Crisis Management at Organizational Level

Introduction Proper emergency management is essential for every organization, town, city or country if it is to protect its crucial assets and members of the public from harmful events like disasters and catastrophes. The aim of proper emergency management is to prevent various disasters from happening and, in case they happen, to minimize the loss of lives and damages to property and infrastructure through, organized, and coordinated response from all parties involved.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Crisis Management at Organizational Level specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Proper emergency management requires planning and anticipation, and ability to respond quickly in the right way if lives and property are to be saved (Haddow and Bullock, 2007). This can only be achieved if all the relevant parties involved in an emergency response like the fire department, the police, emergency medical services and the gener al public is all acting in a well-coordinated manner. Therefore, any city or country must have an emergency management plan that outlines how the input of all these stakeholders is going to be harnessed for maximum productivity. This paper will look at crisis management at organizational level, and the various emergency management systems that can be put in place in anticipation of large-scale events like a tsunami. The Role of Emergency Management Teams Organizations usually face everyday emergencies that can be dealt with effectively without causing any major interruptions to the organizations functions. However, when disasters strike, organizations lose their normal autonomy and are forced into different interactions that are not normal (Burns, 2001). Response to the disaster requires a more coordinated effort from both the public and private sector. Catastrophes have even greater impact as most of the community infrastructure is affected. The community’s everyday function s are interrupted and the community is cut off from other communities, making it hard to even get outside help. An organization or community therefore needs to have in place a proper emergency response plan for any eventuality if it is to survive and rebuild in case of a large scale disaster or catastrophe. Proper emergency management is strategy-based process that is run from the top of any organization. The emergency management team provides guidance and coordinates the different sections of the organization so as to ensure that they are all focused on the same goal. This means that all the emergency plans throughout all the levels of the organization have to be synchronized. In such a setting, the lower levels of the organization rely on getting additional help and resources from the higher levels of the organization to help them manage an emergency (Moore and Lakha, 2006). A good emergency plan is designed to protect the assets of the organization or community. These assets can be classified as living and nonliving things.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They can also be cultural or economic, and the hazards they face can be natural or man-made. A well-structured emergency management process is usually divided into four general areas for easy management and coordination. First, risk reduction is important and measures have to be put in place to reduce the likelihood of disaster striking. The management process must also have organized ways of mobilizing resources to respond to the hazard. The third component involves responding to the effectively to the actual damage resulting from the hazard and minimizing further damage. This includes measures like quarantine, emergency evacuations and mass decontamination. Lastly, the emergency management team must have in place a plan for recovery that will enable the organization or community to return to thei r normal lives as it were before the hazard incident. Phases of Emergency Management The emergency management processes rely on local economic and social conditions if they are to be successful (Heath, 1998). They involve mobilization of the community’s resources, right from before the disaster strikes, during the disaster, and long after the disaster has passed and the recovery process is underway. The emergency management must therefore put emphasis on public awareness and proper infrastructure if it is to succeed with its plans in the event of an emergency. Proper emergency management is organized into four phases; preventive measures (mitigation); getting ready for any eventuality (preparedness); handling the disaster when it happens (response) and rebuilding after the disaster (recovery). Mitigation Any organization or community faces a lot of hazards. It is upon the emergency management team t find ways of preventing these hazards from developing into disasters. In case the disaster happens, there have to be ways of reducing the impact. The emergency management team must conduct a thorough analysis of the risks and find ways of mitigating them. Financial investments are also protected through insurance. The mitigation process puts a lot of emphasis on long-term measures for minimizing or eliminating the risk, and their implementation form part of the recovery process after a disaster happens. Mitigation involves taking some structural and nonstructural measures. For example, the authorities can build dykes and flood levees to mitigate the effects of floods, or retrofit buildings for earthquakes. Non-structural measures include proper legislation, land use planning and insurance coverage.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Crisis Management at Organizational Level specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The authorities are tasked with providing communication to the public regarding the r isks they face. They also organize for evacuations, and may be forced to carry out forceful evacuations of those who are not cooperating. Even if some of the measures carried under mitigation are not the best, this is still a very affordable way for authorities to handle a crisis (Treece, 2002). In coming up with mitigation measures, the authorities assess the risks thoroughly and evaluate the hazards. The fire and rescue department in any community must be involved in the mitigation programs. They can educate the public on the various safety and evacuation drills to be performed when disasters happen, and their roles during such emergencies so that the public can cooperate with them. Preparedness Preparedness refers to the behavioral changes undertaken to limit the effects of a disaster on people. It is an ongoing process that involves planning, organizing and managing of activities related to prevention, response and recovery from disasters. It requires continuous training, equipp ing, evaluating, monitoring and improving the measure put in place to deal with a disaster when it strikes. Under the preparedness phase, the authorities are expected to come up with plans of action for managing and countering the risks, and to build the appropriate capabilities suitable for the implementation of such plans (Treece, 2002). First, the authorities must come up with communication plans that use terminologies and methods that are easy to understand to avoid creating confusion. The fire and rescue services and other teams that will be involved in case of a disaster need to be properly trained and equipped to prepare them for their tasks. The authorities should also develop emergency population warning methods and evacuation plans, including setting aside emergency shelters. Since professional emergency workers can sometimes be overwhelmed during large-scale emergencies, it is advisable to have groups of trained volunteers among the civilian populations as their help is r eally valuable in an emergency situation. A big part of preparedness involves being able to predict casualties. This entails the prediction of how many deaths or injuries are to be expected in case of a major disaster so that the authorities know what plans to put in place for such an eventuality. Response When it comes to response, all the necessary emergency services that are needed at the disaster site have to be mobilized quickly. The first wave of crucial emergency services to arrive at the disaster zone includes fire fighters, ambulance crew and the police. The military and other specialist rescue teams can also be involved in the disaster relief operation. Such responses ought to have been well rehearsed during the preparedness phase so that there is efficient coordination of the various teams involved in the rescue operation.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since the vast majority of the victims of a disaster will die within 72 hours after the impact, it is important to start search and rescue efforts immediately (Moore and Lakha, 2006). An organization’s response to a major disaster is based on preset emergency management systems and processes. In an emergency situation, discipline is important in terms of structure, doctrine and process. There should also be some flexibility to allow for improvisation, adaptability and creativity when responding to the disaster. There is also need to form a team of leaders from the various response agencies to coordinate proceedings as more teams come in. The new leadership team must come up with a structured set of response plans that allow for the functional rescue operational process already in place to continue while adapting to new challenges as they arise at the disaster site and beyond. Recovery After the disaster has passed and the rescue operations are over, the affected area will hav e to be restored to how it was before the disaster. The recovery efforts focus on issues and decisions to be made after the response operations are complete. All the destroyed properties have to be rebuilt and the destroyed infrastructure has to be repaired. People also have to go back to their jobs or get new ones. The rebuilding efforts should aim at eliminating or at least minimizing the risks that were there in the community before the disaster struck (Disaster and Recovery Planning Guide, n.d.). This is also an opportunity to implement some of the mitigation measures that might have been unpopular before, as they are less likely to attract any opposition while the recent disaster is still fresh in the memories of the public. Media Coverage and Public Perception and Response The media plays a crucial role in informing the public about the unfolding events when a disaster happens. The manner in which they frame their news coverage has a direct impact on the public’s percep tion of the disaster and will influence how the public responds. The media is therefore encouraged to elicit a public response that benefits the organizations involved and the people impacted by the crisis. It is important that the authorities take quick control of the message whenever a crisis occurs (Polit, 1998). The media can play a crucial role in helping coordinate the rescue and recovery efforts by relaying crucial information from the authorities to the public. Cooperation on a personal level is also important. This cooperation and positive response should not just come after the disaster happens but should start from the initial phases of emergency management. For example, personal mitigation is necessary and involves avoiding unnecessary risks and following the guidelines set forth by the relevant authorities. Individuals are also encouraged to take insurance on their properties and to avoid investing in disaster prone areas. It is important to follow the instructions of t he authorities and to abide by the regulations put in place right from the beginning. There are many emergency response measures that one can take on a personal level, and one can always get more information on this from the relevant authorities and other sources. Tsunami Emergency Management Systems The tsunami disaster that hit Japan in March 2011 killed and injured thousands of people and left tens of thousands homeless. The Fukushima nuclear power plant was also severely damaged and posed a newer risk, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people from the exclusion zone. The impact of this disaster served as a wakeup call to many countries, and measures are already being put in place some countries to help them be ready to deal with a large-scale tsunami. Many programs have been put in place by individual countries and the international community to improve public safety during tsunami emergencies. Some of the programs that have been proposed or are already underway include a global tsunami early warning system and national weather service tsunami programs. Global Tsunami Early Warning System The push for a global tsunami early warning system started after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster and was reinforced by the recent tsunami disaster in Japan. The idea faces several financial, technical and political challenges that have to be ironed out before it is can be put in place (Simola, 2005). Some developed nations have the resources and capabilities to establish their own regional emergency disaster warning networks and have already done so. However, for a truly global tsunami-monitoring network, government policy analysts have been raising technological and national security issues as challenges that have to be overcome first. The U.S. for example fears the open access and sabotage of international communication networks. There is concern that some of the data collected could be deemed sensitive and might reveal methodologies that would compromise the intelligence-gathering operations of the U.S. and other nations. The Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) The United States has taken initiative towards a global disaster warning system with the GEOSS project that also provides for building capacity for global tsunami early detection and warning capabilities. GEOSS’s infrastructure will be based on exact environmental data collection platforms, environmental observation systems, telecommunication capabilities and communications lines that are operational around the world. By linking the operations of GEOSS and other systems, the United States would assist other countries in developing a tsunami early warning capacity. The tsunami early detection systems have also been upgraded to make them more efficient. The U.S. is leading in terms of new technologies for tsunami preparedness, for example, the state-of-the art Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys that are used for operational detecti on of tsunamis and verification on non-events in the ocean. Tsunami Action Plan for the U.S. The United States, as part of improving its tsunami warning and detection system, has already deployed 32 DART buoys to improve tsunami detection from the Gulf of Mexico, the far Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea. There is also a push by some social scientists for the implementation of proper legislation that will help in protecting the country from tsunamis. There is already a plan underway to train local authorities on local tsunami emergency planning. Interagency resource sharing at all levels of government is also strongly emphasized. The National Weather Service (NWS), through the National Tsunami Warning Program (NTWP) has two tsunami warning centers that monitor, detect and warn of possible tsunamis arising in the Pacific Ocean (George, 2002). The NTWP also has an associate program that concentrates on reducing the rate of false tsunami alarms arising from the Pacific Ocean. There is also the National Tsunami Hazards Mitigation Program (NTHMP) to help states in emergency planning for tsunamis (Robbins et al, 2001). Conclusion Crisis management is an important undertaking for any organization or community. Effective emergency management systems must be put in place if an organization or community is to effectively deal with disasters when they happen. Such systems must first start by taking preventive measures and making preparations before the disaster strikes. This includes public education and properly equipping important organizations like the fire and rescue department whose role in emergencies is crucial. The response to the emergency also needs to be well planned and coordinated between the different authorities involved for the mission to be smooth and successful. Large-scale disasters like tsunamis require planning on a large scale, starting from the international community, down to the individual countries and local communities. The effe cts of large-scale tsunamis have already been seen and felt, and as a result, countries have stepped up their efforts for early detection and warning before a tsunami strikes. They have also put in place measures to be taken and how the public is expected to respond in case of a tsunami emergency. With these measures in place, the impact of the disaster can be lessened considerably. References Burns, N 2001, The practice of Emergency Response, WB Saunders Publications, Philadelphia. George, B 2002, Disaster Theories: The Base for Professional Evacuation, Appleton and Lange, Norwalk. Disaster and Recovery Planning Guide, n.d., A guide for Facility Managers, Fairmont Press Inc, Lilburn, Georgia. Haddow, G D Bullock, J 2007, Introduction to Emergency Management,  Butterworth Heinemann, London. Heath, R 1998, Crisis Management for Managers and Executives, Financial Times/Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Moore, T Lakha, R (eds) 2006, Tolly’s Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Manag ement: principles and practice, 3rd edn, Heinemann Butterworth, London. Polit, D F1998, Disaster Management: Principles and Methods, JB Lippincott Company, Philadelphia. Robbins, S P, Judge, T A, Millett, B Boyle, M 2011, Organizational Behaviour, Pearson, New York. Simola, S K 2005, ‘Organizational crisis management: overview and opportunities’, Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, Vol 57 No. 3, 180-192. Treece, J W 2002, Elements of Research in Emergency Response, Mosby, St. Louis. This essay on Crisis Management at Organizational Level was written and submitted by user Kobe Hahn to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Interacting Galaxies - Galaxy Mergers and Collisions

Interacting Galaxies - Galaxy Mergers and Collisions Galaxies are the largest single objects in the universe. Each one contains upwards of trillions of stars in a single gravitationally bound system. While the universe is extremely large, and many galaxies are very far apart, it is actually quite common for galaxies to group together in clusters. Its also common for them to collide with each other. The result is the creation of new galaxies. Astronomers can trace the construction of galaxies as they collided throughout history, and now know that this is the main way galaxies are built.  Ã‚   Theres a whole area of astronomy devoted to the study of colliding galaxies. The process not only affects the galaxies themselves, but astronomers also observe that starbirth is often triggered when galaxies merge together.   Galaxy Interactions Large galaxies, like the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy, came together as smaller objects collided and merged. Today, astronomers see smaller satellites orbiting nearby both the Milky Way and Andromeda. These dwarf galaxies have some of the characteristics of larger galaxies, but are on a much smaller scale and can be irregularly shaped.  Some of the companions are being cannibalized by our galaxy.   The Milky Ways largest satellites are called the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. They seem to be orbiting our galaxy in a billions-of-years-long orbit, and may not actually ever merge with the Milky Way. However, they are affected by its gravitational pull, and may only be approaching the galaxy for the first time. If so, there still could be a merger in the distant future. The shapes of Magellanic clouds have been distorted by that, causing them to appear irregular. Theres also evidence of large streams of gas being pulled from them into our own galaxy.   Galaxy Mergers Large-galaxy collisions do occur, which create huge new galaxies in the process. Often what happens is that two large spiral galaxies will merge, and due to the gravitational warping that precedes the collision, the galaxies will lose their spiral structure. Once the galaxies are merged, astronomers suspect that they form a new structure known as an elliptical galaxy. Occasionally, depending on the relative sizes of the merging galaxies, an irregular or peculiar galaxy  is a result of the merger. Interestingly, while galaxies themselves may merge, the process doesnt always hurt the stars they contain. This is because while galaxies do have stars and planets, theres a LOT of empty space, as well as giant clouds of gas and dust. However, colliding galaxies that do contain a large amount of gas enter a period of rapid star formation. Its usually much greater than the average rate of star formation in a non-colliding galaxy. Such a merged system is known as a starburst galaxy; aptly named for a large number of stars that are created in a short amount of time as a result of the collision. Merger of the Milky Way With the Andromeda Galaxy A close to home example of a large galaxy merger is the one that will occur between the Andromeda galaxy with our very own Milky Way. The result, which will take millions of years to unfold, will be a new galaxy.   Currently, Andromeda is about 2.5 million light-years away from the Milky Way. Thats about 25 times as far away as the Milky Way is wide. This is, obviously quite a distance, but is quite small considering the scale of the universe.  Hubble Space Telescope data suggests that the Andromeda galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way, and the two will begin to merge in about 4 billion years. Heres how it will play out. In about 3.75 billion years, the Andromeda galaxy will virtually fill the night sky. At the same time, it and the Milky Way will start warping due to the immense gravitational pull each will have on the other. Ultimately the two will combine to form a single, large elliptical galaxy. It is also possible that another galaxy, called the Triangulum galaxy, which currently orbits Andromeda, will also participate in the merger.  The resulting galaxy might be named Milkdromeda, if anybody is still around to be naming objects in the sky.   What Will Happen to Earth? Chances are that the merger will have little effect on our solar system. Since most of Andromeda is empty space, gas, and dust, much like the Milky Way, many of the stars should find new orbits around the combined galactic center. That center may have as many as three supermassive black holes until they, too, merge.   The greater danger to our solar system is the increasing brightness of our Sun, which will eventually exhaust its hydrogen fuel and evolve into a red giant. That will start to happen in about four billion years. At that point, it will engulf Earth as it expands. Life, it seems, will have died out long before any kind of galaxy merger takes place. Or, if were lucky, our descendants will have figured out a way to escape the solar system and find a world with a younger star.   Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT - Labor Laws and Unions Essay

HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT - Labor Laws and Unions - Essay Example The Company’s mission is to â€Å"connect people with their world everywhere they live, work and do it better than anyone else†. AT & T Inc has been accused of inhuman treatment of their employees and overtime payment row to their middle managers in a number of states (Sterling Attorneys, 2011). In the first case, AT&T was accused of requiring employees to stand all day when attending to customers in newly acquired stores notwithstanding the extended hours of operation to 12-13 hours a day. AT&T was in breach of The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) which stipulates the minimum wage and overtime pay. It is not only individuals that enjoy a wide range of benefits arising by virtue of being a member of a trade union but also organizations. For instance, organizations stand a better chance of identifying challenges faced by their workers owing to liaison with workers representatives. This gives an opportunity to tackle the problems faced by employees in due time. The Unionization process begins with gathering information about whether there is an existing union in the organization. If there is an existing union then an individual will contact them for further information. In case no union exists in the organization then employees will have to build their own union by coming together to sign an â€Å"Authorization† card. The next step involves making the union official by holding a secret ballot election under the supervision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The workers can also make their union official by asking the employer to voluntarily recognize the association. The trade unions tend to bargain through collective bargain whereby the union agents on behalf of the unionized employees, petition the employer to take into consideration a particular interest of the employees such as pay rise or improved working condition. Unions bring about serious implications on employers. In case the union disagrees on

Theories of Internationalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Theories of Internationalization - Essay Example This paper takes a comprehensive look at three of these theories: The Uppsala Model, The Eclectic Theory of International Production and Michael Porter Diamond Model. The definitions, assumptions, strengths and weaknesses relating to the above mentioned theories are discussed in this paper. The Uppsala Model The Uppsala Model was developed by Johanson and Vahlne in 1977 from their studies which focused on manufacturing firms of Sweden (Buckley & Ghauri, 1998 p.63). The empirical observations from their studies made them formulate the Uppsala Model. This model is based on the behavioural theory which uses behavioural actions to explain the nature of firms. Internationalization has been described as a process of experiential learning and incremental commitments which leads to an evolutionary development in a foreign market. The model has focused more on acquisition of knowledge and learning. In this regard, the lack of knowledge is seen as a barrier to the development of foreign operat ions. Four core concepts can be extracted from the Uppsala Model. These are market knowledge, market commitment, current activities and commitment decisions (Buckley & Ghauri, 1998 p.66). ... Both kinds of knowledge are required for international initiatives. The objective or general knowledge is easily learnt through teaching and marketing researches while the experiential or market -specific knowledge is only learnt through personal experience and is not transferrable of separable from the source. The model places much emphasis on experiential knowledge because it generates business opportunities and lays the foundation upon which internationalization process takes place. Market commitment concept is built from two factors. They are the amount of resources and the degree of commitment. The amount of resources refers to the size or the scale of investment in terms of marketing, personnel, research and others. The degree of commitment varies depending on the level of integration between the resources and other parts of the firm. The degree is higher if the level of integration is higher. Current activities constitute the main source of experience for a firm. Experience is important because it generates opportunities that lead to market commitments. Other sources of experience would include hiring people with experience, getting advice from other firms and taking over other firms with experience. These options have their limitations. First, the experienced force to be hired may not be available and second, the firms to take over or get advice from may not also be available. The best available option of gaining experience is through current activities which is a slow process (Michael, 2011 p. 39). The current business activities have to be continuous over time in order to realize desired consequences. Therefore, if the lag between the current activities and desired

Green Design Essay Example for Free

Green Design Essay The notion of a responsible architecture design is something that flourished way back in 1970s. However, green designs during that time were only developed on a domestic or small scale basis (Papanek 4). It is only in the late 1980s that green commercial developments are done as an effect not only of the 1980 economic boom but also of various social, political and design factors (Beaufoy 199). At the present age, the author argues that the attempts of modern architecture to merge new trends in office design and environmental friendly features are primarily commercial in nature and not really fully environmental. Having such premise in mind, the author formulated the research question: Should interior designers encourage clients to go with green design? In order to sufficiently answer this question, the author have provided a comparative analysis of the pros and cons of the green design and then significantly deduce based from the said arguments the writer’s stance weather he will respond to the question on the affirmative or the negative manner. Arguments on the affirmative side claims that: (1) The green design will help reduce the environmental burdens that the present society brings to the aforementioned and also help man conserve energy (Winter 8); and (2) The green design will help to minimize or to an extent prevent sickness that are acquired within a particular building or house. On the other hand, the arguments on the negative side are the following: (1) The green design raises the costs in erecting buildings or houses; (2) The green design is difficult to implement on certain states, depending on the statutory laws governing a particular state. Body The body of the research elaborates on the positive and the downsides of implementing green design. Reducing Environmental Burdens and Energy Conservation The relevance of green buildings on a global level and its effect to the environment and energy conservation is one of the major arguments in terms of promoting green designs. Buildings or houses that are tailored to be such are expected to reduce carbon dioxide and CFC emissions that are brought about by airconditioning (Beaufoy 203). For instance, IBM has been creating buildings that are completely asbestos free and avoids the use of hardwoods unless the latter came from a sustainable source. They are also using low ozone-depleting chemicals and has been controlling the ozone emission of their airconditioning, and even planning in the near future to eliminate aircondition altogether. In some instances, where green buildings use glass on the exterior, such helps to lessen the need for heating, and the small amount of heat that is needed could be gas-fired. Corollary with this, one can also help to reduce the use of light bulbs of fluorescent lights, hence conserving energy (Beaufoy 203). The use of energy efficient devices such as those of modern HVAC devices helps buildings to save operating costs and could even make the former eligible for rebates offered by local energy companies. In addition with this, through designing building facilities that make use of energy through natural ventilation and daylight also reduces operating costs (Meyerson 47). Health Benefits One of the major premises why green buildings are favorable is due to the health benefits that it could bring to people. For instance if a building is designed to draw air at a high level, cooled and the filtered, the air conditioning or water system of the aforementioned could help eliminate the risk of Legionnaires Disease (Beaufoy 203). The Greenpeace building in Islington, London are also geared towards creating a more environmentally sustained building in their inclination to reduce the risks of office illnesses that result due to the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions of airconditions (Beaufoy 204). Increased Construction and Soft Costs The actual costs of building green architecture are something that is too expensive that a lot of green features can not be really accommodated by most marginalized companies (Johnston 1). As such it is often argued that green buildings are only for wealthy people (Wilson 1). The problem of first costs or the initial expenses that has to be paid prior to building a house is something that is of a growing concern for customers. For instance, the use of uncommon trades and materials could increase costs in addition to LEED commissioning (Syphers et al 8). In addition with this, higher soft costs are also most likely to be incurred in green buildings. The use of additional design analysis, computer modeling, commissioning, product research and lifecycle costs analysis for materials that could be substituted could also paved the way for up-front costs (Syphers et al 8). Legal Considerations Local conditions that are unique to every country and state cold also be one of the problems in terms of attempting to erect green buildings, for some state regulations could pose certain problems on the aforementioned. For instance, the state of California prohibits the use of water-free urinals that could have saved certain buildings a significant amount of water (Syphers et al 6). In relation with this, the use of solar panels that could have help buildings to save electricity, though highly encouraged within various states regulations; also poses some problems as the law requires buildings to locate these panels somewhere that could not be seen on public roads due to the risk of accidents. Also, local building codes have given limitations on the height windmills including its zone restrictions (Syphers et al 7). As generally known, windmills are also one of the most environmentally friendly way of generating electricity. Analysis After presenting the abovementioned arguments of the positive and the downsides of the use of the green design, it is also noteworthy to tell that amidst all of these most basic issues, the author perceived that the advocacy for the adaptation of green buildings is something that is primarily commercial in nature rather than really environmental in focus. Although it could be significantly noted that green buildings indeed helps the environment due to cutting the use of certain machines that could have harmed for instance the ozone layer, it could be implied that the primary motivation of customers is indeed on cost cutting and juxtaposed with that of course is a relatively healthy lifestyle. In this respect, it could be said that although the positive side of green architecture is emphasized most specially its environmental underpinnings, the fact couldn’t be hidden that such an endeavor is not really one hundred percent pro nature as one could see a compromise between capitalism and protecting the environment. It is with this respect that the author remembered that capitalism is indeed a necessary evil. There are a number of human endeavors that will not proceed without its aid, and such includes even the environment. In addition to these issues, the notion of the difficulty of implementing the architectural design of green buildings is something that should also be taken into consideration. The initial construction costs and soft costs could be really expensive; however, experts still argue that the life cycle costs of the building in the long run could be very cost effective (California Integrated Waste Management Board 1). The legal considerations of course are something that is imperative in order to assure order and efficiency to the society. Albeit it should be noted that the process of adopting green design is something that is still in the process of development; hence it is theoretically possible that the future technology could bring about changes that could fully actualize the fullest utility of the program. Conclusion Given the abovementioned factors, the author wishes to answer the research question: â€Å"Should interior designers encourage clients to go with green design? † in the affirmative. It could be seen that although the green design has a number of short comings, it could not be denied that these flaws are only minute in comparison to the overall utility that it could bring to man and to the environment. The short comings of green design could be solved through active collaboration of various stakeholders that are concerned to such like customers, contractors, architects, interior designers, engineers, the government, non government organizations, private corporations and the likes. Literature Cited Beaufoy, Helena. â€Å"Case Study: The Green Office in Britain A Critical Analysis†. Journal of Design History 6,3 (1993) 206. California Integrated Waste Management Board. January 2007. Sustainable (Green) Building: Project Design Cost Issues. 23 October 2007 http://www. ciwmb. ca. gov/GreenBuilding/Design/CostIssues. htm#Primers Johnston, Ritchey. Actual Costs Is Building Green Too Expensive? January 2000. Housing Zone. 23 October 2007 http://www. housingzone. com/topics/nahb/green/nhb00ca029. asp Meyerson, Andrew. â€Å"The Dollars and Cents of Green Construction: Being Environmentally Friendly Brings Financial as Well as Social Benefits†. Journal of Accountancy 199,5 (2005) 47. Papanek, Victor. Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change. London: Thames Hudson, 1985. Syphers, Geof et al. October 2003 Managing the Cost of Green Buildings K-12 Public Schools Research Laboratories Public Libraries Multi-family Affordable Housing. State of California and Almeda COunty Waste Management Authority. 23 October 2007 http://www. ciwmb. ca. gov/GreenBuilding/Design/ManagingCost. pdf Winter, Metta, â€Å"The Greening of Design: Jack Elliott Believes Interior Designers Can and Should Play a Major Role in Preventing Environmental Degradation, That Sustainability Should Be Central to All Design Decisions†. Human Ecology 30,1 (2002) 8. Wilson, Alex. Building Green on a Budget. May 1999. Building Green. com. 23 October 2007 http://www. buildinggreen. com/auth/article. cfm? fileName=080501a. xmla

Studying The Peach Fruit Fly: Bactrocera zonata

Studying The Peach Fruit Fly: Bactrocera zonata Abstract The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is one of the most harmful species of Tephritidae. It is a polyphagous species attacking more than 40 species of fruit crops and has also been recorded from wild host plants. The peach fruit fly is a serious pest of peach, guava and mango; secondary hosts include apricot, fig and citrus. It causes serious economic losses, either by direct damage to fruits or indirectly by warranting the need for quarantine and phytosanitary measures. Bactrocera zonata is native from India and is present in numerous tropical countries of Asia. However, this pest has been established in Egypt since the late 1990s and is now largely widespread throughout the country. Therefore, it demonstrated its ability to establish outside tropical climates and its adaptability to local temperate conditions. In Egypt, B. zonata is active throughout the year when temperatures exceed 10 °C and can complete several generations per year, apparently overwintering also in temperate climates. Bactrocera zonata is well adapted to hot climates and shows higher low-temperature thresholds than those of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, which is widespread in the Mediterranean countries. Pest risk analysis suggests that the peach fruit fly is capable to establish and spread in coastal areas of the Mediterranean region, causing significant damage on fruit production. of entering, establishing, spreading and causing significant impacts on fruit production in other countries of the Mediterranean region. INTRODUCTION Tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) have a major impact on world agriculture, causing yield losses and reducing the quality and marketability of agricultural crops. Control of fruit flies mostly relies on the application of broad-spectrum insecticides, which could cause food contamination, side effects on beneficials and pest resistance to insecticides. Tephritid fruit flies are among the most invasive species of fruits and vegetables in the world. Establishment of exotic flies would cause direct and indirect economic losses due to damage to fruits and  strict quarantine regulations imposed by importing countries to avoid introductions of invasive pests. The family Tephritidae, comprises nearly 4500 species distributed over most of the world and include several species that pose a potential threat to Mediterranean horticulture, mainly of the wide-ranging genus Bactrocera, native to South East Asia and Australasia, the genus Anastrepha, originated from Central and South America, and the genus Ceratitis, indigenous to Africa. The genus Bactrocera is considered a serious threat of fruit crops because of the wide host range of its species and the invasive power of some species within the genus (White and Helson-Harris 1992; Clarke et al., 2005). Several Bactrocera species established outside of their native Asian range: Bactrocera carambolae Drew and Hancock in Surinam and northern Brazil, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillet) in Hawaii, East and West Africa, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel in Polynesia and Hawaii, Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta and White in Sub-Saharan Africa and Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) in the eastern Mediterranean basin (Vayssià ¨res et al., 2008). The two polyphagous fruit flies presently established in the Mediterranean region are the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the most dangerous and widespread species, and the peach fruit fly B. zonata, which has been detected in Egypt in1998 and spread throughout the country (Amro and Abdel-Galil, 2008). The peach fruit fly was intercepted at the port of Valencia in 2005 by quarantine officials on citrus fruits imported from Egypt. Therefore, a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) was carried out by Spain and submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for a scientific opinion. The PRA pointed out that the peach fruit fly can establish and spread in southern Europe, causing considerable damage to fruit yield. However, the pest risk assessment can be improved by defining the potential climatic range of the pest in Europe and identifying fruit crops potentially at risk (EFSA, 2007). Bactrocera zonata is listed as Dacus zonatus in Annex IAI of Directive 2 000/29/EC, which includes harmful organisms whose introduction in EC countries are banned. In the present paper we review the life history, host range, influence of climatic factors  and provide a tentative distribution map of the peach fruit fly in the Mediterranean region along with control methods. DISTRIBUTION The peach fruit fly is native to tropical Asia and is widely distributed in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia (Sumatra), southern Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Yemen. It also occurs on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion (EPPO, 2005). In Pakistan, this fruit fly is abundant in coastal and sub-coastal areas of Baluchistan and Sind, and in semi-desert areas and northern plains of Punjab. However, it has also been recorded as rare from foot hills of Islamabad and Peshawar valley of North Western Frontier Province (Hussain, 1995). In Sri Lanka, this species is distributed throughout the island in wet and dry zones and has been recorded up to the elevation of 1800 m (Tsuruta et al., 1997). In the last decades, the peach fruit fly has spread westward and has established in the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt. Bactrocera zonata was identified in 1998 on infested guavas collected in Agamy and Sabahia, near Alexandria. In 1999, monitoring traps showed high capture rates in Alexandria and Cairo. In October 2000, the pest was detected in North Sinai and is at present widespread in all the fruit-growing areas of Egypt (EPPO, 2008). California has been invaded multiple times (1989, 2001 and 2006) by the peach fruit fly, but it has been successfully eradicated (EPPO, 2005). LARVAL HOST RANGE The peach fruit fly has been recorded infesting over 40 cultivated and wild plant species, mainly those with fleshy fruits (Table 1). In Pakistan, B. zonata is a serious pest of guava, mango, peaches, papaya, persimmon and citrus. Damage of 25-50% has been reported in guava, of 10-15% in mango and of 40% in persimmon (Syed et al., 1970; Qureshi et al., 1992; Stonehouse et al., 2002). The relative susceptibility of the most common cultivated fruits in New Valley Oases (Egypt) was determined in field on the basis of adult emergence from infested fruits. Sour orange appeared to be the highest susceptible host, followed by orange and guava, whereas mandarin, apple, mango and fig were more resistant/showed some sort of resistance (Amro and Abdel-Galil, 2008). In Egypt, the highest number of pupae and the highest percentage of adult emergence were recorded under laboratory conditions from pear fruits, followed by guava, peach, apple and apricot (Shehata et al., 2008). Bactrocera zonata seems more adapted to attack citrus fruits than C. capitata. In fact, in 2002/2003 at Fayoum Governatorate (Egypt), the two species infested 15.5 and 0.35% of Navel orange, 10.0 and 0.9% of grapefruit, 8.7 and 3.7% of mandarin, 5.7 and 3.4% of sour orange, 0.6 and 0.3% of lemon and 0.6 and 0.3% of Valencia orange, respectively (Saafan et al., 2005). Restrictions by overseas markets are inevitable if research funding actions show that the peach fruit fly is established in Mediterranean countries. LIFE HISTORY The peach fruit fly is anautogenous, i.e. it emerges from puparia as sexually immature adult that needs to feed to survive and reproduce. Adults obtain sugars from honeydew  and other plant exudates, protein from bird feces and phylloplane bacteria and moisture from dew and rain. Adults are attracted by some plant-derived phenyl propanoids (e.g., methyl eugenol), that might play a role in the mating behaviour. Mated females pierce the skin of host fruits with their ovipositor and lay a batch of 2-9 eggs. The eggs usually hatch in a few days and the young larvae feed upon the fruit pulp destroying the fruit. Tunnels created by larval feeding also allow the entry of secondary pathogens causing secondary fruit rot. The mature larvae leave the fruit and pupate in the soil where they emerge two weeks later as young adults. Bactrocera zonata is a non-diapausing and multivoltine species with overlapping generations. In Pakistan and Egypt, adults are present throughout the year except in January and February (Hussain, 1995; Farag et al., 2009). Overwintering mostly occur in the larval or pupal stage. Adults a strong flier, capable of dispersing more than 24 km in search for host plants (Qureshi et al., 1975). Passive dispersal is mainly by means of winds and transportation of infested fruits. Adults live for 30-60 days and the pre-oviposition period (including sexual maturation of 8-16 days, ranges from 10 to 23 days. A female can lay up to 93 eggs/day, and as many as 564 in its lifetime (Qureshi et al., 1974). Under favourable conditions, the eggs hatch into larvae within 2 days. The larvae feed in the fruits for 4 to 30 days, depending on temperature (Duyck et al., 2004). Mature larvae burrow 2.5 to 12.5 cm in the ground to pupate. The pupal period varies from 4 days in summer to over 6 weeks in winter. Full development takes from 5 to 8 weeks, depending on the season and type of fruit infested (Shehata et al., 2008). The most important parameters influencing the population dynamics of B. zonata are the favourable environmental conditions for reproduction and survival, and host sequence, suitability and availability. Several generations per year are completed under favourable conditions. In Pakistan, the peach fruit fly complete 8-9 generations per year in the coastal plains, whereas only two generations are completed in 5 months in northern areas (Hussain, 1995). At Giza Governatorate (Egypt), seven overlapping generations were recorded from March to November; the first generation is the longest, occurring from March to May-June, whereas summer generations lasted 4-6 weeks. Populations are usually at their lowest level at the end of the winter due to the slowdown or cessation of development. It may take several generations are needed to reach the highest population density, which was observed during the 5th generation at the end of August (Farag et al., 2009). Influence CLIMATIC FACTORS AND OF HOSTS Climate plays a critical role as the determining factor of the peach fruit fly abundance, influencing development and survival, therefore limiting its geographical range. The wide distribution of B. zonata indicates a considerable degree of environmental plasticity. Although the immature stages of Bactrocera sp. can survive short periods of high (>30 °C) or low temperatures ( The temperature is the most important factor determining developmental rates of immatures and adult maturation rates. The duration of the peach fruit fly lifecycle is mainly affected by temperature and host fruit species. Development ceases in all stages below 12 °C; larvae and pupae are more resistant to cold weather conditions. The developmental thresholds of pre-imaginal stages of a peach fruit fly population in Reunion were determined at constant temperatures. Lower thresholds of eggs, larvae and pupae ranged from 12.6 to 12.8 °C, which were higher than those of C. capitata (10.2-11.6 °C). The thermal units required for the development of pre-imaginal stages were estimated in 224 degree day units (Duyck et al., 2004). However, in Egypt, the lower temperature threshold was determined as 11.84 °C and the thermal units required to complete a generation (from egg to egg) were 487 degree days (Sharaf El-Din et al., 2007). Differences on lower developmental thresholds might be due to the different strains and the larval food. However, the existence of cold-hardening ecotypes of the pest can not be ruled out. The upper temperature threshold was estimated as higher than 35 °C (Qureshi et al., 1993; Duyck et al., 2004). The optimal temperatures for development and survival of pre-imaginal stages occurs at 25-30 °C. The duration of the pre-ovipostion period ranged from 23 days at 20 °C to 8.4 days at 30 °C. Fecundity and adult longevity were optimal at 25 °C (Qureshi et al., 1993). Reliable temperature thresholds and thermal constants appropriate for each life stage allow the development of phonological models to predict the duration of the life cycle of the peach fruit fly under various climatic conditions. On the basis of thermal units, expressed as cumulative degree days, a number of 6, 7 and 8 annual generations have been predicted in North Sinai, El Beheira and Asyout (Egypt), respectively (Khalil et al., 2010). Host quality strongly affects development time and survival of pre-imaginal stages and the reproductive parameters of adults. Peach, guava and mango were the most suitable fruits for larval development and fecundity with respect to other fruit species (e.g. apple, pear, plum, orange) (Hussain, 1995). Climatic factors and host suitability influence coexistence of tephritid fruit flies in some areas. The peach fruit fly was detected in Reunion in 1991 and appears to be displacing C. capitata in warm and dry areas. Ceratitis capitata and B. zonata attack almost the same fruit species, indicating that species niche partitioning is determined by climatic factors rather than host range (Duyck et al., 2008). The peach fruit fly showed displacement ability also over B. dorsalis and Carpomyia vesuviana Costa in some areas of its native geographical range (Agarwal and Kapoor, 1986). POTENTIAL GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN The potential distribution of the peach fruit fly in the Mediterranean basin has been modelled/predicted with CLIMEX. Based on climatic data, this software compares the geographical distribution of a species in the native area and predict its potential geographical range in other continents using the Compare Locations function (Sutherst et al., 2007). The model combines a weekly population growth index (in response of temperature, rainfall and relative humidity) with 4 stress indices (cold, hot, wet and dry) into an Ecoclimatic Index (EI), which indicates the potential propagation and persistence of the species as determined by climate. A database of 30-year climatic data for meteorological stations irregularly located in the Mediterranean basin was used. Climatic parameters used were modified from available data of other tephritid fruit flies (C. capitata and B. dorsalis) (Vera et al., 2002; Stephens et al., 2007), also considering the climatic requirements of B. zonata (Duyck et al., 2004). Then, values were adjusted to fit the distribution of B. zonata in Egypt. To provide a more realistic prediction of the pest range, the Irrigation option in CLIMEX was used. Figure 1 shows a tentative distribution map of B. zonata based on Ecoclimatic Index. Under current climate conditions, the model predicts the establishment and persistenc e of the peach fruit fly in coastal areas of North Africa and Near East. The suitability of European countries to B. zonata establishment was limited to southern areas of Portugal, Spain, Greece and all the main Mediterranean islands (Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily and Crete). The potential geographical distribution of the peach fruit fly appears to be narrower than that of C. capitata, which is more adapted to cool temperatures. Moreover, the predicted range of B. zonata seems to coincide with most of the Mediterranean citrus-growing areas. CONTROL METHODS Biological control of the peach fruit fly is ineffective, because young larvae feed into the fruit flesh and are protected from parasitoids. The most common hymenopterous parasitoids recovered from B. zonata in the native area are the braconid Diachasmimorpha longicaudatus (Ashmead) and the eulophid Aceratoneuromyia indica (Silvestri) (Kapoor 1993). In Egypt, Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and the pteromalids Spalangia cameroni Perkins and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani have been recorded on peach fruit fly pupae (Badr El-Sabah and Afia, 2004). Recently, biological control efforts have been focused on augmentative release of D. longicaudatus and Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (Rousse et al., 2006). Bactrocera zonata males are attracted to citronella oil and to its active compound methyl eugenol (Howlett, 1915). This parapheromone, which is present in many plants, has both olfactory and phagostimulatory action and attracts peach fruit fly males from up to 800 m (Roomi et al., 1993). Methyl eugenol proved to be very effective in early detection of peach fruit fly males and has been used in several suppression programs (Qureshi et al., 1981; Sookar et al., 2006). The male annihilation technique (MAT) employs methyl eugenol to attract most of the males of B. zonata populations. Extermination of males in a population severely reduces the frequency of fertile matings, minimizing the chances of successful reproduction and consequently lowering the infestation on fruits. Peach fruit fly males are caught/killed by plastic traps baited with methyl eugenol (mass trapping technique) or attracted to wooden blocks soaked with parapheromone and insecticide (attract and kill technique). MAT is the standard technique to eradicate the peach fruit fly from areas newly-invaded areas and has successfully been applied in several eradication programs (California, Israel) (Spaugy, 1988; EPPO, 2008). A large eradication program based on the massive use of bait stations (wooden blocks) has been very successful in Egypt: B. zonata populations have been reduced about 4-fold from 2008 to 2009 in all the countrys fruit-producing areas (FAO/IAEA, 2010). A number of insecticides used against fruit flies are effective, flexible and low toxic to non-target arthropods. In the European Union, chemicals registered against the medfly include organophosphates (chlorpyrifos-methyl and phosmet) and pyrethroids (lambda-cyhalothrin and deltamethrin). In addition, some naturally-derived insecticide are accepted in organic agriculture, such as spinosad, that is less toxic to beneficials than traditional insecticides, and a Neem formulation/azadirachtin, that showed sterilant and oviposition deterrent activities on the peach fruit fly (Mahmoud and Shoeib, 2008). All these compounds are non-systemic, therefore control treatments are targeted to kill adults and prevent egg-laying in the fruit. Bait applications integrate insecticide and attractant formulations to lure male and female adult fruit flies. The most effective control strategy worldwide against fruit flies consists in bait sprays of malathion mixed with hydrolysed protein acting as attractants and phagostimulants. However, malathion has recently been excluded from the list of plant protection products allowed in the European Union, which has also prohibited importation of fruits with malathion residues. Laboratory experiments carried out in Egypt showed that spinosad might effectively replace malathion in bait applications against the peach fruit fly (El-Aw et al., 2008). Bait insecticides are sprayed in spots on the foliage of host plants by ground or aerial applications. Studies have been carried out to control B. zonata with the sterile insect technique (SIT) (Qureshi et al., 1974), that is widely used in eradication programs against C. capitata and B. dorsalis. However, this technique has never been adopted in the field against the peach fruit fly. The establishment of the peach fruit fly in Mediterranean countries would prevent export of fruits and vegetables to countries with quarantine regulations or be made conform to their rules and restrictions. Fruit fumigation with methyl bromide is still adopted in several countries, but its use may soon be prohibited. Therefore, alternative fruit sanitation techniques based on temperature manipulation have been developed. Cold treatments consist in holding export products at constant temperatures for a time period sufficient to ensure death of the most resistant peach fruit fly life stages (eggs and larvae). Alternatively, fruits can be disinfested with high temperature treatments (water dips, dry or vapour heat, forced hair). Heat treatments can cause fruit injury and alteration of colour, aroma, flavour or texture in some citrus fruits. CONCLUSIONS The host-plant range of the peach fruit fly is broad, with more than 40 plant species verified as hosts in ; therefore, potential hosts are abundant in the diverse, cultivated and uncultivated flora of Mediterranean region and pose the eventuality of peach fruit fly population cycling. This cycling is characterized by different host-plant species sequentially serving as fruit fly reproductive hosts for parts of the year. Given the lack of diapause in this frugivorous tephritid and its wide host range, population cycling in alternate hosts could play a major role in the potential establishment of Bz and future economic depredations of exotic fruit flies such as the peach fruit fly in Mediterranean region. Peach fruit fly is a generalist tephritid species infesting many host species throughout the entire geographical range. Locally these generalists may utilize only a few of their potential host species. However, no absolute statement about plant susceptibility can be made. A good host in one geographic location may not be as good a host in another, and vice versa, as slight environmental changes may occur that influence the plants desirability as a host. In addition, it is important to analyze the plant species in a given area to identify the competing host range. A desirable host in one area may be less desirable in another because a better host exists. The population dynamics of such tephritid species are also susceptible to fluctuations in community attributes, i.e., plant diversity, interspecific interactions, and abiotic factors. These allow such tephritids to become pestiferous in some areas, but barely noticeable in other areas, or subject them to localized extinction in still other areas Rapid transport of infested host fruits through cargo, personal luggage, and mail has complicated efforts to contain peach fruit fly within its present distribution. Efforts should be made to improve exclusion, prevention, detection, and control practices against peah fruit fly, with the aim of decreasing the risk of introduction. Since eradication efforts can be extremely difficult and expensive when peach fruit fly populations become well established, such efforts are started as soon as possible after introductions are detected. Crop yield reductions, control measures, handling processes, and quarantine restrictions on commodity movement are expenses associated with peach fruit fly infestations. Appropriate phytosanitary measures should be applied to avoid the invasion and establishment of these exotic pests in the Mediterranean region. We believe that Mediterranean countries can no longer ignore the inevitability of recurrent peach fruit fly populations. The Mediterranean countries must prepare to deal with the eventuality and consequences of permanent peach fruit fly populations. Economic importance Impact of peach fruit fly on agriculture Peach fruit fly can have a direct impact on agricultural production in Mediterranean area. One estimate of the direct impact of peach fruit fly in Egypt was million euros, which did not include the costs or impacts of insecticide use to control this pest. A great number of crops in the Mediterranean countries are threatened by the introduction of this pest: including apple, apricot, peach, fig, grapefruit, nectarine, orange, peach, pear, persimmon, plum, pomegranate, tangerine. While the direct loss of production of fruit fly host products can have a significant impact on Mediterranean agriculture, perhaps a more important impact is the loss of potential production and markets due to the threat of fruit flies and the high economic costs for their control. A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams | Analysis A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams | Analysis A Streetcar Named Desire From time to time in life, there are periods when one is faced with conflicts and more often, it does not matter how hard one tries, you just cant fix things and you end up feeling like a broken record. A Streetcar Named Desire focuses on an inconsolable woman called Blanche Dubois. Blanche is a victim of herself and her lifestyle as much as she is the victim of an unfair state of affairs. There are occurrences in her life that she could have handled better ad therefore avoided calamity, but there are as well instances where, there was nothing she could do but play along to the tragic up folding events in her eventful life. First she is nurtured in Old South upper-class traditions, she lived in a classy manner in the family homestead Belle Reve, wedded a man she immensely loved, and followed a professional career as an English teacher. From the beginning of the play, it is forthcoming that she is the victim of her lifestyle, and not a conqueror. The individual Blanche is at present can be covered back to a solitary day in her epic past. Inside only some hours for the duration of this single day, her life would be altered completely. Blanche unexpectedly but walked in on her companion, Allan Grey, in bed having intimacy with another male. She afterwards went to a bar to have a drink with her cheating spouse and his homosexual partner; there she drunkenly told Allan that she was sickened by him. Allan flees the room in serious embarrassment from Blanches utterances and turns a revolver he had on his mouth, she hears him commit suicide in the exterior of the bar they were drinking. Any person would be unba lanced after so mucch pandemonium and distress in such a short period. Argument is fronted that since Blanche had inferred to Allan as disgusting, he committed suicide and this makes Blanche the aggressor and not the victim she almost paints herself to be. Allans deeds towards his suicide were totally his and Blanche could not manage to prevent them. It is obvious that neither of the couple could grip the confusion manifesting at the time and handled them in divergent ways. Blanche was just the fatality of the awful state of affairs that affected the love of her life. Without her dearly loved Allan, Blanche ultimately needed love. All the men Blanche would charm in seduction were because she wanted to mend the emptiness in her heart. This was however not the truthful way to manage affairs and if she had gotten help she could properly have dealt with the pain of her husbands tragic demise. Unfortunately Blanche never had that chance, when she loses her familys plantation, Belle Reve, she is forced to live in Laurel, where she engages in prostitution for the reason that she has no other way of making money to help fend for her personal upkeep. During this tumultuous period, she resides in hotel Flamingo and men seeking sexual pleasures in exchange for money come up to her room every nighttime. Promiscuous sexual relations with men got terribly out of control out of hand. Every time one sexual relation ended, a new one budded the next day. This made her to cement a lousy reputation in the small township of Laurel, Mississippi. Understanding that she was still smarting from the demise of her suicidal husband and acknowledging that the various men could not patch up her inconsolable heart, she turned to drinking to escape her misery. Haphazard alcohol drinking and one-night stands eventually makes Blanche to find herself lonely and with nowhere to go. In order to improve her miserable life and acquire a new character, Blanche makes a decision to begin afresh in Elysian Fields, New Orleans with her young sister, Stella and her bad-mannered husband Stanley Kowalski. Feigning innocence and perfection, to cover up her inadequacies back home is not sufficient as Stellas husband can see right through her. Stanley exposes her precedent behavior and devastates the fresh life she has embarked on in New Orleans she again is back where she began. Blanche is victim to Stanleys insensitive mistreatment. Not oblivious to the truth that they had not once got along, had Stanley not exposed her secrets, she might just have brilliantly started a fresh, improved life. Only to worsen her life further, she becomes the victim of serious sexual assault to the churlish Stanley. If she was not mentally and emotionally unbalanced minded before, Blanche is absolutely now. Stanley was crooked and should not have handled her the way he did, while she was obvi ously in such an unselfconfident shape. Due to her disturbing past and no prospects to seek healthy help, Blanche succumbs to mistreatment and becomes the victim to additional situations than she had to all through the routes of her life. In the closing stages of A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche is taken to mental establishment where it is only hopeful she may get the necessary assistance to her physical, emotional and mental state. She has suffered too much and respite is necessary for her soul.

Nontariff barries Essay

In the Xia case, if the WTO were to rule in favor of Brazil, which of the WTO trade agreements would contain the justification and why? Answer: Brazil banned imports of Xia goods from China because there was allegations and unconfirmed speculation pertaining to China’s use of hazardous materials (for example, lead paint and potentially carcinogenic plastic and rubbers) to manufacture toys cheaply, which sparked consumer panic around the globe. The imports of Xia goods were banned until the test was performed to guarantee that these goods do not possess any health risk. The Chinese government completely refuted this claim and fearing that other country might follow the similar pattern, took the matter before WTO for resolution. If WTO were to rule in favor of Brazil, it would justify it on the basis of â€Å"Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT)†. This agreement is intended that technical regulations, standards and procedures of conformity assessment do not unnecessarily international trade barriers, while recognizing the right of Members to take regulatory measures to achieve its legitimate objectives, including: the imperatives of national security, the requirements in terms of quality, the protection of human health or safety and the life or health of animals, plant life, environmental protection and prevention practices likely to mislead. (Fliess and Schonfeld, 2011) TBT Agreement applies to: †¢Technical regulations: These are measures that establish the features of a product and the processes and production methods which compliance is mandatory. †¢Standards: These are measures approved by a recognized body that provide, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products and processes and production methods which compliance is voluntary. †¢The procedures for conformity assessment: procedures that are used, directly or indirectly, to determine that relevant requirements in technical regulations or standards are fulfilled. These measures should be applied only to extent necessary to protect human, plan or animal life and should be based on scientific principles. Since Xia goods are alleged to have some health risks, the temporary ban on its import was justified until it was provided that it is free of health hazards. 2.If the details of the Xia case were indeed presented to the WTO, explain what the WTO ruling would most likely be and why. Answer:  The objective of the dispute settlement mechanism is to secure a positive solution to a dispute. This is clearly to be preferred to a mutually acceptable to the parties to the dispute and consistent with the covered agreements. Failure to reach a mutually agreed solution, the first objective of the dispute settlement mechanism is usually to secure the withdrawal of the measures concerned if these are found to be inconsistent with the provisions of any of the covered agreements. Do not resort to compensation only where it is not feasible immediately suppress inconsistent with a covered agreement and as a temporary measure pending the withdrawal. The last resort which this Understanding to the Member invoking the dispute settlement procedures is the possibility of suspending a discriminatory manner against another Member, the application of concessions or other obligations under the covered agreements provided that the DSB authorize the adoption of these measures. (Raghavan, 2000). If it is indeed proved that Xia goods are manufactured from hazardous materials, the ruling of WTO is likely to be in favor of Brazil. In such a case, WTO is likely to define an international standard for Xia’s goods to be exported to other countries. If the quality of product falls below this minimum standard, the ban on imports will be justifiable. On the other hand, if goods from China are meeting these standards, the ruling would be in favor of China and Brazil would not be able to restrict its import. 3.In the soybean case, what was the measure adopted by the Chinese government to protect soybean farmers from import surges, and what are the WTO parameters for instituting such measures? Answer: China imported 49% of Brazil’s soybean sued until July 2012. These were 17.1 million tones from 34.9 Total you bought. Thus, the South American country is located on the first exporter of oilseed Asian giant, the largest global importer of the product. (Kassai and Colitt, 2013) Brazilian soybean exports to China were being used to feed domestic cattle and poultry stocks in China. This rise in the demand for soybeans reflected the discovery by animal nutritionists that combining 1 part soybean meal with 4 parts grain, usually corn, in feed rations would sharply boost the efficiency with which livestock and poultry converted grain into animal protein. Chinese government restricted imports on soybean and argued that surge of imported soybeans and its lower cost were negatively affecting the livelihood of domestic coastal farmers who were being forced to increase the domestic price of soybean to offset crop losses from flooding. Here, the Chinese government has used â€Å"Agreement on Safeguard† to protect soybean farmers from import surges. Such measures are used when increased import of particular products seriously threatens the importing country’s domestic industry. WTO parameters for instituting such measures: a) Imports must have serious implications for domestic industry b) Measures should only be temporary c) Should not be discrimination while imposing such measures on different countries. 4. If the details of the soybean case were indeed presented to the WTO, explain what the WTO ruling would most likely be and why. Answer: The Chinese government would reduce or eliminate the quotas and other measures which until now have protected domestic production of soybeans from cheaper imports. China’s consumption of soybeans ballooned by more than 160% between 2000 and 2011 when import barriers were removed, but the area planted with soybeans declined by 20% during those same years. Chinese farmers were simply unable to compete with imported soybeans that were RMB 300 to 600 (US$45-90) cheaper per ton than domestic beans. Imported soybeans now account for three-quarters of the soybeans processed into cooking oil and feed in China, the products of soybean crushing. If China is able to prove that domestic soybean producers are not able to survive because of low cost imports from Brazil, the WTO ruling would be in favor of China and such measures would be upheld. However, if such measures were used as retaliation to Brazilian ban on Chinese toys, the WTO ruling would be in favor of Brazil and China would not be able to restrict import of Soybean from Brazil. REFERENCES Raghavan, Chakravarthi (2000). The World Trade Organization and its Dispute Settlement System. Retrieved from: http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/tilting.htm Kassai Lucia, Colitt Raymond. (2013). Brazil Soy Boom Bottlenecked as China Left Waiting: Commodities. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/ Busch, Marc L. Eric Reinhardt (2003), â€Å"Developing Countries and GATT/WTO Dispute Settlement†, Journal of World Trade 37(4) Filess Barbara, Schonfeld Raymond, (2011). Using International Standards in Regulations. OECD Provides a New Tool for Governments. Retrieved from: http://www.astm.org/SNEWS/MJ_2011/perspective_mj11.html World Trade Organization. (2014). Technical barriers to trade. Retrieved from: http://www.wto.org World Trade Organization. (2014). Agreement on Safeguards. Retrieved from: http://www.wto.org

Economic Principles

_____________________________________________________________ BEO1105 Economic Principles Assignment: Semester 2, 2012 DUE: Week beginning the 10th of September, 2012 Value: 20% of Total Assessment * Since the assignment forms a part of the final assessment for the subject, no assistance will be provided by the staff in relation to answers to the questions. However, if you need any clarifications in regard to the questions, you may contact the lecturer/tutor. You should attach the duly completed Assessment Declaration form available in the Assessment Information section of the subject Web site (WebCT). * You should comply with the assignment presentation requirement as outlined in the subject guide. * The assignment must be typed with a maximum of 600 words in total. * The completed assignment must be lodged with your tutor during your scheduled tutorial in the week it is due. ___________________________________________________________________________ Question 1 (9 marks)During the 1 990s, technological advance reduced the cost of computer chips. Explain, with the use supply and demand diagrams, how the following markets are affected in terms of prices and quantities. (a) Computers (3 marks) (b) Computer software (3 marks) (c) Typewriters (3 marks) Question 2 (6 marks) After an economics lecture one day, your friend suggests that taxing food would be a good way to raise revenue because the demand for food is quite inelastic. a) In what sense is taxing food is a ‘good’ way to raise revenue? (3 Marks) (b) In what sense is it not a ‘good’ way to raise revenue? (3 Marks) Question 3 (5 marks) Most studies of firms’ long run costs have found that average costs decline as firms produce increasingly larger output levels (economies of scale), such as for automobile firms. However, trucking (haulage) firms appear not to experience falling average costs associated with large-scale operations. Why might this be the case? Explain

Does the focal length of a lens depend on the colour of light used Essays

Does the focal length of a lens depend on the colour of light used Essays Does the focal length of a lens depend on the colour of light used Essay Does the focal length of a lens depend on the colour of light used Essay I intend on using light with as much difference in wavelength as possible so that I can compare my results with more ease and so that errors in my experiment do not lead to overlapping results that have no distinct difference in them. However as I am restricted to a school laboratory I shall be using light on the part of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye. This is because filters for red and blue light can be found and used easily and have a large enough wavelength difference (red light with a wavelength of around 700nm whilst blue light is nearly 400nm) as they are on opposite parts of the visible spectrum to each other. Before I started the experiment I was given the lens I was going to use in the experiment so that I could work out the rough focal length of the lens. This meant that I could work out the distances I will I was going very useful because the equation I was going to use was 1/U + 1/V = 1/F My hypothesis is that light with shorter wavelengths will ha ve shorter focal points. Throughout my coursework U will stand for and V will stand for.Apparatus1) Ray box (12V)2) Power supply (able to supply12V)3) Object slide4) Lens of unknown focal length5) Lens holder6) Screen7) Screen holder8) Meter rule9) 30cm ruler10) Light blocking slides x 3Working out appropriate Object distancesOn my graph I want at least 8 points to make sure that the line made is as accurate as possible. And I worked out the rough focal length by using my lens by producing an image of the trees outside the classroom on the wall, and found this to be around 19cm. So I choose points on the graph I am going to do separated out as far as possible by first finding the reciprocal of 0.2 (the previous measurement in meters) to be 5 then working out the reciprocals for the points that have a 0.5 difference from this.I used three decimal places in the object distance because my meter rule can measure to the closest one millimetre not 5 millimetres.Graph value (1/U)Object di stance (meters)50.2004.50.22240.2503.50.28630.3332.50.40020.5001.50.66611.000Method/ clear plan1) Collect the apparatus listed earlier2) Set up the diagram up as shown.3) Insert the red filter into the ray box4) For each different object distance move the screen until the image is in focus.5) Repeat this twice for each object distance listed earlier then carry out the same procedure using the blue filterData treatmentOnce I have the results for the object and image distances the first thing I will do is find the average image distance for each object distance in both of the filters. Once I have done this I will find the reciprocal values of the image and object distances for both of the filters.I will be using the equation1/U + 1/V = 1/FI have worked out that this can be rearranged into the equation for a straight line (y=mx +c) with a gradient of minus one and a constant of 1/f1/U = -1(1/V) + 1/FUsing this equation I can plot the respective reciprocal values of the object and image distances onto a graph showing 1/U against 1/V. This straight line can be extended so that the point where the line intercepts the y axis is found. And at this point the x value is zero meaning 1/U=1/F so the intercept of the y axis finds the reciprocal of the focal length of the lens. I will plot the graph for both the blue and red filters and compare their focal lengths. The graph will look like the one below1/U1/VThen using sound physics I shall explain the graphs and draw a conclusion from them.Due attention and consideration to accuracy and sensitivityWhen setting up my apparatus I will make sure that everything is exactly in line. This means my screen, lens, image and light source will all have to be as close to parallel to each other as possible. If they are not in line then my image and object distances will not be accurate because the light hasnt travelled in a direct straight line from the light source through the image and lens onto the screen, and my meter rule or tape measurer will be measuring these distances as if they were straight. If they are all in line then the image should be projected onto the screen without having to move the screen (I may have to put the ray box or screen on top of a book to ensure this).I have worked out appropriate object distances so that when I am plotting my graph the points are evenly spaced. This means that I will be able to see the correlation of the points on my graph more easily.I will also keep everything as constant as possible by; using the same ray box, using the same voltage to the ray box, using the same screen, keeping the screen tilted perfectly in line with the other apparatus all the time, and obtaining all of my results in the same level of light. The only variable will be object distances and the type o filter.I will be doing repeats so that my results become more reliable, and therefore ensure a more accurate conclusion and a higher likelihood of success in completing my aim.I will be using a met er rule which can measure distances to the closest millimetre. The meter rule is the most accurate measuring device I could get for measuring distances ranging from 200cm-20cm. This will keep the errors in my experiment low allowing a more reliable conclusionSafetyI will be carrying out the experiment in the dark so I will be careful not to walk into other people and objects because this could lead to an injury.The ray box will be on for a long period of time and may get very hot so I will let it cool down before touching it (to put it away) so that I do not hurt my hand. I will also make other people aware of this so that they dont burn their hands.Results tablesred filterU (cm)V (cm)V (1st repeat)(cm)V (2nd repeat) (cm)average V (cm)minimummaximumminimummaximumminimummaximum20.0220.2247.0225.6255.3222.7245.0236.022.0154.7163.0150.2165.0152.6165.2158.525.078.581.580.588.879.288.982.928.562.064.060.063.061.363.562.333.348.149.546.048.347.048.347.940.039.540.038.739.438.640.039.450.0 33.033.432.733.032.933.333.166.728.529.028.628.928.628.928.8100.025.125.225.125.025.125.125.1blue filterU (cm)V (cm)V (1st repeat) (cm)V (2nd repeat) (cm)average V (cm)minimummaximumminimummaximumminimummaximum20.0210.0235.0212.0230.0215.4230.0222.122.0140.0162.0145.0165.0144.0161.0152.825.075.584.378.582.079.783.080.528.560.362.059.162.259.562.560.933.347.548.245.747.647.048.147.440.039.238.738.339.138.038.738.750.033.033.432.332.633.032.632.866.728.528.728.228.728.428.828.6100.025.425.525.024.725.225.425.2red lightreciprocal of U (1/m)reciprocal of average V (1/m)1.03.9841.53.4722.03.0212.52.5383.02.0873.51.6054.01.2064.50.6185.00.423blue lightreciprocal of U (1/m)reciprocal of average V (1/m)1.03.9781.53.4972.03.0492.52.5843.02.1103.51.6424.01.2424.50.6545.00.450There are no anomalies in my resultsAnalysing the graphThe lines on my graphs both have gradients of around -1 and are parallel to each other. This shows that the only variable could have been the colour of the light. The gradient was minus one because of the equation of the straight line I was using (1/U = -1(1/V) +1/F) had a theoretical gradient of minus one.The graph shows that the blue light has a shorter focal length because the blue line is above the red line meaning the reciprocal value of the focal length is greater. Using the graph I worked out that the blue light focal length was 0.187 meters and the red light focal length that was 0.192 meters (I did this by finding the y axis intercept). This is because the blue light has a shorter wavelength compared to the red light and travels at the same speed as the red light so the blue light must have a greater frequency. Because the blue light has a greater frequency it travels a greater distance inside the lens and this means the lens to bends the light more because the blue light is affected by the different density of the glass more than the red light.Conclusion stated and related to resultsThe focal point of a lens changes as the colour of li ght changes. This is shown in my results because the blue light (which has a longer wavelength than the red light) always had a smaller average focal point for each respective object distance compared to the red light. For example when U was 22cm the average focal point for blue light was 152.8cm and for red light the focal point was 158.5cm. In conclusion the colours of light with smaller wavelengths like blue light bend more than light with longer wavelengths like red lightQuantitative and qualitative discussion of limitations, errors and conclusionIn the experiment there were many errors that could eventually be magnified making inaccurate results. These were the range of the focal point because I could not find the specific focal point with my eye, measuring the meter rule or tape measurer, estimating where the lens was because the lens holder obscured the vision of the meter rule. These percentage errors can be worked out using the equation percentage error = (error x 100)/read ing. To find out the largest amount these could have affected my results I will find the percentage error for the longest length measured, which was when I was measuring using the object distance of 20cm with a red filter. The also for a blue filter and compare to find any overlapRed filter for U 20cmApparatus nameerror in apparatuslargest reading (cm)largest percentage error (%)meter rule (mm) for U0.52000.25tape measure (mm) (for V)0.523600.02focal range (mm)263236.011.14Blue filter for U 20cmApparatus nameerror in apparatuslargest reading (cm)largest percentage error (%)meter rule (mm) for U0.52000.25tape measure (mm) (for V)0.522210.02focal range (mm)240235010.21CalculationsFor red light0.25 + 0.02 + 11.14 = 11.41Using 1/U + 1/V = 1/V the focal length is 0.192 metersLargest possible focal length = 0.192 x 1.1141 = 0.214(m)Smallest possible focal length = 0.192 x 0.8859 = 0.170(m)For blue light0.25 + 0.02 + 10.21 = 10.48Using 1/U + 1/V = 1/V the focal length is 0.183 metersLarges t possible focal length = 0.183 x 1.1048 = 0.202(m)Smallest possible focal length = 0.183 x 0.8952 = 0.164(m)From these values I can see that the focal lengths of the red and blue light do overlap, in that the blue lights highest focal length (0.202(m)) is greater than reds smallest (0.170(m)). After seeing the extent at which they overlap I would say that my errors are so big because of the limitations that my results have limited reliability and therefore my conclusion has limited reliability. However the trends and patterns were still present. These percentage errors were chosen because they are the largest possible error in my experiment. In conclusion I have the experiment was successful because the aim was achieved. The focal length of a lens is inversely proportional to the frequency of the light travelling through the lens.I think that I did enough repeats to make my results reliable enough for it to make my conclusion more accurate. I also found no anomalies in my results t hat could affect the way in which the results manifest themselves on a graph this would make my conclusion harder to make and less reliable. However in the experiment I choose the two most extreme wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. I can only presume that the rest of the wavelengths in between behave the same way. This limits the reliability of my conclusion.My aim was achieved but the conclusion is not very reliable.ModificationsTo make my results more accurate I could use auto focus technology that can be found in some projectors and cameras rather than the human eye (which has questionable reliability) to determine the focal point. This will ensure that I have the smallest possible error in the perception of the best (most in focus) image distance. And in my experiment I found the percentage error in the determining of the focal point to be over 10%. Without this error my conclusion would still have been the same. I could also use a see through lens holder because it was hard to determine the object distance using the lens holder provided, and because I was using reciprocal values a small difference is magnified when dealing with small object distances. I would also measure more distances to increase the reliability. I would also use different lenses so that I could compare that affect to gain a more reliable conclusion. And I would also a transparent lens holder designed to slide over a meter rule to increase he accuracy of my results.

Historical Profile of the Roman Republic

Historical Profile of the Roman Republic Rome was once just a little hilly city, but soon its capable fighters  and engineers took over the surrounding countryside, then the boot of Italy,  then the area around the Mediterranean Sea, and finally, even further, extending into Asia, Europe, and Africa. These Romans  lived in the Roman Republic   a  time period and a system of government.   The Meaning of Republic: The word republic comes from the Latin words for thing and of the people The res publica or respublica referred to the public property or the common weal, as the online Lewis and Short Latin dictionary defines it, but it could also mean the administration. Thus, the term republic as first employed as a description of Roman government had less baggage than it carries today. Do you see the connection between democracy and republic? The word democracy comes from Greek [demos the people; kratos strength/rule] and means rule of or by the people. The Rise of Democracy The Roman Republic Begins: The Romans, who were already fed up with their Etruscan kings, were spurred to action after a member of the royal family raped a patrician matron named Lucretia. The Roman people expelled their kings, driving them from Rome. Even the name of king (rex) had become hateful, a fact that becomes significant when the emperors took control as (but resisted the title of) king. Following the last of the kings, the Romans did what they were always good at copying what they saw around them and adapting it into a form that worked better. That form is what we call the Roman Republic, which endured for 5 centuries, beginning in the year 509 B.C., according to tradition. Tarquin, the Last King of RomeBrutus, Lucius Junius BrutusRape of LucretiaFamous Men of Rome The Government of the Roman Republic: 3 Branches of GovernmentHaving witnessed the problems of the monarchy on their own land, and aristocracy and democracy among the Greeks, when the Romans started the Republic, they opted for a mixed form of government, with 3 branches: consuls, senate, and an assembly of the people. Cursus HonorumAristocratic men were expected to follow a certain series of life events, from the military to the political. In the political sphere, you couldnt just decide you want to be consul and apply for the position. You had to be elected to other lesser offices first. Learn about of the magisterial offices and order in which they must be held. ComitiaAssemblies were an aspect of democratic government. There was an assembly of the centuries and an assembly of the tribes.ConsulsAt the top of the political ladder at least of the political offices were imperium (power), since there wee also censors who lacked imperium were the consuls (occasionally, dictators), two of which served for a period of a y ear. Consult this list of consuls for those pairs of men who held office during the period of the collapse of the Republic. Censors of the Roman RepublicCensors didnt rate movies in ancient Rome but did conduct the census. Here is a list of the censors of Rome during the Republican period. Periods of the Roman Republic: The Roman Republic followed the legendary period of kings, although history dosed heavily with legends continued into the period of the Roman Republic, with a more historical era only beginning after the Gauls sacked Rome [see the Battle of the Allia c. 387 B.C.]. The period of the Roman Republic may be further subdivided into: an early period, when Rome was expanding to the start of the Punic Wars (to c. 261 B.C.),a second period from the Punic Wars until the Gracchi and civil war (to 134) during which Rome came to dominate the Mediterranean, anda third period, from the Gracchi to the fall of the Republic (to 30 B.C.). Timeline for the End of the Roman Republic The Growth of the Roman Republic: Wars of the Roman RepublicRome emerged only gradually as the leader of Italy and then the Mediterranean. Starting in the legendary period under the kings, Rome had joined forces with Sabines (as in the rape of the Sabine women) and Etruscans (who ruled as kings of the Romans). During the Roman Republic, Rome formed treaties with neighboring villages and city-states to allow them to join forces either defensively or aggressively. Roman Treaties of the Roman RepublicDuring Romes early period of expansion, from the fall of the monarchy in 510 B.C. until the mid-third century, she gradually spread her dominion over the peninsula of Italy, making treaties with all the states she conquered. The Growth of RomeRome started gaining strength from about 510 B.C., when the Romans threw out their last king, until the middle of the 3rd century B.C. During this, the early Republican period, Rome made and broke strategic treaties with neighboring groups in order to help her conquer other city-state s. Expansion of Rome Beyond ItalyRome didnt initially set up to conquer the world, but it gradually did so, anyway. A side effect of its empire-building was the reduction of Republican Romes democratic policies. The End of the Roman Republic: Books on the Late Republic / Roman RevolutionSometimes it seems as though there is too much material on Rome around the time of Julius Caesar. Theres a reason for this many first-hand accounts a rarity in ancient history. The authors of the following books distil the Latin primary sources to present authoritative pictures of the Roman Republic when it was the dominant world power abroad but in revolt or chaos closer to home. Articles on the End of the Roman RepublicLook at the Gracchi brothers, the conflict between Sulla and Marius, external forces like Mithradates of Pontus and pirates, the social war, and other factors that strained the Roman republic and led to the formation of the first period of the Roman Empire, the Principate.

The Impact of Lupus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Impact of Lupus - Essay Example As Petri puts it, "Instead of fighting infection, the immune system attacks 'self/ the person's normal tissues" (qtd. in Meadows 29). An examination of the causes, symptoms and treatment of lupus helps one to better understand the physiological impact the disease has, while a look at families coping with lupus and certain other symptoms illuminate the psychological aspects. Researchers have attempted to combat lupus by pinning down its origin or causal factors but thus far they have been largely unsuccessful. There are many factors that appear to be closely associated with lupus, and a combination of these factors may be responsible for its origin. Experts believe that it develops from complicated genetic and environmental factors. The fact that it is mainly the women who contract this disease and that it is more prevalent in certain races (Asians, Hispanics, and African - Americans) point to genetic determinants. Moreover there is some evidence that it runs in families. Environmental factors, such as prolonged exposure to sunlight are believed to trigger dormant symptoms. There have also been reported cases of drug - induced lupus, where drugs like hydralazine, procainamide, sulphasalazine, minocycline, may aggravate symptoms or cause similar symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals (Hughes 100). Lupus is a complex illness that may focus its atta... The range of severity also varies. Severe forms of the disease are easier to identify than milder forms. Because of the disconcerting array of symptoms, that may not exclusively suggest lupus, physicians are more likely to make the diagnosis when the disease is well advanced. This results in an unfavorable prognosis for the patient. Skin rashes, weakness, and general fatigue, muscular pain, sudden loss of hair, ulcers, and inflammation of membranes surrounding internal organs are believed to be the most common symptoms. Patients may also show a history of miscarriages and migraine attacks. Lahita and Phillips describe Raynaud's phenomenon as a characteristic syndrome, where "the toes and the fingers turn red, white, and blue because spasms in their small arteries stop the blood flow" (81). Another reportedly common symptom is the malar rash, which spreads across the cheek in the shape of a butterfly. Stress, depression, and psychosis have also been reported as likely psychological sy mptoms. Treatment of Lupus Since there is no cure for lupus, treatment focuses on containing or controlling the illness. The symptoms are treated and with time it is hoped that the ill effects will recede never to come back. As the symptoms are so varied, treatment programs are devised in keeping with the particular needs of the individual. Appropriate medications as well as lifestyle changes are advocated. Medications are the preferred mode of treatment for severe cases. The drugs used in the treatment program include, Non - steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Antimalarials, Steroids, and Immunosuppressives (Hughes 35). The use of these drugs causes side - effects, which in some cases are worse than the disease itself and endanger the long - term health of the