Biology Green Fruit Ripening Experiment free essay sample

Observation/ Mission Statement: Wrapping green bananas in newspaper will ripen them faster. Background Knowledge: Plants use ethylene as a hormone. It is a very small, simple molecule that exists as a gas at biological temperatures. Thus, when a plant releases ethylene, it diffuses quite quickly in the air. Ripening can be accelerated or decelerated depending on the conditions green fruits are put under for example washing fruits or wrapping them in newspaper. Therefore newspaper (wrapping green fruit in newspaper) is the independent variable while ripening is the dependent variable. Examine both bananas 3. Wrap six of the bananas in a sheet of newspaper and leave the other out in the open. . Record the time and day. 5. Everyday at the same time, check for yellow colouration among the bananas in each bowl. Experiment ends once yellow colouration is observed. Expected Result: It is expected that yellow colouration will occur first in the wrapped banana. We will write a custom essay sample on Biology Green Fruit Ripening Experiment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Limitations: Weather patterns and temperature differ each day Conclusion: In the end both bananas became ripe. However the banana wrapped in newspaper ripened quicker and by the end of the 7 days it had become slightly overripe.

What ACT Percentiles Mean in College Admissions

What ACT Percentiles Mean in College Admissions Much of the ACT data on this site and elsewhere on the web show ACT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of students. But what exactly do these numbers mean? Understanding the 25th and 75th Percentile ACT Numbers Consider a college profile that presents the following ACT scores for the 25th and 75th percentiles: ACT Composite: 21/26ACT English: 20/26ACT Math: 21/27 The lower number is the 25th percentile of students who enrolled in (not just applied to) the college. For the school above, 25% of enrolled students received a math score of 21 or lower. The upper number is the 75th percentile of students who enrolled in the college. For the above example, 75% of enrolled students got a math score of 27 or lower (looked at another way, 25% of students got above a 27). For the school above, if you have an ACT math score of 28, you would be in the top 25% of applicants for that one measure. If you have a math score of 19, you are in the bottom 25% of applicants for that measure. Understanding these numbers is important when you plan how many colleges to apply to, and when you figure out which schools are a reach, a match, or a safety. If your scores are near or below the 25th percentile numbers, you should consider the school a reach. Note that this does not mean you wont get in- remember that 25% of students who enroll have a score that is at or below that lower number. Why Do Colleges Present 25th and 75th Percentile Data? You may wonder why the standard practice for ACT score reporting focuses on 25th and 75th percentile data rather than the full range of scores earned by matriculated students. The reason is rather simple- the outlying data is not an accurate representation of the type of student who typically attends the college or university. Even the countrys most selective colleges  admit a few students with ACT scores that are well below the norm. For example, 75% of enrolled students at Harvard University scored a 32 or higher on the ACT. However, this graph of Harvard admissions data  shows that a few students got in with ACT scores that were in the mid teens. How, exactly, did these students get in? The reasons could be many: perhaps the student did not have English as a first language but was exceptional in many other ways; perhaps the student had straight A grades and 5 scores on AP exams, but simply didnt perform well on the ACT; perhaps the student had such remarkable accomplishments that the admissions folks overlooked a sub-par ACT score; perhaps the student had a disadvantaged background that made the ACT an unfair measure of ability. That said, if you have a 15 ACT composite score, you shouldnt get your hopes up for Harvard. Without some kind of exceptional story or circumstances, the 25th percentile number of 32 is a much more accurate representation of what youll need to be admitted.   Similarly, even non-selective colleges will get a few students who have extremely high ACT scores.   But publishing a 35 or 36 as the upper end of ACT data wouldnt be meaningful to prospective students. Those high performing students would be the exception, not the norm. Sample ACT Percentile Data for Top Schools   If youre interested in seeing what the 25th and 75th percentile scores are for some of the countrys most prestigious and selective colleges, check out these articles: ACT Comparison Tables: the Ivy League | top universities | top liberal arts colleges | more top liberal arts | top public universities | top public liberal arts colleges | University of California campuses | Cal State campuses | SUNY campuses | More ACT tables The tables will help you see how you measure up in relation to students who were admitted to each school. What If Your ACT Scores Are Below the 25% Number? Keep in mind that a low ACT score doesnt need to be the end of your college dreams. For one, a quarter of all admitted students got in with scores below the 25% number. Also, there are a lot of excellent colleges that do not require ACT scores. Finally, be sure to check out these strategies for students with low ACT scores.

Juvenile Justice Policy Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Juvenile Justice Policy - Research Paper Example The juvenile system deals with youth who have broken the law and are at risk of turning into a problematic issue for the justice system in the future. Unlike the established judicial system that has been designed to punish and rehabilitate wrongdoers within the society, the juvenile system mainly focuses on the aspect of rehabilitation rather than punishment for the mistakes of those who have been committed to the system (Barbaree & Marshall, 2008). The idea behind this is that those who are still in the youthful stages of their lives have a higher chance of correcting their ways and becoming assets to their communities, and this is what the system has been made to help them achieve. The juvenile system aims at trying to redirect young delinquents back to the right path before it is too late. There are several policies that have been setup as a result with a view to achieving this aim and one of these was focused on the Native American population and their education. This policy focu sed on finding Native American youth who were not receiving the required level of care and attention with regard to issues such as the development of their education and stepping into the parental roles to provide these needs (Woolard & Scott, 2009). At one time, the policy functioned by identifying these youthful individuals and removing them from their homes when deemed necessary and placing them in residential schools. This policy emerged after it was discovered that many Native Americans did hold much weight in the western education system and thus did not insist on their children acquiring this education from the school systems that were at their disposal (Bartol & Bartol, 2009). As a result, a large number of these youth resorted to juvenile crimes that got them in trouble with law enforcement and set precedence for them in terms of their future. It was figured that if this was to continue, many of these youth delinquents would grow up to be serious criminals unless something was to be done about the situation. The system worked with the collaboration of the members of society who would report instances where they felt that their neighbors were neglecting their children and thus intervention was needed. The government would then send an official to investigate the claims, and if the accusations were found to be justified the minor was removed from the home and taken to foster care where they would be enrolled into a residential school that was near the vicinity (Siegel& Welsh, 2011). The children would also be identified according to files that were developed on those who had been found culpable of a number of crimes and thus had a record with the juvenile system. If an individual was a repeat offender then concern would be raised within the department, and an official would be sent to the individual’s home to determine whether their domestic environment was a reason behind their delinquent behavior (Barbaree & Marshall, 2008). These methods of id entification seemed to be successful at the beginning, but as time wore on there were a number of issues that were found with such arrangements. Some of the disadvantages or flaws that were identified within the system included issues such as greed whereby foster parents would attempt

Describe photograph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Describe photograph - Essay Example There are two small motorized boats in the middle foreground, one brown and one white, both being driven by single adult males towards the viewer. Other boats are moored amongst the poles on the left, and there are still more boats moving on the water. The canal flows in a sweep of steely blue, from the middle of the picture down to the front and to the right, where it forms the bottom right corner of the picture and turns into a turquoise shade, showing triangular wave patterns in the wake of the boats. There are no trees, and no sidewalks, but the water looks very like a street, because of the busy traffic of boats on it. It dominates the front and center of the picture, and clearly the photographer intended to capture the character of this interesting mode of transportation. Despite the boats which are clearly moving, there is serenity in the picture which comes from the expanse of water and sky, and the lack of human people, despite all the evidence of habitation and city life. The middle section of the picture consists of buildings on both sides, though those on the right are smaller than those on the left. About half way up the photograph on the right there is a large domed building, with several smaller domed towers to its right. This is clearly a special location, because it is much bigger than the other buildings around it, and it forms a striking silhouette against the sky, like a collection of upturned tea-cups on a table. Most of the domestic buildings have red tiled roofs while the domes are a mauve/brown color. Television antennae, flagpoles, and chimneys stick up from all the rooftops. Further up still, and in the distance, compared to the viewer, there is another tower, with a small sphere on the roof, resting on a square roofed building which has two round arches. Above all the buildings, and stretching over the whole top edge of the picture there is

Discussion 1 zhong Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion 1 zhong - Assignment Example The quantity per serving of corn grits instant plain is 1 cup that is equivalent to 245 grams and the product exists in different package sizes. Each serving contains 167 calories, 0.5 g of fats, 0 mg of cholesterol, 525 g of sodium, 36.9 g of carbohydrates and 3.9 g of proteins. Raisin bran crunch is the healthier of the two. This is because while the two food labels have low levels of fats and zero levels of cholesterol, raisin bran crunch has higher quantities of carbohydrates for energy, higher percentage of calcium, and has vitamin A and vitamin C that corn grits instant plain lacks. Each serving of raisin bran crunch has 1.89 percent total fats, zero percent cholesterol, 0.39 percent sodium, 84.9 percent carbohydrates, and 6.04 percent proteins while corn grain instant plain has 0.2 percent of fats, zero percent cholesterol, 0.21 percent sodium, 15.06 percent carbohydrates, and 1.59 percent of proteins. One of the health claims that could describe raisin bran crunch is the low level of cholesterol that is good for health. Benefits of high energy level foods are another claim that best describe the food label. The two claims also describe corn grits instant plain. Your response to components of the food labels is comprehensive to the prompt’s requirements with provisions calories per serving and quantities of different nutrients. You also clearly identify the quantities for each food label and this allows for easy comparison. Your rationale for grading the food labels on health basis is also valid because sugars readily available from common sources and is therefore not very fundamental to a specific food label. Your post also responds to all prompts and identifies accurate health claims for the two food labels for discussion. The post succeeds in identifying the required components for each of the food labels. Its systematic presentation of the components

Rain Water Harvesting As Water Scarcity Solution Environmental Sciences Essay

Rain Water Harvesting As Water Scarcity Solution Environmental Sciences Essay Availability of water is critical for ecosystem health and productivity, ensuring supply of a range of products and services, to benefit human well-being (e.g., GEO4, 2007; MA, 2005). Future pressures from climate change, growing population, rapid land use changes and already degraded water resource quality, may intensify water shortages in specific communities and exacerbate existing environmental and economic concerns (5). Population around the world today depends on the renewable resources of water for their water needs in industrial, agricultural and domestic sectors. But when these are withdrawals are greater than 20% of total renewable resources, water stress often is a limiting factor on development; withdrawals of 40% or more represents high stress. Similarly, water stress may be a problem if a country or region has less than 1,700 m3 yr-1 of water per capita (4). In 1990, approximately one-third of the worlds population lived in countries using more than 20% of their water r esources, and by 2025 about 60% of a larger total would be living in such stressed countries, in the absence of climate change largely because of population growth (6).IPCC in its Third Assessment Report predicts that increase of temperature between 1-2 °C would lead to decrease in water supply in regions already suffering from water scarcity such as the Mediterranean, southern Africa, and arid parts of central and south Asia affecting half a billion people. These areas will be further affected if the temperature increases 2-3  °C (1). With growing number of population belonging to the water stress areas of the world, it has become crucial for humans to find out alternative sources of water, proper management of the given resources and bring in technological changes to improve water use. Though centralized water management systems has a huge impact on our lives today, societies, government and citizens around the world are looking out of alternative resources to augment the available water resources. Rainwater harvesting, as one of such methods, is the accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Depending on local environmental conditions, water harvesting may provide a supplementary supply, an alternative supply or the only feasible improved supply. The current centralized water supply paradigm which is followed in all the cities of the world seems unsustainable and extremely high on energy consumption. In United States, about 4% of the U.S power generation is used for water supply to the population and electricity re presents approximately 75 percent of the cost of municipal water processing and distribution (19) (20). As an alternative paradigm for more sustainable water availability, harvesting rainwater, storing it in tanks, and recharging groundwater may be used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation or to refill aquifers. In rural areas, rainwater can be used to even supplement agricultural income through small horticultural projects and maintaining improved amount of livestock apart from developing the quality of life of rural women in many parts of the world who spends a considerable portion of their day- to- day life in collecting water for drinking and house hold purposes. In just one day, more than 200 million hours of womens time is consumed for the most basic of human needs collecting water for domestic use (21)( I still remember, the distance I used to travel to collect water from nearby reservoirs as kid visiting my village during holidays back in Ind ia). As the civil society is becoming more aware and sensitized regarding its potential, rainwater harvesting can also be scaled up to neighborhood and micro-watershed levels. More than one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water, namely 1.1 billion people, and more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6 billion people (Estimation for 2002, by the WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2004). Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents and local institutions, or from specially prepared areas of ground, can make an important contribution to drinking water. Rainwater systems are simple to construct from inexpensive local materials, and are potentially successful in most habitable locations. Roof rainwater can be of good quality and may not require treatment before consumption. Although some rooftop materials may produce rainwater that is harmful to human health, it can be useful in flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering the garden and washing cars; these uses amount to a significant amount of water used by a typical home. In many parts of the world, households and communities have augmented or substituted their household supplies with ra inwater for reasons of scarcity, salinity, quality of service and for risk substitution. While rainwater may not always provide a full-year round of supply, it enhances water security in the house and generally provides a good quality water. Historical development of rainwater harvesting Water has been important for the development of cultural complexity in human society during the Holocene and earlier (16). Human ancestors have always used aquatic resources to their benefit (18), as we see the earliest association of hominid ancestors with lakes and pools dating back to 6 and 7 m.y. ago (Upper Miocene) from northern Chad, Central Africa(19).Rainwater collection is one of the oldest means of collecting water for domestic purposes. Archaeological excavations document ancient rainwater harvesting in Mesoamerica, the Mediterranean, and the Orient (10). Historically, in Baluchistan (erstwhile India and now in Pakistan), evidence of simple stone-rubble structures for impounding rainwater dates back to the third millennium BC (8). Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, rainwater collection were already a common technique throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East, used by Egyptians, Palestinians, Iranians, Iraqis, Yemenis, Greeks and Romans(9). In the Negev desert in Israel, tanks for storing runoff from hillsides for both domestic and agricultural purposes have allowed habitation and cultivation in areas with as little as 100mm of rain per year.. Water was collected from roofs and other hard surfaces and stored in underground tanks, or excavated reservoirs (cisterns) with masonry domes (9). In some parts of the Middle East, rainwater was collected from hard surface areas and channeled through vertical shafts to horizontal tunnels (qanars) that in turn led the water to underground reservoirs (22). In addition to the traditional rainwater harvesting techniques found in India, North Africa and the western Mediterranean, there are also examples from Thailand, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the small islands in the Pacific. In sub-Saharan Africa, the collection of rainwater was (and is) practiced using small containers, in among others, most of Southern Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. The earliest known evidence of the use of the technology in Africa comes from northern Egypt, where tanks ranging from 200-2000m3 have been used for at least 2000 years many are still operational today (7). Even in Western Europe, historical records show that in many places rainwater was the primary drinking water source for drinking water, the same applies to the Americas and Australia. In all three continents rainwater continues to be an important source for isolated homesteads and farms (11). Rainwater harvesting for domestic water use in modern day Though there is significant evidence of rainwater harvesting in the world historically, it was lost to peoples memory for sometime due to extensive water supply systems which came in place with the urbanization of the world. Potential for rainwater use is wide and there are many ways of capturing the rainwater runoff. In this paper, I would however like to focus more on the domestic usage of rainwater. Alternative sources of domestic water are becoming particularly important in urban areas of the world as urban population is rapidly increasing. Since 1950, the number of people living in urban areas has jumped from 750 million to more than 2.5 billion people. Currently, some 61 million people are added to cities each year through rural to urban migration, natural increase within cities, and the transformation of villages into urban areas(7). Due to the severe challenges of water stress and scarcity issues in the world today, these small stand alone techniques of water supply is becomi ng popular. Urbanization of the world has also changed the way houses are built worldwide and concrete roofing is providing good catchment areas closer to the domestic water users. Plastic and Ferro-cement tanks has also become a good alternative to earthen tanks as reliable, economic and durable means of water cisterns. Rapid urbanization of the cities around the world has also brought forward the faults of the water distribution systems in many parts of the world, especially in the developing countries where people have felt the need to become self sufficient in water supply within their means. As the quality and quantity of ground water is decreasing, rainwater is becoming an alternative source. Urbanization also is bringing together large number of people within smaller areas to live such has flats, apartments, residential complexes etc where rainwater harvesting is becoming a community based approach where the cost of implementation and the benefits are getting shared within th e members of the communities. Rainwater harvesting can be categorized in a number of different ways according to the type of catchment surface used and by implication the scale of activity. Essentially these are either rooftop, ground, or rock with rooftop being most suited to individual household or community water supply, while ground and rock being more geared towards agricultural irrigation. Conceptually, rainwater harvesting catchments can vary in size from the individual house to a river basin Figure Source -http://buildandrebuild.com/rainwater-harvesting-and-you/ Rooftop rainwater harvesting however is a very small percentage of the total rainwater run-off. But as a small scale and domestic activity, this is significant as the production; control and use of these sources are maintained and controlled by domestic users. For arid and semi arid countries, rain-water is often the most readily accessible water source at the community and household level, although distribution of rainfall during the year, and storage necessary for the dry months can provide a problem. Rainwater collected using existing structures has few negative environmental impacts compared to other technologies for water resources development. Rainwater is relatively clean and the quality is usually acceptable for many purposes with little or even no treatment. The physical and chemical properties of rainwater are usually superior to sources of groundwater that may have been subjected to contamination. Rainwater harvesting can co-exist with and provide a good supplement to othe r water sources and utility systems, thus relieving pressure on other water sources. Rainwater harvesting provides a water supply buffer for use in times of emergency or breakdown of the public water supply systems, particularly during natural disasters. Rainwater harvesting can reduce storm drainage load and flooding in city streets. Users of rainwater are usually the owners who operate and manage the catchment system, hence, they are more likely to exercise water conservation because they know how much water is in storage and they will try to prevent the storage tank from drying up.Rainwater harvesting technologies are flexible and can be built to meet almost any requirements. Construction, operation, and maintenance are not labour intensive (7).Rainwater harvesting system also produce beneficial externalities in reducing peak storm water runoff and associated processing cost. Rainwater harvesting as a sustainable water strategy Access of water according to the UN is officially defined as 20 lpd within a 1 km distance from ones dwelling. The UN considers this a minimal standard to which all countries, even low income ones, can aspire. This definition has been critiqued on two counts: (1) 1 km is a considerable distance, especially when carrying water, which is heavy. For many women and girls, who make up the great proportion of water carriers, fetching the family minimum could require several 1 km trips each way a significant barrier to actual access. (2) Climatic variations are not accounted for in the universal definition of access (15). Rainwater harvesting can significantly address this issue and become a sustainable water source across the climatic condition if the management systems are robust and the water collected can be channelized to recharge groundwater. For example, Jordan faces a huge water crisis. Results of a study show that a maximum of 15.5 Mm3/y of rainwater can be collected from roofs of residential buildings provided that all surfaces are used and all rain falling on the surfaces is collected. This is equivalent to 5.6% of the total domestic water supply of the year 2005. The potential for water harvesting varies among the governorates, ranging from 0.023ÃÆ'-106 m3 for the Aqaba governorate to 6.45ÃÆ'-106 m3 for the Amman governorate. The potential for potable water savings was estimated for the 12 governorates, and it ranged from 0.27% to 19.7% (13). Rainwater harvesting can also reduce the dependence on the centralized water supply systems. Mega-Cites worldwide are facing similar challenges of water scarcity and water stress like polluted freshwater resources, overexploited groundwater resources, insufficient or poorly maintained water supply infrastructure systems and insufficient technical and water management capacities (14).Small pockets of water resources within a city are more resilient and can draw on rainwater and groundwater, providing the city with greater flexibility in the face of water shortages, operational failures and natural disasters. History tells us that cultures do not give up until they have exhausted options for survival over the area they occupied for longer period. The Mayan civilization is a case in point, which developed around 3000 years ago in Mesoamerica, and faced recurrent droughts due to solar forcing before it collapsed due to climate deterioration towards the end of the Classic Period. Ancient reservoir technology developed by the Mayan people in the seasonally dry tropics of southern Maya lowlands reveals that rainwater storage was a major source of water supply during the dry season. Reservoirs were constructed, for example, in Tikal to cope with seasonal scarcity of water (16). Rainwater harvesting can also improve the situations of urban flooding. More land area around the world today is getting covered by asphalt and concrete as new roads are laid down to support increasing amount of transport use of urban population. This has lead to the lower seepage of surface water to replenish ground water resources. In the United States alone, pavements and other impervious surfaces cover more than 43,000 square miles-an area nearly the size of Ohio-according to research published in the 15 June 2004 issue of Eos, the newsletter of the American Geophysical Union. Collection of rainwater significantly reduces this stormwater to flow down the sewerage systems of a city. At times, this is effective in controlling urban flooding which happens when too much of water due to precipitation flows down the sewerage system which are not capable of handling the amount does not function properly. Evidences and policies of successful rainwater harvesting around the world- As the world tries out new methods to address the newer problems it face in solving natural resources scarcity issues and which in fact has been a significant factor for human civilization from time immemorial, rainwater harvesting experiments as a source of water is also happening worldwide. Currently there is no US agency that has focus on Rainwater Harvesting and states are rapidly doing their own thing. The H.R. 3598: Energy and Water Research Integration Act which has been passed by the House of Representative in December 2009 which is formulated to to ensure consideration of water intensity in the Department of Energys energy research, development, and demonstration programs to help guarantee efficient, reliable, and sustainable delivery of energy and water resources(32) may promote federal support in rainwater harvesting. Some states of Usa have significantly worked in promoting rainwater harvesting. In October of 2008, the city of Tucson, Arizona became the first municipality in the country to require developers of commercial properties to harvest rainwater for landscaping.   The new measure approved by a unanimous vote by the City Council requires that new developments meet 50% of their landscaping water requirements by capturing rainwater. The new rule went into effect on June 1, 2010. Arizona taxpayers who install a water conservation system after January 1, 2007, and before January 1, 2012, may take a one-time tax credit of 25% of the cost of the system (up to a maximum of $1,000). This can be claimed over multiple tax years, but no taxpayer can receive more than a total of $1000 in credits through this program. Builders are eligible for an income tax credit of up to $200 per residence unit constructed with a water conservation system installed (17). Some government grants in Arizona also have given the scope of funding rainwater harvesting projects within an amount of $5000 (25). The Cincinnati EPA office has instituted a program to give incent ives to homeowners for rain gardens or rain barrels to improve quality/timing of stormwater runoff, rather than promoting a central engineering solution. The City of Austin Water Conservation Program distributes over 250 rain barrels per month to homeowners at a subsidized cost, and provides rebates for the installation of approved cistern systems. Commercial/industrial properties can receive rebates up to $40,000 for the installation of rainwater harvesting and greywater systems. New commercial facilities must install a separate irrigation meter costing between $5,000 and $25,000 unless they can provide 100% of all outdoor water needs from alternate water sources such as rain, grey-water, and air conditioning condensate (26). With Clean River Rewards which is the storm-water utilitys discount program of Portland, helps ratepayers save money and work for clean rivers and healthy watersheds at the same time through storm-water management in individual properties. There is an 100perce nt discount on the onsite storm-water management charges because these actions helps protect the rivers, streams and the groundwater(27).Rainwater harvesting methods are used as sources of water supply in other parts in USA and more and more state governments are coming out to give this method a try. In California, the California Rainwater Capture Act of 2010, would authorize a landowner to install, maintain, and operate, on the landowners property, a rainwater capture system meeting specified requirements. The bill is also known as AB 1834 (35).In California however there is no tax credit given to the people in order to install rainwater harvesting equipments. In New Mexico however there is no mandatory law to install rainwater harvesting in individual houses, but there is a tax credit for NEW Green Buildings, which could include rainwater harvesting. For Build Green New Mexico Gold level, the maximum possible credit is $11,000.00 per house. The North Carolina Department of Environ ment and Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water has implement Community Conservation Assistance Program has created a voluntary incentive based program for promoting rainwater harvesting and awareness generation educational programmes are in place, yet there is no tax incentives in place. Under this program the landowner may be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the pre-established average cost of the BMP (best management practices). Included in this program are Rainwater Harvesting Systems (36) (37) (38). Around the world, rain water harvesting has many success stories. In Singapore, rainwater harvesting is growing as rapid urbanization is inducing rapid water demand. In Changi Airport, rainwater is collected from the runways which are used primarily for non-potable functions such fire-fighting drills and toilet flushing. Such collected and treated water accounts for 28 to 33% of the total water used, resulting in savings of approximately S$ 390,000 per annum. In India, direct recharge of rainwater into the ground (40) resulted in groundwater level increases of up to 5 to 10 metres in just two years. Water scarcity problems in Indonesia, has made government introduce a regulation requiring that all buildings have an infiltration well. The regulation applies to two-thirds of the territory, including the Special Province of Yogyakarta, the Capital Special Province of Jakarta, West Java and Central Java Province. It was estimated that if each house in Java and Madura had its own infiltra tion well, the water deficit of 53% by the year of 2000 would be reduced to 37%, which translates into a net savings of 16% through conservation. UNICEF is working with communities in Alor in Indonesia and the communities has a very positive response towards this effort (39).In Tokyo, Japan rainwater and reclaimed waste water is used to address water demand in emergency cases. There are 850 facilities for rainwater use in Tokyo. Since reclaimed wastewater use has several benefits, a huge water volume has been utilized for various purposes such as washing; water-cooling, toilet flushing, waterway restoration and creation of recreational waterfront (30).There are many case studies and success stories, feasibility studies on rainwater harvesting methods and uses in the world today. An exhaustive list of all of them is beyond the scope of this paper. International organization for promoting sustainable environmental strategies like UNEP are growingly focusing on this method as to cater water needs of communities to attain the objectives of Millennium Development Goals. Poorer countries in Africa and Asia are experimenting on harvesting rainwater for various human uses for a long time now in order to answer some of the persistent water problems plaguing human lives in these continents. Evaluation of rainwater harvesting as a water resource- As rainwater harvesting is emerging in many regions of the world as a sustainable means of addressing short term and long term water scarcity, it is critical to understand the robustness of the system. Purity of rain water is in question when there are instances of acid rain all around the world. Growing air pollution in urban areas also pollute the rain before it falls and therefore rainwater harvesting requires treatment mechanism to make the water fit for human consumption. Rainfall intensity and the number of dry days preceding a rainfall event significantly affects the quality of run-off water from the catchment systems. Presence of fecal coli form and other microbiological contaminants, zinc concentration due to the material used in roofing are some of the shortfalls of rainwater harvesting (41). Household water management practices where rainwater is used as non-potable household use and the limited water supplied by the central water service system as potable water source can be a good alternative. Newer technological developments can easily solve these problems of contaminants in rainwater though it may significantly increase the cost of the water. Household level water catchment areas are often small and it is increasingly smaller when we think of urban areas. Moreover, as people around the world prefer to stay apartments, access to individual roofs for each water consumer is impossible. But this also gives the scope of community involvement and shares the cost. Small involvements like managing a rainwater catchment in a building can bring in greater differences in how people think about the water availability. It becomes educational and it brings in awareness which translates in how we look towards the way we use water in our daily lives. People understands solutions of the problems they face better than analysis of their problem, when solutions are within their reach, they implement them. In the evolution of human civilization, it can be studied tha t humans have addressed their needs in small measures which together as brought in changes in they we live out life today. Popularizing rainwater harvesting requires significant push by the governmental institution. Water till date is used as a free good in many parts of the world and people generally do not have the mental set up to invest for water services and thinks that it is the responsibility of the government. Interestingly in some states of USA like Utah, Colorado and Washington, catching rain water was against the law as it reduces the water catchment area for downstream users if water is taken in up stream. Rainwater harvesting was possible in these states if the individual user goes through the process of gaining a state water right. With the growing problems of water scarcity in these regions, governments are slowly taken small yet bold steps in legalizing rain water harvesting by domestic users. Colorado is taking baby steps towards legalizing rainwater collection. Senate Bill 80 was signed by the Governor on 4/22/09 and becomes law on July 1, 2009. It allows rural catchment (Senate Bill 80 ), but still has some hurdles for those that want to move forward (42). The Department of Ecology of the State of Washington, on October 12, 2009 issued an Interpretive Policy Statement clarifying that a water right is not required for rooftop rainwater harvesting (43).  In Utah, the state passed Senate Bill 32 in 2010 which permits rainwater catchment for maximum capacity of no more than 2,500 gallons. There are several other restrictions, but the state engineer must grant the permit if all the conditions are met. In countries, around the world especially India and China which are experiencing rapid industrial developments, rainwater harvesting is also becoming a feasible policy advice. In the 11 Five Year Plan of the Government of India, rainwater harvesting is taken into consideration where sources of groundwater are limited. The plan stress that restoration and building of tanks and other water bodies along with rainwater harvesting structures for recharge and for direct colle ction at community and household levels constitute an attractive option. The Central Government should support the states for tapping the maximum external assistance for this purpose, a part of the assistance could be shared by the Centre as decided in the case of the external assisted Water Bodies Restoration Programme wherein 25% grant of the project cost is passed on to the states (45). The Water law of the Peoples Republic of China was promulgated on Oct.1 2002, This is the law concerning the water resources in a national scope, which pointed out definitely: the national government encourages citizens to use rainwater and tiny salt water for the purposes of harvesting, exploitation and utilization in regions short of water resources.(46) For promoting the development of rainwater utilization, the National Construction Department announced the Chinese ecosystem residence technique valuation manual in 2001 and updated it three times in the following three years, each edition formu lating content about rain water utilization (47).

Homo Erectus Essay -- Science Ancestry Science Essays

Homo Erectus In the quest to explain human origins it is necessary to find a species that bridges modern man (Homo sapiens) with the apes. To fill this gap evolutionists have set forth Homo erectus, who lived approximately 400,000 to 1.6 million years ago (Johanson and Shreeve1989). Although the distinctions are somewhat vague, below the neck, Homo sapiens and Homo erectus are practically Identical and Homo erectus was responsible for pioneering the use of standard tools (such as the hand axe), big-game hunting, and the use of fire (Johanson and Shreeve1989). You may know Homo erectus as "Java man" or "Peking man"( Johanson and Shreeve 1989). Erectus was low of brow, thick of bone, endowed with a brain larger than that of its ancestors but decidedly more simian than its descendants' (Washburn, McCown 1972). "Emerging in East Africa about a million and a half years ago, Homo erectus lived in the time Frame of 500,000 - 100,000 B.C. The geographical range in which Homo erectus lived in was Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania" (Johanson and Shreeve 1989). Homo erectus's brain, twice as large as that of Australopithecus, provided this new species with even more intelligence (Johanson and Shreeve1989). The climate during this time period varied greatly, with alternating periods of warm and cold and glaciers appearing during the cold eras(Johanson and Shreeve1989). The intelligence of erectus was helpful in survival, and Homo erectus had specific strategies for more efficient hunting. PHYSICAL FEATURES The most prominent difference between Homo erectus and previous species of hominids is the increase in cranial capacity (Washburn, McCown 1972). Over the course of Homo erectus' existence, the cranial capacity increased fr... ...mber 14, 1998 1998 Website: www.cruzio.com/~cscp/econ.htm, accessed November 14, 1998 1998 Website: www.emporium.turnpike.net/C/cs/emhe.htm, accessed November 12, 1998 1998 Website: www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/a_erectus.html, accessed November 11, 1998 Johanson and Shreeve. 1989 Lucy's Child. Morrow. p. 221 Lieberman,-Leonard; Jackson,-Fatimah-Linda-C 1995 Race and Three Models of Human Origin p.231-242 Parker,-Sue-Taylor 1985 A Social-Technological Model for the Evolution of Language;Current-Anthropology. p 269 Washburn,-S.-L.; McCown,-E.-R. 1972Evolution of Human Behavior, p163-170. Feder,-Kenneth-L. 1990Piltdown, Paradigms, and the Paranormal, p 397-402 Zihlman,-Adrienne-L. 1978Women in Evolution, Part II; Subsistence and Social Organization among Early Hominids p 4-20.

The Human Problems of an Industrial Civilization

The author, Elton Mayo was able to show his ground-breaking work in this book. It is an apt title for it captures what Mayo is trying to say from the onset. The human problems arising from the industrial age is not brought about by machines and technology but surprisingly it comes from how man treats his fellow man. Technology is a tool in the industrial age but it is human behavior that dictates the success and failures of businesses. Mayo's insight seems to be so advanced that one wonders how his ideas was received during his time. An example of his ideas can be seen in the following statements, â€Å"The human aspect of industry has changed considerably [†¦] Whereas the human problems of industry were regarded until recently as lying within the strict province of the specialist, it is now beginning to be realized that a clear statement of such problems [†¦] is necessary to the effective thinking of every business administrator and every economic expert† (p. 1). Another thing that is interesting about this book is the fact that the author focused his research not on how to maximize production and how to increase the productivity on the basis of correct usage of technology. Mayo went the other route and he set his sights on the human aspect of industry. It was such a refreshing view and its effect no doubt is to reawaken the businessman's passion for people and reinvigorate the administrator's basic belief that the most important resource is not the raw materials and the machineries needed to create goods and services; but the people working for the company. Mayo acknowledged that the foray into the human aspect of industrialization is a fairly recent endeavor.   He traced this development in the early research of England's Sir William Mather of the firm of Mather and Platt in Manchester. Mather experimented on reducing the weekly hours of working. The result was positive and production increased while there is a significant reduction of time lost. From this experiment Mayo expressed amazement at this breakthrough. For the first time there is now a documented body of evidence that improving work conditions can improve the efficiency of the operations. But Mayo was quick to point out that the only significant development coming from this discovery is the institution of the forty-eight hour week in the â€Å"arsenals and dockyards of the British government† (p.2).   Mayo lamented however that, â€Å"†¦apart from this, the results of the experiment did not lead to any general adoption of analogous methods on the part of the privately owned establishments† (p.2). Fatigue According to Mayo the general disregard for this revolutionary idea of the positive effects of improving working conditions continued until the World Wars came. In this special circumstances behaviorists and like-minded individuals were exposed for the very first time on the varying forces and factors that affect a large scale production area such as those that produces munitions for the war. â€Å"Apparently no one had ever sufficiently considered the enormous demand upon industry that would be organized by a war-machine organized upon so heroic a scale [†¦] The authorities became aware of the â€Å"national lack of knowledge of the primary laws governing human efficiency† (p.2). Monotony In the recently described problem of sustained activity and heavy workload, the government created health committees to assure the continuous ability of worker to perform at a higher level. The same health committee was able to discover that fatigue is not the only problem. There is also such a thing as monotony caused by repetitive work. Dr. H. M. Vernon, one of the influential members of the committee and board suggested two possible solutions to this problem: 1) the use of rest-pause (or taking breaks); and 2) creating variety in repetitive work (p.29). At his point it is good to take a pause and re-examine one of the highpoints of the book. In the description of major concepts or major problems that human beings face in the industrialized world, Mayo was able to build a believable case. Again, one has to remember that this was written from a world view that just came out of the agricultural economy of the old world. In that old way of doing things, management of workers depended on a very crude method of determining what to do and what not to do. In the agricultural system workers are dictated by nature and the seasons. In other words, summer is the time for planting and winter is the time for rest. Crops mature, gets harvested and a new cycle of planting begins. The seasons of harvest and of the four major climate changes were the only needed time frame which man uses to create a human resource management scheme. In the industrial age everything was different. When factories were build and warehouses were made, men and women are placed inside shelters that are not affected by weather and climate. Inside these workplaces people can even work on 24 hour shifts 12 months a year, winter, spring, summer and fall. That transition from the old to the new was expertly captured by Elton Mayo in the introductory chapters when he was describing the nature of fatigue and monotony. No doubt fatigue and monotony are not exclusive in the industrial age but there was no way of bringing it into focus and there is no way of placing it in an environment where it could be studied. Mayo was successful in using the setting of the two World Wars to provide a backdrop and some needed contrast between the farming systems and the industries that sprang up in the 20th century. Mayo could have used other examples to show forth the differences between the two worlds but the readers may not be able to appreciate it as much as when he used the historical development of the early 1900s. By doing so, the readers could see the transition from farm to industries. Then he was able to paint the picture of the new human problems encountered in the new scheme of doing things. Not Merely Improving Conditions Elton Mayo was not merely contented in sharing groundbreaking research. Just like every researcher worth his salt, Mayo pushed the newly discovered idea to the limit. In re-examining the Hawthorne experiment, the author was implying that it is not merely the improving of working conditions that affected the efficiency of workers but it is due to a host of other factors and one of them is called â€Å"morale†. In succeeding chapters Mayo was able to explain morale and gave examples to illustrate it. His favorite model though is an organization called the Western Electric Company. He listed the innovative ways that the company tried just to improve efficiency: 1) nutrition (access to an affordable restaurant; 2) access to clinic/hospital; 3) training opportunities; 4) vacation packages etc. This prompted him to say, â€Å"†¦an unmistakable determination to fulfill humane intention to the utmost† (p. 99). Society and Industry Surprisingly, the author did not rest in the fact that he had discovered something really revolutionary. Instead of stopping he continued on with his research. It may be an understatement that he was trying his best to get to the bottom of things. After the numerous experiments that brought the readers from a 19th century firm to World War I munition factory and then to an Electric Company, Mayo did not only wanted to be diverse but he also wanted to change the conditions of the experiment. In the latter part of the book he described the effects of the environment or the society in the ability of workers to give a decent output. To have a good feedback Mayo chose areas where delinquency is a problem. Governments and Industry To complete his holistic approach Mayo has to tackle the role of governments. He was confident in saying that the form of government is insignificant since human problems in the industrial age remains the same wherever one goes. By reaching this part of the research one can say that Mayo has come full circle and was able to show not only that there is a need to look closely into the human aspect of industry but also that there are many factors to be considered. Conclusion The way the book builds its case and the flow of information is very satisfying for both the student and researcher. Mayo was able to slowly build his case using a not so heavy historical approach. By using highpoint in the history of man, he was able to provide a sketch of how human problems in the industrial age came to be. He was not only able to show the cause of the problems but Mayo was also able to show convincingly the cures for this ills. To make his argument rock solid he was not merely content on using feedbacks from one particular source or even one particular method of study. He brought the readers to insights in human behavior in the late 19th century and demonstrated that it was consistent even after the turn of the century. By using multiple sources of data the readers can be easily convinced about the assertions made in the book. In so doing the author was able to make it clear what he meant by, â€Å"The Human Problems of An Industrial Civilization†. References Mayo, Elton(1933) The Human Problems of An Industrial Civilization. In K. Thompson (Ed.) The Early Sociology of Management and Organizations. New York: Routledge.      

Israel and Palestine essays

Israel and Palestine essays The war between Israelis and Palestine can date back to years and years ago. For decades these two cultures have fought with each other and neither have ever come across peace. Instead of using peaceful protesting the Pales tines tends to use violence, thinking that is the key. The way I think the Palestinians act is like how a child acts when crying hysterical wanting a cookie. My mother always said you will never get the cookie unless you calm down peacefully and act normal. The cookie represents the issues the Palestinians are fighting for, and they will never get their cookie acting in violence. The Jewish people claimed Israel their independent state on May 14th 1948, Therefore pushing the Palestinians out of their holy land. The Palestinians have tried to establish their own country however most of their land or all of it has been occupied by Israel. Sources say the Palestinians lived in the region long before Jews began moving there in large numbers in the late 1800's. The United Kingdom gained control of Palestine after World War I and after the horrible tragedy that had taken place in World War II The British created a national homeland for the Jews, but pushed the Palestinians to the side. The after math of these decisions have caused chaos between both worlds. Innocent people have died in shootings, suicide bombers, and battles between both armies. Till this day no peace has been established and everyday you hear on the news about a new suicide bomber or attack on innocent Israelis. What has been done about this situation? What can be done? How many more lives have to suffer because of these issues? I am sick of hearing about innocent lives being taken away. This war has been going on for decades and it has to stop. I feel that the Palestinians deserve their own state. I first learned about this war when I was very young and my opinion has never changed . It is not right what has happened to the Palestinians b ...

Composition Essay Samples How to Produce an Essay about Loneliness

Composition Essay Samples How to Produce an Essay about Loneliness Imagine walking alone down an endless pathway, with only pain and emotional suffering as you continue the search for happiness and comfort that you hope to find with friends. When I came to Canada, leaving behind my friends and family, I became very lonely because I never knew anyone, and was ignored by my peers. I would just stay buried into computer games and slowly but surely, I was becoming a depressed â€Å"potato couch†. Loneliness depressed me because it made me jealous of people who weren’t lonely, made me sad, and therefore, made me lose my confidence. Loneliness made me jealous of people who weren’t lonely because I thought that I didn’t deserve this kind of cruel treatment. I pictured myself as a very kind, caring and loving person and it came to me as a shock when people didn’t recognize that right away. As I walked down the street desperately hunting for friends, I saw three friends going to the movies. Seeing this, I remembered the good old days when my friends and I used to go an hour early for the movies and just play pool or laze around. When we went for the movie, we would annoy the audience by screaming out nasty comments before being kicked out of the cinema. Is shed a tear, but quickly wiped it away so that people wouldn’t think that I was â€Å"weak†. Jealousy roared within me like hot lava waiting to erupt. I envied everyone around me, including my brother who has been here for just a couple of months more than me, but already has a whole heap of friends. While wandering in the park alone, I had an outburst of anger, and started screaming at God, asking him what I had done to deserve this harsh treatment. It wasn’t my fault that I was shy and reserved, but I kept my faith in him, although I felt that it was hopeless. Jealousy took over my world and my soul, leading to sadness. Loneliness made me sad because I felt like I was all alone in this world, with no one caring about me. I felt like I was an ant lying in the middle of the vast desert, with nothing but land surrounding me. Sometimes I just felt like ending this miserable life, but I was reassured when I remembered the fact that I have migrated several times in life and at first, it was as horrible as this. Jealousy led to sadness, because after a period of time, I felt pathetic and was ashamed of envying other people. Therefore, I tried to hide from loneliness, not realizing that I was only getting pulled into the dark and isolated world of loneliness. Loneliness made me lose my confidence, because I found it harder to approach people and introduce myself, or even talk to people that I already knew. I lost confidence because I was scared that people would think that I was a sore loser and feel pity for me. Sadness lead to a loss in confidence, because the sadder I got, the more I would cry and lose self esteem. When I was writing an essay in class about loneliness, everyone started telling me that I should be able to write a lot about loneliness since I have been lonely, and that I don’t have any friends. This made it even worse for me, and my confidence was on a down hill roll. Loneliness made me jealous of people who weren’t lonely, it made me sad, and hence, made me lose my confidence. The more you try to run away from loneliness, the more you get absorbed by it. Loneliness comes like rain. It can be stormy or mild, but eventually it fades away, leaving you with sunshine of friends that wipe out darkness. You can order a custom research paper, term paper, thesis, dissertation or essay on loneliness from professional custom paper writing service which provides high-quality custom written papers.

Chinese history--- Is Modernizing the Ancient Possible Essay

Chinese history--- Is Modernizing the Ancient Possible - Essay Example China stuck to the Confucian teaching of humanity and avoided by all means any technical skill acquisition or professional training. This no doubt led to its backwardness. As history would tell, China’s economic and political stagnation during the 20th century can be said to be their own folly. It is interesting to note that China was a giant of trade especially in the East, with all the resources that would be a pre-requisite for steering any growth and development of any country yet economically it was crippled (Wright 3). This could be explained through a number of factors. For instance, its response to the west when it (the West) widely opened its arms for trade with them. The Chinese rebelled against them seeing them not as potential economic partners but as enemies, coming to frustrate their culture and their way of life. This kind of reasoning is based on the fact that the Chinese were fully obsessed with their culture and the need to maintain the status quo that any foreign interference would be met with resistance. They were therefore not linked by a program which could foster the country’s growth but by their search for what th ey termed as spiritual values and critique of the West and their influence (BBC 1). The Confucians view morality as a key ingredient for the cultivation of social relations with the essence of government being nothing short of good morals. Things however began to change with the collapse of the Han dynasty causing a stiff religious competition with Taoism aimed at cultivation of meditation as a form of internal discipline. The reform that took place through the interaction with the outside world aftermath reshaped Buddhism as the neo-Confucians, giving it a new look on the self mindset and a philosophical evaluation of the world. This change was in itself not easy since China thwarted every attempt for change, especially one that they viewed as being imposed on them by foreigners. Even though the

Blow the Whistle Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blow the Whistle - Case Study Example ii. The employee of Manly Construction Company should be aware that their life is more important than the job opportunity they have. Therefore, they should make hast quit if their health/welfare related grievances cannot be addressed by the company.ii. The employee of Manly Construction Company should be aware that their life is more important than the job opportunity they have. Therefore, they should make hast quit if their health/welfare related grievances cannot be addressed by the company.iii. Even if not disturbed, the cyclic circulation of air is able to blow up certain fibers into the air and still be breathed in by the surrounding individuals.iv. The President is an escapist when he does a memo instructing people not to disturb (move) any boxes or perform any activities that could damage the asbestos or release fibers into the air yet there was still impacts felt.   The wrongs are misleading pieces of information relayed to the people. In this case: i. Employees of Manly Construction Company are threatened with losing their job positions by the management should any information about the existence of this hazardous asbestos be released to the public for any mater. The employees should be offered with suitable work environments for effectiveness.Besides, no threats should be issued to any employees who are seeking his or her rights within the work area.This is considered unethical because it is a command that kills. All those who shall have reported as stipulated in the memo, though their workplaces are proved dangerous, will be risking contracting cancer of the lungs. Conflict  is a state of disharmony that may be between incompatible or opposing persons, ideas, or interests in a particular issue or topic.Blow the whistle case study revealed a number of conflicting issues that had little or no practicality in them. Among the ideologies, instructions, words and statements identified as contradicting in the concept of ethical expectations include:  i. While the President’s memo denotes the risks of disturbing any boxes by moving or performing any activities that could damage the asbestos or release fibers into the air,   the county gives Manly Construction Company up to a period of seventeen days to clean up the fallen asbestos fibers in the vaults.