the biosphere essays

the biosphere essays The biosphere is part of the earth in which life exists. It is 20 km thick from the bottom of the ocean to the lower atmosphere. It consists of three layers: the lithosphere, which is the land on the surface of the earth; the hydrosphere, which comprises of the water on the earth as well as water vapor in the air; and the atmosphere, which is made up of the air that surrounds the earth. The living organisms in the biosphere interact and affect each other in many ways. This is called a biotic factor. Similarly, there are nons of abiotic factors are air, temperature, water, soil, light, and minerals. In a biosphere, organisms live in special groupings. For instance, a population consists of all individuals of a species living in a general area. A community is a population located in a certain area living among different species. An ecosystem is yet a larger conglomeration of a population, a community, and abiotic factors. Ecosystems can be aquatic or terrestrial. The earth's aquatic ecosystem makes up about 75% of the earth's surface. This aquatic environment is divided into marine and freshwater environments. The earth's terrestrial ecosystem is mainly made up of forests and deserts, which make up for 25% of the earth's surface. The role or function of an organism in a community is that organism's niche. An organism's niche is an area picked by that organism based on physical factors such as temperature, light, oxygen and carbon dioxide content and biological factors such as food, competition for resources and predators. This niche provides the organism a place to live in. A habitat remains consistent with an organism's niche as well as provides the organism with a place to reproduce. In this case, organisms may have the same habitat, but different niches. ...

How to Observe the Lyrid Meteor Shower

How to Observe the Lyrid Meteor Shower Every April, the Lyrid meteor shower, one of many yearly meteor showers, sends a cloud of dust and tiny rocks the size of a grain of sand hurtling to Earth. Most of these meteors vaporize in the atmosphere before reaching our planet. Key Takeaways The Lyrid Meteor shower, so named because it appears to stream from the constellation Lyra, occurs every April 16 to 26th with the peak taking place on April 22 into April 23Observers may see between 10 to 20 meteors per hour in a normal year, but during the heavy peaks that occur every 60 or so years, dozens or even hundreds of meteors may be visibleComet 1861 G1/Thatcher is the source of dust particles that become Lyrid meteors When to See the Lyrids A wonderful thing about the Lyrids is that they arent just a one-night occurrence.  They begin around April 16 and last until April 26th. The peak of the shower occurs on April 22, and the best time for viewing is after midnight (technically early  morning on the 23rd). Observers can normally expect to see anywhere from 10 to 20 flashes of light per hour, all streaming from the area near the constellation Lyra. At that time of year, Lyra is best visible in the hours after midnight on the 22nd.   Tips for Observing the Lyrids The best advice for watching the Lyrids shower is true for almost any meteor swarm. Observers should try to watch from a dark-sky site. If thats not possible, then its best to at least get out of the glare of nearby lights. Chances of seeing the shower are also much better if theres not bright moonlight. On nights when the Moon is full and bright, the best choice is to go out around midnight and look for meteors before the Moon rises. To see the Lyrids, observers should keep an eye out for meteors that look as though they have originated from the constellation Lyra, the Harp. In reality, the meteors dont actually come from these stars; it merely looks that way because the Earth passes through the stream of dust and particles, which appears to be in the direction of the constellation.  Luckily for meteor watchers, Earth passes through many such streams throughout the year, which is why we see so many meteor showers. Looking at an incoming meteor descend through Earths atmosphere, as seen from the International Space Station. NASA What Causes the Lyrids?   The meteor shower particles that create the Lyrids are actually the debris and dust left behind from the Comet 1861 G1/Thatcher.  The comet orbits the Sun once every 415 years and sheds a great deal of material as it passes through our solar system. Its closest approach to the Sun brings it to about the same distance as Earth, but its most distant point is way out in the Kuiper Belt, 110 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. Along the way, the comets path experiences the gravitational pull of other planets such as Jupiter. That disturbs the dust stream, with the result that approximately every sixty years, Earth encounters a thicker-than-usual part of the comets stream. When that happens, observers might see as many as 90 or 100 meteors per hour. Occasionally a fireball streams through the sky during the shower, indicating a piece of cometary debris thats somewhat larger- perhaps the size of a rock or a ball.   Other well-known meteor showers caused by comets are the Leonids, caused by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, and Comet P1/Halley, which brings material to Earth in the form of the Orionids. Did You Know? Friction between the gases that make up our atmosphere and small particles (meteors) causes meteors to heat up and glow. Typically, the heat destroys them, but occasionally a larger piece survives and lands on the Earth, at which point the debris is called a meteorite.   The most significant outbursts of Lyrid meteors in recent times were recorded starting in 1803.  Thereafter, they occurred in 1862, 1922, and 1982.  If the trend continues, the next heavy outburst for Lyrid watchers will be in the year 2042.   A Lyrid meteor as seen by an allsky camera studying the sky in April 2013. MSFC Meteoroid Environment Office   The History of the Lyrids People have been seeing meteors from the Lyrid shower for well over two thousand years. The first known mention of them was made in the year 687 BCE, recorded by a Chinese observer. The largest known Lyrid shower sent an amazing 700 meteors per hour through Earths skies. That occurred in 1803 and it lasted for several hours as Earth plowed through a very thick path of dust from the comet.   Watching isnt the only way to experience meteor showers. Today, some amateur radio operators and astronomers track Lyrids and other meteors by capturing radio echoes from meteoroids as they flash through the sky. They tune by tracking a phenomenon known as forward radio scattering, which detects pings from the meteoroids as they strike our atmosphere. Sources â€Å"In Depth | Lyrids – Solar System Exploration: NASA Science.† NASA, NASA, 14 Feb. 2018, solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/lyrids/in-depth/.NASA, NASA, science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/ast27apr99_1.SpaceWeather.com News and Information about Meteor Showers, Solar Flares, Auroras, and near-Earth Asteroids, www.spaceweather.com/meteors/lyrids/lyrids.html.

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems Essay

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems - Essay Example The nerve fibers of the  parasympathetic nervous system  are the  cranial nerves, primarily the  vagus nerve, and the lumbar spinal nerves. When stimulated, these nerves increase digestive secretions and reduce the heartbeat. The sympathetic nervous system activates what is often termed the fight or flight response. Like other parts of the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system operates through a series of interconnected neurons. Sympathetic neurons are frequently considered part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), although there are many that lie within the central nervous system (CNS). Sympathetic neurons of the spinal cord (which is part of the CNS) communicate with peripheral sympathetic neurons via a series of sympathetic ganglia. Within the ganglia, spinal cord sympathetic neurons join peripheral sympathetic neurons through chemical synapses. Spinal cord sympathetic neurons are therefore called presynaptic (or preganglionic) neurons, while peripheral sympathetic neurons are called postsynaptic (or postganglionic) neurons. At synapses within the sympathetic ganglia, preganglionic sympathetic neurons release acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that binds and activates nicotinic acetylchol ine receptors on postganglionic neurons. In response to this stimulus, postganglionic neurons principally release noradrenalin (norepinephrine). Prolonged activation can elicit the release of adrenaline from the adrenal medulla. Once released, noradrenalin and adrenaline bind adrenergic receptors on peripheral tissues. Binding to adrenergic receptors causes the effects seen during the fight-or-flight response. These include pupil dilation, increased sweating, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. Sympathetic nerves originate inside the vertebral column, toward the middle of the spinal cord in the

Pop Culture Advertisement for Lynx Shower Gel Essay

Pop Culture Advertisement for Lynx Shower Gel - Essay Example The product featured is in a small blue bottle with a black lid and its name inscribed in white against black is placed on the bottom in the right side. The caption reads: â€Å"LYNX Shower Gel. Get Dirty.† The setting implies a bathroom and has overtones of kinky sex which is used as an excuse for the Shower Gel product, which is supposed to serve as a sex appeal embellishment. The impact of the advertisement is based solely on its ostensibly clever message through the striking image that begs a second look. However, a deeper analysis will reveal the fallacies on which it depends and tries to communicate. It does not make any attempt to feature the functional advantages the product has over similar products in the market. It takes for granted the new-age notions of advertising for the youth that no information regarding the product’s chemical composition or explanation on why it would be a perfect choice is needed as long as the brand name imposes its power over the customers. Moreover, the advertisement seems to be based on the false assumption that attention from women bothers its prospective customers – men in this case – of all age groups and personal sexual choices. Though it could be assumed that the product aims at the youth as its customers, the advertisement restricts its appeal as it addresses only the heterosexual youth. It a lso assumes that the representation of the female body in an exotic setting catches the eye of all its customers. It could be argued that the popular advertisement culture has, in fact, made the female body a marketing tool, and this advertisement just follows the status quo. But a logical analysis will reveal that it fails to establish a pertinent relationship between the product and the image presented. The intended pun in the caption â€Å"Get Dirty† reiterates the sexual overtone which is already obvious through the image. But the implication is quite ambiguous.  Ã‚  

Concept of Sustainble Development Essay Example for Free

Concept of Sustainble Development Essay The tradition concept of development has for a considerable period of time been driven by economic considerations. Exploitation of natural resources which leads to environmental degradation motivated by targets of maximum profits has been the norm and little regard has been granted to the side effects of development initiatives. Gradual escalation of awareness and realisation of the range as well as the magnitude of environmental effects of development initiatives led to worldwide discussions on the way forward. Consequently, the concept sustainable development was conceived. However, this concept is perceived to be oxymoron by environmentalists, in other terms it is viewed as a combination of two contradicting terminologies. In view of the above, this essay endeavours to explain with relevant specific examples the reason why environmentalists consider the concept sustainable development as an oxymoron. In order to establish a good argument, two literature definitions of sustainable development shall be given. This will be followed by an explanation why sustainable development is considered to be oxymoron and this shall be supported by examples. And only after then shall a conclusion be stressed. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (2007: V) sustainable development is defined as, â€Å"development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present generation without causing deterioration and without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations†. On the other hand Todaro and Smith (2003) asserted that sustainable development entails both intra-generational and inter-generational equity. These concepts project a requirement of the present generation to meet their needs and aspirations without destroying the ability of the future generations to come and meet their needs and aspirations. As earlier alluded to, the concept s ustainable development is a mixture of two words with distinct opposing interpretations. According to Arend and Eureta (2002) sustainability entails the maintenance of the extraordinary diversity of plants, animals and insects that exist on earth. The other term development is known as a multidimensional phenomenon which has several aspects namely; economic, social, political, cultural and environmental. It is imperative to acknowledge the fact that true development involves a record of progress in all the dimensions of the development process. Furthermore, it is also necessary to be cognisant of the point that the environment and global systems which includes development are a series of dynamic and interconnected processes changing and interacting overtime, (Todaro and smith, 2003). From the definitions provided above, it is apparent that the two expressions sustainability and development contradict each other. This is due to the point that sustainability emphasizes on maintaining diversity and productivity of natural resources overtime. On the contrary, natural resources fuel the process of development; therefore, development cannot be a reality without consuming natural resources. The global community is hungry for development as a result people are constantly improving their livelihoods and welfare so as to attain higher standards of living through many innovations such as technology which in turn negatively impact on the environment. The question which maybe asked here is â€Å"what forms the basis of livelihoods?† (ECZ, 2008). According to ECZ (2000), the environment is the cornerstone of our livelihoods because biological resources are the primary sources of economic development thus development is all about consuming natural resources. Besides development, population dynamics also exert pressure on natural resources. With a clear reflection that development is all about the utilisation of natural resources, how then can sustainability be transformed into actuality? This is the question asked by many environmental practioners. It is evident through many global development initiatives how planetary natural resources are being utilized in order to achieve desired development targets. The two terminologies sustainability and development can be compared to a saying that says â€Å"two cobras cannot stay in the same mountain one has to die or eventually leave the mountain†. Therefore, sustainability and development are two cobras staying in the same mountain. The implication according to environmentalists is that, if we are to achieve ultimate sustainability then development should be out of the picture, (Energy Regulation Board, 2007). In Zambia, development programmes are using environmental resources at an increasing rate. With a fast growing population, the drive to meet goals set out in national development strategies and in international conventions, most recently defined in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has likewise accelerat ed. As an example to illustrate the contradiction between sustainability and development, urbanisation in Chipata district can be utilized. As by definition, urbanisation may also mean development of land into residential, commercial and industrial properties. Urbanisation in Chipata has resulted in a number of negative environmental impacts which have adversely affected the diversity of biological resources. Consequential environmental effects include deforestation which has provoked excessive vegetative removal of tree cover along streams and on hills around Chipata town. Furthermore, land degradation due to urbanization is also prevalent in Chipata and this has led to soil erosion, sand and earth mining and degradation of catchment areas of Lunkhwakwa and Lutembwe rivers, (ECZ, 2008). Chipata district has over 56,000 hectors of land under protection and most areas are threatened by encroachment and deforestation due to urbanisation. Urbanisation in Chipata can be considered as progress from a developmental perspective because more houses, shops and industries have been erected and this has advanced people’s liv elihoods in terms of increased housing facilities and employment opportunities. However, this contradicts with sustainability because there has been excessive destruction of forests on the hills of Chipata which has resulted in extreme soil erosion down the slope, (ECZ, 2008). With reference to the economic dimension of the development process, the construction and expansion of mining as well as manufacturing industries can be perceived as progress. This is due to the fact that the existence of operational industries attracts various benefits to the local people. Firstly, job opportunities are created for the local and this helps them sustain their lives by acquiring wages at the end of each month. Salaries obtained by people from employment give them the ability to command their basic needs such as food, shelter and clothes, (MoFNP, 2006). The mining industry has played a pivotal role in the development of the country. However, the availability of exposed, accessible and near surface mineral deposits are increasingly becoming scarce requiring more expensive equipment to locate deeper buried ore deposits. This has led to gigantic environmental degradation due to the use of heavy sophisticated earth moving machines. For instance, when Konkola copper Mines (KCM) took over from Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) on the copperbelt, Chingola and Chililabombwe in particular. After a while later, the production scale was upgraded and this created employment opportunities for over three thousand individuals who were unemployed, (MoFNP, 2006). Other benefits included improved infrastructure such as roads and schools as well as better health services. According to economists and development planners this was considered as national development because the lives of people were improved. However, the view of economists and development planners contradict with that of environmentalists because an elevation in the production scale of any industry is problematic as far as environmental sustainability is concerned because of unsustainable production strategies that hamper a good quality of life, (ECZ, 2011). According to ECZ (2008) mining activities especially large-scale open pit mining has negatively affected the environment resulting into environmental degradation. Among the prominent open pit mines are Nchanga, Kansanshi and Maamba collieries. Despite development enhanced by these mines, industrial operations of these sites have caused the contamination of terrestrial ecosystems mostly ascribed to dust fall-out and this has been a draw back as far as the maintenance of biological resources diversity and productivity are concerned. Kafue River on the copperbelt was polluted by Konkola copper Mines Plc due to toxic substances which were discharged into the water body. This occurrence negatively affected marine ecosystems which resulted in a depletion of certain species. Water resources have been affected by climate change and other factors such as increase in population growth, industry and agriculture which are induced by development. Unfortunately, there has been no corresponding expansion of sewerage infrastructure and solid waste disposal facilities and most of them are in a poor state, despite the increasing rate of development and this actually curbs sustainability. However, it must be realized that only after the last tree has been cut, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught only then will it be discovered that money cannot be eaten, (ECZ, 2008). Human sustainability has also been affected due to the side effects of development which have made the environment unsafe to support a good quality of life. The rate at which development is happening has put so much pressure on the environment and this has resulted into various environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and ozone layer depletion among others. Environmentalists have identified that increasing industrial operations in Zambia have negatively influenced life expectancy and infant mortality rate. For example, adult survivorship levels have been declining in the last twenty years following rapid development trends. Life expectancy for females dropped from 46 years in 1980 to 44 years and 29 years in 2000. In the same category for males it was 44 years in 1980, 42 years in 1990 and 23 years in 2000. Diseases associated with environmental degradation include malaria, tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis and dysentery among others and these so far have claimed quite a considerable number of lives, (MoFNP, 2006). In conclusion, it can be said that development and sustainability are two ends of the same continuum. Whichever example of development one might think of such as industrialization and housing, they are unsustainable, unless that development is related to green technologies or meant to counter the adverse effectives of development. In the end, the solution is a compromise because people need sustainability but cannot progress without development, hence, sustainable development. We can have development as long as we put measures in place to minimise environment damage. These measures include environmental impact assessments, environmental audits and strategic environmental assessments among others, hereafter ensuring sustainability. REFERENCES Arend. H and Eureta. J (2002). Environmental Encyclopaedia: South Africa: Eco-Logic Publication. ECZ (2000). The State of the Environment in Zambia. Lusaka: Environmental Council of Zambia. ECZ (2008). Zambia Environment Outlook Report 3. Lusaka: Environmental Council of Zambia. ECZ (2011). The Enviroline; ECZ Magazine Issue No. 33, January-April 2011. Lusaka: Environmental Council of Zambia. Energy Regulation Board, (2007). Energy Regulations Board: Energy Sector Report-2006. Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (2007). National Policy On The Environment. Lusaka: MTENR. Ministry of Finance and National Planning (2006). Economic Report. Lusaka: Zambia. Todaro M.P and Smith S.C (2003). Economic development.8th edition.New Delhi, Pearson Publication.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott :: essays research papers

Little Women by Louisa Alcott would definitely appeal to women of all types and ages. Little Women appeals to a broad audience, its full of the values and beliefs, and it paints a very real picture of most American’s lives at the time. The reason for this book appealing to such a broad audience lies in all the characters’ personalities. Mrs. March is a strong, independent woman who never falters, therefore she relates to all independent women; but she is also a mother who plants strong values in her girls and is the rock foundation of the family, with that she relates to all mothers. Margaret’s desire for luxury is a desire that we all can relate to and her properness is a trait most girls can relate to. Jo’s mischievous demeanor and talent for writing is something that if one cannot relate, admire to have. Beth is the insecure, sweet, homebody in all of us. Amy represents the beauty and talent, and sometimes moral code, which all women have. Laurie represents all the men that wish to be loved any uncommon-but-beautiful woman. This book is full of the values and beliefs of its time. The March family, that were once-upon-a-time a rich family, were still connected to the â€Å"higher† society. As a result, they were sometimes willingly and sometimes forced to commune with people who looked down on them for being poor. The book taking place during and after the period of the civil war there was a lot of tension concerning Blacks. Some of the values Mrs. March teaches her girls is the importance of never trying to be something there not; the unimportance of material possessions versus mental possessions; and that regardless of what the world told them, they are equal to men and therefore deserve equal rights. The book does a good job of directly and indirectly showing realness of all Americans lives. The whole book feels very real, probably because it’s an autobiography. One very real aspect of the book was the death of Beth. Many loved ones were lost to scarlet fever back then. That particular part of the book, along with being the most real, was the most touching. Despite her being a homebody and living a short life, she had a huge effect on everybody she knew. Another very real feature was the financial struggle of a family of five women and a father away at war at a time when women had no rights.

Hawkins V Clayton Case Summary

Hawkins v Clayton [1988] HCA 15; (1988) 164 CLR 539 (8 April 1988) High Court of Australia Case Title: HAWKINS v. CLAYTON [1988] HCA 15; (1988) 164 CLR 539 F. C. 88/012 Medium Neutral Citation:[1988] HCA 15 Hearing Date(s): 1987, May 13 1988, April 8 Decision Date:20 June 2011 Jurisdiction: High Court of Australia Before:C. J Mason J. Wilson J. Brennan J. Deane J. Gaudron Catchwords: Negligence – Duty of care – Solicitor – Will held by solicitor – Failure to inform executor of death of testator and of contents – Whether duty to do so – Loss to estate caused by executor's ignorance of death – Measure of damages.Limitation of Actions – Tort – Accrual of cause of action – Running of time – Commencement – Breach by solicitor of duty of care to inform executor of testator's death – Loss to estate caused by executor's ignorance of death – Limitation Act 1969 (N. S. W. ), s. 14(1). Legislation Cited: Limitation Act 1969 (N. S. W. ), s. 14(1) Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1898 (N. S. W. ), s. 150 s. 32 of the Wills, Probate and Administration Act s. 61 of the Wills, Probate and Administration Act Cases Cited: Central Trust Co. v. Rafuse (1986) 31 DLR (4th) 481, at p 521Bowen v. Paramount Builders (1977) 1 NZLR 394, per Richmond P. , at p 407 Central Trust Co. v. Rafuse (1986) 31 DLR (4th) 481, at p 521 Bowen v. Paramount Builders (1977) 1 NZLR 394, per Richmond P. , at p 407 Voli v. Inglewood Shire Council [1963] HCA 15; (1963) 110 CLR 74, at p 85 Midland Bank v. Hett, Stubbs and Kemp (1979) Ch 384, at pp 402-403 Hedley Byrne & Co. Ltd. v. Heller & Partners Ltd. [1963] UKHL 4; AC 465 Marshall v. Broadhurst (1831) 1 C & J 403 [1831] EngR 151; (148 ER 1480) Balch v. Symes [1823] EngR 362; (1823) Turn & R 87, at p 92Aebly's Will (1941) 29 NYS 2d 929, at pp 931-932; affirmed (1941) 31 NYS 2d 664 Georges v. Georges [1811] EngR 446; (1811) 18 VesJun 294 (34 ER 328) Lord v. Wormleighton [1822] EngR 477; (1822) Jac 580, at p 581 [1822] EngR 477; (37 ER 969) Estate of Harvey (1907) P 239 Goods of Shepherd (1891) P 323, at p 326 Hollis v. Smith (1808) 10 East 293, at p 295 (103 ER 786, at p 787) Meyappa Chetty v. Supramanian Chetty (1916) 1 AC 603, at pp 608-609 Ryan v. Davies Bros. Ltd. [1921] HCA 53; (1921) 29 CLR 527, at p 536) Pinchon's Case [1572] EngR 289; (1611) 9 CoRep 86b, at p 88b [1572] EngR 289; (77 ER 859, at p 863)Texts Cited: Sir James Stephen, A History of the Criminal Law of England (1883) Parties: Representation – Counsel: File number(s): DECISION The case of Hawkins V Clayton was the result of a breach of duty by the solicitors of the testator, Mrs Brasier, and to the executor of the estate, Mr Hawkins. The solicitors were in custody of Mrs Brasier’s will and seemingly were not aware of the testators death for some time as they had written letters to her regarding her will in September 1978 and August 1979 with no respo nse.After the commencement of the action taken up by Mr Hawkins, he had passed and his widow and executor continued the action as she had become Mrs Brasier’s executor by devolution. Mr Hawkins and his family had lived with Mrs Brasier as a â€Å"tenant† in her home at Blakehurst, sometime during August 1973 Mr Hawkins and Mrs Brasier had had a disagreement and the Hawkins family had left the Blakehurst house. It was determined that Mrs Brasier had spoken with Mr Hawkins about his appointment as executor but had not confirmed it once the will was written.After August 1973 Mrs Brasier had contact the solicitors to make a new will but had not carried out the changes and the solicitors had not had any instructions from her since. After the death of Mrs Braiser, her nephew, Ronald Lamb had taken up residence in her house and had not paid any rent or maintained the property. Mr Lamb had contacted the solicitors and had represented to them that Mr Hawkins had disappeared and requested payment out of the estate for funeral expenses.Some years later, Mr Hardwick who had been handling the matter had retired and upon the retention of new solicitors from the Executor, had rendered an account for services provided to the estate. This case was heard in the High Court of Australia on appeal from the judgment handed down from the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In the judgment from the Supreme Court, it was found that the Statute of Limitations had barred the solicitors from being found guilty of a breach of duty of care.The High Court Judges had not reached a unanimous decision regarding the duty of care owed to the executor. Mason C. J and Wilson J found that there was no duty of care owed to Mr Hawkins and suggested the appeal be dismissed, on the other hand; Brennan, Deane, Gaudron JJ had found that there had been a breach of the duty owed to Mr Hawkins, and that the Limitations Act would not affect any claim of such a breach as the breach did not occur a t the time of the death of Mrs Braiser but from when the Solicitors found out of her death.There was argument that the resultant damages incurred by Mr Hawkins was caused by his ignorance of the will and his failure to administer the estate it was however found that the damages were indeed caused by the lack of the solicitors to promptly notify Mr Hawkins of his interest in the estate and his role as executor. Brennan, Deane, Gaudron JJ ordered that damages be paid by the respondents though as the damages had not been quantified, they all agreed that the parties should discuss and agree to the amount of damages payable, if the parties could not agree to an amount, the Supreme Court of NSW would determine the costs owed.The final orders as found in the judgment are as follows: 1. the appeal to that Court be allowed with costs; 2. the judgment of Yeldham J. be set aside; 3. in lieu thereof judgment be entered for the plaintiff for damages to be assessed; 4. the action be remitted for determination by a judge of the Supreme Court; and 5. the defendants to pay the plaintiff's costs to be taxed.

Female characters from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and from The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy Essay

Compare the presentation of two female characters, one from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and one from The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy, Pay close attention to their roles as outsiders. In these works of prose fiction, both authors write about women confronted by circumstances that make their lives very difficult. The women are, or become, outsiders of one sort or another. You will need to: show your knowledge of both texts Use quotations to support the points that you make Show a knowledge of the life and times that each author was writing in Show what you understand the term outsider to mean. I am writing an essay comparing ‘Curly`s wife’ from the novel Of Mice and Men and ‘Rhoda Brook’ from The Withered Arm. John Steinbeck was born in 1902 and lived until 1968 was an American who lived in California this is where he wrote his novels. He always had jobs on farms during his highschool-years, or, as he was very much interested in science, helped out in local laboratories. After school John went to college at Stanford University but John dropped out of school without a degree to enter journalism in New York. He then returned to California to write novel writer. Of Mice and Men was the first novel that was recognised, Of Mice and Men was first published in 1937. In 1962 John Steinbeck got the Nobel-prize for literature. Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men was a story about two men who move from Ranch to Ranch earning just enough money to last them the week. John Steinbeck wrote this story from experience he also travelled from ranch to ranch so knew what it was like to not have a life and have life plane just dreams to look forward to which were just distance dreams. Steinbeck expresses his feelings on life living on a ranch through Georges character, in the book George was always repeating his story on men living on the ranch and describes them as nobodies. John Steinbeck wrote Of Men and Mice during depression and wrote about two men George and Lenny as the loneliest guys in the world which were like him not going to stay alone they are different and they will achieve there dream and this is what John Steinbeck achieved. Guy swho lived on ranches were usually very lonely but John Steinbeck was not going to be lonely and when too old be useless he wanted to overcome his dream. â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tale on some other ranch. They ait got nothing to look ahead to.† John Steinbeck then lived in California and wrote Grapes of Wrath a story about people who earned nothing and would work non stop for a slice of bread. Both Steinbecks novels are to do with money and people working so hard to become there dream like Lenny and George their dream was to have their dream house but it was out of their reach and they could not overcome it. Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 and lived until 1928. He lived in Dorset so knew a lot about the place he wrote the withered arm which was set in Dorset during 1825 although Hardy knew a lot about Dorset he set the novel before he was even born. Because the story was set so before his time he had to adapt his knowledge of Dorset to how it was in the 1820s his words had to be old fashioned and include long intense sentences to suit the play in the time it was set. Unlike John Steinbeck, Hardy wrote long sentences with old fashioned words. Thomas Hardy was educated locally and at 16 he worked for an architect. At 22 he went to London to train as architect, he then returned home, he then returned home in 1867 persue his chosen career to write novels. He had even started writing his first novel The Poor Man and the Lady, which was never published. Thomas Hardy wrote about fate and pentimizium, most of his novels were tragedies, and he appeared to grow more pessimistic in later life. He then stopped writing novels and returned to writing poetry. Thomas Hardy wrote the withered arm of which is his best known novel The withered arm DESCRIPTION OF STORY. Both the authors write about women confronted by circumstances that make their lives very difficult. The women are outsiders and are not loved and want a better life. Of Mice and Men written by john Steinbeck has a woman in, in the story her name is never spoken of she is referred to as Curlys wife as though she is his woman. She is the only woman on the ranch so is an outsider, she has no one to relate to. Curlys wife is presented in the Story Of Mice and Men as a tart or a flirt her clothing and her body language create a flirty atmosphere. Her clothing is very tarty she wears red clothing and red makeup and red was the colour usually worn by prostitutes so she is wearing these tarty clothes for attention. â€Å"Quote Curlys wife description† She wants to be looked at, her husband Curly is not giving her the attention she needs and she is feeling lonely and apart from the world, on her own and wants a friend or to be loved. Her husband Curly also lives on the Ranch and treats his wife as an outsider, curly doesn’t love his wife he just treats her as a sex object. The withered arm written by Thomas Hardy also has a woman in Rhoda Brook is made to feel as an outsider. Rhoda isn’t married and doesn’t have a partner, in those days to be a single mum was very unlikely so the people in her town thought she was a witch so she didn’t have many friends. Rhoda lives with her twelve year old son in father lodges cottage, Rhoda is very in love with Farmer Lodge but he has a very beautiful wife which Rhoda is extremly jealous of. â€Å"The thin woman who had not spoken was joined by a boy of twelve or thereabout.† Rhoda Brook is not very attractive she is pale, tall and thin. Unlike Curlys wife she isn’t beautiful so cannot use her beauty to attract men and get peoples attention. Rhoda is very jealous of beautiful woman so unlike Curlys wife, Rhoda is around other woman so isnt an outsider in that prospective she is an outsider because of men, she is neglected by men and is unlucky in love. Rhodas loneliness and emotional feelings only aid to the boys like Curlys wife she wants to be loved and cared about. Rhoda works on a farm as a ‘milking woman’. Curlys wife doesn’t work she is just a housewife for Curly. Curlys wife was very much like George and Lennie they all had a dream but none of them came true. Curlys wife’s dream was to be a movie star but she could not live her dream because she met Curly, they fell in love and he took her away from the natural world and placed her in a lonely neglected environment on the ranch. On the Ranch she is never spoken to because the men on the ranch don’t want curly thinking there is something going on with her wife and another man because he would kick them off the ranch. Curly and Rhoda are very different in appearance but very similar in personality and would be feeling very alike. Rhoda is very modest and lifeless unlike Curlys wife who seems to be very outgoing and flirtatious.

Comparison of the Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of DID and PTSD

Comparison of the Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of DID and PTSD Introduction Psychology is the academic discipline dealing with the study of human behaviour and mental functions (Burton, 2010). As such, psychologists are described as social or cognitive scientists. The scientists and professionals explore human characters, such as perception, emotions, and personality. The aim of such exploration is to assess and treat psychological disorders.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison of the Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of DID and PTSD specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Numerous studies have been conducted in the past to try and explain why people act and behave the way they do. Information gathered from such analyses is taken into consideration when making decisions in many contemporary organisations (Barlow Durand, 2011). Organisations that use such information in their operations include the government and private companies and corporations. The information is especially important when hiring personnel. Individuals psychological information helps other people in making informed decisions when dealing with the individual. The information can also be used in assigning work to the individual. Dissociative Identity Disorder (herein referred to as DID) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (herein referred to as PTSD) are classified as mental disorders. The two have formed the basis of research for many psychologists. The psychologists have made efforts to identify the root causes, treatment, and diagnostic procedures associated with the conditions. According to Dr. Brad Wright (and as cited in Farrell, 2011), the two conditions are significantly different from each other. Post traumatic stress disorder develops when an individual is exposed to any form of psychological trauma. Dissociative identity disorder is known by several other names. One of them is â€Å"Multiple Personality Disorder†. The condition is associated with individuals who exhibit two distinct personalities. It is characterised by forgetfulness or amnesia (Shettleworth, 2010). In this essay, the author will analyse the two conditions, comparing and contrasting their various aspects. The author will focus on the similarities and differences between the conditions’ etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The Etiology of DID and PTSD: A Comparison Etiology of DID Etiology is the study of the origin and cause of a given phenomenon (Overskeid, 2007). It is commonly used in medicine to determine why and how things take place. The concept aims at providing a mythical explanation for a certain condition or phenomenon.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Over the years, many researchers and philosophers have come up with various possible causes of dissociative identity disorder. However, most are in agreement that the disorder is brought about by maladjusted r eactions to trauma. Such trauma is in most cases linked to childhood physical and sexual abuse (Hergenhahn, 2005). Most individuals suffering from this disorder had a traumatic experience in their childhood. Neglect and lack of parental care are largely associated with the disorder. Individuals exposed to extreme physical abuse in the past tend to be violent and brutal in later life. Psychologists associate this phenomenon with attempts by individuals to forget their past miseries. The failure to forget leads to frustration, which is expressed through acts of violence and brutality. Individuals who were exposed to acts of violence in the past are likely to try and expose others to similar conditions. The attempt explains the rising cases of violence in the society. Research has shown that criminals suffering from dissociative identity disorder expose their victims to ordeals that are similar to those they were exposed to in the past. Such developments give rise to a cycle of crime a nd violence, which turns victims into offenders. Self destructive behaviours have also been identified as possible causes of the disorder (Pinel, 2010). Individuals exhibiting such traits tend to be violent towards themselves and towards others. Etiology of PTSD Post traumatic stress disorder develops after an individual is exposed to an event associated with intense fear, horror, and a sense of helplessness (Reisner, 2005). However, psychologists have identified other possible causes of post traumatic stress disorder. They include past life experiences and inherited traits, such as individual personality. Individuals who had traumatic experiences in their past make the bulk of patients diagnosed with this disorder. Personality aspects that may influence the individual’s susceptibility to the disorder include, among others, temperament and ability to deal with stress. Regulation of hormones and such other chemicals as adrenaline by the brain is also associated with the condit ion. Exposure to risk factors is another possible cause of post traumatic stress disorder. Such exposure explains why many soldiers and people living in war torn areas are more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder compared to other individuals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison of the Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of DID and PTSD specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are several similarities between the etiologies of the two psychological disorders. For example, both conditions are associated with past traumatic experiences. Individuals suffering from either of the two conditions are likely to have witnessed traumatic events in their life (Carver Scheier, 2004). Individuals react variously to such traumatic events. As a result of this, some of the individuals exposed to the traumatic events may fail to develop the condition. For example, those suffering from dissociative identity diso rder are violent towards other people. On the other hand, those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder live in perpetual fear of being abused or experiencing the traumatic events again. Diagnosing DID and PTSD: A Comparison Overview In most cases, individuals suffering from these disorders are unaware of their condition. It is also hard for family members and the society at large to diagnose the disorders. The inability to diagnose is attributed to the fact that the effects of these disorders are mainly psychological. As such, it is not easy to point out the characteristics. The case is different for other disorders, whose effects are expressed physically (Gelder Geddes, 2005). In most cases, the individual is not aware of their condition when they seek medical assistance. Diagnosing DID To diagnose dissociative identity disorder, the psychologist needs to conduct a thorough psychological examination of the patient. A medical examination is necessary to determine whether the patient has any physical disorders that may explain their symptoms (Glaser Strauss, 2005). Examinations are carried out through oral interviews or questionnaires prepared in advance. Hypnosis or drugs are also used to make it easy for the patient to reveal personal information to the doctor (Barlow Durand, 2011). In most cases, patients complain of amnesia. The individual is unable to remember events that took place within a particular period of time. They also suffer from memory loss. In extreme cases, the patient may forget about close friends and family members. The individuals are depressed and may exhibit suicidal tendencies in extreme cases (Ron, 2008). In addition, some patients diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder complain of either audio or visual hallucinations.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Diagnosing PTSD To diagnose post traumatic stress disorder, the professional needs to take into consideration the signs and symptoms exhibited by the individual. Patients are asked to explain their signs and symptoms. They try to explain what the signs are, the time they occur, and their intensity (Reinders, 2008). Individuals are also required to narrate the events preceding the symptoms. A patient has to meet a set of pre-defined criteria before the professional comes to a conclusion. Diagnosing post traumatic stress disorder and dissociative personality disorder calls for a series of psychological and medical assessments. Assessments are carried out orally or through the use of a questionnaire. Examinations to check for other medical problems are carried out to ensure that the correct diagnosis is made (Boysen, 2011). Treating DID and PTSD: A Comparison Treating DID calls for the combination of various states of personality (Stern, 2012). Interaction between the different persona lities helps the person to function normally. Drug therapy is used to relieve such symptoms as fear, anxiety, and depression. Psychotherapy is considered as emotionally painful. Individuals undergoing therapy experience emotional crises especially when recalling traumatic memories during therapy sessions. Hypnosis is also applied in therapy. Therapy sessions take place over a long period of time, usually over 3 to 6 years. Individuals are treated for other serious health problems that are exhibited, such as drug and substance abuse. Treating PTSD aims at helping individuals gain control over their own life. Individuals suffering from the disorder are advised to accept their condition. They are also empowered to cope with stress and such other phenomena. Unlike dissociative personality disorder, treating post traumatic stress disorder requires a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy. There are various forms of drugs administered to those suffering from the disorder. They incl ude antipsychotics, antidepressants, and prazosin (Spiegel, 2006). Each of these drugs has a particular function. In psychotherapy, various interventions are used. The interventions include cognitive therapy, which involves empowering the individual to perceive things accurately to reduce trauma. Cognitive therapy is used together with other interventions, such as exposure therapy. The latter encourages the patient to face or confront the situations that scare them the most (Ross, 2009). Other interventions, such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy, help the individuals in processing traumatic memories. There are obvious similarities between the treatment procedures for the two disorders. In both cases, the doctor attending to the patient aims at reducing the effects of the trauma (Farrell, 2011). In addition, treating the two conditions involves psychotherapy. A close relationship between the patient and the doctor in-charge must be maintained. The aim here is to increase the efficiency of the therapy sessions. Conclusion Psychology is a field of study dealing with human behaviour and brain functions. The discipline involves the assessment of such human characteristics as perceptions and emotions in efforts to explain individual actions (Singh Chakrabarti, 2008). Psychology has helped in diagnosing and treating various mental disorders, among them post traumatic stress disorder and dissociative identity disorder. Many people suggest that DID and PTSD are the same. However, significant disparities exist between the two with regard to etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. But there are also similarities between the two conditions. For example, the two disorders are associated with past traumatic experiences. References Barlow, D. H., Durand, V. M. (2011). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Boysen, G. (2011). The scientific status of childhood dissociative identity disorder: A rev iew of published research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 80(6), 329-34. Burton, L. (2010). An interactive approach to writing essays and research reports in psychology. Queensland, Australia: John Wiley and Sons. Carver, C., Scheier, M. (2004). Perspectives on personality. Boston, USA: Pearson. Farrell, H. (2011). Dissociative identity disorder: Medicolegal challenges. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 39(3), 402–406. Gelder, M., Geddes, A. (2005). Psychiatry. New York, USA: Oxford University Press. Glaser, B., Strauss, A. (2005). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, USA: Aldine. Hergenhahn, B. (2005). An introduction to the history of psychology. Belmont, USA: Thomson Wadsworth. Overskeid, G. (2007). Looking for Skinner and finding Freud. American Psychologist, 62(6), 590–595. Pinel, J. (2010). Biopsychology. New York, USA: Prentice Hall. Reinders, A. (2008). Cross-examining dissociative id entity disorder: Neuroimaging and etiology on trial. Neurocase, 14(1), 44–53. Reisner, A. (2005). The common factors, empirically validated treatments, and recovery models of therapeutic change. The Psychological Record, 55(3), 377–400. Ron, S. (2008). The Cambridge handbook of computational psychology. New York, USA: Cambridge University Press. Ross, C. (2009). Errors of logic and scholarship concerning dissociative identity disorder. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 18(2), 221–231. Shettleworth, S. (2010). Cognition, evolution and behaviour. New York, USA: Oxford University Press. Singh, S., Chakrabarti, S. (2008). A study in dualism: The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 50(3), 221–223. Spiegel, D. (2006). Recognizing traumatic dissociation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4), 566–568. Stern, D. (2012). Witnessing across time: Accessing the present from the past and the past from the present. The Psychoana lytic Quarterly, 80(1), 53–81.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Energy Flow in Ecosystems If there is only one thing you learn about ecosystems, it should be that all of the living residents of an ecosystem are dependent upon one another for their survival. But what does that dependence look like?   Each organism living in an ecosystem plays an important role in the flow of energy within the food web. The role of a bird is very different from that of a flower. But both are equally necessary to the overall survival of the ecosystem, and all of the other living creatures within it. Ecologists have defined three ways that living creatures use energy and interact with one another. Organisms are defined as producers, consumers, or decomposers. Here is a look at each of these roles and their place within an ecosystem. Producers The main role of producers is to capture the energy from the sun and convert it into food. Plants, algae, and some bacteria are producers. Using a process called photosynthesis, producers use the suns energy to turn water and carbon dioxide into food energy. They earn their name, because- unlike the other organisms in an ecosystem- they can actually produce their own food. Produces are the original source of all food within an ecosystem. In most ecosystems, the sun is the source of energy that producers use to create energy. But in a few rare cases- such as ecosystems found in rocks deep beneath the ground- bacterial producers can use the energy found in a gas called hydrogen sulfide, that is found within the environment, to create food even in the absence of sunlight! Consumers Most organisms in an ecosystem cannot make their own food. They depend upon other organisms to meet their food needs. They are called consumers- because that is what they do- consume. Consumers can be broken down into three classifications: herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Herbivores are consumers that only eat plants. Deer and caterpillars are herbivores found commonly in a number of environments.Carnivores are consumers that only eat other animals. Lions and spiders are examples of carnivores. There is a special category of carnivore called scavengers. Scavengers are animals that eat only dead animals. Catfish and vultures are examples of scavengers.Omnivores are consumers that eat both plants and animals depending upon the season and availability of food. Bears, most birds, and humans are omnivores. Decomposers Consumers and producers can live together nicely, but after some time, even the vultures and catfish would not be able to keep up with all of the dead bodies that would pile up of the years. Thats where decomposers come in. Decomposers are organisms that break down and feed off of the waste and dead organisms within an ecosystem. Decomposers are natures built-in recycling system. By breaking down materials- from dead trees to the waste from other animals, decomposers return nutrients to the soil and create another food source for herbivores and omnivores within the ecosystem. Mushrooms and bacteria are common decomposers. Every living creature in an ecosystem has a role to play. Without producers, consumers and decomposers would not survive because they would have no food to eat. Without consumers, the populations of producers and decomposers would grow out of control. And without decomposers, producers and consumers would soon become buried in their own waste. Classifying organisms by their role within an ecosystem helps ecologists understand how food and energy ebb and flows in the environment. This movement of energy is usually diagrammed using food chains or food webs. While a food chain shows one path along which energy can move through an ecosystem, food webs show all of the overlapping ways that organisms live with and depend upon one another. Energy Pyramids Energy pyramids are another tool that ecologists use to understand the role of organisms within an ecosystem and how much energy is available at each stage of a food web. Most of the energy in an ecosystem is available at the producer level. As you move up on the pyramid, the amount of available energy decreases significantly. In general, only about 10 percent of the available energy from one level of the energy pyramid transfers to the next level. the remaining 90 percent of energy is either utilized by the organisms within that level or lost to the environment as heat.   The energy pyramid shows how ecosystems naturally limit the number of each type of organism it can sustain. Organisms that occupy the top level of the pyramid- tertiary consumers- have the least amount of available energy. Therefore their numbers are limited by the number of producers within an ecosystem.

Facilities and Events Operations Management Term Paper

Facilities and Events Operations Management - Term Paper Example This function is also responsible for the fulfilment of the requests of the customers through creation and delivery of the required facilities and events. Depending on the manner in which an organization is structured, the precise nature of tasks, which are classified under the operations function, can be different from one business to another; nevertheless, some activities can be applied to all the forms of operations. These include: Understanding strategic goals, which involves the managers in charge of operations precisely understanding the objectives of the company and developing clear visions of the ways in which operations will assist in achieving them. It also entails the translation of these objectives into implications for how operations perform, goals, quality, speed as well as reliability, flexibility and costs. Development of an operations strategy, where as a result of the numerous number of decisions made as far as operations is concerned, it is important that the people responsible have a set of regulations that assist in aligning these decisions with the long term objectives of the company. All companies can be widely divided into two main categories, which are manufacturing and service companies. Regardless of the fact that both categories have operations management functions, these differences create unique challenges for operations as the characteristics of the products differ. Two key distinctions exist between the operations of companies that deal in products and those that concentrate on services. To begin with, organizations that deal with products produce physical and tangible products, which may be stored in inventory prior to it being required by the consumer. In contrast, companies that deal with services produce products that are not tangible and cannot be produced before the customers need them. Further, the companies that deal with tangible products, the consumers usually do not have a direct contact with the production