GRE Essay Sample Review - How GRE Essay Program Can Benefit You

GRE Essay Sample Review - How GRE Essay Program Can Benefit YouGRE Essay Sample Review is not much to expect for these two programs. The main aim of each is to prepare the students so that they could get into a good college or university and get themselves a good job. The subject of the program is completely irrelevant as what we are looking at here.Multiple option essay is not required, as it was never even conceived by any of the teaching faculty of the University. A single assignment for all the candidates who have to answer the same essay, which they find difficult enough in any case, was never thought of or had any positive outcome for them.On the other hand, multiple choice questions are being passed out for an entire season. So, one may ask whether the students are exposed to an environment where their intellect is tested? Let us look at this.The tutors teach the students about the theory of admissions and also test out their ability to write well. If we see the writers who ha ve undergone this training, then it would appear that there is no improvement in their writing ability.GRE Essay Sample Review is nothing but a supplement to a pre-written essay. The essay question is ready and the student has to make sure that he answers it right.They will then have to put all the points which are found in the first section and all the rest are the points based on the test subject. Then, the examiners or the members of the committee will take a look at the paper and give a final decision. The essay will have to be short and concise as all the points related to the paper have to be given attention.There is not much scope for improvement as the student's results can be broken down under the different sections and the scores can be compared among the various subjects. In addition, the students may get some choice papers and if they answer them well, it will mean an improvement in their scores. So, if you were wondering what the purpose of the course is, GRE Essay Samp le Review is supposed to be the only indication.

Humanism During the Rennaissan essays

Humanism During the Rennaissan essays The Renaissance was an incredibly important turning point in Western Intellectual and Cultural Tradition. All of these changes centered on the idea of Humanism in which, people became less God Centered and more Human-centered. I have narrowed down these changes, and will discuss in detail, these changes in three major categories: Political, Education, and the Humanism of Arts. The major political changes of the Renaissance were from the old Feudal System of the Middle Ages into a more flexible and liberal class system. This was most noticeable in Italy (particularly in Florence), where the divisions consisted of the old rich, the new rich nobles, the middle class, and the lower middle class (The poor didn't count). This created great conflict between these social divisions. The new rich consisted of successful merchants, capitalists, and bankers innovators of new systems of making money. The Humanism philosophy was also a very popular with the people and many political leaders rose to high positions with support of these ideals. Three humanists even became chancellors of Florence they used their rhetorical skills to strongly rally the people of Florence against their enemies. The great changes in Education of the Renaissance were inspired at first, by the desire of Humanists to be wise and to speak eloquently. The idea of useful education for the people, and very "well rounded" schooling in many different fields of learning were the new defined goals of Renaissance education. People all over (Especially in Florence) revived the Ancient Greek studies of Plato, Aristotle, and many others. People began seriously questioning what these people said and re-developed the "Scientific Theory" in which you didn't just accept whatever was said to you, but you tested the truth of it. In the area of Humanism and the Arts, Renaissance Artists no longer were subordinate to the interests and the values of ...

How to answer problem solving interview questions

How to answer problem solving interview questions When you’re going on interviews in the hopes of landing a new job, you may invest some time in practicing how you’d handle the sorts of questions you think you might encounter while you’re in the real thing. The truth is, it’s impossible to predict how an interview will unfold. However, one thing you can expect during most interviews is the â€Å"problem-solving question,† in which you’ll be asked about how you’d either handle a hypothetical on-the-job problem from beginning to end or how you handled a real-world problem during your previous work experience.What’s the best way to handle a problem-solving question if it comes up? Keep reading!Stay positive and confident.When you’re hit with a problem-solving question on an interview, you’re being evaluated before you even open your mouth. Your body language and facial expressions are on full display while you’re listening to the interviewer either describe a problem-solving scenario or ask you to dig an example up.When the question comes up, do you cringe and swallow hard, with sweat forming at your brow as you squirm in your seat? Or do you appear relaxed, measured, and confident, and sit up straight and tall? Clearly, the second option will reflect more favorably on your perceived ability to confidently face a challenge.Of course, what you say and how you respond to a problem-solving question is crucial, and you want to reflect an aura of positivity and confidence. For starters, pay attention to the tone of your voice- is it measured and unwavering or do you sound nervous and hesitant? Which one do you think will make you seem like an ace problem solver to hiring managers?Resist the urge to go negative- a problem-solving question may pose a truly tough challenge or dredge up a horrific past experience that you’d just as soon forget forever, but don’t let that affect your composure during an interview. Resist playing the blame game on a company or colleague, talking about how impossible the problem is or was, and don’t play â€Å"hot potato† and pass off the problem to someone else as fast as possible. Problems arise at every job, and interviewers want to see if you’re the sort of person who will face them in a positive and confident manner.Demonstrate teamwork, leadership, and innovative thinking.Problem-solving questions are great opportunities for you to demonstrate some of the qualities that make you a great employee. Think about how you and others have handled a problem well, at work or elsewhere. It’s often the case that that those who demonstrate leadership, as well as an ability to work well with others and come up with innovative solutions, really shine when facing a work challenge. Make sure that your response to this question in interviews reflects your ability to boldly confront a problem, come up with new and creative ways to solve it, and work with colleague s towards an effective solution.Show an eagerness to meet challenges head-on.A good employee doesn’t shy away from problems in the workplace- but a great employee is eager to face challenges head on. When a problem-solving question is presented to you during an interview, you should respond in a way that demonstrates that you enjoy tackling problems head on and are a good resource to have on staff when issues arise- because they will.Are you ready for the challenge?You should treat every interview you go on as an opportunity to demonstrate your value to a potential employer, and what’s more valuable to a company than having a confident and effective problem-solver on their team? Use these strategies for answering problem solving questions and you’ll be sure to demonstrate your value as a prospective employee.

Health Care Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Care Reform - Essay Example The subsidies are provided to families with an income level as explained above, because such families do not qualify for either Medicare or Medicaid. Furthermore, such families do not have coverage from their employers. Premium credits were also introduced to help with payment of coverage, which also touches immigrants who are in the country legally if their income is below 100 percent of the federal poverty level (Jackson & Nolen, 2010). Health Care Reform: U.S. Population Groups That Will Not Benefit The act states that immigrants who are in the country illegally do not qualify for either Medicaid or subsidies on insurance. Most of the illegal immigrants who do not qualify have not been in the country for more than five years as required by the law so that they receive either one of the new reform provision: Medicaid or subsidies on insurance. Population groups who do not register for Medicaid and are above 33 percent of the poverty line do not qualify because they have not joined other people who have registered for Medicaid. Others may decide not to pay for insurance because they think that it is expensive for them, and for that reason they would not qualify. In addition, the insurance cover might cost more than 8 percent of the household, which will be quite unaffordable (Turnbull, 2010). Involvement of DHHS Agencies in Health Care Reform The AHRQ’s functions are to prioritize patients’ safety so that the health conditions of the patient is improved, which is done with help of the DHHS. The current reforms passed in 2010 consider the patients’ safety in workplaces so that small injuries can be averted and better relationships can be achieved between physicians and patients. Additionally, liability premium reductions have been considered in the reforms. The above initiatives were started with the help of both the DHHS and ARHQ. The CMS is concerned with Medicaid, Medicare and children health care insurance. The new reforms aim to accomp lish three major goals: expanding insurance cover, providing better quality insurance, and managing cost. The CMS agency will help in controlling the cost of services provided in healthcare centers; for example, there are risks that occur in workplaces, such as injuries and hospital-acquired conditions that require medical cover. The CMS has been pushing for reduction of such incidents to cut down on costs as required by the new reforms. In addition, they have also been in talk with physicians and hospital workers to give a better quality and cheaper service to patients. This will bring down health care costs, and the physicians will benefit from Medicare savings (Groszkruger, 2011). Nursing Implications in Health Care Reform The healthcare reforms to take effect in 2014 will require more nurses because the field will expand and job openings in nursing will arise. For example, more medical healthcare homes and healthcare centers will be formed. The enactment of the law will need mor e schools and training of nurses. In addition, the individuals who are interested in the profession will require full-time education. This will prompt the government to invest more in training of more nurses to curb the shortage. The national government will aim to provide grants and loans to nurses and will have to increase the amount they use to sustain the training systems that nurses require. As mentioned above, nurses will require full

Silver and gold Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Silver and gold - Research Paper Example This paper seeks to analyze the historical background of silver and gold, their ancient and modern uses, the manufacturing process, the impact the materials have on the environment, their cultural significance, and future innovations on the usage of the metals. Silver History of Silver The first major silver mines were discovered in Anatolia, which is the modern day Turkey, in 3000 BC. In the 1st Century AD, Spain became a key silver producer due to Roman discoveries. In early 1500s huge silver deposits were found in Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico which enriched the Spanish empire for a period of 300 years. In the period 1500 to 1875 about 1.5 billion ounces of silver were mined in Mexico with a large percentage mined in the 1700s. In the 1700s, silver became the backbone of Spanish Empire and 1 billion ounces was mined in the Veta Madre in Mexico. 1857 saw the state of Nevada adopting Silver mining as a major industry when Comstock Lode was found in Nevada. Nevada became to be known as t he silver state because of the silver mining. From 1857 to 1877, Comstock produced gold and silver of an approximate value of 400 million US dollars which could have been worth about 500 Billion US dollars in the modern days. There was a 50 percent increase in the global yield of Silver between 1900 and 1920. This amounted to about 190 million troy ounces per year and discoveries were made in other countries such as the United States and Canada. From 1921 to present improved techniques has led to separation of Silver from Zinc, copper and lead. This has led to an increase in production of Silver and its usage. Silver was among the first metals known to man. The other metal is gold. The ancient population valued Silver because of its white color, brilliant luster, non-corrodibility nature and it was relatively easy to work with. Today, silver still stands out as one of the most valued metals because of the above properties but several other characteristics have changed the trend of s ilver usage from being merely monetary and decorative metal to being predominantly an industrial metal. Usage of Silver Silver is a soft, malleable and the most ductile among the metals. These properties have led to it being fabricated into personal adornment items and decorative items of various types. Hence, chain necklaces, neck rings, silver bracelets, and other jewelry items were developed as from ancient times. In the later days, silver was used to make decorative things such as handles for swords and daggers and later when approaching the modern times it was fashioned into eating utensils and various tableware items. The industrial usage of silver arose in the 19th and 20th centuries. The following section illustrates the chronological account for the usage of silver. In the 1820s, silver and silver salts became major component for the development of photography. Since the late 1830s, silver has been used in the manufacture of silver-mercury amalgams that are used for restori ng teeth. In the third millennium BC the Egyptians made mirrors of polished silver while â€Å"silvering† of mirrors with metals such as mercury, tin and lead was adopted in Europe before Renaissance period. In 1835, Justus von Liebig invented the process of large scale production of silvered glass through a chemical reduction of silver nitrate compound. In 1840, the process for electroplating of silver was granted a patent and it was the first patent to be granted for electroplating any metal. Alessandro Volta used silver and zinc for making

Marine Pollution Causes Effects And Control Environmental Sciences Essay

Marine Pollution Causes Effects And Control Environmental Sciences Essay The phrase heavy metals is used here as a general name for metals with densities in excess of 5 g/cm3. About 15 species are of practical concern. Heavy metals may be applied to soils deliberately to correct nutrient deficiencies or to kill pests. Very small amounts are needed to correct deficiencies, and these do not cause pollution. Repeated applications of inorganic pesticides containing heavy metals (for example, in sprays applied to fruit trees) may add amounts to soils large enough to be harmful. In contrast to organic pesticides, heavy metals do not disappear through decomposition but remain in soil indefinitely. Additional sources of soil contamination by heavy metals are industrial and traffic exhausts, flooding of land by contaminated waters, sewage sludge applied to land, and disposal of other refuse. Heavy metals participate in several kinds of reactions in soils, and these affect their concentrations and solubility. The metal ions tend to be bonded to soil constituents through cation exchange; this may amount to substantial quantities even though concentrations in the soil solution are usually low. Some soil constituents seem to have specific affinities for heavy metal ions, resulting in their preferential adsorption over more abundant cations. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soil solution are also affected by equilibria with hydroxyl, carbonate, and phosphate ions. Precipitation of heavy metals by these anions can limit concentrations even though fairly large amounts are added to soil. On the other hand, some heavy metal ions are strongly chelated by organic substances of low molecular weight, thereby altering their adsorption behavior and permitting rather high concentrations in the soil solution. The actual concentration in a soil is thus a function of reactions of heavy metals with a variety of soil constituents. Cadmium is considered as one of the most hazardous of the heavy metals because of its presumed effect on the development of vascular disease. Amounts of cadmium in soils are normally below 1 ppm, but values as high as 1700 ppm have been reported for surface samples collected near zinc-ore smelters. Cadmium is usually associated with zinc in nature, and the geochemical relationship between the two leads to their common occurrence with Zn/Cd ratios near 900. Cadmium is easily taken up by most plants. Some are quite sensitive to excess cadmium, and others are not. (ii) Chromium (Cr) This metal is a major component of the wastes of the plating industry. Cr is toxic for plant growth only at high concentrations. Chromium mobility within plants is extremely low. Soil pollution by chromium is seldom a problem because it is taken up by plants as chromate, a form that hardly occurs at prevailing pH values and redox potentials. (iii) Cobalt (Co) This can be highly toxic to plants. Most plant species cannot tolerate concentrations of cobalt exceeding 0.1 ppm. Usually cobalt contents of soil do not exceed 10 ppm. Preferential cobalt adsorption on soil constituents and fixation in clay mineral lattices might add to the problem. (iv) Copper (Cu) Copper is toxic to most plants at concentrations exceeding 0.1 ppm. Its concentration in drinking water for human consumption is considered safe when not exceeding 1.0 ppm. Concentrations above 20 ppm in feed and forage are toxic to sheep. Normal copper contents of soils are around 20 ppm. Mobility and displacement of copper in soils are low because of its strong bonding with organic matter and clay minerals. (v) Lead (Pb) This may accumulate in soils along roads from traffic exhausts and in the vicinities of lead-zinc smelters. Roadside concentrations as high as 2400 ppm have been reported. While (excessive) intake of lead by humans and animals is considered a serious health hazard, the primary pathway of such intakes is probably via surface contamination of crops and grasses (eaten by grazing animals) rather than via plant uptake. The mobility of lead in soil and plants tends to be low though in some cases considerable uptake by plants has been observed. Normal lead levels in plants range from 0.5-3 ppm. With respect to plant growth, lead toxicity levels appear to differ considerably for different plant species. (vi) Mercury (Hg) Extensive mercury poisoning was first reported at Minamata, Japan, in 1953. As a result of the strong interactions between mercury compounds and soil constituents, displacement of mercury in forms other than vapor is usually very low. Methylation of mercury, possibly occurring in nature under restricted conditions, constitutes one of the most serious hazards related to this element, because in this form mercury will accumulate easily in food chains. Because of this hazard, the use of alkylmercury fungicides for seed dressings has been banned in many countries. (vii) Molybdenum (Mo) This element is best known for its deficiency in certain soils. Under normal conditions molybdenum predominates in anionic form (molybdate), subject to adsorption by iron oxides and hydroxides much like phosphate. While normal molybdenum content in plants is around 0.1 ppm, toxicity symptoms have been observed at levels above 200-300 ppm (dry matter). (viii) Nickel (Ni) This element tends to be highly toxic to plants. As it is easily taken up by plants when present in soils, care must be exercised in disposal of waste containing nickel. Total nickel contents in soils range from 5-500 ppm, with 100 ppm as a rough mean value. The concentration in the soil solution is usually around 0.005-0.05 ppm, and contents in healthy plants do not exceed 1 ppm (dry matter). (ix) Zinc (Zn) The use of this element in galvanized iron is widespread. Zinc commonly occurs in soils at levels of 10-300 ppm, with 30-50 ppm as a rough average range. Sewage sludges may have very high zinc contents, and the possible accumulation of zinc in soil after disposal of such wastes deserves attention. In plants, zinc will become toxic at levels exceeding about 400 ppm (dry matter), where it probably interferes with the uptake of other essential elements. In soil, zinc appears to be rather mobile. Wastes and soil pollution The large amount of waste produced every day in towns and cities and other human settlements end up in soil. The most common kinds of wastes can be classified into four types: agricultural, industrial, municipal, and nuclear (Table 5.13). Table 5.13. Wastes and Soil Pollution Sources Effects Agriculture (i) accumulation of animal manures (ii) excessive input of chemical fertilizers (iii) illicit dumping of tainted crops on land Mining and Quarrying (i) using of explosives to blow up mines (ii) using of machineries which emit toxic byproducts and leaks to the ground Sewage sludge Improper sanitation system causes sludge to leak at surrounding soil Household (i) improper waste disposal system causes waste accumulation (ii) improper sanitation system Dredged spoils Method of dredging at fertile land causes soil infertility, leaving the soil more prone to external pollution Demolition and construction Nonbiodegradable rubbles or debris which undergo chemical reactions and increase soil toxicity Industrial Poisonous/toxic gases which are not filtered or neutralized Control of Soil pollution The following general methods of controlling soil pollution are in use. Effluents should be properly treated before discharging them on to soil. Solid wastes should be properly collected and disposed of by appropriate method. From the wastes, recovery of useful products should be done. Microbial degradation of biodegradable substances reduces soil pollution. 5.5 Marine Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control The sea, which covers around 70 per cent of the earths surface, is home to millions of fish, crustaceans, mammals, microorganisms, and plants. It is a vital source of food for both animals and people. Thousands of birds rely on the sea for their daily food supplies. Fishermen throughout the world catch over 90 million tons of fish every year, and in many developing countries, fish is the principal source of protein.   People also depend on the sea for many of their medicines. Marine animals and plants contain many chemicals that can be used to cure human ailments: an estimated 500 sea species yield chemicals that could help treat cancer.   But the oceans now are in a very bad shape. People have treated the sea as a dumping ground for thousands of years, offloading rubbish, sewage, and more recently industrial waste. Marine pollution frequently originates on land, entering the sea via rivers and pipelines. This means that coastal waters are dirtier than the open seas, with estuaries and harbours being especially badly affected. Additional pollution is actually created at sea by activities such as dredging, drilling for oil and minerals, and shipping.   Marine Pollution   For close to thirty years, most academics studying the phenomena of marine pollution have adhered to a definition developed by a UN body, the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP), who define it as Introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazard to human health, hindrance to marine activities including fishing, impairment of quality for use of sea-water, and reduction of amenities.   The definition has two important aspects:   First, it is action oriented. Marine pollution results from human activity. Thus, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in the ocean floor and subsequent damage or change to the ocean ecosystems is not considered as pollution.   Second, the definition is amenable to measurement. Marine pollution is harmful, and its danger can be identified in a variety of ways. For example, it is easy to see the deleterious effects that oil spills have on the sea birds and mammals that happen to run into them. Scientists likewise can readily identify various toxic substances found in the marine environment, measure their quantities, and provide estimates of their potential danger for the health of both marine life and humans.   The important sources of marine pollution are shown in Fig. 5.4. Toxics Toxic waste is the most harmful form of pollution to marine creatures.   Once a form of toxic waste affects an organism, it can be quickly passed along the food chain and might eventually end up in seafood, causing various problems. Toxic wastes arrive from the leakage of landfills, dumps, mines and farms.   Sewage and industrial wastes introduce chemical pollutants like DDT. Farm chemicals (insecticides and herbicides) along with heavy metals (e.g. mercury and zinc) can have disastrous effect on marine life.   Mercury the most dangerous toxic  element Top priority is usually given to control the pollutant that poses a threat to human health, the most serious being mercury.   Major sources of mercury include rivers, marine outfalls and direct dumping of chemical waste. Natural inputs like the weathering of mercury-bearing rocks, volcanic gases also contribute to mercury in the ocean.   Dissolved mercury in the sea is adsorbed onto particulate matter and also forms stable complexes with organic compounds occurring in the sea. Inorganic mercury can be easily accumulated by living organisms. Fig. 5.4. Sources of marine pollution. A classic example of mercury poisoning happened in Minamata, a small Japanese coastal town dependent on fishing for a livelihood. In 1952, a nearby factory producing vinyl chloride and acetaldehyde using mercuric sulphate as a catalyst dumped its wastes in Minamata bay. Typically 300-1000 g of mercury is lost for each ton of acetaldehyde produced, 5% of which is in the form of methyl mercury. Mercuric chloride when used as a catalyst produces 1 g of methyl mercury per ton of product. Accumulated contamination was as high as 200 ppm mercury at the factory outfall.   The effects began with the death of a large number of fish in the early 1950s. This affected birds, cats, pigs, and humans.  Birds lost coordination to fly.   Cats were seen running in circles and foaming at the mouth.   Local residents called these occurrences the disease of the dancing cats.   Later, the disease was termed Minamata Disease when humans began to have symptoms of methyl mercury poisoning.   Other Toxic Materials   Toxic materials are substances derived from industrial, agricultural, household cleaning, gardening and automotive products. They do not always kill wildlife, but they can threaten inland and coastal waters. Examples of toxic materials include:   Dioxins come from bleaching paper, incineration of solid wastes containing PVC and other materials, and the process of making herbicides. Dioxins and related compounds degrade slowly and are toxic to marine life. They cause genetic chromosomal aberrations in marine life and are suspected of causing cancer in humans.   PCBs are used in the making electrical equipments and hydraulic fluids. Developmental problems in children and reproductive problems in some other animals have been linked to PCBs. Slowly degrading PCBs accumulate as they pass along the ocean food web. PAHs come from oil spills, road runoff, and burning wood and coal.   Marine life and people suffer ill effects from PAHs. PAHs cause genetic and chromosomal problems in fish and most marine organisms.   Sewage and fertilizers   The discharge of sewage can cause public health problems either from contact with polluted waters or from consumption of contaminated fish or shellfish.   The discharge of untreated sewage effluents also produces long-term adverse impacts on the ecology of critical coastal ecosystems in localized areas due to the contribution of nutrients and other pollutants. Pollution due to inadequate sewage disposal causes nutrient enrichment around population centers, and high nutrient levels and even eutrophication near treatment facilities and sewage outfalls.   Around the world, untreated sewage flows into coastal waters, carrying organic waste and nutrients that can lead to oxygen depletion, as well as disease-causing bacteria and parasites that require closing beaches and shellfish beds.  The inadequate number of sewage treatment plants in operation, combined with poor operating conditions of available treatment plants, and the disposal practices of discharging mostly untreated wastewater are likely to have an adverse effect on the ocean.   Oil   The sites most vulnerable for accidents are areas where tankers and barges move through restricted channels and in the vicinity of ports.   In spite of regulations established, tankers and barges do not always use port facilities for the disposal of bilge and tank washing and wastes, and a significant amount of oil, which exceeds that from accidental oil spills, is discharged into the coastal areas. The impact of oil pollution on the ecology of coastal and marine ecosystems is particularly destructive following massive oil spills caused by maritime accidents.   However, gas exchange between the water and the atmosphere is decreased by oil remaining on the surface of the water, with the possible result of oxygen depletion in enclosed bays where surface wave action is minimal. Coral death results from smothering when submerged oil directly adheres to coral surfaces and oil slicks affect sea birds and other marine animals. In addition, tar accumulation on beaches reduces tourism potential of coastal areas.   Mining and Dredging   Mining affects the marine ecosystem and the habitat. Mining can erode beaches, degrade water quality, and spoil coastal habitats. Mining coral to process for lime can remove the habitat of local marine species and weakens coastal storm defense. Mined or dredged areas take a very long time to recover. Because of this, strict regulations govern the dredging of the ocean floor   Synthetic Organic Chemicals   Many different synthetic organic chemicals enter the ocean and become incorporated into organisms. Ingestion of small amounts can cause illness or death.   Halogenated hydrocarbons are a class of synthetic hydrocarbon compounds that contain chlorine, bromine, or iodine are used in pesticides, flame retardants, industrial solvents, and cleaning fluids.   The level of synthetic organic chemicals in seawater is usually very low, but some organisms can concentrate these toxic substances in their flesh at higher levels in the food chain. That is an example of biological amplification.   Marine debris   More garbage such as plastic bags, rope, helium balloons, and stray fishing gear, build up in the oceans every year. Synthetic materials stay in the environment for years, killing or injuring ocean species, like whales and turtles, which mistake litter for food or get entangled in it. Ghost fishing by lost nets not only kills innocent ocean creatures but also reduces fishers catches.   Plastic is not biodegradable and therefore affects the oceans for long periods of time. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and die from internal blockages. Seals and sea lions starve after being muzzled by six-pack rings or entangled by nets.   Effects of Marine Pollution on Living Marine Resources Tens of thousands of chemicals are used to meet societys technological and economic needs. Marine pollution is not only attributed to oil and chemical spills, but much of the debris and toxic substances affecting marine animals, in actual fact, originate on land. Pesticides, plastic bags, balloons, cigarette butts, motor oil, fishing line, find their way into local waterways either though direct dumping, through storm drains (whatever is left on streets, parking lots, can be washed into storm drains which lead directly to local waters), or through sanitary sewers, affecting living marine resources.   The time taken by a few common types of litter to biodegrade is given in Table 5.14. Two basic ways by which chemical contaminants can affect living marine resources are:   By directly affecting the exposed organisms own health and survival, and   By contaminating those resources that other species, including humans, may consume.   Researchers have been studying this dual impact of contaminants using a variety of marine organisms ranging from bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fish to species such as salmon and marine mammals. These biological effects include:   Diseases such as liver lesions in bottom fish, Decreased reproductive success in bottom fish, Impaired immune competence in anadromous fish, and   Growth impairment in invertebrates.   Marine pollution can have serious economic impact on coastal activities and on those who exploit the resources of the sea. In most cases such damage is caused primarily by the physical properties of these pollutants creating nuisance and hazardous conditions. Table 5.14. Degradation time of materials Materials Time to degrade Materials Time to degrade Tin cans 50 years Wool 1 year Painted wood 13 years Plastic rings 400+ years Newspaper 6 weeks Plastic bottles 450 years Paper towels 2 4 weeks Aluminium cans 200 years Disposable diapers 450 years Monofilament line 600 years Polystyrene foam Indefinite Cardboard 2 months Impact on coastal activities   Contamination of coastal amenity areas is a common feature of many spills leading to public disquiet and interference with recreational activities such as bathing, boating, angling and diving. Hotel and restaurant owners and others who gain their livelihood from the tourist trade can also be affected.   Oil and chemical spills can adversely affect industries that rely on a clean supply of seawater for their normal operations. If substantial quantities of floating or sub-surface pollutants are drawn through intakes, contamination of the condenser tubes may result, requiring a reduction in output or total shutdown. Simply, the effects of marine pollution are caused by either the physical nature of the pollutants themselves (physical contamination and smothering) or by their chemical components (toxic effects and accumulation leading to tainting). Marine life may also be affected by clean-up operations or indirectly through physical damage to the habitats in which plants and animals live. The main threat posed to living resources by the persistent residues of spilled oils and water-in-oil emulsions (mousse) is one of physical smothering. The animals and plants most at risk are those that could come into contact with a contaminated sea surface:   Marine mammals and reptiles. Birds that feed by diving or form flocks on the sea. Marine life on shorelines and Animals and plants in Mari culture facilities.   Subsequently the inability of individual marine organisms to reproduce, grow, feed or perform other functions can be caused by prolonged exposure to pollutants, if not eventual death. Sedentary animals in shallow waters such as oysters, mussels and clams that routinely filter large volumes of seawater to extract food are especially likely to accumulate oil components and harmful chemicals, poisoning consumers.   In addition to that, birds, whales and other marine creatures often mistake cigarette butts (which find their way into the waters) for food. The butts contain small plastic pieces that can interfere with the digestion of food, casing marine life to starve. Monofilament fishing line can be lethal to seals, sea lions, fish and other animals. Many marine species, including seals, herring, gulls, sharks, and shellfish have died or suffered injuries from plastic bags, nets and monofilament fishing lines.   Impacts on specific marine habitats The impact that marine pollution can have on selected marine habitats are given below. Within each habitat a wide range of environmental conditions prevail and often there is no clear division between one habitat and another.   In coastal areas some marine mammals and reptiles, such as turtles, may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects from contamination because of their need to surface to breathe and to leave the water to breed.   The impact of oil on shorelines may be particularly great where large areas of rocks, sand and mud are uncovered at low tide.   The amenity value of beaches and rocky shores may require the use of rapid, effective clean-up techniques, which may not be compatible with the plants and animals.   In tropical regions, mangrove trees have complex breathing roots above the surface of the organically rich and oxygen-depleted mud in which they live. Oil may block the openings of the air breathing roots of mangroves or interfere with the trees salt balance, causing leaves to drop and the tress to die. Fresh oil entering nearby animal burrows can damage the root systems and the effect may persist for some time inhibiting decolonization by mangrove seedlings.   Living corals grow on the calcified remains of dead coral colonies that form overhangs, crevices and other irregularities inhabited by a rich variety of fish and other animals. If the living coral is destroyed the reef itself may be subject to wave erosion.   Birds which congregate in large numbers on the sea or shorelines to breed, feed or molt are particularly vulnerable to oil pollution. Although oil ingested by birds during preening may be lethal, the most common cause of death is from drowning, starvation and loss of body heat when their body surfaces are coated with oil.   Impact on fisheries and Mariculture   The pollutants in the waters, especially in the case of oil spills can also damage boats and gears used for catching or cultivating marine species. Floating equipment and fixed traps extending above the sea surface are more likely to become contaminated by floating oil whereas submerged nets, pots, lines and bottom trawls are usually well protected, provided they are not lifted through an oily sea surface.   An oil or chemical spill can also cause loss of market confidence since the public may be unwilling to purchase marine products from the region irrespective of whether the seafood is actually tainted. Bans on the fishing and harvesting of marine products may be imposed following a spill, both to maintain market confidence and to protect fishing gear and catches from contamination.   5.6 Noise Pollution Noise usually means unwanted sound of appreciable intensity which goes on for a length of time (seconds to hours) that irritates people. The noise may emanate from factories, offices and market place, roads (traffic-related), running and shuttling of trains, landing and take-offs of aircrafts at airports, use of loudspeakers in meetings, rallies, celebrations, etc. When the quality and the intensity of the noise is practically constant (varying less than  ±5 dBA) over an appreciable time (seconds or longer), it is often called steady-state noise. The first reaction to any form of unwanted sound is annoyance, followed by irritation, restlessness and extreme reaction. Since noise travels through air, all forms of noise are considered as polluting air and noise is considered as an air pollutant. Sound is defined as a pressure variation that the human ear can detect. Just like dominoes, a wave motion is set off when an element sets the nearest particle of air into motion. This motion gradually spreads to adjacent air particles further away from the source. Depending on the medium, sound propagates at different speeds. In air, sound propagates at a speed of approximately 340 m/s. In liquids and solids, the propagation velocity is greater, 1500 m/s in water and 5000 m/s in steel. Compared to the static air pressure (105 Pa), the audible sound pressure variations are very small ranging from about 20  µPa (20 ÃÆ'- 10-6 Pa) to 100 Pa. The sound pressure level of 20  µPa corresponds to the average persons threshold of hearing. A sound pressure of approximately 100 Pa is so loud that it causes pain and is therefore called the threshold of pain. The ratio between these two extremes is more than a million to one. Sound pressure level alone is not a reliable indicator of loudness. The frequency or pitch of a sound also has a substantial effect on how humans will respond. While the intensity (energy per unit area) of the sound is a purely physical quantity, the loudness or human response depends on the characteristics of the human ear. A direct application of linear scales (in Pa) to the measurement of sound pressure leads to large and unwieldy numbers. Therefore, the acoustic parameters are conveniently expressed as a logarithmic ratio of the measured value to a reference value. This logarithmic ratio is called a decibel or dB. Using dB, the large numbers are converted into a manageable scale from 0 dB at the threshold of hearing (20  µPa) to 130 dB at the threshold of pain (~100 Pa). Some examples of common noise and their decibel levels are given in Table 5.16. The decibel scale is open-ended. 0 dB or dBA should not be construed as the absence of sound. Instead, it is the generally accepted threshold of best human hearing. Sound pressure levels in negative decibel ranges are inaudible to humans. On the other extreme, the decibel scale can go much higher. For example, gun shots, explosions, and rocket engines can reach 140 dBA or higher at close range. Noise levels approaching 140 dBA are nearing the threshold of pain. Higher levels can inflict physical damage on such things as structural members of air and spacecraft and related parts. Table 5.16. Equivalent sound levels in decibels normally occurring inside various places Place Leq (decibels) Small Store (1-5 persons) 60 Large Store (more than 5 persons) 65 Small Office (1-2 desks) 58 Medium Office (3-10 desks) 63 Large Office (more than 10 desks) 67 Miscellaneous Business 63 Residence Typical movement of people no TV or radio Speech at 10 feet, normal voice TV listening at 10 feet, no other activity Stereo music 40-45 55 55-60 50-70 How is noise measured? Basically, there are two different instruments to measure noise exposures: the sound level meter and the dosimeter. A sound level meter is a device that measures the intensity of sound at a given moment. Since sound level meters provide a measure of sound intensity at only one point in time, it is generally necessary to take a number of measurements at different times during the day to estimate noise exposure over a workday. This measurement method is generally referred to as area noise monitoring. A dosimeter is like a sound level meter except that it stores sound level measurements and integrates these measurements over time, providing an average noise exposure reading for a given period of time such as an 8-hour workday. The dosimeter measures noise levels in those locations in which a person works or spends long intervals of time. Such procedures are generally referred to as personal noise monitoring. Human hearing is limited not only to the range of audible frequencies, but also in the way it perceives the sound pressure level in that range. In general, the healthy human ear is most sensitive to sounds between 1,000 Hz 5000 Hz, and perceives both higher and lower frequency sounds of the same magnitude with less intensity. In order to approximate the frequency response of the human ear, a series of sound pressure level adjustments is usually applied to the sound measured by a sound level meter. The adjustments, or weighting network, are frequency dependent. The A-scale approximates the frequency response of the average young ear when listening to most ordinary everyday sounds. When people make relative judgments of the loudness or annoyance of a sound, their judgments correlate well with the A-scale sound levels of those sounds. There are other weighting networks that have been devised to address high noise levels or other special problems (B-scale, C-scale, D-scale etc.) but these scales are rarely, if ever, used in conjunction with highway traffic noise. Noise levels are generated in the A-scale as dBA. In environmental noise studies, A-weighted sound pressure levels are commonly referred to as noise levels. Sources of noise Various sources of noise (Table 5.17) are industry, road traffic, rail traffic, air traffic, construction and public works, indoor sources (air conditioners, air coolers, radio, television and other home appliances), etc. In Indian conditions, indiscriminate use of public address system and diesel generator (DG) sets, has given a new dimension to the noise pollution problem. Noise in Industrial Areas. Mechanized industry creates serious noise problems, su

Prose Text Assignment Of Mice and Men Essay

‘Of Mice and Men’ is about two basic needs – the need for companionship and the need to have something to look forward to. I agree the above statement, all of the characters in the story all experience some form of loneliness. Every one of the characters has a different dream in each one is trying to fulfil it in a different way. The story of Of Mice and Men was set in the period of American history called the ‘Depression’. This period of history lasted from roughly from 1930 to the start of World War 2 (1939). In this period nearly all the companies and banks went bust the stock market crashed and peoples savings disappeared when the banks closed. People very suddenly where very poor. Most people where unemployed, and with unemployment came poverty, hunger and homelessness. It was very difficult to buy food or pay the rent. In America during the ‘Depression’ men travelled in order to find work. Few travelling men could form lasting friendships because they had to keep moving on. A man travelling alone was more vulnerable to being attacked imprisoned or just very lonely. Of Mice and Men is a story based on two men who travel America together looking for work. George travels with his mentally handicapped friend called Lennie. The pair of them has nothing of their own, only the clothes they stand in and each other. Together they share a dream, that one day they will own some land of their own. They find work in a ranch in Satinas Valley, California. They meet of few people on the ranch but find it hard to make new friends. Their dream is soon ruined as Lennie misunderstands the difference between love and cruelty and becomes a victim of his own strength and power. He becomes friends with the only women on the ranch and forms a good friendship with Curley’s Wife. Their friendship soon turns to love and they start to develop a physical relationship, Lennie doesn’t know his own strength and grabs hold of her to hard and strangles her. Everyone finds out and Lennie is threatened with the prospect of being locked up in a mental institution or being executed by the government, so George saves him from this by shooting him. Crookes works as the sable buck hand on the ranch. He first appears in the story on pages 66-82. He is a crippled old man who gets his name from the way his spines bends (crooked). He has deep eyes and looks intense with his face, which is lean and wrinkled. On the ranch he is of a minority as he is the only black person on the ranch, which means he suffers a lot of prejudice remarks from other people. He is a very lonely man, and can often be bitter towards people he doesn’t trust. Particularly white people, as he’s not sure he can trust them. Crookes has is own room on the ranch, as none of the other men want him to stop in the bunkhouse. The only person Crookes can talk to is Lennie, although Lennie doesn’t understand what he is saying as he is mentally handicapped. Crookes seems to like tormenting Lennie and sometimes says some very nasty things to him. Crookes however has more possessions than the other men has he has been on the ranch nearly all his life. He has little money but still has managed to gather some things of his own e.g. books and a dictionary. He is a very proud man and doesn’t like to ask anyone for anything, even though he is crippled he still manages to keep his room neatly swept and is quite ‘aloof’. Crookes suffers from a lot of loneliness, as he is the only black person on the ranch. However he often has the chance to avoid loneliness but rejects it, Lennie tries to speak to him and befriend him but instead of trying to make friends he wallows in self-pity. He is very critical of other people an their dreams and hopes. He tells Candy he will help him fulfil his dreams, but afterwards when he has built his hopes up he tells him he was messing around and won’t help him at all. He has probably spent all of his life on the ranch and thinks there is no way for him to leave, so he has given up hope and lost ambition. George along with Lennie is the main character in the story. He is a short man but is very quick. He is ‘dark of the face’ and has eyes, which appear very restless. He is described as sharp and strong with body parts that are small and strong. His arms are slender and strong and he has a thin boney nose. George wears the same clothes as his companion Lennie; black hats, denim trousers and coat, and carries a blanket over his shoulder. George is rather a unsung hero of the story, he certainly lacks no courage. He has looked after Lennie for a long time, and spares his friend from loneliness. He stops Lennie from being locked up in a mental institution or being executed by the state government. He shoots Lennie but for his own good. Some people may think he did it for selfish reasons as h has looked after Lennie for a long time and is fed up of him. He did it because he cares about Lennie and didn’t want him to suffer loneliness and depression. He cares about Lennie and saved him from what he knows would be worse than death. George would have probably been able to make a good life for himself if it wasn’t for Lennie. George is an intelligent good thinking man, who is very sensible and used to taking charge. He cares a lot about Lennie and is always looking out for him, he is very cautious and warns Lennie about drinking the dirty pond water and tells him to be careful of the bedding at the bunkhouse in case he catches lice. George accepted the burden of looking after Lennie when Lennie Aunt Clara asked him. Without Lennie George would be very lonely, he and Lennie share a big brother-little brother kind of relationship. George has loyally stuck by Lennie throughout everything and having someone to look after and that depends on him makes George feel a better person. Georges longs for independence and would love to be his own boss. George is a kind hearted and compassionate person he sometimes gets frustrated but doesn’t have a bad temper. He is very careful on who he trusts and is very careful when he meets people. He has to be a good judge of character and know who to trust and who not to, because of his and Lennie’s past. George is kind to everyone but he hates Curley he knows that he is nothing more than a bully. He tells Lennie to keep away from him as they cant afford to loose their jobs. However he encourages Lennie to stand up for himself against him. The only thing in life holding him back is Lennie. Lennie is a big man; he has a shapeless face and big pale eyes. He walks slowly but heavily, emphasising how slow his mind is. He has very strong instincts and has bad feeling about staying at the ranch and pleads with George for them to leave. He shows a cunning side and often uses it in getting his own way with George. In the first part of the story Lennie shows us this by using emotional blackmail. George looses his temper so Lennie tells him he is going to live in the woods alone, so George feels sorry for him so he tells him to come back. Lennie has a lot of animal-like qualities, which shows us his strength. He looks up to George like a father or big brother and often copies his ways. As Lennie is mentally handicapped he is unaware of the he is a victim of prejudice remarks and is unable to elate to many people, this often makes his behaviour childlike. Lennie would rather have the company of animals. However is his made to be a likeable character, Candy likes him and even Crookes warms to him. Lennie doesn’t understand he needs to be careful with fragile things and is very heavy handed and doesn’t learn from his mistakes. He reacts very much like a child and often panics. Lennie’s major problem is that he doesn’t know the consequences of his own strength. Lennie doesn’t understand loneliness but if he knew what it meant then he would probably be very lonely but because he is mentally handicapped he has no understanding of this feeling. He understands the need to have something important to look forward to. Lennie’s dream is very important to him; he nearly knows it all his self. He his always-getting George to tell it him over and over again like a child who loves to be told a bedtime story. At the end of the story Lennie has two hallucinations, one with his Aunt Clara in and the other with a giant rabbit in. This could be the author’s way of outlining the abuse Lennie has suffered through his life. Or it could be Lennie conscience telling him that he has done wrong, even though he doesn’t understand how it was wrong. Curley’s wife is an important character in the story, but the author is showing ho little the men think of her by giving her no name. She is seen to be nothing more than one of Curley’s possessions. When we are first introduced she is dressed up as if she is going out somewhere important when in fact all she is doing is staying on the ranch. She has large lips which are emphasised by the red lipstick she wears, she wears lots of make-up, red nail varnish, red shoes, red ostrich feathers and has her hair fastened back in curls. She wears a lot of the colour red, which shows a lot about her. Red is a colour, which is associated with lots of different things, mainly blood that is a clue, her death is near. It is also associated with danger, which is telling you do not get involved with this person she is bad news. Red is commonly regarded as a sexy colour, she is probably trying to show her self to the men as in the story she is displayed as a Scarlet Women. Often she pretends to be looking for her husband but the men know that she is just looking for an excuse, as she is looking for company, as she is lonely, although the men see it as she is just flirting with them. She is the only woman on the ranch, which is a disadvantage, and often gets little attention from anyone including her husband. Many people may think she has it all a husband and a house, but she is just as lonely if not more than any worker on the ranch. She doesn’t think a lot of her husband, which probably means she just married him for the sake of it, the only things they have in common is that their both very selfish. Slim is one of the only people to be kind to her, George feels sorry for her but is worried on the effect she has on Lennie. However her and Lennie get on well and start to develop a physical relationship. Lennie who doesn’t know how to be careful with fragile things takes things to far and ends up strangling her. Candy is the first person George and Lennie meet when they arrive at the ranch. He is the swamper, which is like a cleaner, the lowliest job on the ranch. His name is even belittles him, it’s a girls name. He is a tall man who only has one hand. He is a victim also of prejudice remarks because of his age and disability. He is careful of everyone because he doesn’t want people to tease him. He never sticks up for himself, the only time he did was with Curley’s wife. He has a lot of dignity, which shows the kind of person he once was. Candy has lots of gossip on everyone, which could be seen as getting is own back on people who has upset him by making comments about people behind their back. He always tells the newcomers the gossip on everyone. He is a lonely person and the only companion he has is an old dog. The animal is old and probably needs to be out down but means a lot to candy as he is so lonely. Candy would love to leave the ranch and when he finds out about George and Lennie’s plan he wants to help, and offer to give them his savings, which would easily cover the cost of over half the farm. George, Lennie and Candy thought that in only a couple of weeks their dream to leave the ranch and own a farm would come true. All of the characters in this story are lonely the person I think is the most lonely is George. He has no real friends the only person he has to talk to is Lennie but he doesn’t fully understand what he is saying.