; 2.5ml of this sample was added by 1ml of the addition solution. Addition solutions were 200ppm, 100ppm, 50ppm and blank. The final solutions were analyzed by XRF using uranium method. The results are summarized in table 6 and figure 2. Table 6 Uranium concentration (ppm) for various additions Figure 2 Uranium concentration for various additions Another addition method was also used, in this method 3ml, 2.5ml, 2ml, 1.5ml, 1ml and 0.5ml samples were added by respectively 0.5ml, 1ml, 1.5ml, 2ml, 2.5ml and 3ml of standard 100ppm solution, the results are summarized in table 7 and figure 3. Table 7 uranium concentration (ppm) of various additions Figure 3 Concentration of various additions ICP-OES method results compared to XRF Due to its high accuracy, rapid analysis and simplicity, ICP-OES method was used for result validation. Similar to the XRF method, calibration is achieved using standard solutions. Eight standard solutions were used, and the results are summarized in table 7 and the calibration curve is plotted in figure 3 Table 8 Insenties of U peaks and calculated conc. of U in standard solutions Figure 4 Calibration plot of standards using ICP-OES . The uranium ore samples (A, B, C and D) were digested using similar acid digestion strategies used in XRF method. Uranium concentrations were measured in the samples (table 9). Table 9 Uranium concentration (ppm) of U-ore samples by ICP-OES As it can be seen the results of uranium concentration from ICP-OES are conformity with the results of XRF. Conclusion Uranium is a material of vast technological importance because of its use as a main fuel in nuclear reactors. Determination of uranium concentration in uranium ores has very high importance. Uranium concentration in four different ore samples of Iran uranium ores was determined by XRF and ICP-OES spectrometry methods. Three different microwave acid digestions were used. After sample preparation, calibration was done using standard solutions. Five samples were used for the XRF method and eight were used for ICP-OES. The uranium concentration was measured in these samples. References [1] N. L. Misra, S. Dhara, A. Das, G. S. Lodha, S. K. Aggarwal And I. Varga, Trace determination of uranium in fertilizer samples by total reflection X-ray fluorescence, Pramana – J. Phys., Vol. 76, No. 2, February 2011 [2] J. S. Santos, L. S. G. Teixeira, W. N. L. dos Santos, V. A. Lemos, J. M. Godoy and S. L.C. Ferreira, Uranium determination using atomic spectrometric techniques: An overview, Analytica Chimica Acta 674 (2010) 143–156 [3] A. Sasmaz M. Yaman, Determination of Uranium and Thorium in Soil and Plant Parts around Abandoned Lead–Zinc–Copper Mining Area, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, (2008), 39:17-18, 2568-2583 [4] C. Charalambous, M. Aletrari, P. Piera, P. Nicolaidou-Kanari, M. Efstathiou, I. Pashalidis, Uranium levels in Cypriot ground water samples determined by ICP- M S and alpha-spectroscopy, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 116 (2013) 187e192 [5] A. Premadas, P. K. Srivastava, Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric determination of lanthanides and Y in various uranium hydrometallurgical products, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 251, No. 2 (2002) 233–239 [6] K. Satyanarayana and S. Durani, Separation and inductively coupled plasma optical emission, spectrometric (ICP-OES) determination of trace impurities in nuclear grade uranium oxide, J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2010) 285:659–665 [7] M. Bettinelli, G.M. Beone, S. Spezia and C. Baffi, Determination of heavy metals in soils and sediments by microwave-assisted digestion and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry analysis, Analytica Chimica Acta 424 (2000) 289–296 [8] B. P. Li, M. B. Luo, J. Q. Li, W. Liu, Y.Z. Sun and G.L. Guo, Determination of cadmium and lead in high purity uranium compounds by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with on-line micro-column preconcentration by CL-7301 resin, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 278, No.1 (2008) 3–8 [9] T. Inui, A. Kosuge, A. Ohbuchi, K. Fujita, Y. Koike, M. Kitano and T. Nakamura, Determination of heavy metals at sub-ppb levels in water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using a direct introduction technique after preconcentration with an iminodiacetate extraction disk, American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, (2012) 3, 683-692 [10] Y. B. Rao, B. V. V. Ramana, P. G. Raghavan and R. B. Yadav, Determination of uranium in process stream solutions from uranium extraction plant employing energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2012) 294:371–376 [11] S. Dhara, N. L. Misra, S. K. Aggarwal and V. Venugopal, Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence determination of cadmium in uranium matrix using Cd KÃŽ ± line excited by continuum, Spectrochimica Acta Part B 65 (2010) 461 –465 [12] P. Arikan and A. Ozmen, Quantitative analysis of uranium in ore deposit by calibration standardization of XRF, Commun. Fac. Sci. Univ. Ank. Series A2, A3, (1987) V. 36, pp 35-40 [13] P. Murugesan1, S. K. Jain1, M. Kumar, P. K. Tarafder and D. P. S. Rathore, Determination of total concentration of uranium in borehole core samples: comparative studies using differential technique in laser-induced fluorimetry and ICP-OES, Exploration and Research for Atomic Minerals, Vol. 23, 2013, pp. 137-144 [14] J. S. Santos, L. S. G. Texeira, R. G. O. Araujo, A. P. Fernandes, M. G. A. Korn and S. L. C. Ferreira, Optimization of the operating conditions using factorial designs for determination of uranium by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, Micro chemical Journal 97 (2011) 113-117 [15] M. A. Al-Eshaikh, A. N. Kadachi, M. M. Sarfraz, Determination of uranium content in phosphate ores using different measurement techniques, Journal of King Saud University – Engineering Sciences (2013) [16] M. Chen and L. Q. Ma, Comparison of Three Aqua Regia Digestion Methods for Twenty Florida Soils, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. (2001) J. 65:491–499 [17] S. V. D. Sluis, Y. Meszaros, W. G. J. Marchee, H. A. Wesselingh and G. M. V. Rosmalen, The digestion of phosphate ore in phosphoric acid, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1987, 26, 2501-2505 [18] F. L. Pantuzzo, J. C. J. Silva, V. S.T. Ciminelli, A fast and accurate microwave-assisted digestion method for arsenic determination in complex mining residues by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, Journal of Hazardous Materials 168 (2009) 1636–1638 [19] J. Ivanova, R. Djingova, S. Korhammer and B. Markert , On the microwave digestion of soils and sediments for determination of lanthanides and some toxic and essential elements by inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry, Talanta 54 (2001) 567–574 [20] Brian Lee Francom, X-ray fluorescence instrument calibration, Theory and Application, Department of Physics Brigham Young University-Idaho, December 2008 [21] R. M. Conrey, J. A. Wolff, A. Seyfarth, A. VanHoose, M. Goodman-Elgar, N. Bettencourt, D. Boschmann and K.Werling, Portable XRF Calibration Using Influence Coefficients [22] D. F. Siems, the Determination of 30 Elements in Geological Materials by Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, (2000) Open-File Report 00-475

A midsummer Night dream :: essays research papers fc

The second half of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th are sometimes called in England †The Age of Shakespeare†. William Shakespeare’s the greatest English poet and dramatist and an indisputed world figure in literature. Altought his works (37 play, 154 sonnets and two long poems) are well knwnall over the world we know little about his life. Shakespeare was born on 23 April 1564, at stratford –upon-Avon, a little town in the heart of England. He was educated at the local grammarschool but as his father’s business went from bad to worse, he had to leave school and begin to earn his living. We next hear of him when were eighteen and a married man. At the age of twenty-one, he set off to seek his fortune in the gratuity of London. There, he was inturn a horse-keep, a stage-boy, a play mender and finally a play-Wright. Shakespeare spent the last years of his life at Stratford, where he died on the 23rd of April 1616. William Shakespeare was a great humanist. His interes in the life and the people of his time made him watch with an observant eye the scenery of his native country, men and women in all walks of life, their appearance, habits and speech. He was familiar with the traditions of English folklore and showed deep concern for his people and his county’s destiny.His work may be divided into three periods: I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first period is hat of poems the sonnets, the historical plays or â€Å"chronicles†(Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV Julius Caesar etc.) comedies (Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, etc) and a few tragedies (Romeo and Juliet, etc.). In general Shakespeare’s writings in this period are full of optimism. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second period includes the great tragedies (Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth) The disillusionment of the humanists is felt throughout. III.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The third period includes the â€Å"romance†plays (The Tempest, The Winter`s Tale, etc.) which are caracterized by a more serene atmosphere. Altought Shakespeare`s language is very difficult, almost evry word combination forms a picture. To understand Shakespeare (both his language and his ideas), we have not â€Å"to read† but â€Å"to study† his works as our great poet Mihai Eminescu said. The apeat compilation of stiles from the comical group of William Shakespeare has a tipical example in A Midsummer Nigt`s Dream. In this opera, the â€Å"Mask†-specific for this time joins to the popular medieval theatre elements, represented by the guilds & english folklore.

Christmas, Then And Now Essay -- essays research papers

Christmas As I slowly awaken from a deep sleep, cool air hits my squinting eyes and I have the feeling that this is not a normal day. I close my eyes again and ponder for less than a spilt second then realize that SANTA CAME LAST NIGHT!!! I throw back the covers, ignoring the cold that would have kept me in bed for hours later on a normal day, and run to the Christmas tree. Without any lights on I quietly examine everything placed under the tree. I notice that Santa had eaten my cookies and drank all my milk. This made me feel as if I had accomplished something more important than world peace; I had fed Santa. All my unwrapped gifts that had appeared only overnight had a special aura surrounding them. Something magical. With a perpetual smile I sit and enjoy the look of the tree and all m...