Monday, September 30, 2019
Polar Bears Warming Up to Climate Change Essay
The way the earth’s climate has been changing is a very hot topic among scientists today. Some believe it to be caused by the earth’s natural geothermal development and part of the normal change that the planet should be undergoing. Others contradict these claims by saying that man’s own inventions and improper use of fossil fuels has been aggravating the natural thermal changes. Environmentalists further urge the general public to act towards helping preserve earth because man’s activities are not only lessening human survival but of his co-planetary habitants as well. Polar Bears’ Hierarchy in the Arctic Kingdom            Polar bears are known to be the world’s largest land predator. (Briggs, 2003, par. 9) Adult females normally weigh 330 to 550 pounds but males can be as heavy as 775 to 1500 pounds. (Polar Bears International, 2008, par. 4)            Polar bears, as can be shown in the Food Chain Model below, are on top of the food chain in the arctic regions and feed on ringed seals and walruses. Polar Bear Beluga                 Ringed Seal         Thick-Billed Murres              Walrus Bowheaded Whale               Arctic Cod                Arctic Tern Zooplankton Source: Assignment Discovery School Lesson Plan, p. 3 Phytoplankton            Although humans have taken it upon themselves to care for their environment, sharing responsibility is not always easy. There used to be concerns between Norway and Russia, as to who should be responsible for the care of the Ursus maritimus or polar bear since they can be found in both countries. A study made by Mette Mauritzen (2002) and her colleagues used satellite telemetry to obtain data from 105 female polar bears over a dozen of years and the results showed that the different subpopulations in the different locations are all part of one continuous polar bear population. This means that both countries need to share management responsibility for the species. Global Warming and the Arctic            Many scientists are saying that the current state of global warming is too fast. Some say that it will only take around 50 years before the ice in the Arctic will melt while others say it may take around 100 years. The length of time is irrelevant because the urgency of combating global warming can truly be seen with its predicted and already on-going effects. According to NASA Engineer Josefino C. Comiso (2003), his satellite observations show that the twenty year trend in situ surface temperature is eight times larger than the 100 year trend which means that the sea is warming much faster than normal. He also presumes that by the year 2050, the ice lying over the continental shelf would be displaced into the polar basin. Polar Bears and Global Warming            According to an article written by Eric Chivian (2001) entitled Environment and health: Species loss and ecosystem disruption  the implications for human health, global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and the negative results of other man-made activities threaten biodiversity, but it is the degradation, reduction and fragmentation of habitats that is the greatest threat.            According to a very extensive study made by Andrew Derocher, Nicholas Lunn and Ian Stirling (2004) entitled Polar Bears in a Warming Climate, factors such as the decreasing area of Arctic Sea Ice, lessened multiyear ice, timing of ice formation or break-up, denning, movements of the bears on the sea ice, quantity of prey, human-polar bear interactions and pollution all combine to threaten the survival of the species. Arctic Sea Ice                                                                                                                According to the IUCN/ Species Survival Commission Polar Bear Specialist Group (2002, pp. 21-35), polar bears have been able to occupy sea ice habitats throughout the Arctic with its population estimated at 21,500 to 25,000. Arctic Sea Ice are used by polar bears to transport themselves over the water to prey on seals. Lessening the number of arctic ice would greatly affect the food resource of the species. Lessened Multiyear Ice                                           According to a previous report by Comiso (2002b cited in Derocher, 2004) the ice cover in the Arctic is already declining at the rate of 9% every ten years; which means that the ice may be all gone in just one hundred years. Since polar bears are fully dependent on their icy habitat, losing the ice can lead to their extinction. Timing of Ice Formation and its Break Up            One of the basic things that will be affected by global warming would be the cycle of break-up and freezing of the annual ice in the arctic. Some scientists believe that global warming affects the cycle by making the ice break up earlier annually while delaying its freeze. In Canada’s Western Hudson Bay, the annual ice break-up is observed to be occurring about 2.5 weeks earlier than 3 decades ago. (Stirling, et.al. cited in Derocher, 2004) This is important because when the ice breaks sooner, the polar bears have shortened time to feed on seals which can greatly affect the conditions of their bodies throughout the year. Their bodies would not have been able to get enough of the fat they would need for their four-month fast.            According to other studies previously done by Derocher and Stirling (1995b cited in Derocher, 2004), adult polar bears lose around .85 to .90 kilograms of body mass daily during fasts. With the abrupt breaking of ice that would end feeding period earlier and the delayed freezing, polar bears will lose their weight abnormally due to the longer time they need to fast. Although it may seem trivial, this has a significant effect on the pregnant polar bears. If these female pregnant polar bears fall beyond 189 kilograms of weight due to the long fasting period, chances of delivering the cub become nil. Denning            Female polar bears have favorite places to den. To reach these places, the ice cycles should be regular to be able to help these bears reach their destinations on time. Also, with the ice melting and making the area farther to swim to, it is becoming difficult for polar bears to reach their favorite locations.            There are some subspecies that do may not be particular with their den locations because they are able to den on drifting multiyear ice. These polar bears are currently able to raise the cubs well. However, with global warming affecting the multiyear ice, these bears may have to be on the floating ice longer than necessary which means more energy wasted. This can also be detrimental to the cubs which are not yet fully developed and equipped to weather the weary conditions. If this happens, then global warming will affect the population because of the cubs that can be lost due to the conditions mentioned.            For polar bear populations that prefer to go back to their maternity dens, another problem that could threaten their natural activity would be that while the planet warms, the flora and fauna in the area would also be drier making these prone to fire. Warmer dens with fire-risks are not suitable for pregnant polar bears and their cubs. Movements of Polar Bears on the Sea Ice            Because of warmer sea temperatures and an increase in sea winds due to global warming, sea ice will thin easily and this may cause this major transportation for polar bears to become unstable or drift faster. If it moves much faster, the species would need to spend more energy in reaching their preferred locations. Although polar bears love to swim, using too much energy can also cause poor health and reproduction for the polar bears. Observations also note that polar bears move to land when sea ice quantity goes below half of its normal number. This could be because more energy is spent moving on top of drifting ice compared to walking on solid icy ground. A decrease in the number of sea ice drifting also lessens the opportunities to hunt for more prey. Availability of Prey            A decrease in sea ice has its effects on the productivity of seals, which are the main food of polar bears. Seals rely on sea ice for their maternity activities, lessening the quantity of sea ice drifting due to global warming will also lessen the population of seals.            There were observations in 1979 that warmer temperatures and rain resulted to the easy uncovering of seal pup lairs that made it thrice easier for polar bears to catch them. (Hammil and Smith, 1991 cited in Derocher, 2004) If this can become a trend wherein in warmer temperatures will cause the earlier onset of rain which will wash away the protection of seal pups, then, it is also possible that the population of ringed seals will decline as newborns are given less chances of survival.            Polar bears rely on sea ice to be able to catch seals. Lessening the number of sea ice would also decrease its opportunities to catch the prey. Very few polar bears have been observed to have enough ability to catch its prey in open waters. The species may have more luck in getting their food when walrus or seals are hauled out on terrestrial habitats but only few individuals of the species are known to have this ability.            Another aspect that needs to be discussed is the way the polar bears eat their prey. The adult male polar bears prefer the blubber of their prey and usually leave much of the protein behind (Stirling and McEwan, 1975 cited in Derocher, 2004) for younger polar bears who are not yet good in catching prey. With global warming altering the food sources and the way polar bears spend their energy, there will likely be less left-over food for the younger generations of cubs to eat which can decrease the population size. Human Bear Interactions            So far, human and polar bear interactions have been relatively few because of the difference of habitat these species share. However, if global warming will cause the ice to melt and lessen the current quantity of food, the bears may have to wander nearer human dwellings for their own chances of survival. However, this can be fatal for both species because humans may have to get rid of the polar bear for protection or else the bear will consider the human its prey. More human interaction will also increase the polar bears’ exposure to pollutants which can affect its population. Remediation Program            Polar bears have been under the protection of the different governments their habitats are found. There are already laws in place to ban hunting except for scientific purposes and changes in marine transportation routes to lessen the pollution that can endanger the species.            However, global warming is still an issue that can be better addressed by the public. Although more and more advocates have been trying their best to cause enough awareness about the problem of greenhouse gases, a good remediation program for the polar bears would be dependent on a good program against global warming.            The greenhouse effect of global warming is said to be caused by methane and carbon dioxide which form a layer in the atmosphere. This layer keeps the heat being produced within the earth from going out of the planet under normal atmospheric circumstances. Carbon dioxide is a natural gas humans and animals excrete when they process oxygen while methane is released into the atmosphere when the earth is being dug up. Polluted air from vehicles are also carbon dioxide emissions that hasten the greenhouse effect. There are other sources of global warming such as the destruction of the ozone layer due to man’s use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), over population while decreasing tropical rain forests, etc.            To help stunt the detrimental effects of global warming, people and governments must put aside financial gains and demerits because not only do the polar bears need to survive but man as well. There are already many programs being done by different environmentalists like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Humane Society of the United States and International fund for Animal Welfare to help lessen the threats on polar bear survival.            Global warming has already been addressed world-wide and one of the agreements that had never been fully implemented is the Kyoto Protocol. Many countries including the United States and United Kingdom have signed and agreed to the terms of the bargain wherein the member governments will bring down their carbon dioxide emissions to levels safer for humans and other creatures alike. According to the treaty, these nations would also exchange technologies that could help reverse the problems of global warming.            However, the U.S. and other countries failed to implement it and continue to bypass the promises made during the planning of this pact. Therefore, I believe that remediation programs are already in place but these need the sincerity of governments, especially the ones powerful economically, to succeed.            Beyond government efforts, individuals can truly help force governments to fulfill their environmental obligations by lobbying for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and other environmental issues.            In 2006, Julius Kenneth Ningu and his colleagues made a report on how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was creating negative effects on Mexico’s environment. According to the report, the country had good environmental policies in place and the government was strict in implementing it until the agreement forced it into an economic crisis. In just a few years, the government had to relax on its environmental policies to enable private corporations to weather the economic crisis and for the country to be able to meet the standards of the agreement. By â€Å"2002, the costs of environmental degradation amounted to 65,934 million dollars but the expenses made to protect the environment was only 3,473 million dollars.†Governments must therefore also be forced to put into place stricter laws that would protect the environment (not only of their own country but of the countries they deal with for capital g rowth).            Lessening use of fossil fuel is a must and the public must support the new inventions being made that would help decrease the problem of global warming. Spending more money on machines that produce cleaner air may be more expensive but worthwhile in terms of survival. Scientific Debates            Polar bears are very cool in their own habitat and naà ¯ve to how scientists continually debate on whether they are going towards extinction or not. Some believe that climate change will not pose substantial problems with polar bear species survival while a relevant population in the scientific community believes that the melting of the ice in these mammals’ habitat will threaten their existence. The U.S. Senate has already debunked the idea that polar bears are going towards extinction because of reports that the polar bear population is at its highest peak as of the current years and that research already shows that the species can was able to withstand the interglacial period which was much warmer . (US Senate, 2008) Conclusion            The survival of polar bears may not be a big issue as of the moment because it can actually be true that they can survive even worse temperatures. However, global warming is not just an issue worth noting for polar bear survival but for human existence as well. Governments must find the will to implement the laws that they already know are correct to be able to help all humans survive. It is only through the sincere will of strong and economically stable governments that a cool change can really be met. References Assignment Discovery School Lesson Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2008, from            http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/pdf/biomes_wildarctic/biomes_wildarc            tic.pdf. Briggs, H. (2003). Polar Bear ‘Extinct Within 100 Years.’ BBC News, Science/Nature. Retrieved            April 2, 2008 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2642773.stm. Chivian, E. (2001). Environment and health: 7. Species loss and ecosystem disruption  the            implications for human health. Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 164 (3). 365-            369. Comiso, J. (2003). Warming Trends in the Arctic from Clear Sky Satellite Observations. Journal  of Climate, Vol. (21), pp. 3498-3510. Derocher, A., Lunn, N.J. and Stirling, I. (2004). Polar Bears in a Warming Climate. Integrative            and Comparative Biology 2004 44(2),163-176. IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group. (2002) In N. J. Lunn, S. Schliebe, and E. W. Born            (eds.), Polar bears: Proceedings of the 13th Working Meeting of the IUCN Polar Bear            Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K. Mauritzen, M., Derocher, A.E., Wiig, O., Belikov, S.E., Boltunov, A.N., Hansen, E., et.al.            (2002). Using satellite telemetry to define spatial population structure in polar bears in            the Norwegian and western Russian Arctic. Journal of Applied Ecology 39 (1) , 79–90. Ningu, J.K., Jacome, J.T., Silva Gomez, S.E. and Aviles, R.P. (2006). The Effects of North            America Free Trade Agreement on Mexican Environmental Policy (1994-2004).            American Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 2(1). Pp. 5-8. Polar Bears International. (2008). About the Polar Bear. Retrieved April 2, 2008, from            http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/bear-facts/about-the-polar-bear/ U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. (2008). U.S. Senate Report Debunks Polar Bear Extinction Fears. Retrieved April 2, 2008, from http://epw.senate.gov/public/ index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Facts&ContentRecord_id=cb2faa9c-802a-23ad-4bcc- 29bb94ceb993.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Noetic Structure Essay
View and take notes on the presentation, â€Å"An Overview of Issues in Contemporary Justification, Part 1.†What are 3 characteristics of a person’s noetic structure? The sum total of everything that person believes It recognizes the differing degress of certainty, firmness, and conviction with which people hold their beliefs. Characterized by how beliefs are related together. Explain coherentism and the 3 problems with it. Coherentism: All beliefs fall into one category. No beliefs are more foundational than the others. Problems: Circularity: How do I justify my belief in P? It coheres with Q. Isolation Problem: Coherentism isolates my beliefs from the external world. Plurality: It is possible to have 2 coherent systems that are logically incompatible. Read chapter 4 of Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous, â€Å"Foundationalism.†As you do, consider the following questions and points: What is the root idea of foundationalism? Each of us holds a set of beliefs basically or immediately while we hold other beliefs non basically or mediately. Why would one adopt a foundationalist approach to justification? Because they are epistemic engies of our noetic structures, imparting to all of our non-basic beliefs, while not themselves requiring justification from any other beliefs – this support goes just one way. What is the regress argument? Taking for granted the general reliability of your conscious faculties, and indeed must take them for granted. What are the 3 basic components of foundationalism? Basic or immediate beliefs- Form the bedrock of what all we believe undergirding everything else we are justified in believing. Mediate or non-basic beliefs- Everything else we believe Basing Relation- Specifies how the epistemic merit of our basic beliefs is to be transferred to out non-basic beliefs. What are the characteristics of strong foundationalism? Specifically explain: The 3 conditions for a basic belief. Must be self-evidently true: those we see to be true immediately, without the benefit of deliberation or argument, merely when we understand the term of the claim in question. Must be Incorrigible: The belief in question is one that is impossible to believe and be mistaken about. Evident to the Senses The means by which basic beliefs support non-basic beliefs. Entailment is the only logical relation that preserves certainty. If one starts with self-evidently true starting points and accepts only what can be validly derived from the same, one thereby insures that one’s entire set of beliefs is untainted and error free. Four â€Å"additional†features of foundationalism. One cannot claim to have knowledge simply by asserting that one knows One must be inwardly cognizant that one’s claims to knowledge is genuine. One must be prepared to show that this is the case. What are the main problems with foundationalism? Note: This section can be challenging; try to understand the main points raised; don’t be concerned about all the details except as a way to understand the following main points: Problems: One’s beliefs in the reliability of one’s senses or memory or consciousness; none of these beliefs is either self evident or incorrigible or evident to the senses, yet they are held as properly basic by virtually everyone. Any acceptance of supposedly pure and certain basic beliefs makes use of various background assumptions or information that compromises their certainty and undermines their basicality. Why only these conditions for a basic belief? Claims that foundationalism solves the regress argument fail (the arbitrariness of stopping points). Other means of supporting beliefs than just deduction/induction (best explanation, retroduction, concurrence, etc.). The security vs. content problem. The strict demands for four unimpeachable certainty leave one with so small a set of basic beliefs that they can’t possibly bear the heavy weight of all we believe. Other problems (excessive individualism, access requirements, noetic effects of sin). Pg 95 What are the similarities and differences between strong and modest foundationalism? Specifically: What is primae facie certainty? One’s foundational beliefs are not necessarily immune to any conceivable doubt – they can be overridden – but they are perfectly acceptable unless one has a good reason for thinking they have been undermined. Four of Reid’s contingent truths. The thoughts of which I am conscience are thoughts of a being I call myself. Those things really happened which I distinctly remember. Those things really do exist which we distinctly perceive by our senses, and are what we perceive them to be. What is to be will probably be like what has been in similar circumstances. Reid’s reliabilism of first principles. For our evidence concerning reliability would have to include deliverances of the faculties whose reliability we are accumulating evidence for. On behalf of his foundational principles, they can be correctly identified by their accompanying marks or signs. If someone persists in requesting additional assurances over and above the usual marks accompanying properly based beliefs, then the person holding such beliefs can only respond with genuine bewilderment. Two weaknesses with modest foundationalism. Reid may have underestimated the capacity for thinkers of sound mind and sincere will to disagree about alleged, philosophical first principles. The belief in God can be held in a basic belief. Alvin Plantinga’s belief in God as properly basic. The belief can be justifiably held in the manner of a first principle, that is w/out the benefit of argumentative support. Terms Make sure you can explain the following terms and concepts: Indefeasible- Not able to be lost, annulled, or overturned. Retroduction- A king of reasoning from the best explanation. It is reducible neither to induction or deduction. Concurrence- Observations that cumulate in his belief. Necessary First Principles- They are self-evidently justified, being believed merely upon being understood. Must have these. Contingent First Principles- Not self-evidently justified. Dependent upon something. Doxastic Assumption- A theory that a belief is justified if it coheres with other beliefs
Saturday, September 28, 2019
How to Write the University of Virginia Essays 2018-2019
The University of Virginia is a public research university founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, making the institution a prominent historical site. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, UVA is well known for its historical foundation and early roots. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, UVA is situated in a lively metropolitan community. Ranked by U.S. News and World Report at #3 among public schools and #25 overall, UVA is one of the nation’s top universities. In the 2016-2017 application cycle, UVA only admitted 27.4% of applicants, making admission quite competitive. In addition to academic transcripts and letters of recommendation, all applicants are required to submit an additional supplemental essay, with additional essays needed depending on your selected major. With such competitive rates, it is often intimidating to complete these additional essays. However, is here to offer our guide on how to tackle UVA’s 2018-2019 application! Required: Choose one of the following (250 words): Note that this essay is required; however, UVA gives you the option to choose between 4 prompts, all of which have a 250-word limit. Choose the essay that you feel a stronger connection to, as this will make for a much stronger and more personal essay. With that being said, let’s take a look at each of the following prompts. For this essay, avoid choosing a word that’s generally self-explanatory or cliche. Example of this could be â€Å"happiness†or â€Å"love†because these words are often overused and the meaning can generally be inferred without an additional story. You want to choose something that is both personally meaningful to you and something that is attached to a greater story. For instance, if you are multilingual and your grandmother would always offer you a specific piece of advice in another language, you could use a word related to that advice in that language. Perhaps there is a story attached to the reason why she gave you that advice, or perhaps it is what you remember the most from her. Tell a story around this idea and your essay will be much more personal and impactful. You could also show off your nerdy side here or highlight your interests. Perhaps your favorite word is â€Å"emulsion†because it is relevant to your two favorite activities: chemistry and cooking. You could discuss your love for each of these subjects and, like the previous example, tell a brief story on how the word relates to your personal experiences. When choosing a word, you could also consider alternate meanings by considering meanings outside the traditional dictionary definition. In this case, you could contrast the traditional meaning with your own personal interpretation of the word in order to point out any differences and highlight your own personal connection to the word. Again, the key for this essay is to be personal. In terms of writing your essay, you want to make it clear what your word is without directly saying â€Å"my favorite word is _____.†; always start your essay with an interesting opener and a thoughtful conclusion. Since the essay is short at 250 words, you want to be fairly straightforward without being too stale or obvious. Chances are, you have a unique quality that makes up who you are. This essay is all about pinpointing that quality and describing it in terms of its importance to your identity. Perhaps you have an odd fascination with insects or you collect unconventional objects. This is a perfect essay to discuss these facets of your life. You must make sure to connect your quirk to your personality and individuality. Don’t simply describe the quirk; ask yourself why this quality is important to you and consider how your individuality would change had you not possessed this characteristic. You want to highlight your personality in this essay, whether it be through humorous writing or a creative story. For example, if your quirk is having to do a cartwheel every morning before school, you can write a story mapping out your day, with emphasis on your daily cartwheel. Perhaps this is the only way to get your blood pumping and prepare you for the day ahead. Perhaps doing cartwheels ensures that you always start your day with a positive attitude, allowing you to tackle any obstacles during the day. There are endless possibilities for quirks you could write about, as each person is different and has unique habits. Your quirk could be a unique mannerism such as a â€Å"weird†laugh or a unique daily routine you have. Perhaps your quirk was the object of ridicule in your earlier years, but now you’ve become confident in yourself and your unique qualities. Show UVA what makes you you and how proud you are to be yourself  weird quirks and all! For this essay, you want to consider your interests and how you want to share these interests with others. Your Flash Seminar should reflect something you’re passionate about, yet also be unique enough to not already exist. For example, you don’t want to create a seminar about something like â€Å"Cell Biology†or â€Å"Classical Literature.†For instance, if you love science and have always been intrigued by astrology, you could create a Flash Seminar called â€Å"Is there a Scientific Basis for Astrology?†If you love politics and are passionate about film, you could create a seminar called â€Å"Hidden Political Messages in Modern Film.†With any topic you choose, make sure to explain your choice. Why are you passionate about the topic and why do you think there should be a discussion about it? Perhaps you want to share your passions with others through a unique perspective or perhaps your proposed question has puzzled you in the past, making you eager to hear the thoughts of others. Discuss your reasons for creating the class and the goals you hope the class achieves. Like the previous question, you want to consider the topics you’re passionate about and want to share with others. You could interpret â€Å"message†as a form of artwork such as a painting, or you can interpret it more literally as a message or phrase. For instance, if you’re passionate about redesigning the roles of modern women, you could describe a painting that includes a dichotomy between traditional and more progressive roles of women. Perhaps half the painting includes black and white images of women performing household tasks and the other half uses vivid colors to portray women in positions of power and independence. Maybe you’ve been empowered by several strong women in your life and want to advocate for gender issues such as equal pay. Maybe there is a quote or phrase from a novel that you’ve read that stuck out to you and want to share with UVA’s student body. For instance, if a quote from Thi Bui’s The Best We Could Do resonates with you due to a similarity with your immigration story, you could paint this message on the Beta Bridge in order to create a sense of community with those who share similar backgrounds. No matter what you choose to paint, make sure you have a personal connection to the art. Ensure that you answer the â€Å"why†aspect of the question and discuss the reasons why the message is important to both you and others. This is the last of the 4 prompt options and we recommend choosing the prompt you have the strongest connection to. Remember, there is no â€Å"best†prompt; regardless of the prompt you choose, ensure that you reveal something about your personality and give the admissions committee a closer look at your background Submit your essay and we’ll get back to you with helpful edits. This essay is only required for those applying under architecture. Like the previous prompts, this essay also has a word limit of 250 words. If you’ve traveled to a place with intricate and unique architecture, or you visited a site that excluded aesthetic excellence, this is the place to discuss that. Perhaps you were intrigued by the ancient architecture and designs featured in ancient Greece. Or perhaps you were fascinated by a particular home you saw while driving through Hollywood Hills due to its unique modern characteristics. Be detailed when describing the instance or location, and allow the reader to visualize the design. Your goal for this essay is to highlight the location that inspired you and explain why this was inspiring for you. Maybe you loved the detailed engravings embedded into ancient European architecture or maybe you love the intersection of minimalism and functionality. Make sure to convey the passion you have towards architecture and show a genuine interest and love for unique designs. For those of you interested in kinesiology, or the study of how the body moves, you must complete this essay. There could be several reasons why you chose this field of study but make sure to choose something that is personal to you and had a large impact in terms of exciting your interest in the subject. For instance, if you volunteered in a hospital and often worked with patients recovering from physical injuries, you could discuss watching people slowly regain mobility. You could discuss how you were amazed by the body’s ability to recover and how a person could transition from immobility to mobility. Maybe you have a more personal connection and witnessed a friend or family member experience the same recovery. If so, you could definitely include this in discussing your motivation for pursuing kinesiology. You could also discuss the science and mechanics behind kinesiology if you did not necessarily have a defining moment that influenced you to choose the field. Perhaps you are interested biomechanics behind kinesiology and were always intrigued by how the body interacts with itself. If you have played sports before, you could draw a connection between the two here and discuss how your interest in sports influenced your interest in the body’s mechanics. You want to identify a problem that’s important to you and propose a solution to solve it. This doesn’t mean the problem has to be large, as the prompt also explicitly states â€Å"small engineering project.†For instance, if you live in a large household with many siblings, perhaps you want to design a robot that cleans the house, easing the daily burden on your parent. If your grandfather struggles with putting on his shoes due to a weak back, you could propose a machine that assists him with that every morning. A great way to address the prompt is to consider any medical disabilities that a friend or family member may have. However, make sure to propose something that doesn’t already exist. For instance, if a family member is hard of hearing, you wouldn’t want to design a hearing aid since this already exists. If, however, you have a proposed modification that makes an existing device better for your chosen individual, then this would be appropriate to discuss. Pay attention to the people surrounding you by identifying any daily challenges they may experience. Once you choose your project, you want to describe the design and explain how this would be beneficial to your chosen family member or friend. This prompt is essentially asking you why you want to study nursing. You want to trace your previous experiences and consider whether they impacted your decision to study health care. Perhaps an experiences volunteering at a hospital changed influenced your love for nursing, or perhaps you realized nursing comes naturally to you after caring for an ill friend or family member. If you worked or volunteered at a hospital, you could discuss a specific interaction you had with a patient. For example, maybe an elderly woman recently exited surgery and you were assigned to assist with her recovery. Perhaps the woman would often tell stories about her past experiences to you, reminding you of your own grandmother. Maybe it’s this deep interaction with patients that has attracted you to nursing. You want to be personal in your response; don’t simply state that you want to study nursing in order to help people. These answers are cliche and vague, as they don’t really highlight a particular experience that you had. With so many fields classified under arts and sciences, you have a variety of ways to approach this answer. If you’re studying biology, for example, perhaps a unique experiment in the lab opened your eyes to the intricacies of life. If you want to study math, maybe you struggled with learning a theorem and want to discuss how you overcame this challenge. Maybe Toni Morrison’s Beloved introduced you to the darker side of literature that made you both uncomfortable and intrigued. You want to discuss why and how the work challenged or changed you rather than simply describing the work itself. The key here is to draw a personal connection and explain how the work impacted you by describing your personal reactions to it. For example, if you found reading Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales challenging whether it be due to the language or content, you could describe the obstacles you encountered while analyzing the text. You could then conclude with discussing how working through these obstacles forced you to look at literature from a different perspective, thus allowing you to find unique symbols in the text that you otherwise would have skipped over. Remember, the purpose of these essays is to showcase your identity to the admissions officers. You want to highlight your personality and convey your passions in order to allow the reader to get a better sense of who you are. We hope this guide has allowed you to tackle UVA’s application with the utmost confidence. Happy writing! Want help on your University of Virginia application or essays? Learn about our College Apps Program . Want us to quickly edit your college essay? Submit it to our Rapid Review program , and we’ll get it back to you quickly with comments from our expert team.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Hospitality question and answer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Hospitality question and answer - Essay Example Responsibility and authority are affixed with top down arrow and accountability is represented by bottom up arrow in the organizational chart. . Leading/Directing: Leadership is the ability of to get work done through others, while at the same time winning their confidence, respect, loyalty, and willing cooperation. The Food and Beverage Director is trained to lead and direct the entire team. They are also trained to be accountable for the actions of the team members. Staffing: Job analysis is carried out and tasks are identified in each job. Job position standards are set at all levels of the hierarchy. Recruitment is carried out as per job description in case a shortfall arises. Records regarding the employee performance are maintained. It is important to know the duties of supervisor in the employment and management function, to have the knowledge of employment laws, employment awards, classification and grades, internal and external effects on employment grades, statistical formulae, job analysis, performance standards, Job/position description, Job/Position Specification, Essential and Desirable Criteria for the ‘right’ applicant, recruitment, the job application, selection, employment interview, company orientation and job induction. Monitoring/Controlling: The Service Director, Executive Chef, Executive Steward and Beverage conduct quality control, quantity control, cost control, time control, people control, inventory control, safety control and report to the Food and Beverage Director who further reports to the Manager. Controls are grouped as Steering Controls, Screening Controls and Post action Controls. Steering controls highlight deviations from the set standard or the objective to be achieved before the activity is completed. Check points during the task can steer the worker in the correct direction toward the goal. Screening goals are referred to as Yes/No goals. They monitor
Thursday, September 26, 2019
What is the relationship between text messaging and literacy Research Paper
What is the relationship between text messaging and literacy - Research Paper Example t the exposure to text messaging and their counterparts who do not have access to SMS might be contributing, positively, to the literacy skills development among 9 to 10-year-old-children (Wood 35). Furthermore, past studies analyzed by Verheijen report a positive correlation between the use of SMS and literacy levels among users (Verheijen 588). Belying the findings of these studies, however, is the viewpoint among older generation researchers and academicians that text messaging has negative correlations to improving learning skills among users. They argue that text messaging has contributed detrimental implications on learners as opposed to its emphasized importance by recent researchers. They present counterarguments justifying their disapproval of the importance of text messaging on learning. They cite the negative implications of technology on learners as justification to their opposing viewpoints to the debate while attributing the effect of text messaging. Text messaging affe cts literacy positively by encouraging open discussions and communication. Although older generation researchers and academicians argue that technological developments in communication have detrimental implications on the youth and future generations, it is justifiable that text messaging has a positive influence on literacy levels by encouraging communication and open discussion. Worldwide text messaging is a popular activity and the number of text messages sent continues to enlarge. In Wood’s analysis of the situation, he says, â€Å"texting supports spelling development amongst children because they get to understand abbreviations and the words they represent†. The use of the texting abbreviations leads to phonological awareness and processing and this result to spelling. On the other hand, not all the children who are good in spelling are capable of using creative ‘textisms’. Thus, rehearsal of such creative text slangs and the words they represent is a beneficial skill. If
Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 45
Case Study Example In the bid for technology refresh, the organization requires to refresh 35 desktop personal computers. The refresh will involve the making the PCs able to deal with handle complex calculations when presented with statistical models that utilize enormous amount of data; this requires actual computer power right in the desktop machine. The senior manager considers that this would maintain the loyalty of its customers, especially banks, credit card companies and a fraction of law enforcement entities.. This report is written with the main objective of presenting a guides in assessment and identification of the hardware that would be essential to aid the users, financial analyst and economist, to maneuver through with their work; the work of operating with statistical model that use large amounts of data. This will involve concentrating on the components of internal hardware such as the CPU, motherboard, bus and hard drive. From these, the characteristics of the components will be evaluated on how it meets the requirement of the project. The first step was to identify the list of various components of hardware. This was done by considering the most probable ones that could satisfy the needs of the project. The attributes for each component was then defined to help in determining the usability. The attributes studied for this case were the size, number, capacity and speed, with reference to how they can handle large data sets. In which case, each component was defined by the attributes that are usually used to identify them. This step was significant to help in identifying the recommended attributes that could be used to evaluate whether the component in question meets the requirements (Vogt & Johnson, 2011). The next step was the evaluation of the usability of the component by justifying why a component might be recommended. This involved accessing the already mentioned
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Compare and contrast two leaders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1
Compare and contrast two leaders - Essay Example Hitler was instrumental in German Nationalist movement, who is accused for exterminating Jews, and depicted by historians as devil incarnate. In this context, words of Konrad Heiden hold true. â€Å"For years, Mein Kampf stood as a proof of the blindness and complacency of the world. In its pages Hitler announced –long before he came to powerâ€â€a program of blood and terror in a self revelation of such overwhelming frankness that few had the courage to believe it†¦That such a man could go so far towards realizing his ambitionsâ€â€that is a phenomenon the World will ponder for centuries to come†(Konrad 1969). Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, to Karamchand Gandhi, at Porbandar, an obscure town in Gujarat. He had a very good childhood as his father occupied high office of the province. In his childhood Gandhi was very timid, shy, and introvert and not smart and good at studies. He got married at the early age of thirteen, as was the custom of his community, which affected his education a little bit. Somehow he completed his high school education and joined college, but his performance was not satisfactory and subsequently dropped out just after three months. His family adviser suggested that studying law and obtaining barrister title from England was rather easy and he was sent to England. After completing his law study in England he returned to India. He was not a successful lawyer in India, and hence his brother arranged to send him to South Africa in pursuit of his career as a lawyer. Adolph Hitler was born to Alois Hitler on 20th April, 1889 in Braunau-am-Inn, Austria near German border. His father was a senior custom official who retired from civil service when he was only six. Adolph was very intelligent and ambitious to be a painter. As his father was in civil service, he was educated in the best school of that time. His father wanted him to follow his career and reach great heights in civil
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Ford and G.M. Lose Grounds to Imports Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Ford and G.M. Lose Grounds to Imports - Essay Example companies, which has resulted in dwindling of the market share of the â€Å"Big Three†, with particular emphasis on the car segment of the auto industry, and forcing the â€Å"Big Three†to respond in an attempt to hold on to the large market share. In spite of such efforts the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota in October 2004 forged its way into the top three largest auto sellers in the United States of America, displacing Chrysler from this prestigious position. This event has led to the speculation that the structure of the U.S. auto industry is likely to see a change, wherein Japanese auto manufacturers are likely to rub shoulders with the traditional â€Å"Big Three†manufacturers of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. (1). The Japanese auto manufacturers have started edging towards and past the three big American auto manufacturers in terms of market share. There are two possible key factors involved in the pull of the American customer towards Japanese auto products. The first is the Japanese auto products are more economical than the American products, which is related to the strategies employed by the Japanese in boosting the productivity of their employees and cutting manufacturing costs. In the current scenario of job insecurity, investment in the purchase of a new vehicle is bound to be conditioned by the worsening economic scenario. The second possible factor is related to the rising costs of petroleum products. Japanese cars are less of gasoline guzzlers in comparison to the American cars, and with rising fuel prices and unstable incomes the Japanese auto products are more attractive to the American customers. This is reflected in the continuing rise in the sales of Japanese auto products in s pite of the response of incentives by the American auto manufacturers. (1). Put in a nutshell, we may take the game theory as an attempt to explain the strategic actions in a competitive environment and the gains and losses that could emanate from these actions
Monday, September 23, 2019
Oil & Gas Operations Industry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Oil & Gas Operations Industry - Research Paper Example Despite these challenges, analyst have continued to forecast positive trends in this industry, particularly because the demand of gas and oil is on the rise, coupled with more advanced technology, which has improved production processes and fundamentally reduced production cost. My choice of portfolio in this industry is majorly motivated by the need to strike a balanced diversification, with the aim of spreading risks across different companies with different risk profiles, as well as maximizing the returns. In particular, I have diversified the portfolio across different companies that have invested from different geographical background, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, and Russia. Although the 10 companies that my portfolio cuts across, deals with similar products, there are slight differences on the combination of products that they deal with, which boost my diversification profile. This report will also provide a brief summary of each company, and some key re asons why I intend to invest in them. Most of the reasons are motivated by the need to diversify and mitigate the risks from different companies. The report has identified various challenges that this industry is undergoing, which has led to a conclusion that it has a high risk profile, but one worth investing in because of its optimistic long-term prospects. A comprehensive analysis of movement of prices of the shares for four weeks that ended mid May has been undertaken. Evidently, there has been a decline of share prices for all companies, which has led to loss of value of my portfolio, but this has not significantly affected my goals of making capital gain in the long-term, because these are short-term fluctuations, which are not likely to last for long. Essentially, I have undertaken the valuation of my portfolio in terms of US Dollar, and hence had to convert the value of shares that are traded in other currencies such as Chinese Yuan. This has significantly affected the accur acy of valuation of the portfolio as the exchanges rates are mere estimates. Different trends are made clear by use of tables and graphs. At the end, I have carried out a percentage analysis and found that the shares have fundamentally lost value. I have also used the Dow Jones Industrial Average as a benchmark to assess the performance of my portfolio. Investment Analysis A brief overview of Oil & Gas Operations Industry The oil and gas industry is operating under a challenging and a dynamic global marketplace and a progressively more adamant group of participants. The regulatory demand is increasingly putting pressure on the operations, and the demand growth is becoming sluggish, while the existing reserves are more expensive and difficult to generate. As the demand to meet future demand builds up, worldwide alliances are becoming more significant. Over the recent years, oil price fluctuation has become the order of the day. In spite of this, the companies in this industry have a challenging task of ensuring they focus on the medium to long-term conditions if they are to make credible decisions and achieve their growth targets. Investing in people, technology and R&D are critical to ensuring a lasting competitive edge (Dybvig & Stephen, 1985). The industry has to contend with mounting uncertainty that is particularly typical of the current decade. With tighter regulations and new policies to adhere to, long term planning and strategy are very critical, given the uncertain environment. In a bid to balance the mounting demand with sustainable and sufficient energy, oil and gas companies are adopting new technologies to supply
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Crisps and Snacks Essay Example for Free
Crisps and Snacks Essay Walker Crisps control the largest part of the crisps market in the United Kingdom, but lost significant market share three years ago when consumers began turning to other forms of snack. Furthermore, as the populace is made increasingly aware of the poor nutrition of some snack foods, the high salt content, and high fat content, they appear to be turning away from brands perceived as less healthy. Unfortunately, despite a revamping of products in 2006, most crisps products are viewed as less healthy and nutritious than alternatives such as cereal bars. . National campaigns designed to improve the quality of school lunches were effective at turning parents away from crisps as a lunchbox staple and adult health campaign have lead people to consider other snack options including fruits, nuts, yogurt and cereal bars. In addition, there is some indication that a declining birth rate has also negatively impacted demand for crisps as they tend to be most popular among the males in their teens and early twenties. Older and more affluent snackers choose other options including specialty, private label crisps, corn-based snacks and gourmet crisps with exotic flavors. It also seems clear from evidenced reported by Mintel analysis of the snack food market that there are some areas in which crisps cannot compete, as some consumers, particularly women seem attached to chocolate and sweet biscuits as a preferred indulgent snack. And, there is a marketing nightmare brewing. While crisps must shed their image as fatty, over-salted snacks with no nutritional value if they are to maintain their market share in a health-conscious environment, evidence suggests that men in particular do not want to eat something labeled as â€Å"diet†or â€Å"healthy†. The key appears to be a serious media campaign to change the way people think about crisps. Evidence suggestions that the three trends most likely to impact the crisps market are: a desire to purchase healthier snacks, a desire for classier snacks, and a desire to eliminate snacking in general. The Move toward Healthier Snacks The evidence is clear that the trend in snacking is to find healthier alternatives. Walker crisps was able to regain some of its lost market share in 2006 with the introduction and promotion of healthier, â€Å"baked†varieties, but still faces an uphill battle. In a recent poll, nearly half of the consumers questioned said they would be willing to spend more to be able to buy foods that were free from chemical additives (Mintel, 2007). Since many so-called â€Å"diet†foods are laden with chemicals ranging from preservatives to artificial sweeteners, this may be a market niche that Walkers could exploit with an all-natural crisp. However, it will take a serious marketing campaign to educate consumers about the â€Å"dangers’ hidden in other snack foods. Mintel’s analysis of Walkers marketing expenditures over the last three years has indicated that they have begun to see the value of print advertising that explains the benefits of their newer, â€Å"healthier†product lines. However, it seems likely that Walkers will have to consider a new multimedia advertising campaign that redirects the way people think about crisps. A strict marketing campaign that shows crisp consumption as part of a healthy diet could also help the company retain market share. Currently, consumers are increasingly turning to other snack options in the belief that they are healthier than crisps. It might be advantageous to do a head to head comparison between crisps and several other snacks demonstrating the relative fat content, calories and other nutritional information. For example, the Mintel study showed that 23 percent of consumers snack on cereal bars, often in the belief that they are a healthy sack. However, reading a product label makes it clear that the average cereal bar has as many calories and carbohydrates as a bag of baked crisps. Walkers also needs to continue with current advertising campaigns which explain the change in oils used to create the crisps and the reduction in salt. All of these combined attacks on accepted nutritional ideas can help to recreate crisps in the minds of the consumer. Furthermore, Mintel analysis shows that consumers are less likely to buy branded products or healthy products when buying for use in entertaining. As part of their overall health campaign, Walkers might want to consider an advertising campaign similar to the ones used by American beer companies. â€Å"Friends don’t let friends drink bad beer†could become something along the lines of â€Å"Show your friends you have great taste, buy walker crisps. †Though the concept is a bit loose, it could be refined and would likely results in increased sales for Walkers. The Move to Classier Snacks Another interesting trend within snack food is the move toward hand-cooked or gourmet crisps. These premium brands tend to be smaller manufacturers instead of multinational corporations like Walkers, which is a division of PepsiCo. These brands are gaining in popularity among more affluent, educated consumers. They have shown a preference for exotic flavors like â€Å"Thai sweet chili†and sea salt and malt vinegar instead of the standard crisps (Mintel, 2007). To that end, it is in the best interest of Walkers to continue to expand their line of premium crisps and to develop new flavors that are likely to appeal to consumers. Within this market, it is also important to appeal to the health conscious consumer, so any effort that can be made to create these new flavors using infused oils and natural spices instead of something cooked up with chemicals is a plus (Mintel, 2007). These consumers are more educated and therefore more likely to be well-informed about the products that they are putting into their bodies. These consumers are in many ways the perfect target for an educational advertising campaign which asks why they are depriving themselves of the textures and flavors they love just so that they can eat a cereal bar that tastes like cardboard. This is also a good market to explore because this demographic is less concerned about the price and more concerned about giving themselves a special treat. Often, hey view everything they eat, drink and wear as a form of status symbol and Walkers would do well to establish their premiums brands within this niche. An advertising campaign that reminds consumers that doing something nice for themselves should also taste good would play well to this demographic. The Move Away from Snacking As part of a health-consciousness campaign, citizens of the United Kingdom are being taught that snacking between meals is leading to the Britain’s obesity problem and should be cut out (Mintel, 2007). According to the Mintel poll, fewer people every year admit to eating between meals. While this may be a factor of people not admitting to themselves what their true behavior patterns are, it can mean that they are not planning ahead for snacking and not purchasing traditional snack foods like crisps. One of the best ways to deal with this would be another form of reeducation for the populace. Though dietary requirements are in an ever-changing state of flux as science learns more and more about how the body works, many diets argue that five or six small meals a day maintain blood sugar levels better than the traditional three meals a day. So, even if the addition is simply mid-morning and afternoon tea, Walkers and other snack providers need to change the way the United Kingdom thinks about snacks. Again, the goal is not to have crisps replace full meals like breakfast, but crisps with tea might be a marketing ploy that Walkers could successfully market especially in terms of their premium, exotic brands. Acknowledging that they are competing with scones and sweet biscuits and everything else for every moment the consumer chooses a snack is imperative to Walkers efforts to maintain their market share. Conclusions The simple truth is that snack foods are facing an increased amount of competition every day with more and more companies looking for alternatives to the standard potato crisp. Therefore, companies which rely on crisps as a major segment of their brand identity must find new ways to market and appeal to consumers. Since we have established that current buying behavior seems to be based on perceived nutritional value, perceived class and the perception that snacking makes you fat, an aggressive marketing campaign designed to challenge these notions and change them is necessary. Walks must change the perception of crisps as an unhealthy waste of calories and a blase snack. They must jazz it up and create a desire for people to incorporate crisps into their daily diet. Otherwise, they will continue to watch their market share slip away. WORKS CITED â€Å"Crisps and Snacks†, Mintel Reports, May, 2007.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency: Carbon Isotopic Composition
Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency: Carbon Isotopic Composition Determination of intrinsic water use efficiency of different Mediterranean forest species by carbon isotopic composition Abstract An experiment will be conducted to study the C-13 composition in the tissues of Pinus halepensis, Quercus ilex and Arbutus unedo under different water availability conditions. C-13 composition will be determined using elemental analyser. An ANOVA will be conducted to analyze the composition of C-13 within the plant tissue of plants in different water availability conditions. We will compare the C-13 compositions in the plant tissues of the species within same year with relation to water availability. The relationship between the C-13 composition in the plant tissue and water use efficiency (WUEi), different strategies to couple water stress will also be discussed. Introduction The Mediterranean landscape has low precipitation and humidity, and high sun intensity with less productive soil (FAO, 2010). Previous studies show that changes are occurring in the amount, intensity, frequency and type of precipitation with climate change. Mediterranean Forests are generally composed of broadleaf and pine species. All the species have different water requirements. It is needed to determine the intrinsic water use efficiency of main species (Pinus halepensis, Arbutus unedoandQuercus ilex) of the landscape for better compositional management of the landscapes keeping in view the water demands of the species. Literature review The Mediterranean region has limited and unevenly distributed water resources with only 1.2% of total renewable water resources (FAO, 2010). The basin has high sun light and low humidity. The freshwater resources are expected to decrease upto 20-30% in 1950 due to global warming. The mediterranean region is most vulnerable to the climate change (Milano et al., 2012). The region is rich in biodiversity. Quercus (broad leaf) is well-represented genus, with a great range of species including Q. ilex (FAO, 2010). Oak is also a heritage plant in Portugal (Galmà ©s et al., 2007). Pinus halepensis and Arbutus unedo are the two other prominent species of the Mediterranean region (Molina et al., 2012). P. halepensis has water saver behavior and Q. ilex behaves like water spender (Baquedano et al., 2006). Water stress affects the vegetation production by a reduction of the leaf area, the stomatal conductance and the CO2 uptake and hence of the photosynthesis, and by a slowdown of root elevati on and development (Verstraeten et al., 2006). Under water stress conditions, plants exhibit several short to long-term adaptive responses. Reduced stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (E) due to closing of stomata (gs) is the first functional adaptations to water shortage (Galmà ©s et al., 2007). The adaptive responses are related with carbon splitting and create changes in vegetative and fruit growth (Chalmers and Ende, 1975: Hsiao, 1973). The intensity and duration of water stress, whether imposed via irrigation or resulting from natural drought, may affect leaf gas exchange and nutrient uptake (Boyer, 1996 and Flexas and Medrano, 2002). Oak tree minimizes water potential of the leave to extract water from a region of higher water potential that is soil (Guehl and Aussenac, 1987; Lo Gullo and Salleo, 1988). Plant takes carbon (C-12 and C-13) during photosynthesis. In normal water conditions, Plants prefer carbon 12 during photosynthesis (Farquhar et al., 1989). This is called carbon-12 discrimination (Craig, 1957). The discrimination takes place in two levels. Firstly, it takes place during gas exchange through stomata. Secondly, the discrimination is by RuBisCO enzyme (Farquhar et al., 1989). In stressed conditions, plants tend to minimize water loss through closing stomata. This will also decrease the gaseous exchange through stomata. In this condition, there is not adequate carbon dioxide in the leave tissue for photosynthesis. So plants have no more preference for carbon-12. They take both carbon-12 and carbon-13 (Ferrio, 2003). Problem statement Mediterranean ecosystems are strongly limited by a long and intense drought period that coincides with the hottest period. Moreover, in the next decades, the Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula is predicted to face a 20% decrease in precipitation, and an increase of 2–3 °C in temperature (MARM, 2009), all of which will lead to higher water stress. Plant growth in the region is strictly limited by drought in recent scenario (Rey and Alcà ¡ntara, 2000, Quero etal., 2008andGonzà ¡lez-Rodrà guez etal., 2011). The field simulations suggest that in future, this will become even more problematic (Matà as etal., 2012) due to climate change (Milano et al., 2012). The pressure on freshwater resources will also increase because of tourism, tanning, food and textile industry and agriculture sector. Possible future changes in water resources availability in this densely populated region may have dramatic societal and environmental effects (Gracia-Ruiz et al., 2011). With shortage of water, we have to face desertification, erosion and food security problem. Both broad and narrow leaf species are inhabited here (FAO, 2010). All species of the landscape vary in their water requirement. Some species consumes more water than the others. So we have to identify the species with lower water requirement and better strategies to cope the water scarcity problem. It is needed to determine the intrinsic water use efficiency of main species (Pinus halepensis, Arbutus unedoandQuercus ilex) of the landscape for better compositional management of the landscapes keeping in view the water demands of the species. Research Questions: Which one is the best suited species among P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex for the water scarced Mediterranean landscape? Specific Objectives: To analyze the intrinsic water use efficiencies of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex over space. To analyze the intrinsic water use efficiencies of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex over time to determine the best species for the future landscape composition to minimize the water consumption. To determine variability in water requirements of the P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex Hypothesis: Intrinsic water use efficiency of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex is same and they consume same amount of water. There is no variability in the water requirement of P. halepensis, A. unedoandQ. ilex over space. Limitation The time to analyze the temporal and spatial changes is short. Materials and Methodology Plant samples of three species will be collected from botanical garden, arboretum of University of Lleida, Spain. The water supply will be artificially varied. Carbon-13 composition of collected samples will be analyzed by Europa Scientific 20-20 IRMS coupled to a Europa Scientific elemental analyser. Plant C-13 analyses are currently used for a diverse range of applications including environmental (Ferrio, 2003) and ecophysiological studies (Arens et al., 2000; Kohn, 2010). The data will be analyzed by ANOVA. References Arens NC, Jahren AH, Amundson R. 2000.Can C3 plants faithfully record the carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide? Paleobiology 26:137–164. Boyer J. (1996). Advances in drought tolerance in plants. Adv. Agron., 56 (1996), pp. 187–218 Chalmers D.J., and Ende B.V.D. (1975). A Reappraisal of the Growth and Development of Peach Fruit. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 2(4) 623 – 634 Craig H. 1957. Isotopic standards for carbon and oxygen and correction factors for mass-spectrometric analysis of carbon dioxide. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 12: 133–149. FAO (2010).Aquastat–Systà ¨me d’information de la FAO sur l’eau et l’agriculture Farquhar G.D., Ehleringer J.R., Hubick K.T., 1989. Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 40, 503-537 Ferrio J.P., Voltas J., Araus J.L. (2003). Use of carbon isotope composition in monitoring environmental changes. Management of Environmental Quality 14, 82-98. Flexas J., Medrano H. (2002). Drought-inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants: Stomatal and non-stomatal limitations revisited. Ann. Bot., 89 (2), pp. 183–189. Galmà ©s j., Medrano H., Flexas J. (2007). Photosynthetic limitations in response to water stress and recovery in Mediterranean plants with different growth forms. New Phytol. 175 (1), pp. 81–93 Guehl JM, Aussenac G (1987). Photosynthesis decrease and stomatal control of gas exchange in Abies alba Mill. in response to vapour pressure difference. Plant Physiol 83:316–322 Hsiao T.C. (1973). Plant responses to water stress. Annu. Rev. Plant. Physiol., 24 (1) (1973), pp. 519–570 J.L. Quero, L. Gà ³mez-Aparicio, R. Zamora, F.T. Maestre (2008). Shifts in the regeneration niche of an endangered tree (Acer opalus ssp. granatense) during ontogeny: using an ecological concept for application. Basic Appl. Ecol., 9, pp. 635–644 J.M. Garcia-Ruiz, J.I. Lopez-Moreno, S.M. Vicente Serrano, T. Lasanta-Martinez, S. Begueria (2011). Mediterranean water resources in a global change scenario. Earth-Science Reviews, 105, pp. 121–139 Kohn MJ. 2010. Carbon isotope compositions of terrestrial C3 plants as indicators of (paleo) ecology and (paleo) climate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 107: 19691–19695 Matà as L., Quero J.L., Zamora R., Castro J., (2012). Evidence for plant traits driving specific drought resistance. A community field experiment. Environ. Exp. Bot., 81, pp. 55–61 Lo Gullo MA, Salleo S (1988). Different strategies of drought resistance in three Mediterranean sclerophyllous trees growing in the same environmental conditions. New Phytologist 108:267–276 M. Milano, D. Ruelland, S. Fernandez, A. Dezetter, J. Fabre, E. Servat (2012). Facing climatic and anthropogenic changes in the Mediterranean basin: What will be the medium-term impact on water stress? Comptes Rendus Geoscience. 344(9), pp. 432-440 P.J. Rey, J.M. Alcà ¡ntara (2000). Recruitment dynamics of a fleshy-fruited plant (Olea europaea): connecting patterns of seed dispersal to seedling establishment. J.Ecol., 88, pp. 622–633 Quinta Comunicacià ³n Nacional de Espaà ±a (2009). Convencià ³n Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climà ¡tico Diciembre, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. V. Gonzà ¡lez-Rodrà guez, R. Villar, R. Casado, E. Suà ¡rez-Bonnet, J.L. Quero, R. Navarro Cerrillo (2011) Spatio-temporal heterogeneity effects on seedling growth and establishment in four Quercus species. Ann. For. Sci., 68, pp. 1217–1232 Baquedano F. J., Castillo F.J. (2006).Comparative ecophysiological effects of drought on seedlings of the Mediterranean water-saver Pinus halepensis and water-spenders Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex. Trees. 20:689–700.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Proactive Policing Essay -- Police Essays Papers
Proactive Policing Community Orientated Policing is widely held as the new and correct style for American policing. For the past decade the community policing movement has been gaining momentum acquiring the support of politicians, scholars, reformers, and the public. Police chiefs around the country are now feeling the pressures of implementation from citizens and local government officials. Many high ranking professional police organization have placed their seal of approval on the new style of policing, including the Police Executive Research forum, the Police Foundation, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The National Organization Of Black Law Enforcement Executives, And the National Sheriff’s Association. The following U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, And Ronald Reagan have all supported community policing, and with the recent passage of the 1994 Crime Act, community policing has received the approval and go ahead from the Federal government (Maguire p368). Due to the involvement of the federal government many American police departments are reporting that they already have or are attempting to implement a community policing program, eventhough a large number of them do not fully understand the implication and obstacles they face with the implementation of the program. Most of the agencies are just inquiring due to the funding. Most of the police organizations applying for the grants do not fully understand the new style, and either intentionally or unintentionally misuse the funds. Community orientated policing is a proactive philosophy that promotes solving problems that are either criminal, affect the quality of life, or increase citizens fear of crime. It involves identifying, analyzing and addressing community problems at their source. Unfortunately, many individuals, both in and outside of policing see community policing as merely putting officers on foot or bike patrol, or by opening mini-stations amongst the community. These approach es misrepresent the true potential of community policing and establish simplistic expectations. (Glensor p14). These simplistic goals, unfortunately, do not allow for the implementer to ready him or herself to be ready for the obstacles they face with the implementation of the program. Vague descriptions of the obstacles they may face consist of officers concern of change, community co... ...ementing long term solutions to community problem instead of readministering the bandage day after day. However through the implementation phase obstacles will be encountered and effective methods of establishment must be pre-administered. In all the success of a community policing program depends on the professionalism and determination of those selected officers administering the program. Given time officers involved in the program will find gratitude due to the fact that they will be allowed to exercise independent thoughts and actions in order to solve community problems through cost-effective and innovative ways. Reference list: Glensor, Ronald W., FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Jul 96, vol. 65 Issue 7, p14. Lurgio, Arthur J. and Wesley G. Skogan, Crime and Delinquency, Jul 94, vol. 40 Issue 3, p315. Skogan, Wesley G. and Mary Ann Wycoff, Quality Policing in Madison: An Evaluation of its Implementation and Impact (final technical report). Washington D.C. The Police Foundation. Walters, Paul M., FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Nov 93, vol. 62 Issue 11, p20. Wycoff, Mary Ann, Community Policing Strategies. 1994. Unpublished final report, Washington
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Avoid Problems when You Buy or Sell Websites :: Technology, Business, E-Business
Avoid Problems when You Buy or Sell Websites Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com The biggest thing a seller can do to make certain that a transaction proceeds smoothly is to adequately prepare the website’s financial statements. The owner should prepare a complete set of financial documents, going back two years at least, that accurately and fully represents the website’s current business condition. Website owners have a choice here: those financial statements can be audited or simply reviewed by an accounting firm; or they can be compiled by the website owner. But audited statements offer sellers the best hope of speeding a deal along. With audited numbers, the buyer knows that your financials are accurate and doesn't have to waste time recalculating them. Closings can also grind to a halt when a website seller doesn't prepare interim financial reports. These reports don't have to be audited, but they do have to give the buyer a sense of the website’s financial condition. If the website has warts, there's no point trying to hide them. A buyer will discover them during due diligence, which could send you back to square one. Another cause for concern is when the website seller enters negotiations without having worked out the bottom line, the actual after-tax compensation he or she wants. That's a problem because different deals - and deal structures - can have different tax implications. Deals can fall apart when the payment to Uncle Sam is calculated too close to closing and the selling price no longer looks adequate to the website seller. Of course, buyers can also create problems for themselves.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Essay --
Andrew Almeida Huck Finn Self Reliance This quote from Lauren Oliver speaks volumes on the mindset of Huck Finnà ¾ â€Å"I’d rather die my way than live yours.†Huck Finn is a young kid growing up in at a very chaotic time in America. Many ideas and bias are either forced upon him or he has no help but experiencing. Rather than putting up with this Huck decides he would be better off on his own as opposed to trying to adapt to everyone else's standards. Living by himself lead to many more challenges and opposing forces than a kid of only 13 should have to be faced with. This lead to Huck being more mature than other kids his age because he had to constantly rely on himself to solve his problems and come up with his own morales on what is right and wrong without the guidance from others.Along with how this changed Huck as a person for better or worse. Huck Finn is a very independent character. Being without a father figure and parents of any kind leads him to have to grow up by himself. In doing so creating a character who is able to react and make decisions to help himself get out of the mess he or his friends have gotten him into. Huck at such a young age is forced to look for jim to guidance on the river but Jim is no more educated than Huck is. This leads to Huck having to not only lead himself but also try and take a leadership role to get Jim to safety. A great example of where Huck is able to take his fate into his own hands by making an elaborate tale is when he is on shore dressed as a girl. He is caught in a lie but instead of risking the fate of Jim he thinks quick and saysà ¾Ã¢â‚¬ I told her my father and mother was dead, and the law had bound me out to a mean old farmer in the country thirty mile back from the river, and he treated... ...hing because he is able to do it all himself. Nobody at that time period in the south was willing to help him so he simply did what was right with no caution as to whether not people would judge him à ¾"Well, I did. I said I wouldn't, and I'll stick to it. Honest INJUN, I will. People would call me a lowdown Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mumâ€â€but that don't make no difference. I ain't agoing to tell, and I ain't agoing back there, anyways. So, now, le's know all about it." (8.52, 8.53). This self reliance and separation from society is what allows Huck to be more accepting of new ideas and ultimately is what makes this story takes place in the first place. Without Huck’s self reliance none of this ever would have been possible and Huck would have most likely never left the small town with his drunk deadbeat father and slave owning Miss.Watson and Miss.Douglas.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Devoir sur college education
It is divided into many levels : elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and University. However, today , education giving in college makes object of query. Why is it important to me? I am going to analyze its foundation, involvement, and its advantages in order to make light upon its importance. In fact, the access to a college education takes on a considerable importance. That is why the number of students who frequent college nowadays increases. This situation incites me to take place in view to obtain promotion in the Labor Market.College is the place by excellence or the obliged passage for the better life preparation. The good functioning of the colleges is considered as an indubitable economic asset. So, the great European countries, to support the international competition, have they been embarked on for about ten years in an immense movement of Universities reflection and reform. Being full of state of fact, I must straggle to complete my college education to ensure a better life. This is utmost dream! College education will contribute to make me proud and more confident as for my future.Education received in college will permit me not only achieving my goals, but also to ensure to my family a better life. It will help me face up to eventualities. Moreover, the world complexity according to the global village, demands to implement a pile of skills in all what we do. So, college education puts me them up. My future is confident with it, and I will obtain a better employment because the Labor Market imposes a series of criteria. College education is very important to me. There is no more place else that can permit to reach my goals. The education that it provides is very useful.There is no frontier or border that can resist at College Education's assault. Many people want to gain success in their lives but don't have the necessary motivation permitting them to realize their objectives. Myself, when I finished my secondary school, I was 21 years old. I studied Accounting. I have been working since 1 997 in an Institution, but I feel that is not enough. I want to have a great promotion in order to be a role model for my children. That's why I am enrolled at Seaworthy College for Business Administration to benefit carefully its education.The willing to become a well prepared person motivates me and learn at Seaworthy College a variety of things such as : writing skills, self motivation , self discipline, and improving my thinking skills. College Education learns me equally to rely on myself and develop those skills y implementing (Kinesthesia approach ) in view to prepare me to become a great professional. College Education imposes me challenges that I impose to myself by †expanding my thinking and learning to think outside the box. â€Å"College Education furnishes me which I will need to develop my mind and reach success. Thanks to College Education !I have access to methodic Research. By now, get a universal vision. It learns me to carry out the comparative study ( contrast ) and to look at all the pros and the cons. College Education recommends me to see the problem from different angles, to not edge the outcomes in the taken decisions. It's been instilled in me the discernment concept. College Education is truly necessary and it is the preparatory step to the great eventualities in the life. It awakens in me the sense of logic ( critical thinking ),reason. Education acquired in College is so much important to me that the words are lacking to me to express my adoration to it.Does College Education bring change to my life? In fact, begin to think another manner. I give the priority to critical thinking. College Education has developed in me the research sense and shown me to discern the good from bad. College Education is become a weapon between my hands permitting me to confront the challenges that represent the Labor Market, better life, human progress, and the community development entirely. College Education has given me the opportunity to learn to organize and structure my thoughts, write clearly and pay attention to the grammar rules.It permits me to make the difference between General writing and Academic writing. It attracts my attention on the †writing process helps me communicate in the online learning environment, which include writing for exams, papers, and discussions board. If I follow meticulously the communication rules in online course or Education environment, according to Bright Hub, will ensure my success. One of rules which retains the most my attention is the Golden Rule : †Do unto others what you want others do unto you College Education reminds me this rules which is so important in my life.It learns me to be careful in what I write and aim for the positive. It encourages me to be proactive in the communication, and to not run-on sentence and fragments. College Education is very important to me. It shows me how taking a test and improving my grades. At the start, I was very dressed when I took a test. Now, the stress is broken up because College Education has awoken in me the notion of internal and external motivation, and the difference which exists between them. College Education helps me choose and determine my learning style and my test-taking strategies.Will a quick look on the universities in U. S. A permit us to surround the College Education ‘importance? Indeed, in U. S. A, at the moment where universities began their rise which had to conduct them at level that they have actually, Price, an American Philosopher, has defined on 1 891 University as an â€Å"Association of men well quipped with and privileged by the state, so that the people might receive and intellectual formation or education and that the theoretical problems which come up during the civilization development might be resolved. So, even the State has comprehended the necessity to put on College Education a considerable sup port. So to speak, College Education is very necessary because it will help me face to multiple challenges waiting for me. I can't under-estimate the Education furnished by Colleges since they put down the real specialization basis. College Education is very important to me because it allows me to furnish my knowledge in the pathway toward university. Let me give an anecdote: â€Å"l know a person who wanted to frequent University.He has a passion for medicine, but he couldn't cross the College step. He obliged to give up. â€Å"So many reasons explain the importance of College Education and the necessity to maintain this opportunity in order to achieve its goals. College Education shows me how to manage my time by according priority to my goals. It gives me tools that are extremely valuable in my life and changes my behavior. It learns me to not procrastinate, to create a daily to-do list, to schedule, to strategies and how to spend my time. College Education allows me to set mea ningful and valuable goals.It has learnt me to be smart about my goals, to write them down, to create an action plan and commit to it. On the culture and social level, the importance of Colleges and Universities is evident today. It is the reflect of recent studies. The survey that have just come to make on the different aspects of College Education permits us to well figure out, and relate its importance. College Education allows me to strengthen the basis for a real orienteering. The tuned' future depends for a great part on Education received at College. The period passed in it marks him deeply and guides inevitably his future.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation of the Eagle Manufacturing Company
A. Ted Jones has been the supply manager for the Eagle Manufacturing Company for the past two years. B. Although Ted Jones has a great team of buyers, expediters, and support staff who carry out top notch work, the morale in Ted’s department is low. i. One of the senior buyer’s in Ted’s department, Bill Wilson, submitted his resignation. Bill accepted a position at another company where he will be paid substantially more although he will be doing the same work and will be under the same amount of stress. C. The previous month’s performance data for the office shows: 743 transactions, 98 percent with delivery on or before specified dates, 87 percent of supplies and material purchases at or within 5 percent of target price, 9 percent late deliveries, and a 5 percent rejection rate of materials and supplies received. D. A purchase request for a new robot, that according to estimates would cost $5. 5 million, was submitted by the maintenance department. It was supposed to be delivered and operational in seven months and only one source of supply was able to meet the delivery date. . An experienced buyer in Ted’s department, John McCauly, was negotiating with Fenwick Electronics for the robot. Although the maintenance department proposed $5. 5 million, Fenwick proposed $7. 2 million. Because of time, Fenwick was the sole source for obtaining the robot. b. John learned that the $5. 5 million estimate on the robot was in reality not an estimate but the amount budgeted for the machine last year. E. Several members from other departments of Eagle Manufacturing Company are not satisfied with Ted and the supply management department’s work. c. The Vice President of Operations, Tim Raines, and the Vice President of Marketing, Ron Hankins, were not happy that operations had run out of parts that week. Also the quality of the incoming parts was causing major production problems. d. The president’s secretary was not satisfied with the poor quality of the janitorial services contractor. e. The head of administration, Mary Jacobs was not satisfied with the quality of the new brand of paper which was constantly jamming the machine thus reducing productivity and increasing frustration amongst the administration epartment. II. Major Problem A. One major problem is communication between the various department and an understanding of the ins and out of each department and how each function of each department can affect another department in some way. B. Another problem is the quality of the services or products purchased by the supply management department. Because the quality of the services or products were low, the quali ty of work or product are also low which can affect profit and can also affect the way another department can accomplish tasks. III. Possible Solutions/Alternatives A. Communication would greatly help this situation. For example John, who is a buyer in Ted’s department did not know the $5. 5 million estimate on the new robot was actually the amount budgeted for the robot from the previous year. If John, the maintenance department, and even the finance department had been in frequent communication with each other regarding the new robot, John would have had a basis for developing a realistic negotiating objective with the supplier of the robot, Fenwick Electronics. There really is no disadvantage to good communication within each department. B. Each department needs to understand how the activities in their department can affect other departments, company profits etc. For example supply management, manufacturing, and operations are related. New product development begins with the manufacturing department. The manufacturing department submits a materials requisition to the supply management department. If the manufacturing department does not give the supply management department sufficient time to compare costs in order to purchase wisely, the company will most likely pay higher prices for materials. C. Eagle Manufacturing Company should hire a Director of Quality Assurance if they have not done so already. The Director of Quality Assurance would be involved in the development of new products to involvement in sourcing, supplier development, and qualifying the potential supplier. The Director of Quality Assurance’s objective would be to minimize quality problems throughout the supply chain thus minimizing problems other departments may experience. Although hiring somebody to handle quality assurance would be another expense to Eagle Manufacturing Company, hiring somebody to handle quality assurance would be like an investment. This person would ensure that the quality of a potential supplier is exceptional which would then create good quality work which would then increase profits for Eagle Manufacturing Company. IV. Choice and Rationale Eagle Manufacturing should first and most importantly focus on good communication within their departments and also make sure each department understands how all departments are interconnected and affect one another. Encouraging and maintaining open communication throughout the procurement process will 1) reduce the frustrations within each department and raise company morale and 2) possibly cut costs for supplies. V. Implementation/The Action Plan Ted Jones, the supply management manager for Eagle Manufacturing, must discuss the communication problem between departments to manager of each department immediately.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Functional Area Plan: Production and Operations Essay
Part 1: Production and Operations Manager Composition The ultimate goal for the company is to foster growth and expansion by becoming the foremost provider in quality products and customer service. In order to reach this goal and experience 100% growth over the next five years, the Production and Operations department (â€Å"Productions†) must streamline its manufacturing and restructure inventory processes. At present, the current facility operates at maximum capacity. Adding second and third shifts will enable the company to meet consumer demand and to provide the right product for the right price. Duties and Responsibilities Operations management generally entails the maintenance and control of activities within an organization in producing its goods and services, (Foster & Ogden, 2008). As plastic is both versatile and economical, Productions recommend its continued use in the manufacturing of the special ball-bearing sliding mechanism. Another concern is the reduction of downtime. Productions will work hard to cultivate the talent within so there is necessary support for completion of all projects. Over the past few years, great strides have been made to optimize the efficiency of the units while continuing safe operation of all equipment. This includes having only highly skilled technicians to oversee product development in areas of plastic injection molding, thermoforming and paper conversion. Such expertise is imperative because these three functions are commonly selected for flexibility in the process of manufacturing plastic products, (â€Å"R&d engineering plastic,†2009). Further, as Productions is responsible for the manufacturing of its signature coffee cup, it should remain abreast of any industrial changes to the raw materials or equipment used in making the product. Training and New Equipment In addition to the purchase of raw materials needed to manufacture the cup, there is sufficient capital to invest in new state-of-the-art equipment. The new software and technologies will enable greater efficiency and inventory control. Training of the new technologies and/or software tools and equipment will be mandatory. As permissible, there will be on-the-job training for qualifying workers to perform the heavier tasks to avoid delays in production due to absenteeism. Productions will recommend that potential managers attend webinars and related workshops sponsored by the Productions and Operations Management Society (POMS), to remain alert of new trends and innovations in this specific area of interest. Collaboration With Other Departments Besides the traditional overseeing of day-to-day operations, improving manufacturing activities through customer service falls within this scope as well (operations management, 2009). The Marketing Department (â€Å"Marketing†) has presented its strategies to draw new customers and double production figures. Through its core values of continuous improvement and accountability, Productions will accommodate Marketing by insisting on quality, but not at the expense of safety. This will require changes to its inspection procedure so that shoddy merchandise is not released. Based on data from Marketing’s research, there is strong reason to believe profits will continue. However, an independent report from Accounting and Finance (â€Å"Accounting†) indicates a new facility is not cost-efficient at this time. This notion has been shelved in favor of adding second and third shifts. Warehouse space will be acquired to house and inventory the raw materials. This will lead to several job openings in shipping and receiving. Other positions include quality assurance inspectors to examine the finished products as well as equipment maintenance. Productions will work closely with Human Resources (â€Å"HR†) to ascertain whether it will be apropos to hire a department liaison to handle internal customer-related issues. Code of Ethics All employees are expected to engage lawfully and professionally as they perform their duties at all times. Employees are not given authorization to engage fellow employees or customers in any illegal or unethical acts or behaviors. Any violations or suspicious activity must be reported promptly. A failure to comply may result in suspension or termination, (U.S. Bank code, 2011). Part 2: Production and Operations Manager Executive Summary Through high quality customer service and innovative products, the Productions and Operations Functional area is committed to superior product development. By hiring experienced technicians and providing on-the-job training of qualified workers, it will accommodate the company’s goals for excellence. A second and third shift will eliminate the need for unnecessary overtime. Webinar training and coaching sessions will likewise keep all workers abreast of current trends and changes in the industry.
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