Portfolio Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Portfolio Assignment - Essay Example One other significant element that I have gained from the course this semester is about communication. Insights on emerging modes of communication such as social media have been very fundamental in helping me understand how to use such media for business purposes. In my final assignment this semester, I believe I deserve to get an A grade for my results because of my performance in various home works and class assignments. I believe I have worked hard enough throughout the semester to warrant such a grade, given the fact that I have endeavored to apply everything that I have learnt in the classes into the various assignments that we have done. Most of the assignments and homework that I did were both fascinating and motivating at the same time. I, therefore, tried to give it my best shot hoping for the best results possible. The assignment about the heartwarming coca-cola life commercial, for instance, was one of the best assignments that I wrote this semester. This assignment related to the issue of advertising, an area of business operations that I am fascinated about. The assignment on heartwarming Coca-cola Life Commercial is one of the best assignments that I did in the course of the semester. The analysis of this commercial helped me to conceptualize my final major assignment of the semester. Through this assignment, I was able to get many insights that will be fundamental in completing my major assignment. The advert has many elements including repetition, binary opposition, and anomalies. Repetition, which occurs on many occasions in the commercial, for instance, can be seen when the couples hug each other repeatedly. Binary opposition comes out in the relationship between the child and adults in the commercial. Some instances of anomalies in the commercial include the scene where the child eats the dog and sleeping in the kennel. The journal

Assess the practical usefulness and the relevance of game theory in Essay - 1

Assess the practical usefulness and the relevance of game theory in light of the demanding assumptions behind the concept of the - Essay Example In addition, today game theory is used in a variety of behavioural relations and is extended to both human as well as non-humans. This theoretical framework first described zero-sum games where an individual’s gains are exactly equal to the net losses of other participant(s). This paper will assess the practical usefulness and the relevance of game theory in light of the demanding assumptions behind the concept of the Nash equilibrium. Game Theory The game theory is based on the fundamental concept of zero-sum games, and a game has elements such as players, actions, information, strategies, outcomes, payoffs, and equilibria. Game theory evaluates strategic interactions where the outcome of a player’s choices greatly depends on the choices of other players. Basically, for a situation to be a game, there should be at least two rational players who consider each other’s choices while framing strategies (QuickMBA). The game theory has two distinct branches namely coo perative and non cooperative game theory. Most of the cooperative games are expressed in the characteristic function whereas extensive and normal forms are used to illustrate non-cooperative games. Games are illustrated using trees (figure 1) under the extensive form and each node or vertex represents the point of choice of players participating (Fudenberg & Tirole, 1991, p. 67). Each rational player is particularly indicated by a number specified by the vertex. The participants’ possible actions are depicted by the lines projecting out of the vertex while bottom of the tree represents the payoffs (Ibid). The authors add that the extensive form can be termed as â€Å"a multi-player generalisations of a decision tree† (Ibid). (Source: Ross, 2012) Under the normal form or strategic form, a matrix representing players, strategies, and payoffs is used for illustration. A major assumption when the normal form is used to indicate a game is that each participant makes choices without actually knowing the choices or actions of others. When players’ actions are known to other participants, generally the extensive form is used to represent the game. The characteristic function form was developed by scholars like John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern. The authors claim that when a union C appears, it begins to work against the fraction (N/C) as if two players were participating in a normal game. Nash Equilibrium Nash equilibrium is a complex concept associated with the game theory. As Osborne (1994, p. 9) clearly states, â€Å"Nash equilibrium is a steady state solution concept in which each player’s decision depends on knowledge of the equilibrium†. More precisely, under the Nash equilibrium, it is assumed that each player knows the equilibrium strategies of other participants and no player can gain anything by altering their own strategy. The concept of Nash equilibrium has a wide range of applications in connection with the game the ory. Game theorists widely use this solution concept to interpret the outcomes realised from several decision makers’ strategic interactions. It greatly assists analysts to predict what would happen if several players are forming decisions simultaneously and if the outcome depends on others’ decisions. Nash equilibrium is potential to analyse unpleasant situations like arms

Plato's Republic and His Theories About Philosopher Rulers Essay

Plato's Republic and His Theories About Philosopher Rulers - Essay Example In this book, Plato claims that the best way to avoid abuses of power, and thereby avoid some of the worst problems of political life, is to concentrate power in the hands of the wise - philosopher-rulers. There are several reasons that make Plato think that concentrating power in the hands of philosopher-rulers will eliminate abuse of power. In this book, Plato ignores the power of justice and makes philosophy the subject of inquiry. He thinks that the power of a state should be concentrated on philosopher-rulers because of the nature of philosophers. He mentions the gifts of a true philosopher as courage, good memory and quickness. Such people have natural reasonableness or inherent goodness which other people can use to get good things even as they grow old (IDPH 354). According to Plato, the minds of philosophers always love the type of knowledge that reveals to them the external nature that does not differ from corruption and generation (IDPH344). This means philosopher-rulers a re in a position to make a quick detection of corrupt deals and corrupt individuals. Plato further explains that philosophers are lovers of all true being and therefore truthfulness is part of them. They are not willing to renounce others whether they are great or small, more honorable or less honorable. This means that philosopher-rulers stand for the truth in everything. This includes those issues that benefit them personally and those that may not benefit them directly or at all. This also includes truth in the smallest matters which many rulers tend to cover up. Even though such actions may not affect the citizens directly, the truth remains that it is abuse of power. They are therefore more likely to demand for openness and transparency in all actions that affect the larger population just to ensure that the highest levels of truth are maintained. Plato explains that because of their truthfulness, philosopher-rulers detest falsehood and will never receive in their mind falsehoo d intentionally. He goes further to describe truthfulness as the object of affection of philosophers. This is seen where he argues that truthfulness must be affirmed by philosophers. He says of them, â€Å"must be affirmed: for he whose nature is amorous of anything cannot help loving all that belongs or is akin to the object of his affections† (IDPH 344). To make it more convincing, Plato argues that there is nothing that is akin to wisdom as truth. His fellow philosopher Glaucon confirms the same as he states that someone cannot be a lover of wisdom and at the same time, a lover of falsehood. This is to say, wise people are lovers of truth and therefore, they are never lovers of falsehood. These are evident in philosopher-rulers. They would be the best watchdogs, condemners and stoppers of actions that that find their roots in falsehood like corruption and related actions like stealing. Plato ascribes the quality of being ambitious and loving ambitions to philosophers. Havi ng rulers who love ambition can mean nothing better than elimination of every action and person who kills fruits of ambition in the national. Generally, philosopher-rulers have zero tolerance to self-centered leaders who are after heaping part of the national resources for themselves. according to Plato, philosophers are lovers of learning. Plato explains that a true lover of learning must desire the truth right from their earliest youth (IDPH

Recommendations For Diagnosis, Treatment, And Management Of Asthma Essay

Recommendations For Diagnosis, Treatment, And Management Of Asthma - Essay Example Shortness of breath, as well as an individual’s experiencing either wheezing and coughing, are the major symptoms of asthma that are known. An asthmatic attack may get dangerous if it lasts for more than 12 hours without any intervention and if the airway is obstructed (Kaufman, 2012). Symptoms like the bluish coloration of the lips and rapid pulse are dangerous signs of severe attack. In diagnosis, spirometry measures the total volume of oxygen that is inspired against that which is expired by the lungs. In the assessment of the status of the airwave, children with asthma who are of seven years or more should have spirometry performed on them in order to measure how severe the airway is obstructed (NHS, 2012). Triggers of Asthma and the Risk Factors Among the triggers of asthma are food preservatives that are found in foods that are either processed or prepared by various food manufacturing companies. An example of such a food preservative is sodium metabisulfite which is in the group of sulfite additives; it triggers asthma in those who are sensitive (Toole, 2013). There are certain risk factors that have been identified to trigger or contribute to the occurrence of asthma and are important in the easy identification of those individuals who are most at risk to develop asthma and those prevention strategies that are effective in managing the condition. These include smoking by the parent, especially when the child is still an infant, or the smoking by the mother when the child has not been born yet. The family history of asthma and exposure early in life makes a child more predisposed to suffer from asthma (Zahran, Person, Bailey & Moorman, 2012). Management of Asthma Arterial blood gas and lung function test will help in the diagnosis of this condition.

The Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere

The Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Great Barrier Reef is in the cyclone zone. The strength and duration of the storm can cause varying levels of damage to the coral and the local ecosystem plus the animals that inhabit the ecosystem. Strong winds and low pressure systems can create strong destructives waves that cause damage to the coral themselves. In March 2006, Dunk Island, a small continental island 4km of the North Queensland coast was battered by Cyclone Larry. The island was decimated however much of the unseen damage occurred to the coral around the island, the levels of coral bleaching were significant after the storm. Cyclone Larry passed to the north of Dunk Island resulting in an 81% reduction in coral cover at 2 m depth on the northern side of the island, while at the same depth on the southern side, only 2% of the coral cover was lost. Sediment can also be carried and deposited by waves causing the coral ecosystem to be buried in a particular area. If there is heavy rainfall during any given time, this will alter the level of salinity in the water cause changes that can be detrimental to the livelihood of these corals. The turbidity of the water can also be increased due to the fact that the precipitation has a mixture of many oxides and chemicals in the air that have condensed into single droplets. The turbidity can affect the sunlight penetration into the water and can hinder the growth of the coral as the sunlight is vital for their survival and for the crucial process of photosynthesis. If they are starved of this sunlight then they may die. The excess rainfall can also alter the temperature level of the sea water and it could be disastrous for the coral if it were to leave the temperature range of 25-29 degrees Celsius in which the corals flourish. Hydrosphere The most favourable conditions for coral reef growth are those with high wave energy. Reefs act as a barrier against waves and they absorb most of their energy. This causes the waves to be weaker once they have passed through them creating much calmer waters. The water flows in the Great Barrier Reef are the driving force behind the great diversity that exists there. For the majority of the year the cooler currents from the south move into the tropics and flow into the reef. In contrast, the summer months see a change with warm water from the north bringing high levels of nutrients to the ecosystems and causing the salinity in the water to fluctuate at that time of year. The ecology of the reef depends on this natural cycle as the ecosystem has adapted to this pattern over a long course of time. Lithosphere Coral polyps are the skeletal remains of coral once they have died. These undergo a natural process and form limestone. Through fluvial processes this limestone is first weathered and is deposited around the coral ecosystem. This build-up of sediment can cause the formation of coral cays. These are low lying islands that have been made from the remains of coral over thousands of years. The accumulation of limestone creates underwater landforms on which new coral can grow. This is extremely helpful in the functioning of their ecosystems as they will be more resilient to damage from waves as they will have a solid natural structure to protect them. The flow of sediment both from waves and from runoff of the land can affect coral reefs. In the Great Barrier Reef fringing reefs are found in the areas around continental islands, which are prominent throughout the whole region. These are located in close proximity to the shoreline. Due to the nature of the weather nearby, considerable rain fall causes these corals to be buried and they will ultimately die. Biosphere The Great Barrier reefs contains a colossal amount of diversity. The reef is the largest World Heritage site in the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.and it has around 360 species of hard coral (direct quotes from textbook). The Great Barrier Reef consists of a northern and southern region, with the northern region having the greater amount of diversity, much of which does not or cannot function in the southern region. Small creatures known as polyps are responsible for creating reefs. Polyps have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, algae that lives within it. The polyp undergoes the process of photosynthesis whereby it produces necessary nutrients for its survival while the zooxanthellae produce oxygen and sugars. Eventually polyps grow and reproduce, this process continues until a reef is formed with millions of small polyps. Due to the high diversity that exists within coral reefs there is always dead matter that it releasing nutrients into the water allowing all the life there to thrive. Parrotfish are a species of fish that benefit from coral reefs. (See Appendix A, figure 1.1). These multi-coloured fish live in reefs and eat algae filled polyps which account for the majority of their diet. Cnidarians, echinoderms and crustaceans are also other vital organisms that contribute to the functioning and diversity of reef ecosystems. Cnidarians are animals that do not have a backbone. Some cnidarians cant move such as coral which others can such as jellyfish. The word echinoderm means spiny skin. These organisms are complex as their bodies are usually consisting of a few parts. Some prime examples of echinoderms are sea urchins and starfish. There are also many types of crustacean that inhabit reef ecosystems. They include prawns, reef crabs and reef lobsters. These crustaceans are sea floor dwellers and they tend to eat dead matter that reaches the sea floor. This may include dead fish or other organisms that die in the reef. Along with these small creatures larger mammals include sharks, whales, turtles, sea snakes molluscs and dolphins. Dugongs are also found in coral reef ecosystems. With some of the worlds largest concentration of dugongs calling Australias Great Barrier Reef home. Coastal Dunes Atmosphere There are three key factors that affect the way sand dunes function in the atmosphere. They are wind, precipitation and temperature. Aeolian transport refers to the movement of sand by wind. The factors that determine the amount of sands that is transported are; the type of vegetation in the area, the size of the sand particles, the topography in which the sand was located and the size of the sand particles. Stronger winds pick up more sand than calmer winds and this increases the amount of sand that gets deposited in different compartments along the coast. The prevailing wind can also affect how sand is moved around. In areas of high vegetation, Aeolian transport is difficult as the roots of the plants bind the sand, making it harder to dislodge. They also act as barrier absorbing most of the power of the wind. Precipitation determines the type of vegetation that lives in the area in which the sand dune has formed. If a coastal area is very moist with constant rainfall then it will have considerable vegetation to bind the sand together, however if it has a dry climate there will be a lack of vegetation thus meaning that there will be a less diverse range of vegetation, sand will not be bonded strongly by plant roots resulting in an unstable ecosystem that can suffer from change easily. Temperature plays a key role in affecting the rate at which the sand dries. In areas of warmer weather sand will dry faster, thus allowing the wind, through Aeolian transport to deposit sand further up the beach and form a foredune. In stark contrast cooler weather will leave the sand wet for longer periods of time resulting in less deposition of sand and smaller dunes, leaving the land prone to erosion from the wind and sea water. Temperature also affects the types of vegetation that grow in coastal areas. Having considerable sand dunes works in favour of vegetation growth, as more diverse pioneer grasses such as spinifex, pigsface, and goatsfoot and guinea flower can grow allowing the sand to have a stronger bonding from their roots. Temperature can also have an impact on ocean currents. The sun can cause convection currents in the ocean which allows water of different temperatures to move, albeit at very low speeds however changes in water flow can also affect the distribution of sediment on beaches and ultimately coastal dunes. Hydrosphere Hydrological processes are the main reason for the formation of sand dunes. Water erodes cliffs and headlands through fluvial processes such as abrasion and hydraulic pressure causing sediment as a result. More often than not these sediments make their way into sediment compartments such as bays. Sediment that does not directly enter bays accumulates in offshore deposits on landforms such as sandbars. Sandbars play an important role in regulating the amount of sediment reaching the coast as waves hit them and deposit the sediment closer to the land. The process of longshore drift is also instrumental in the formation of sand dunes. Longshore drift refers to the movement of sediment parallel to a beach. Longshore drift fosters the growth of coastal dune systems as they can form far away from where the sediment deposit is. With an excess of sand in one area sand will eventually be deposited further up the beach causing the creation of dunes and a foredune. Waves also affect the way that coastal dunes form. Destructive waves such as plunging waves can remove sediment from a beach resulting in a smaller dune over team which results in a loss of habitat and biodiversity. These waves mostly occur during storms when large amounts of sediment can be lost in a short period of time. Constructive waves such as surging and spilling waves increase the amount of sediment on beaches hence increasing the size of the dune and foredune as well as the amount of biodiversity in the coastal dune system. Considerable rainfall can cause runoff that eventually reaches the coast, due to the fact that it is a low lying area. Water will infiltrate the dunes causing the water table to rise, meaning that the dune will be saturated. When the sand dune dries the water table decreases however much of the vegetation on the dune has either drowned or has been washed away. Now that the sand is not bound together by the vegetation, it is exposed to erosion by water and by wind. Lithosphere The accumulation of sediment over time has led to the creation of coastal dune systems. These systems are dynamic, they are constantly changing. The main sources of sediment for sand dunes are offshore sandbar deposits and sediment that had also accumulated at the mouth of narrow rivers. These sediments reach the coast through the process of longshore drift. Along with this is the action of the waves which forces sediment up onto the swash zone and eventually onto the berm until it accrues to form a dune or foredune. There are three main types of dunes are parabolic dunes, foredunes and parallel dunes. A parabolic dune is a sand dune that is in the shape of a U or V. these dunes can be very long and they form parallel to the coast. Parabolic dunes form where strong winds hit the coast, allowing for the dune to become larger and to retreat inland. Parabolic dunes move backwards in the direction of the prevailing wind. The strong winds that move landward create an axis in the dune, allowing it to grow. The sides of the parabolic dune are called its arms; they frequently have vegetation growing on them which contributes to the stabilisation of the dune. A lack of vegetation on the arms of the dune will cause instability. The entire dune may collapse causing Aeolian transport to move the loose sand (sediment) somewhere else along the beach or to a parallel dune. A foredune is an accumulation of sand at the back of a beach. Over time sand accumulates in the swash zone, dries up and it is moved landward via Aeolian transport. Subsequently this sand amasses in the berm and eventually forms a foredune which can protect the land from further erosion. Parallel dunes form when several foredunes are aligned at a right angle to the beach face. When a foredune is affected by a large storm, destructive waves take away most of its sand. This leaves the foredune unstable. Eventually, constructive waves will bring sediment back to the beach however; the accumulation of sand will begin to occur in front of the original foredune. While a new foredune begins to form, the original foredune is shielded from waves and the prevailing wind and therefore it becomes stable as more vegetation begins to grow on it. This process has occurred in many coastal areas around Australia resulting in many foredunes forming on a beach that are parallel to each other. Eventually the foredunes furthest back on a beach are completely vegetated and stable and are consequently difficult to destabilise. Biosphere Coastal dunes support a variety of complex and diverse plant and animal species. While newer coastal dunes tend to have more pioneer grasses, older dunes are more stable as they support a much more diverse set of plants due to their well-developed soils. Coastal dunes have a variety of species divided into three groups. Primary, secondary and tertiary species. Primary species usually occupy the pioneer zone; this is the area between the top of the beach and the foredune. The sand in this area contains considerable salinity as it is constantly subject to sea spray. Therefore the plants that grow here are highly specialised as they are acclimatised to these conditions. Beach Spinifex or Spinifex longifolius is one of the most abundant species in coastal dunes and it is commonly found in this zone (See Appendix A figure 1.2). Beach spinifex has been used to stabilise dunes across Australias coast which it has done successfully along with pigface which can flourish in such conditions due to its resilience to the salt content in the sea water. Examples of secondary species are coastal Banksia, coastal wattles and she-oaks. These are found on stable foredunes. Coastal wattle and coastal banksia predominantly grow on less developed yet stable foredunes whereas she-oaks due to their large size would grow further back on the beach on an extremely developed and stable parallel dune. At the back of a beach lie the most stable dunes. These dunes are characterised by larger vegetation such as a trees. These dunes were originally foredunes themselves and over time parallel dunes may have formed in front of them protecting them from the spray and erosive power of the waves. The nature of species that exist here will depend on the climate of the area. A more moist climate will support more diverse life however a dry climate may mean that a smaller diversity of species inhabit the area. Due to the fact that tertiary species live further landward there will be more organic matte r present and the sand will almost be soil like. Paperbark trees also known as Melaleuca are prominent in this region and they may even develop in swales, providing that there are well developed soils. Paperbark trees are found at the back of coastal dunes systems and are given the title of climax communities as they are said to have a balance with their environment due to the fact that they are fully developed and acclimatised to their ecosystem. Atmosphere: Natural and human impacts on Coral Reefs Natural stress and human induced modifications have a profound impact on coral reef ecosystems. Pollution plays a large role in shaping the way coral reefs function. Harmful greenhouse gasses accumulate and rise into the troposphere affecting the air that all organisms absorb. Harmful chemicals from the burning of fossil fuels and car exhausts cause this process as they can stay in the atmosphere for up to 70 years. Another culmination of this is photochemical smog. After evaporating and eventually condensing the chemicals mixed with dust particles and water vapour fall as precipitation on the Earths oceans and on coral reefs. Acid rain in large amounts can pollute water and cause turbidity levels to rise. The turbidity increases the cloudiness of the water and reduces the sunlight that corals need for their growth. With the lack of sunlight, coral bleaching occurs and coral ecosystems may die out which can affect their other organisms that rely on them as a source of food or as a br eeding ground. Examples; Parrot fish. These consequences also occur when there is an increase in phosphate and nitrate due to precipitation. These chemicals encourage algal growth on coral, also causing coral bleaching due to the lack of sunlight.Climate change can occur either naturally or through human induced changes around the world. This can cause a microclimate to form, hence directly impacting the ecosystem. Human induced climate change may occur due to the use of chlorofluorocarbons. These organic compounds are found in aerosol cans and cause ozone depletion because the accumulation of CFCs in the atmosphere chemically react with the ozone thus destroying it. This subjects the earth to an increase in sunlight exposure and ultraviolet radiation which can bring about an increase in temperature. Coral ecosystems are sensitive to a temperature change and can die as a result of this. Similarly if too much pollution is prevalent in an adjacent urban area, pollutants in the atmosph ere can hinder sunlight, consequently causing a drop in water temperature which will have similar effects on the coral and their interdependent organisms as with an increase in water temperature. Natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis also cause extensive damage to coral ecosystems. Underwater earthquakes can cause an entire seabed to collapse meaning that life there can no longer be sustained. Hydropshere: Natural and human impacts on Coral Reefs Coral reefs are also affected by the hydrosphere. Precipitation on land can come back as runoff into the ocean or through waterways that eventually drain into the ocean. Along the way sediment may have been picked up and will eventually be deposited in the water, polluting it, raising turbidity and killing coral. This natural change can be detrimental however some sediment that is deposited in the coral ecosystem may be from humans. Examples may be plastic bags, bottles even wrappings for food. Infiltration and percolation also bring ground water to the sea along with many chemicals that have leached into the soils. These chemicals change the composition of the sea water promoting the growth of toxic algal blooms and ultimately killing coral and other sea life. This is another example of how a natural process combines with human activity to cause further damage to coral ecosystems. Chemicals from humans can also come in the form of tourism. Australias Great Barrier Reef is a world class tourism destination that attracts thousands of tourists every year due to its natural beauty. One of the main highlights for any tourist is to dive underwater to witness the diversity of life that exists. This can result in people touching corals or removing them from their natural habitat and as a result killing them. Glass bottom boats or normal charter boats that visit the reef may have their anchors trailing below them. This can have a devastating effect on the reef because metal anchors can scrape through corals, and destroy them. A recent report by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority states that over 2,000 ships travel through the Great Barrier Reef every year and fears have grown amid news that states near collisions with coral reefs have not been reported. This was further backed up by an anonymous interview carried out on 82 ship captains who claimed that had n ear groundings on the reef. Although no groundings have occurred, the Marine Park Authority believes that the likelihood of a major spillage is around 93% within the next 20 years. A spill of this extent could spread over many kilometres and eventually oil would form a thick black coating on coral and other marine organisms that interact with the coral. The high toxic levels in the water would kill both marine plants and animals and interrupt the breeding that would occur in the coral ecosystem. An event such as this could occur over a matter of hours or days and marine life in the vicinity of the spill would not adjust to the change. Lithosphere: Natural and human impacts on Coral Reefs Natural processes play a predominant role in how Lithospheric components impact on coral reefs. Waves constantly which away at large masses of rock (fluvial process). This breaks down and waves eventually carry the sediment creating turbid waters which can kill corals in the short term. However, the International Coral Reef Symposium compiled a report in 2000 suggesting that the waters at many coral assemblages in the coastal turbid-zone along the GBR coastline have probably been naturally turbid for millennia. As a result of these findings it can be concluded that the coral of the Great Barrier Reef have adjusted to the turbid waters. These findings suggest that natural stress that occurs over a long time is much easier to adjust to; this is why the corals there are able to survive with a smaller amount of sunlight, a sudden change in sediment would exacerbate the turbidity level in the water and could disturb dynamic equilibrium causing the coral to be affected . Weathering and ero sion causes sediments to be freed up and makes them easily movable. Topography affects the extent to which the land can be eroded. This depends on whether the land is fertile, well mulched, strongly bonded or dry. Arid land is much weaker and has larger sediment discharge. Biosphere: Natural and human impacts on Coral Reefs Natural and human impacts on Coastal Dunes Natural changes such as wind, temperature and precipitation affect coastal dunes. Wind through Aeolian transport affects the movement of sand along a beach and aids with the formation of dunes. Precipitation affects the nature of vegetation that grows on the sand dunes, which ultimately affects the strength of the dune system. Temperature affects how dry the sand dune is and how long it remains wet after being affected by waves. Constructive and destructive winds also affect the size of coastal dune ecosystems as they determine whether sand is added or removed from there. Global warming and the rising of sea levels is another natural impact on coastal dune ecosystems. A rise in temperature on a global scale may result in higher sea levels which can decimate coastal dunes and their vegetation as well as cause erosion to the land. The introduction of exotic species has also had advantages and disadvantages. The introduction of rabbits into Australia has had disastrous consequences. Rab bits eat the vegetation on sand dunes as well as the grasses that stabilise them. This reduced the cover the vegetation provides for the sand and it exposes the sand to wind erosion meaning that whole dunes can be subject to Aeolian transport. Rabbits also live in these fragile dunes and their burrowing can cause the dune to collapse which will also result in erosion. In contrast the Bitou Bush, which was introduced from South Africa, has been successful at stabilising dunes across Australias east coast as it currently composes of 70% of New South Wales coastline. The bitou bush creates a stronger bonding in the sand and thus makes it more resilient natural and human changes. This is one of the few human induced changes that have brought benefits to coastal dunes. The bitou bush has been particularly helping as stabilising dunes after sand mining has occurred. Sand is abundant on Australias coastlines and sandmining on the Kurnell peninsular has changed the landscape their dramatica lly. The Sutherland Shire Environment Centre has said that once towering sand dunes have been replaced by deep lakes, many of which are now being filled with demolition waste. This is having an adverse effect on groundwater in the area. The high instance of demolition waste has disrupted the ecosystem destroying many diverse plant species and animals that would have inhabited the area (See Appendix A figure 1.3 and 1.4). Find info on the size of dunes before and after mining. Stepping on dunes by humans can also destabilise them. Similar to the impacts of rabbits, humans may trample on vital pioneering grasses and the sand dune may be subject to erosion because its natural shape has been altered. Due to the fact that coral reefs and sand dunes are constantly being impacted on by nature and by humans the degree at which they adapt varies. It can be established that natural change takes much longer that human induced change which can be very rapid. Under these circumstances these ecosystems are more likely to adapt to natural change thus giving them a better chance of survival because their genetic makeup may be altered, however, genetic changes cannot occur in one generation but over many generations and for this reason plants and animals in coral reefs and sand dunes will struggle to survive or die out after a human induced change because they simply do not have the time to do so. Coral reefs Vulnerability Resilience Coastal Dunes Vulnerability Resilience

Essay on Convergence in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man :: Portrait Artist Young Man

Convergence in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man    As far as portraits go, James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is pretty dynamic.   Stephen is constantly in motion, hurtling through life. He sees, smells, and touches everything around him.   But I'd like to focus on one of the quieter moments - a moment of convergence.   The narrative encloses Stephen in a cloud of his own past, present, and future as he stands in a Dublin courtyard:    He began to beat the frayed end of his ashplant against the base of the pillar.   Had Cranly not heard him?   Yet he could wait.   The talk about him ceased for a moment: and a soft hiss fell again from a window above.   But no other sound was in the air and the swallows whose flight had followed with idle eyes were sleeping. [1]    Stephen's impatience melts as his quiet thoughts replace whatever he was about to say to Cranly.   He closes his senses off to his companions, to the roosting sounds of the birds in the courtyard and the jangle of the streets.   He hears only "a soft hiss".   This is the point of intersection for Stephen, and for the narrative itself.   Stephen remembers a quiet moment of prayer "in a wood near Malahide" - the past.   He thinks of Emma walking through the streets of Dublin leaving a trail of reverent silence.   She is the now.   Stephen beats an ashplant - a convenient prop for a poet - against a pillar and decides that he can wait.   Darkness is falling - it's almost tomorrow, almost the future.   This moment of quiet convergence for Stephen is a point of intersection for the reader: past, present, and future meet in a dusky Dublin courtyard.   Joyce incorporates several layers of his own creation into the scene - draws on his own "Epiphanies" and gives Stephen a prop to carry into Ulysses.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In chapter five of the novel, Joyce sets up this meditative moment for Stephen, has him remember a quiet moment of prayer from his past:    . . . he had dismounted from a borrowed creaking bicycle to pray to God in a wood near Malahide. He had lifted up his arms and spoken in ecstasy to the sombre nave of the trees, knowing that he stood on holy ground and in a holy hour. Essay on Convergence in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man :: Portrait Artist Young Man Convergence in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man    As far as portraits go, James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is pretty dynamic.   Stephen is constantly in motion, hurtling through life. He sees, smells, and touches everything around him.   But I'd like to focus on one of the quieter moments - a moment of convergence.   The narrative encloses Stephen in a cloud of his own past, present, and future as he stands in a Dublin courtyard:    He began to beat the frayed end of his ashplant against the base of the pillar.   Had Cranly not heard him?   Yet he could wait.   The talk about him ceased for a moment: and a soft hiss fell again from a window above.   But no other sound was in the air and the swallows whose flight had followed with idle eyes were sleeping. [1]    Stephen's impatience melts as his quiet thoughts replace whatever he was about to say to Cranly.   He closes his senses off to his companions, to the roosting sounds of the birds in the courtyard and the jangle of the streets.   He hears only "a soft hiss".   This is the point of intersection for Stephen, and for the narrative itself.   Stephen remembers a quiet moment of prayer "in a wood near Malahide" - the past.   He thinks of Emma walking through the streets of Dublin leaving a trail of reverent silence.   She is the now.   Stephen beats an ashplant - a convenient prop for a poet - against a pillar and decides that he can wait.   Darkness is falling - it's almost tomorrow, almost the future.   This moment of quiet convergence for Stephen is a point of intersection for the reader: past, present, and future meet in a dusky Dublin courtyard.   Joyce incorporates several layers of his own creation into the scene - draws on his own "Epiphanies" and gives Stephen a prop to carry into Ulysses.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In chapter five of the novel, Joyce sets up this meditative moment for Stephen, has him remember a quiet moment of prayer from his past:    . . . he had dismounted from a borrowed creaking bicycle to pray to God in a wood near Malahide. He had lifted up his arms and spoken in ecstasy to the sombre nave of the trees, knowing that he stood on holy ground and in a holy hour.

Reactions to Imprisonment Essay

When an individual is subjected to being incarcerated for a significant amount of their life, that person once released has had a life experience, which impacts them greatly. Whether that impact is prosperous or not depends on the individual. While imprisoned some allow themselves to take advantage of their time by learning form their mistakes, while others utilize their time by becoming more mischievous. A prime example of someone who received a positive impact form being imprisoned is Socrates Fortlow of Walter Mosley’s Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, this specific individual learned to be zealous, compassionate and resourceful throughout his twenty-seven year sentence in jail. From Socrates release from jail he has displayed an extremely zealous outlook on life. As a man seeking employment, Socrates zealous personality is the key factor in him receiving a job at Bounty Supermarket for boxing and delivering groceries. â€Å"I been down there ev’ry day for five days, an ev’ry day I go in there I ask ’em if they got my okay from the head office yet†, is how Socrates explained his persistent attempt to his friend Stony Wile. As a lower class, African American, ex-convict, Socrates is not the ideal candidate for employment. One would believe that without his zealous attitude he would not have been able to obtain the job he took such pride in executing. Socrates also made a zealous attempt to modify his violent behavior. â€Å"For years he gave himself a grade everyday. Anytime he wrote down failure somebody had been hurt by those big rock-breaking hands.† Socrates found himself in physical confrontations only when he felt it was necessary. He even attempted to apply physical intimidation to beneficial use. Socrates â€Å"†¦swore to himself that he’d never hurt another person – except if he had to for self-preservation.† Therefore Socrates’ zealous attitude served as an aid for him throughout numerous aspects of his life. Compassionate is the descriptive word that comes to mind when contemplating the acts of this â€Å"†¦convicted murderer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Socrates compassion is especially demonstrated when he saves a stray dog and nursed him back to health after an uncaring driver hit the dog. In contrast of what many may think about ex-convicts, this one in particular has a caring heart and reached is out not only to Bruno, the stray canine but also his friend Right Burke. Right Burke was suffering from cancer and his days were limited. Mr. Fortlow did his best to make this suffering mans last days as comfortable and enjoyable as he could. Although not a wealthy man, Socrates used his heart and his mind to initiate his goals. He not only reached his heart out to Right but also to a troubled adolescent named Darryl. â€Å"He wanted to reach out to the blubbering child and tell him that it was okay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Socrates was the only father Darryl had in his life, so Socrates did his best to show Darryl how to be a man. He looked out for Darryl’s interest the best way he knew how. Although it’s been said in order for a person to be able to murder they have to have a lack of compassion, Socrates incarceration rehabilitated him into a man full of compassion. Being resourceful is a personality attribute that at person with limited finances and an incarcerated individual will quickly obtain. Socrates showed his resourceful nature by actions such as cooking a whole meal on only a hot plate and restoring â€Å"†¦ round dinette table, with three broken legs, lying in the street† into new condition. Mr. Fortlow also tended to himself when he was cut with a broken bottle by cleansing out the wound and sewing up his ripped up coat. Socrates resourcefulness has been a prosperous effect of his imprisonment. This effect enabled Socrates to conserve his funds on things that were not necessities. â€Å"He took a bag of leftovers home at the end of every week from the store.† These were items that a financially stable person would turn their nose up at, but for someone less fortunate such as Socrates they were gourmet foods. One would tend to believe without Socrates resourceful nature, survival would’ve been made much more of a nuisance. A man attempting to survive in a lower class neighborhood needs certain characteristics in order to survive. One would infer that Socrates was able to obtain these attributes through his twenty-seven year imprisonment. Socrates Fortlow was zealous, compassionate and resourceful and without these characteristics he would not have been able to survive.

Avenida Ninos Heroes

â€Å"Avenida Ninos Heroes† and â€Å"Halls of Montezuma† both pay tribute to the US – Mexico War. Provide a context for each and what they commemorate. During the battle aimed to capture the fortress in Chapultepec Castle, six brave cadets effused to surrender upon the retreat order of General Bravo against the US Forces. These were Juan de la Barrera (lieutenant), Agustin Melgar, Juan Escutia, Vicente Suarez, Francisco Marquez and Fernando Montes de Oca.After the fall his five comrades, Cadet Juan Ecuita wrapped himself with the Mexican flag and jumped off the castle. The US commander in charge paid an honorable salute to the bravery and patriotism portrayed by the soldier. Now, a mural was decorated on the ceiling of the castle showing the patriotism of the six soldiers particularly Ecuita and the Mexican flag, there is also a monument in Chapultepec Park honoring their valor. These cadets are more popularly known in the Mexican history as the as the Los Ninos Heroes or Heroic Cadets.In September 1847, under the command of Army General Winfield Scott, Army Brig. Gen. John Quitman led a pack of 120 handpicked Marines in a historical battle to subdue the Hill of Chapultepec. The Hill of Chapultepec, more popularly referred to as the Halls of Montezuma stood 200 feet high surrounded by a 12-foot wall. The fortress was defended by a total of 400 men, 300 of which were from the Batallon de San Blas under Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Xicotencatl, and roughly 100 more garrison soldiers and the cadets.It took one hour and a half, to suppress the resistance and the American flag fund it way waving up the hill as a sign of victory. Ninety percent of the Marines died in this conquest. And to pay tribute to this distinct heroism, the opening lyrics of the official US Marine’s Hymn, â€Å"†¦. the Halls of Montezuma† was referred her as the Chapultepec Castle. Moreover, the corps included a blood stripe in their blue dress uniform. 2. What is chattel slavery and how was it institutionalized in the British North American colonies?Chattel slavery is the most common type of slavery in the American history. It is characterized by the master’s provision of property and money towards the slave in exchange for service like all sorts of labor and oftentimes sexual servitude. Basically, this social status is inherited to the next cohort, that is, the later generations are expected to do the same, either sold to another master or to serve under the same owner. The history of slavery in America started in 1619 upon the arrival of the Dutch ship, the White Lion in Virginia.It transported African slaves to several British colonies in America. Aside from that it also brought with it indentured servants. Indentured servitude is a form of debt bondage, in this case, in exchange fro the transport of these people across the Atlantic to America, food, clothing, food and other basic necessities; they are to serve a certain em ployer after a period of time usually after 4 to 7 years. The first law enacted towards slavery and established the legality of English slavery in the Caribbean was the Barbadian Slave Code of 1661.Almost 20 years later, South Carolina instituted that a slave is a property, meaning a slave being owned by an individual or group of individual therefore cannot sold from the estate. In 1696t the Barbadian Code was adapted in South Carolina, hence defining the basic guideline for slavery in North America. During this adaptation, the African became chattel slaves from being indentured slaves, giving the enslaver complete ownership of a person.Moreover, in Virginia, government made its own laws against the growing indentured slaves, since some slaves became wealthy farm owners after they are released from servitude. The Virginian Laws, provided that Africans are to be slaves for life and the same status are to be applied to their future progeny. 3. The embryonic federal republic of North A merica was quickly forced to grapple with issues related to citizenship and immigration. Analyze the 1790 Naturalization Act. Naturalization is the procedure wherein people become a citizen of a country they were not born in.On March 26, 1790, the Naturalization Act took affect and it provided several guiding rules on granting natural citizenship for immigrants. Several important highlight of this act was that, citizenship was not to be granted to people who were indentured slaves and to the Indians, in addition to that Blacks are not supposed to be granted citizenship in America. This translates to the notion that every Black who enters American territory was expected to become slaves. This Naturalization Act offered vague definition and translation of the Law.As stated in this Act, every immigrant is required a certain period of time of residence in America before being called a citizen in order to appreciate and evaluate the concept of American Democracy. But this Act itself, pre vented anyone who they termed â€Å"colored† from becoming a citizen adding up to their concept of racial discrimination. This Act therefore became a living example of the racial difference and the wall Law created between the whites and the blacks of African decent. 4.Describe the impact of the invention of the cotton gin on the expansion of American slavery. The cotton gin was devised by Eli Whitney a graduate from Yale University. In his pursuit to pay his debt, he went to Georgia and acquired a job as a private tutor. There, he realized that the southern farmers and farm owners were frantic to find ways to increase their yield and profit in cotton production. The issue on cotton production involved the difficulty to separate the fluffy cotton balls and the seeds which sticks to it much.Catherine Greene, Whitney’s employer persuaded him to find a solution to this problem. Greene provided all possible support needed especially in the financial aspect. The development of the cotton gin doubled the yield for raw cotton every decade after 1800. It also opened the doors for more machinery demands, such as the machines to weave or to spin the cotton, and also for the invention of the steamboat to transport it at an ease. There was a production bloom and massive exportation of cotton occurred between America to England and to New England.Immense cotton production truly brought solution to farmer’s problems and greatly uplifted American economy though trade at that era. But like any other inventions meant to discover resolutions to problems, this also carried changes that worsen the American society. And the most historic is the propagation of slavery. Although the cotton gin, decrease the time and amount of labor needed to separate the cotton and the seed, it extremely increased the need of manpower in the form of slaves t grow and harvest the cotton, especially with the expansion of the area of farmlands.In 1808, approximately 80,000 Africans were imported as slaves and the slave population in the South reached up to an estimated 1/3 of the populace. The invention of the cotton gin therefore required more slaves to work under a more tireless and strict regimen, wherein abuse and mistreatment were hence more common as compared before the rise of production pressures brought about by the cotton gin.