Evolution Of Human Culture Developed Based On Our Environment

The earth is an ever evolving planet in the universe that has changed dramatically since the beginning of time. Physically people have seen, measured, and recorded changes in land mass and population growth in different parts of the world due to supply and demand of resources. Theories such as the â€Å"Pangea Theory† or the â€Å"Bering Strait† theory have given insight into how human culture developed based on our environment. Through the study of history, people can see the course of the human lineage as well. Human evolution started with the phylogeny Hominoidea, a superfamily that includes humans and all living apes. Out of Hominoidea, the earliest genus that exists today is the genus Homo which is comprised of Homo sapiens that includes modern humans, as well as several extinct species classified as ancestral to or closely related to modern humans. One the earliest known hominids, a species that comes from the genus homo, is Homo habilis. What makes Homo habilis special is that it was the first of the human species to have a notable increase in brain size and be found with stone tools. Through an observation of Homo habilis, we can see large similarities between humans within this common ancestors characteristics. Homo habilis was discovered by Louis and Mary Leaky and their other coworkers Johnathan Leaky, Philip Tobias, and British Scientist John Naiper, in 1960. They both believed that humanities roots in Africa had been taken for granted and that people weren’tShow MoreRelated The Relationship Between Culture and Technology Essay1418 Words   |  6 PagesRelationship Between Culture and Technology The relationship between technology and culture is cyclical. Logically, a culture will develop technologies based on the needs or desires of the people, because this is where the creative influences lie. As this technology spreads and is absorbed into the people’s lives, it affects their culture and way of life. This change in lifestyle can also occur when a technology developed outside a culture is introduced into the culture, providing an externalRead MoreAfrica The Home Of Humanity1253 Words   |  6 PagesHumanity Human origins, evolution, and diffusion are important for understanding the history of Africa. African historians take pride in the fact that Africa is most certainly the birthplace of humanity. There is evidence showing that humanity began in Africa by remains left behind by human groups and societies. They have retrieved fossils of living organisms, and even written records, like cave drawings. Dating back millions of years ago Africa provides the best time line of human developmentRead MoreThe Evolution Of Physical Anthropology Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesDefine evolution Evolution refers to change over time as species modifies and separate to produce several offspring species. 2) Define physical anthropology Physical anthropology is concerned with the evolution of humans, their origin, diversity, as well as adaptations to environmental stresses. Discuss some of the general ways physical anthropologists investigate evolution Physical anthropologists investigate evolution through various ways in order to give a well understanding of human evolutionRead MoreGene Therapy And Human Genetic Engineering1646 Words   |  7 Pagesas the color of our skin and the shape of our noses, and in biochemical factors such as our blood types and our susceptibility to certain diseases† (Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 2013, p. 34). To understand human physical development and evolution one has to understand biological anthropology as the focus on humans as biological organisms. Biological anthropologist conduct research, and form techniques of modern molecular biology to learn about human variation andRead MoreCharles Darwin s Theory Of Evolution1750 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Darwin is remembered for his theory of evolution. Much controversy surrounds Darwin s theory. Questions abound. Is evolution a four billion year old process, creating life forms primarily at random but each s haped by an ever-changing and complex environment, that has resulted in all of the wondrous life forms that surround us? Or are all of those beautiful elements of our nature, along with the vastness and majesty of the entire universe, a creation of an intellect of vast intelligence andRead MoreAnthropology : A Study Of Humanity1202 Words   |  5 Pagesthe study of humanity. This includes every aspect of the human condition: language, history, culture, biology, past and present. Anthropology is all encompassing and due to its breadth, it can be considered both a study in humanities and science. However, anthropology is easily distinguishable from both hard sciences and humanities. The aspects that distinguish anthropology lie mostly in the methodology that anthropologists use to study human beings. Methodology in the anthropological field not onlyRead More What Makes Us Human?1718 Words   |  7 PagesHumans are extremely complex and unique beings. We are animals however we often forget our origins and our place in the natural world and consider ourselves superior to nature. Humans are animals but what does it mean to be human? What are the defining characteristics that separate us from other animals? How are we different? 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This relationship is often viewed as quite simple: as a culture develops, needs arise and are met by new technologies. The culture is then transformed by the effects the technologies have on the people’s way of life. It seems logical that new technology would only be developed as a result of incentive or passion inspired by the needs of a culture. YetRead More Human Culture and its Effects on Technology Essay1008 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Culture and its Effects on Technology A fluid border exists between the influences of culture and technology on the environment. Culture is generally defined as the predominating modes of thinking and behaving that characterize the workings of a group, while technology is the collection of knowledge available to a society that aids it in crafting tools, practicing arts and skills, and extracting or accumulating materials. In some instances, a peoples culture drives its pursuit of more highly

Religion Is Detrimental On The Progress Of Humanity

Imagine laying on the beach, listening to the crash of the waves. When suddenly the surrounding noises change, and the sea begins to make a loud roaring noise overpowering everything else. Sitting up quickly in order to see what is happening, as the sea divides all the way to the ground, creating a pathway with two enormous blue walls of water. Dare to walk through and risk the chance of tons of water crashing down, or marvel the miracle at a distance? Many people believe that God split the Red Sea for Moses when he fled Egypt with the Israelites, and that they all walked along the seafloor to the other side. This story along with many others can make it difficult to not be skeptical towards religion. Actions can sometimes prove harmful†¦show more content†¦Putting pathos heavy arguments towards the end did help his argument feel a little more convincing, yet like he was trying too much. The title Religulous relates to the film’s theme through a mesh of the words religion and ridiculous, which is Bill’s theme and tone of the film. If the views of the film’s audience leen more skeptical towards religion, or if they can recall 9/11, then the film will more likely appear convincing. However, it may come across more offensive to more religious people. Most religions may have a violent past, people killing in the name of their God, but that does not occur much today. This is due in part to the fact that religion is no longer a form of government like it used to be. Just because a lot of religions come with a violent history, does not mean that they still perform the same way. Some religious people today, most often Muslims, have performed what people call â€Å"terrorist† attacks. However, just because a group of people within a particular group does something, does not mean that everyone else in that group participated in it, let alone agrees with what they did. That’s what people call guilt by association, and does not stand as enough evidence alone, especially in court. Even though a lot of religions have a violent past, not all of them do, and should not get grouped into the same dilema. Bill never talked to all religions, could that have been intentional? If he talked to a cherokee, a religion based on nature, wouldShow MoreRelatedLike Every Established Religion, The Crakers Believe Snowman1224 Words   |  5 PagesLike every established religion, the Crakers believe Snowman is the communicator between the Gods and them. In the Fish subchapter, after Snowman muses that imperfections are beautiful, he receives a fish from one of the Crakers. The reasoning behind this action is rather bizarre, as well as the justification behind it. The Craker explains that, â€Å"‘This is one fish chosen for you tonight’ says Empress Josephine, or else Madame Curie or Sojourner Truth, ‘this is the fish Oryx gives you’†(Atwood 101)Read MoreAnalysis Of Kurt Vonnegut s Cat s Cradle 1194 Words   |  5 PagesIn Cat’s Cradle, K urt Vonnegut investigates the negative impacts that can result from humanities pursuit of knowledge through literary structure, irony, and symbolism. Kurt Vonnegut, well known for his pessimistic attitude and writing concerning the flaws of human nature, focuses this energy into Cat’s Cradle. Using satire interweaved with poetry, Vonnegut is successful in challenging the merits of human progress. Vonnegut uses small poetic insertions throughout his piece to help communicate hisRead MoreControversy Over Religion s Impact On Society1266 Words   |  6 PagesDevin Arrants Ms. Sidle English III AP/DC per. 3 3 November 2015 Word Count: 1328 The Controversy of Religion in A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court Religion provides answers, evokes a sense of comfort in the unknown, and designs a moral code; however controversy now surrounds this subject regarding whether religion’s impact is more detrimental or beneficial to a society as a whole. Mark Twain’s narrator, Hank Morgan, travels back in time and attempts to accelerate the advancement of theseRead MoreBlade Runner and New Brave Worlds Perspectives on Humanity Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesBlade Runner and New Brave Worlds Perspectives on Humanity Ridley Scott’s film â€Å"Blade Runner: Director’s Cut† and Aldous Huxley’s novel â€Å"Brave New World† explore the concept of ‘In The Wild’ by focusing on the natural world and its rhythms falling victim to unbridled scientific development. They present a wedge that is divorcing manRead MoreKant And Jonathan Swift s Style Of Satire1466 Words   |  6 Pagesoutpouring of content on Facebook timelines to Snapchat feeds. With so much seeming to go wrong in the world today, sometimes it is hard to see progress towards an enlightened future. Society relies on outside platforms like social media to keep them up to date on the continuously evolving world around them—a reliance that is backpedaling the progress society has made so far. Immanuel Kant would say this reliance is a â€Å"self-incurred immaturity† or the deterrence of enlightenment (Kant). His definitionRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Ecosystem Services1615 Words   |  7 Pageshealth to be possible for the organisms living in the ecosystem. Fourth, cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits people obtain from an environment. These include the spiritual or historical symbolism or enrichment humans find in nature for religion a connection to their lives. More predominantly, however, cultural services include use of natural areas for scientific development/experiments, education, or recreational activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, or national forests such as RockyRead MoreThe Truth About Life On Earth Essay1012 Words   |  5 Pages Spenser Larson Ms. Aukes English II 17 September 2015 The Truth About Life on Earth â€Å"Our public schools arbitrarily define science as explaining the world by natural processes alone. In essence, a religion of naturalism is being imposed on millions of students. They need to be taught the real nature of science, including its limitations† (â€Å"Ken Ham Quotes†). Evolution is defined according to Webster s dictionary as â€Å"a theory that the differences between modern plants and animals are because ofRead MoreWhy Creationism Is Wrong Or If Intelligent Design?859 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the history of mankind nearly all populations of humanity have come to the conclusion that an intelligent being of some sort had a role in the creation of life. Why has nearly every civilization developed a belief that someone or something shaped our world and actively plays a part in our lives? Through science we have discovered the reasons for many of our worldly problems and no longer attribute terrible misfortunes such as disease or drought to the pu nishments of the gods as earlierRead MoreMan - the Destructive Force of Nature1506 Words   |  7 Pagesinstinctive destructive tendencies, one realises that the answer is not so easy to come by. People often say that material destruction is required for development and growth on an economic level. Personally, I believe that greed is the root of such detrimental activities carried out by humans. Greed is the vehicle of human destruction. We, in our eternal quest for more and more material comforts and luxuries, have become blind to the harsh realities of the world and what we are doing to it. We have grownRead MoreCompare And Contrast Steinbeck And Anand1178 Words   |  5 Pagesthem the champions of the underdogs. They are the great realists. Both equally understand the call of society. They give their firm voice to the unheard and unheeded have-nots. They hold a concrete conviction that a writer’s responsibility to the humanity, community, Society is Holy (Sokel, Herbert, Walter, Ernst.qtd 1959: 68). In fact, both of them are social watchdogs who are outrightly intolerant of all kinds of injustices against the have-nots. They make their readers aware of the subtle contradictions

The Working Poor and Healthcare Free Essays

Cydney Skeens F. B. C Ms. We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor and Healthcare or any similar topic only for you Order Now Gaines 9 October 2012 Writing Assignment: The Working Poor Poverty can be defined by the necessities and amenities that one does not have in their life. Due to the expectations created by our society, we have a tendency to judge others based on the clothes they wear or the cars they drive, and we automatically assume that those who cannot afford these luxuries are either uneducated, unskilled or a combination of both. We completely disregard the fact that not all people have control of their financial stability and that anything can damage their current state of wealth. Even the wealthiest of families can find themselves making their way to the bottom due to an unfortunate tragedy such as a death in the family or being laid off from a job, both of which are aspects that cannot be predicted or prevented, and the only thing families can do is accept it. The American Myth claims that someone from the humblest of beginnings can achieve success, but this statement could not be more false. Although a major cause of poverty is financial trouble, a key component that factors in is how the past affects the future. Those who come from troubled beginnings often lead a life of poor behavior and bad decision making skills. Some even work their lives away and still continue to struggle financially, mainly because they had no foundation to build upon due to the fact that they had to start from the absolute bottom. A popular topic of discussion commonly found in politics is the Health Care Reform of 2013-2018. This legislation requires that â€Å"all U. S citizens, with limited expectations, have health insurance coverage and establish the State Exchanges that will make available standardized plan offerings for individuals and certain employers†. The legislation also states that penalties will be assessed to those who are not covered (Banyan LLC). As for the individuals and families who cannot afford it, their financial hardships label them as an exception to those consequences (Banyan LLC). Specifically in the state of Arkansas, many consider President Barack Obama’s health care plan as â€Å"politically toxic†. On August 18th 2012, Governor Mike Beebe spoke at the Democratic Party of Arkansas and openly admitted that, although stating in the past that he would have voted against Obama’s health care reform, he now wants to follow through with the plan and help prevent a â€Å"republican takeover†(Press). Seeing that a quarter of the states working population is uninsured, Beebe believes this will benefit the people who work so hard but are still not able to afford the coverage. â€Å"I think it’s good for our people because it’s helping folks that don’t have insurance now that are working their tails off† (Press). If the expanded Medicaid policy passed, coverage would be offered to all citizens that make up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (Press). Debbie Willhite, a Democratic Consultant in Little Rock, stated â€Å"we are a very poor state, and nobody needs to be told that. We have an incredible population that is undeserved by health care† (Press). When referring back to the American Myth, those who work hard can make it to the top, we can see that it is directly correlated with Health Care here in the state of Arkansas. Considering that Arkansas is a â€Å"poor state†, Governor Mike Beebe clearly points out the fact that although his people are hard-working citizens, many are still unable to afford a comfortable life style. This includes living without the protection of reliable health insurance coverage. In conclusion, I believe that the overall concept of the Health Care Reform coincides and supports my outlook on poverty. Works Cited Banyan LLC. â€Å"Articles. † Article:Health Care Reform 2013 to 2018. N. p. , n. d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. http://www. banyan-llc. com/bc/bc. nsf/archivedarticles/Health-Care-Reform-2013-to-2018. Press, Associated. â€Å"In Arkansas, Governor Changes Course on Health Care to Help Uninsured, Struggling Democrats. † Washington Post. The Washington Post, 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. http://www. washingtonpost. com/national/in-arkansas-governor-changes-course-on-health-care-to-help-uninsured-struggling-democrats/2012/09/25/068bc94a-0742-11e2-9eea-33 3857f6a7bd_story_1. html. How to cite The Working Poor and Healthcare, Essay examples

Film Overview Little Miss Sunshine Essay Example For Students

Film Overview Little Miss Sunshine Essay The fact that people are always told that working hard or desiring something strongly enough will make them get it is not always true. In many occasions, people take all their time working for something they desire but at last fail to achieve. It is, therefore, not fair because it makes people to blindly put all their efforts and finally fail to succeed; this can cause agony. In the film Little miss sunshine, we get the story of a family who is going through many obstacles as they aim to achieve their desires. This film in a broad way captures the themes of unity, losing and winning (Film Education, 2007). These are brought out on the way the family amidst many individual desires goes on a trip to support the young girl in a beauty pageant. Unity is being manifested when olive learns that she had secured a chance to participate and showcase her talent in the beauty pageant contest. The family has no finance because Olive’s farther is struggling with his career. The family decides to help Olive by accompanying her to the contest in an old van that encountered myriads of mechanical challenges on their way. They, however, helped to ensure that Olive arrives at the venue but was four minutes late (Otto, 2007). When it was her turn to present, her family members except her mother tried to prevent her from participating because they felt that the other participants were much experienced than her and she was likely to get embarrassed. She, however, proceeds to the stage and when the viewers showed a sign of displeasure, they tried to pull her out of stage but the family members shows unity and joins her dance on the stage. Failing is also significantly observed throughout the film. First, Richard who has been trying to put a motivational program that touches on failure and success is so obsessed with this course while making no efforts to make it successful. He blindly base every fears of life expressed in any person as ways of losers. In the film, Richard says that Frank tried to commit suicide because he lost hope in himself; by doing that he asserts that Frank is a loser because winners never give up on themselves. He also tells frank that winning has nothing to do with luck as he had wished Olive (Mehmet, 2009). He thinks that life about desires to win and success automatically comes. Richard also compares his son’s goals to the programme steps he had written, and says that the family can learn something from Dwayne as soon as he finishes the nine steps of his programme. Since Richard is not keen on the real life challenges, losing the chance to sell his nine step programmes that explains success will be a big blow to him. The theme of winning is also evident in this film. Despite the challenges that every member if going through, each one has a turning point where they get a winning attitude. Frank who had attempted suicide after losing a lover comes to stay with his sister’s family. At the beginning of the three day journey to the beauty contest, Frank shows a losing attitude but when the van stalled and needed to be pushed, we see Frank’s attitude suddenly change (Otto, 2007). He comes out and happily gets involved in pushing the van and when the van finally moves, he looks excited and can see a reason to live again. Dwayne who wanted to be a pilot has decided to keep silent until his dream comes to pass. .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 , .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .postImageUrl , .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 , .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:hover , .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:visited , .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:active { border:0!important; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:active , .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53 .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7696449015ba2ad7ffa31e342dfe4d53:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Cinema Of Attraction - Past and Present EssayOn the day they were travelling to the contest, he suddenly realizes that he is colour-blind and was not going to be a pilot. He looks upset and even storms out of the van (Mehmet, 2009). When Olive hugged him, his attitude suddenly changes and finds himself closer to the family and happier than before. Olive who is seen as the main character in this film loses the beauty contest. Contrary to many people’s expectations to find Olive embarrassed for not meeting the level of the contest, she stands out relaxed. She looks aware of the unpredictable nature of life. When her family realized that she had lost, they joined her on stage and were all send out. This overcomes the loss by Olive because the family gets united and a strong bond among them is created. Every family member had taken a distinctive path and even as it appeared that they were losing their sole mission, they were able to realize that they were winning. Generally, the journey to the contest was marred with many obstacles. The mechanical problems, Olive’s failure to win the contest among other problems gave them the strength to push forward and were able to succeed as a family (Mehmet, 2009). The family came back home more united and happier than when they left. Richard is blind about the real life situation, he believes in his motivational course because of his simple perception of life’s success. He wants to succeed in his motivation career and he thinks that his desire is enough to make him succeed. She tells Olive that she will win the contest if she wants it because he believes that winning is only about wanting and having enough desire for it. At the end, his course fails to sell and Olive loses the pageant. Working hard does not always guarantee us a win in our endeavours. References Film Education (2007). Little Miss Sunshine. Retrieved from: Mehmet, F. (2009). Film Analysis Little Miss Sunshine; Exploring Themes on Winning, Losing, and Unity, Retrieved from: Otto, J. (2007). A Film Review: Little Miss Sunshine. Retrieved from:

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Free Essays on Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson was one of the most well known men of his time and has contributed so much to the writing world. He overcame tremendous odds and adversity and should always been instilled in the hearts of the world as a wonderful man who wanted to use his creative mind to produce astounding literature and to have fun. Johnson was born in Lichfield, England on September 18, 1709. Here he grew up with his father Michael, who was a bookseller to support the family. When Johnson was born he certainly wasn’t born healthy and was singled out at an early age, being kept away from most and having problems with almost every body part. He was blind in one eye and suffered from a hearing loss, which was attained when under the care of a tubercular nurse. Later in his toddler year, he had an open â€Å"issue† to drain excess fluid that built up in his arm. Not only was he scarred from physical problems, he also had to face the hardships of poverty. Once when attending oxford, later in his educational years, another student took notice of his deprivation of money and gave him new shoes. Most would take this offer and be happy, but Johnson was infuriated that someone observed that he was poor. This event alone with other childhood incidents showed his independence and refusal to depend on others. But, unfortunately, he had to leave Oxford for those exact financial problems and fell into a depression. To help him through this depression was his friend Edmund Hector that remained by his side. But following this depression, a bright point in Samuel Johnson’s life was his marriage to Elizabeth â€Å"Tetty† Porter who was 46 years old, when he was just 25. Johnson’s first attempt at a career was to be a schoolmaster but this failed because they students were not accepting and respectful of the twitching and odd appearance of Johnson. Next, in 1738, he went to London to seek wealth and attained employment as ... Free Essays on Samuel Johnson Free Essays on Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson was one of the most well known men of his time and has contributed so much to the writing world. He overcame tremendous odds and adversity and should always been instilled in the hearts of the world as a wonderful man who wanted to use his creative mind to produce astounding literature and to have fun. Johnson was born in Lichfield, England on September 18, 1709. Here he grew up with his father Michael, who was a bookseller to support the family. When Johnson was born he certainly wasn’t born healthy and was singled out at an early age, being kept away from most and having problems with almost every body part. He was blind in one eye and suffered from a hearing loss, which was attained when under the care of a tubercular nurse. Later in his toddler year, he had an open â€Å"issue† to drain excess fluid that built up in his arm. Not only was he scarred from physical problems, he also had to face the hardships of poverty. Once when attending oxford, later in his educational years, another student took notice of his deprivation of money and gave him new shoes. Most would take this offer and be happy, but Johnson was infuriated that someone observed that he was poor. This event alone with other childhood incidents showed his independence and refusal to depend on others. But, unfortunately, he had to leave Oxford for those exact financial problems and fell into a depression. To help him through this depression was his friend Edmund Hector that remained by his side. But following this depression, a bright point in Samuel Johnson’s life was his marriage to Elizabeth â€Å"Tetty† Porter who was 46 years old, when he was just 25. Johnson’s first attempt at a career was to be a schoolmaster but this failed because they students were not accepting and respectful of the twitching and odd appearance of Johnson. Next, in 1738, he went to London to seek wealth and attained employment as ...

Event Plan and Rationale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Event Plan and Rationale - Essay Example The value to measure this is if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. The main reason for this sudden increase in obesity when compare to previous times is that life today involves a lot less physical activity than it did before. In our strife to save time, we travel by cars or buses instead of walking, we use escalators and elevators instead of taking the stairs and we have dog walkers to walk our dogs. Also, our jobs involve sitting in the offices, in front of a computer screen for most of the time. With this lack of physical activity and the rampant consumption of take out/junk food, and the following accumulation of excess calories, obesity was evident. (nhs.uk) Keeping in mind the rapid increase in obesity, The National Obesity Forum, based in Nottingham, has designed this marathon, to educate and encourage the people of England about their unhealthy eating habits and the resulting problems that obesity causes, both physical and mental. Being a part of this marathon also involves a rigorous training that begins three months prior to the event. By encouraging people to run for their lives, the National Obesity Forum aims at trying to get the obesity count under check and promoting a healthier lifestyle for the people of England. The whole point of the three month training is not just to train them for this one marathon, but to encourage them and get them used to an exercise regimen and a diet in the hope that they will like being fit and continue to use the guidance they have been given, to get in shape. 2. To educate all about the problems caused by obesity such as heart problems, diabetes, not to mention the mental and social ramifications that obese people have to go through in society, therefore, encouraging people to run for their lives. The event is also being conducted to provide mileage to the work being done by the medical professionals at the National Obesity Forum and to bring to notice to the

How Important Film Direction is Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How Important Film Direction is - Essay Example Use of right themes in all areas develops the right shade of emotional psychology in the actors which reflects in their acting and wins them the appreciation of millions of audiences after the film is released. The director selects the costumes for the actors keeping in view several factors that include but are not limited to the demand of the role of the actor, the situation, the context, the background, the mood, and the light effects. The director selects colors for the sets and everything contained in them (Lumet, 1996, p. 9). There are certain colors that give the scene a gloomier feel while there are other colors that lend a vibrant and flamboyant touch to the theme. Nobody but the director decides what shade of a color is appropriate since the wrong shade of a right color for a scene makes the color the most inappropriate choice. The director positions the actors and various objects in their surroundings in such a way that they interact with one another and are meaningfully in cluded in the video. The importance of a director can be estimated from the fact that it is fundamentally the director who makes a film different from a book, and lends the film its own unique individuality. There have always been books for the stories, but the idea of converting a story into a film fundamentally emerges from the direction, as all it takes to make a video falls into the domain of a director’s responsibilities. One of the prime responsibilities of a director is to remove any ambiguities which may arise between the producer and the actors along the way. â€Å"It is the director’s job to mediate any concerns the actor has about the writing or the writer has about the acting† (Weston, 1996, p. 119). The director is like the sailor of the ship. It depends, to a large extent, upon the capability of the director whether the ship will make it to the destination or sink on its way to the destination.  Ã‚  

Woolf's biography, and the movie The Hours Essay

Woolf's biography, and the movie The Hours - Essay Example the latter, Woolf’s separate creation of the short story ‘The New Dress’ likewise presents Mabel, who through looking-glass suddenly sees the excruciating reality of her extreme sense of dissatisfaction or the seemingly spellbound misery in being severely insecure toward the society’s judgment of the way she dresses. ‘The Hours’ explores this theme of coping with a psychological challenge in an attempt to retain the sanity as Julian Moore portrays the pregnant Laura Brown who appears to feel cursed with her state of unhappiness upon married life after the World War II despite living the American dream. She finds huge relevance in reading the story of Mrs. Dalloway in her prevailing situation and consequently abandons her family -- a form of escape she deems as urgent necessity. At this point, while V. Woolf via Nicole Kidman’s portrayal is trapped in the 1920’s setting of her English home which depicts much of her manner of trying to stay alive for husband Leonard, L. Brown in the same way endeavors to survive with the established norm. When she no longer could bear it however, her decision to turn her back to such dreary existence is a means to leave an ensuing madness that has already initiated the tendency to disrupt in her as it does to Woolf who, at the end of the film, commits suicide by drowning herself at the River Ouse in 1941 to perhaps let the flowing waters dissolve all her personal intolerable maddening. Equivalently, Clarissa Vaughan through Meryl Streep in the movie can be readily likened to Mrs. Dalloway herself and friend poet-writer Richard would address Vaughan as such for the striking semblances between their lives. This is in reference to the party Mrs. Dalloway is to host come evening which parallels the social attitude of Vaughan with her serious preparations in considering to put up a gathering that aims to celebrate her gay friend’s reception of a career achievement award. If the reading film viewer happens to acquire a

Epidemiolgy of Chikungunya Fever in Srikakulam District

Epidemiolgy of Chikungunya Fever in Srikakulam District Abstract Background: Chikungunya virus is no stranger to the Indian sub-continent. Since its first isolation in Calcutta, in 1963, the last outbreak of chikungunya virus infection occurred in India in 1971. Subsequently, there has been no active or passive surveillance carried out in the country and seemed that the virus has disappeared till the large outbreaks of fever occurred in several parts of Southern India. We report a prospective analysis of cases of chikungunya fever referred from various primary health centers of rural, tribal and semiurban areas of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Aims of study: To analyse the burden of Chikungunya fever in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh Material and Methods: A prospective descriptive study was under taken between January-2013 to December-2014 by testing clinically suspected chikungunya fever patients attending tertiary care centre in the Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. The sera collected from suspected patients were analyzed for CHIK specific IgM antibody by IgM antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using NIVCHIK kit. The data was analyzed. Results:-During the study period the total number of samples screened with clinical suspicion of chikungunya fever was 127, out of which 23(18.11%) were positive for IgM antibodies. The number of seropositive cases referred from rural area was 3 in number and from tribal areas 20.The seasonal distribution of cases was variable. Conclusion: Chikungunya fever is self limiting disease. Efforts have to be made through community awareness and early institution of supportive therapy. Vector control measures should be in full swing. Key words: Chikungunya fever, IgM positivity, Srikakulam district EPIDEMIOLGY OF CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER IN SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT Introduction Chikungunya (that which bends up) is an infection caused by the chikungunya virus (arbo virus). It features the sudden onset of fever usually lasting two to seven days, and joint pains typically lasting weeks or months but sometimes years.[1] The mortality rate is a little less than 1 in 1000, with the elderly most likely to die.[2] The arbo virus is passed to humans by two species of mosquito of the genus Aedes: A.albopictus and A.aegypti. Animal reservoirs of the virus include monkeys, birds, cattle, and rodents. This is in contrast to dengue, for which only primates are hosts. [3] The best means of prevention is overall mosquito control and the avoidance of bites by mosquitoes in countries where the disease is common. [4] No specific treatment is known, but medications can be used to reduce symptoms. Rest and fluids may also be useful. Material and Methods: A prospective descriptive study was under taken between January-2013 to December-2014 by testing clinically suspected primary Chikungunya patients attending tertiary care centre in the Srikakulam District, Andhra.Pradesh.This centre receives samples from semiurban, rural and tribal areas from Srikakulam district. Blood samples were collected from patients with clinically suspected Chikungunya fever attending the Pediatric and Medicine clinics. The patents were diagnosed as having Chikungunya fever based on standard criteria; presentation with febrile illness of 2 to 7 days duration with skin rash and features like joint pains typically lasting weeks or months but sometimes years. Mixed infection with dengue and chikungunya fever and secondary infection were excluded from the study. The exact date of sampling was not available for most of the patents .Approximately 3 ml of blood was collected, serum was separated. The sera collected from suspected patients were analyzed for CHIK specific IgM antibody by IgM antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using NIVCHIK kit. The data was analyzed. Results During the study period (2013 and 2014), the total number of samples screened was 127 of which 23 (18.11%) were positive for IgM antibodies (Table 12). There was increase in the percentage positivity in the year 2014(28.78%) when compared to 2013(6.55%) with (P value of .005). Of the 23 reactive cases, 1(4.34%) was positive in a child of four years and 22 (95.65%) were adults. The IgM positivity was 12 (52.17%) in males and 11 (47.82%) in females. The distribution of seropositive cases in adults was uniform in the age group ranging from 29 years to 62 years. (Table 34). The observed chikungunya IgM seropositivity month wise is illustrated for the year 2013 and 2014.The percentage of IgM positivity recorded was found to be variable, high during the months of September in 2013 and May in 2014. (Table 12).The number of seropositive cases referred from tribal area was more 18(78.26%). Discussion The word chikungunya is thought to derive from a description in the Makonde language, meaning that which bends up, of the contorted posture of people affected with the severe joint pain and arthritic symptoms associated with this disease. The disease was first described by Marion Robinson and W.H.R. Lumsden in 1955, following an outbreak in 1952 on the Makonde Plateau, along the border between Mozambique and Tanganyika (the mainland part of modern day Tanzania).According to the initial 1955 report about the epidemiology of the disease, the term chikungunya is derived from the Makonde root verb kungunyala, meaning to dry up or become contorted. The first recorded outbreak of this disease may have been in 1779. This is in agreement with the molecular genetics evidence that suggests it evolved around the year 1700. [5] In India first outbreak of Chikungunya was documented in Kolkata during 1963 and after that 4 to 5 outbreaks had occurred. [6] The last outbreak was reported in 1971 and after that no such outbreak occurred. [7]It was assumed that virus had vanished from this region. Surprisingly since December 2005, more than 1,80,000 cases of Chikungunya was detected in India which clearly indicates re-emergence of Chikungunya in India.[8] Since then Chikungunya become a major public health problem in India. An estimate of prevalence of infection due to Chikungunya from several surveys conducted during an outbreak gives us an idea of burden of problem in a specific region which seems crucial for initiating any intervention strategy.[9] It is evident from prior survey that the main reason for this outbreak is lack of herd immunity, in-appropriate vector control strategy, emergence of rapid mutation of the virus.[7.9] Another issue with such outbreak is non-availability of proper laboratory diagnosis .[6,7] The reasons for outbreak for Chikungunya virus is unclear and yet to be explored Andhra Pradesh (AP) was the first state to report this disease in December 2005, and one of the worst affected (over 80,000 suspected cases). Several districts of Karnataka state such as Gulbarga, Tumkur, Bidar, Raichur, Bellary, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar and Bijapur districts have also recorded large number of chikungunya virus related fever cases. Over, 2000 cases of chikungunya fever have also been reported from Malegaon town in Nasik district, Maharashtra state, India between February-March 2006. During the same period, 4904 cases of fever associated with myalgia and headache have been reported from Orissa state as well. According to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, out of 362 samples collected from different places in AP such as Kadapa, Secunderabad, Chittoor, Anantapur, Nalgonda and Prakasam, Kurnool and Guntur districts, 139 were found positive for chikungunya.[10] Laboratory diagnosis of Chikungunya poses a great threat as most commonly practiced test like ELISA for detection of IgM antibodies is not standardized and interpretation of test results should be done with caution. Diagnosis is usually done based on triad of clinical symptoms like sudden onset of fever, skin rash and arthalgia. [11] As Chikungunya is self-limiting disease and treatment is mainly supportive. The best strategy for control of such outbreak is raising awareness of the community through mass education by public health officials. Vector control measures like spraying insecticides for example temephos, fenthion, malathion and DDT, clearing stored water and personal protective measures is also a key element in control of such outbreak.Research has shown that most important reservoir of vector of Chikungunya is in stored water in plastic or metal container and also available at construction sites. During this present survey community received education regarding safe water storage practices and personal hygiene which seems important issues in control of such outbreak. [12] In the present study 127 cases presented with clinical features of chikungunya fever out which IgM positive cases were 23(18.11%).The ratio of IgM positive dengue fever to chikungunya fever was 2.2:1 in 2013 and 1:3.3 in 2014.Maximum number of cases presented beyond 28 years of age with only one case in a four year old boy with male preponderance. Cases recorded were more from tribal area (78.26%). Conclusion: Seasonal transmission of chikungunya fever is highly variable and more cases are recorded from the tribal area in the present study. Intensive efforts have to be made through community awareness and vector control measures should be in full swing throughout the year. Education regarding safe water storage practices is very much essential. References Powers AM, Logue CH (September 2007). Changing patterns of chikungunya virus: re-emergence of azoonotic arbovirus. J. Gen. Virol. 88 (Pt 9): 2363–77 Mavalankar D, Shastri P, Bandyopadhyay T, Parmar J, Ramani KV (2008). Increased Mortality Rate Associated with Chikungunya Epidemic, Ahmedabad, India. Emerging Infectious Diseases 14 (3): 412–5. Lahariya C, Pradhan SK (December 2006). Emergence of chikungunya virus in Indian subcontinent after 32 years: A review (PDF). J Vector Borne Dis 43 (4): 151–60 Caglioti C, Lalle E, Castilletti C, Carletti F, Capobianchi MR, Bordi L (Jul 2013). Chikungunya virus infection: an overview.. The new microbiologica 36 (3): 211–27 Cherian SS, Walimbe AM, Jadhav SM, Gandhe SS, Hundekar SL, Mishra AC, Arankalle VA (January 2009). Evolutionary rates and timescale comparison of Chikungunya viruses inferred from the whole genome/E1 gene with special reference to the 2005-07 outbreak in the Indian subcontinent. Infect. Genet. Evol. 9 (1): 16–23. Inamadar AC, Palit A, Sampagavi VV, Raghunath S, Deshmukh NS. Cutaneous manifestations of chikungunya fever: observations made during a recent outbreak in south India. Int J Dermatol 2008;47:154-9. Ravi V. Re-emergence of chikungunya virus in India. Indian J Med Microbiol 2006; 24:83-4. Chhabra M, Mittal V, Bhattacharya D, Rana U, Lal S. Chikungunya fever: a re-emerging viral infection. Indian J Med Microbiol 2008;26:5-12 Kalantri SP, Joshi R, Riley LW. Chikungunya epidemic: an Indian perspective. Natl Med J India 2006;19:315-22 Chikungunya and Dengue in the south west Indian Ocean. Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR).2006. Mohan A, Kiran DH, Manohar IC, Kumar DP. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of Chikungunya fever: lessons learned from the re-emerging epidemic. Indian J Dermatol 2010;55:54-63. Tikar SN, Mendki MJ, Chandel K, Parashar BD, Prakash S. Susceptibility of immature stages of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti; vector of dengue and chikungunya to insecticides from India. Parasitol Res 2008;102:907-13. TABLES TABLE 1: DISTRIBUTION OF CASES MONTH WISE IN THE YEAR-2013 TABLE-2: DISTRIBUTION OF CASES MONTH WISE IN THE YEAR-2014 TABLE 3: SEX WISE DISTRIBUTION OF IgM POSITIVE CASES TABLE 4: AGE WISE DISTRIBUTION OF IgM POSITIVE CASES TABLE 5: DISTRIBUTION OF IgM POSITIVE CASES AS PER HABITAT

Cosquer Cave Essay -- Place Descriptive Essays

Cosquer Cave Lying 125 feet below sea level, an historic treasure hid unseen to humans for thousands of years. Prehistoric humans first left their mark there nearly 27,000 years ago, but it was not until 1985 that modern humans discovered these treasures. This ancient landmark is now known as Cosquer Cave. It is a unique cave not only for the images found there, but also because of its unusual entrance. The cave is located on Cape Morgiou, in the Calanques, which is near Marseilles (â€Å"The Cosquer Cave†). Marseilles is in the south of France along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The only entrance to the cave is through a tunnel that is 125 feet below the water and 575 feet long (â€Å"Cosquer Grotto†). This long, sloping tunnel leads to the large, air-filled main chamber of the cave. Cosquer Cave is named after its discoverer, professional deep-sea diver Henri Cosquer. Cosquer discovered this cave by accident while on a dive in 1985. Although he visited the cave several times after the initial discovery, he was unable to reach the main chamber until September of 1985. Upon discovering the main chamber, he noticed calcite draperies, submerged stalagmites and crystals of aragonite, but nothing else. It was not until 1991 that Cosquer finally alerted officials of his discovery (Jaobs â€Å"Grotto Cosquer†). This was prompted by his finding of the first painting in the cave, a stenciled hand done in red. After notifying the officials, explorers began an intensive search for more artwork. Their findings were amazing. To date, there are about 125 documented images of animals, and fifty-five stenciled hands found in the cave (Jaobs â€Å"Grotto Cosquer†). As in many other caves, silhouettes and stencils o... .... â€Å"Archaeology: Cave Beneath the Sea.† http://daphne.palmar.edu/mhudelson/Videos/CaveBeneathSea_WA.html â€Å"Cassis, 27 000 years of prehistory and history: Cosquer’s Cave.† http://www.cassis.enprovence.com/anglais/histoire.html â€Å"The Cosquer Cave.† http://www.culture.fr/culture/archeosm/en/img0013.htm â€Å"The Cosquer Cave: Marine Animals.† http://www.culture.fr/culture/archeosm/en/co-ping.htm â€Å"Cosquer Grotto.† Harcourt School Publishers. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/cavepaintings/cosquer.html Duckeck, Jochen. â€Å"Grotte Cosquer.† http://www.bubis.com/showcaves/english/fr/caves/Cosquer.html Jaobs, James Q. â€Å"Grotto Cosquer: The Dawn of Prehistoric Rock Art.† http://www.geocites.com/archaeogeo/paleo/dawn.html

Analysis on Three Main Sociological Theories

Sociological Perspectives: an Analysis on the Three Main Sociological Theories Abstract: When taking Into consideration all social sciences, numerous behavioral and cognitive theories have been developed and revised over the years. Although this Is true, some of the more influential and accurate theories have remained almost completely unchanged yet they still envelope modern day perspectives.Symbolic interactions, functional analysis, and the conflict theory are among these main harries; they have been used to described various factors in society and still continue to hold true to their definitions. With further exploration and research, an overview on these concepts will be given with contextual evidence. Keywords: symbolic interactions, functional analysis, conflict theory, social science, sociology, behavioral, cognitive Sociological theories are used to describe and explain Just about any occurrence In society.From cultural customs and traditions, to street and white collar crim e, to changes In social norms, the main perspectives can be used to find out their true repose and origin. Every established sociologist has their own views, but for the most part they will fall into categories having to do with the main three perspectives. For each topic, there are also many subtopic perspectives and theories to assist in explaining some of the more specific events throughout life. For now, an overview between symbolic interactions, functional analysis, and the conflict theory will be given, with contextual evidence of each.Symbolic interactions can be defined as an individual acting upon or towards something based on their prior interaction or interpretation with that subject. Any and all past experiences and feelings are combined to form a reaction to the subject. A great example brought up by James Hansel Is the meaning of marriage and all of Its components. This Includes factors such as marriage Itself, divorce, parenthood, and love. Each of these concepts had a changed view one hundred years ago, fifty years ago, and even ten years ago.They are constantly changing, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. When considering marriage pre-1920, they were entirely based upon essential and purposeful decision such as â€Å"settling down† and purchasing land, having kids, and investing. This was all much rather done with a companion. Now, when marriage is connections to each other. Two individuals may have separate lives and self- supporting, but Just want to marry for the sake of having a partner. Divorces were also unheard of in the past. They were used only in the case of adultery or complete disagreement with domestic issues.But now, divorces are quite common, and no longer symbolize failure but as success and a new start. (Heinlein 17) We, as humans, are independent thinkers and can constantly Judge the actions of things around us. All factors in our environments can change these thoughts, but nothing can cease them. Th is is better known as our conscience, our individual though with no chance of elimination. A better description of this process was described by the author of Symbolic Interactions: An Introduction, An Interpretation, An Integration, â€Å"The human being must be understood as a thinking being.Human action is not only interaction among individuals but also interaction within the individual. It is not our ideas or attitudes or values that are as important as the constant active ongoing recess of thinking. We are not simply conditioned, we are not simply beings who are influenced by those around us, we are not simply products of society. We are, to our very core, thinking animals, always conversing with ourselves as we interact with others. If we want to understand cause, focus on human thinking. † (Sharon 31) Sharon truly emphasizes, on the most basic level of our being, how we coexist together.On the inside, we are nothing more than animals with constantly changing views of s ociety and the individuals factors within it. No matter how hard some will ray (and have tried) it is an impossible feat to completely change every person to be like-minded, for there will always be change and differing in morals or ethics. Symbolic interactions will always be a relevant perspective as long as our brains continue to function. Connections and emotions will be transferred from human to human and from human to object to form a large, total interrelated web.Functional analysis is a theory meaning society performs as a whole with many interconnected parts. All factors of society, such as customs of cultures and criminal activity, are embodied to create a functional environment. Generally designed by Robert Morton, functional analysis takes every factor of society into account to provide a result. Sometimes these factors end up bringing unintended consequences, which Morton referred to as latent dysfunctions. For example, a large and long running custom in the Mexican cul ture is the acquaintance at a 16 year old girls birthday.This signifies that the young lady has made it to adulthood and takes on more responsibilities now. Say, for sake of a theoretical example, that the government required all girls to now eve their acquaintance at the age of 12, a â€Å"doctor. † Young ladies are now expected to get Jobs to help support the family and do more rigorous chores around the house. It wouldn't take long for the social lives and educational careers of the girls to plummet. Although these aftermath factors may not be expected when initiating such a plan.Changing gears and bringing in a factor from the opposite side of the spectrum, crime, be can also see how everything in society has a purpose. Also examined in a criminal Justice class of mine, conflict theory is often viewed by criminologists and investigators in order to find origins for some types of crime. A paper written by graduate students from Cardiff University, I-J, depicts some of Deut erium's most influential ideas on functional analysis. Here, the students write about his views on fundamentally from the conventional path.While most criminologists treated crime as a pathological phenomenon and sought psychological causes in the mind of the criminal, Druthers saw crime as normal in terms of its occurrence, and even as having positive social functions in terms of its consequences. Crime was normal in hat no society could enforce total conformity to its injunctions, and if society could, it would be so repressive as to leave no leeway for the social contributions of individuals. Deviance from the norms of society is necessary if society is to remain flexible and open to change and new adaptations. (Bancroft) By this, we can conclude that crime existence only shows humanity and realism in an environment. To attempt to completely demolish crime is a very idealistic and even impossible feat. I found this example to be one of the more interesting since crime has existed reeve and seems as though it will continue to exist. Even with corrections and punishment at the rate they rate they are today, crime will continue to perform as an interconnected part of society. Lastly, the conflict theory, Just as it sounds, involves all conflict oriented factors.Differences in power and control, whether it be an individual or group, spark social conflicts through society. This theory could also be used when describing how an individual may commit crime in order to get ahead of life. Often told as the â€Å"American Dream,† people in America have expectations of large houses, nice cars, ND other luxuries of life. When these are not obtained fairly, possibly because of monetary or social inequalities, some individuals will commit white collar and larceny type crime to obtain their wants.Even for a successful person, they can sometimes stoop to low levels in order to provide. Alan Sears said it best, â€Å"Consensus is a euphemism for ideology. Genuine con sensus is not achieved, rather the more powerful in societies are able to impose their conceptions on others and have them accept their discourses. Consensus does not preserve social order, it entrenches transformation. † Being above the rest is a desired characteristic for some people, and a social necessity for other. Regardless, this cause conflict between the persons involved.Group conflict is also relevant, especially with how connected the world is as a global society. Some theorists say that underdevelopment in certain Third World countries is actually meant to be. Lowly functioning nations are available for exploitation and colonization by larger countries. When a multinational corporation becomes powerful enough, they can even have influence on the development, whether it be political, economic, or other features of change. This is desired purely to show power and dominance or more area, which in turn can start conflict. Sears 35) Each of the above sociological perspe ctives has large significance when attempting to explain any problems or occurrence within society. Each can be used as a model to exemplify how the structure of that specific situation should be, and how it can change to become the model structure. Although there are many subtopic theories, these main three will surely remain mostly unchanged within the social sciences for years to come. Bancroft, Ensues and Stoned Rogers, edited by Pierre Staples (2010).

Science fiction elements essays

Science fiction elements essays Science fiction can be described as the scientific speculation of things to come. Science fiction writers take modern technology and elaborate and make intelligent guesses about its future, then put a catchy story behind it. Science fiction, like many forms of literature, has several sub-genres such as the space opera, heroic science fiction, hard science fiction, and more. Each sub-genre has its own elements that define them, but all tie into the same basis of excelled science in one way or another. The defining line between science fiction literature and fantasy literature is small but present. Writers and critics alike have debated and argued over the absolute defining characteristics of the two for centuries. The truth is there is no hard set of rules that can define weather a piece of work is science fiction or fantasy. The actual definition usually comes from weather the science fiction aspects or the fantasy aspects are more dominant in the story. Like I said before, there arent any steadfast rules to defining the work, but there are some commonly used identifiers. First of all there is the obvious element of time. Science fiction stories occur most often in the future, and the majority of fantasy stories happen in the past or in different worlds that would be considered to be a younger civilization than our own. These rules of time arent always true, however. There are exceptions to every rule and a good example of an exception in this case is The Giver, by Lois Lowry. The Giver is a fantasy tale that is set in the present or near future about having the ability to control thoughts and memories, thus defying the rule. On the other hand, a good example of a science fiction story that contradicts the rule is the Edgar Rice Burroughs work, A Princess of Mars. This tale, although set in the past just after the American Civil War, is a science fiction piec ...

Mud Lick Creek Project

Mud Lick Creek Project Abstract Due to the increased instances of freshwater pollution in many American water sources particularly through agricultural and industrial wastes, which are discharged into the water, students were asked to monitor the quality of water at the Mud Lick creek (I think the statement now makes sense as you had requested). During these investigative sessions, the students collected data regarding the dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and the temperature of water samples collected from the creek. The average value of the water temperature at the creek ranges from 6-12 °C.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Mud Lick Creek Project-Fresh Water Pollution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, the average value of turbidity ranges from 0-40 JTU relative to different experiment days. Moreover, the average pH value equals 7.25 for the three trials conducted over the whole experiment duration. Lastly, the averag e value of dissolved oxygen ranges from 4-8 parts per million and the saturation percentage is in the range of 55-64%. The experimental findings provided above show that the level of freshwater pollution at the creek is irregular because the results show slight changes from the normal properties of freshwater particularly the pH, dissolved oxygen, and its turbidity. On the other hand, the study findings diverge from most studies reviewed in this research paper particularly those regarding the quality of water in many American water sources. As a result, additional studies are required to ascertain the accuracy and precision involved in the current study including determining additional parameters, which can enable one to measure the quality of water at the creek more accurately. [The information given in this section shows the writer’s stand regarding the experimental findings relative to other study findings reviewed in this research paper. Besides, the statement is drawn fr om the discussions provided in the conclusion] Introduction Freshwater pollution entails instances whereby the sources of inland water are contaminated through the presence of various substances in water, which make it unsafe for various uses (Saunders 16). As a result, most studies show that pollution may occur through the discharge of fecal matter, chemical substances, pesticides, petroleum components, fertilizer sediments, and other discharges into freshwater thereby making it unfit for fishing, swimming and drinking.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, in the United States, various studies note that fecal matter and other potential pollutants are discharged into rivers, and therefore, there is evidence of freshwater pollution in most American streams and rivers. According to Pollution Issues (par. 1), â€Å"In the mid-twentieth century, ma ny American rivers and streams were open sewers, choking on everything from human waste to highly toxic industrial discharges.† Furthermore, fresh water sources contribute to about 3% of the total water sources on the earth’s surface. However, in the United States, each household consumes about 94,000 gallons of fresh water per annum. Moreover, the sources of the fresh water for domestic use include rivers and lakes. Unfortunately, studies conducted in 2000 show that about 40% of rivers and 45% of lakes in the United States are polluted with pesticides and fertilizers due to runoffs (Pollution Issues par. 13). This form of pollution poses great danger to human beings because the contents of the runoffs include phosphates, pathogens, petroleum oils, gasoline, and other pollutants. Conversely, various human activities are attributable to freshwater pollution in different aspects. For example, the increased number of households connected to sewerage treatment systems has b een associated with freshwater pollution in most OECD-member countries (OECD 100). Moreover, OECD (101) states that, â€Å"Agriculture is an important contributor to water quality problems, particularly nitrate pollution in surface and groundwater, phosphorus levels in surface water, contamination with pesticides, and the harmful effects of soil sediments and mineral salts.† At the Mud Lick creek under investigation, there is evidence of agricultural activities on the upper side of the tributary. This potential source of pollutants poses significant risks to the quality of water at the creek in terms altering the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and the turbidity of the water (Pollution Issues par. 3). As a result, there is the paramount need to investigate the water quality at the Mud Lick creek in this research paper.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Mud Lick Creek Project-Fresh Water Pollution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/p age Learn More This research paper aims at determining the water quality at the Mud Lick creek relative to various qualitative and quantitative parameters such as temperature, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. Here, it is hypothesized that the water temperature will be in the range of 12-24 °C relative to different experimental conditions and days. Moreover, the pH of the water is hypothesized to range from neutral to slightly alkaline. On the other hand, the value of turbidity is hypothesized to range from 0-42 JTU due to different agricultural activities and pollutant discharge rates at the creek. Lastly, the level of dissolved oxygen is hypothesized to vary relative to the temperature of the water samples. Overall, the findings regarding the present survey seem to diverge from the current studies on freshwater pollution in many American rivers and Streams. [The information provided in this section serves as the thesis statement, which is explained in detail i n the subsequent paragraphs. As a result, there is no need to cite the information because it entails a personal account regarding the experiment] Methods and Materials The investigation of the quality of water at the creek entails measuring the temperature, pH, turbidity, and the dissolved oxygen. Each of these parameters requires different procedures and Test Kits. For instance, to determine the turbidity of water, one requires a sample collection jar, a Secchi disk, and a color chart (World Health Organization 68). Here, a white sample collection jar is used to carry out the experiment. The first step entails removing the icon sticker from the Secchi disk. Secondly, place the sticker slightly off center on the inner bottom side of the sample collection jar 8-24 hours prior to the commencement of the experiment. This process ensures that the adhesive cures adequately. Thirdly, fill the jar with water up to the turbidity level indicated by a label. Lastly, hold the turbidity chart against the jar containing water in order to compare the appearance of the disk icon to that on the chart (World Water Monitoring Day 8-10). Subsequently, record the value in JTU in a table of results. Conversely, to determine the pH of the water samples, one needs to have a pH test tube, a pH reagent tablet, and a pH color chart (World Health Organization 67).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, the first step in measuring the pH value involves filling the pH test tube with 10 ml of the water sample. Secondly, one piece of the pH test tablet is added into the test tube. Thirdly, the test-tube is sealed and the contents mixed by inverting the tube until the tablet dissolves. Lastly, hold the test tube against the pH chart and compare the color of the test-tube contents to the one on the chart (World Water Monitoring Day 17). Record the pH value in the table of results as shown in Appendix 1. Furthermore, to determine the value of dissolved oxygen in a water sample, the experimenter requires one measuring vial, test tablets, and a color chart (World Health Organization 51). Here, the first step involves recording the temperature value of the water samples. Secondly, the vial is submerged and filled to the top with a sample of water whose temperature has been determined. Thirdly, two test tablets are added into the vial. Subsequently, the vial is capped and the co ntents mixed by inverting the vial severally for four minutes. Afterwards, the vial is left to stand for an additional five minutes in order to allow for color development. Lastly, the vial is held against the color chart to compare the color in the vial with the one on the chart (World Water Monitoring Day 13-15). The results are recorded in a table of results in parts per million. Furthermore, the % saturation is determined from the % saturation chart. It is worth noting that the current experiment was performed three times on different days and the average values for temperature, turbidity, pH, and dissolved oxygen recorded as shown in Appendix 1 2. Results The results obtained in the present experiment were recorded in form of tables as shown in appendix 1 2. From these tables it is notable that the average value for temperature lies in the range of 6-12 °C for the three trials conducted. Furthermore, the average value for turbidity ranges from 0-40 JTU relative to different experiment days. Moreover, the average pH value is 7.25 for the three trials. Lastly, the average value for dissolved oxygen (DO) ranges from 4-8 ppm and the saturation percentage is in the range of 55-64%. Here, the value of % saturation is determined by comparing the value of dissolved oxygen in parts per million against the water temperature on the % saturation chart shown in Appendix 3. Conclusions Relative to the findings of the experiment described above, it is obvious that the quality of water varies with different industrial, agricultural and human activities around water bodies (Saunders 16). As a result, the study findings show that the level of freshwater water pollution at the creek is irregular and limited to low levels of pollutants. For instance, the value of turbidity is zero for most experimental trials except for one trial, which shows an increase in the value of turbidity. Furthermore, the findings show that there are minimal levels of thermal pollution at the cr eek since the temperature values recorded are relatively low. As a result, there is evidence of high levels of dissolved oxygen, which can support both aquatic and terrestrial life forms. According to World Water Monitoring Day (11), â€Å"Aquatic animals are sensitive to changes in water temperature and require a certain temperature range to survive and thrive†¦.Temperature also affects the amount of oxygen water can hold.† Therefore, the low temperature value for water at the creek contributes to a smaller % saturation value, which reflects a higher dissolved oxygen value as provided in the World Water Monitoring Day (13) whereby the author posits that, â€Å"water at 28 °C will be 100% saturated with 8 ppm dissolved oxygen. However, water at 8 °C can hold up to 12 ppm of oxygen before it is 100% saturated.† On the other hand, the pH value of the water at the creek is slightly basic, and thus, there is evidence of low levels of fertilizer or industrial pollu tants in the water (World Health Organization 67-69). Unfortunately, there are no statistical studies regarding the quality of water at the Mud Lick creek, which will allow one to make appropriate comparisons. However, different studies note that many American fresh water sources are polluted with different substances contrary to the findings of the current study. Therefore, there is the paramount need for additional studies, which should aim at carrying out random sampling of water from the Mud Lick creek to confirm or down play the findings of the present study. Overall, the experiment was successfully conducted because most of the hypotheses stated earlier are acceptable relative to the study findings. Appendix 1 7th Period –Mud lick Creek Project Log All items below are averages of all groups: DATE TIME TEST RESULTS Friday Nov. 5th, 2010 1:28pm – 2:17pm Dissolved Oxygen ppm = 4 8 Saturation = 55% pH 7.25 (Slightly Basic) Turbidity 0 JTU Temperatur e 12 oC DATE TIME TEST RESULTS Friday Nov. 19th, 2010 1:28pm – 2:17pm Dissolved Oxygen ppm = 8 Saturation = 74% pH 7.25 (Slightly Basic) Turbidity 0 JTU Temperature 12 oC DATE TIME TEST RESULTS Friday Dec. 3rd, 2010 1:28pm – 2:17pm Dissolved Oxygen ppm = 8 Saturation = 64% pH 7.25 (Slightly Basic) Turbidity 40 JTU Temperature 6 oC Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 3 Source: World Water Monitoring Day (16) OECD. OECD environment outlook. Paris, France: OECD Publications Services, 2001. Print. Pollution Issues. Water pollution: freshwater. Advameg, Inc., 2010. pollutionissues.com/Ve-Z/Water-Pollution-Freshwater.html Saunders, John Williams. The estimation of pollution damage. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1976. Print. World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking water-water quality. 2nd ed. Malta: World Health Organization Publications, 1997. Print. World Water Monitoring Day. Test kits. WEF-IWA, 2009. Web.

Student Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Student Diversity - Essay Example Lowe and Cook (2003) contend that the shift from controlled environment of home to school or from school to university where the student is expected to accept personal responsibility for education as well as social aspects often creates anxiety and stress. Diversity is bound to increase as we see freer movement of people across the boundaries. Meacham et al (2003) have found out that increase in the racial and ethnic diversity in the USA was maximum in the 1980s. If we trace the timeline of globalization, we realize that it was during this decade that the phenomenon picked up in a big way. This fact is further strengthened by Meacham et al (2003) when they state, "In the 1990s, people of color, women, and immigrants constituted approximately 85% of the entrants into the workforce." This diversity is workforce was bound to be reflected amongst the student population. President Barak Obama is one of the finest example of how deep the impact of diversity has been in our society. Some years ago it would be impossible to imagine that a non-white, having roots outside USA believing in a different faith that Christianity could make it to the White House. But, true to the spirit of Marshal McLuhan's global village concept, this is a reality today. One of the leading democracies of the world preferred a non-white over a native white, to lend credence to the belief that American indeed respects diversity is all walks of life. Education is certainly no exception. The motto of Samuel S. Fels Cluster, the small school district in Philadelphia is, "We respect the culture in you". It is interesting to note that this school district is home to more than 80 ethnicities and 40-plus languages among the 9000 students of its eight schools (Blassingame, 2000). As the society become more diverse, it also affects our lifestyle and education with inputs coming up from all over and a well accepted amalgamations reaching out to different sections of the recipients in society. Colleges and university campuses not only help in providing the intended education, but the campuses also provide a platform for students to learn more about other's cultures, beliefs and way of life. In a study carried out by McClellan et al (2003) to analyze the impact of diversity prevailing in schools, about 18 percent of the students took note of the minority students in their classrooms, indicating that this segment of students did realize the importance of diversity in their classes. It has also been emphasized in the study that since the percentage of students realizing the importance of diversity was not much, it required sensitization efforts on the part of the school administration, NGOs or government authorities. The National Conference on Community and Justice is one such platform which has been providing training and assistance to the students about the importance of diversity and need to respect it. This type of training handles issues 'surrounding cultures, religions, class, gender, physical and mental abilities, size and age' and the student community is trained to handle the situation without resorting to bullying or violent behavior (Burroughs, 2007). It is worth mentioning here that such efforts seem to have borne fruit, if we look at the statistics of violent crimes in US schools over last decade. The

Areas That Shell Oil Company Needs To Focus On In Order To Increase Essay

Areas That Shell Oil Company Needs To Focus On In Order To Increase Its Sales and Revenue - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Shell Oil Company is a US-based firm which has been in operations for decades. Over the years, the company has been able to strengthen its financial position. However, in the past one decade, the company has lost a margin of its market share to the new entrants in the market. This paper will give an in-depth insight of areas that the company needs to focus on in order to increase its sales and revenue. Being a multinational company, Shell is facing stiff penalties and charges from global bodies. For instance, the EU and UN have enacted strict laws to curb carbon emission. This has forced Shell to settle government pressure through offering incentives such as improvement of the economies in the countries where the firm operates. It has been found that oil can be used to gauge the economic development of the country. However, due to the increasing demand for the commodity especially in the United States, the oil companies have tried to use their influence to earn support from the respective governments. However, the governments have maintained their positions especially because of the environmental issues associated with oil companies. In the past five years, Shell has tried to get engage with Climate Action Partnership in an attempt to improve its reputation. However, the government has maintained its stiff position against the company. In addition, the Congress has stated that the government cannot compromise the environment in order to improve the economy. Therefore, the political environment across the world has been stiff against the firm because every government is trying to do its part in order to reduce the increasing levels of global warming. Therefore, political leaders are pushing their governments further in order to stiffen the existing rules and regulations.

Motivation At Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Motivation At Work - Essay Example IKEA has somewhere around 12,000 products available on their website, which is very near to their products range. In 2005 a survey was conducted and it was reported by the company that they had over 275 million hits on their website. The motto of the company is that are trying to create a better life for many people through their products. Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA in Almhult, Sweden by in 1943, when he was a17 years old boy. The work IKEA is the abbreviation of Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. IKEA started out by selling all kinds of products like pens, runners, wallets, photo frames, watches, jewelry, furniture and stockings etc. anything that Kamprad thought that would sell at a reduced but reasonable price. It is the business idea of IKEA that they offer a wide range of home furnishing products at process which are affordable by many people. (IKEA) In 1948 IKEA introduces furniture in their range. The furniture was produced by the local manufactures in the forest closest to Ingvar Kamprad’s home. The response to the furniture was a positive one. Kamprad first started to sell the products out of his home and then he used mail order to deliver the products to his customer’s homes. In 1951 Kamprad saw an opportunity to sell his products through a catalog. The IKEA catalog which we know today was introduced to the world. 1n 1953 the first IKEA showroom was opened in Almhult, Sweden. In 1952 the concept of flat packing takes place and when one of the employees of the company took of a table’s leg so that it would not be damaged in the delivering process and it can also fit in the car. After discovering this, the flat packs and self assembly products were included in the IKEA’s range of products and they became an instant hit. In 1958 IKEA opens its first outlet in Almhult, Sweden. This outlet had 6700 sq meters of home furnishings displayed in that store and that was the largest

Isotoner Case Brief Essay Example for Free

Isotoner Case Brief Essay Facts of the Case: LaNisa Allen appealed the original judgment in favor of Totes/Isotoner Corporation on the issue of whether the Ohio Fair Employment Practices Act, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, prohibits an employer from discriminating against a female employee because of or on the basis of lactation. Relevant law associated includes whether Allen established a prima facie case of â€Å"sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy,† or whether she â€Å"was simply and plainly terminated as an employee at will for taking an unauthorized, extra break. † Allen’s original complaint was termination attributable to discrimination, based on pregnancy and related conditions, even though Isotoner claimed to have released her for failure to â€Å"follow directions.† Evidence admitted in Allen’s disposition of taking unauthorized breaks for a two week period, which constituted the failure to follow directions, confirmed the trial courts summary judgment. As the trial court granted judgment to Isotoner, the Twelfth District Court of Appeals followed suit, as Allen admitted to ignoring directions and failed to establish a prima facie case of sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and it’s after effects. Issues: Although the lower courts concentrated upon the apparent facts of the case, especially â€Å"Whether Allen’s unauthorized breaks to pump her breast in order to avoid lactation constituted as sex discrimination†; a more superior issue arises from this case. Assuming a proper prima facie case was established, â€Å"Is purported discrimination due to lactation included within the range of Ohio’s employment-discrimination statute, R.C. 4112.02, as sex discrimination under R.C. 4112.01(B)?† Decision s: Ruling of the initial appeal of judgment in favor of Totes/Isotoner Corporation for discrimination Allen was affirmed. Subsequently, the Supreme Court of Ohio did not touch the issue of whether purported discrimination due to lactation is included within the range of Ohio’s employment-discrimination statute, R.C. 4112.02, as sex discrimination under R.C. 4112.01(B). An opinion of whether they thought this discrimination did fall in that range was included in Judge O’Connor’s judgment. Reasoning: Rationale leading the judges in a majority opinion to affirm the initial judgment, stemmed from the failure of Allen to develop a record from which a jury could find in her favor. However, several  of the judges felt â€Å"lactation is a physical condition associated with pregnancy and childbirth, hence the FEPA, as amended by the Ohio PDA, prohibits discrimination against females because they are lactating.† It is proposed that the Supreme Court of Ohio should reach the merits to clarify the laws. Separate Opinions: Judgment was affirmed by Judges Lundberg Stratton, O’Donnell, and Cupp, JJ. , as they believed Allen was discharged for taking unauthorized breaks from her scheduled employment. Since Allen failed to present evidence of a discriminatory motive from Isotoner, or that reason for releasing her from employment was a ground for discrimination, Lundberg Stratton, O’Donnell, and Cupp, JJ. felt only the issues presented by the facts of Isotoner discharging Allen due to ‘unauthorized breaks’ should be decided on, while issues of the facts not directly placed on issue should only be responded to with advisory opinion. Judges Moyer, C.J. and O’Connor J. concurred in the foregoing judgment only. They assert lactation to fall within the scope of R.C. 4122.01(B) and that the statute prohibits employment discrimination against lactating women. Also, they oppose the claim of opinions regarding issues not directly placed on issue to be strictly advisory. â€Å"A cause will become moot only when it becomes impossible for a [***627] tribunal to grant meaningful relief, even if it were to rule in favor of the party seeking relief.† Moyer, C.J, and O’Connor J. claim these indirect issues to be live, not as remote possibilities or based on controversies that may never occur. Their assertion that â€Å"lactation is a physical condition associated with pregnancy and childbirth, hence the FEPA, as amended by the Ohio PDA, prohibits discrimination against females because they are lactating† is fully discussed. Dissent is issued by Judge Peifer, J. as he declares the question needed answered by Ohioans was not resolute. Peifer, J. claimed â€Å"the court should analyze the case by asking (1) whether the plaintiff stated a cognizable cause of action and (2) whether the facts support the alleged cause of action.† Emphasis was placed by Peifer, J. on the circumstance of unclear facts of the case such as why Allen’s unscheduled restroom breaks outside of scheduled break times were different from restroom trips made by coworkers outside of their scheduled break times. Also, Judge Peifer argued that cases should be accepted not because of how the result might affect the parties in the individual case, but because of how a holding might affect other persons similarly situated. Peifer held â€Å"employment discrimination due to lactation as unlawful pursuant to R.C. 4112.01(B), that clear public policy justifies an exception to the employment-at-will doctrine for women fired for reasons relating to lactation, and that LaNisa Allen deserves the opportunity-due to the state of the record-to prove her claim before a jury.† Analysis: The significance of this case relates to the importance of establishing suitable evidence for a prima facie case and also to ruling on issues brought forward by cases. Although the affirmed judgment in favor of Isotoner was applicable due to Allen’s failure to provide evidence of sex discrimination related to after effects of pregnancy, it is important for courts to reach a decision on such cases the holding will/has affected other persons similarly situated. Similar cases of discharge or unpaid circumstances have been previously governed, including Fejes v. Gilpin Ventures, Inc. 960 F. Supp 1487and Martinez v. N.B.C. Inc. 49 F.Supp.2d 305l, among others. Therefore sex discrimination due to the aftereffects of pregnancy affects many individuals in Ohio and throughout the United States, and therefore a ruling of whether purported discrimination due to lactation is included within the range of Ohio’s employment-discrimination statute, R.C. 4112.02, as sex discrimination under R.C. 4112.01(B) is vital in reducing sex discrimination in the workplace.

Strains of ESBL Producing E. Coli | Investigation

Strains of ESBL Producing E. Coli | Investigation Introduction Background of Study Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamases (ESBL) are beta lactamases which are mainly produced by family members of Enterobacteriaceae derived from mutations of the previous broad-spectrum beta-lactamase (Sharma et al., 2010). This enzyme works by hydrolysing and destroying the ÃŽ ²- Lactam ring of all cephalosporins, penicillins and monobactams (Sharma et al., 2010). In recent years, the emergence of ESBL producing Escherichia coli has posed a very serious problem to the management of diseases caused by this organism as only limited choice antibiotics can be given to patients. Carbapenems are the drugs of choice for the treatment of ESBL producing E.coli, however, carbapenamase resistance has recently been reported (Paterson and Bonomo, 2005). Prolonged use of antibiotics was suggested as the main cause of the emergence of ESBL E.coli and the fact that the genes coding for ESBLs are easily transferred from one organism to another organism via conjugation, transduction and transformation ma ke the spread even quicker (Vaidya et al., 2011). ESBL producing organisms were first reported from a patient in Germany in 1983 and since then , several outbreaks have been reported worldwide usually one particular â€Å"super† strain has been involved presumably combining not only the capability to produce ESBLs but also possessing various other virulence factors that contribute to their pathogenic success. (Harada et al., 2013). These pathogenic ESBL producing Escherichia coli in recent years have become a major concern and their emergence is now become alarming in clinical fields and subjected to comprehensive studies worldwide. The most common infections caused by pathogenic ESBL producing E.coli are urinary tract infections (UTI), bloodstream infections, gastrointestinal infections (Fatima et al., 2012; Bekat et al., 2002). According to Petty et al., (2013), globally, E.coli sequence type ST131 is the multidrug resistant clone strain which is responsible for ESBL CTX-M15 bearing genes, and it is the most alarming pathogenic ESBL producing E.coli associated in causing UTIs and septicaemia in hospital community acquired infections. ? in UK or worldwide? As genes coding for ESBL in Escherichia coli are known to be transferable this raises further fear of the spread of these genes to other strains, continuous monitoring of the predominant strains of E.coli which carry the ESBL genes is therefore important. Problem statement Studies of ESBL producing Escherichia coli in the South Manchester population have been carried out previously. This study will investigate strains of ESBL producing E. coli currently circulating in the Stockport Population of South Manchester and compare them to those delineated in the previous studies using a molecular typing and pulse-field gel electrophoresis. Objectives The objectives of the project are: Screen for ESBL Escherichia coli clinical isolates Identify strain using PFGE Assess the relatedness of the strains by PFGE analysis Determine Escherichia coli plasmid profile Identify Escherichia coli phylotyping group 1.0.4. Significance of study Finding from this study will contribute to the existing data and the body of knowledge on the molecular relationship of predominating of E.coli isolates from South Manchester populations. 1.0.5. Scope and Limitations There are no data on the antibiotics consumed by the patients in which the clinical isolates originates from. The availability of this data might help in understanding relationship between an exposures of certain antibiotics to the emergence of ESBL producing E.coli strain. PFGE also has several limitations in which the method assess visual relatedness of an isolates and not using a phylogeny relationship which provide more accurate molecular relationship between an isolates. Escherichia coli Escherichia coli is a motile gram negative rod, facultative anaerobe, non- spore forming bacteria taxonomically belong to the family of Enterobacteriaceae. It is considered as a normal inhabitants of gut and intestine in almost all warm blooded mammals and found as a faecal contaminant in the environment (Brennan et al., 2010; Darnton et al., 2007; Diniz et al., 2005). Most varieties of E.coli are harmless and do in the most part contribute to the normal and healthy intestine condition, while a few cause limiting abdominal cramp associated with diarrhoea. However, there are some serotypes that becoming a major threat to the human health, because they have acquired certain genetic material and virulence factors which enabling them transformed into pathogenic E.coli causing broad spectrum of disease (Clarke et al., 2003; Kaper et al., 2004). Pathotypes of E.coli are classified by specific mechanism in which they causing a disease, presence of certain virulence genes and their clinical manifestations (Chang et al., 2004). Growth requirements E.coli are non- fastidious bacteria, thus it can be cultured in artificial media with various altered physical and nutritional growth factors. It can be isolated easily from clinical samples by culturing into culture media and incubated at optimum temperature of 37 ºC anaerobically or aerobically as it is a facultative organisms (Yunlin et al., 2004) Uropathogenic Escherichia coli According to Pitout et al., (2005) E. coli is a frequent cause of the urinary tract infections (UTIs) of a hospitalised and non- hospitalised patients. UTIs are usually self- limiting but untreated lower urinary tract infections such as simple cystitis (bladder infection) can lead to much more severe illness known as pyelonephritis (renal infections) mainly among adult women (James et al., 2011). Infections occur by ascending movement of E. coli up the periurethral area colonising the bladder or infections by movement down from the intestinal tract. Due to anatomical complexities in women, they are more prone to be diagnosed with UTIs for at least once in their lifetime (James et al., 2001) 1.3  Escherichia coli typing 1.3.1  Plasmid profiling Multidrug resistant bacteria including ESBL producing Escherichia coli acquire their resistance by various gene transfer mechanisms which include transformation, horizontal transfer either by transduction, and conjugation, transposon and most often, are plasmid mediated (Carattoli et al., 2005) Plasmids are an extra chromosomal fragments of self- replicating DNA present in most of the bacterial species. Plasmids contain genes that are an essential for the replication of genes that promotes resistance to agents such as antibiotics, ultraviolet radiation, metals and bacteriophages. 1.3.2  Pulse-field gel electrophoresis PFGE was developed and described first by Schwartz and Cantor (1984). It is a molecular technique of typing a bacteria especially pathogenic Escherichia coli 0157:H7, non 0157: H7, Salmonella serotypes, Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri. PFGE uses a gel electrophoresis- based technique that allows separation of large molecular weight DNA up to 2Mb- 10Mb using a standard PFGE method (CDC, 2013; Hansen et al., 2002; Vimonet et al., 2008) PFGE is different to conventional gel electrophoresis as the large genomic DNA is digested with restriction enzyme that recognise and cleave specific sequences of DNA known as restriction site in an organism to produce a multiple DNA fragments which differ in size of their molecular weight (Van der Ploeg et al., 1984). The fragments are then run through constant changing electric field of PFGE resulting in a formation of DNA at various discrete size bands. This typing method has also been shown to have more discriminating power and reproducibility between laboratories than the newer molecular typing method such as ribotyping and multi- locus sequence typing (MLST) which confer more on the global epidemiology and revolutionary relationship between bacterial species (Vimonet et al., 2008) 1.3.3.  Escherichia coli phylogenetic group 2.0  Materials and Methods 2.0.1  Bacterial Isolates Bacterial isolates used in this study were Escherichia coli clinical isolates which was collected from Stepping Hill Hospital. Isolates undergo an anonymisation numbering of 1 to 20. 2.0.2.  Bacteriological Media The media used in the study were a selective differential medium for UTI Escherichia coli which is Chromogenic agar and nutrient agar which was used as a medium for growth and maintenance of isolates. 2.0.3  Antibiotic disks Table 1: Antibiotic disks used in this study was obtained from Oxoid.Ltd. Antibiotics Antibiotic Group Gentamicin (10 µg) Aminoglycosides Ciprofloxacin (5 µg) Quinolone Amoxicillin (25 µg) Penicillin Cefpodozime (10 µg) Cephalosporin Mecillinam (10 µg) Beta lactam Trimetophrim (2.5 µg) Bacteriostatic ESBL Disk kit (Mast Diagnostics) 2.0.4  Buffers and solutions Tris Borate EDTA (TBE X1 and X0.5) (Sigma) pH 8.2 was used as a running buffer in agarose gel electrophoresis. 2.0.5  Commercial kits The commercial kit used in this study was QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Qiagen) and DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen) 2.1.  Screening for multidrug resistance and potential ESBL producers in Escherichia coli clinical isolates Antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli to six antibiotics (Table 1) were tested using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. A 24 hour cultures from Nutrient agar was used. Then, a single colony was taken and transferred into 5ml Mueller Hinton Broth. It was then incubated at 37 °C to develop a heavy suspension of overnight cultures. A sterile cotton swabs were used to streak onto the Mueller Hinton agar and the rotation were repeated for three times. A final sweep was made around the rim of the agar. The plates were allowed to dry for several minutes. Using antibiotic dispenser, the disk that has been impregnated with a fixed antibiotic concentration was placed on the surface of the agar surface. After 24hr of an incubation period, the plates were checked for the presence of inhibition zone. Each recorded inhibition zone was compared with antimicrobial susceptibility testing disc chart provided by The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC). The inhibition zon e of each antibiotic was reported as ‘sensitive’, ‘intermediate’ or ‘resistance’. Isolates showing resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics were considered as multidrug resistance (Falagas, 2007). ESBL producers were detected by testing sensitivity of isolates against a pair discs (cefpodoxime 10 µg and cefepime 10 µg) with and without clavulanic acid placed oppositely on an agar. According to manufacturer (Mast diagnostics), isolates were considered as an ESBL if there is a presence of 5mm larger inhibition zone in disks with clavulanic acid rather than the disks without the clavulanic acid. 2.2. Determination of plasmid profiles in MDR and ESBL Escherichia coli 2.2.1  Plasmid Extraction Prior to Plasmid DNA extraction, a fresh overnight cultures of E.coli after an incubation at 37 ºC in a Mueller Hinton broth were harvested. Plasmid DNA extraction was carried out using QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Qiagen) following the manufacturer’s instructions. Extracted plasmid DNA was stored at -20 ºC until use. 2.2.2  Detection of plasmid by agarose gel electrophoresis The profiles of the plasmid DNA was determined on a 0.7% agarose gel electrophoresis which has been carried out at 70 Vcm-1 for 120 minutes. The size of DNA bands was estimated using Hyper ladder 1 (Bioline) as a reference molecular weights marker. The bands were visualized under UV transilluminator and photographed with digital camera connected to visualisation unit (Alpha Innotech) and the size of the plasmid were measured by visual comparison to the reference marker. 2.3  Escherichia coli pathotypes determination 2.3.1.  Genomic DNA extraction Primary cultures on the nutrient agar was inoculated into 3ml Mueller Hinton broth for 24 hours at 37 ºC. The cells was then harvested by centrifugation at 12, 000 for 3 minutes. Genomic DNA extraction was carried out using DNeasy Blood and Tissue (Qiagen) kit following the manufacturer’s instructions. Final volume of 150 µl genomic DNA were collected and kept at -20 ºC until needed. 2.3.2  Multiplex PCR for Escherichia coli phylotyping PCR reaction mix preparation must be carried out on ice. PCR was performed in 0.2ml PCR tubes on a GeneAmp PCR System 9700 thermocycler (Applied Biosystems ®) with a total 25 µl of reaction volume as described in Table 2 and PCR condition according to Table 3. The negative control reaction lacking the DNA was included. Table 2:  PCR reaction mix Components Required concentrations Volume ( µl) per reaction Biomix Red 2X 12.5 Primer (forward) chuA yjaA tspE4.c2 20pmol 20pmol 20pmol 1 1 1 Primer (reverse) chuA yjaA tspE4.c2 20pmol 20pmol 20pmol 1 1 1 DNA 2 Ultrapure sterile water 4.5 Total volume per reaction 25 Table 3: Conditions for PCR gene amplification Genes Primer sequence PCR condition chuA Forward 5’-GACGAACCAACGGTCAGGAT-3’ Reverse 5’-TGCCGCCAGTACCAAAGACA-3’ Initial denaturation: 94 °C for 4 mins Denaturation: 94 °C for 25 secs Annealing: 52 °C for 40 secs 30 cycles Extension: 72 °C for 50sec Final extension: 72 °C for 6 mins yjaA Forward 5’-TGAAGTGTCAGGAGACGCTG-3’ Reverse 5’-ATGGAGAATCGGTTCCTCAAC-3’ tspE4.c2 Forward 5’-GAGTAATGTCGGGGCATTCA-3’ Reverse 5’-CGCGCCAACAAAGTATTACG-3’ 2.3.3  Detection of by agarose gel electrophoresis After completion of the multiplex PCR, the amplification product were separated by dry electrophoresis system. 15 µl of amplified product was mixed with 5 µ 5X DNA loading buffer (Bioline) and loaded onto 2% agarose gel incorporated with SYBR green dye. After electrophoresis, the gel was visualised by exposing the gel under UV light and was photographed with a digital UV camera connected together with the visualisation unit (AlphaInnotech). The size of the amplicon were measured by visual comparison to the 1kb DNA marker (Bioline). Phylogenetic typing analysis were carried on the basis of the presence or absence of an amplicon sized 279bp, 211bp and 152bp which belong to chuaA, yjaA and tspE4.c2 genes respectively. 2.4.  Pulse- field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) 2.4.1.  DNA extraction Each isolates was inoculated into 5ml Mueller Hinton Broth and incubated overnight at 37 ºC with gentle agitation. Cells were then harvested by placing 1ml of culture into 1.5ml microcentrifuge tube and was centrifuged at 13, 000 rpm for one minutes. The supernatant was discarded and the process was repeated until all the 5ml of culture finished. The supernatant was again discarded and pellet of cells was resuspended in 500 µl of 0.5M EDTA buffer (see appendix) and was centrifuged at 13, 000rpm for one minutes to removes broth debris that might be interfering with the extraction processes. The washing step was repeated twice to ensure complete removal of debris. The supernatant was discarded once again and pellet was resuspended in 500 µl of suspension buffer. 2.4.2.  Preparation of low melting point (LMP) agarose To prepare the LMP agarose, 3g of SeaKem PFGE agarose (BioRad) were dispensed into 100ml of TE buffer (see appendix) in a universal bottle. It were then heated to dissolve. Agarose was transferred to a 56 ºC waterbath until needed. 2.4.3.  Preparation of the bacterial plugs The wells of PFGE plug molds were numbered. 3 plugs was prepared for each isolates. Then, 750 µl of LMP agarose was added immediately into each cell- buffer suspension and carefully mixed by pipetting up and down several times and be careful not to induce any formation of bubbles. The mixture of cells and agarose was quickly pipetted into the well of a plastic PFGE plug molds (BioRad). The wells was filled to the rim and plugs were allowed to solidify at room temperature or chilled for 5 minutes in the refrigerator. 2.4.4.  Lysis of the cells The cells were lysed by adding a mixture of 1ml of proteolysis buffer with 10 µl of Proteinase K stock solution (50mg/ml) (see appendix) into a 1.5ml new labelled microcentrifuge tube. The plugs were removed from the plug molds by peeling the sealant tape below the wells until all tape was removed. The PFGE plastic arm was used to push the plugs out of the molds into the microcentrifuge containing the mix of proteolysis buffer-proteinase K solution. All plugs for one isolates were transferred into the same tubes. Care was taken while pushing the plugs out of the molds as not to tear the fragile plugs. Tubes was then incubated in a heating block at 50 ºC for 24 hours for digestion to take place. 2.4.5.  Washing of the plugs After completion of an overnight incubation, the proteolysis buffer and Proteinase K activity were eliminated by carefully pipetting out the volume, care taken not to tear the plugs. The plugs were then washed with TE buffer. The washing steps was repeated three times, for every half an hour and were held at room temperature to equilibrate the plugs. 2.4.6.  Restriction enzyme digestion After completion of the washing steps, wash buffer was removed in the final wash leaving only agarose gel in the tubes. Then, 300 µl of 1X restriction enzyme buffer specific to the enzyme used was pipetted in each tubes containing the agarose plugs and was let to equilibrate at room temperature for 10 minutes. The restriction buffer was then discarded, taking care not to tear the plugs. Next, 300 µl of restriction buffer containing 50U of Xbal enzyme was added into the tubes and was incubated in an incubator for 24 hours at 37 ºC specific to the optimal temperature for Xbal enzyme. 2.4.7.  Pulse- field gel electrophoresis 2.4.7.1.  Electrophoresis gel preparation. After incubation, restriction enzyme reaction was stopped by addition of 200 µl of 50mM EDTA. Plugs were cooled at 4 ºC until needed. Then, a (1%) agarose gel was prepared by heated to dissolved 3g of PFGE grade agarose (BioRad) into 300ml of 0.5X TBE buffer over magnetic hot plate with constant stirring or in the microwave and swirl to dissolved. The agarose was then poured into a casting tray that has been placed with PFGE comb and let to solidify at room temperature. The enzyme- buffer was aspirated and one plug of each isolates was loaded into the gel. Care was taken not to tear the plugs. Then, a thin slice high range and mid- range lambda molecular weight marker (New England Biolabs) was loaded into the wells next to each other. After all samples was loaded into wells, the wells were sealed with melted LMP agarose. 2.4.7.2.  Electrophoresis Run The electrophoresis was performed by using a CHEF mapper (BioRad) which subsequently was filled with approximately 3 liters of 0.5ml TBE buffer. The running buffer was let to cool approximately at 14 ºC before turning on the pump. The run time was set for 24 hours at 6 Vcm-1 with 120 º angle using switch time of 2.16 sec to 54.17 sec. 2.4.7.3.  Gel staining Once the run was complete, the gel was stained with 3X Gel red nucleic acid stain (Biotium) with approximately 200ml distilled water and was gently agitated on rotary shaker for 20 minutes. The gel was then visualised under UV transilluminator and a picture was taken once optimal image obtained.