Pets in the Classroom

Pets in the Classroom If youre thinking about getting a classroom pet its important to know a few things first. While research has shown that classroom pets can be stimulating and help to enrich a students experience, you must know which animals are the best to get, and which are not. Classroom pets can be a lot of work, and if you would like to teach your students some responsibility, then they can be a great addition to your classroom. Here are a few quick tips to help you decide which pet is good for your classroom. Amphibians   Frogs and salamanders make great classroom pets because students rarely (if ever) have allergies to them and can be left unattended for days at a time. Frogs have been a staple in many classrooms, a popular frog that most teachers like to get is the African Clawed frog. This frog only needs to be fed two to three times per week, so it is a very convenient pet to have. The only concern with amphibians is the risk of salmonella. You would need to encourage frequent hand washing before and after touching these types of animals. Fish Like Amphibians, fish can be a popular classroom pet because students are not allergic to them nor do they have any bad order to them. They can also be left unattended for days at a time. The maintenance is low, all you really have to do is clean the tank about once a week, and students can easily feed the fish with little supervision. Betta and Goldfish are the most popular in classrooms. Hermit Crabs   Hermit crabs have been popular in science classrooms for some time now. What people don’t realize is they can be a lot of work, die easily and not to mention they smell really bad. Other than that, students seem to really love them, and they can make a great addition to your science curriculum. Reptiles   Turtles are another popular choice for a classroom pet. They are another good choice because they can be picked up easily and are pretty low maintenance. Snakes like the garter and corn are popular as well as ball pythons. Good hygiene is recommended in caring for reptiles  because they may carry salmonella. Other Animals   Pets such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, gerbils, rabbits, and mice may harbor viruses and children may be allergic to them so make sure before choosing your pet that you find out what allergies your students have. If students do in fact have allergies then you may need to stay away from any â€Å"furry† pets because of this risk. Try and stick to the animals listed above if you want low maintenance and have allergies in your classroom. Before you decide upon purchasing your classroom pet, take a moment to think about who will take care of this animal on the weekends or on the holidays when you are gone. You should also think about where you would put the pet in your classroom, that would not cause a distraction to your students. If you are still set on getting a classroom pet then please consider getting a grant from Petsintheclassroom.org or Petsmart.com. Pet Smart allows teachers to submit one application per school year to receive a hamster, guinea pig or snake. These grants are used to support the teaching the of children on how to bond and care about pets responsibility.

Outcrops versus Exposures, an Essay

Outcrops versus Exposures, an Essay The terms geologists use to describe bedrock thats available for the hammer are two: exposures and outcrops. Exposure covers all cases, whereas outcrop is used for an exposure that is natural. The faces sculpted on Mount Rushmore are exposures, but Mount Rushmore itself is an outcrop. The subtler shades of meaning of these two words reflect their deepest roots. Rock Outcrops The first people to call themselves geologists, about 200 years ago, visited mines and talked to lots of miners. In England, the miners used the words cropping or cropping out to describe rocks showing themselves above the ground or mineral seams unearthed in a mine. These are ancient words: the verb crop goes back to Old English and beyond; it means to grow or swell. Today we still use the archaic form of the verb in to crop up, meaning to emerge and to crop out, in speaking of rocks. To the miners, an active process of growth and emergence, even a vital force, was implicit in their word outcrop. The early geologists, who wrote for polite audiences, made a point of noting that cropping out and outcrops were miners slang, not educated English. Miners have always been superstitious people with magical beliefs, and the notion of rocks growing was a clear sign that they saw the underground as an active, living place. Geologists were bent on avoiding all taint of the supernatural, even in their figurative language. But the terminology stuck, and as geology became popular in the mid-1800s outcrop soon entered the everyday language as a noun and, inevitably, a verb derived from it (along with outcropping, a noun derived from that derived verb). Careful users of geological terminology retain crop out as the verb and outcrop as the noun deriving from it: we say, Rocks crop out in outcrops. But even the professional literature has many instances of outcrop used as a verb, and outcropping has a place today when the point is to be decidedly casual. Rock Exposures Exposure is a noun based on the verb expose, to reveal or uncover, which has its origin in Latin and came to us through French. Its root meaning in Latin is to bring forth. We still feel this sense when we speak of a rock exposure in a roadcut or quarry face or building foundation, where the bedrock is actively brought forth by human activity. We have a strong sense as geologists that bedrock forms deep underground. Thus wherever bedrock appears at the Earths surface, something must have removed an overburden to reveal it. The rock just lay there the whole time. Whether it was erosion or bulldozers that did the removing, a passive process of unroofing or exhumation is implicit in the word exposure. Niceties and Ironies Whether a body of rock looks like it grew out of the ground (outcrop) or was uncovered (exposure) would seem to make no difference and many geologists make no distinction but we think the two terms have subtle connotations. Outcrops are natural, but exposures need not be. An outcrop should have a rounded, organic look while an exposure should be more chiseled. An outcrop should protrude whereas an exposure may be flat or concave. An outcrop offers itself; exposure grudges being opened to inspection. Exposures reveal petrology; outcrops show personality. But the miners in their centuries of observation and lore intuited something true: ore veins and granite dikes are clearly invaders of the older rocks they occupy. These things did rise and swell upward from below; their shape implies their process they do grow. Cropping was just the right word. Geologists recognized this too, but unlike the miners, they came to understand that the activity happened and ended an unimaginably long time ago. The miners beliefs in subterranean actions and agents their imps and pixies and tricksters arise naturally from human psychology in the underground setting. We also have a large class of rocks and lavas that do in fact grow on the Earths surface. Lava emerges from the Earth and lies there naked, shaped by its own energies. Are lavas outcrops or exposures? The geologist calls them neither, preferring the more specific words flow, bed, pillow. If pressed, the geologist might well choose exposure as the more neutral term. Lava formations dont have the look of something coming out from under the soil; instead, the soil gradually grows upon them. So perhaps there is a case to make that outcrops refer only to formerly buried bedrock (which would imply that lava is not bedrock). As erosion exposes and gently sculpts the rocks, their details emerge on their skin: variations in hardness and texture, fractures and joints, weathering pits and resistant strata. The outcrops take on character. The irony is that the body of rock that looks most organic and alive is, in fact, the most passive.

How Australia Helps Refugees Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How Australia Helps Refugees - Research Paper Example According to the DIAC’s official map dealing with the organization of detention centers, Australia uses two systems of welcoming refugees. Offshore clients involve eligible people who get guaranteed the chance to apply for protected status in the country. If approved, the Australian state further awards permanent protection to the individuals, which include the provision of visa. If the individuals play within the laws of Australia, they get accorded full citizenship a factor, which transforms refugees into citizens of Australia. The maritime system, on the other hand, is for refugees who apply for protection from the Australian government after stepping on their soil. It involves irregular maritime apprehensions in the last several years as shown in detention centers such as Sydney, Perth, Christmas Island and Melbourne not forgetting Darwin. Australia refugee policy got stipulated on 24 may 1977 by Mr. Mackler who outlined various principles guiding the humanitarian act.   For instance, under the principles, the country recognizes refugees as people who need help and support, but at the same time hold the decision to help them within the government. Furthermore, one of the principles stipulates that assistance gets provided to refugees once they are designated plans for resettlement. Consequently, the country contributes to the United Nation Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It is indispensable to remember that the proponent policy got formulated at a time when Australia was facing a surge of refugees from the war of Vietnam. Considering the sensitivity and the amount of information the project holds, a sensible time is needed to conduct research. The first week of the intensive two-week research involves gathering data from books and other publications. The second week involves carrying out interviews in the relevant departments. This is to ascertain data from books as well as acquire new information helpful in the research. It is also in the week that the research paper gets compiled for submission.

Signature assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Signature - Assignment Example Additionally, I have gained the ability to identify, which articles and case studies are appropriate to analyze in relation to the questions asked in the course. By so doing, I have acquired verse knowledge and skills to help me in the future when am entered with a situation, which requires me to carry out research. The work that I did in class was in relation to identifying different research methods and analyzing results. However, in the work that I did, it is clear that it was more of the analysis of what the authors had done in the research rather than the indicating further explanation of the understanding of the topic or the research method itself. Therefore, in order to improve the work I did in class I would critically evaluate the research method itself and identify the areas that the method is used. Secondly, I would give different opinions on the method indicating how different authors have understood each research method. Thirdly, by using the case studies given I would include the discussion part in the essay to indicate how the research was conducted. By so doing, it will give me a better understanding of the concepts that have been provided in the articles. This will further increase the understanding of the relevant issues involved in the research including good ethical consider ations that are required for every research that is conducted. The topic on Meta-analysis as a research method was a challenge to me, as I did not quite understand how two different aspects were combined to produce results of an issue. This aspect of meta-analysis was confusing because in the study, that I researched on the case study was recent and the one that was combined with the first study was done a long time ago. Seeing that there have been changes not only in technology, but also in other sectors, it is may be correct to say that the data would be compromised. Additionally the meta-analysis research method requires a person who understands the complexity

Work Placement Skills Essay Example for Free

Work Placement Skills Essay Briefing on work placements and the importance of their inclusion in the DDA part 2 It is important to distinguish between different kinds of work placements. Skill would welcome clarification as to which placements will be covered by the amendments to the DDA part 2. Skill has put together this briefing on different types of learning that may include work placements. The examples used are not actual case studies, but reflect the concerns that Skill is aware of, and include situations of which we have been informed. 1Work based learning Work based learning organisations often deliver a large amount of training in the workplace. In a majority of instances trainees are on a Modern Apprenticeship programme and as such are paid as employees therefore are covered under part 2 of the DDA. However, in a substantial minority of cases, trainees are on other programmes where they are taught at a work based training organisation but spend a substantial amount of time on ‘placement’. Skill would presume that these trainees would come under Part 2 under the new regulations. It is certainly essential they do as so much of their programme is delivered in the work place. Tanya is on an office skills course run by a work based learning organisation. Some of her training takes place at the work based learning organisation but Tanya has to attend two substantial work placements. Tanya is a wheelchair user and dyslexic. Some of the adjustments she requires in relation to physical access are that furniture is arranged in a way which allows her free access in her wheelchair and a desk which a wheelchair can fit underneath. In terms of her dyslexia she works best when files etc. are very clearly marked, for example with colour coding. She works much better when using a computer than when having to write down things by hand. Her tutors have visited her work placement with her and can support her with many of the adjustments. However, if they are to be fully implemented they require the active support of her employer and other staff. The employer is clearly disturbed at the fact that Tanya requires these adjustments and mutters that he knows he has duties to his disabled employers but this does not extend to trainees who are merely on work placement. 2Further education Increasingly more and more further education students are going on work placements. In some instances these are students on a vocational NVQ programme. Justine, who is partially sighted, is on an NVQ training course in catering at a further education college. The theoretical and some of the practical parts of the course take place at college but students also have to spend blocks of time in different work places. Two of Justine’s work placements are very accommodating. However the third, a restaurant kitchen, behave in a very unfriendly way. They refuse to print out any recipes in large print saying that this ‘is not their job’ which means that Justine finds it very difficult to carry out her assignments. In the second week they ring up the college and demand that she is removed from the kitchen because they believe that her visual impairment poses a health and safety risk. Her tutor arranges for her to do double time at one of her other placements but this is not ideal as it means that she has a narrower range of experiences than other students on the course. In other cases they are students on an academic programme such as A levels where the work placement is not directly related to their course but is very important in giving them an understanding of how the workplace works and what they might like to do in the future. In some instances they might be students on a more general programme (for example an Entry Level course or a programme for people with learning difficulties). In these cases the purpose of the work placement is to extend their experiences, give them an understanding of the realities of work, and enable them to try out a particular vocational area. Mohammed has learning difficulties and is studying on a life skills course. Part of this course is to have work experience for half a day a week for a term in the local community. Mohammed discusses possible work placements with his tutor and it emerges that he would really like to work in a shop. After writing many letters, Mohammed’s tutor finally manages to arrange for Mohammed to have a work placement one afternoon a week at a local shop. Mohammed’s tutor spent some time at the placement with Mohammed supporting him in how to make the most out of his placement, but he had many students he was responsible for and so could not be there on an ongoing basis. Although Mohammed enjoyed his afternoons at the work placement, the manager of the shop expressed frustration that he was not able to carry out tasks without support and complained about the way in which he was constantly ‘hanging around’ customers which put them off. He said it was not his place to provide support for Mohammed and he needed someone who could ‘get on with the job’. After four weeks the manager sent Mohammed back to the college, saying he wanted someone ‘normal’ next time. 3Higher education In higher education, there are a number of courses that involve vocational work placements. One such example would be that of nursing and midwifery. All such courses have work placements central to them, and rightly so, as they are practical and vocational subjects. However, these placements can be difficult for disabled students. Steve is studying a BSc in Nursing at his local University. In order to complete the degree, students have to pass a number of exams and also undertake three periods of work placements. Steve has dyslexia, which means that his handwriting is poor and so he has asked to be able to type up his patient records. He is also aware that colleagues may think he is more likely to make mistakes on the drugs round, but as all nurses are checked before medication is administered to patients, he thinks this should be ok. Once he is qualified and employed, his employer would make reasonable adjustments such as these under DDA part 2. Despite an excellent track record, the third placement provider refused to make any adjustments for Steve, and spuriously cited Health and Safety law as a reason to expel him from the placement, stating the reason as being because his dyslexia meant he could not do the drug rounds and that his patient records were illegible. Because of this he failed his second year at University and will have to repeat the whole year if he wishes to gain his degree. There are also increasing numbers of sandwich courses on offer from universities, where students undertake a four-year course, of which the second or third year is spent in industry. These placements can be mandatory and without their completion a student may either not be able to progress to the next year of their course or they may not get the extra qualification or recognition that accompanies the completion of the year in industry. Often these placements consist of paid employment, and students are therefore covered by the existing DDA Part 2. However there examples of where students are not paid for these placements. Disabled students may find it more difficult to find a paid placement and so may be more likely to undertake a placement on a voluntary basis. Kerry is studying for a degree in IT. She has MS. As part of her degree, she spends a year in industry. This is a compulsory part of the course, and comes highly recommended by her university, as it will help her to get a job after graduating in a very competitive market. Students are required to complete the placement and also produce a 4000 word report on their placement year, which is worth 10 credits in the final year. Kerry is keen to do a placement, but because of her MS gets turned down from all the places she applies to. Undeterred, she tries instead to find a voluntary placement. She manages to arrange a placement, but her status as an intern means that she is asked to shift boxes and help staff with filing and photocopying, which because of her disability she cannot do. Her colleagues are also very unkind to her because of her disability, and she leaves the placement early, therefore failing the placement year and unable to complete the assignment. Recently, an unpublished survey by AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) showed that disabled students can be just as successful as their non disabled peers in finding graduate employment. This said, they found that there were higher percentages of disabled graduates starting in clerical and secretarial, craft, personal service and sales jobs, as well as in part time and unpaid work. It was concluded that this may be because they may have difficulties in accumulating work experience while they are students. This clearly calls for work placements to be covered by the DDA so that disabled students have an equal chance to progress onto graduate employment after university. 4Self-organised placements There is also a greater emphasis on students finding and arranging work experience themselves, for example in the holiday periods, not on a paid basis. This is becoming increasingly important for students looking to enter employment. The Dearing Report on Higher Education (1997) recommended that all undergraduates should undertake a period of work experience as part of their course, in order to improve employability. This may be seen as even more important for disabled students, who may find it more difficult to progress onto employment after study. Catriona has always dreamed of being a journalist. She is blind, but uses her ‘Braille ‘n’ Speak’ electronic notetaking device to take notes when she interviews people. She previously worked on her school newspaper, and now that she is at college she wants to get some more work experience. She writes to a number of local and regional papers offering to cover stories for them. One paper offers her a few assignments but states that she must be able to use shorthand, as if she goes on assignment in Court, they will not allow electronic notetakers. Her disability means that she is unable to agree to these terms, despite the fact that she could undertake all other kinds of assignment. Although she feels that she has been treated less favourably, she feels unable to appeal because of her status as volunteer. It is hard to make a clear distinction between which of these types of placement could be classed as part of ‘vocational training’ and which not. Some are more directly related to a vocational learning programme. However, they all have the aim of supporting learners in their transition (whether immediate or in the future) to employment. Currently disabled people are significantly under-represented in paid employment, and it is important that any support possible is given to them to change this situation. A successful work placement is a very important factor in helping this to happen. These periods of work placement also form an integral part of an individual’s learning programme. If a disabled person is discriminated against in the workplace or does not have an essential reasonable adjustment made for them, this may well result in them dropping out of the placement and hence failing a particular part of their course. Under DDA Part 4 education providers currently have a responsibility to disabled learners when on work experience. The education provider has a responsibility to prepare both the student and the placement provider for the placement, and set up the necessary support. However, there is only so far they can go in ensuring discrimination does not take place and in making reasonable adjustments to the work placement. For example they can insist on a statement from the employer but cannot actually ensure that no discrimination takes place; they can suggest that, for example, furniture needs to be rearranged in order to accommodate a wheelchair user, but cannot actually authorise its movement. This can only be assured if employers themselves have duties to people on work placements as they already do towards their employees.

Web Accessibility: How Improving Online Communication for the Blind Aid

Many businesses struggle in today’s sluggish economy. According to ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate, total retail sales for Christmas week 2010 dropped 4.1 percent and foot traffic in brick-and-mortar stores fell 6.1 percent (Christmas Week Retail Sales). To increase sales, companies must look for new marketing ideas and revenue streams. Two ideas are using Web advertising and creating online storefronts— ‘click-and-mortar’ stores versus ‘brick-and-mortar’ stores (Journal of Interactive Advertising 2002). Companies also target the massive â€Å"Baby Boomer Generation† to appeal to larger audiences. Businesses increase their Web presence effectively and efficiently by creating sites that appeal to the aging Baby Boomers and to all visually impaired people. They create these sites by using Web accessibility. The term visually impaired describes people reporting difficulty seeing even while wearing corrective lenses as well as those who are blind, according to the American Foundation of the Blind (Facts and Figures). The World Health Organization (WHO) divides vision into four categories: normal vision, moderate visual impairment, severe visual impairment, and blindness. Low vision includes individuals having â€Å"moderate visual impairment† and â€Å"severe visually impairment.† The low vision category includes legally blind individuals; the Braille Institute defines a legally blind person as someone who â€Å"central vision acuity† is 20/200 or less even with corrective lenses, such as glass or contact lenses. Low vision and blindness comprise the spectrum of visual impairment. The WHO states that glaucoma, cataracts, and â€Å"uncorrected refractive errors, such as myopia and astigmatism, are the major causes of visual impairment worldwide. ... ...C/q/id/53349/t/2>. Steinfeld, Charles. â€Å"Understanding Click and Mortar E-Commerce Approaches: A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda.† Journal of Interactive Advertising. 2.2. Spring 2002. Print. Tim Berners-Lee: Bio. World Wide Web Consortium, 30 April 2010. Web. 10 April 2011. . United States. Census Bureau. Americans With Disabilities: 2005. Washington: GPO, 2008. Print. 29 USC. Sec. 794d. 1998. Print. US Web Retail Sales to Reach $249 Bln by '14-Study. Reuters, 8 March 2010. Web. 7 April 2011. . Vision Loss Rate Expected to Double as Boomers Age. SeniorLiving, n.d. Web. 8 April 2011. . World Health Organization, April 2011. Web. 6 April 2011. .

Night World : Huntress Chapter 1

It's simple,† Jez said on the night of the last hunt of her life. â€Å"You run. We chase. If we catch you, you die. Well give you three minutes head start.† The skinhead gang leader in front of her didn't move. He had a pasty face and shark eyes. He was standing tensely, trying to look tough, but Jez could see the little quiver in his leg muscles. Jez flashed him a smile. â€Å"Pick a weapon,† she said. Her toe nudged the pile at her feet. There was a lot of stuff there- guns, knives, baseball bats, even a few spears. â€Å"Hey, take more than one. Take as many as you want. My treat.† There was a stifled giggle from behind her and Jez made a sharp gesture to stop it. Then there was silence. The two gangs stood facing each other, six skinhead thugs on one side and Jez's gang on the other. Except that Jez's people weren't exactly normal gang members. The skinhead leader's eyes shifted to the pile. Then he made a sudden lunge and came up with something in his hand. A gun, of course. They always picked guns. This particular gun was the kind it was illegal to buy inCalifornia these days, a large caliber semiautomatic assault weapon. The skinhead whipped it up and held it pointed straight at Jez. Jez threw back her head and laughed. Everyone was staring at her-and that was fine. She looked great and she knew it. Hands on her hips, red hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her back, fine-boned face tipped to the sky-yeah, she looked good. Tall and proud and fierce†¦ and very beautiful. She was Jez Redfern, the huntress. She lowered her chin and fixed the gang leader with eyes that were neither silver nor blue but some color in between. A color he never could have seen before, because no human had eyes like that. He didn't get the clue. He didn't seem like the brightest. â€Å"Chase this,† he said, and he fired the gun. Jez moved at the last instant. Not that metal through the chest would have seriously hurt her, but it might have knocked her backward and she didn't want that She'd just taken over the leadership of the gang from Morgead, and she didn't want to show any weakness. The bullet passed through her left arm. There was a little explosion of blood and a sharp flash of pain as it fractured the bone before passing on through. Jez narrowed her eyes, but held on to her smile. Then she glanced down at her arm and lost the smile, hissing. She hadn't considered the damage to her sleeve. Now there was a bloody hole in it. Why didn't she ever think about these things? â€Å"Do you know how much leather costs? Do you know how much aNorthBeach jacket costs?† She advanced on the skinhead leader. He was blinking and hyperventilating. Trying to figure out how she'd moved so fast and why she wasn't yelling in agony. He aimed the gun and fired again. And again, each time more wildly. Jez dodged. She didn't want any more holes. The flesh of her arm was already healing, closing up and smoothing over. Too bad her jacket couldn't do the same. She reached the skinhead without getting hit again and grabbed him by the front of his green and black Air Force flight jacket. She lifted him, one handed, until the steel toes of his Doc Marten boots just cleared the ground. â€Å"You better run, boy,† she said. Then she threw him. He sailed through the air a remarkable distance and bounced off a tree. He scrambled up, his eyes showing white with terror, his chest heaving. He looked at her, looked at his gang, then turned and started running through the redwoods. The other gang members stared after him for a moment before diving for the weapons pile. Jez watched them, frowning. They'd just seen how effective bullets were against people like her, but they still went for the guns, passing by perfectly good split-bamboo knives, yew arrows, and a gorgeous snakewood walking stick. And then things were noisy for a while as the skinheads came up from the pile and started firing. Jez's gang dodged easily, but an exasperated voice sounded in Jez's head. Can we go after them now? Or do you want to show off some more? She flicked a glance behind her. Morgead Blackthorn was seventeen, a year older than she, and her worst enemy. He was conceited, hotheaded, stubborn, and power-hungry-and it didn't help that he was always saying she was all those things, too. â€Å"I told them three minutes,† she said out loud. â€Å"You want me to break my word?† And for that instant, while she was snarling at him, she forgot to keep track of bullets. The next thing she knew Morgead was knocking her backward. He was lying on top of her. Something whizzed over both of them and hit a tree, spraying bark. Morgead's gem-green eyes glared down into hers. â€Å"But†¦ they're .. . not. . . running,† he said with exaggerated patience. â€Å"In case you hadn't noticed.† He was too close. His hands were on either side of her head. His weight was on her. Jez kicked him off, furious with him and appalled at herself. â€Å"This is my game. I thought of it. We play it my way!† she yelled. The skinheads were scattering anyway. They'd finally realized that shooting was pointless. They were running, crashing through the sword fern. â€Å"Okay, now!† Jez said. â€Å"But the leader's mine.† There was a chorus of shouts and hunting calls from her gang. Val, the biggest and always the most impatient, dashed off first, yelling something like â€Å"Yeeeeeehaw.† Then Thistle and Raven went, the slight blond and the tall dark girl sticking together as always. Pierce hung back, staring with his cold eyes at a tree, waiting to give his prey the illusion of escaping. Jez didn't look to see what Morgead was doing. Why should she care? She started off in the direction the skinhead leader had taken. But she didn't exactly take his path. She went through the trees, jumping from one redwood to another. The giant sequoias were the best; they had the thickest branches, although the wart like bulges called burls on the coastal redwoods were good landing places, too. Jez jumped and grabbed and jumped again, occasionally doing acrobatic flips when she caught a branch just for the fun of it. She loved Muir Woods. Even though all the wood around her was deadly-or maybe because it was. She liked taking risks. And the place was beautiful: the cathedral silence, the mossy greenness, the resinous smell. Last week they'd hunted seven gang members throughGolden GatePark . It had been enjoyable, but not really private, and they couldn't let the humans fight back much. Gunshots in the park would attract attention. Muir Woods had been Jez's idea- they could kidnap the gang members and bring them here where nobody would disturb them. They would give them weapons. It would be a real hunt, with real danger. Jez squatted on a branch to catch her breath. There just wasn't enough real danger in the world, she thought. Not like the old days, when there were still vampire hunters left in the Bay Area. Jez's parents had been killed by vampire hunters. But now that they'd all been eliminated, there wasn't anything really scary anymore†¦. She froze. There was an almost inaudible crunching in the pine needles ahead of her. Instantly she was on the move again, leaping fearlessly off the branch into space, landing on the spongy pine-needle carpet with her knees bent. She turned and stood face-to-face with the skinhead. â€Å"Hey there,† she said.

Application of Colloids

Applications of Colloids| Colloids play a very important role in nature, in our daily life and in industry. Some of the important applications of colloids are discussed below. 1. Food stuffs and medicines:  Many of our food stuffs are colloidal in nature. Milk, butter, whipped cream, fruit jellies, ice cream, bread etc. are all colloidal in nature. For example, milk is an emulsion of butter fat in water, stabilized by milk protein (casein). Ice cream is a dispersion of colloidal ice particles in cream. Similarly, bread consists of air dispersed in baked dough.Colloidal medicines are more effective and are easily absorbed by the body system. Therefore a large number of pharmaceutical preparations are emulsions. Halibut-liver oil, cod-liver oil, skin ointments etc. are emulsions. Antibiotics such as penicillin, streptomycin etc. are usually injected in the body in colloidal form. Several metal sols are also used as medicines. 2. Purification of water:  In water works, water is usua lly purified by the addition of certain electrolytes such as potash alum, aluminium sulphate etc. This involves the phenomenon of coagulation.The impure water usually contains dispersed colloidal particles which cannot be removed by filtration. When potash alum is added to impure water, the negatively charged colloidal particles of impurities get coagulated by the action of Al3+  ions furnished by the alum and can be removed by filtration or decantation. 3. Sewage disposal:  Sewage water contains particles of dirt, mud etc. which are colloidal in nature and carry some electrical charge. These particles may be removed by using the phenomenon of electrophoresis.The sewage water is passed through a tunnel fitted with metallic electrodes and maintained at a high potential difference. The colloidal particles present in the sewage water migrate to the oppositely charged electrodes and get coagulated. This solves the problem of sewage disposal. Moreover, the rubbish matter obtained on account of the coagulation of colloidal dirt particles may be used as manure. | 4. Smoke precipitation:  Smoke is colloidal system and consists of electrically charged colloidal particles of carbon dispersed in air. As smoke is a big source of pollution.It is always desirable to precipitate it, i. e. , to remove colloidal carbon particles present in it. The removal of colloidal carbon particles from smoke can be effected by using the phenomenon of electrophoresis. This is achieved in an apparatus called Cottrell precipitator as shown in figure. Smoke is allowed to pass through a chamber having a number of metal plates attached to a metal wire connected to a source of high potential (20,000 to 70,000V). The electrically charged colloidal particles of carbon and dust get discharged when come in contact with the oppositely charged plates and fall down to the bottom.The clean hot air leaves the precipitator from an exit near the top. 5. Artificial rain:  Clouds are colloidal systems and consist of water vapour mixed with dust particles. The water molecules present in a cloud develop some electrical charge. Therefore, clouds can be made to rain by neutralizing the charge present on colloidal particles (water molecules). This type of rain is called artificial rain and may be carried out by spraying oppositely charged colloidal dust or sand particles over a cloud. This neutralizes the charge on water molecules and compels them to get coagulated, i. . to rain. 6. Rubber industry:  Latex obtained from rubber trees is an emulsion consisting of a dispersion of negatively charged rubber particles in water. In order to obtain rubber from latex, the latter is boiled when rubber particles get coagulated. The coagulated mass is vulcanized and sold as natural rubber. Rubber-plated articles can be prepared directly from latex by electrically depositing the negatively charged rubber particles over the article to be rubber-plated by making the article an anode in the rubber -plating bath. 7.Leather tanning:  During the tanning of leather, the positively charged colloidal particles of raw skin and hides are coagulated by the negatively charged tanning materials which include tannin and compounds of aluminium and chromium. On soaking hides in the solutions of tanning materials, the coagulation of negatively charged tanning materials takes place in the pores of hides and the latter get hardened. 8. Cleansing action of soaps:  Soaps solution is colloidal in nature and removes dirt and oil from clothes by forming water soluble emulsion as explained earlier. . Smoke screen:  In chemical warfare, smoke screens are generally used to hide the movement of troops. Smoke screens are the colloidal dispersions of very fine particles of titanium oxide in air. 10. Formation of delta:  When a river falls into the sea, extensive deposits of sand and clay are formed at the mouth of the river in the sea. Such deposits are called delta. The river water contains col loidal particles of sand and clay which carry negative charge. The sea water contains a number of positive ions such as Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+  ion etc.When the river water comes in contact with sea water, the negative charge present on colloidal sand and clay particles get neutralized by the positively charged ions (present in sea water) and they get coagulated. The coagulated sand and clay particles settle down and take the shape of delta in due course of time. 11. Blue colour of the sky:  The sky is the empty space around earth and as such has no colour. It appears blue due to the scattering of light by the colloidal dust particles present in air (Tyndall effect). 12. Preparation of Nano-materials:  Nano-materials which are used as catalyst are prepared by using reverse micelles. 3. Building roads:  Now a day, roads are built asphalt emulsified in water. This technique does not require the necessity of melting the asphalt. 14. Metallurgical operations:  Several metal ores are concentrated by froth floatation process. This process involves the treatment of the pulverized ore in emulsion of pine oil. What are the Applications of Colloids? Colloids play a very significant role in nature and in our daily life. Some of the important applications of colloids are discussed below: 1) Medicines: Medicines in colloidal form are easily adsorbed by the body tissues and hence are more effective. ) Sewage disposal: Colloidal particles of the dirt, mud etc. carry electric charge, hence when sewage water is passed through the plates kept at a high potential, the colloidal particles are coagulated due to electrophoresis and the suspended matter gets removed. 3) Purification of water: The precipitation of colloidal impurities present in water can be done by adding certain electrolytes like alum etc. the negatively charged colloidal particles of impurities get neutralized by the Al3+ ions and settle down and pure water can be decanted off. 4) Cleansing action of soap: Soap solution is colloidal in nature.It removes the dirt particles either by adsorption or by emulsifying the greasy matter sticking to the cloth. 5) Formation of Delta: River water contains charged colloidal particles of clay, sand and many other materials. Sea water is very big store house of a variety of electrolytes dissolved in it. As soon as river water comes in contact with sea water coagulate the suspended colloidal particles which ultimately settle down at the point of contact. Thus the level of the river bed rises. As a result, water adopts a different course and delta is formed in due course of time. ) Smoke precipitation: Smoke particles are actually electrically charged colloidal particles of carbon in the air. Precipitation of smoke particles is carried out by Cottrell precipitator which is based on the principle of electrophoresis. Smoke is allowed to pass through a chamber having a number of metal plates attached to a metal wire connected to a source of high potential. C harged particles of smoke get attracted by oppositely charge electrode get precipitated after losing their charge and the hot air passes out through the chimney.The dust particles are also removed in this process. Thus the nuisance of smoke in big industrial cities can be avoided. 7) Photography: A colloidal solution of silver bromide in gelatin is applied on glass plates or celluloid films or paper to from sensitive plates in photography. 8 ) Artificial rain: Artificial rain can be caused by spraying oppositely charged colloidal dust or sand particles over a cloud. The colloidal water particles present in the cloud will be neutralized and coagulate to from bigger water drops causing artificial rain. 9) Rubber industry:Latex is a colloidal solution of negatively charged rubber particles. From latex, rubber can be obtained by coagulation. Rubber plated articles are prepared by depositing negatively charged rubber particles over the article to be rubber plated by making that article a n anode in a rubber plating bath. 10) Smoke screen: In warfare smoke screens are used which are nothing but colloidal dispersion of certain substances in the air. 11) Other applications: a) Blue color of the sky is due to the scattering of light by colloidal dust particles in air (Tyndall effect).Similarly, sea water looks blue due to scattering of light by the colloidal impurities present in sea water. b) Tail of comets is seen as a Tyndall cone due to the scattering of light by the tiny solid particles left by the comet in its path. c) Blood is a colloidal solution and the stoppage of bleeding on applying ferric chloride solution is due to coagulation of blood forming a clot. Colloids-Chemistry and Applications What are Colloids ? In a true solution as sugar or salt in water, the solute particles are dispersed in the solvent as single molecules or ions.Thus the diameter of the dispersed particles ranges from 1A to 10 A. On the other hand, in a suspension as sand stirred into water , the dispersed particles are aggregates of millions of molecules. The diameter of these particles is of the order 2,000 A or more. Applications of Colloids Colloids play an important role in our daily life and industry. A knowledge of colloid chemistry is essential to understand some of the various natural phenomena around us. Colloids make up some of our modern products. A few of the important applications of colloids are listed below. (1) Foods:Many of our foods are colloidal in nature.Milk is an emulsion of butterfat in water protected by a protein, casein. Salad dressing, gelatin deserts, fruit jellies and whipped cream are other examples. Ice cream is a dispersion of ice in cream. Bread is a dispersion of air in baked dough. (2) Medicines: Colloidal medicines being finely divided, are more effective and are easily absorbed in our system. Halibut-liver oil and cod-liver that we take are, in fact, the emulsions of the respective oils in water. Many ointments for application to s kin consist of physiologically active components dissolved in oil and made into an emulsion with water.Antibiotics such as penicillin and streptomycin are produced in colloidal form suitable for injections. (3) Non-drip or thixotropic paints: All paints are colloidal dispersions of solid pigments in a liquid medium. The modern nondrip or thixotropic paints also contain long-chain polymers. At rest, the chains of molecules are coiled and entrap much dispersion medium. Thus the paint is a semisolid gel structure. When shearing stress is applied with a paint brush, the coiled molecules straighten and the entrapped medium is released. As soon as the brush is removed, the liquid paint reverts to the semisolid form.This renders the paint ‘non-drip’. (4) Electrical precipitation of smoke: The smoke coming from industrial plants is a colloidal dispersion of solid particles (carbon, arsenic compounds, cement dust) in air. It is a nuisance and pollutes the atmosphere. Therefore, before allowing the smoke to escape into air, it is treated by Cottrell Precipitator. The smoke is let past a series of sharp points charged to a high potential (20,000 to 70,000 V). The points discharge high velocity electrons that ionise molecules in air. Smoke particles adsorb these positive ions and become charged.The charged particles are attracted to the oppositely charged electrodes and get precipitated. The gases that leave the Cottrell precipitator are thus freed from smoke. In addition, valuable materials may be recovered from the precipitated smoke. For example, arsenic oxide is mainly recovered from the smelter smoke by this method. (5) Clarification of Municipal water: The municipal water obtained from natural sources often contains colloidal particles. The process of coagulation is used to remove these. The sol particles carry a negative charge.When aluminium sulphate (alum) is added to water, a gelatinous precipitate of hydrated aluminium hydroxide (floc) is formed, A l3+ + 3H2O —- Al(OH)3 + 3H+ Al(OH)3 + 4H2O + H+ —– Al(OH)3(H2O)4 The positively charged floc attracts to it negative sol particles which are coagulated. The floc along with the suspended matter comes down, leaving the water clear. (6) Artificial Kidney machine:  The human kidneys purify the blood by dialysis through natural membranes. The toxic waste  products such as urea and uric acid pass through the membranes, while colloidal-sized particles of  blood proteins (haemoglobin) are retained.Kidney failure, therefore, leads to death due to accumulation  of poisonous waste products in blood . Now-a-days, the patient’s blood can be cleansed by shunting  it into an ‘artificial kidney machine’. Here the impure blood is made to pass through a series of  cellophane tubes surrounded by a washing solution in water. The toxic waste chemicals (urea, uric  acid) diffuse across the tube walls into the washing solution. The purified blood is returned to the  patient. The use of artificial kidney machine saves the life of thousands of persons each year.The phenomenon of the scattering of light by the sol particles is called Tyndall effect. (7) Blue colour of the sky:  This is an application of Tyndall effect. The upper atmosphere contains colloidal dust or ice  particles dispersed in air. As the sun rays enter the atmosphere these strike the colloidal  particles. The particles absorb sunlight and scatter light of blue colour (4600–5100A). The light that  Ã‚  is incident at earth’s surface is considerably reddened due to the removal of most of the blue light in  the upper atmosphere.

Polar Molecule Definition and Examples

Polar Molecule Definition and Examples Polar Molecule  Definition A polar molecule is a molecule containing polar bonds where the sum of all the bonds dipole moments is not zero. Polar bonds form when there is a difference between the electronegativity values of the atoms participating in a bond. Polar molecules also form when the spatial arrangement of chemical bonds leads to more positive charge on one side of the molecule than the other.​ Examples of Polar Molecules Water (H2O) is a polar molecule. The bonds between hydrogen and oxygen are distributed so that the hydrogen atoms are both on one side of the oxygen atom, rather than evenly spaced. The oxygen side of the molecule has a slight negative charge, while the side with the hydrogen atoms has a slight positive charge.Ethanol is polar because the oxygen atoms attract electrons because of their higher electronegativity than other atoms in the molecule. Thus the -OH group in ethanol has a slight negative charge.Ammonia (NH3) is polar.Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is polar.Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is polar. Carbon dioxide is made up of polar bonds, but the dipole moments cancel each other out and therefore is not a polar molecule. Predicting Polarity and Nonpolarity Whether a molecule is polar or nonpolar is a matter of its geometry. If one end of the molecule has a positive charge, while the other end has a negative charge, the molecule is polar. If a charge is evenly distributed around a central atom, the molecule is nonpolar.

What You Should Know About Nigeria

What You Should Know About Nigeria Population: 152,217,341 (July 2010 estimate)Capital: AbujaBordering Countries: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, NigerLand Area: 356,667 square miles (923,768 sq km)Coastline: 530 miles (853 km)Highest Point: Chappal Waddi at 7,936 feet (2,419 m)Nigeria is a country located in West Africa along the Atlantic Oceans Gulf of Guinea. Its land borders are with Benin to the west, Cameroon, and Chad to the east and Niger to the north. Nigerias main ethnic groups are Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. It is the most populous country in Africa and its economy is considered one of the fastest growing in the world. Nigeria is known for being the regional center of West Africa. History of Nigeria Nigeria has a long history that dates back as far as 9000 B.C.E. as shown in archaeological records. The earliest cities in Nigeria were the northern cities of Kano and Katsina that started around 1000 C.E. Around 1400, the Yoruba kingdom of Oyo was founded in the southwest and reach its height from the 17th to the 19th century. Around this same time, European traders began establishing ports for the slave trade to the Americas. In the 19th century, this changed to the trading of goods like palm oil and timber. In 1885, the British claimed a sphere of influence over Nigeria and in 1886, the Royal Niger Company was established. In 1900, the area became controlled by the British government and in 1914 it became the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Throughout the mid-1900s and especially after World War II, the people of Nigeria began pushing for independence. In October 1960, it came when it was established as a federation of three regions with a parliamentary government. In 1963 however, Nigeria proclaimed itself a federal republic and drafted a new constitution. Throughout the 1960s, Nigerias government was unstable as it underwent several governmental overthrows; its prime minister was assassinated and was engaged in a civil war. Following the civil war, Nigeria focused on economic development and in 1977, after several more years of government instability, the country drafted a new constitution. Political corruption remained throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s though and 1983, the Second Republic government as it came to be known was overthrown. In 1989, the Third Republic began and in the early 1990s, government corruption remained and there were several attempts to again overthrown the government. Finally, in 1995, Nigeria began to transition into a civilian rule. In 1999 a new constitution and in May of that same year, Nigeria became a democratic nation after years of political instability and military rule. Olusegun Obasanjo was the first president during this time and he worked to improve Nigerias infrastructure, the governments relationship with its people and its economy. In 2007, Obasanjo stepped down as president. Umaru YarAdua then became the president of Nigeria and he vowed to reform the countrys elections, fight its crime problems and continue working on economic growth. On May 5, 2010, YarAdua died and Goodluck Jonathan became the president of Nigeria on May 6. Government of Nigeria Nigerias government is considered a federal republic and it has a legal system based on English common law, Islamic law (in its northern states) and traditional laws. Nigerias executive branch is made up of a chief of state and a head of government- both of which are filled by the president. It also has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Nigerias judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. Nigeria is divided into 36 states and one territory for local administration. Economics and Land Use in Nigeria Although Nigeria has long had problems of political corruption and a lack of infrastructure it is rich in natural resources like oil and recently its economy has begun to grow into one of the fastest in the world. However, oil alone provides 95% of its foreign exchange earnings. Nigerias other industries include coal, tin, columbite, rubber products, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, and steel. Nigerias agricultural products are cocoa, peanuts, cotton, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, rubber, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, timber, and fish. Geography and Climate of Nigeria Nigeria is a large country that has a varied topography. It is about twice the size of the U.S. state of California and is located between Benin and Cameroon. In the south, it has lowlands that climb into hills and plateaus in the central part of the country. In the southeast, there are mountains while the north consists mainly of plains. Nigerias climate also varies but the center and the south are tropical due to their locations near the equator, while the north is arid. More Facts about Nigeria Life expectancy in Nigeria is 47 years of ageEnglish is Nigerias official language but Hausa, Igbo Yoruba, Fulani, and Kanuri are others that are spoken in the countryLagos, Kano, and Ibadan are the largest cities in Nigeria References Central Intelligence Agency. (1 June 2010). CIA - The World Factbook - Nigeria. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Nigeria: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107847.htmlUnited States Department of State. (12 May 2010). Nigeria. Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2836.htmWikipedia.com. (30 June 2010). Nigeria - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria

Organizational Srtucture Shapes Corporate Culture and Influences Essay

Organizational Srtucture Shapes Corporate Culture and Influences Organizational Change - Essay Example For example, formal, even bureaucratic as opposed to liberal or lenient relations. Structure also includes the allocation of power in an organisation, whether concentrated in the hands of a few people or there is sharing of power and decision making at all levels. Organisational culture can be understood as a â€Å"the shared set of assumptions, beliefs, values and behavioural patterns of a group, that guide that group’s perceptions, judgments, and actions† (Levin 2000, p.83). Its significance is related to its ability to influence the activities of members and the functioning of the organization without particular control measures (Awal, Rongione, Klinger et al 2006). Poole and Van de Ven (2004, p.xi) define organizational change as a â€Å"difference in form, quality, or state over time in an organizational entity† which may differ from an individual’s job, a work group, an organisational subunit, or the overall organisation. Change may be planned, unpla nned, incremental, radical, recurrent, or unprecedented. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to critically discuss the extent to which an organisation’s structure shapes its culture, and impacts its ability to transform itself. Different Management Styles: Effects on Organisational Performance Over recent years, the role of present-day managers has become increasingly empowered, with a more networking, consensus-seeking approach (Reigle 2001). Different management styles have their distinctive effects on organisational performance, and the effectiveness of organisations. Management style pertains to â€Å"how the leader approaches opportunities, what he or she chooses to emphasize, to defer and to delegate to others† (Krause 2007, p.19), based on managers’ traits. Research evidence indicates transformational style as the most beneficial for driving safety and for creating a high performance culture. According to Early and Davenport (2010, p.59), †Å"transformational leadership and transactional leadership are very different styles of leadership, but they are not mutually exclusive and can be complementary if employed correctly†. Additionally, an individual can have and develop skills required to be both a transactional and transformational leader. Transformational managers invoke colleagues and followers to view their work from new perspectives; they generate awareness of the mission or vision of the team and organization; managers guide employees to achieve their highest levels of potential; motivate colleagues to work for the larger interest of the group and the organization. This leadership style attempts to engage the employees’ creativity and loyalty, thus achieving a higher level of commitment and effort from employees. Tranformational behaviors include idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and inspirational motivation. Idealized influence is the leaders’ sharin g of vision and sense of mission with employees, and the proposal of radical, innovative solutions to critical problems (Early & Davenport 2010). Transactional leadership occurs when a leader â€Å"rewards or disciplines a follower depending on the adequacy of the follower’s performance† (Early & Davenport 2010, p.59). Transactional leadership is closely associated with traditional models and strategies employed in leadership theory. In

Starbucks Going Global Fast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 13

Starbucks Going Global Fast - Essay Example Customers can get a cup of Starbucks right around the corner. Also, Starbucks is the first to offer free Wi-Fi to their customers and has introduced Starbucks prepaid cards to speed up check out time. These convenient and innovative services increase customers’ satisfaction. The biggest weakness for Starbucks comes with dissatisfaction among its employees. They have mainly concerned that the company’s remunerations packages are not commensurate with the amount of work considering the huge customer base that it enjoys. Their general feeling is that they are being underpaid and this could translate into poor services to customers. Therefore, Starbucks has to change their employment strategies and boost employee satisfaction levels so as to ensure quality products and services to their customers. Just like any other company in business Starbucks also has its opportunities and threats to its business. The first opportunities lie in its vastness, growth pace and brand recognition. Starbucks has opened its doors to global expansion thus creating lots of room for growth and gaining global status. It is true that the sales are vast but the threats in foreign countries are unforeseeable. For instance, there are cultural and preferences differences in foreign countries that Starbucks must cope with. Additionally, Starbucks faces competition from other companies in the ready to drink beverages market hence must ensure its service standards remain at the top in order to maintain the leadership position. The main problem facing Starbucks as it expands internationally revolves around strategy. The company has to develop several new strategies to increase sales and further expansion in the competitive beverage industry especially when it comes to new markets like in Japan. Although Starbucks has been in Japan for more than 10 years, it carries out its business as an American company.