International Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Politics - Essay Example Without an overarching ruler that can oversee and regulate the international structure, neither the security nor well-being of individual states assures. A state constantly strives to ensure its security and "self-help", through strategic behaviors, competition, and cooperation. Moreover, because international structure is formed by the "co-action of self-regarding units"2 each seeking goods for its own, a lot of assumption of the other units and its intention is made for strategic behavior. Waltz, as a realist political scientist, describes international politics as "the realm of power, of struggle, and of accommodation"3. Thus, uncertainty and coordination problems that take place sometimes make it difficult to achieve the potential benefit (the states are capable of) from free trade and international monetary order. In general, states are an autonomous political unit motivated by self-interest and aimed at their own goods. In such "self-help" system, each unit put effort in providing itself with the means of protection against others. According to Mearsheimer, a realist, cooperation in the international system is unfeasible. ... er, the uncertainty of each other's short-term and long-term intentions and actions, whether the gain will be mutual or lopsided, works against trouble-free cooperation. Standard Trade Theory tells that free trade leads to aggregation of benefit and maximizes the welfare of most states. Now question arises, why then is this so hard to achieve' Nations want to take advantage of the free trade market, but "frequently unwilling to open their own economies"5, is a result of collective action problem. Collective action problem rises out of the self-interest of individual states that halts them from cooperating even if it is in their interest to do so. For example, through the "Endogenous Tariff Theory", Giplin explains, why and how domestic interest groups work to serve its nation's own goods as a barrier to import policies. A state will be willing to participate in the international free market system and export domestically produced goods to other nations for economic development. However, at the same time, it seeks to set up high trade barriers and impose tariffs on imports to hamper other countries' exported goods being brought into domestic economy. This will result in a situation, where every state seeks to export as much as it can, and import as little as possible. According to Goldstein, this action is "individually rational but collectively suboptimal for each nation to adhere to tariffs rather than to free trade"6. During the Great Depression period in United States, Americans were collectively running to the bank to withdraw their savings, which did no help to the economic downfall. As such, no state will think in other states' position or aim for the true, long-term benefits for the whole; but instead will act selfishly for short-term benefit and security

Greenhouse effect and global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Greenhouse effect and global warming - Essay Example There has been a considerable increase in the average temperature of earth in the past century. This rise in temperature is attributed to the effects of global warming brought about by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is called Global Warming. (In the news, Global Warming.org).The global warming has happened in the past few years and is evident from the rise in mean temperature of the earth's atmosphere. The main causes for the global warming are attributed to release of green house gases by human activities. The main gases contributing to green house effect are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane and nitrous oxide. The largest producers of these gases are the thermal power plants, which burn the fossil fuels and produce these gases in large quantities. The second biggest sources of these green house gases are the road vehicles and industries. The global warming has led to increase in mean earth surface temperature and thus melting of polar ice . There are frequent melt down of glaciers that result in floods and other natural calamities. The melting of ice at the poles had led the mean sea level. And further increase in temperature may further melt the ice and lead to further increase in mean sea level, which will engulf low lying countries. (Global Warming facts, Global Warming.org). HOT (or warm) TOPIC as Always! Well, Global warming has always been in news for some time around due to several factors (including comical) and was even referred in the Daryl Cargle cartoon Global chaos-Halloween 2008 as one of the demons in the Halloween night who scare today's population. On the contrary this principle has been exploited so skillfully by ecological scare-mongers that it is now regarded as politically incorrect, even unscientific, to denounce global warming hysteria as unproven speculation. In his latest exciting and provocative techno-thriller State of Fear, Michael Crichton exposes a scintillating revelation, regarding the way ecological groups have twisted data and facts to create mass anxiety. He points out that we know astonishingly little about the environment. All sides make exaggerated claims. "We know that atmospheric carbon is increasing. We are also in the midst of a natural warming trend that started in 1850 at the end of what is called the Little Ice Age. It is scientifically impossi ble to prove whether the subsequent warming is natural or man-made." Greens say, rightly, that the best scientific assessment today is that global warming is occurring. Yet never in history have scientists accurately predicted what will happen 100 years later. A century ago no scientists predicted the internet, microwave ovens, TV, nuclear explosions or antibiotics. It is impossible, even stupid, to predict the distant future. That scientific truth is rarely mentioned. Why Because the global warming movement has now become a multi-billion dollar business with thousands of jobs and millions in funding for NGOs and think-tanks, top jobs and prizes for scientists, and huge media coverage for predictions of disaster. Something worth a laugh! The "Discovery" channel recently produced a documentary on Greenland's alleged "melting glaciers." Oh boy! Here we go again with Global Warming. It's

Factors Affecting Postharvest Quality of Fresh Fruits

Factors Affecting Postharvest Quality of Fresh Fruits A ripened ovary of a flower together with any accessory part associated with, is referred to as fruit (Lewis Robert 2002). In non-technical usage the term fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state, for example apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries and bananas (Mauseth James, 2003). Fresh fruits and vegetables are living tissues which undergo continuous changes after harvest. Some of these changes are desirable, but from consumers point of view most of them are undesirable. It is not possible to stop the postharvest changes in fresh produce, but they can be retarded within certain limits (Kader, 2002). There are several atmospheric factors which affect the postharvest life of fresh fruits. Climatic conditions, specially temperature and light have a significant effect on the nutritional quality of fresh fruits and vegetables (Kader, 2002). FACTORS AFFECTING THE POSTHARVEST LIFE OF FRUIT RESPIRATION Respiration is the process by which stored organic materials are broken down into simple end products with a release of energy. During this process oxygen (O2) is consumed while carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced. All living organisms must carry out respiration at all times (Kader, 2002). Respiration Metabolism Even after the harvest, fruits and vegetables remain as living organs. Like all living tissues, harvested produce continues to respire throughout its postharvest life. The main purpose of respiration is to maintain sufficient supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).The process of aerobic respiration involves the regeneration of ATP from ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and Pi (inorganic phosphate) with the release of CO2 and H2O. In case of hexose sugar the overall reaction can be written as (Kader Saltveit, 2003) The different components in this reaction have different sources of destinations. The 1 mole of glucose (180g) can come from stored simple sugars (glucose, sucrose) or complex polysaccharides (starch). The 6 moles of O2 (192g) used to oxydize the 1 mole of glucose diffuses into the tissue from the surrounding atmosphere, while the 6 mole of CO2 (264g) diffuses out of the tissue. The 6 mole of water (108g) produced is simply incorporated into the aqueous solution of the cell.(Kader Saltveit, 2003) Aerobic respiration involeves a series of three reactions, each of which is catalyzed by a number of specific enzymes that either (i) add a phosphate group to a molecule, (ii) rearrange the molecule, or (iii) break down the molecule to a simpler one ((Biale, 1960);(Davies, 1980)). The three interconnected metabolic pathways are glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) and the electron transport system. Glycolysis The breakdown of glucose occurs in the cytoplasm, which produce two molecules of pyruvate. 10 different sequential reactions are catalysed by one enzyme. Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is the main enzyme in Glycolysis, which cleaves fructose 1, 6-diphosphate into two triose phosphate molecules. By controlling PFK activity of Glycolysis, cell can control their rate of energy production. ATP is used as a negative feedback inhibitor to control the activity of PFK (Davies, 1980). Besides pyruvate, Glycolysis also produces two molecules of ATP and two molecule of NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) from the breakdown of each molecule of glucose. Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle The TCA cycle occur in mitochondrial matrix, involves in the breakdown of pyruvate into CO2 in nine sequential enzymatic reactions. Pyruvate is decarboxylated to form acetate, which condenses with a co enzyme to form Acetyl CoA. This compound then enters the cycle by condensation with oxaloacetate to form citric acid. Citric acid has three carboxyl groups, from which the cycle derives its name (Kader Saltveit, 2003). Through a series of seven successive rearrangements, oxidations and decarboxylations, citric acid is converted into oxaloacetate, which is then ready to accept another acetyl CoA molecule. The TCA cycle also produces one molecule of FADH2 (reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide) and four molecules of NADH for each molecule of pyruvate metabolism. Electron Transport System The electron transport system occurs in the cristae of mitochondria, results in the production of ATP from the FADH2 and NADH. The energy produced is more than the cellular process requirement. In a series of reactions, one NADH molecule produces three ATP molecules and one FADH2 molecule produces two ATP molecules, but the exact number of ATP produced during electron transport depends not only on the energy of NADH and FADH2 but also on the chemical environment within the cell and mitochondria. In the absence of O2, NADH and FADH2 accumulates, the TCA cycle stops and Glycolysis become the only source of ATP production. In anaerobic respiration hexose sugar is converted into alcohol and CO2 in the absence of O2. Pyruvate produced in Glycolysis is decarboxylated by the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase to form CO2 and acetaldehyde. The acetaldehyde is converted by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase to ethanol with regeneration of NAD+. Two moles of ATP and 21 kcal of heat energy are produced in anaerobic respiration (alcoholic fermentation) from each molecule of glucose (Kader Saltveit, 2003). Respiration Quotient (RQ) The respiration quotient (RQ) determines the amount of substrates utilized in the respiration process. In other words RQ is the ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed measured in mole or volumes. In the aerobic respiration of carbohydrates the RQ is near 1, while is 1 for organic acids. Very high RQ values usually indicate anaerobic respiration in those tissues which produce ethanol. GAS EXCHANGE Barrier to Diffusion Gas exchange between a plant organ and its environment follows Ficks first law of diffusion. The sequential steps are (i) diffusion in the gas phase through the dermal system (i.e. cuticle, epidermis, stomata etc.); (ii) diffusion in the gas phase between the intercellular spaces; (iii) exchange of gases between the intercellular atmosphere and the cellular solution (cell sap) and (iv) diffusion in solution within the cell to centres of O2 consumption and from centers of CO2 production. This exchange is a function of the resistance of the dermal system to gas diffusion, the surface area across which diffusion can take place etc. CO2 produced within each cell will raise the local concentration and this will drive diffusion of CO2 outward, toward the lower concentration near the cell-wall surface adjacent to the intercellular space. Diffusion of CO2 into intercellular space continues toward regions of lower concentration until it reaches the intercellular space below the dermal system. From there, CO2 moves through the cuticle or openings in the commoditys surface to the air (Burton, 1982). Movement of O2 within plant tissue is in a reverse but similar process to that mentioned above for CO2. In senescent tissue, O2 diffusion may be slowed down if the intercellular spaces become filled with cellular solution that anaerobic conditions develop within tissues. The rate of gas movement depends on the properties of gas molecule and the physical properties of the barriers (thickness, density etc.). Solubility and diffusivity of each gas are important for its diffusion across barrier. CO2 moves more readily than O2, while diffusion rate of C2H4 and CO2 are similar. Internal concentration of CO2 and O2 in plant organs depend upon the maturity stage at harvest, the current organ temperature, the composition of external atmosphere and any additional barrier. Maturity stage influences the dermal system that effects gas diffusion. Increased temperature results raised rate of respiration as a result internal CO2 level increases as the O2 level decreases. If all other factors are held constant and the movement in the gas concentrations is the driving force for diffusion, then the concentration of O2 and CO2 within the tissue will fluctuate according to the fluctuation in the external atmosphere. Methods to Alter rates of Gas Exchange There are three types of barriers to gas exchange that affect the postharvest handling of fresh produce (Fig. 1). These are (i) the structure of the dermal system such as thickness of cuticle, number and distribution of stomata and breaks in epidermis etc. Resistance to gas diffusion can be increased by adding barrier such as wax coating or covering produce with polymeric films. (ii) The package in which the commodity is shipped can be additional barrier to gas diffusion. (iii) The degree of gas tightness of the transit vehicle or storage room will also affect gas exchange with outside air. Schematic model of a commodity and its environment with three levels of gas exchange: B1=structure of dermal system and added barriers (waxing and film wrapping), B2= Permeability of package to gas diffusion, and B3 = gas tightness of the storage room Source: (Kader Saltveit, 2003) Ficks first law of diffusion states that the movement or flux of a gas in or out of a plant tissue depends on the concentration gradient across the barrier involved, the surface area of the barrier and the resistance of the barrier to the diffusion. Ficks law can be written as follows: J = A. ΆC/R Where J =Total flux of gas to be diffused (cm3.s-1) ΆC= Concentration gradient across the barrier A=the surface area of the barrier R= Resistance to diffusion If the production or consumption rate of the gas by the organ and the concentration of the gas in the internal and external atmosphere is known, then the resistance is calculated as follows: R = Concentration gradient/ Production or consumption rate Different harvested fruits and vegetables have different rates of respiration; some respire at a faster rate (more perishable), while some respire at a relatively slow rate (less perishable vegetables) (Table 1). Table 1: Classification of Sample Horticultural Commodities According to Respiration Rates (Wilson, 1999). Respiration Rates Types of Fruits and Vegetables Very Low Dried fruit and nuts Low Apples, garlic, grapes, onions, potatoes (mature), sweet potatoes Moderate Apricots, cabbages, carrots, figs (fresh), lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes (immature), tomatoes High Artichokes, Brussels sprouts, cut flowers, green onions, snap beans Extremely High Asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, peas, sweet corn The process of respiration is very important during ripening of fruit. In general there is an inverse relation between the rate of respiration and the postharvest life of fruit. Postharvest produce are classified according to their respiration rate as climacteric or non- climacteric. The rate of respiration increases in climacteric fruits during ripening while non-climacteric fruit shows no change in their low CO2 and ethylene production rates during ripening (Kader, 2002). If prevention or decrease in respiration is achieved, this will prolong post-harvest storage life. Ethylene causes the increase in respiration, so decreasing ethylene is also a strategy used to increase post-harvest storage life. Factors affecting respiration rate Environmental Factors Temperature Temperature is important environmental factor in the postharvest life of fresh produce due to its outstanding effect on rates of biological reactions, including respiration. Within the physiological temperature range, the velocity of biological reaction increases two to threefold for every 10  °C rise in temperature (Vant Hoff rule). The ratio of reaction rates at two dissimilar temperatures is called the temperature coefficient (Q10) if the interval between the two temperatures is 10oC. If the temperature interval of Q10 is not exactly 10o C then it can be determined by the following equation: Q10 = (R2/ R1) 10/T2-T1 Where R2 = rate of respiration at T2 R1 = rate of respiration at T1 T1 and T2 = temperature in  °C Scientists have found that Q10 is not constant for most biological processes over a wide range of physiological temperatures. Usually Q10 ranges from 1 to 5, although higher value may occur. For most biological reaction the Q10 is between 2 and 3 for temperature between 10 to 30  °C that means the reaction rate will be double or triple with every 10  °C increase. O2 and CO2 Concentration Practically, respiration can be controlled by either increasing carbon dioxide or decreasing oxygen. Decrease in oxygen near to zero is not desirable, though the O2 concentration reduces below that in air (20.9%) and especially below 10%, a significant reduction in respiration rate is observed (Gorny, 2001). However when O2 concentration drops to less than 2 %, anaerobic respiration rate become predominant and CO2 production increases. (Figure 2) (Kader Saltveit, 2003). Ethylene Concentration Exposure of climacteric tissues during their pre-climacteric stage to ethylene raises the rate of respiration. Once the respiration rise has begun, the endogenous rate of ethylene production increases and the internal ethylene concentration also increases, reaching levels that saturate its biological activity. However, unlike the case in climacteric tissues in non-climacteric tissues endogenous ethylene production remains unaffected (Kader Saltveit, 2003). Internal factors Type of Commodity Fruits and vegetables vary greatly in their respiration rate (Table. 1). Differences among plant parts and in the nature of their surface coatings (e.g. cuticle thickness, stomata, lenticels) influence their rate of diffusion characteristic and consequently their respiration rates. Stage of development at Harvest The respiration rate is usually high at early stages of development and decreases as plant organs mature. Thus fruits and vegetables harvested during the active growth phase have high respiration rates. Chemical Composition Respiration rate decreases with a decrease in water content of the tissue. The value of Respiration Quotient (RQ) is usually controlled by the rate of utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids etc. ETHYLENE PRODUCTION Ethylene (C2H4) is a gaseous hormone produced from bacteria, fungi and all parts of higher plants such as shoots, flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, and fruits (Pech et al., 2003). It is a flammable and colourless gaseous compound (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002). Being a ripening hormone ethylene play a very important role in the postharvest life of many horticultural products, like increasing senescence speed and reducing shelf life but beneficially it improves the quality of the fruit and vegetables by manipulating uniform ripening process (Reid, 2002, p. 149). Because of the enormous influence of ethylene on the physiological development and postharvest life of fruits and vegetables, its biosynthesis, action, and control have been intensively investigated (Reid, 2002; Pech et al., 2003). The biosynthetic process of ethylene is usually completed in three major steps. The ethylene biosynthetic pathway is given in the figure 3. Step I: The biosynthesis of ethylene hormone is started by the conversion of Methionine (MET) to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) by the enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase (Pech et al., 2003). However, methionine adenosyltransferase is thought to consider as a rate limiting enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis because formation of SAM depends on the activity of this enzyme and SAM levels may indeed regulate ethylene production. Therefore, the sensitivity or importance of methionine adenosyltransferase to SAM implies that this enzyme may play a regulatory role in ethylene biosynthesis (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, p. 13). Step II: SAM is consequently converted to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid (ACC) by a pyridoxal enzyme ACC synthase (ACS) (Figure 1). Actually, before the discovery of ACC, as intermediate, immediate precursor in MET dependent ethylene production process, the ethylene biosynthetic pathway was intangible (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 11-50). The conversion of SAM to ACC by ACS is another rate-limiting step in the biosynthetic pathway of ethylene. ACS is a cytosolic enzyme (found in the cytoplasm of plants) (Paliyath Murr, 2008b) and its activity is strongly inhibited by aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) (a competitive inhibitor) and aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) (an inhibitor of pyridoxal phosphate-mediated enzyme reactions) (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 11-50). Moreover, the activity of ACC synthase is also influenced by factors such as fruit ripening, senescence, auxin levels, physical stresses, and chilling injury. The synthesis of this enzyme increases with an increase in the level of auxins, indole acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinins (Wills et al., 1998, p. 42). Step III: At last the ACC converts into ethylene by the action of ACC oxidase (known as ethylene forming enzyme or EFE) (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 11-50; Pech et al., 2003). However, ACC oxidase is a bi-substrate enzyme as it requires both oxygen and ACC. Moreover, this enzyme also requires Fe2+, ascorbate and CO2 for its activity. Activity of ACC oxidase is inhibited by cobalt ions, and temperatures higher that 35oC (Wills et al., 1998, p. 42). The sub cellular position of ACC oxidase is still a point of controversy because there is a large number of data is available showing that this enzyme is associated with plasma-membrane or with apoplast or tonoplast. The activity of this enzyme (ACC oxidase) has been studied in many horticultural crops like melon, avocado, apple, winter squash, pear and banana. The activity of ACC oxidase is not highly regulated as ACS. It is constituted in most  vegetative tissues and it is induced during fruit ripening, wounding, senescence and fungal  eli citors (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 11-50). In fruits and vegetables several metabolic reactions starts after harvesting. In most cases, an increase in biosynthesis of gaseous hormone like ethylene serves as the physiological indication for the ripening process. During ripening process, in some fruits large amount of ethylene is produced which is usually referred as autocatalytic ethylene production response. However, fruits are divided into two main categories on the basis of ethylene production, i.e. climacteric (those produce large amount of ethylene) and non-climacteric fruits (those produce smaller amount of ethylene). In climacteric fruits like apple, pear, banana, tomato and avocado, ethylene production usually ranges from 30-500 ppm/(kgh) during ripening. While non-climacteric fruits like orange, lemon, strawberry and pineapple, produce 0.1-0.5ppm/(kgh) of ethylene (Paliyath Murr, 2008) (Table 2). Therefore application of even a very low concentration of ethylene (0.1-1.0 ÃŽÂ ¼L/L) is sufficient enough to accelerat e full ripening of climacteric fruits; however, the magnitude of the climacteric rise is not dependent on the amount of ethylene treatment. On the contrary, application of ethylene causes a temporary rise in the rate of respiration of non-climacteric fruits and the degree of increase depend upon the amount of ethylene (Wills et al., 1998). Moreover, the difference in the respiratory patterns of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits is associated with the different behaviour in terms of the production and response to ethylene gas (Burton, 1982). The increase in respiration, as influenced by ethylene application, may happen several times in non-climacteric fruits, but only once in climacteric fruits (Wills et al., 1998). Indeed, ethylene is produced by all parts of the plant but the magnitude of ethylene production varies from organ to organ and also depends on the stage and type of growth and developmental process. In fact, recent ethylene based research findings have increased the understanding of biosynthetic pathways and enzymes involved in ethylene production, as well as the development of several ways to manipulate ethylene production e.g. by genetic alteration of plants (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002). Ethylene is produced by various plant parts growing under normal conditions however, any kind of biological, chemical or physical stress (e.g. wounding) strongly promotes endogenous ethylene synthesis by plants. Among stress induced ethylene production, pre-harvest deficit irrigation is one of the most important factor causing higher ethylene production rates in fruits like avocado (Adato Gazit, 1974) and tomato (Pulupol et al., 1996). REGULATION OF ETHYLENE BIOSYNTHESIS In plants, ethylene itself stimulates the ability of the tissue to convert ACC into ethylene, which is also regarded as phenomenon of auto-regulation. In ripening fruits, regulation of ethylene biosynthesis is a characteristic feature and is triggered by the exposure to exogenous ethylene by the activation of ACC synthase and/or ACC oxidase (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 25-27). On the other hand, sometimes ethylene inhibits its own synthesis, as negative feedback has already been recognised in a number of fruits and vegetable tissues. In such cases, exogenous ethylene significantly inhibits the production of endogenous ethylene, induced by ripening, wounding and/or treatment with auxins. Moreover, this auto inhibitory effect seems more directed towards limited availability of ACC in the presence of AVG, an inhibitor of ACC synthase (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 25-27). Scientists have also revealed that the inhibition or negative regulation of ethylene synthesis is the result of activity of a gene, E8 whose expression leads to the inhibition of ethylene production in tomatoes (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 25-27). MECHANISM OF ACTION The response of ethylene action can be classified into two categories namely concentration response and sensitivity response. The concentration response involves the changes in concentration of cellular ethylene while the sensitive response involves the increase in tissue sensitivity to ethylene. Moreover, both of these responses involve the binding of ethylene to some components of the cell to mediate the physiological effects (Arshad Frankenberger, 2002, pp. 28-36). Wills et al. (1998, pp. 42-45) likewise explained that plant hormones control the physiological processes by binding to specific plant or fruit receptor sites, which trigger the succession of events leading to visible responses. In the absence of ethylene, these receptor sites are active, allowing the growth of plant and fruit to proceed. During fruit ripening, ethylene is produced naturally or, if it is artificially introduced in a ripening room, it binds with the receptor and inactivates it, resulting in a series of events like ripening or healing of injuries in plant organs. Ethylene action can be controlled through modification of the amount of receptors or through disruption of the binding of ethylene to its receptors. Binding of ethylene is believed to be reversible at a site which contains metal like copper, zinc, or iron (Burg Burg, 1965, as cited in Burton, 1982). The affinity of receptor for ethylene is high in the presence of oxygen and decreases with carbon dioxide. Changes in the pattern of ethylene production rates and the internal concentrations of ethylene associated with the onset of ripening have been studied in various climacteric fruits. For instance, tomato and honeydew melon exhibited a rise in ethylene concentration prior to the onset of ripening, determined as the initial increase in respiration rate. On the other hand, apple and mango did not show any increase in ethylene concentration before the increase in respiration (Wills et al., 1998, pp. 42-45). Ripening has been associated with senescence as it leads to the breakdown of the cellular integrity of the tissue. It is part of the genetically programmed phase in the development of plant tissue with altered nucleic acid and protein synthesis occurring during the onset of the respiratory climacteric resulting in new or enhanced biochemical reactions operating in a coordinated manner (Wills et al., 2007, p. 40). These concepts confirm the known degradative and synthetic capacities of fruit during the ripening process. The ability of ethylene hormone to initiate biochemical and physiological events leads to the theory that ethylene action is regulated at the level of gene expression (Pech et al., 2003; Wills et al., 1998, pp. 45-46). TRANSPIRATION/ WATER LOSS Plants depend more on the availability of water than any other single environmental factor (Kramer and Boyer, 1995). Water loss is very important in determining the shelf life and quality of harvested plant organs. As long as the harvested produce retains water, it remains fresh. Transpiration is one of the main processes that affect postharvest life of the fruit (Ben-Yehoshua Rodov, 2003) Most fresh produce contains from 65 to 95 percent water when harvested. Within growing plants there is a constant flow of water. Fresh produce continues to lose water after harvest, but contrary to the growing plant it cannot replace lost water from the soil and so must use up its water content remaining at harvest (Gustavo et al., 2003). This loss of water from fresh produce after harvest is a serious problem, causing shrinkage and loss of weight. When the harvested produce loses 5 or 10 percent of its fresh weight, it begins to wilt and soon becomes unusable. To extend the usable life of produce, its rate of water loss must be as low as possible (Wilson et al., 1995). Although temperature is the prime concern in the storage of fruits and vegetables, relative humidity is also important. The relative humidity of the storage unit directly affects water loss in produce. Water loss means salable weight loss and reduced profit (Wilson et al., 1995). Transpiration of fresh fruits is a mass transfer process in which water vapor moves from surface of the plant organ to the surrounding air. Ficks law of mass transfer explains this process as follows: J = (Pi-Pa) At / (RDT)r Where Pi and Pa are the partial gas pressures in intercellular spaces and in the ambient atmosphere respectively; At is surface area of fruit; RD is the gas constant per unit mass; T is the absolute temperature; r is the resistance; and J is the gas flux. According to Ficks law, the movement of any gas in or out of the plant tissue is directly proportion to the partial pressure gradient (Pi-Pa) across the barrier involved and the surface area of the barrier and is inversely proportion to the barrier to diffusion. Therefore the driving force of transpiration is the difference of water vapor pressure (WVP) between the tissue and the surrounding air. While the water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of the air is difference between the WVP of air and that of saturated air at the same temperature. Relative Humidity is the most popular term for expressing the water content of air. It can be defined as the ration of actual WVP in the air to the saturation WVP at a given temperature. Water loss depends on the difference between the water vapour pressure inside the fruit and the pressure of water vapour in the air. To control water loss in fresh produce as low as possible, it must be kept in a moist atmosphere. Air movement also plays a vital role in the water loss from the fresh produce. Water loss is directly proportion to the air movement in the surrounding. Though air movement through produce is also indispensable to remove the heat of respiration, but the rate of movement must be kept as low as possible (Gustavo et al., 2003). ROUTES OF WATER TRANSMISSION As the harvested fruits and vegetables are detached from plant, the xylem vessels are blocked with air and their operation is stopped (Burton, 1982). Therefore, water has to use different routes to move through the tissue. Following are the major potential pathways for water movement in harvested produce. Symplast The cytoplasm of connected cells is interconnected by plasmodesmata, filled with protoplasm and lined with the plasmalemma. Therefore symplast is formed throughout the interior of a plant organ. Water and dissolved solutes move through the symplast system from cell to cell by diffusion (Ben-Yehoshua Rodov, 2003). Apoplast The cell wall surrounding symplast also form a continuous system, termed as apoplast. The apoplas provide an alternative avenue for liquid water movement by hydrostatic pressure through the interfibrillar spaces in the cell wall (Woods, 1990). Intercellular Atmosphere The plant also contains a system of intercellular gas-filled spaces that form a continuous network and serve as main pathway for O2 and CO2 transport. This field of air space provide adequate gas exchange in bulky organs (Ben-Yehoshua.S, 1969). MAJOR EVAPORATION SITE: COMMODITY SURFACE There are three major routes for moisture loss from harvested commodities to the atmosphere: (a) through outer layer that forms a surface for evaporation (cuticle and epicuticle wax; periderm) resistance for water movement through (b) the apertures in the surface connecting the internal and external atmosphere (stomata, lenticels) and (c) through the stem scars or pedicel. Cuticle and Epicuticular wax This layer, which lines all interfaces between the plant and the atmosphere, protects the plant from its relative dry environment. Resistance to water movement is derived from cuticular layer (Ben- Yehoshua, 1969; (Burg Burg, 2006). The cuticle cosntains a matrix of cellulose, polyuronic acids, proteins and phenolic compounds. These are combined with variation of amount of waxes embedded over its surface (Kolattukudy, 1980). Permiability to water usually depends more on amount of waxes than on the thickness of cuticle (Kramer Boyer, 1995). Periderm Periderm is a corky peripheral tissue. This tissue consists of several layers of cells that become corky as a result of deposition of waxes on their cell walls, and they lose their living contents. The periderm is not readily permeable to water and is permeable to gases only through lenticular pores, which replace the stomata of the original epidermis. About 97% of the total water lost from the potato tubers migrates through cell walls to the periderm, where it evaporates (Burton, 1982). Trichomes and Hairs Unicellular or multicellular projections develop on the epidermis of all parts of plants. Their exact function is still vague, but they are considered to reduce water loss (Cutter, 1976). The presence of trichomes can decrease the driving force of transpiration by reducing the surface temperature and increasing the boundary layer resistance. Stomata Before harvest, most of the evaporation occurs from undersides of leaves via stomatal guard cells and adjacent cells (Kramer and Boyer, 1995). Stomata occur in many fruits at early stages of development, but sometimes they are not found in mature fruits of some species, for example, in the grape berry (Possingham et al., 1967). Orange has greatest stomatal density reported so far for any fleshy fruit (Banks, 1995). Stomata usually function less effectively in mature fruit (Blanke and Leyhe, 1988). In most cases it is reduced with maturation and usually of minor importance for fruit water loss during postharvest period (Ben-Yehoshua Rodov, 2003).

Womens Liberation in the 1920s: Myth or Reality? Essays -- Essays Pa

Women's Liberation in the 1920's: Myth or Reality? The decade following World War I proved to be the most explosive decade of the century. America emerged as a world power, the 19th amendment was ratified, and the expansion of capitalism welcomed the emergence of consumerism. The consumer era was established, which generated new spending opportunities for most Americans in the 1920’s. From the latest fashions to the world of politics, ideologies collided to construct a society based on contradicting principles. These powerful ideologies infected men and women of all classes with an inescapable desire for material possessions; however this ideological tug-of war affected women the most. Although legally declared citizens, society’s assumption of motherhood and domesticity, being the only professions for women, still remained supreme in the country that supposedly promoted equal opportunity. New sex role stereotypes appeared throughout society and women became identified with the consumer culture for they were "major purchasers of products" and "constituted a crucial underpinning of the economy" (Dumenil 144). No group was more responsive to this than the advertising industry, which introduced new images while reinforcing traditional stereotypes. As speculation on women’s rights grew tiresome after suffrage had been won, women separated in search of their own individuality; however a woman’s identity was based on the sex-role stereotypes advertisements continuously portrayed which in turn transformed cultural expectations and thwarted women’s autonomy. The emergence of consumerism allowed advertisements to be viewed worldwide. "Across the nation, women in cities, towns and farms paged through issues of mass-circulation... ...ture and Society in the 1920’s. New York: Hill and Wang, 1995. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "Echoes of the Jazz Age" Flappers and Philosophers. New York: 1921 Harriman, Helga H. Women in the Western Heritage. Sluice Dock, Guilford, CT. Danshkin Publishing Group, Inc. 1995 Kroger, Jane. Identity in Adolescence: The Balance Between Self and Other. London: Routledge, 1989 Scanlon, Jennifer. Inarticulate Longings: The Ladies’ Home Journal, Gender, and the Promises of Consumer Culture. New York, NY: Routledge, 1995 Sivulka, Juliann. Soap, Sex, and Advertising. Belmont, California: Wasworth Publishing Company, 1998 Stearns, Peter N. and Jean Lewis eds. An Emotional History of the United States. New York, NY. New York University Press, 1998 Stevenson, Elizabeth. Babbits and Bohemians: From the Great War to the Great Depression. New York: Macmillan, 1967.

Advance Criminology

From the beginning of the world, there are two terms generated among the human beings i.e. Peace and Crime, not only in the Human being but also among the creatures of world. â€Å"Crime is an activity prohibited or not authorized by law that may be punishable by the governing authority†.Generally, the offence begins among the people for the following reasons i.e. money, property, and women. There are several types of offences committed in all the communities, when it became serious it got the face of Cognizable and if it is simple in nature  Ã‚   it is called Non cognizable.   The cognizable offices are usually serious in nature.Mostly the crimes committed by the youth are Theft, Robbery, Dacoit, Murders etc.   Because the youth are prone to do any illegal acts to achieve something or due to aberration by the Political leaders, adults as well as parents.Other than youth, the following crimes may occur like Assault, Cheating, Forgery, Nuisance etc. if the weapons are use d by the youth then it become very serious crime which is called Cognizable offence. But predominantly the sexual offences are occurred by youth only, like Adultery, Bigamy,   Rape Where the question of committing the offence of Rape a youth may do it to overcome his passion or to fulfill his sexual desire or any enmity with that particular female.   Where the question of sexual offence is concerned, It is not true to say that only Males commit crime, while females are with the par avian of males in the same manner. The punishment for any cognizable offence is Death sentence, life imprisonment, 10 years imprisonment fine or both respectively.In the present scenario of the world mostly sexual offences are in frequency among the youth, because new generation became independent. â€Å"Since the early 1990’s, youth violence has become a policy priority at entry level of American Government†[2].Every body yearn for freedom with all respect and more over there are lot of facilities to make contact with each other by means of communications like, through Cell, Internet etc and as well as there is no provision on International Level.Where as property matters are concerned crimes may occur in non cognizable comparison to other criminal offences. On the other hand crime is based on gender; race like Black, White, but this issue is mostly in U.S.A. As per  the History of USA  Blacks were not always been given an opportunities of juries, and they have been assassinated for the little violation of existing law and many of these killings occurred without any legal process.Though the Supreme court has done efficient control over this, yet the system could not eliminate racial bias.On the other hand the Carolyn Snurkowski of the Florida attorney generally office believes that the disproportionate number of blacks on death row   can explain the fact that, Many black murders result from barroom brawls that   wouldn’t call for the death penalty, but many white murders occur   on top of another offense, such as robbery† (as cited in Gest,1986.)This may be true but the Washington legal Foundation says that â€Å"blacks are arrested for murder at a higher rate than whites.†Violence has become a part of accepted backdrop in United States; there are also stringent laws to curtail them[3]. What we need now is social investment which will drive out the crimes most effectively. It is the time to act on that lines or else the next generations will feel the mistakes done by the present generation.Ultimately there is no end of crime and offences are being committed by youth It is true that we cannot find any country where there is no crime. It is also fact that there is no end of crime till the Doomsday.Bibliography:  1.Encyclopediaâ€Å" Crime† †, wikipedia, U.S,   04:12, 13 December 20072.BookFranklin E. Zimring, American youth violence, New York, 1998.  3. Newspaper Article on the InternetElliott C urrie â€Å"Crime and Punishment in America† New York Times, 1998. Metropolitan â€Å" Crime† †, wikipedia, U.S,   04:12, 13 December 2007   [2] Franklin E. Zimring, American youth violence, New York, 1998 [3] Elliott Currie â€Å"Crime and Punishment in America† New York Times, 1998. Metropolitan

Gbmt Cilantro Cafe

Global Business Environment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Introduction & History Changed by the revolution SWOT Vision Strategy & Implementation Reasons of success Success of the communication strategy The smart and innovative strategies 7. Recommendation Introduction ? An Egyptian coffee shop company based in Cairo. ? First modern-culture coffee shop in Egypt. History 1999 2000 Two young Egyptian entrepreneurs begin to think about the idea of Cilantro Cafe. Establishment of Delicious Inc. with â€Å"Cilantro† as a trade name. Launch of the first Cilantro Cafe. Within 4 years, the company opened 8 shops in Egypt.Rise of competition. 2004 2005 2008 January, 25th of 2011 End of 2011 El-Sewedy, an Egyptian local group, won the bid against Starbucks chain to make the acquisition of Cilantro. Beginning of the internationalization of the company with the opening of the first outlet abroad in London, UK. Beginning of a popular uprising which became the Egyptian revolution. The company owns aroun d 70 outlets in Egypt. Changed by the revolution ? Breaking away from the government ? Self Concepts ? Belonging to Egypt ? Cilantro Cafe provided values for customer ? Knowledge ? Health ConsciousnessTransition from local to Global process 1 2 Choice of country for franchise Selection criteria for franchisee Contract negotiation 3 4 5 6 Operational preparations Outlet Opening Continuous monitoring & feedback SWOT analysis – Internal Strengths ? Creation of the concept of a modern-culture coffee shop ? Diversified customers ? Value of knowledge and value of health-consciousness. ? Communication strategy: differentiation while creating add ? Value added services. ? Good marketing team ? Maintenance of the company’s key performance indicators SWOT analysis – Internal Weakness Hardly to control the franchise. ? Time consuming for the transition from local to Global process SWOT analysis – External Opportunities ? Domestic development ? A lot of potential pro spects ? Egypt revolution with the merge of Egypt 2. 0 whom new values clearly fitted with cilantro’s ones. SWOT analysis – External Threats ? Rising competition and global competitors. ? The country-of-origin effects and cultural symbolism for an in ternational brand are critical ? Adaptability to globalization Vision Delicious Inc. ? To build new and creative food service concepts ?Maintain & up-grade uniqueness in the products ? Positioning of the brands Strategy ? Increase the brand recognition ? Defend its home market by constantly up-grading what is offered to customers ? Adhering high quality standards and a unique Cilantro Spirit. ? Become an important contributing member of its community. Strategy ? Offer a positive environment for its internal family while ensuring the long-term business goals. ? Provide the â€Å"Cilantro Experience†. Implementation ? Decorations and layouts of the outlets can provide cozy, modern and fresh atmosphere ? Offering a rea ding corner and Online red book Providing healthy, fresh and tasty choices The smart and innovative strategy ? I & U Models ? I-Model ? Makes use of the export / sales ratio of a firm, which is said to reflect the dependence of the firm on international markets ? More suitable for SMEs The smart and innovative strategic ? I & U Models ? U-Model It assumes that a firm gradually increases its Internationalization operations in stages, at first starting small and low risk, building up experience incrementally to take on larger international roles ? PESTEL ? Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal.Success of the communication strategy ? Franchising department stays in continuous contact with the franchisee brand manager and conducts monthly regular audit for each of its outlets Main Reason of Success ? Drastic change in the Egyptian coffee house concept ? Introduced a new category of leisure in Egypt ? Post-revolution ? Strategy of differentiation -Provide a unique Cilantro spirit Further capitalize ? International Bank ? Issue Stocks ? Venture capital Recommendation ? A mix between I and U model is the most valuable strategy be cause it would provide multi-dimensionality. The End.

The Definition of an Essay Including Writing Resources

The Definition of an Essay Including Writing Resources Essays are brief, non-fiction compositions that describe, clarify, argue, or analyze a subject. Students might encounter essay assignments in any school subject and at any level of school, from a personal experience vacation essay in middle school to a complex analysis of a scientific process in graduate school. Components of an essay include an introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion. Writing an Introduction The beginning of an essay can seem daunting. Sometimes, writers can start their essay in the middle or at the end, rather than at the beginning, and work backward. The process depends on each individual and takes practice to figure out what works best for them. Regardless of where students start, it is recommended that the introduction begins with an attention grabber or an example that hooks the reader in within the very first sentence. The introduction should accomplish a few written sentences that leads the reader into the main point or argument of the essay, also known as a thesis statement. Typically, the thesis statement is the very last sentence of an introduction, but this is not a rule set in stone, despite it wrapping things up nicely. Before moving on from the introduction, readers should have a good idea of what is to follow in the essay, and they should not be confused as to what the essay is about. Finally, the length of an introduction varies and can be anywhere from one to several paragraphs depending on the size of the essay as a whole. Creating a Thesis Statement A thesis statement is a sentence that states the main idea of the essay. The function of a thesis statement is to help manage the ideas within the essay. Different from a mere topic, the thesis statement is an argument, option, or judgment that the author of the essay makes about the topic of the essay. A good thesis statement combines several ideas into just one or two sentences. It also includes the topic of the essay and makes clear what the authors position is in regard to the topic.  Typically found at the beginning of a paper, the thesis statement is often placed in the introduction, toward the end of the first paragraph or so. Developing a thesis statement means deciding on the point of view within the topic, and stating this argument clearly becomes part of the sentence which forms it.  Writing a strong thesis statement should summarize the topic and bring clarity to the reader. For informative essays, an informative thesis should be declared. In an argumentative or narrative essay, a persuasive thesis, or opinion, should be determined. For instance, the difference looks like this: Informative Thesis Example:  To create a great essay, the writer must form a solid introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion.Persuasive Thesis Example:  Essays surrounded around opinions and arguments are so much more fun than informative essays because they are more dynamic, fluid, and teach you a lot about the author. Developing Body Paragraphs The body paragraphs of an essay include a group of sentences that relate to a specific topic or idea around the main point of the essay. It is important to write and organize two to three full body paragraphs to properly develop it. Before writing, authors may choose to outline the two to three main arguments that will support their thesis statement. For each of those main ideas, there will be supporting points to drive them home. Elaborating on the ideas and supporting specific points will develop a full body paragraph.  A good paragraph describes the main point, is full of meaning, and has crystal clear sentences that avoid universal statements. Ending an Essay With a Conclusion A conclusion is an end or finish of an essay. Often, the conclusion includes a judgment or decision that is reached through the reasoning described throughout the essay.  The conclusion is an opportunity to wrap up the essay by reviewing the main points discussed that drives home the point or argument stated in the thesis statement. The conclusion may also include a takeaway for the reader, such as a question or thought to take with them after reading. A good conclusion may also invoke a vivid image, include a quotation, or have a call to action for readers.

The Life of Pi Essay Example

The Life of Pi Essay Example The Life of Pi Paper The Life of Pi Paper which illustrates the Old mans frustration linked with loneliness as In the first forty days the boy had been with him, demonstrating the old mans first compassion for the boy. Compassion for objects of nature is a clear comparison between both Pi and Santiagos attributes, with Pi seen strongly linked to religion as a form of companionship. The reader identifies Pis affliction for nature using extensive description of the sloth, Sleepiness and slothfulness and seeing everything in a Mango-like blur expresses Pis detailed observation using alliteration and metaphor to attract the attention of the reader to the simplicity of the sloth. Pis love for nature is immediately compared with his interest in religion as his religious studies on the cosmogony theory of Isaac Luria is an important motif as this foreshadows the sinking of the Tsimtsum as the theory explains the contraction of the universe. Religion is viewed in this novel as a form of companionship, as Pi finds friendship and kindness in his religious ideologies that play a significant part in his survival. As the reader can identify Pis exclusion from society as a young boy, Pis religious exploration into Hinduism, Christianity and Islam can be seen as stories which spread the teachings of a faith, but to offer comfort in Pis challenge of social acceptability. Pis exclusion is presented with humour, but the reader can sense the empathetic tone as, Its Pissing Patel! The sound would disappear, but the hurt would linger the cruelty of children comes as news to no one unprovoked uncalled for. The author has linked childhood exclusion to enforce religious importance to the character, which is in contrast to The Old Man and the Sea as he is excluded in adult life. Santiago is seen in the first part of the novella to be ostracized from society as many of the fisherman made fun of the old man, but the author expresses the bond between Manolin and Santiago as a companionship, which is expressed through dialogue. Hemmingway has used dialogue between these characters to further portray their emotional bond, revealing their relationship with paternal qualities, The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him. Manolin wants to help Santiago to get sardines and to offer him a beer on the Terrace, expressing Manolins devotion to the Old man against his fathers wishes for him to fish on another boat. The reader recognises conflict in that Manolins parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally Salao, illustrating the strength of relationship and companionship between both characters. Hemmingway uses Salao to establish the Latin American influence and setting of the novella. This is used repeatedly throughout the novel to furthermore establish the culture from which this fishing tale is set. In contrast Pi can be seen to have a strong relationship with his father, with clear admiration in that his father is a zoo keeper, linking his affliction for animals and nature. The zoo is a symbol of freedom for Pi, a place in which his problems could be forgotten as the author uses language to create a place of tranquility, with the reader identifying Pis personal relationship with the animals as he, left for school under the benevolent gaze not only of his mother but also of bright -eyed otters and burly American bison and stretching and yawning orang-utans. This conveys a level of friendship with nature, as personification is used to create a sense of youthful observation which echoes Pis relationship with Richard Parker. Furthermore Martel makes use of vivid imagery to elaborately place the animals importance for Pi silver diamond doves, Cape glossy starlings, peach-faced lovebirds. The use of alliteration shows Pis deep observation, seeking acceptance from nature. Hemmingway presents the theme of nature in comparison to Martel, which is used to comfort the characters in their seclusion as their need for companionship places significant importance on the animals. Santiagos first observation of nature is when the reader identifies the characters dream of Africa, a sign of the old mans child hood which is used three times in the novel to signify peace with nature, the long, golden beaches and the white beaches, so white they hurt your eyes he smelled the tar and oakum of the deck The author has used colour and sense of smell to depict the scene, offering a sense of regeneration which is used to create a cycle of nature comparing dreams of youth with old age, which leaves the realism and negatives of survival and his isolation with tranquility. In the same way Martel uses the Zoo as a symbol for freedom from his isolation, but the structure of the novel in its three parts echoes the three stages of life in Birth, Life and Death. The first section explores Pis youthful exploration of nature and religion emphatically illustrated as A germ of religious exaltation, no bigger than a mustard seed, with continuation through maturation with Richard Parker to the realisation of his families death at the end of the novel. Anthropomorphism is a theme which can be seen in both texts, as the author uses this form of personification to create a clearer relationship between man and animal, with Martel using Richard Parker as the predominant animal in Pis survival, with the Old mans relationship with the Marlin. The striking use of a human name to represent the tiger is appealing to the reader as the author presented the character at the start of the novel as Pi reminisces Dare I say I miss him?. I do miss him. I still see him in my dreams. The writer uses short sentences to provide an empathetic response from the reader, the reader wants to know who Richard Parker is as he is seen to be an important character in Pis life. The use of this animal links Pis relationship to his mother, father and his brother, as the tiger is a symbol of family life which he harnesses to resolve his loneliness. Pis expression of love for Richard Parker is seen in Pis desperation for him to survive, What are you doing, Richard Parker? Dont you love life Through the use of rhetorical questioning the reader can identify Pi finds comfort in communicating with the animals, with Orange Juice presenting the maternal figure linking his own mother in his thoughts. In comparison Hemmingway uses personification to explore the Old mans affection for the sea and nature, with the author presenting the Old mans love for the sea as la mar. It is explained that la mar describes the sea as a feminine object, which links the Santiagos loneliness from losing his wife with his affection for the sea. At the start of the text the characters emotional pain is represented as Once there had been a tinted photograph of his wife he had taken it down because it made him too lonely. Hemmingways simplicity in style immediately explores the characters loneliness, with the boy and nature seen as objects which Santiago can confide in to forget his isolation. As in similarity with Pi, Santiago shares a relationship with the marlin which shows clear indication of compassion but at the same time hatred for the fish as Fish Ill stay with you until I am dead.. I have never seen or heard of such a fish. But I must kill him.. These quotations explore Santiagos changing view of the marlin placing his life before the fish in one view but on the other hand realising that killing the fish is what he must do. This can be compared with .. Together? Well be together? Have I gone mad?.. from Life of Pi which in the same way explores the realisation of what is needed to survive against a characters need for companionship, with both characters deciding what is the most important attribute, survival or companionship. Survival as explained in the introduction quotation is an individuals instinct for self preservation, which can be split into several categories. The Old Man and the sea clearly presents the theme of determination, a theme which links the relationship between himself and the boy. Santiago views his challenge for survival with the Marlin as something which he must prove to the boy I told the boy I was a strange old man Now is when I must prove it. This represents to the reader that Santiago views his survival as a personal challenge, linked with the boys fascination with the Old mans skill at fishing And the best fisherman is you There is no such fish if you are still strong as you say. These quotes clearly illustrate the boys admiration for the old man, with the old man realising his compassion for the boy as I wish I had the boy repeated through the novella places the boy in high regard.

Assignment #2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

#2 - Assignment Example One time when dad was the only one at home, I tried talking to him about my day. I had a really bad day but I don’t want to just blurt it out to him because to me, the feelings are painful and I want to be assured that I will be listened to. So I asked him how his day went. He replied with a brief story about what happened at the office. When he didn’t ask me, I tried asking him another set of questions and none of them seemed to give him the signal that it’s time for him to ask me. When I got upset, I told him, â€Å"Aren’t you even going to ask me about my day?† I felt really bad. But he apologized and said, â€Å"Sweetie, I didn’t even know you wanted to say something. You kept asking me. If you want to tell me about your day, go right ahead.† Only then did I realize that men don’t instinctively know this â€Å"non-spoken rule† among women. For them, if you ask a question, it is a message that you just want informatio n and not comforting. As it was pointed out by Maltz and Broker, one tendency of a woman when it comes to communication is to ask questions. (A Cultural Approach, 38) In my experience in that conversation with my dad, this proved to be true. I believe that this miscommunication was due to gender differences because whenever I ask my mom or my girlfriends about their day or feelings, they always return the question to me. We always ask each other questions but I don’t recall my dad or brother asking me. As it was explained in men’s features, men make more direct declarations of fact or opinion than do women. (A Cultural Approach, 38) When they want to say something, they don’t ask me first, they go right ahead. Another factor that may have affected the miscommunication in my example is sex role. As it was said in Explanations Offered, having been taught to speak and act like â€Å"ladies† women become as unassertive and insecure as they have been made to sound. (A Cultural Approach,

Google Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Google - Case Study Example In short, Google has raised stiff challenges to many of the prominent IT companies in the world. However, Google is facing several problems also because of the stiff competition from others. Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo and Apple are some of the major IT companies which are raising several problems to Google. Moreover, Google’s HR management is also criticized heavily by business pundits. Many people believe that Google is not fulfilling its corporate social responsibility and it is following unethical business practices. This paper analyses the ethical problems facing by Google and the possible solutions or recommendations to solve those problems. One of the major criticisms labelled against Google is with respect to its unethical management of human resources. Verma (2006) has pointed out that â€Å"Google’s high growth rate is creating new HR challenges for the company. Google has built a culture where a well-chosen elite accommodates flexibility, shifting roles and, above all else, urgency† (Verma). Google’s recruitment process is causing huge problems to the job aspirants. It includes; coding contests, mysterious billboards and aptitude tests apart from lengthy interviews which lasts for months. Google may reject majority of the candidates who undergone lengthy recruitment processes, citing simple reasons. Those who successfully cross the recruitment process may fail in background check ups. In short, job seekers are approaching Google’s recruitment process with lot of concerns and worries. The second unethical behaviour practiced by Google is its effort to interfere in politics. Catone (2007) has mentioned that â€Å"Being the most heavily used search engine, Google in a very real sense control the distribution of information to much of the world. Google has recently started a blog to tagline Googles views on government, policy and politics in America† (Catone). Millions

ANTH100 Take-Home Essay Final Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ANTH100 Take-Home Final - Essay Example Notably, the Hutterites fall under the chiefdoms organizational structure. Indeed, the Hutterites fall under chiefdom where they adopt a centralized political system. The Hutterites accommodates different levels of leadership, which includes God’s leadership, preachers and councils, and the community (Anthropology, n.y). Indeed, Hutterites men and women operate in two separate subcultures in the colony where men are superior (Peaceful Societies, 2013). Furthermore, there are more than 50,000 Hutterites living in different colonies (Peaceful Societies, 2013), where they farm, raise livestock, and produce manufactured goods for sustenance (Hutterites.org, 2012). The Hutterites believes that God has established a hierarchy of relationships, with the lower always obeying the higher and the society respects the authority of God (Peaceful Societies, 2013). In case of disagreements, individuals settle the dispute between themselves. Where the dispute persists, the preachers or other church members intervene (Peaceful Societies, 2013).  These aspects defi ne chiefdom. Various studies seek to determine the time of origin of modern human language. As a result, various results from the studies are subject to examination in reference to determining the time of origin of modern human language. Notably, there have been examinations on biological evidence, cultural evidence, natural evolution hypothesis (Vajda, n.y), and the language phonemic diversity to estimate a minimum date for the origin of language (Perreault & Mathew, 2012). Notably, the numerous studies seeking to determine the time of origin of modern human language did not establish a universal conclusion. Nevertheless, the studies suggest that modern language originated only once (Wade, 2011). Further analysis suggests that modern human language originated from southern Africa (Wade, 2011). These findings relate

Nursing Informatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nursing Informatics - Essay Example The affiliation of the sponsors are outlined in the copyright section where the website delineates affiliation to credible sources such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version, A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, Patient Education Institute, Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, ORLive, HealthDay and Reuters, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There isn’t a link identified that will allow the user to contact the author however, Medline Plus has provided a contact form to answer users’ queries and if user’s browser does not work with forms, alternative emails and phone number are provided to communicate queries directly to the customer service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Funding. Most of the content of Medline Plus website is available at no charge. That is because the primary purpose of Medline Plus website is merely educational and not to sell product or service. Commer cial funding is not stated in the website but in the disclaimer section, it has been stated that the U.S. government provides fund for the website. Some advertisements are present in the website but Medline Plus makes sure that advertisers follow the advertising policy of Medline Plus by clearly stating the difference between content and advertising. Advertisers or sponsors must not play a role in selecting or editing information (Medline Plus, 2011). Advertisements and directories of health professionals, services, and facilities might be included in the website but Medline Plus does not recommend or endorse these services. In addition, any potential conflict of interest with the users will exclude linked organizations and Web sources from the... This essay discusses the connections between profesional nursing work and an Internet source named Medline Plus that is a most common and helpful today for health care employees. It is stated that some nurses prefer the Internet in answering clinical questions and searching for updates in the field of health care. In this case, nurses who are often using Internet searches are encouraged to develop a list of trusted health-information websites known for credibility. Several advance skills are necessary to evaluate and appraise a health-related website as well as a criterion guide to ensure the quality of websites being accessed routinely. The researcher develops the website critique which will be evaluated the Medline website in terms of source, funding, and validity. Medline plus caters links to different sources which specified individual authors of various specific articles. Medline Plus is being sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Most of the nurses around the globe vi ewed Medline plus as a credible source of information due to the reason that the information. The researcher also uses The Thede and Sewell criterion in critiquing a Website that is a very important tool not only for the health-allied professionals but also to the general users. The researcher then sums up that this website offers safety and security of information of users, credibility of author, protection of users’ interests, updated information free from biases, and preservation of users’ privacy.

Critical review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Critical review - Essay Example ..9 Limitations of Stress Management skills†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 Skill Assessment and Monitoring†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 Sustainability and Skill Maintenance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.12 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.12 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...14 Critical Review on Stress Management Executive summary This study gives a critical review and analysis of stress management skills. It is majorly based on the main importance of the skill and their manifestation and impact in real life situation in the day-to-day life experience. It also reflects on a scrutiny of the difficulties and factors that impact on the skill negatively. Availability of sufficient research materials, the analysis will provide information that is reliable and educative in its manner of application. One, at the end of reading this report, should be able to appreciate stress management skills in a wider perspective ranging from the specific skills effectiveness in their application. This should also be relatively counterchecked with other skills learnt in the management course. Analysis of stress management skills as per this study should be able to inform the reader on the ap plicability of the technique. The reader, at the end of the reading, will be able to make necessary step in his or her daily undertaking to ensure that the right precaution and application of the skill is made to curb the problem. The kills as analyzed in the report should equip the reader with relevant causes of stress that are recurrent and hence ways of curbing them formulated. In management generally the report will point out clearly on the need to manage stress as it affect organizations negatively at all levels where it is manifested. The skills analyzed in the report, therefore, will help the reader to make improvement in how he or she carries out the management. Introduction Stress management skills are applicable widely. This report gives a clear outlook of the skills and their relevance. By thorough checking of the issues, the disadvantages should be noted so that the analysis of skills is effectively done to cover the required scope. These skills vary in their application perspective or context. The management of stress â€Å"per se† involves procedural approach that requires a plan of action. A combination of findings from various research work on the same is critical in coming up with a workable solution to stress in an organization. With this written document, the reader will be entitled to development of various skills in managing stress. However, the modification and advancement of the document can be done to make improvement on the report through reading and referring from various related sources. In so doing, the reader will appreciate the scope and coverage of this report with its concordance to applicability in

Political Climate of the 1980's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Political Climate of the 1980's - Essay Example It is wrong to assume that the arms race is over as both the United States and the Russian Federation goes on feverishly producing deadlier and more lethal weapons of mass destruction. The Russian Federation today is under the determined leadership of Vladimir Putin compared to the indisciplined and chaotic days in the aftermath of the Soviet Union, under Boris Yeltsin. Russia today is far more stable and prosperous though much less democratic compared to the days of Yeltsin. Putin as a leader may be strong and determined but he also has a past that worries the west, his reputation of a ruthless KGB officer. It is however felt in many strategic circles that the west too has overlooked its responsibilities and recklessly went ahead with attempts to get the former Warsaw Pact members under the NATO ambit. The Russians have historically resented attempts by the western powers to penetrate their 'Slavic sphere of interest' in Eastern Europe and to this extent it could be said that the west for once could have been a little more measured in its approach.

Policy paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Policy paper - Essay Example This is why policies undertaken by the government, nowadays, are highly valuable for economies. This report will throw light on Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumers Protection Act or the Dodd Frank Act. The Federal government primarily passed it in order to sustain atrocities of the financial crisis (2007 onwards). The context of the paper will encompass the rationale, efficiency, implementation, evaluation and recommendations regarding the law. The information and analysis of the paper will help to understand the nature of public-private dealings, taking place in the current era and its implicit value to the economy (BIS, 2005, p. 1-391). The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumers Protection Act introduced by the Federal government was claimed to bring about a remarkable change in the history of financial services legislation in U.S. The Federal government had decided to introduce this law or policy, just after occurrence of the financial crisis in U.S. in 2007. The Act was passed for reforming traumatic monetary market conditions in U.S., since the incidence of financial crisis. Nonetheless, after its implementation, it could be said that the law was less beneficial to the U.S. economy than that expected during implementation (Stinson Leonard Street, 2013). Along with numerous sets of provisions, several implementation timeline was settled, under the regime of this law. The context of the paper tends to state that after implementation, the Dodd Frank Act still comprised certain deficiencies. At present, in 2013, President Obama has declared to conduct a special meeting with the regulators regarding this very Act. The President claimed that the Dodd Frank Act, which aimed to bring about ambitious financial reforms in U.S., was not effective in several ways. Obama stated that progress of the Act must be accelerated with renewed efforts made for bringing about productive housing and general financial reforms. The

Political Climate of the 1980's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Political Climate of the 1980's - Essay Example It is wrong to assume that the arms race is over as both the United States and the Russian Federation goes on feverishly producing deadlier and more lethal weapons of mass destruction. The Russian Federation today is under the determined leadership of Vladimir Putin compared to the indisciplined and chaotic days in the aftermath of the Soviet Union, under Boris Yeltsin. Russia today is far more stable and prosperous though much less democratic compared to the days of Yeltsin. Putin as a leader may be strong and determined but he also has a past that worries the west, his reputation of a ruthless KGB officer. It is however felt in many strategic circles that the west too has overlooked its responsibilities and recklessly went ahead with attempts to get the former Warsaw Pact members under the NATO ambit. The Russians have historically resented attempts by the western powers to penetrate their 'Slavic sphere of interest' in Eastern Europe and to this extent it could be said that the west for once could have been a little more measured in its approach.

Marry Shellys Frankenstein Essay Example for Free

Marry Shellys Frankenstein Essay In the story there are obvious sections, there are a few reasons for this. As you read the book you realize that the story is subdivided. There are different forms of narrative in the story. This varies from letterform at the start of the story, different narrators and letters sent to people in the story. In Frankenstein there are three different narrators, these are the monster, Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton. The narrative set up is rather like an onion. This is because you have the main narrator, the monster, in the middle then Victor and then finally on the outside Walton. Robert Walton would have been seen as a Romantic hero because of his rebellious ways. Mary Shelly choose Robert Waltons character because she wants him to be a rebel, which also links him to Victor Frankenstein as victor is a rebel as well. Mary Shelly links Robert Walton to Romantics. Firstly Romantics have interest in nature, rather like Robert Walton who is going on a voyage to the North Pole. Also Romantics rebelled against social rules. Robert Walton is rebelling against what Shelley calls the rules of nature as he goes on an expedition to the undiscovered. There are many Romantic heroes from various books like Odysseus from The Odyssey. But there are also other rebellious heroes many of who are from myths and legends. One of the main rebellious heroes was Prometheus who gave fire to man against Zeus will and was punished for it. Shelly presents Robert Walton as a rebel, rather like Victor Frankenstein. We no that Robert Walton is a rebel firstly because he rebels against the limitations of knowledge, he is going to the North Pole. He says, I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited. This means that he wants satisfy his need for knowledge by searching the unknown world. We also know he is a rebel as his father forbids him to go on a voyage, which he is doing. Also we see that he doesnt desire luxuries or an easy life, he says My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. This also shows that he will go a long way for glory and that he would much prefer glory than luxury and ease. Victor Frankenstein is seen as an amazing being through Robert Waltons eyes through their time together. Shelly describes Frankenstein through the eyes of Robert Walton as a Divine wanderer. Also Walton Says that he is, so gentle, yet so wise. From Shellys choice of words we can see that Robert Walton sees Victor Frankenstein as a person with superhuman qualities. Therefore throughout Robert Waltons letter we can see that Robert Walton looks up to Victor Frankenstein as a rebellious hero and as an amazing being. Structurally, Shellys opening to the novel is quiet strange. At the start of the novel you have Robert Waltons letters and then Shelly follows the letters with Victors personal story. I believe that the way Shelley has opened the novel may be strange but it is effective trough out the sequence. By using different narratives Shelly encourages the reader to compare and contrast the viewpoints of Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton. From Chapter one Mary Shelly proceeds to create the character of Victor Frankenstein through his own narrative. Interestingly, she reveals that like the first narrator, Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein has had the desire to reach new depths of scientific research since he was a child. Mary Shelly shows the reader the parallels between the two narrators, Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein. Firstly the reader can see that Frankenstein and Walton are alike, as they both want to rebel against the limitation of knowledge. The reader knows this as Walton wants to find new undiscovered things by going to the North Pole and Frankenstein wants to create life. Also the reader can see that the two of the narrators are alike as they both rebel against their father. Finally the reader can see the similarities in the characters as they both say that they have had the desire to reach new depths of scientific research since they where children. Luke Garner 10Pd English Literature Mr Dorefeyev Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

Cause And Effects Of Land Degradation Environmental Sciences Essay

Cause And Effects Of Land Degradation Environmental Sciences Essay Land degradation is an issue of increasing concern to most countries. It is a concept in which the value of the environment is affected by one or more combination of human induced processes acting upon the land. It also means the deterioration in the quantity of land or soil that affects phenomena such as floods and bushfires. The land degradation threatens not only the viability of agriculture, but also water quality, human health, biodiversity and the fundamental ecological processes on which all life depend. The loss of arable land has been caused by a number of factors, many or most of which are tied to human development and agriculture used. The major causes are land clearance such as clear cutting and deforestation, agriculture activities, irrigation salinity and over drafting, livestock including overgrazing, pollution and industrialization. Overgrazing is a common problem in many parts of Australia. It is caused by animals, generally sheep, cattle, or other feral animals, all concentrated in the one area, all feeding on the grass and shrubs. Grass and shrubs hold the soil firmly together. The removal of grass and shrubs leaves the soil bare and susceptible to wind and water erosion. The soil can be broken up or compacted by hooves, this makes the problem worse. Irrigation salinity is when the irrigation water, used to provide water for crops and pasture, seeps down to the water table, with all the dissolved salts, rises and kills the crops and grass, as they are not used to the salty soils. Deforestation is the complete removal of a forest ecosystem and conversion of the land to another type of landscape. It differs from clear-cutting, which entails complete removal of all standing trees but leaves the soil in a condition to regrow a new forest if seeds are available. Over drafting is the process of extracting groundwater beyond the safe yield or equilibrium yield of the aquifer. Since every groundwater basin recharges at a different rate depending upon precipitation, vegetative cover and soil conservation practices, the quantity of groundwater that can be safely pumped varies greatly among regions of the world and even within provinces. Some aquifers require a very long time to recharge and thus the process of over drafting can have consequences of effectively drying up certain sub-surface water supplies. Land Degradation Processes The main outcome of land degradation is a substantial reduction in the productivity of land. The land degradation processes include soil erosion, nutrient depletion, salinization, desertification and soil acidification or alkalinisation. Soil erosion is a natural process that removes soil from the land. The critical aspect of soil erosion for our purpose here is that the rate of the process is highly dependent on human actions. Natural rates of soil erosion are lower for soil with a good cover of vegetation than for bare soil. In fact, any human actions that uncover soil (farming, logging, building, overgrazing, fires, etc.) greatly enhance soil erosion rates. Soil salinization is the concentration of salts in the surface or near surface of soils. It involves the processes of salt accumulation in the upper rooting zone so that many plants are inhibited or prohibited from normal growth. Human induced salinization is a major problem in drylands and is often associated with large-scale irrigation. Dryland Salinity When drylands are irrigated, the water evaporates quickly, leaving behind previously dissolved salts. These salts can collect, since there is little rain to flash the system. The salt in the soil inhibits the uptake of water by plant roots and the soil can no longer sustain a vegetative cover. Irrigation Salinity Irrigation salinity is when the irrigation water, used to provide water for crops and pasture, seeps down to the water table, with all the dissolved salts, rises and kills the crops and grass, as they are not used to the salty soils. Nutrients loss is an important problem in regions of low-input agriculture, such as Africa. In such regions, when crops are harvested, essential nutrients are taken away in the crop and not replaced. Desertification occurs whenever a non-desert area starts to exhibit the characteristics of a true desert. The term was coined by the United Nations in 1977. The main cause of desertification is not drought, but mismanagement of land, including overgrazing and felling of trees and brushwood for fuels. Soil acidification is when certain chemicals are used on the soil, for various reasons including pesticides, removal of salt from the surface and the soil, acid rain, the growth of certain crops, certain animal wastes and etc, these chemicals are often absorbed into the soil and become part of the soil-structure. With these chemicals now part of the soil, the soil may become acidic and therefore crops and pastures will not grow. Soil acidification can lead to a productivity decline up to and equal to 50%. Soil akalinisation is clay soils with high pH (> 9), a poor soil structure and a low infiltration capacity. Alkali soils owe their unfavorable physico-chemical properties mainly to the dominating presence of sodium carbonate which causes the soil to swell. Sometimes these soils are also referred to as (alkaline) sodic soils. Effect of degradation Several land degradation affected a significant portion of the arable lands, decreasing the wealth and economic development of nations. Land degradation cancels out advanced by improved crop yields and reduced population growth. As the land resource, base becomes less productive, food security is comprised and competition for dwindling resources increases. Thus, a downward eco-social spiral is created when lands are nutrient depleted by unsustainable land management practices resulting in lost soil stability leading to permanent change. Land degradation not only affects soil productivity but also have more significant impacts on receiving water resources. Since soil along with nutrients and contaminants associated with soil, are delivered in large quantities to environments. Land degradation therefore has potentially impacts on lakes and reservoirs that are designed to alleviate flooding provide irrigation and generate Hydro-Power. In summary, land degradation includes soil erosion, salinization, soil acidification or akalinisation and desertification. The rate of degradation has increased dramatically with growth in human populations and technology. Severe land damage accompanies large-scale of agriculture. The continued loss of arable land will jeopardize our ability to feed the world population. Land degradation is a worldwide problem which includes both of the developed and developing countries.

Analysis of Dickinson’s I heard a Fly buzz - when I died Essay

Analysis of Dickinson’s I heard a Fly buzz - when I died Emily Dickinson wrote hundreds of poems during her lifetime that dealt with death. She seemed to have an almost morbid fascination with the subject. Her poem "I heard a Fly buzz - when I died" is one of the many poems she wrote about this ghastly topic. The symbols she used make this poem interesting because they can be interpreted on more than one level. The punctuation and capitalization used also give the poem an abstract quality. Like much of Dickinson's poetry, this poem is both startling and somber. One thing that stands out about this poem is that the word fly is capitalized throughout. It makes one wonder what the fly actually represents. Flies often gather around death and dead things, and on one level, the fly can be seen as a representation of death. Death, the perpetual fly on the wall, is finally making itself noticed. Although the speaker has always known that death is going to come, when it finally arrives, its modest appearance is disappointing. The fly can also be seen as an interruption in the narrator's process of dying. The fly can be heard buzzing above the "Stillness in the Room." The fly also comes between the speaker and the light in the last stanza of the poem, which is another disturbance in the speaker's dying process. The fly can also be seen in an ironic light. The speaker, like all of us, is expecting death to be an important, grandiose experience in our lives. Her own death, however, is interrupted by something as insignificant as a fly. The insignificant quality of the fly could represent the commonplace nature of death and the relative irrelevance of the death of one person. The fly is unimportant, an... ...e describing a sort of spiritual death, since she talks about the fly cutting her off form the light, which could represent God. This interpretation has some difficulties, however, since family members probably would not be present during a spiritual death. (Dickinson 1146) Dickinson's poetry is both thought provoking and shocking. This poem communicates many things about Dickinson, such as her cynical outlook on God, and her obsession with death. It is puzzling to me why a young lady such as Emily Dickinson would be so melancholy, since she seemed to have such a good life. Perhaps she just revealed in her poetry that dark side that most people try to keep hidden. Works Cited: Dickinson, Emily. "I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died." The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 1, 2nd Edition. Ed. Nina Baym, et al. New York: W.W. Norton, 1985

Art and History Displayed at the Pompeii Exhibition at LACMA Essay

The Pompeii exhibition at LACMA was an astounding visualization of history. The exhibition provided all sorts of objects; from sculptures, glass figures, painted art, and more. These art pieces specify the kind of life that was taking place in the Bay of Naples during the second century. As we know the cities around the Bay of Naples, which include Pompeii and Herculaneum, became tourist attractions when the cities were excavated after they were buried from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. However, the comprehension of how the art pieces made their way into the museum is just a little fact of the history behind them. With this exhibition we are able to feel like we are back in time and living in the exhilarating time of Pompeii. At the start of the exhibition we are presented with various busts and sculptures of certain, and presumably famous, figures. It is when we see the sculpture of Aphrodite (see Fig. 1) that we start sensing the significance of the exhibition. These sculptures were the norm during the second century in the Bay of Naples, and by viewing the intricate details in each art piece we understand how worthy each work meant to each of the artists. The sculpture of Aphrodite portrayed a serene greeting to the exhibitors. She stood in the middle welcoming us with a soft and warm smile. Through this sculpture we view how the Pompeii artist was following the Greek perception of the human body such as what we see in Polykleitos’ sculpture, Doryphoros; Aphrodite stands with the weight shifted on to her left foot portraying the cross balance of the human body. Once we appreciate the first art room we are then presented with various pieces of the gardens that were found around the Bay of Naples. In, w... ...hristen Kobke were on display including The Forum at Pompeii. The Forum painting depicts a tragic scene of Pompeii as it sits torn and destructed. Novels and photo albums also are displayed at the end of the exhibition. However, one of the last sculptures on view, Nydia, The Blind Girl of Pompeii (see Fig. 4), provides us with the fact that many people were truly inspired by the great tragic story of Pompeii. The sculpture of Nydia expresses the sadness and horror that many had experienced during that time. The Pompeii exhibition featured a number of objects, and how these objects were showed to the public presented a story. We were welcomed by the people into the home and gardens. Later we were given our parting with the photo albums and illuminated Pompeii art. This exhibition shows how much information and history can be presented in a few pieces of art.

Literary Translation as a Creative Act. Essay

Literary translation implies the translation of all genres of literature, which include prose, drama and poetry. Literature is described as ‘an apparently nebulous body of knowledge in oral or written form, an imitation of life, which reflects civilization and culture, and which covers every angle of human activities-culture, tradition, entertainment, information among others.’ It is one of the great creative and universal means of communicating the emotional, spiritual and intellectual concerns of humankind. Literary translation has to do with translating texts written in a literary language, which abounds in ambiguities, homonyms and arbitrariness, as distinct from the language of science or that of administration. Literary language is highly connotative and subjective because each literary author is lexically and stylistically idiosyncratic and through his power of imagination, he uses certain literary techniques such as figures of speech, proverbs and homonyms through which he weaves literary forms. The literary translator is therefore the person who concerns himself with translation of literary texts. A literary translator generally respects good writing by taking into account the language, structures, and content, whatever the nature of the text. The literary translator participates in the author’s creative activity and then recreates structures and signs by adapting the target language text to the source language text as closely as intelligibility allows. He needs to assess not only the literary quality of the text but also its acceptability to the target reader, and this should be done by having a deep knowledge of the cultural and literary history of both the Source and the Target Languages. Language and culture are closely related and one is indispensable to the other. In fact, language acquires its meaning from the country’s culture. A single language may cross several culture borders. There are generally problems in the translation of cultural words in a literary text unless there is a cultural overlap between the source language and the target language. It is not enough for a translator to know what words are used in the target language; he must also make the reader understand the sense as it is understood by the reader of the original. For instance, in a text where there is a cultural focus, there can be translation problems due to the cultural gap between the source and the target languages. The meaning of a  single word or expression is largely derived from its culture. Therefore, translation, being a simple linguistic process, a cultural understanding comes into play because the translator is supposed to produce equivalence and where this does not exist, problems occur. The translator is expected to creatively exploit the altered cultural, linguistic and literary context in order to realize the different potentials of the target language in an act or literary creation since translation is an intercultural activity. Linguistically, each language has its own metaphysics, which determines the spirit of a nation and its behavioral norms, and this is what is known as linguistic relativity. Language directs our intellect and even our sensory perception. Since words or images may vary considerably from one group to another, the translator needs to pay attention to the style, language and vocabulary peculiar to the two languages in question in order to produce an ‘exact’ translation of the source language text. Thus while translating something from a language to other, the sense and the behavior of the sentence gets changed obscurely. So as to carry the that sense and the behavior of the sentence the original author meant, the translator himself need to be creative, with a good knowledge of both languages, the one translating to and from.