International Economic History Since 1870 Essay

International Economic History Since 1870 - Essay Example The industrial and manufacturing base was strengthened with electrification and military expansion contributing towards strengthening the country’s economy through the development of a strong domestic base. The strength of Japan’s institutions played a significant role in the strength of its economy, so that even after the Second World War and subordination to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, Japan was able to re-emerge as one of the strongest economies of the world (Allen 1981). Japan’s economy has demonstrated a remarkable rise as compared to other countries, and the period of significant economic growth has been marked by three spurts in growth in the 1910s, the 1930s and 1960s. There have been several reasons that have been proffered for the meteoric economic rise of Japan. Perhaps this can best be summed up in the words of one Japanese economist, â€Å"Japan is an example of a fantastically creative response to defeat†¦.[which] brought about †¦.a far greater scale of devastation in the economy of Japan, necessitating a fresh renovating start in almost every aspect.† (Tsuru, 1993, p 67) The long period of Tokugawa rule could be viewed as an isolationist state, or as some researchers have postulated a period of peace and stability that fostered initiatives by the State to improve economic conditions within the country (Ohkawa and Rosovsky, 1973). During the period of enforced isolation, the economy of Japan was inextricably linked with politics and the culture of the shogun and daimyo ensured that a strictly regulated internal system flourished within the country, which enabled sustained domestic growth. The role of the State in fostering economic growth has also been supported by Mosk(2001) and Minami (1994), who have highlighted the achievements of the Togukawa era , when there was a high level of urbanization

Role of Interstimulus Delay in Iconic Memory

Role of Interstimulus Delay in Iconic Memory Sensory memory is the initial structure in the Atkinson and Shiffrin’s modal model of memory. This memory structure temporarily stores information from sensory stimulation for processing and transferring to short-term memory. Within fractions of seconds, this memory will degenerate if remain unattended (Shiffrin Atkinson, 1969). There are two kinds of sensory memory which is iconic memory and echoic memory. Iconic memory is crucial as it stabilizes vision despite the presence of saccadic movements which disturbs visual adaptation to stimulus (Ciccarelli White, 2012). Hence, any delay in between the sensory stimulation and the recollection will cause an effect to the iconic memory. The question is; how much are we able to recall from our iconic memory after a period of delay? In 1967, Neisser coined the term iconic memory and assumed that all visual information are initially held there before being transported to longer lasting memory upon cue (Gegenfurtner Sperling, 1993). Iconic memory involves vision persistence where trails of light retained for fragments of second in memory (Goldstein, 2011). Haber (1983) described iconic memory as the availability to perceive the information briefly after terminating visual stimuli. The persistence and decay of the visual information in iconic memory is first presented in Sperling’s partial report (Sperling, 1960). In partial report paradigm, there is a brief delay prior to the selection cue in reporting the stimuli. The brief delay or known as the interstimulus interval (ISI) which is a time period in between two stimuli (Reed, 2013). ISI is the interval between the end of the visual stimulus and the onset of the cue tone before reporting the displayed information in the partial report technique (Chow, 1985). The effect of ISI on iconic memory in partial report can be explained by Sperling’s theory of iconic memory. Sperling stated that observers have the ability to temporarily store a large capacity of visual information, however as the information decayed rapidly due to the delay, the subjects were only able to report an average of 4.5 items (Sperling, 1960). Hence, as the interval prolonged, the effectiveness of iconic memory decreases despite the large capacity in storage. Besides that, another theory that can explain the cue delay in partial report is the Bundesen’s theory of visual attention. This quantitative model assumed that the sum of perceptual processing resources which determines the rate of processing is inadequate for the information displayed. Processing resources are used to filter information as distractor and target using selective attention. After the allocation of the processing resources, the information races for encoding in the limited capacity visua l short-term memory (Petersen and Andersen, 2012). As the encoding process is time consuming, the information decays as the selection cue delay prolongs thus affecting the items recollection. The partial report paradigm was pioneered by Sperling’s (1960) dissertation in Harvard University. Due to the subjects’ immediate-memory capacity in whole report, he devised a technique called partial report which was to only report a particular array of items arrangement according to different cue tones for each rows projected after the stimulus was displayed. Three to four items per row were used due to limited perceptual span. Higher tone was for upper row, medium tone for middle row and lower tone for lower row. In his study, he aimed to investigate on information decay by measuring the accuracy of the report. This study was conducted on 5 trained subjects who were scheduled for 3 sessions weekly for a total of 12 sessions. Before the subjects report the information, he delayed the instructional tone for 0.0s, 0.15s, 0.30s and 1s after the stimulus display. The results indicated steep decline in accuracy of report as the delay was longer. 91% of the subjects were ab le to accurately report the stimulus but as the delay increased to 1s, the accuracy declined to 69%. He concluded most visual information were registered in the sensory memory but decayed rapidly within fractions of a second (Sperling, 1960). Through his research, he was able to show that in testing immediate-memory, not just knowing the limit of the perceptual span actually is but the ability to recall the items seen needed to be measured. With his findings that perceptual span is actually larger than the ability to recall them, his pioneering study pointed to the discovery of sensory storage. Another study conducted by Merikle (1980) in University of Waterloo, Canada supports the findings by Sperling (1960) in terms of cue delay effect in partial report. This experiment aimed to test on partial report superiority as the cue delay increased for both categories (letters or numbers) and spatial cues (top or bottom). The partial report and whole report were tested on 18 subjects where they were shown 90 sets of stimulus displays from both types of stimulus and the cue were delayed for -250ms, 0ms and +250ms and. The results indicated that spatial cues are more effective than category cues. Both types of partial report condition performed better than whole report, but the decline in performance was greater than whole report when cue were more delayed (Merikle, 1980). This study illustrated that the advantage of partial report is compromised as the cue delay increased. Perhaps, the advantage is due to instruction to report according to rows enhances the accuracy as it involves spatial processing of the stimulus compared to whole report. On the contrary, Darwin, Turvey and Crowder (1972) findings did not show any significant change in partial report over time. This study was conducted on 12 Yale University undergraduate. In contrast to previous studies by Sperling (1960) and Merikle (1980), auditory stimulus was presented and the indicating cue was in the form of slide projection. A set of 20 stimuli with combinations of monosyllable letters and numbers were given over headphones and the ISIs was 0s, 1s, 2s and 4s. They were asked to report the item and the location as indicated in the stimuli. The findings showed that there are no significant differences of performance between each interval (Darwin et al., 1972). One might argue that perhaps this is due to the echoic memory and not iconic memory. However, Sperling’s (1960) assumption on sensory storage decay across time in partial report should apply to auditory memory. Thus, the result should indicate significant rapid decrease of accuracy in partial report. The insignificant finding could be due to the complex instruction that also tests on their spatial processing apart from recalling the items. Furthermore, Kuhbandner, Spitzer and Pekrun (2011) investigated on the consequences of emotion-inducing stimuli on the iconic memory decay. 45 with 32 females and 13 male students from University of Munich took part in this study. Emotion-inducing stimuli which were threatening, neutral and positive stimuli consisted of objects and animal pictures. The indicator was shown in a form of arrow after the ISIs of 14ms, 71ms, 229ms, 500ms and 1000ms. 8 trials were conducted for each stimuli conditions and delays. The subjects reported 4 chosen items out of 12 verbally. As expected, the iconic memory degenerated rapidly as the delay time increased however, for threatening stimuli; the results indicated slow decay of information (Kuhbandner et al., 2011). From this study, we can observe that emotion encourages persistence in iconic memory regardless of the delay period. Perhaps, due to the higher number of females in this study affected the results as emotional perception are different acros s genders. This study suggested that emotional processing occurred faster than selective attention in iconic memory processing. As we can see from previous studies discussed, various adaptations of Sperling’s (1960) partial report paradigm ware used. However, most studies on partial report that supported Sperling’s findings were conducted at least thirty years ago. A current study on the interstimulus delay effect using neutral stimulus on iconic memory needs to be conducted in order to observe whether Sperling’s assumption are still applicable to this date. Past researches have conducted partial report experiments using traditional tachistoscopes (Sperling, 1960; Merikle, 1980) however for this present study, CogLab 2.0 computer application were used for better and more comprehensive material in data collection. For this research we aimed to observe the effect interstimulus intervals on the iconic memory. Iconic memory was measured by the percentage of the recalled items. We hypothesized that the increase in interstimulus interval decreases the percentage of recalled items. Methods Study design In testing out the hypothesis, we conducted an experiment with repeated measure design. Data was gathered through convenient sampling. For this study, the independent variable was the interstimulus interval (ISI) whereas the dependent variable was percentage of the recalled items. Participants Participants in this study consist of 28 (10 males and 18 females) undergraduate Sunway University psychology students who are enrolled in Cognition and Perception course with the age range of 18 to 35 years old. As a part of the coursework, students were rewarded with 1% credit for participating. In selection of participants, the inclusion criterion was those who are wearing visual and hearing aids whereas the exclusion criterion was non-psychology students. Measurement In conducting this experiment, we have used Wadsworth CogLab online laboratory 2.0 (Goldstein, 2011) computer program. Specifically, under the sensory memory section, we have selected partial report experiment. Interstimulus interval. The interstimulus interval was between the end of the stimulus matrix display and cue tone onset. Each interval was varied at 20milisecond (ms), 100ms, 300ms, and 1000ms. Percentage of recalled items. The numbers of correct letters reported for each delay trials are recorded and totaled regardless of the order of the letters. The percentages of the scores are then calculated according to each interstimulus interval conditions. Procedure Ahead of the tutorial class, every student was informed to bring their own headphones to reduce distractions during the experiment. All students who were present on the day of the experiment gathered in the computer lab with one computer for each student. This experiment was only conducted in one session with all participants at once with estimated time of completion at about 20 minutes. All participants were assigned to complete every condition of the interstimulus intervals. As the class started under the supervision of a lecturer, the students were allowed to read the instructions and start the experiment at their own pace. They were required to fill in their student ID and put on their headphones before beginning the experiment. As they started, they were exposed to 3 different cue tones to familiarize them with indicator tone on which row to report. Low-pitched tone was for bottom row, medium-pitched sound for middle row and lastly high-pitched tone for the upper row. For a tota l of 60 trials, each trial started as they pressed the space bar and they had to fixate their vision on a small asterisk at the screen center. After one second and a half, 33 matrix of alphabets appeared on the screen for a duration of 150ms. The interstimulus interval started after the matrix flashed and at the offset of the tone. A tone was played as the indicator and the letters of the indicated row were typed. These procedures were repeated for each trial and the students were asked to keep their eyes fixated on the center throughout the experiment. The results were immediately displayed for each participant on their performance and submitted to e-Learn for pooled data collection. Results To test the decrease of percentage of recalled items as the interstimulus interval increases, the results were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA due to the nature of the experiment where all conditions were tested on within the same subjects. Interstimulus interval was classified as categorical variable with four conditions (20ms, 100ms, 300ms, and 1000ms) whereas the dependent variable, the percentage recalled was a continuous variable. The results illustrated significant decrease from the 20ms to 100ms interval on the percentage recalled, Wilk’s Lambda = .011, F (3, 25) = 4.56, p = .011. To observe the informational decay pattern, further test of pairwise comparison demonstrated that there was there was a significant decline between the 100ms interval and 1000ms interval (mean difference= 8.730; p = .02). Furthermore, between 300ms interval and the 1000ms, there was a significant decrease (mean difference = 8.10; p = .009). However, no significant decrease was found from 20ms interval to 100ms interval (mean difference = 1.99; p = 1.00) to 300ms interval (mean difference = 1.35; p = 1.00), and to 1000ms interval (mean difference = 6.75; p = .136). In addition, there was no significant decrease found between the 100ms interval and 300ms interval (mean difference = .635; p = 1.00) but. Generally, since there are greater decrease from 100ms and 300ms interval to 1000ms interval, there were overall decrease across the increasing interstimulus intervals. The mean scores for each interstimulus interval are shown in table 1. Table 1 Mean and standard deviation of percentage of recalled items after interstimulus delay Discussion This research was carried out to examine the effect of interstimulus delay on the effectiveness of iconic memory. Our hypothesis was testing on whether longer interstimulus delay causes lower performance in the percentage of the test items recalled. The statistical analysis on our data showed that there was indeed a significant decrease in percentage of recalled items across the increasing length of interstimulus interval thus supporting our hypothesis. Our result was found to be consistent with the findings from previous studies (Sperling, 1960; Merikle, 1980) which showed that the information decayed as the time delay increased. On the contrary, our outcome did not support the findings from the studies conducted by Darwin et al. (1972) which indicated no significant difference between the interstimulus intervals and study by Kuhbandner et al. (2011) which indicated persistence of iconic memory despite 1000s of delay. A possible reasoning for this finding is the iconic memory decayed over time due to the use of neutral stimulus items where 12 random letters were briefly displayed. These random letters were non-relatable to one another to make sense of the information. According to the Atkinson and Shiffrin’s (1969) modal model of memory, the sensory memory acted as the pathway to the short-term memory and the information decayed rapidly if remained unrehearsed before further processing of the information. Thus, as the stimulus displayed provided no significance for participants to further process in short-term store and stimulates the information decay. This justification can be supported by the finding by Kuhbandner et al., (2011) as the usage of the emotion-inducing stimulus, particularly threatening stimulus caused longer visual persistence due to the human survival instinct. Hence, the type of visual stimulus used explains why iconic memory is short-lived. Besides that, another possible rationalization on decreasing percentage of recalled items over time was due to blinking. The blinking action momentarily disrupts our vision as we are receiving the visual stimuli. Thomas and Irwin (2006) claimed that blinking restrained cognitive processing from their findings in conducting partial report experiment. Their findings showed that more errors were found under blinking condition. As blinking hinders cognitive processing, it is aligned to the Bundesen’s theory of visual attention where limited processing resources is available hence it requires more time to process more information (Petersen and Andersen, 2012). Blinking puts further setback in the information processing thus leading to the decay of unattended information. Strengths and Limitations As we conducted this experiment in one session where all participants were tested in one sitting, all participants experienced similar external conditions including lighting and temperature that may affect the attention. The similar extraneous conditions contributed to the strength of this study. Besides that, a relatively large number of samples for experimental design research also helped to strengthen this study. For limitations, the convenience sampling method of only conducting the research on a class of psychology students is not representative of the population in Sunway University. Thus, it is difficult to generalize our findings as psychology students are more familiar with the CogLab experiments and the theoretical assumption of partial report. Furthermore, this test was conducted early in the morning as soon as the class begins. The students were not in full-alert state during that hour as they rushed to get to class hence may affect their cognitive processing. Future studies and implications To improve the present study, one of the ways that future researcher can apply is to conduct the experiment on subject from different courses in this university. To remove any biasness in sampling, psychology students should be an excluded as they have basic knowledge on cognitive processing. Besides that, another way to improve this study is by using other types of visual stimulus such as combination of letters and numbers per row to see whether it has an effect on their iconic memory. The current finding suggests that there should be very short intervals in between visual aid presentation especially in videos and movies for visual persistence. Besides that, the finding implies that rehearsals from longer duration of visual display help in retaining the iconic memory. Conclusion In conclusion, this study focuses on iconic memory where we assumed that the percentage of recalled items decreases as there is increase in interstimulus interval. The statistical data analysis indicated that there is a significant decrease in percentage of recalled items as the interval period prolonged. The iconic memory theory (Sperling, 1960) and theory of visual attention (Petersen Andersen, 2012) explained on how the delay affects the iconic memory performance. Iconic memory performance decreases over time due to the decay of information. The finding from this study has implication on filming industries to edit their video materials to reduce the iconic memory effect as cut-scene changes.

The Containment Concept in Law Enforcement Essay -- Law Enforcement, p

One of the core roles of police officers is that of law enforcement. However, there are times that it is necessary for an officer to rely less on enforcement of the law and instead concentrate on keeping peace in situations that exist outside of the norm. One such situation exists in the policing methods used in â€Å"skid-row† type areas of society. These types of areas are an anomaly to the rest of standard communities where simply enforcing the law will not be successful. The goal in these areas is to plainly contain the chaos using a hybrid form of community policing. Areas such as skid-row are filled with people that are without the ability to function in normal society, and simply the fact that they exist is offensive to those that do operate within the normal realms of a community (Bittner, 1967). Due to the primitive nature of those individuals living in these chaotic areas, most officers feel it is necessary to enclose the area in which the behaviors occur to keep it from assimilating with â€Å"normal† society. The necessity to contain the areas similar to skid-row is the responsibility of the police, and with few governing superiors to mandate guidelines and the large amount of discretion allotted to police, they assume the peace keeping role and abandon the role of enforcer (Bittner, 1967). Maintaining peace is a difficult task in itself because of the uncontrolled way of life in skid-row. Therefore, it is by focusing on maintaining order and protecting the outside normalcy from skid-row inhabitants (Bittner, 1967) that officers use tactics where they choose non-enforcement, or make a decision to ignore a violation (Brown, 1981). According to Brown (1981), ignoring offenses brings with it a bartering situation between the ... ...ce related to the two policing styles is that community policing seeks to solve problems for long-term results unlike the disregard for the long-term associated with containment. While the concept of containment borrows some key points from the concept of community oriented policing, the two are still very different. Officers choose to be peace keepers in skid-row areas, and use containment to protect the quality of life of those in the community outside of the â€Å"jungle† that takes hold of skid-row (Bittner, 1967). When faced with the option of enforcer or peace keeper, officers feel keeping the peace is the more manageable approach when dealing with these areas. The dynamics of policing must be flexible in regards to situations at hand. While enforcer is often the role needed for many situations, peace keeper is a core role for dealing with skid-row areas.

Rainbow

The â€Å"Rainbow Underclass† The main purpose of the article, â€Å"Rainbow Underclass† written by Mortimer Zuckerman is that there are too many immigrants and illegal aliens in the United States. Zuckerman wrote the article to provide people awareness of both, the immigrants and the aliens in the US. In the article, Zuckerman attempts to determine ways for the U. S. government to measure and reduce the immigrants, especially by safeguarding and protecting the boarders.The other main point that has been raised by Zuckerman is for the government to reduce the issuance of visa to the immigrants, allowing them to enter the U. S. Immigrants do not learn and speak English as quickly as the immigrants before 1965. The government should only allow highly skilled immigrants to enter the U. S. and slow down the immigration process. While I have agreed with some of the points Zuckerman is making, I do not agree with all of the points that he is making, regarding the immigrants i n the U. S.Firstly, Zuckerman states that new immigrants do not learn English as quickly as immigrants before 1965, because they are not linguistic minority to dominate any large city the way the Spanish speakers now dominate Miami and Los Angeles. I believe it is not true to assume that immigrants before 1965 have learned English quickly. As an immigrant, I do learn English faster than the immigrants before 1965. In my situation and as an immigrant who has left my birth country and lives in the U. S. , studying for my education, I do study; read, and write English.I have studied, learning how to write, using the different types of tenses as well as the spoken English language better compared to immigrants before 1965. In addition, I have disagreed Zuckerman’s statement that the immigrants before 1965 mastered the English language better than the immigrants in existing times, because I believe that the immigrants before 1965 purposely learned and spoke English to work in fact ories and groceries stores. The other problem that I have noted, concerning Zuckerman’s article is the statement that only highly skilled immigrants should be provided entry in the U.S. He argues that US should only allow highly skilled immigrants that can be beneficial to the US economy. I believe it is unfair to only allow immigrants with high level skills in the U. S. In my opinion, some of the American citizens do not have high level skills. The majority of the immigrants that come to U. S. came here to learn and improves their lifestyles better from the lifestyles that they used to live in their native countries. Further, I have carefully reviewed Zuckerman’s argument that only high skilled immigrants should be allowed to come to the US.Has Zuckerman considered the unskilled immigrant’s desire to learn and the country government’s struggles to sponsors them in the U. S.? Has Zuckerman also considered the impact that the economy of the immigrants†™ country has on them, denying them the opportunities for education to develop high level skills? Besides the goals that some immigrants have for coming to the U. S, for example, to acquire education; return to their country, and develop the country. Some immigrants come in the U. S. with the goals to study and stay permanently.

Nanotechnology: newest technological wonder

Current researches are optimistic on the potentials of nanotechnology as the latest technological wonders with both environmental soundness and promise for health applications. Its advent has created promising application in various areas of human endeavors. It has made impression in the areas of novel foods, medical devices, chemical coatings, personal health testing kits, sensors for security systems, water purification units for manned space craft, displays for hand-held computer games, and high-resolution cinema screens (European Commission 2008). Recent discoveries point to the application of these minute biological machines in health and genetics. Seferos, D. S., Giljohann, D.A., Hill, H. D., Prigodich, A. E. and. Mirkin, C. A. (2007) use nano-flares in their research to study the structures of RNA in living cells. The nano-flares, made of oligonucleotide-functionalized nanoparticle conjugates, are designed to provide an intracellular fluorescence signal that correlates with the relative amount of a specific intracellular RNA (Seferos et al. 2007). Nano-flares would become the newest class of intracellular probe and can make possible applications as cellular transfection, enzymatic protection, RNA detection and quantification, cell sorting, gene profiling, and real-time drug validation studies, and as gene regulation agents. This particular technology application is an illustration of how versatile the nanotechnology is. The relative advantage is that it penetrates into areas where conventional technologies cannot. While we agree that you only have to spend millions marketing something if its worth is in doubt, we see the promise of nanotechnology as revolutionizing. Investment in these area maybe huge initially but as the advantage of its effects is felt, more industries would be expected to adopt the technology and more people would benefit from it. References European Commission. (2008). Nanotechnology application areas. Retrieved February 15, 2008 Industrial Technology Research Institute. (2008, January 18). Application of nanotechnology in traditional industry. Retrieved February 15, 2008 Meadows, D. (1999, August 26). Seven-Plus Wonders of Sustainability. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://www.pcdf.org/meadows/7wonders.html Seferos, D. S., Giljohann, D.A., Hill, H. D., Prigodich, A. E. and. Mirkin, C. A. (2007). Nano-Flares: Probes for Transfection and mRNA Detection in Living Cells. Journal of American Chemical Society, 129.50, 15477-15479. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/jacsat/2007/129/i50/pdf/ja0776529.pdf   

Battle of Five Forks - Civil War

Battle of Five Forks - Civil War Battle of Five Forks - Conflict: The Battle of Five Forks occurred during the American Civil War  (1861-1865). Battle of Five Forks - Dates: Sheridan routed Picketts men on April 1, 1865. Armies Commanders: Union Major General Philip H. SheridanMajor General Gouverneur K. Warren17,000 men Confederates Major General George E. Pickett9,200 men Battle of Five Forks - Background: In late March 1865, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant ordered Major General Philip H. Sheridan to push south and west of Petersburg with the goal of turning Confederate General Robert E. Lees right flank and forcing him from the city. Advancing with the Army of the Potomacs Cavalry Corps and Major General Gouverneur K. Warrens V Corps, Sheridan sought to capture the vital crossroads of Five Forks which would allow him to threaten the Southside Railroad. A key supply line into Petersburg, Lee moved swiftly to defend the railroad. Dispatching Major General George E. Pickett to the area with a division of infantry and Major Gen. W.H.F. Rooney Lees cavalry, he issued orders for them to block the Union advance. On March 31, Pickett succeeded in stalling Sheridans cavalry at the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House. With Union reinforcements en route, Pickett was forced to fall back to Five Forks before dawn on April 1. Arriving, he received a note from Lee stating Hold Five Forks at all hazards. Protect road to Fords Depot and prevent Union forces from striking the Southside Railroad. Battle of Five Forks - Sheridan Advances: Entrenching, Picketts forces awaited the anticipated Union assault. Eager to move quickly with the goal of cutting off and destroying Picketts force, Sheridan advanced intending to hold Pickett in place with his cavalry while V Corps struck the Confederate left. Moving slowly due to muddy roads and faulty maps, Warrens men were not in position to attack until 4:00 PM. Though the delay angered Sheridan, it benefited the Union in that the lull led to Pickett and Rooney Lee leaving the field to attend a shad bake near Hatchers Run. Neither informed their subordinates that they were leaving the area. As the Union attack moved forward, it quickly became clear that V Corps had deployed too far to the east. Advancing through the underbrush on a two division front, the left division, under Major General Romeyn Ayres, came under enfilading fire from the Confederates while the Major General Samuel Crawfords division on the right missed the enemy entirely. Halting the attack, Warren desperately worked to realign his men to attack west. As he did so, an irate Sheridan arrived and joined with Ayres men. Charging forward, they smashed into the Confederate left, breaking the line. Battle of Five Forks - Confederates Enveloped: As the Confederates fell back in an attempt to form a new defensive line, Warrens reserve division, led by Major General Charles Griffin, came into line next to Ayres men. To the north, Crawford, at Warrens direction, wheeled his division into line, enveloping the Confederate position. As V Corps drove the leaderless Confederates before them, Sheridans cavalry swept around Picketts right flank. With Union troops pinching in from both sides, the Confederate resistance broke and those able to escape fled north. Due to atmospheric conditions, Pickett was unaware of the battle until it was too late. Battle of Five Forks - Aftermath: The victory at Five Forks cost Sheridan 803 killed and wounded, while Picketts command incurred 604 killed and wounded, as well as 2,400 captured. Immediately following the battle, Sheridan relieved Warren of command and placed Griffin in charge of V Corps. Angered by Warrens slow movements, Sheridan ordered him to report to Grant. Sheridans actions effectively wrecked Warrens career, though he was exonerated by a board of inquiry in 1879. The Union victory at Five Forks and their presence near the Southside Railroad forced Lee to consider abandoning Petersburg and Richmond. Seeking to take advantage of Sheridans triumph, Grant ordered a massive assault against Petersburg the next day. With his lines broken, Lee began retreating west towards his eventual surrender at Appomattox on April 9. For its role in keying the final movements of the war in the East, Five Forks is often referred to as the Waterloo of the Confederacy.

A Beautiful Mind essays

A Beautiful Mind essays A Beautiful Mind was directed by Ron Howard and was produced in the year ____. The movie received four Academy Awards and Best Picture. The movie is based on the true story of John Forbes Nash Jr. which is played by Russell Crowe who was a great mathematician who had schizophrenia. This movie depicts how a man with a serious illness overcomes several boundaries and tries to live a normal lifestyle. The movie begins when Nash enter Princeton and successfully explains a difficult mathematical problem, proving the fact he is in fact a genius. Later he goes on to become a mathematics professor at the equally prestigious university MIT and works for the government, helping to solve an encoded Cold War messages from Russia. While teaching one of his classes Nash meets the love his life ___ and marries her. Nash began to go crazy he thought people were following him when they were not. Finally some of his friends requested a doctor to go get him. Beginning at this part of the movie people thought everything that he saw was true. Then he suddenly was taken away from what he thinks is a normal life and is placed into a mental hospital. Later on in the movie he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He struggles with the fact that many of his previous realities were merely illusions due to his disorder. He eventually learns to live with his disorder and cope with his visual hallucinations. His wife___ portrays what its like to live with a person that is mentally ill. At the end of the movie Mr. Nash receives the Noble Peace Prize for economic theories. He also goes back to teaching college students. Mr. Nash proves that if u set your mine to it you can accomplish anything. For instance, after teaching one of his classes another professor stops him at his door to talk. But Mr. Nash does not k now if he is an illusion or real so he stops one of his students and ask if he real or not. This movie was really good it showed h...

Dealing With the Check 21 Banking Law

Dealing With the 'Check 21' Banking Law A sweeping new federal banking law known as â€Å"Check 21† will go into effect beginning October 28, speeding up check processing and putting consumers at risk for more bounced checks and fees, warns Consumers Union. The consumer group is advising consumers to keep a careful eye on their bank statements in the coming months and issued a set of tips to avoid some of the law’s potentially negative impacts. â€Å"Check 21 will be a boon for the banks who will save billions of dollars once it’s fully implemented,† said Gail Hillebrand, Senior Attorney with Consumers Union’s West Coast Office in a CU press release. â€Å"Consumers could end up losing out if they’re not careful and if banks use the new law as an excuse to bounce more checks and collect more fees.† Starting October 28, 2004, consumers will discover that their bank account statements will come with fewer – or perhaps none – of their canceled paper checks, as banks begin to process checks electronically. Consumers will enjoy less â€Å"float,† meaning that the checks they write will clear much faster. Under the new law, checks could clear as early as the same day, but banks won’t be under any obligation to make funds from checks that consumers deposit into their accounts available any sooner. That could mean more bounced checks and more overdraft fees paid by consumers. Banks maintain that the law will be implemented gradually, but consumers will begin to experience its effects in the coming months as more and more banks and merchants take advantage of electronic processing and other provisions of the law. So even if a consumer’s bank doesn’t implement Check 21 right away, another bank or merchant that processes the consumer’s check might choose to do so. That means the original check may never be returned to the consumer’s bank so the consumer won’t receive the canceled paper check in their bank statement. And any check the consumer writes might clear as early as the same day. Consumers Union is advising consumers to review their bank statements carefully to get a better sense of how Check 21 is affecting them and offers the following tips to avoid its potential pitfalls: Expect the checks you write to clear faster, but not your deposited checks: Dont write a check unless the funds are already in your account.The checks you write will clear faster, but banks arent required to speed up the time when they make funds available from checks that you deposit.Most banks will credit checks you deposit into your account in one day if the check is local. Deposits that are made through ATMs can take an extra day to be credited to your account.And out-of-town checks you deposit can take additional days to be credited to your account.The best way to ensure that your paycheck will be deposited quickly is to arrange for direct deposit through your workplace. Social Security check recipients can also arrange for direct deposit. (Note: starting in 2013, Social Security stopped issuing paper benefit checks.)Ask for a â€Å"recredit† right in writing if your bank makes a check processing error: If a check you write is paid twice, or paid for the wrong amount, or something else goes wrong with your checking account, you may have the right to â€Å"recredit† under Check 21. This â€Å"recredit† right means that you are entitled to have the funds returned to your account within 10 business days unless the bank proves that there was no error. If something goes wrong with your checking account, make a written request that your bank recredit the funds to your account. Your bank can avoid the 10-day recredit deadline if you did not receive a substitute check.Ask for a substitute check if there is a problem with your account involving a check: Check 21 restricts recredit to consumers who were provided with a substitute check. If there is a problem with your account involving a check, always ask for a substitute check, which is a special kind of copy of your paper check. If you now get your original checks back, you could ask for an account that returns substitute checks every month. If your bank charges too much for an account that returns substitute checks every month, look for another bank.Find out how your bank plans to treat you under Check 21: Not all banks plan to implement Check 21 in the same manner. Find out if your bank will give you a substitute check if you ask for one and if it plans to charge customers an extra fee for a substitute check. And find out if your bank places a hold on your deposits so you can take steps to avoid bouncing checks and paying overdraft fees once the checks you write start to clear more quickly under Check 21. A fact sheet on the Check 21 law is available at:  federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/regcc-faq-check21.htm

Albee's play, The American Dream Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Albee's play, The American Dream - Essay Example Simply how life used to be prior to the existence of contemporary society. The sole purpose as to why both dad and mum stayed with Grandma is because she represented the old set of values that have since been eroded by the contemporary values. This character was symbolically used by the author to depict the power of the past to predict the happenings of the future. This is demonstrated by Grandma being able to tell the truth concerning the real intent of the visit by Mrs. Baker. Additionally, this power is demonstrated by her knowledge of the Young Man being an identical twin of the first son of the family. In the social sphere, this character would otherwise be considered obscene. Her role as the oldest person in the play is somewhat unique with regards to theatre plays. It is imperative to reiterate the fact that all the characters of the play are symbolic in a way of the American society. As such, when Grandma becomes an exterior commentator away from the main scene, it symbolizes a shift from the old values that have eminently existed in the American society. The interaction between Grandma and the Young Man represent a collision between the old and the new. As such, in the conversation between Grandma and the Young Man, the Young Man asserts that he has no talents. The metamorphosis of the old to the new seems not to have been complete. Grandma represents a holistic being while the Young Man is a representation of the corrupt and incomplete being of the contemporary society. When Grandma refers to the Young Man as the American dream she asserts that he is the evolution of old into new. She states that he is the embodiment of what the American dream entails and what it would mean for society. The character of Grandma is a rather wise and cunning element in the play. She demonstrates her nature of being wise by knowing what is right for daddy and mommy. She understands that the presence of the Young Man in the family will be good to the family in the end. He r cunning nature is demonstrated by her decision to pretend that she had been taken by the van man. Moreover, when she returns to the scene, she gestures to Mrs. Baker to ignore her presence. The name of this character in context of the contemporary society signifies an aging or phasing out of the old rules. Simply put, a fading and non-relevance of the old values in the modern world. The Young Man When Grandma left the house, she left the Young Man to represent her. Simply put, he was a replacement of the old values of society by the new values. However, unlike Grandma whose personal possessions are represented by boxes, the Young Man is empty inside. The Young Man is the principle focus of the American Dream, he represents the future prospects of society as a whole. As such, when he says that he has no inner emotion, it translates to mean that the American Dream does not have substance to propel its realization. The American Dream, in the wider sense, has no feelings. When the You ng Man knocked on the door and subsequently entered the life of daddy and mommy, his sole motivation was money. This sheds light into the driving force of contemporary society. Their material minded nature is symbolized by this behavior of the Young Man. He is depicted as physically perfect. However, he is devoid of any inner substance. The Young Man is for sale. He states that he would do anything for money. His service and contribution to the family and the society as a whole are for sale. He represents the vanity associated with the contemporary

Unemployment in Mexico and USA and Comparison between them Essay

Unemployment in Mexico and USA and Comparison between them - Essay Example This topic is of high interest as it will help in analyzing the overall economic conditions of two important economies; the United States and Mexico. A comparison between the Unemployment levels of these two countries will also be presented. Unemployment represents the number of people that are not working or jobless (Wessels, 2000). During the recession, the Unemployment level of country increases as more people lose their jobs (Mankiw, 2009). The global recession of 2007-2008 resulted in a large number of people to lose their jobs in different parts of the world. Unemployment level was showing a decreasing trend internationally, as presented in the graphs below until the economic recession that hit the world global market. From 2007, the unemployment level of the world increased drastically; however, it has decreased in the last two years or so.The unemployment level in the United States and Mexico also increased drastically after the recession. However unemployment level increased more in the USA than in Mexico.Data will be collected from different renowned websites such as World Bank and other authentic published reports. The research will be quantitative and qualitative. Literature review section will cover the qualitative data and analysis section will cover the quantitative data. The relationship between the unemployment levels of these two countries will be analyzed, and a comparison will be presented. Statistical tools will be applied to analyze the unemployment level.

Alone as We Grieve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alone as We Grieve - Essay Example In any case, one thing is sure; body, mind, and spirit are the essential constituents of a living person. We know that our body gets destroyed after the death. However, we do not know what happens to the soul after death. There are plenty of people who believe that soul cannot be died even after the death of a person, as it is a form of energy, which drives our body. They substantiate their arguments with the help of scientific principles. Science accepts the existence of an energy, which drives our body. But, scientific principles say that energy can neither be created, nor be destroyed. If that is true science should explain what happens to the soul (energy) after death. In short, nobody can deny the existence of life after death. Didion’s experiences and feelings after the death of her husband can be analyzed under the above context. Didion wants to be alone—especially on the night of her husband’s death—but at other times she seems surrounded by people . In the following essay, I will examine the relationship between grief as we imagine it, and grief as it really is, in Joan Didion’s After Life†. â€Å"I remember a sense of shock. I wanted to say not yet but my mouth had gone dry. I could deal with â€Å"autopsy† but the notion of â€Å"obituary† had not occurred to me† (p11). These words clearly suggest the deep attachment Didion had with her husband. It should be noted that the autopsy is normally conducted on dead bodies, which are unknown to the doctor. At the same time, the word obituary we normally use when some of beloved ones passes away. In both the cases, one may feel grief, but the grief felt in the second case is deeper than the grief felt in the first case. â€Å"Grief is different. Grief has no distance. Grief comes in waves, paroxysms, sudden apprehensions that weaken the knees, blind the eyes, and obliterate the dailiness† (p10). It is difficult to define grief in simple ter ms. Pain, helplessness and physical humiliation are some of the characteristics of grief. While pain affects both body and mind, grief affects only the mind or soul. Grief comes as waves and sudden apprehensions whereas pain affects a person continuously. All humans in this world should have experienced some kind of pain during their lifetime. Therefore, anybody can define pain in their own ways. However, it is difficult for a person who never experiences actual grief to define grief exactly. In other words, what we think about grief is actually different from what we feel because of grief. For example, it is easy for a person to give soothing words to the person who experiences grief. He may even criticize the griever for not controlling his/her grief. This is because of the differences about the perceptions of grief and the feeling of grief. Grief, when it comes, is nothing we expect it to be. It is not what I felt when my parents died. what I felt in each instance was sadness, lo neliness, regret, for time gone by, for things unsaid, for my inability to share or even in any real way to acknowledge, at the end, the pain and helplessness and physical humiliation they each endured (p.10). Death of beloved ones always generates grief in the minds of a person. However, it is not necessary that the grief generated by the death of parents is same as the grief generated by the death of husband or children. Even though a person may have only one mother and father, that mother and father may have more than one child. So, grief generated

MGM Resorts International Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

MGM Resorts International - Case Study Example The purpose the case analysis is precisely to determine the best strategic alternative for MGM Resorts International, given the business and general environment in which it operates, and given an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, the threats to its business, and the opportunities that are present in the market. The paper also presents a plan for implementation of the chosen strategic alternative arising out of the strategic analysis. The firm in focus is properly a holding entity for a number of assets operating in the hospitality industry (Google Finance, 2013; Bloomberg, 2013; MGM Resorts International, 2013). As a holding firm in the hospitality industry, the key business for MGM Resorts International is in the business of owning and operating resorts that are casinos. As such, it is in the business of offering within those casino resorts such services as retail, dining, entertainment, gaming, convention, hotel, and a number of corollary services and activities. Its presen ce is confined to two markets, the US domestic market, where it owns and operates 15 casino resorts throughout the United States, and the China Market, where MGM Macau has ownership of the casino resort known as MGM Macau resort and casino. The company has sole ownership and total control of operations for its US casino resorts, whose casino operations in particular are open the whole year round without pause and for 24 hours everyday, except for its operations at the Grand Victoria, which pause for work two hours out of 24 hours on a daily basis (Google Finance, 2013). Apart from the wholly owned resorts, MGM Resorts International also has 50 percent stakes in three other facilities, chief of them being CityCenter, where the company has half of total ownership stakes in the ARIA Resort and Casino, among other assets. Its MGM China Holdings control 51 percent of the MGM Macau Resort and Casino, apart from new planned developments for a Cotai resort and casino. Its expertise in the h ospitality segment has allowed the holding firm, moreover, to get involved in a vast array of management agreements as well as development agreements for various projects worldwide, involving all kinds of projects outside of casino development as well as projects in casino and resorts development (MGM Resorts International, 2013). Its key bases of operations in the US, meanwhile, are Michigan, Nevada, and Mississippi, with additional stakes in properties in Illinois and Nevada outside of its core interests. In China its base of operations is essentially Macau These properties coupled with consulting and management services make up the totality of its core business offerings to the world (Bloomberg, 2013). A look at its 10-year stock performance shows that MGM Resorts International shares have traded in a relatively narrow band since sharply dropping from its peaks of close to 100 dollars a share in 2007. Current stock prices of about 12.86 dollars a share are within the narrow band that it has been in since that time (Google Finance, 2013) Image Source: Google Finance, 2013 Meanwhile, shorter-term investor sentiments towards the stock shows that many hedge funds and other investors are cautiously long on the stock, and recent developments that indicate some long-term investors such as Kirk Kerkorian are upping their shares in the company by buying more shares are boosting sentiment. The

Great britain world war 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Great britain world war 1 - Essay Example With that Great Britain also had the mightiest Air Force in the world that spoke volumes about its stronghold over other nations. Its Army comprised of 3.5 million personnel which included the most effective contingent of the successful Allied armies that were on the main front (Stokesbury 1981). A great amount of stimulus was received on the part of its industries where some of these were coming down ever since the World War 1 had started. Having said that, there were many industries which had especially been set up, including the dyestuffs, chemicals, non-ferrous metal refineries, optical glass and instruments, aero-engines and aircrafts. Full employment seemed to be a norm where labor shortage was being experienced throughout Great Britain. Lastly, more than 1 million square miles were in the process of being added to the country’s overseas dependencies and possessions. Essentially speaking, the delusion was the real reason why Great Britain found itself in a muddle before, during and after the World War 1. This war had become the Great British Excuse because the economic damage that took place during this while was irreparable. However some people are of the view that this was merely a myth whereas Great Britain went through an industrial revolution which was carried out at a very swift speed. The psychological damage that was done to the Great Britain was immense and it cannot be denied at all. In fact, British understood that they were dealt in a far worse manner than any other populace during the war years. This could have been a delusion as has been documented by several writers and philosophers. The governing class within the society was very painfully affected by this war and misapprehensions started to rise with the passage of time (Chalcraft 2007). These misapprehensions went far ahead than the governing class, which if seen correctly and within contexts was only a fraction of the society. The World War 1 had a very mentally exhausting affect on the British populace and the whole of Great Britain. Since the might of Great Britain was so huge, it only made more reason to fathom how it came down during the war years. The mental scars were difficult to get over with. It left quite a task at hand for the leaders that stood the test of time during the World War 1 to gather their people together and look to move ahead with a renewed vigor and a vision to set things right. The heavy British losses during the 1916-1918 were due to a number of reasons. These included the lack of equipment and a generally abysmal routine observed during training sessions. Also the British army was seen to have a missing element of the killer military instinct which was necessary to win the World War 1. The generalship was incompetent which spoke much of the already discussed trauma in this paper. Indeed there was more than a single reason why Great Britain had fallen out on the contexts of the World War 1 (Burt 2012). There were 2 million casualt ies during the 1916-1918 time period that spoke much of how Great Britain had been following the war years and how it had prepared itself in line with the other nations which are more or less trying their best to comply. Even though the United States, France, Imperial Russia and Imperial Germany had to go through the same ordeals, there was a characteristic trauma attached to the British legacy of the war years which continued to haunt it till

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 7

Case Study Example l has been classified by majority of sport investigators as a game sport, which depends on ‘adenosine triphosphate-phosphocreatine system’ and ‘lactic acid system.’ Nevertheless, it has been argued that a large volume of literature on fitness testing in field and individual sports such as running and cycling are performed more consistently, while the same for court sports such as basketball is contended to be fairly less. In the past, investigations pertaining to physiological and anthropometric profiles of elite basketball players have been evaluated. Notably, the performance pertaining to team sport is generally associated with various factors, specifically fitness of the team members, psychological attributes, team strategies and sport-specific expertise among others. In the present day context, several changes in the rules and development of strategies have been witnessed in the domain of basketball (Schelling & Torres-Ronda, 2013). Correspondingly, such changes have resulted in increasing physical demands of basketball players (Scanlan, Dascombe, Reaburn & Dalbo, 2012). In order to be a successful basketball player, a well-built physical fitness is extremely important for an athlete. Alongside, body size of players and elements including experience, stamina, body composition, stability between anaerobic fitness and aerobic fitness are determined to be vital for evaluating the performance of successful players. Coaches as well as sport scientists are identified to use battery of sport-specific physical tests for evaluating the aforesaid factors such as body size and composition, stamina and aerobic fitness. Testing is usually performed to determine the changes in athletes as well as to draw understanding regarding the efficacy of training programs. Sports science research has established certain values for determining the degree of changes within-athletes as well as between-athletes (Drinkwater, Hopkins, McKenna, Hunt & Pyne, 2005). Lately developed

Great britain world war 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Great britain world war 1 - Essay Example With that Great Britain also had the mightiest Air Force in the world that spoke volumes about its stronghold over other nations. Its Army comprised of 3.5 million personnel which included the most effective contingent of the successful Allied armies that were on the main front (Stokesbury 1981). A great amount of stimulus was received on the part of its industries where some of these were coming down ever since the World War 1 had started. Having said that, there were many industries which had especially been set up, including the dyestuffs, chemicals, non-ferrous metal refineries, optical glass and instruments, aero-engines and aircrafts. Full employment seemed to be a norm where labor shortage was being experienced throughout Great Britain. Lastly, more than 1 million square miles were in the process of being added to the country’s overseas dependencies and possessions. Essentially speaking, the delusion was the real reason why Great Britain found itself in a muddle before, during and after the World War 1. This war had become the Great British Excuse because the economic damage that took place during this while was irreparable. However some people are of the view that this was merely a myth whereas Great Britain went through an industrial revolution which was carried out at a very swift speed. The psychological damage that was done to the Great Britain was immense and it cannot be denied at all. In fact, British understood that they were dealt in a far worse manner than any other populace during the war years. This could have been a delusion as has been documented by several writers and philosophers. The governing class within the society was very painfully affected by this war and misapprehensions started to rise with the passage of time (Chalcraft 2007). These misapprehensions went far ahead than the governing class, which if seen correctly and within contexts was only a fraction of the society. The World War 1 had a very mentally exhausting affect on the British populace and the whole of Great Britain. Since the might of Great Britain was so huge, it only made more reason to fathom how it came down during the war years. The mental scars were difficult to get over with. It left quite a task at hand for the leaders that stood the test of time during the World War 1 to gather their people together and look to move ahead with a renewed vigor and a vision to set things right. The heavy British losses during the 1916-1918 were due to a number of reasons. These included the lack of equipment and a generally abysmal routine observed during training sessions. Also the British army was seen to have a missing element of the killer military instinct which was necessary to win the World War 1. The generalship was incompetent which spoke much of the already discussed trauma in this paper. Indeed there was more than a single reason why Great Britain had fallen out on the contexts of the World War 1 (Burt 2012). There were 2 million casualt ies during the 1916-1918 time period that spoke much of how Great Britain had been following the war years and how it had prepared itself in line with the other nations which are more or less trying their best to comply. Even though the United States, France, Imperial Russia and Imperial Germany had to go through the same ordeals, there was a characteristic trauma attached to the British legacy of the war years which continued to haunt it till

Black People Essay Example for Free

Black People Essay Tar Baby Toni Morrison’s novel might for some be a novel of cultural awakening. One also might at their first reading and perhaps also by reading the different studies made on Tar Baby, restricted to an interpretation that sees Jadine, Morrison’s protagonist, as woman who has, consciously or unconsciously, lost her â€Å"ancient properties† (305) and internalized the values of a white culture. Jadine has totally disconnected herself from her racial identity and cultural heritage. This reading is supported by the fact that Jadine has got her education in Europe with the financial assistance of Valerian Street (her aunt’s and uncle’s employer). Paraphrasing Marylyn sanders Mobley – the characterization of the protagonist, Jadine, draws attention to a fundamental problem as one that Morrison wants to affirm the self-reliance and freedom of a black woman who makes choices for her own life on her own terms. She also seeks to point out the dangers that can happen to the totally self-reliant if there is no historical connection. While the conflict in Tar Baby is undoubtedly â€Å"between assimilation and cultural nationalism represented by the sealskin coat Ryk has given her and the pie table† (Rayson, 94), the limiting categories which Jadine is continually forced into do not come from the white characters but primarily from the black community in which she finds herself because she (Jadine) has embraced white stereotypes along with white culture. While Valerian is portrayed as the traditional master-figure in the novel, it is actually Son, Sydney and Ondine, and the folk past represented by the different women in different places that try to conquer and dominate Jadine, who retain and represent their culture in the very colour of their skin. On the other hand, one could argue that it is as a result of Jadine’s university education in Europe and her career that further draws her away from her culture and identity and therefore (paraphrasing Mobley in Toni Morrison critical perspectives past and present) contributes significantly to the emotional and spiritual uncertainty that plague her as well as the many different roles that are imposed upon her by her aunt and uncle as well as the ‘society’ that caused her to seek upward social mobility. Sydney and Ondine, Jadine’s uncle and aunt in the novel can be seen as representative of one of the tar pits for Jadine. They do not accept all black people equal in the community in which they live because they employ racial hierarchies. Ondine sees herself as the only woman in the house (209), while Sydney notes more than twice that he is a Philadelphia Negro, â€Å"the proudest people in the race† (61). They seem to have a clear vision of what they want for Jadine their niece. As the story progresses, though, it becomes clearer that it is not actually a question of what they want for Jadine but what they want of her or expect her to do. In addition to them wanting Jadine to provide them safety and credit for their race, Ondine admits by the end of the novel, â€Å"maybe I just wanted her to feel sorry for us [ ] and that’s a lowdown wish if I ever had one† (282). Jadine understands that Sydney and Ondine â€Å"had gotten Valerian to pay her tuition while they sent her the rest† (49) and Ondine keeps reminding that she â€Å"would have stood on her feet all day all night to put Jadine through that school† (193). Ondine sees Jadine as her â€Å"crown† (282), and she and Sydney are continually â€Å"boasting† (49) about Jadine’s success to the point that Margaret calls Ondine â€Å"Mother Superior† (84). In return, they seem to want Jadine to offer them safety for the rest of their lives as Ondine claims that â€Å"Nothing can happen to us as long as she’s here† (102). They are not comfortable with the idea of Jadine marrying Ryk, who is â€Å"white but European which was not as bad as white and American† (48), but they are terrified of her running off with a â€Å"no-count Negro† (193) like Son. Although their views on racial hierarchies seem to alter from time to time, on the outside they seem to want what is best for Jadine. Jadine refute Ondine’s views of black womanhood when she tells her some of the things that are expected of her from society Jadine tells Ondine that: â€Å"I don’t want to learn how to be the kind of woman you’re talking about because I don’t want to be that kind of woman† (282). This, according to Rayson (1998), might be interpreted as Jadine’s â€Å"rejecting the roles of mother, daughter, and woman to stay the tar baby† (Rayson, 95), however it marks her becoming aware of what kind of woman she is by the end of the novel. Jadine‘s inclination toward upward social mobility leads to her separation from the Afro-American roots and the tar quality that Morrison advocates. This kind of flaw in Jadine effectively disqualifies her as a black woman capable of nurturing a family and by large the community. Jadine‘s perception of an ancestral relationship from which she is estranged occurs when she sees an African woman in a Parisian bakery. When she is celebrating her success as model evidenced in her appearance on the cover of Elle, Jadine becomes nervous or perhaps uncomfortable by the African woman in yellow attire. She triggers an identity crisis in Jadine at the moment when she should have felt more secure with her professional achievement assured by beauty and education. In his African woman, Jadine catches a glimpse of beauty, a womanliness, an innate elegance, a nurturer, an authenticity that she had never known before: ? That woman‘s woman – that mother/sister/she/; that unphotographable beauty? (p. 43). By calling the African woman ? that mother/sister/she,? J. Deswal (online source â€Å"Tar Baby- Shodhganga) claims that â€Å"Morrison presents a threefold definition of womanhood which can thrive within the confines of family and community only. The three eggs she balances effortlessly in her ? tar-black fingers? (p. 44) appear to Jadine as if the woman were boasting of her own easy acceptance of womanhood†. Wendy Harding and Jacky Martin in A World of Difference: An Inter-cultural Study of Toni Morrison explain the importance of the African woman‘s presence as such: â€Å"Whereas Jadine has just been rewarded for her conformity to Western ideals of feminity, the African woman suggests a more powerful version of black womanhood. Like some fertility goddess, she holds in her hand the secret of life. She is the mother of the world in whose black hands whiteness appears as something as easily crushed as cared for (71). When Jadine measures herself by the idea of black womanhood that she sees in the African woman the insecurities of her rootless condition surface in her mind. The women in yellow makes Jadine confront her female role and her sexuality†. Jadine sees ? something in her eyes so powerful? (p. 42) that she follows the woman out of the store. The writers also claim that â€Å"As a symbol of repudiation of Jadine‘s westernized lifestyle, the African woman ?looks right at Jadine? (p. 43) and spits on the pavement†. Jadine hates the woman for her spitting, but what she cannot do is escape feeling ? lonely in a way; lonely and inauthentic? as she tells the readers on page 45. When the sense of self is based on the denial of one‘s ethnic roots, one is certain to experience mental chaos and alienation. So, the woman‘s insult to Jadine had the powerful effect of challenging Jadine‘s choices: her white boyfriend, her girlfriends in New York, her parties, her picture on the cover of Elle and the way she lived her life. One can say that it is as a result of the African woman that Jadine desided to visit her aunt and uncle on the island. Jadine is confused and even questions her plans to marry Ryk, her white boyfriend: I wonder if the person he wants to marry is me or a black girl? And if it isn‘t me he wants, but any black girl who looks like me, talks and acts like me, what will happen when he finds out that I hate ear hoops, that I don‘t have to straighten my hair, that Mingus puts me to sleep, that sometimes I want to get out of my skin and be only the person inside – not American – not black – just me? (p. 45) It is through Son, however, that Morrison offers Jadine the ultimate opportunity to ‘redeem’ herself to her heritage, adapt it and revive her womanhood. Son picks up from where the African woman left off in a sense by making Jadine confront her inauthenticity. Jadine and Son enjoys their stay in New York because it is the place where Jadine feels at ease. She feels loved and safe: ? He ‘unorphaned’ her completely and gave her a brand-new childhood? (p. 231). In turn, Son is encouraged by her need and by his apparent ability to redefine Jadine culturally and emotionally. Son insists that he and Jadine goes to Eloe his hometown where Jadine will see how Son is rooted in family and cultural heritage. He attempts to rescue Jadine from her ignorance and disdain for her cultural heritage, trying in a sense to mould Jadine into the image of his black female ancestors. Son assumes that a relationship with Jadine will mean that they will have children together. He presses claims for family and community: ? He smiled at the vigour of his own heartbeat at the thought of her having his baby? (p. 220). Thus, he wants Jadine to love the nurturing aspects of home and fraternity. He is fed on dreams of his community women. The dreams of ? yellow houses with white doors? and ? fat black ladies in white dresses minding the pie table? (p. 119) are nourishment to Son. Sandra Pouchet Paquet (The ancestors as foundation in their eyes were watching god and tar baby) observes: ? In Son‘s dreams of Eloe, the African-American male ego is restored in a community of black man at the center of a black community. But however appreciative Son is of the beauty, the strength, and the toughness of black women; his vision is of male dominance; of the black women as handmaiden? (511). The image feminity that Son cherishes – of the black woman taking passive role as a nurturer of the hearth – is flagrantly opposite to Jadine‘s perception of the modern black woman. This terrifies Jadine and narrows the possibility of their forming a family. The modern, educated black woman seems to snivel at the aspects of traditional female- specific role as the nurturer of hearth and home. Decadent white values and life style thwart the black woman’s vital roles of building families and raising children. The modern black woman cannot be a complete human being, for she allows her education to keep her career separate from her nurturing role. The black woman is increasingly becoming able to define her own status and to be economically independent. She tries to seek equality in her relationship with men. Robert Staples gives an insight into the faltering dynamics of modern couples: ? What was once a viable institution because women were a subservient group has lost its value for some people in these days of women‘s liberation. The stability of marriage was contingent on the woman accepting her place in the home and not creating dissension by challenging the male‘s prerogatives? (125). The black woman‘s intrinsic quality of ? accepting her place in the home? is Morrison‘s tar quality. However, in advocating the tar quality Morrison does not admonish the educational and professional accomplishments of the black woman. In fact, the black woman is expected to achieve a balance between her roles in the domestic and professional fields. â€Å"It is the historical ability of black women to keep their families and careers together. In an era where both the black male and female seek to fulfill individual desires, relationships falter and, consequently, the prospects of the propagation of a family are not too bright. Jadine‘s tar quality is submerged by the white-like urge for freedom and self-actualization. As a result, she finds the conventions of black womanhood antithetical to her own value system†. At Eloe, Jadine is determined to resist rigid male-female role categorization. Jadine cannot ?understand (or accept) her being shunted off with Ellen and the children while the men grouped on the porch and after a greeting, ignored her? (p. 248). While at Eloe, Jadine is provided with yet another chance to attain certain qualities that is for black women. She is accustomed to living an upper-class white lifestyle so she finds the people of Eloe limited and backward. Their stifling little shacks are more foreign to her than the hotel-like splendor of Valerian‘s mansion. She stays in Aunt Rosa‘s house where she feels claustrophobically enclosed in a dark, windowless room. She feels ? she might as well have been in a cave, a grave, the dark womb of the earth, suffocating with the sound of plant life moving, but deprived of its sight? (p. 254). It is in this very room where Jadine and Son were having sex that she had a second awakening vision, which is more frightening than the one she had in Paris about the African Woman. Here, Older, black, fruitful and nurturing women – her own dead mother, her Aunt Ondine, Son‘s dead wife, the African woman in yellow and other black women of her past – become a threatening part of Jadine‘s dreams: I have breasts too,‘ she said or thought or willed, I have breasts too. ‘ But they didn‘t believe her. They just held their own higher and pushed their own farther out and looked at her,? (p. 261) and ? the night women were not merely against her not merely looking superior over their sagging breasts and folded stomachs, they seemed somehow in agreement with each other about her, and were all determined to punish her for having neglected her cultural heritage. They wanted to bind the person she had become and choke it with their breasts. The night women?accuse Jadine for trading the ? ancient properties? (p. 308) of being a daughter, mother, and a woman for her upward mobility and self-enhancement. All these women are punishing Jadine for her refusal to define herself in relation to family, historical tradition and culture. As they ‘brandish’ their breasts before her eyes, they mock and insult her with their feminity. Jadine finds these women backward and sees no self-fulfilling value in the roles that they serve. However, she is constantly haunted by dreams of the black female image that she seems to have lost throughout life. Ondine express shame and disappointment over her lack of concern for her family, the African woman, at the Parisian bakery, spits at her in disgust and the night women, in the vision at Eloe taunt her with their nurturing breasts. Having refuted her own black culture and heritage, Jadine face the consequence of a divided consciousness and a mental death. Her decision to end the love affair with Son— ? I can‘t let you hurt me again? (p. 274) is an evidence of her shunning womanhood and losing her Afro- American roots as she chooses Ryk her white boyfriend over Son who refused to become the person or image that Jadine wants him to be . Jadine is compelled to make her choice and she decides that it is in Paris, away from Son, where there are prospects of financial success and personal independence. She doesn‘t want what Son and Eloe have to offer: To settle for wifely competence when she could be a beauty queen or to settle for fertility rather than originality and nurturing instead of building? (p. 271). Jadine makes it clear to the reader that she is self-sufficient and independent of men, family and community.

Sterilization And Aseptic Technique Biology Essay

Sterilization And Aseptic Technique Biology Essay This experiment was done to learn proper way of using aseptic technique and sterilization by isolating pure culture of bacterial. Afterwards, the bacterial cells in a sample and their optical density were determined. First of all, various sterilization methods were introduced. Sterilization is important in a sense that it ensures there is absolutely no contamination in the glassware or apparatus used in the lab. Different sterilization methods are used for different materials. One of them is autoclaving. Autoclaving machine uses high-pressure steam to sterilize and therefore, heat resistant plastics, glass or solutions can be sterilized by autoclaving. As the temperature of the steam is above 100 oC, the organisms cannot survive. Second sterilization method is radiation. As heat sensitive plastics does not have resistance to heat, autoclaving cannot be used and these are often sterilized by using radiation such as UV, gamma-ray or X-ray. The last method is filter sterilization. Some solutions are heat labile, and to sterilize these kind of solutions, filter sterilization can be used. This technique uses the fact that microorganism is around 5micrometer by 1micrometer, and if the filter has a smal ler diameter, microorganisms cannot pass through the filter.(1) In part B, aseptic technique is learned. This technique prevents any kind of contamination while handling the glassware or transferring. To be more specific, it prevents any contaminant to be introduced in the area of interest. The first step of this technique involves wiping the lab bench with 70% ethanol, which would kill most microorganisms. Then, Bunsen burner is turned on, and the movement of the air goes upwards. Therefore, it minimizes the chance of microorganisms landing on the media of interest. In addition, briefly heating glass tube mouths and minimizing the time of opening lids minimizes contamination.(1) Using aseptic technique, streaking technique was used to isolate single colonies. To do this, a pure culture of the target microorganism is taken. Then, with an inocular loop, which is flamed with Bunsen burner until red hot, it cooled down. Afterwards, take a bit of pure culture with the loop and streak lines in the medium. The streaking lines should not cross each other to avoid too much diluting. After streaking, colonies are grown. To count the number of cells, viable cell count method is used. Viable count is only useable with singles colonies and not bacterial lawns. Therefore, in order for cell to have single colonies, appropriate dilution of the bacteria is necessary. The dilution helps for spreading of the cells on the agar. For this, serial dilution, which was introduced last project can be useful. Then, the number of viable cells can be obtained by counting the number of colonies that have developed multiplied by the respective dilution factor. (2) Material and Methods: All procedures are performed according to the BIOL 368 lab manual (Concordia Biology Department 2013) except for the following modifications: for the contamination part, we used shoe, finger, E. coli, and E. coli with 70% ethanol. Results: Colony isolation by streaking First of all, the color of the bacteria in all the plates are thick beige colored. In streak 1, extremely small and many colonies were observed. The size of the colonies were very small, they were circular, opaque and smooth. There are 123 colonies. Streak 2 shows chain of bacterial formation, but the number of the colonies is decreased from streak 1. The number of colonies were 60. They were larger than the colonies in streak 1, opaque, circular and smooth as well. In streak 3, single colonies are observed. None of them was huge, but they were larger than the colonies from streak 2. They were opaque, circular and smooth as well. About 9 colonies were observed. In the 4th streak, no single colony was observed. As a result, single colonies of a pure E. coli strain was successfully isolated. Viable count Table 1. Raw data of viable count of my group. Dilution 10-4 10-5 10-6 Number of colony Too many Too many 252 Viable count (cfu/ml) 2.52 x 109 Sample calculation: Viable count at 10-6 dilution: Since the plate, -6, has 252 colonies which is in the range of 100-300, I picked the plate to calculate cfu/ml. 252 x 10/10-6 =2.52 x 102 x 107 =2.52 x 109 cfu/ml Table 2. Raw data for viable count for all section Dilutions Colony count Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Group 9 Group 10 Section 1 10-4 lawn lawn lawn lawn lawn lawn lawn à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ lawn lawn 10-5 360 lawn 1848 lawn 1028 2168 696 à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ 3040 1646 10-6 78 287 441 270 234 347 363 à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬ 300 306 Section 2 10-4 920 >300 Lawn Lawn Lawn >300 >300 Lawn Lawn Lawn 10-5 249 >300 590 >300 Lawn >300 >300 406 >300 189 10-6 23 231 189 269 384 222 265 154 180 108 Section 3 10-4 too many >1000 too many too many too many too many too many too many too many too many 10-5 too many >1000 too many too many too many too many too many too many 544 too many 10-6 194 420 258 252 295 217 240 197 79 224 Table 3. Viable count for all section data (for 10-6 dilution) Section Group Number of colonies Cfu/ml 01 1 78 7.8.E+08 2 287 2.87.E+09 3 441 4.41 E+09 4 270 2.70 E+09 5 234 2.34.E+09 6 347 3.47E+09 7 363 3.63E+09 8 9 300 3.00E+09 10 306 3.06E+09 Max 441 4.41E+09 Min 78 7.8 E+08 Average 291.8 2.92 E+09 Standard Dev. 94.40 2.67E+08 02 1 23 2.3.E+08 2 231 2.31.E+09 3 189 1.89.E+09 4 269 2.69.E+09 5 384 3.84.E+09 6 222 2.22.E+09 7 265 2.65.E+09 8 154 1.54.E+09 9 180 1.80.E+09 10 108 1.08.E+09 Max 384 3.84.E+09 Min 23 2.3.E+08 Average 202.5 2.02.E+09 Standard dev. 93.09 9.31E+08 03 1 194 1.94.E+09 2 420 4.20.E+09 3 258 2.58.E+09 4 252 2.52.E+09 5 295 2.95.E+09 6 217 2.17.E+09 7 240 2.40.E+09 8 197 1.97.E+09 9 79 7.9.E+08 10 224 2.24.E+09 Max 420 4.20.E+09 Min 79 7.9.E+08 Average 237.6 2.38.E+09 Standard Dev. 81.55 8.16.E+08 Max 441 4.41.E+09 Min 23 2.3.E+08 Average 242.3 2.42.E+09 Standard Deviation 96.75 1.15E+09 Sample calculation for STD DEV. (section 1):= 94.40 Bacterial cell count by optical density Table 4. Cell density for My Group: OD600 of diluted cultures (Au) E. Coli Count of diluted Culture (cells/ml) Original Culture (cells/ml) Me 0.427 2.18108 2.18109 Partner 0.436 2.14108 2.14109 E. Coli Count of diluted Culture: 0.202 x (5x 108) = 1.01108 Original Culture: 1.01108 x 10 = 1.01109 Table 5. Raw OD600 values for all sections (unit: Au) Group Section 1 (1) Section 1 (2) Section 2 (1) Section 2(2) Section 3(1) Section 3 (2) 1 0.389 0.383 0.359 0.371 0.358 0.365 2 0.368 0.369 0.247 0.447 0.345 0.408 3 0.364 0.343 0.344 0.360 0.323 0.335 4 0.374 0.374 0.390 0.338 0.427 0.436 5 0.415 0.430 0.386 0.368 0.320 0.247 6 0.359 0.357 0.302 0.350 0.379 0.352 7 0.347 0.372 0.354 0.369 0.391 0.364 8 0.362 0.361 0.358 0.328 9 0.370 0.35 1.018 0.350 0.341 10 0.737 0.367 0.368 0.353 0.413 0.322 (>1.96 therefore outlier) Table 6. Diluted Cell Density for all sections (unit: cells/ml) Group Section 1 (1) Section 1 (2) Section 2 (1) Section 2(2) Section 3(1) Section 3 (2) 1 1.95E+08 1.92E+08 1.80E+08 1.51E+08 1.79E+08 1.90E+08 2 1.84E+08 1.85E+08 1.86E+08 1.75E+08 1.83E+08 1.76E+08 3 1.82E+08 1.72E+08 1.24E+08 1.77E+08 1.73E+08 1.96E+08 4 1.87E+08 1.87E+08 2.24E+08 1.85E+08 2.04E+08 1.82E+08 5 2.08E+08 2.15E+08 1.72E+08 1.81E+08 1.62E+08 1.79E+08 6 1.80E+08 1.79E+08 1.80E+08 1.81E+08 1.68E+08 1.64E+08 7 1.74E+08 1.86E+08 1.95E+08 1.75E+08 2.14E+08 1.75E+08 8 1.69E+08 5.09E+08 2.18E+08 1.71E+08 9 1.85E+08 1.93E+08 1.84E+08 1.60E+08 2.07E+08 10 1.87E+08 1.84E+08 1.84E+08 1.77E+08 1.24E+08 1.61E+08 Average 1.87E+08 1.95E+08 1.79E+08 Min 1.72E+08 1.24E+08 1.24E+08 Max 2.15E+08 5.09E+08 2.18E+08 Standard Deviation 1.05E+07 7.43E+07 2.13E+07 Sample calculation: Section 1 group1 student 1: Cell Density = 0.389 x (5x 10^8) = 1.95 x107 Section 1 Average: Average = ((1.95+1.84+1.82+1.87+2.08+1.80+1.74+1.85+1.87+1.92+1.85+1.72+1.87+2.15+1.79+1.86+1.84) x 108)/ 17 = 1.87 x108 Table 7. Diluted Cell Density for all sections, class analysis Class (cells/ml) Average 1.87E+08 Minimum 1.24E+08 Maximum 5.09E+08 Standard Deviation 4.66E+07 Part III. The ubiquity of microorganisms Table 8. The ubiquity of microorganisms Place Observation on TSA plate Observation on Malt Shoe Irregular orange, red, beige opaque Some are large, some are small Some are smooth some are cracked 10colonies None Dirty finger White and yellow all small colonies (4) opaque None E.coli Few circular, smooth, flat, beige colonies (lawn) None E.coli with 70% ethanol None None Discussion: The objective of the experiment is to learn aseptic technique, sterilization, and streaking. Part A involved isolating single colonies by streaking, part B involved viable cell count, part C involved bacterial cell count by optical density and lastly part D involved ubiquity of microorganisms. In part A, a pure E. Coli sample was used to form single colonies by streaking. Four streaks were done in different parts of the plate. As described in the results, 1st streak results in forming smallest and very crowded colonies (123 colonies). The space between the colonies were either very small or even adjacent to each other. The 2nd streak forms a larger and less crowded or less population of colonies (60 colonies). Colonies were found to be further apart from streak 1, but they were adjacent to other colonies, so single colonies were not observed. In the 3rd streak finally, isolated single colonies were observed. This is due to the dilution. As in the streak 1, we have least diluted E. Coli pure sample. Therefore, streak 1 has the biggest cell density, where more colonies would grow. In the streak 2, we streak through the streak 1 once, and so, it is diluted. Then, in the third streak as well, it is even more diluted. This is why we have lesser and lesser colonies in the 2nd an d 3rd colonies. Colonies all seem to have same opaque shape with beige color, but they differ in sizes. 1st streak ones have the smallest and 3rd streak ones have the largest. This is due to the fact that as the number of the colonies are bigger and crowded, there are less space to grow, so it tends to be smaller where as in 3rd streak, isolated colonies have more space where they can grow bigger. In part B, viable count was used to estimate the number of bacterial cells in the sample. Firstly, we prepared 4-fold, 5-fold and 6-fold diluted solutions of E. Coli and they were incubated at 37 degrees Celsius. As we can see in the table 2, 4-fold dilution and 5-folded dilution are too concentrated that bacterial lawn is observed where we cannot apply viable count: they have small viable count to work with and would result in high uncertainty (1). 6-folded dilution appears to be fine to apply viable count and therefore, we used 6-folded dilution to analyze. Looking at the all section data, most of them have the viable counts ranged between 30 and 300. In addition, the average viable count of our section is very close to the class average: 2.38 x 109 to 2.42 x 109 cfu/ml. Also, my group value is very close to the class average as well: 2.52 x 109 cfu/ml. This means that our result is pretty accurate compared to the class result. Speaking of the minimum and the maximum value, there i s a high chance that the errors come from these as these values are furthest from the average. Section 1 has the maximum value which is 4.41 x 109 cfu/ml and section 2 has the minimum value which is 2.3 x 108 cfu/ml. The minimum value seem to be okay but maximum value seem to lie over 300 colonies, and therefore, the biggest error comes from that value. However, none of these biggest error comes from our section, and therefore, we can say that our section value has the least error. Part C was done to take cell density by optical density. CAG12033 was taken and was diluted with LB broth. When analyzing, the group 9 student2s value was 1.018, which appeared to be as an outlier. Grubbs test was done, and it was eventually an outlier, so we excluded it from further analysis. Speaking of the cell density, as there are more and more of cell in the solution, the density increases. As well, the result shows that as absorbance increases, the cell density increases. Comparing the class average to our section average, it is fairly close: 1.79x 108 and 1.87 x 108cells/ml. However, we have the class minimum value which is 1.24 x 108 cells/ml so we have one of the largest errors. But this is not very far from the average value, which is 1.87 x 108 cells/ml it is not the biggest error. The class maximum value however is very far from the class average value: 5.09108 cells/ml. This value is in the section 2 data. Section 1 has the best result over the class with closest averag e value to the class average having no minimum nor maximum values; 1.87 x 108cells/ml which is the same as class average. Comparing my cell density value to the section value, I had 2.18x109cells/ml, whereas the class average was 1.87 x 108 cells/ml. I have a fairly close value and it can be considered that CAG12033 is diluted fairly correctly. Now comparing viable count method to the cell density measured by spectrophotometer, they can be considered the same. The class average value for the cell density was1.87 x 108 cells/ml and the class average result for the viable count method was 2.42 x 109 cfu/ml. They can be considered the same with the following reasons. First of all, for the optical density method, there is an assumption that there are 5 x 108 cells/ml when the absorbance is 1 Au. This is an assumption and is not an accurate value. Secondly, there are experimental errors such as when diluting, the dilution was not done perfectly, where the error would increase as serial dilution was done in viable count part. As a result, factor of 10 difference is quiet big, but within these assumptions and errors, they can be considered as similar. Part D was done to see what contamination looks like and how it is. TSA and malt medium were used to contaminate. Different samples were taken with a sterilized rod and were streaked different parts of the plates on both TSA and malt. They were then incubated at 37 degrees Celsius if it is from internal body or incubated at 30 degrees otherwise. TSA is usually considered the best under neutral to slightly basic conditions and required high N for bacteria to grow. On the other hand, malt is best under acidic condition and high in C and N. Malt is best for fungi. First of all, the shoe was rubbed, and streaked on both TSA and Malt plates. A week later, all different kinds of bacteria were grown. Various colored and various sizes were observed: orange, red and beige. Some were really huge and flat, some were small, opaque and smooth. 10 colonies were observed. On malt, nothing grew. Due to the fact that nothing grew on malt, the colonies have to be bacteria. Another possibilities is tha t malt plate was put in the 37 degrees Celsius which is inappropriate. In quarter of the plate, dirty finger was used to contaminate. 4 colonies of white and yellow were observed. They were all opaque. Nothing grew on malt. In another part of the plate, we put E. Coli sample. Circular, smooth, flat colonies were observed. There were a lot of colonies (bacterial lawn) grown. Again nothing grew on malt. Lastly, we put E. coli with 70% ethanol. Absolutely nothing grew on both malt and TSA. Overall, nothing grew on malt. It is maybe because there was no fungi, or the plates were incubated in the wrong temperature (37 degrees Celsius instead of 30 degrees Celsius). Also, we can say that 70% ethanol kills most of the bacteria or at least enough to prevent them to grow.

Social Context in the Poetry of John Donne Essay -- Biography Biograph

Social Context in the Poetry of John Donne Contemporary literary theory has thoroughly debunked the traditional view of the artist as a divinely inspired, completely original and creative individual. This view has been replaced with the more apt view of the author as a product of his or her environment and the existing discourses of the society in which he or she lives. In this new attitude toward the writer as a product of society, the author is considered, according to Dr. James E. Porter, as somewhat of a quiltmaker who takes various traces of the existing cultural intertext (the collected writing and debate of a society) and combines them in new ways to create new discourse (34). Differences in these new discourses of various authors are the result of existing debates concerning the dominant ideology of a particular society. While this theory of writing may be recent, it applies to the literature and the writers of all historical periods, including the Seventeenth century. By looking at two poems by John Donne, namely "Th e Canonization" and "The Flea," we can see how existing societal debates and beliefs create literature. At the time of the writing of "The Canonization" and "The Flea," around the turn of the seventeenth century, one of the biggest debates in English society concerned who was responsible for the choice of a mate and what the criteria should be the basis for marriage. Until the beginning of the seventeenth century, it had been traditional for the parents in the upper classes to be the sole source of marital decisions with their child having no say in the selection process and little if any say in the approval of a proposed match (Stone 70). These arranged marriages tended to be based solely on the accu... ...e historical and social context of a poem can one truly see all of the dynamics at work within a poem. These analytical methods may not simplify the process of reading and interpreting literature, but they provide a greater depth of understanding and appreciation that should be of interest to students of literature. Works Cited Donne, John. "The Canonization." The Literature of Renaissance England. Ed. John Hollander and Frank Kermode. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973. 526-27. Donne, John. "The Flea." The Literature of Renaissance England. Ed. John Hollander and Frank Kermode. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973. 534-35. Porter, James. "Intertextuality and the Discourse Community." Rhetoric Review Fall 1986: 34-47. Stone, Lawrence. The Family, Sex and Marriage In England 1500- 1800. Abr. Ed. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1979.

Drugs in the Prison System Essay -- Drug Trafficking Jail Prison Essay

Drugs in the Prison System This research paper will consist of an analysis of the use and abuse of illicit drugs within the prison systems on a global basis. With information gathered from various sources such as the internet and one on one interviews with an inmate in a male correctional facility and a former inmate of a female correctional facility I intend to show the rampant flow of drugs in and out of the prison system, the control of (or lack there of) by prison officials, the drug gangs and dealers in correctional facilities, the rate of addiction, and treatments available to inmates suffering from addiction. The introduction of drugs into the prison system has been an issue for corrections staff for many years. Prison officials suspect inmate visitors are the main source of how drugs coming into prisons. Although inmates and visitors are subjected to a meticulous search prior to contact with one another, the introduction of drugs is happening on a regular basis. Drugs can become a major source of income, not only for the inmate, but also for the individual or individuals who take the drugs into a correctional facility. Another avenue for inmates is using a correctional officer. Most of the drugs that are available within a prison arrive by courier through a corrections officer. Unlike an inmate visitor, a corrections officer is not subjected to a meticulous search of their person and property. Stephen Shaw of the Prison Reform Trust was quoted as saying, " Prison officers were said to turn a blind eye to its use and even to deal it in themselves, to make their job easier."1 Several states within the United States allow for inmates to have possession of personal clothing. An inmate receiving personal clothing from home may also receive drugs that have been hidden within the clothing by a family member or friend. In addition, drugs have been known to be sent via the mail to an inmate concealed in packages of all natures. In the past, the distribution of heroin to an inmate was easily concealed on a postage stamp or on the glue part of an envelope. The use of drugs are an issue many people around the world must deal with while incarcerated or in the "free world." Throughout the history of prison reformatories inmates have constructed a mailing system within the prison to communicate wi... ...liams (in person) First hand account of drug trafficking, use, abuse, effects, and treatment in a Washington State male correctional facility. Prison Information Handbook (http://www.pars.org.nz/prison_information_handbook.htm) General information about prisons in New Zealand. Schaffer Library of Drug Policy (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/GovPubs/cjstcha.htm) A Criminal Justice System Strategy for Treating Cocaine-Heroin Abusing Offenders in Custody. Substance Use In Prisoners The Norm Rather Than The Exception (http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/PrintPrint/1930E4546A3C26C7852564CA00574711) An article detailing drug use in UK prisons. The Eye of the Needle (http://news.scotsman.com/columnists.cfm?id=1207092004) An article about an inmate detailing drugs use and authority’s attitude in Scotland. The Prevention of Infectious Diseases in Prison (http://www.drugtext.org/library/articles/florenz.html) The effects of drugs and the spread of Aids and other diseases in prisons as a direct effect of drug abuse. Zero Tolerance for drugs in Prison (http://clinton3.nara.gov/WH/Work/010599.html) Presidents Clinton’s No tolerance drugs policy for the American Prison system.