Comparing coverage in the independent Essay Example for Free

Comparing coverage in the independent Essay This analysis contrasts and compares a broadsheet and a tabloid newspaper. I chose to compare The Independent with The Mirror. The analysis involves a general comparison, and also a more detailed evaluation of one news item that appears in both papers. If we examine the front cover of each paper to begin with, we notice that there are differences. The title of The Mirror is around 1/10th of the page, whilst The Independent title is approximately 1/16th. The font used for The Mirror is relatively modern in appearance, using sentence case with black outline and white fill. In comparison, the font for The Independent is more traditional, using black bold capital letters. The title also contains the logo on the left hand side. The price for The Mirror is 32p and this is presented in bold text at the bottom right hand corner of the title. The price for The Independent is also found in this location, however the text used is extremely small and the cost for this paper is 50p. The difference in price could suggest that each paper is aimed at a specific audience. This suggests that a paper like The Independent maybe targeting a more professional consumer, in a higher pay band. Another difference is in the placement of the bar code, in The Mirror it is found on the back page, whereas in The Independent it can be found near the bottom right hand corner, of the front page. This shows that The Independent is a larger paper and has enough room to put the bar code on the front page, it does not add or subtract from the news articles. Layout is important in any newspaper, the front page is the first impression the audience gets. The majority of newspapers attract their audience through a lead story. The Mirror has only one main story on the front page. The headline is presented in large capital text, with a slightly more explanatory sentence underneath. This takes up just under one half of the page, and in terms of story detail, there is only a small area comprising five paragraphs. Readers are told to turn to page 4 to continue reading. The other half of the front page is made up of a photograph that reflects the main storyline. Exactly the same photograph is found on the front page of The Independent, however it takes up around one quarter of the cover page. The story is summarised in one sentence beneath the photograph, and the readers are referred to page 8 to continue reading. In addition to this main story, The Independent provides significant discussion relating to four further main stories. In fact, there is a great deal of text used for each of the stories; hence the reader is immediately faced with a lot of reading material. It is worth noting that The Independent also has several other features on the front cover, that are not found in The Mirror. These include, a coloured advert that is found at the bottom of the page, and takes up around 1/7th of the front cover. At the very top of the page, the paper advertises a specific article, and attracts the reader by presenting three questions and also shows a picture of the writer who is going to comment on the issues. The other feature is a small summary of Todays Weather that includes some text and a representative image. Faced with the two papers, The Independent appears to be aimed at a more intellectual audience, the sheer volume would put a less intellectual audience off reading. The Mirror appears to be more simplistic and the story is shorter in length and is also told through the images. Another reason for buying The Mirror could be that the audience wish to absorb the main news in brief whilst in transit. The number of pages in The Mirror totals 64, whereas The Independent has 30. However, The Independent provides two additional supplements, and is also twice the size of The Mirror. The Mirror basically aims to entertain the readers. In contrast, The Independent is essentially an educational paper. This key difference can be seen when looking at the overall content of the papers as follows. A whole range of entertainment features can be found in The Mirror. These include cartoons, quizzes and word search. Additionally, the paper has adverts on almost every page, and there are many photographs including glamorous and fun photographs. A whole page is dedicated to horoscopes and the paper offers 9 sports pages. The paper provides very few articles on serious current events, and concentrates more on gossip type news. The content of The Independent is very different. The paper comprises news and discussion of world events, along with a range of articles that focus on such things as education, the environment, politics and economics. There is a lot of business information such as stocks and shares, exchange rates and interest rates. In contrast to The Mirror, there are only 5 sports pages, and there is only one crossword, found in one of the supplements rather than the main paper. The target audience for The Mirror is working class, and people who are not interested in intellectual debate. This contrasts with The Independent as this broadsheet paper clearly aims to attract readers from a higher social class including people from the business and academic world. Apart from the content as previously discussed, there are several other points, which clearly show that the papers are aiming to attract different types of readers. The papers use a different style of language to attract their audience. The Mirror uses casual terms, colloquialisms and even slang UK reels as Yanks stay put. It uses word play stop this sick compensation agrichculture, and alliteration Rape Rampage and Dyer Disgrace Four sizzled soccer stars sent home. The storylines aim to shock the readers Saw suicide husband moves in with lover, and the language is often someones opinion unfair, Mr Blair. However, The Independent tends to use formal language and presents facts rather than opinions, for example Blair clocks up 40,000 miles on his travels. It gives figures and statistics to back up the stories visits to Britain slumped by 17% in the last month, almost 70,000 fewer tourists visited, according to the Office of National statistics. Much of the political debate provides ministerial quotes Duncan Smith: Health service is deteriorating. Looking specifically at the chosen article with the aim of exploring the differences between the two papers, the story relates to current world events associated with the terrorist situation and with problems that have occurred with Concorde in the past. As an outcome of the terrorist attacks, many people have been afraid to fly and the story focuss on the fact that the Concorde Alpha Echo, had its first commercial flight from Heathrow to New York since being grounded in August last year. The story features as the only main story on the front page of The Mirror, and is featured alongside four other main front page stories in The Independent. As mentioned previously the photograph on both front pages is exactly the same, and shows Concorde about to take off. The image compounds the story, and in some ways tells the tale without any words. The title for the story on the front page of The Mirror is COWARDS, and appears in large font. However, The Independent simply presents a sentence PUT IN SENTENCE FROM PAPER HERE! , which provides a brief factual summary about the flight, take off. This is found underneath the photograph. Immediately one can see that the title in The Mirror is judgemental and confrontational, whereas the term used in the The Independent is more objective. The Mirror introduced the story as an EXCLUSIVE and stated Hollywood stars too scared to fly were branded gutless cowards, by British Airways boss. This reinforces the negative and opinionated mood of the article as already established in the headline. In contrast the opening sentence in The Independent was much more positive, stating that Sting the pop star was amongst the 90 VIPs who joined the flight. This once more shows the upbeat approach used, which contrasts with the more antagonistic approach used by The Mirror. The description of the food and drink in The Mirror inferred that the stars were indulging in unnecessary expensive items Some more vintage Krug, Mr. Morgan? . Whereas The Independent played this down and introduced some humour into the article with the dignitaries toasted the rehabilitation of the Concorde with vintage Krug champagne and Maine Lobster albeit eaten with plastic cutlery. Another difference can be seen in the descriptive language used by the papers. The Mirror describes the take off using an analogy associated with thrill rides Take off is like something on an Alton Towers ride. The Independent uses much more creative style it is just so aesthetically pleasing, such direction and poise. The Mirror also describes New York in terms that aim to shock, and uses emotive language to do this anthrax-ravaged, terrorist torn New York, whereas The Independent focuss more on such emotions as patriotism. Another example of the more down to earth colloquial terms used by The Mirror is where the writer discusses safety, and this is presented as I was frisked more thoroughly than I have ever been frisked before, the message being driven home by using the word frisked twice. The Independent talks more in terms of safety checks and the grim reality of terrorism, rather than using the more tactile description used in The Mirror. In conclusion, the two papers contrast significantly. Whilst to some extent they cover the same main stories, the presentation, the language, the descriptions and the way in which the stories are told use totally contrasting techniques and styles. This aims to suit the audiences for which the papers are written.

Transplantation: Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Essay -- Health Medi

Transplantation: Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a slowly-progressive disease which ultimately robs its victims of voluntary motor control. The disease manifests itself as a series of symptoms which include "bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and impairment of postural reflexes (Fitzgerald, 1992:215)". It is a result of a loss of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Chemotherapy, in the form of drugs such as levodopa and carbidopa, has been effective in alleviating many of the symptoms in the early stages of PD; however, with increasing losses in the number of cells in SNpc, such therapy becomes more and more ineffective. New therapies, using selegiline (deprenyl) and antioxidants (tocopherol or Vitamin E) focus on halting the progression of the disease by potentially salvaging surviving SNpc cells (Ahlskog, 1990). A more aggressive approach in the treatment of PD has surfaced in recent years. Researchers are experimenting with the prospects of transplanting tissue directly into the afflicted areas of the central nervous system (CNS) of PD patients. In both animal models of PD and humans, marginally successful transplants have been performed using adrenal chromaffin cells and fetal neurons. Genetically-altered, dopamine-producing tissues are currently being proposed as an alternative in transplant therapy of PD. As techniques become more refined, such "brain-grafting" may be the panacea for not only PD, but also for other debilitating diseases such as Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Fitzgerald (1992:215), the "cardinal pathological feature [of PD] is loss of neurons from the substantia nigra". Most of this loss occurs in the SNpc, of which approxima... ...zgerald, M. J. T. Neuroanatomy: Basic and Clinical. London: Bailliere Tindall, 1992. Freed, C. R. et.al. 1992. Improved drug responsiveness following fetal tissue implant for Parkinson’s disease. Neurochemistry International, 20: 321S-327S. Freed, C. R. et.al. 1990. Transplantation of human fetal dopamine cells for Parkinson’s disease. Fetal Human Transplant, 47:505-12. Freed, W. J. et.al. 1991. Brain grafts and Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 45:261-7. Hurtig, H. et.al. 1989. Postmortem analysis of adrenal-medulla-to caudate autograft in a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 25(6):607-13. Kordower, J. H. et.al. 1991. Putative chromaffin cell survival and enhanced host-derived TH-fiber innervation following a functional adrenal medulla autograft for Parkinson’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 29(4):405-12.

Energy Drinks Case Study Essay

Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages Case Study There are new coming items in beverage industry during the mid-2000s, which are energy drinks, sports drinks and Vitamin-Enhanced beverages. These items focus on different flavors, specified consumers, efficient distribution systems, and products innovation in the beverage market. They compete with water, soft drinks, juices, tea, and other common drinks, which are in low prices, good and long history of brand reputation, easy to accept the taste. From 2005 until now, alternative beverages grow fast and take more and more market share in the whole world beverage market. The main alternative beverages companies are Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Red Bull and Hansen Natural Corporation. Energy drinks, spots drinks, and vitamin-enhanced beverages use many strategies to find a good position in the beverage industry in the Global market, which also give us some ideas about how to operate beverage companies. Firstly, alternative beverages take the action via wider product selection, better product quality, good delivery system to gain sales and market share. For example, PepsiCo develops 12 flavors of Amp Energy drinks and 28 varieties of SoBe vitamin-enhanced drinks (Gamble, 2010, p. C-83). Again, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola through their own soft drinks distribution channels to deliver energy drinks at the same time, which reduce much time and cost. Secondly, energy drinks take big actions to enter emerging market opportunities, like most Asia countries and South America. For example, alternative beverages take 31. 5% market share in Asia-Pacific in 2009 (Gamble, 2010, p. C77). Thirdly, Energy drinks, spots drinks, and vitamin-enhanced beverages try to acquire or merge with other small companies to strengthen market standing and competitiveness. For instance, PepsiCo has a multiyear distribution agreement with Rockstar to distribute Rockstar energy drinks in the United States and Canada (Gamble, 2010, p. C-83). Coca-Cola also has a multiyear distribution agreement with Hansen Natural Corporation to distribute Hansen’s Monster energy drink in some areas of the United States, Canada, and six European countries (Gamble, 2010, p.C-84). SWOT Analysis Strengths| Weaknesses| * Healthier than traditional soda. * Global brands * New product development * Strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities * Strong support of parent company| * High price * Consumer limitation| Opportunities| Threats| * Growing demand for healthy drinks * High growth developing markets * Cost reduction measures| * Traditional drinks competition which includes price and taste * Regulations and law * Health risks * Environment problem * New entrents|. To solve weaknesses and threats, alternative beverages industry companies set up business models to match the customer value and gain profit. Firstly, Energy drinks, sports drinks, and vitamin-enhanced beverages companies develop many different flavors to match different customers’ taste. Second, these companies also focus on different customers’ demands. Third, they sell products in many different locations, not only supermarkets, but also convenience stores and vending machines around every corner, which give convenient service to customers. Fourth, alternative beverage companies always try to follow the state law and regulations. Try to avoid risk ingredients. Fifth, to pretend the health risk, some companies placed warnings on their products labels. Sixth, because many people and organizations are focus on environment issues, alternative beverages’ plastic bottles and cans are really concern by these people. To solve this problem, beverage companies recycle plastic bottles and cans to keep pollution away. I also have some recommendations to alternative beverage companies to grow bigger and faster in the global market. First, try to make innovation on the local taste in different countries. Do research on people’s taste in various countries. McDonald’s is a good example in promoting global market. McDonald’s knows Indian people don’t eat beef and pork and love spicy food, so McDonald’s over there never have any product with beef or pork but with more spicy taste. Again, don’t put sensitive ingredients in the drinks. People are more curious about health and drink ingredients. Many organizations are strict with it, too. Try to produce healthier and more nutritious drinks to the market. Moreover, drinks’ function attempts to everyone, but not only for a small group of people. Nowadays, teenage boys always buy energy drinks, people who do sports, fitness, or other strenuous activities bought sports drinks; adult consumers are interested in buying vitamin-enhanced beverages (Gamble, 2010, p. C-77). What I recommend is alternative beverage companies should develop beverages suitable for most people. White collar can drink energy drinks; sports people also suitable to buy some kinds of vitamin-enhanced beverages. Additionally, don’t publicize the function too powerful. Some alternative drinks have some special effects, but not like what the advertisement said. If the company wants to operate for a long time running, it should be honest and act in good faith. Last but not least, incumbents of alternative drinks use strong brand preferences, high degrees of customer loyalty, significant cost advantages to keep new entrants out of the market. References: Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-77. Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-79. Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-83. Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-84.

Potato Starch

n the past, fields of wheat and rows of potatoes were seldom destined for anything more than a rumbling tummy. But bio-products have come a long way since people first branched out into weaving hemp into clothes and pulping papyrus into scrolls. Today the line between Mother Nature and man made has never been more blurred. Animals are re-engineered into living drug factories, crops fuel our cars and now plants are increasingly being repackaged as the epitome of the synthetic world – plastic. Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines and laptops. Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines and laptops. | Bio-plastics harness the natural structures found in crops or trees, such as slightly modified forms of the chains of sugars in starch or cellulose, that share the ability to be easily reshaped that has made conventional oil b ased plastics so useful. Bio-materials scientists are also constantly tweaking these natural structures to try and better replicate the durability and flexibility of conventional plastics.Global business is now turning to bio-plastics for an increasing number of applications, as consumers and governments demand cleaner alternatives to petroleum based technologies and their reckless production of the greenhouse gas CO2. Worldwide players, such as DuPont and Toyota Motor Corp, are making vast investments in new technologies and processing plants with the hope of cornering a multi-billion pound industry. The â€Å"BC† at Bangor University in North Wales has 18-years experience of working with large companies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to find sustainable and viable bio-based alternatives to man-made materials.BC director Paul Fowler  points out that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"practically anything that you can find as polyethene you can find as a bio-plastic. You are talking abou t a whole range of everyday products – cups, combs and wrappers, everything you can think of is out there. There are inroads being made all the time   – on the one hand there is research into trying to get biological alternatives to replicate the properties of conventional plastics and on the other hand people are looking at the natural properties of these plants and trying to find an application for them. Most of the manufacture is happening in the US and continental Europe.The UK is a producer of wheat starch and biotimber but the only major bioplastic producer is Innovia Films in Cumbria, which produces cellulose films. † Innovia Films has an annual turnover of ? 400m, employing 1,200 people worldwide and producing more than 120,000 tonnes of film – used in packaging to protect food. Japan is also forging ahead, from the leading role in bioplastic production played by Toyota to its recent passing of a triumvirate of laws pushing forward environmental initiatives. In South Korea too there is a rapid drive to replace conventional plastic packaging with polylactic acid bio-plastics.Fowler says bio-plastics also offer an opportunity to get a double return for the energy used in their manufacture – first as a useful item and secondly as a fuel source. â€Å"My view is that we should burn them at the end of their life to recover energy, which could be then used to produce new materials,† he said. â€Å"In the first instance you have a valuable resource can use, be it as packaging or a shopping bag, and then you are also getting some energy back at the end of it. The biggest advantage of such bio-materials is the reduction of CO2 emissions in their production over petrochemical-based plastics. He also suggests  that burning bio-plastics would also avoid the problems caused by them breaking down and producing methane, which is 25-times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. The BC is currently looking at developing n aturally-derived alternatives to phthalates, which are plasticisers added to PVCs to make them more flexible in products such as electrical cable flex. It follows concerns that phthalates are metabolised in the body into substances that can mimic the body's own  hormones, including those concerned with fertility.The centre is also developing bio-resins, natural alternatives to synthetic resins such as phenol and formaldehyde. What types of bioplastic are there? The common types of bio-plastics are based on cellulose, starch, polylactic acid (PLA), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyamide 11 (PA11). Cellulose-based plastics are usually produced from wood pulp and used to make film-based  products such as wrappers and to seal in freshness in ready-made meals. Thermoplastic starch is the most important and widely used bioplastic, accounting for about 50pc of the bio-plastics market.Pure starch’s ability to absorb humidity has led to it being widely used for the production of drug capsules in the pharmaceutical sector. Plasticisers, such as sorbitol and glycerine are added to make it more flexible and produce a range of different characteristics. It is commmonly derived from crops such as potatoes or maize. | FOMA(TM) N701iECO phone made of PLA bioplastics reinforced with kenaf fibres developed by NEC, UNITIKA and NTTDoCoMo  © Paul Fowler| PLA is a transparent plastic whose characteristics resemble common petrochemical-based plastics such as polyethylene and polpropylene.It   can be processed on equipment that already exists for the production of conventional plastics. PLA is produced from the fermentation of starch from crops, most commonly corn starch or sugarcane in the US, into lactic acid that is then polymerised. Its blends are used in a wide range of applications including computer and mobile phone casings, foil, biodegradable medical implants, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging. PHB is very similar to poylpropylene, which is used in a wide variety of fields including packaging, ropes, bank notes and car parts.It is a transparent film, which is also biodegradable. Interest in PHB is currently very high with companies worldwide aiming to expand their current production capacity. There are estimates that this could lead to a price reduction below five euros per kilogram but this would still be four times the market price of polyethylene in February 2007. The South American sugar industry has commited to producing PHB on an industrial scale. PA 11 is derived from vegetable oil and is known under the tradename  Rislan.It is prized for its thermal reistance that makes it valued for use in car fuel lines, pneumatic air brake tubing, electrical anti-termite cable sheathing and oil and gas flexible pipes and control fluid umbilicals. These are often reinforced with fibres from the kenaf plant, a member of the hibiscus family traditionally used to make paper, to increase heat resistance and durability. At the c utting edge of bioplastic technology lie polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) materials. These are derived from the conversion of natural sugars and oils using microbes.They can be processed into a number of materials including moulded goods, fibre and film and are biodegradable and have even been used as water resistant coatings. What are the benefits of bio-plastics? – Reduced CO2 emissions. One metric ton of bio-plastics generates between 0. 8 and 3. 2 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than one metric ton of petroleum-based plastics. Electronic giant Sony uses PLA in several of its smaller components, including one of its new walkmans, but in future hopes to use PLA-based polymers to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20pc and non-renewable resource input by 55pc compared to oil-based ABS. Rising oil prices Despite currently costing more to produce than conventional plastics bio-plastics are becoming more viable with increasing and instability in oil prices, which are in turn triggering spikes in conventional plastic costs, illustrated in a sharp upturn two years ago. Dwindling oil supplies means that man will eventually be forced to turn to a sustainable basis for plastics. – Waste Bio-plastics reduce the amount of toxic run-off generated by the oil-based alternatives but also are more commonly biodegradable.The US’s second largest biopolymer producer Metabolix, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, claims that its plastics are biodegradable in composting bins, wetlands and the oceans. On the flip side not all bio-plastics are biodegradable and there are a growing number of conventional plastics that can naturally break down. The downside of their biodegradability is the methane that can be released as the bio-plastics decompose is a powerful greenhouse gas. – Benefit to rural economyPrices of crops, such as maize, have risen sharply in the wake of global interest in the production of biofuels and bio-plastics, as countries across the world look for alternatives to oil to safeguard the environment and provide energy security. – Enhanced properties In some fields engineered bio-plastics are now beating oil-based alternatives at their own game. Multinational materials giant Arkema has produced a form of Rislan PA11 that is being used in Europe and Brazil in fuel lines to carry biofuels as it is better able to withstand the corrosive effects of biofuels than oil-based alternatives such as polyamide 12.Rislan is widely used in oilfield applications as well as automotive brake lines. Elsewhere innovations in PA11 production are helping increase car passenger safety and reduce the risk of accidents by inhibiting spark ignition in the fuel lines. US car giant General Motors has replaced its non-conductive fuel-pump modules for new North American car models as it felt it was the best material for the job.In the US chemical multinational DuPont says it has developed a bioplastic derived from corn sugar that has superior stiffness and strength to its naturally based competitors. Global electronics corporation NEC has produced a kenaf-reinforced laptop casing, made of 90pc PLA, which helps reduce overheating by conducting heat better than stainless steel coupled with high temperature resistance and increased strength. Who are the flagwavers? Bio-plastics are not being produced by a group of hippies brewing up in their garage.Some of the world’s largest companies including multi-billion dollar chemicals company DuPont, car manufacturer Toyota, UK-based Innovia, US food processing behemoth Cargill and electronics giants NEC and Fujitsu are pouring money into driving the technology and production forward. NEC and its partners Unitika and NTT DoCoMo produce mobile phone and laptop casings based on plant-derived bio-plastics, mostly PLA. NEC plans to expand its green credentials by substituting more than 10pc of the oil-based plastics in its electronic products with bio-plastics by 2010.Toyota Moto r Corp uses mainly PLA bio-plastics, derived from sweet potatoes corn and sugar beet, reinforced with kenaf to produce components for its cars such as the Prius and Lexus. It hopes to grow its bio-plastics division into a four billion yen business by 2020 and capture two thirds of the global market for petroleum free plastics. Fujitsu introduced its FMV BIBLO notebook PC series two years ago, which it has manufactured using a material called Ecodear, a combination of 50 pc PLA and an oil-based plastic.Fujitsu is now developing a castor oil derived PA 11 plastic with Arkema, which is more flexible and will help expand its use of bio-plastics in notebook computers. The material can withstand repeated bending thanks to scientists weakening the interaction of the chain molecule in PA 11 and relaxing the stereoregularity of their organisation. The improved durability means its prototypes of PC cover components consist of 60-80 percent of the new bioplastic, an unprecedented achievement t o date.Fujitsu is also using high density fillers to increase strength and extend its use into notebook covers and other applications requiring high impact resistance. The new material is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 42pc compared to oil-based nylon 6/6. DuPont in particular is continuing to expand the market for bio-plastics and plans to continue to offer hybrid bio/conventional plastic materials until the market matures, which could eventually cost less than the oil-based alternatives.DuPont has teamed up with sugar giant Tate ; Lyle to build the world’s largest aerobic fermentation plant in Loudon in Tennessee in the US for the production of bio-PDO, with a capacity of 45,000 metric tonnes a year. The largest commercial producer of bioplastic in the US is NatureWorks, owned by Cargill. The company’s plant in Blair, Nebraska uses corn sugar to produce PLA plastics packaging material and its own Ingeo-brand fibres. What lies ahead?With US President Geor ge Bush’s recent pledge to produce 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuel by 2017 – driving the price of maize up 60pc in the past two months – the farmer’s field is fast turning into a high tech bio-battleground. Mr. Fowler warns that the still fledgling industry will have to fight for space and commercial viability as millions of hectares are given over to corn, rapeseed and sugarbeet for bio-fuel production. â€Å"There is a real tension between the use of agriculture for fodd versus plastics and other non-food uses and this whole move to produce new fuels,† he said.Whereas only two years ago plant materials were at the cheap end of the market and bio-products such as straw had little value, now it is really much more costly. There would have to be a step change in the extent of the production to match oil-based plastics. The amount of bioplastics produced worldwide is less than 200,000 tonnes a year; contrast that with the more th an 30 million tonnes of oil-based plastics. You can see we have a long way to go before they replace conventional plastics†. – July 2007

Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War essays

Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War essays The American Revolution was a time when America would transform from an extension of Britain into a new and independent nation. Although the Revolution gave way to new freedom and government, the rights of many groups were ignored during this period of time. The Declaration of Independence claimed to give liberty and justice to all Americans, but not everyone received these freedoms. The Revolutionary War would create opportunities for many minorities whose liberties were often taken advantage, and also allow these groups to develop themselves socially as well as politically. Two groups who would undergo drastic change as a result of the war were women and African Americans. Through the course of the American revolution, people began to look at women and African Americans in a different way than they had before. The reforms that were a result of the Revolutionary War gave new freedoms to many living in America, however, women were not fully encompassed in these reforms. Life in revolutionary America, for most women, meant staying in the home and playing a supporting role to their husbands, brothers, and even sons. Colonial women were subject to long hours of ironing, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and knitting all for the benefit of their husband and families. Under American and English law, women were virtually always the property of another man. Until a women turned 21, they were under legal control of their father, and upon marriage, under control of her husband. This meant that women were not only ignored as individuals with opinions and beliefs, but they did not have the right to own property. In colonial times, women invariably had no say in any matter of politics, but when the Revolutionary War began women began to engage themselves in political debate. This was mostly upper-class, educated women, and their opinions were sometimes even featured in newspapers. The major difference from colonial times to life during ...

Nature Versus Nurture

Nature Versus Nurture You got your green eyes from your mother and your freckles from your father- but where did you get your thrill-seeking personality and talent for singing? Did you learn these things from your parents or was it predetermined by your genes? While its clear that physical characteristics are hereditary, the genetic waters get a bit murkier when it comes to an individuals behavior, intelligence, and personality. Ultimately, the old argument of nature versus nurture has never really had a clear winner. While we dont really know how much of our personality is determined by our DNA and how much by our life experience, we do know that both play a part. The Nature vs. Nurture Debate The use of the terms nature and nurture as convenient catch-phrases for the roles of heredity and environment in human development can be traced back to 13th-century France. In simplest terms, some scientists believe people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or even animal instincts, which is known as the nature theory of human behavior, while others believe people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the nurture theory of human behavior. Fast-growing understanding of the human genome has made it clear that both sides of the debate have merit. Nature endows us with inborn abilities and traits. Nurture takes these genetic tendencies and molds them as we learn and mature. End of story, right? Nope. The nature vs. nurture argument rages on as scientists debate how much of who we are is shaped by genetic factors and how much is a result of environmental factors. The Nature Theory: Heredity Scientists have known for years that traits such as eye color and hair color are determined by specific genes encoded in each human cell. The nature theory takes things a step further by suggesting that abstract traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression, and sexual orientation can also be encoded in an individuals DNA. The search for behavioral genes is the source of constant dispute as some fear that genetic arguments will be used to excuse criminal acts or justify antisocial behavior. Perhaps the most controversial topic up for debate is whether or not theres such a thing as a gay gene. Some argue that if such genetic coding does indeed exist, that would mean genes play at least some role in our sexual orientation. In an April 1998 LIFE magazine article titled, Were You Born That Way? author George Howe Colt claimed that new studies show its mostly in your genes. However, the issue was far from settled. Critics pointed out that the studies on which the author and like-minded theorists based their findings used insufficient data and too narrow a definition of same-sex orientation. Later research, based on a more conclusive study of a broader population sample reached different conclusions, including a 2018 groundbreaking study (the largest of its kind do date) co-conducted by the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Harvard Medical School in Boston that looked at the possible links of DNA and homosexual behavior. This study determined that there were four genetic variables located on chromosomes seven, 11, 12, and 15, that do seem to have some correlation in same-sex attraction (two of these factors are specific only to males). However, in an October 2018 interview with Science, the study’s chief author, Andrea Ganna, denied the existence of a â€Å"gay gene† per se, explaining: â€Å"Rather, ‘nonheterosexuality’ is in part influenced by many tiny genetic effects.† Ganna went to say that researchers had yet to establish the correlation between the variants they’d identified and actual genes. â€Å"It’s an intriguing signal. We know almost nothing about the genetics of sexual behavior, so anywhere is a good place to start,† he admitted, however, the final takeaway was that the four genetic variants could not be relied on as predictors of sexual orientation. The Nurture Theory: Environment While not totally discounting that genetic tendency may exist, supporters of the nurture theory conclude that, ultimately, they dont matter. They believe our behavioral traits are defined solely by the environmental factors that affect our upbringing. Studies on infant and child temperament have revealed the most compelling arguments for the nurture theory. American psychologist John Watson, a strong proponent of environmental learning, demonstrated that the acquisition of a phobia could be explained by classical conditioning. While at Johns Hopkins University, Watson conducted a series of experiments on a nine-month-old orphaned infant named Albert. Using methods similar to those employed by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov with dogs, Watson conditioned the baby to make certain associations based on paired stimuli. Every time the child was given a certain object, it was accompanied by a loud, frightening noise. Eventually, the child learned to associate the object with fear, whether the noise was present or not. The results of Watsons study were published in the February 1920 edition of the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and Ill guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select ... regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and race of his ancestors. Harvard psychologist B. F. Skinners early experiments produced pigeons that could dance, do figure-eights, and play tennis. Today Skinner is known as the father of behavioral science. Skinner eventually went on to prove that human behavior could be conditioned in much the same way as animals. Nature vs. Nurture in Twins If genetics didnt play a part in the development of our personalities, then it follows that fraternal twins reared under the same conditions would be alike regardless of differences in their genes. Studies show, however, that while fraternal twins do more closely resemble one another than non-twin siblings, they also exhibit striking similarities when reared apart from the twin sibling, much in the same way that identical twins raised separately often grow up with many (but not all) similar personality traits. If the environment doesnt play a part in determining an individuals traits and behaviors, then identical twins should, theoretically, be the same in all respects, even if reared separately. However, while studies show that identical twins are never exactly alike, they are remarkably similar in most respects. That said, in Happy Families: A Twin Study of Humour, a 2000 study published by faculty at the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London, researchers concluded that a sense of humor is a learned trait influenced by family and cultural environment, rather than any genetic predetermination. Its Not Versus, Its And So, is the way we behave ingrained before were born, or does it develop over time in response to our experiences? Researchers on both sides of the nature versus nurture debate agree that the link between a gene and behavior is not the same as cause and effect. While a gene may increase the likelihood that youll behave in a particular way, it does not ultimately predetermine behavior. So, rather than being a case of either/or, its likely that whatever personality we develop is due to a combination of both nature and nurture. Sources Price, Michael. Giant Study Links DNA Variants to Same-Sex Behavior. Science. October 20, 2018

How to stay focused at work during the holidays

How to stay focused at work during the holidays Every year, as the weather gets colder and holiday shopping ads start appearing on TV (though admittedly those start showing up around Labor Day now), even the most diligent and focused employees find their attention wandering a bit. There’s a lot going on- travel plans, potluck food appearing like magic in the office, everyone feeling a little more festive and social- and the daily grind can get lost in all of that. So how do you keep on top of your actual job, despite holiday disruptions? Be prepared to shut out distractions.This doesn’t mean you have to hunch over your desk like Ebenezer Scrooge, frowning disapprovingly at your cheerful slacker colleagues. It just means finding ways to keep your own attention focused on the daily tasks you need to accomplish. For some, that means wearing noise-canceling headphones while working on a project or setting blocks of â€Å"head down† time where you don’t allow yourself to be distracted by things like online s hopping, social media, or extracurricular conversations with coworkers. It’s time to be honest with yourself and figure out what works best at keeping you on-task. If that means setting calendar reminders for everything, do it. If it involves using an app to keep you from wandering to particular distracting websites, go for it.Try to avoid multitasking, because that can lead to†¦flexible attention span. If you’re giving all of your effort to a particular task, you’re more likely to get it done. Even if you’re usually an A+ multitasker, try to limit the number of things you’re doing at once.Lean in to (some of) the distractions.This may seem counterintuitive to #1, but it’s also important to embrace the non-work stuff as part of your day. It’s far more realistic to plan for small bursts of non-work activity than to think you’ll be able to shut it out completely. Be sure to schedule some breaks when you can check those fligh t prices or stop and grab a cookie with a colleague. If you start making the down time part of your workday (in small chunks), it’ll be easier to move from â€Å"holiday mode† back to â€Å"work beast mode.† Moderation is key here- it’s not an â€Å"hour of work, hour of goofing off† proposition. Think of it as more like a standard coffee break, but instead you’re taking a few minutes to check out your Facebook friends’ pets in various holiday sweaters.Come up with a â€Å"rest of year† plan.Chances are, your workload has a combination of things that will need to be accomplished either now or in the near future, and things that can reasonably wait until January. It’s time to sit down and make a comprehensive list of must-dos, should-dos, and can-do-laters. Your to-do list should be realistic and have milestones/deadlines included wherever possible so that you can plan your time. If you need to, talk through your end of y ear priorities with your boss to make sure you’re hitting everything you need to do before everyone checks out. This has the added benefit of showing your boss how organized and driven you are, even as everyone else might already be starting to slip a little.While you’re making the list, also make note of what you’ll need from other people. This time of year people can be in and out of the office, so if there’s something important that you’ll need from Andy by mid-December, start thinking (and talking) about it now in case Andy’s planning on taking time off. If you’ve waited until the last minute and then you’re faced with Andy’s â€Å"Bye, see you next year!† Out of Office message, it’s too late.Reset your work-life boundaries.Setting a clear line between your work day and your personal time can help you stay focused at work if you know you can get all the fun stuff or personal logistics accomplished later . If you’re usually a â€Å"stay late† kind of person, start leaving at a set time every day. If you’re usually a â€Å"wander in a little late in the morning† kind of person, start putting in extra effort to get to work on time. And whenever possible, you should avoid taking work home- instead, set a realistic workload and to-do list for the official workday. That way, family/friend/personal time gets its own spotlight in your day, separate from work, and you’ll feel less inclined to â€Å"catch up† on the outside stuff while you’re at work.Don’t forget to take care of yourself.The time leading up to the holidays can often take a physical toll as well, if you’re indulging in special food, more drinks than usual, and/or later bedtimes to account for social activities. All of those can set you up for failure at work and make you feel lousy, so try to set up some extra healthy habits to compensate this time of year.Take sh ort walks and exercise breaks instead of coffee breaks.Stay hydrated (and not with egg nog).Practice some desk yoga.Aim for half an hour more sleep.Bring a healthy lunch so you can sneak in some extra calories later.These can all help you feel better during the workday and more ready to devote your time and mental sharpness to accomplishing what needs to be done.No matter what the distractions are between Thanksgiving and the New Year, staying organized is not a lost cause. It’s all about being realistic and developing some extra coping mechanisms to defeat those â€Å"it’s the holidays, woo!† impulses and stay productive. Fully embrace the good cheer of the season- just make sure it’s on your to-do list, next to all the other things you want to get done.