Saturday, November 30, 2019

Sculpins Essays - Cottus, Scorpaeniformes, Sculpin, Cottidae

Sculpins Reproduction and early life history of the Sculpin Have you ever personally thought that fish were an interesting subject? Most people dont. The majority of individuals consider fish ordinary, routine and insignificant. However with a closer look, you may discover that fish can be extraordinary and extremely significant in more ways than one. With proper education and better understanding, people will not only realize the importance of the fish, but also the relevance of issues such as the spawning, life history and life span of fish such as Jordania zonope (sculpins). Prior to the spawning season (December-January), the males move into the spawning zone in fresh water or brackish water and are later joined by the females (Krejsa 1967; McAllister and Lindsey 1960), [On-line]. Krejsa (1967) has reported that spawning migration is limited to the coastal population and does not occur in the inland population. Judging from the location of sculpin larvae taken in this study, both migratory and nonmigratory populations exist. Spawning takes place February through June (Krejsa 1967), [On-line]; mainly in March and April (Moyle 1976), [On-line]; February through May (Millikan 1968), [On-line]; January through September; January through May in Central Valley floor waters; and May through September in the foothill creeks. The average temperature for spawning is 8-13 C (Krejsa 1967). The saltinity is 12 ppt (Millikan 1968); freshwater to intertidal (Moyle 1976); freshwater to oligohaline. Some substrates are large cobbles or flat rocks (Krejsa 1967); under surface of rocks, in beer cans, rusting automobile bodies (Millikan1968), [On-line]; trash (Moyle 1976), [On-line]; under-surfaces or crevices of rocky bottoms and banks, jetties; concrete blocks and other artificial substrates. For both fresh and salt water sculpins mating activity occurs mostly at night or during darkened conditions. Freshwater male sculpins cleans and prepares a nest cavity for the female to lay her eggs; when the female lays her eggs she deposits them in clusters on the underside of the nest that the male has prepared for her. The saltwater female sculpin chases a male until she traps him in a crevice. She keeps him there until she lays her eggs. A mature male then fertilizes the eggs. A mature scalyhead sculpin has a well-developed, penis-like appendage that it uses to fertilize the female internally. Sculpin eggs are often brightly colored-green, blue, yellow, orange, pink, red perhaps to warn off predators. This is a form of protective coloration among many species, which use bright colors to warn predators of danger. The number of eggs that are found in the ovary are 336-5,652 and 700-4,000 per cluster (Krejsa 1967); 584-10,980 eggs in ovary (Bond 1963), [On-line]; 280-7,410 eggs in ovary (Patten 1971), [On-line]; 1,094-5,656 (Millikan 1968), [On-line]. Several females may lay their eggs in one males nest. The female may also lay eggs in more that one males nest. After the eggs are laid the male goes into the nest and fertilizes the eggs immediately . The male fish guards the nest three to four weeks or until the fry leave. He aerates the eggs by fanning them with his large pectoral fins until hatching occurs (Krejsa 1967), [On-line]. The reason the male fans the eggs is to keeps the eggs clean from bacteria and to keep oxygen flowing to eggs. The male also removes debris and dead eggs with his mouth from his nest. The father is so attentive, he may net even feed until the eggs hatch. Eggs adhere strongly to one another, but less to other substrates. Incubation is relatively long: 15-16 days at 12 C (Krejsa 1967), 19-20 days at 10-12 C (Mason and Machidori 1976), [On-line] and 14-15 days at nine to 13 C under laboratory conditions. Millikan (1968) noted that hatching rate of prickly sculpin eggs is higher at a salinity of 12 ppt than in fresh water. A Newly fertilized egg is one point four millimeters in diameter. When the egg is in the stage of morula, it is one point four millimeters in diameter. The egg is one point five millimeters in diameter when it is at the early stage of being an embryo. During the late stages of being an embryo the egg is one point five millimeters in diameter. Most of the sculpins eggs

Monday, November 25, 2019

The eNotes Blog Januarys Study Tip How to Beat the Winter QuarterBlues

Januarys Study Tip How to Beat the Winter QuarterBlues Winter is the cruelest of quarters. One day youre making merry and ringing in the new year, the next youre expected to have read all of your coursework and to bounce back to student life with the youth and agility of, well, a student If you feel the winter quarter sads, try these quick tips to stay motivated for your classes: 1. Jazz up your dorm room Cheap and cheerful are the operative words here. Because of winters short days and long nights, your little space can easily turn gloomy, which in turn will affect your mood and how well you study there. Try injecting some extra light with the help of an inexpensive box of Christmas tree lights. Itll feel like the good winter cheer never left. You can find other dorm room decorating ideas on this Pinterest board. 2. Invest in a light therapy box Similar to above, if you live somewhere cold getting enough of the suns rays can make or break your winter blues. Unless youre fortunate enough to live in the sunshine state this time of year, you may want to invest in a light therapy box for your desk.  Mayo Clinic  has some helpful information on how theyre used to treat SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). You may also want to replenish the Vitamin D youll be missing with nutrition or supplements. 3. Break up a boring routine Yes, routines can be great, but if you feel youre falling into a winter quarter slump because of the day-to-day drudgery of classes, punctuated only by more studying and mealtimes, get out there and find something fun to break up your routine. You could join a club, apply for an internship, audition for the school play, or plan an outing with friends. Anything that gives you something exciting to look forward to is a good thing. And that, my friends, is how you win winter. Enjoy the season!

Friday, November 22, 2019

A Reflection on the Welfare Provisions

A Reflection on the Welfare Provisions Welfare is the provision of necessary supports- be it monetary, social, or otherwise, for people who lack the current means to support their basic needs. The main goal of welfare is to aid those who do not have the ability to meet these needs with the income that they are currently earning. This welfare is usually provided by the government and takes form in different programs and policies. The social welfare system mainly addresses the social problems of poverty, disability, and the economic disparity that is found between the middle and upper classes and the lower class population. Economic welfare impacts the poor in many different ways by aiming to close the gap between where an individual is currently living financially and the level needed to support basic human needs. Programs such as TANF, food stamps, and housing and childcare vouchers are mainly aimed to help those living in poverty as they are need based programs. In order for an individual or family to be able to participate in these programs, they need to meet certain criterion that are based on poverty and financial aid. One issue directly stemming from this is that these programs are not available for those families deemed to be living above poverty. For those just above the need requirements for welfare programs, they may still be struggling to make ends meet but are not able to receive any governmental aid. This brings about the question of how we define poverty and the poverty line. Should those living above poverty but still struggling be able to receive financial aid? Does this require a shi ft in how we define the poverty line? Social welfare programs to aim to lessen the percentage of people living in poverty, but it’s important to consider just how successful different programs are. Social welfare is defined mainly as â€Å"direct public provision of cash and in-kind benefits to individuals and families, free or at below market cost† (Abramovitz). This system is often thought of as only serving to help poor people, but what many don’t realize is that its reach goes far beyond that. There are many social welfare programs that benefit middle and upper class people, and these programs are often seen to receive more federal funding and less stipulations than those that serve the lower class. Middle class and wealthy families do benefit from welfare in many ways. In 2000, the government spent more than 3 times as much funding on programs that do not require poverty or other need as a specification in order to receive aid than on the programs that did directly affect those living in poverty. There are many reasons for the disparity in funding- one main one being that there is a larger number of people living above the poverty line than those living at or below it. This difference also stems from the fact that program requirements for inclusion are normally less restrictive for those programs that benefit the middle and upper classes. These differences are highlighted in the U.S. House Committee on Way and Means’s comparison of disparities in average monthly cash benefits of individuals in welfare programs. This report looked at social security and public assistance as the two main categories of welfare programs, then focusing in on benefits per person. Retired worke rs received about $800 per month from social security while a family of 3 received $420 per month from TANF. This is just one disparity that helps us to see where society places its values. Historically, US policies and programs have treated those in the working class as more deserving of aid than people without jobs and single mothers. There’s a severe discrepancy in how we view those with and without jobs- often including an assumption that people without jobs are simply lazy and that single mothers are undeserving recipients because of their marital status. Social insurances are based on an individual’s prior earnings and â€Å"payroll contributions† (Marx) while public assistance is based on financial need. Social insurances such as social security are universal programs because they do not have a need-based criterion in order to participate. The latter is what is most commonly referred to as welfare, with much of the general public not recognizing that prog rams such as social security are also social welfare programs. Welfare benefits people of all classes in a multitude of ways. Society has, historically, looked down on welfare because it is seen as serving only those living in poverty. This fails to realize that the middle and upper classes also benefit from welfare programs, and that these programs are usually better funded than those serving the poor population. The social welfare system is expansive and aims to help people of all different financial levels.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Economy and it's Effect on Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Economy and it's Effect on Politics - Essay Example The existence of the EU is the result of desire to create a European common market, where trade barriers are removed and hence promote economic activities between political member states whilst becoming a united political entity on the world stage. Five economic tests were set out to determine whether the UK's economy was ready for such a change, 1) Convergence with the Euro zone; 2) Flexibility to adapt; 3) Impact on jobs and economic growth; 4) Impact on the financial services sector; and 5) Impact on investment (BBC, 2003). Two of these tests will be discussed in this essay. The Bank of England currently sets the interest rate for the UK but convergence means that power will be transferred to the European Central Bank (ECB). The UK's economy would have to be in sync with the rest of the Euro zone to avoid stresses on the domestic economy, for example The UK's mortgages are unlike the majority of Euro mortgages as they are in general variable rate mortgages, the UK has the highest property owner occupation than any other European country so is sensitive to interest rate changes. There are political and economic consequences to this sensitivity for example mortgage borrowers show unenthusiastic attitude to their political pee rs concerning joining the Euro zone precisely because of this and convergence would bear consequence on the economy as there would be a reduced spending power of these borrowers. Joining a single

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Strategic Plan as a Crucial Part of Dynamics of Transforming Technolog Coursework

Strategic Plan as a Crucial Part of Dynamics of Transforming Technology - Coursework Example In a broader sense, strategic planning is a decision-making activity. Every organization has certain systems of strategic planning, whether implied or unambiguous. The core of the strategic plan lies in developing the right future for organizations and to accomplish competitive advantage over other rivals. Formal strategic planning in the present age is a recent phenomenon of a rapidly changing environment. Nowadays, as information technology serves as the motivator of several organizational renovations, there is an increased pressure on organizations to address their strategic planning in keeping with the upgraded technological benefits. Success usually takes place when an organization is capable of accomplishing resemblance between technology and strategic planning. The strategic planning is intended to ensure that technological activities are properly associated with the growing requirements and strategies of an organization. In present days, several organizations attempt to maint ain that technology as well as strategy is incorporated with a clear understanding of business direction. Organizations accomplish a high degree of consonance between business priorities and technological functions through better strategic configuration. In the changing technological environment, the position of strategic planning with technological activities has become one of the topmost matters for any business.In present days, the use of technology can directly impact on the competitive position in an organization. Technology has become a new weapon for organizations to develop competitiveness, indicating a new connection between business strategy and technological improvement. The competitive advantage of strategic planning based on technology can be observed from the business plan of Beach Bum gym where the use of ‘Netpulse’ technology can enhance the entertainment related experience of the members within the gym, making it one of the most competitive facilities a mong other gym clubs. It can bring about fundamental changes in the gym industry by providing customers to design their own workout environment according to their suitability.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Essay Example for Free

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Essay Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease which may affect many different organs and tissues in the body. Women of child bearing age are typically affected, but individuals of any age, sex, or race may develop the disease. SLE while uncommon, is not rare, with an estimated disease prevalence of 1 in every 2,000 population. It is a condition which appears to be increasing in prominence especially over the last 15 to 20 years. This is likely explained by the earlier recognition of milder cases because of increased patient and physician awareness and by the enhanced availability of sensitive laboratory tests helpful in the diagnosis. Although the exact cause is not known, most of the features of the disease seem to be due to a fundamental abnormality of the bodys immune system. The immune system is the bodys defence mechanism against foreign substances entering the body. It depends on the formation of compounds called antibodies and on hite cells called lymphocytes which rise to the defense of the body in case of invasion by foreign agents such as germs or viruses. This is a normal and desirable process in the healthy individual. In patients with SLE, there seems to be a defect in the bodys immune system whereby antibodies are mistakenly formed against the bodys own tissues. This leads to inflammation and damage in the tissues so affected. Patients with SLE can be identified by the presence of these abnormal antibodies in their blood stream. It is not clear what triggers this immune abnormality but several factors seem to be contributory in some patients. These include infection, hormonal, genetic, and unidentified environmental factors. Some drugs including those used for the treatment of tuberculosis (isoniazid), high blood pressure (hydralazine), and convulsions (dilantin) have also occasionally been associated with the development of SLE. Clinical Features The majority of patients with SLE have very mild symptoms which can be easily controlled with simple measures. A small minority have more serious manifestations which may require more aggressive forms of treatment. The seriousness of the disease is frequently related to the type and number of organs affected. The following is a summary of some of the signs and symptoms that may occur in lupus patients grouped according to the organs or tissues affected: General symptoms Fever and unusual fatigue occur in up to 80 or 90% of SLE patients at some time during the course of their illness. Skin rash a very common feature occurring in many patients. The classic rash is called a butterfly rash because it occurs in a butterfly-like patch over the bridge of the nose and cheeks. This type of rash is in fact quite uncommon with most lupus rashes being far less specific and occurring anywhere on the body but especially over sun exposed areas. Many lupus rashes appear to be provoked or aggravated by direct sun exposure. Sores may also occur in the nose and mouth, and scalp hair loss may occur in some individuals. In a closely related condition called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), the rash may arise as distinct scaly and reddish patches which may heal with scarring. Patients with DLE are frequently otherwise well. They demonstrate few, if any, of the symptoms of SLE and usually have a nearly normal laboratory profile. Joints stiffness, pain, and swelling may commonly occur. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis however, permanent damage to the joints is almost unheard of. Membranes of the heart and lungs, the linings of the heart and lungs may occasionally become inflamed in SLE patients leading to sharp chest pains and shortness of breath. If it involves the lung, the condition is called pleuritis. If it affects the heart, the condition is called pericarditis. Blood cells a number of abnormalities may occur in the blood including anaemia or a fall in the red blood cell count and/or falls in the white cell count or platelet count (particles in the blood that help with clotting) and thus lead to potential problems with bleeding. Kidneys often a sign of more serious disease, inflammation of the kidney may lead to loss of protein in the urine, increased blood pressure and occasionally kidney failure. Brain and nerves fortunately, a relatively rare problem, patients so affected may have trouble with headaches convulsions, emotional disturbances, weakness or numbness of the extremities. Diagnosis The diagnosis of SLE is suspected in any individual who presents with one or more of the clinical features outlined above. A diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory tests which show the presence of one or more abnormal circulating antibodies in the blood stream. These antibodies may be directed against any tissue in the body. The most important of these however, is an antibody directed against the centre or nucleus of the cells in the body, the so-called anti-nuclear antibody or ANA. ANAs are normally not present or present only in barely detectable quantities in healthy individuals. Thus, this test is very helpful to the doctor if he is suspicious about the possibility of SLE. It is very important however, to stress that the presence of ANAs doesnt specifically point to a diagnosis of SLE since abnormal antibodies of this type may occur in other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, certain infections and inflammation of the liver. Thus the diagnosis of SLE requires both the presence of abnormal antibodies (especially ANAs) as well as signs and symptoms suggesting inflammation of several organs or tissues in the body. Although, all lupus patients have elevated levels of ANA, not all people with elevated ANA have lupus. Increased levels of ANA generally indicate that the physician should follow up with an anti-DNA antibody test. To assist in the diagnosis of SLE, the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) in 1982 adopted a set of criteria for the classification of this disease. (See Table 1) It should be noted that while a variable number of these features may occur during the course of the disease, they need not occur at the same time. Moreover, it is quite unpredictable as to which patient may develop which particular symptom or grouping of symptoms at any particular time.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Othello, The Moor of Venice Essay examples -- Shakespearean Literatur

Othello, the Moor of Venice is one of the major tragedies written by William Shakespeare that follows the main character, Othello through his trials and tribulations. Othello, the Moor of Venice is similar to William Shakespeare’s other tragedies and follows a set of specific rules of drama. The requirements include, following the definition of a tragedy, definition of tragic hero, containing a reversal of fortune, and a descent from happiness. William Shakespeare fulfills Aristotle’s requirements in this famous play. Aristotle the famous philosopher outlined several requirements in which a play or piece of drama is to follow. The first rule that is met in Shakespeare’s play is that Othello is considered tragic hero, which every tragedy must contain. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be a man in a position of power who is a good person and makes a mistake during the timeline of the play due to a tragic flaw. Othello’s major flaw can be seen as jealousy: â€Å"Othello has often been described as a tragedy of character, as the play’s protagonist swiftly descends into a rage of jealousy that completely destroys his life†("Othello"). Othello is shown he is a good man within the first few scenes of the play: â€Å"She wished she had not heard it; yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man† (1.3.162-163). This line in Act I spoken by Othello, is an indication that he is a good person although it may appear that he has stolen Desdemona away from her father. Othello speaks that although he has taken Desdemona as his wife without Brabantio’s consent, he is a good person for stating his reasons for his actions as well as standing his ground. After Othello’s marriage to Desdemona, the conflict is started when Iago insinuates t... ... Works Cited Catherine Bates, "Weaving and Writing in Othello," in Shakespeare Survey, Vol. 46, edited by Stanley Wells, Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp. 51–60. Dreher, Diane. "Shakespeare's Cordelia and the power of character." World and I Apr. 1998: 287+. Fine Arts and Music Collection. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Newton, K.M. "Othello: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. "Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-687. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Shakespeare, William. Othello, the Moor of Venice. Literature. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 368-455. Print. Othello, The Moor of Venice Essay examples -- Shakespearean Literatur Othello, the Moor of Venice is one of the major tragedies written by William Shakespeare that follows the main character, Othello through his trials and tribulations. Othello, the Moor of Venice is similar to William Shakespeare’s other tragedies and follows a set of specific rules of drama. The requirements include, following the definition of a tragedy, definition of tragic hero, containing a reversal of fortune, and a descent from happiness. William Shakespeare fulfills Aristotle’s requirements in this famous play. Aristotle the famous philosopher outlined several requirements in which a play or piece of drama is to follow. The first rule that is met in Shakespeare’s play is that Othello is considered tragic hero, which every tragedy must contain. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be a man in a position of power who is a good person and makes a mistake during the timeline of the play due to a tragic flaw. Othello’s major flaw can be seen as jealousy: â€Å"Othello has often been described as a tragedy of character, as the play’s protagonist swiftly descends into a rage of jealousy that completely destroys his life†("Othello"). Othello is shown he is a good man within the first few scenes of the play: â€Å"She wished she had not heard it; yet she wished That heaven had made her such a man† (1.3.162-163). This line in Act I spoken by Othello, is an indication that he is a good person although it may appear that he has stolen Desdemona away from her father. Othello speaks that although he has taken Desdemona as his wife without Brabantio’s consent, he is a good person for stating his reasons for his actions as well as standing his ground. After Othello’s marriage to Desdemona, the conflict is started when Iago insinuates t... ... Works Cited Catherine Bates, "Weaving and Writing in Othello," in Shakespeare Survey, Vol. 46, edited by Stanley Wells, Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp. 51–60. Dreher, Diane. "Shakespeare's Cordelia and the power of character." World and I Apr. 1998: 287+. Fine Arts and Music Collection. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Newton, K.M. "Othello: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. "Othello." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 649-687. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Shakespeare, William. Othello, the Moor of Venice. Literature. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 368-455. Print.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Paritcipation in Team Sports Essay

PARTICIPATION IN TEAM SPORTS FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL The participation in team sports fosters the development of the individual. Not only giving a person an excuse to exercise, team sports have a few other benefits as well for example social, emotional and physical ones. The participation in team sports is important to the development of the individual. It helps your physical and emotional growth and builds valuable social skills. It also helps to build ones character, develops your people skills, teaches perseverance and develops your integrity, giving you moral fibre. Being part of a team you will have to sacrifice and it asks for a great deal of commitment and perseverance. Giving up on spending time in front of the television and spending it at practise is vital for any team’s success. The fact that you have your teammates around you makes the difficult task of sacrifice and attending every practise very easier as you are there to motivate each other. â€Å"I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion†- Anonymous Team sports provide an opportunity to learn discipline, confidence and leadership. It teaches principles such as tolerance, co-operation and respect. Above all it teaches the value of effort and how to manage victory as well as defeat. It will help the individual to also be happy for other player’s successes because they see how it benefits the greater team. The individual will appreciate fair play in their team sport. Playing team sport is the easiest way to stay fit and healthy and still enjoy doing this. Team sport fosters the development of a healthy lifestyle. It is possible to stay fit and healthy playing any sport, but once again having that friend next to you, motivating you through the last twenty metres can definitely not be replaced by any accomplishment in an individual sport. Being part of a team, especially across different cultural barriers can develop and build your character. A team sport can instill core values in an individual, such as, co-operation, sharing and respect. It helps a person connect with others and accept each other for who they are, despite the fact of being different and making mistakes on the field. To be an individual on the sports field can never beat the sensation of belonging to a team. That is why I know that the development of an individual can only increase in a team sport. As we have all heard so many times: There is no â€Å"I† in team. Working together is fun. So, join the team and develop every aspect of your life, while having fun and not being lonely and all by yourself.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Karl Benz Essay

Karl Benz was born on 25th November 1844 in Karlsruhe, the son of an engine driver. The middle of the last century, when Benz was an apprentice, was a time of widespread fascination with the â€Å"new technology†. The first railway line in Germany from Nuremberg to Furth had been opened in 1835, only twenty years before, and in the space of just a few decades the railways, steamships and new production processes had ushered in a new era in technology, industry and everyday life. Karl Benz attended the Karlsruhe grammar school and subsequently the Karlsruhe Polytechnic. Between 1864 and 1870, he worked for a number of different firms as a draughtsman, designer and works manager before founding his first firm in 1871 in Mannheim, with August Ritter. But little money was to be made in the building materials trade and the economic convulsions of the 1870’s caused difficulties for the young company. Karl Benz now turned to the two-stroke engine, in the hope of finding a new livelihood. After two years’ work, his first engine finally sprang to life on New Year’s Eve, 1879. He took out various patents on this machine. Equally important were the contacts with new business associates, with whose assistance Benz founded a gas engine factory in Mannheim. But after only a short time he withdrew from this company since it did not give him a free enough hand for his technical experiments. Benz found two new partners and with them founded â€Å"Benz & Co., Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik† in 1883 in Mannheim, a general partnership. Business was good and soon the production of industrial engines was being stepped up With this new financial security, Karl Benz could now set about designing a â€Å"motor carriage†, with an engine based on the Otto four stroke cycle. Unlike Daimler, who installed his engine in an ordinary carriage, Benz designed not only his engine, but the whole vehicle as well. On 29th January 1886, he was granted a patent on it and on 3rd July 1886, he introduced the first automobile in the world to an astonished public. In 1903, Karl Benz retired from active participation in his company. The next year however, he joined the supervisory board of Benz & Cie and he was a member of the supervisory board of Daimler-Benz AG from 1926, when the company was formed, until his death in 1929. In 1872, Karl Benz married Bertha Ringer, who was to be of major support to him in his work. The couple produced five children. Benz lived to witness the motoring boom and the definitive penetration of his idea in to everyday life. He died on 4th April 1929. The former Benz family residence in Ladenburg is now open to the public. The Daimler-Benz foundation, founded in 1986, has its registered office here.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Kobe Earthquake Essays - Seismology, Great Hanshin Earthquake

Kobe Earthquake Essays - Seismology, Great Hanshin Earthquake Kobe Earthquake An earthquake is defined as a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin. In the case of the Great Hyogo (Hanshin) earthquake of Kobe, Japan it is tectonic in origin. This devastating earthquake which occurred on the 17th of January at 5:46 a.m measured at a whopping 7 (7.2) on the Richter scale. This was the largest recorded earthquake to ever hit Japan. According to the Japan Meteorological its epicentre was in 34.6 north and 135.0 east in the northern tip of Awaji Island with a focal depth of 14 km. According to the results of the recorded in 24 observation centre, the fracture which triggered the earthquake was happened inside the Nojima Fault. Also investigation in the sea bed by the Ocean observatory Centre shows that the cracks occurred in Nojima Fault. This fault forms a part of a group of faults known as the Rokko Fault', which extends from Awaji Island through Kobe City to the foot of Mount Rokko. The movement of the fault can be explained by the Tectonic characteristic of west Japan. The main reason for the big earthquakes in west part of Japan are the tectonic activities of the Eurasian, the Pacific, the North America and the Philippine plates. The collision between these plates in the central part of Honshu (Japan main island) is the main source of strain accumulation in the crust of western part of Japan. Casualty figures quickly mounted by the hour and when it was all said and done 5,472 people had lost their lives and 415,000 people were left injured. By the fourth day after the earthquake about 310,000 residents spent the night at 1,077 refugee centres. More than 350 fires broke out wiping out around 100 hectares of densely populated area. Fire fighting was virtually ineffective due to an inadequate water supply and access to fires. Lifeline facilities were severely damaged over a large area and following the earthquake, 900,000 households were left without electricity, 850,000 households were without gas, and water supply cuts affected about 2.5 million people. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corp.'s 160,000 lines out of 800,000 lines were out of order. The damage to major infrastructure, especially to the elevated expressway and shinkansen (bullet train) tracks, shocked engineers, planners and the general public. According to news reports its tracks were damaged at 42 locations. The first Shinkansen train was to run 30 minutes after the time of the earthquake. Had the disaster occurred few hours later, with an average capacity of about 1,600 passengers/train, casualty rate could have been much higher. Sections of elevated Hanshin expressway toppled virtually cutting off major transport lines to the affected areas. A contiguous section supported by eighteen single columns had fallen sideways in Higashi Nada-ku. Modern buildings and structures retrofitted with up-to-date engineering techniques fared well in the Great Hyogo quake. Much of the damage occurred in traditionally built older homes and in areas near the coast where liquefaction of the soil caused instability in structures. A large number of reinforced concrete structures were completely devastated. The economic damage estimates vary from around 100 - 150 billion dollars US. The most extensively and severely damaged structures were smaller commercial buildings (often with residences upstairs) constructed with limited engineering design and traditional homes. The smaller commercial and mixed occupancy buildings are typically framed with wood or light steel and have walls of stucco over wood slats. Many of these buildings have a large shop window in the front and lack interior walls, factors which weaken the first floor. Traditional homes, typically those built before the 1970s, have heavy tile roofs with tiles set in a thick clay and mud mortar, few partitions, and are not waterproofed which causes widespread dry rot and water damage. Little nailing is used; wood joinery is more common. Many casualties were found in damaged and collapsed traditional homes. The heavy tile roofs stressed the walls, which cracked, crumbled and often collapsed, triggering fires from broken gas pipes. The Kobe earthquake exposed more modern and engineered buildings to stronger forces than any previous earthquake. The preliminary report indicates more studies are needed to evaluate seismic codes, design practice and construction

Monday, November 4, 2019

The origin and justification of judicial review Essay

The origin and justification of judicial review - Essay Example Many people did not believe in giving the judiciary such powers and authority. Since the institution of the American constitution, the judicial system was given the mandate to oversight the activities of the state government. The statutes and states’ constitutions could not, under the observation of the judicial system, go against the supreme law of the land. This supreme law is the American constitution. However, one issue that the framers of the American constitution did not provide a solution for is whether the federal courts had any oversight power over the congress and the executive. Upholding congressional acts in the early years of the republic somehow confirmed the existence of judicial review. However, it was still unclear, until 1803, whether the judiciary had any power to similarly strike down the acts. In 1803, the chief justice John Marshall ruled an act of congress unconstitutional. In his argument, the duty of the Supreme Court and the judicial system is largely to declare the law. According ti him, therefore, a statutory, congressional of even executive act that is against this law must be deemed unconstitutional and the constitution must prevail. In another instance, the judicial review was applied once more before the civil war. The Supreme Court, in 1857, ruled the Missouri Compromise of 1820 unconstitutional. It is also at around the same time that several statutory acts were struck down by the Supreme Court. In addition, concerns were raised after the Civil War on the Fourteenth Amendment which gave the federal government unnecessary powers over the state governments. This being an executive was again struck down. This further confirmed the stability of the judiciary and its impartiality in applying the power bestowed on it. This exercise of power has however not been wit hout political opposition. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Supreme Court was repeatedly

Saturday, November 2, 2019

HR Apple company Leadership and Motivation&Reward Essay

HR Apple company Leadership and Motivation&Reward - Essay Example Apple Computer Inc. is a company that has gained universal recognition due to its innovative and branded hardware and software that are easy to use, powerful and more elegant as compared to those of their rivals (Carlopio, Andrewartha & Armstrong 2004, p. 217). However, this positive innovation can be attributed to the leadership practices and motivation and reward that are exercised by the management team of this company. This paper will therefore critically evaluate the effect and contribution of leadership practices and motivation on the performance of Apple Computer Inc. and other organizations. For this purpose, the paper aims at providing the clear definitions of leadership and motivation and reward, thereby critically examining different theories appropriate to these practices. According to Gibb, leadership is the process of influence whereby principled and authoritative individuals exercise high level of influence over the subjects or followers than the subjects did over them (qtd in Ladkin 2010, p. 35). Gibb therefore recognized leadership as a processes in which an individual exercised due influence on another in order to complete an assigned task or to achieve a certain objective. On the other hand Marshall describes transformational leadership as the a leadership style whereby a leader identifies an absolute need for change in the organization, formulates a vision that will â€Å"guide the change through inspiration† and lastly, executes the change with the help and commitment of others (2011, p. 3). Transformational leaders therefore tend to work towards achieving extraordinary positive results. Transformational leadership theory has interested of many organizational leaders over the past few years. According to Givens, this theory was established in 1978 by Burns (2008, p. 4). This theory is based on the ability of the leader to provide motivation to the subjects in order to accomplish the general set