Animal Testing Essays (2138 words) - Animal Welfare, Animal Rights

Animal testing is a popular and controversial issue that has sparked numerous debates between each side throughout the years. Animal testing is a form of experimentation that involves testing different products on all kinds of animals to see if they produce any side effects. These products could be make up, drugs, perfume, cleaning products and various other things. In certain countries, the law specifies that a new drug should essentially be tested on at least two different species of live mammal, one of which must be a large non-rodent. (Retrieved from www.buzzle.com on July 30, 2010.) The Animal act states that animals should not be used for testing of drugs if there is a realistic alternative available. However this has not stopped it from being done. Animals have been the test subject for anesthetics to prevent any pain or suffering during surgery on humans. Some of the testing performed on these animals has caused tumors and the results of the testing were found not relevant fo r any human. It has been found that a lot of the substances used in animals metabolize differently than they do in the human body. Therefore the results cannot transfer safely to patients. Lemon juice is one example of this finding; while it is not harmful to humans it is a poison to some animals. These tests are being conducted and are costing billions of dollars to perform and only a handful of them are providing any real kind of result. They are not only wasting their time but they are wasting money on something that isn?t beneficial at all. These animals are being put through torture on the hope that ?something big? will come out of it. The acts these people are performing are inhumane and unjust. Proctor and Gamble is a large well known company and is also one of the companies that participate in animal testing. In 1989 P&G received a lot of press for their use of dogs as test subjects. Since then the company claims to only use rats, mice, rabbits and other small animals for testing. Retrieved from idausa.org on July 30, 2010. The company has not released any facts that support this but they still claim to have reduced their animal usage by up to 90 percent. The company has stated that they continue to look for alternatives to animal testing and feel they are using good scientific, ethical, and business sense with their actions. However they fought a deal in 1987 that would have done away with animal testing by their company altogether. They also tried to convince people that testing on animals is humane and necessary. Retrieved from www.idausa.org on July 30, 2010. Proctor and Gamble makes so many of the products in today?s market and it is hard to compete. However there are many companies that produce the same products and do not participate in animal testing. The bottom line is this company would rather spend billions on advertising and promotion then on alternatives to testing. Looking for alternatives to testing does not benefit them the way that promoting their product does. People are not going to respond to an alternative to testing like they would to a cool new shampoo commercial. None of the tests that they perform are required by law and very few of them actually produce any results. P&G is just one of the many companies that tests it?s product on animals. Cosmetics companies are another key player in the animal testing field. Eye shadows are tested on rabbits to find out how much damage or irritation they cause. Sunscreen is tested on guinea pigs to see how much of an allergic reaction it will provide. Many of these big companies will hire outside companies to avoid any bad publicity for their company. Another unethical decision made by a money hungry company. These companies claim to be protecting the health and safety of humans with their testing. They claim these tests will prove the standards of their products beyond a doubt. However as I stated previously these tests are not an accurate representation of how the product would affect a human. These companies also claim to have a gain on the competition by testing their products on

Culture Shock in Germany essays

Culture Shock in Germany essays I remember following my mom and dad after we had just arrived in Ramstein, Germany. He had gotten our house procured, and we were heading back to our temporary family barracks near the Vogelweh gym. Living with my dad and mom in Germany was one of those awesome things to do, I was around ten years old at the time, and it was an adventure. As soon as we got home, my parents rushed me to shower and dress up casually. "Matt? Hurry up and get dressed. We're going out to dinner for the first day here. My friend is waiting for us in the local pub." I scrambled along; my mom had just finished also when my dad left the door. So we chased him out. About thirty minutes drive off base, and we were at the pub. Once inside, nothing was out of place. We ordered our food, my dad, and his friend talked and drank German lager, and my mom and I began to meet some other military people. Nearing the end of our dinner, I became completely bewildered. I had that "deer with bright lights in eyes" look. Some guy had gotten drunk; too drunk to stand up, so thinking from American movies about bars I thought the barkeeper was going to through him out. Apparently, I was wrong. He first called the publicist, (policeman) and the polizist called a taxi cab. What amazed me was the friendly, caring behavior of Germans. It startled me to see other's take care of drunkards. The best part is, the policeman would come to the drunkard in the morning and see if he was ok or if the taxi driver had abused him in some way. My experience above is called culture shock. Any disorientation that people feel when they encounter cultures radically different from their own is considered to be the culture shock. The experience I had was definitely of one. Since I am a US citizen, I was not up to seeing the hospitality of German peoples. I still thought that they were inhumane Nazi's, but that's what I thought at the time. US media, (I say the US because American wo...

Tax & Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tax & Ethics - Essay Example This paper will evaluate the role of companies, their professionals, and HM Revenue and Customs and will discuss whether ethical principles should be applied to the payment of tax. The four major sources used for drafting this paper are BBC, The Guardian, KPMG, and HMRC, because these sources were found potential for providing analytical information about the topic under consideration. However, only facts and figures have been mainly taken from such sources, for news reports tend to be biased depending on the reporters’ personal outlook. A BBC report dated on 21st November 2012 reflects that UK lost billions in lost revenues as a result of corporate tax avoidance by multinational corporations. The report points out that new tax avoidance schemes are emerging each year and the situation makes it difficult for HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) to curb this issue. According to National Audit Office, taxation authorities identified nearly 2,300 avoidance schemes between 2004 and 2011 (ibid). Since the actual figures of tax avoidance are not available, the UK government cannot estimate the accurate amount of loss. It has been identified that specialist tax advisers suggest best tax avoidance schemes for their clients; and this practice significantly contributes to the issue. Recently, Margaret Hodge walloped the big four accounting firm for helping companies avoid corporate taxes (as cited in Toynbee 2011). According to another BBC report dated on 3rd December 2012, some leading multinational companies including Starbucks, Amazon, and Google were severely criticised by UK government authorities for paying little or no tax. The UK government officials point that it is unfair for these companies to practice different schemes to avoid corporate taxes despite the fact that their UK operations account for hundreds of millions of pounds (BBC 2012). UK Prime Minister David Cameron states that international co-operation is necessary to tackle this issue because some for ms of tax avoidance are very difficult to address (David Cameron). In order to publicly express UK’ stance on tax avoidance, the HM Revenue & Customs publicly named top tax dodgers for the first time (as cited in King). Reportedly, Starbucks, Google, and Amazon are the three major multinational corporations that have practiced schemes to avoid corporate taxes. In addition, small businesses including Cheshire wine merchant, Menemis, and Brian Clifford Tattersall were also criticised for tax avoidance. Yet another BBC report says that Starbucks sold goods worth ?400m in UK in 2001 but paid nothing in corporate taxes (BBC news Business 2012). Starbucks managed to avoid corporate taxes by transferring some of its funds to a sister company in the form of royalty payments, buying coffee beans from Switzerland, and paying high interests rates other parts of the business in the account of borrowing (ibid). Similarly, on the strength of some well structured schemes, Google also notabl y reduced the amount paid in corporate taxes. As per reports, Google could trim down its tax bill by approximately $1bn a year by transferring profits to subsidiaries having low tax rates (O’Carroll 2011). A subsidiary located in Bermuda assisted Google to save nearly $3.1bn over a period of three years because corporate tax rate is zero in Bermuda (ibid). In response to this criticism, a Google spokesperson said: â€Å"we have an obligation to our shareholders to set up a tax-efficient

Tourism in France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Tourism in France - Essay Example Travellers are always searching for exotic locations that offer stunning natural resources, cross-border travel and eco-tourism. Rural areas in France offer many environmental amenities and has become more attractive especially for agri-tourism. Millions of tourists from all parts of the world visit France annually and it is the most popular tourist destination in the world (Books LLC 2010). At the same time, France keeps public funding for tourism at a relatively low level. Tourism is the largest industry in the world and generates crucial businesses for other service industries such as the hotel industry, entertainment facilities, restaurants, sport and recreational facilities and travel services. A new form of tourism where tourists want a customised itinerary is emerging. These package tours are shorter and more frequent but less expensive compared to the traditional tourism (Poon 1993). The average trip for package tour takes 4 nights instead of the traditional 9 nights. The introduction and improvement of digital communication and ICT, which has enabled clients make choices that are more informed, has made this possible. The French government exercises its sovereign authority and outlines the framework of operation in relation to national peace, the rule of law, food security, health security and reliable public services. This structure is crucial for development of tourism. France guarantees the legislative and regulatory structures for all activities, including tourism. Successive governments have continued to fund bodies that exist to support tourism at the local and the international level. Administration of tourism in France has been rationalised to meet all stakeholders’ needs. Through the central government, regions, departments and communes, the French authorities support tourism development. By increasing resources for territorial tourism improvement and promotion of France as the preferred tourist destination, the central government and territorial authorities have seen the number of tourists increasing annually (Todd, 2008). Territorial authorities play a crucial role in formulation of policy and development of tourism. The national tourism administration supports regional tourism through guidance, regulation and coordination of tourism policies and ensures they are consistent. The French Agency for Tourism Engineering (AFIT) ensures development objectives between territorial authorities, private actors and the central government complement each other and are in line with the national strategic objectives. The administrative classification for accommodati on in the form of hotels, tourist resorts, holiday rentals, campsites and tourist offices has a number of implications, notably with regard to complementary funding and dates back to 1919 (Books LLC 2010). A rated commune has certain additional privileges in addition to the normal privileges received by other communes. The central government and the territorial governments share Institutional responsibilities in managing tourism. The territorial governments are responsible for planning and implementing the medium-term objectives for tourism development. Tourism is a service activity and requires a large workforce, which is a blessing during the current slow

Environmental engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Environmental engineering - Essay Example Note that oxidation occurs in the presence of organic matter, so nitrate acts an electron acceptor in the absence of free oxygen. The chemical reaction in this phase can be represented as: The precipitation of ammonia in the form of MgNH4PHO4 (MAP) through the addition of phosphoric acid and magnesium oxide is called MAP process. In this process the pH value is critical in the precipitation of MAP. It has 90% efficiencies (Siegrist, 1996). This is a physico-chemical process. When the pH of wastewater is maintained to 10 is easy to convert NH4+ to free ammonia. Then, an air stream is used to capture NH3 and it is absorbed in a solution with sulphuric acid to form (NH4)2SO4. It has 97% efficiency, (Siegrist, 1996). This is a physico-chemical process called air stripping process. Finally, biological phosphorus removal technique offer advantages over chemical processes, reduced energy consummation and reduce sludge production (Park, 1999). This method is justified because phosphorus exists in several forms in wastewater: orthophosphate, polyphosphate and organic phosphates. Note that phosphorus comes from human excrement and detergents presents in domestic wastewater. 1. There are some microorganisms that without oxygen and nitrates (anaerobic atmosphere), assimilate and store fermentation products produced by other facultative bacteria. The microorganisms derive energy for this assimilation from polyphosphates organisms, which are hydrolyzed to liberate energy. The free phosphorus that results from the hydrolysis reaction is released to the mixed liquor (Sankaramanchi, 2010). 2. In the following anoxic or aerobic phase these same microorganisms, consume both phosphorus and oxygen to metabolize the previously stored substrate for energy production and cell synthesis. The organisms take up the phosphorus in excess. The phosphorus is removed from the system during the normal sludge wasting procedure (Sankaramanchi,

Effect of Ayurvedic Drug on Drosophila Melanogaster

Effect of Ayurvedic Drug on Drosophila Melanogaster Dr. Sonali Sengupta* Namrata Sain,  Lathika J,  Akshay Tharali Abstract:- The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster known as a model organism is widely used in mammalian cellular and developmental studies. Its vast genome similarity with the humans has facilitated for various genetic and physiological studies. Ayurvedic medicine represents a traditional form of medication used to treat various human illness and anomalies. This paper aims to study the effect of an anti-paralytic ayurvedic drug on the physiological and behavioural pattern of locomotion defective and neurophysiology defective strain of Drosophila. This study will also help us to draw an analogy to the effect or action of these ayurvedic drugs on human system and further lead us to better understanding of the condition. Keywords:- Drosophila melanogaster, Ayurvedic , behavioural, physiological Introduction:- Drosophila melanogaster acts as an ideal species for model systems and drug interaction studies. Due to its feasibility for culturing and short reproductive cycle it is used in various genetic research prospectives. The drosophila genome on account of its similarity with the human genome can be studied extensively to identify certain genes involved in disease condition and also aid in understanding the various regulatory mechanisms that are associated with it. Study of drug interaction in Drosophila can be very well co-related to its effect on humans and therefore various drug interaction studies have been conducted in various conditions thereby relating it to the genotype. Drug interaction with Drosophila can be used to study its genotoxic effect as well as any rectifying effect on the expressed phenotype of the organism. Locomotion rhythm and neurophysiology defective mutants of Drosophila melanogaster exhibit both structural and functional abnormality and can be considered analogus to human paralysis condition owing to the non-functioning of neurons stimulating the muscles. The ebony (e11) mutants of drosophila show locomotor rhythm defect along with a defect in the electrophysiology properties of the neurons, muscles leading to the characteristic movement defect. This condition can be related to the paralytic condition in humans and drug interaction with these mutants can be used as a future way for analysis and cure of the condition in humans. Ayurveda has represented a field of medications and formulations that have been used to treat various human abnormality conditions in India. Ayurvedic medicine represents various treated plant extracts and formulations which contain certain important compounds that target the affected sites in human disorder conditions. These ayurvedic medicines can be considered as an example of medications which have their efficacy related to the genoptypic constitution of the subject. Various anti-paralytic ayurvedic drugs target the neuronal and muscular components of the affected condition. This paper aims at studying the effect of such an Ayurvedic drug on the locomotion and neurophysiology defective mutants of Drosophila melanogaster and relating it to the human complex disorder conditions. Materials and Methods:- 2 types of strains were used. 1.Canton-S: Drosophila melanogaster of Canton-S wild type strain were obtained from Dr. Kavitha Thirumurugan, VIT University. They were maintained, cultured and outbred in large population in optimum temperature in our laboratory. 2. e11 (Dmele11tm3) The ebony e11 mutants were obtained from NCBS, Bangalore. They were cultured on corn meal medium maintained at 24C. The mutants showed phenotypic characteristics of locomotion rhythm and neurophysiology defective. Drug:- The Ayurvedic drug used was Amukkara choorana purchased from a local ayurvedic medicine shop in Vellore in form of tablets .The main ingredient of this medicine is Amukkara or Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Amukkara Choornam has an anti-arthritic activity and it is a restorative and nervine tonic. Experiment:- The wild type flies were cultured in 3 types of food:- (i) corn meal medium without drug (ii) medium with 0.01g drug i.e 100microgram of drug for 100 ml.(iii) medium with 0.05g drug i.e 500microgram of drug for 100 ml. (iv) medium with 0.1g drug i.e 1000 microgram of drug for 100 ml. The e11 mutants were also cultured in corn meal medium with and without out drug of the above mentioned concentration of drug. To observe drug administration from larval stage, 30 Wild type larva were also culture in normal medium as well as in medium with the above mentioned drug concentrations. The larva were transferred using a thin paint brush and carefully planted on the medium and cultured at constant temperature. Assays:- 1. Survival Assay:-The wild type and mutant flies were cultured in normal and drug medium for 7days (1 week) and their rate of survival was measured. 2. Climbing Assay:-10 wild type and mutant flies were observed for their characteristic climbing ability in normal and drug medium. 3. Light Sensitive Assay:-10 wild type and mutant files from each category were exposed to a light source for 2-5 minutes and their anti-geotrophic behaviour was observed. 4. Polytene chromosome analysis:-Wild type larva were dissected and polytene chromosomes were observed by acteocarmine staining for any chromosomal abberations. The larvae were collected from both normal and drug medium which were dissected with a mounted needle on a glass slide under the microscope and the polytene chromosomes were removed from the salivary glands. The polytene chromosomes were then fixed using freshly prepared chilled fixative (Methanol: Acetic acid 3:1) and stained with acetocarmine dye. It was then washed with glacial acetic acid,cover slip was placed . Mounting was done and observed under microscope. RESULTS:- Rate of Survival:- Fig 1:- Graph representing the survibility assay of the Wild type and e11 mutant flies over a period of 7 days cultured in corn meal medium without drug and with drug at 3 different concentrations (0.01g, 0.05g and 0.1g per 100 ml) Fig 2:- Wild type and e11 mutant flies cultured in corn meal medium. Climbing assay:- Fig 3:- e11 mutant in 0.1g drug food showing static behavior (lower one) Light Sensitive Assay:- The light sensitive assay was performed on Day 4:- Wild type in normal food:- The flies showed anti-geotropic behavior i.e attraction towards light. 8 out 10 were attracted towards light Wild type in 0.01g drug food:- showed jumping movement and falling cycle. Wild type in 0.05g drug food:- Flies showed geotropic behavior i.e withdrawl from light source. Wild type in 0.1g drug food:- Flies show complete withdrawl from light i.e they prefer to stay in dark Mutant in Normal food:- On exposure to light it showed mostly static behavior with minimal movement and difficulty in climbing due to weak muscle strength. Mutant in 0.01 drug food:- Extreme static behavior and difficulty in moving. Mutant in 0.05g and 0.1g drug food:- Not viable. Fig4:-Wild type flies in 0.1g drug food showing withdrawl from light exposure. Polytene chromosome analysis:- Polytene chromosome analysis revealed no chromosomal abberations in the wild type flies post exposure to varied concentrations of drug DISCUSSION:- In the above study both wild type and ebony mutant flies were cultured in three types of drug medium with each medium having increasing concentration of drug. Both the wild type and mutant flies showed decrease in survival rate in food with drug concentration 0.1g as well as in 0.05g with a more potent decrease in the 0.1g indicating lethality due to the drug dose. So the drug concentration was decreased to 0.01g which showed no decrease in survival rate for the wild type flies whereas the mutant flies showed less decrease in survival rate indicating minimal concentration of drug may induce a positive effect on survival rate. The Climbing assay showed that the mutants in 0.1 and 0.05g drug food showed shibire behaviour and inability to cling to the wall thus inferring muscle weakness before the drug proved lethal. Whereas mutants in 0.01g drug medium showed reduced climbing pace and static movement but had a positive effect on survival rate. Wild type flies in drug food showed no change in initial days but depicted slow climbing rate in later days. But when the drug was exposed from the larval stage, it showed a positive effect on the climbing as well as jumping behavior. Thus it can be concluded that the if the drug is exposed to the organism from the larval stage it produces a better effect as compared with adult stage. Thus it may concluded that incorporation of the drug during the larval stage may produce a curable effect as compared to that during adult stage, but further studies need to be done. Light sensitive assay revealed that wild type flies in 0.05g and 0.1g drug food showed geotropic behavior and complete withdrawl from light respectively. Mutants in drug food showed mostly static response to light. This study aims at finding out the drug interaction with the defective gene thereby drawing an analogy with the human genome. The effect of these drugs on the drosophila genome may provide an analogy as to which gene may be affected in case of patients with paralytic or muscular disorders and may also provide possible means of therapy for the management and treatment of the disorders. REFERENCES:- In Vivo Effects Of Traditional Ayurvedic Formulations in Drosophila melanogaster Model Relate with Therapeutic Applications by Vibha Dwivedi et.al 2012. The effects of exogenous antioxidants on lifespan and oxidative stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster by Tapiwanashe Magwere et.al 2006 Dopamine modulates acute responses to cocaine, nicotine and ethanol in Drosophila Roland J. Bainton et .al 2000. Mutant human torsin A responsible for early onset dystonia, dominantly suppresses GTPCH expression, Dopamine levels and locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster by O donnell JM et al 2011. Drug resistance of bacteria commensal with Drosophila melanogaster in laboratory cultures Sultan, R et al 2001. The pattern of campaniform sensilla on the wing and haltere of Drosophila melanogaster and several of its homeotic mutants by Eric S. Cole et al 1982. A gene necessary for normal male courtship, yellow, acts downstream of fruitless in the Drosophila melanogaster larval brain by Mark David Drapeau et al 2003. Tyrosine and catecholamine metabolism in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster and a mutant, ebony by Ross B. Hodgetts et al 1976. Neurophysiological defects in temperature-sensitive paralytic mutants of Drosophila melanogaster by Siddiq et al 201. Electrophysiological Correlates of Rest and Activity in Drosophila melanogaster by Douglas A Nitz et al 2002.

Grieving in Amber by Eavan Boland :: essays research papers

Eavan Boland’s poem â€Å"Amber† was published in the Atlantic Monthly in December of 2005. This poem starts off sad, talking about a death of a friend and how grieving seemed to last forever. Boland shows us this through lines one through five. It then goes on saying that if you think of all the good memories that the grieving process will pass and you can be happy when thinking about the lost friend. Boland’s poem â€Å"Amber† is showing us that grieving shouldn’t last forever and that memories can take away the horrible feelings and bring happiness when thinking about a lost loved one. In the first five lines Boland presents the death of a friend and the writer is grieving â€Å"through seasons and centuries† (line 4), or in other words they are having a hard time getting over the grieving process. She then changes the mood by saying â€Å"On this fine September afternoon† (6). By putting the word â€Å"fine† in she is showing us that grieving is over. She starts talking about an ornament of amber that she is holding and that her friend gave this to her. By saying this she means that her friend gave her all of these memories and she is â€Å"holding† them, or keeping them in her memory. This ornament is the symbol of the memories the writer has of her lost friend. Then the writer is explaining that she has only memories because â€Å"The dead cannot see the living† (11) and vise versa. Boland then brings three images of seeds, leaves and feathers to our minds to present them as memories of a lost friend. In the middle of the poem Boland describes these â€Å"memories† by saying â€Å"as it fell and fell,† (15 and 16). By using â€Å"it† this shows that all of these memories are clumped together as one which makes them stronger. After this she goes on by saying â€Å"which now in a sunny atmosphere seem as alive as they ever were† (17 and 18). This is saying that the memories now bring bright and happy feelings and they seem alive because the memories are so strong that they seem as if they are real. When the writer refers to a Baltic honey this is referring back to the ornament of amber and how she was holding it in her hand, as if memories could be held. She then goes on to tell us a little about the friendship.

Describe and Evaluate the Evolutionary Theory of Food Preferences

Describe and evaluate the evolutionary theory of food preferences According to an evolutionary approach current human behaviour can be understood in terms of how it may have been adaptive in our ancestral past. Evolutionary theorists are concerned with behaviour which is adaptive and having survival value, these researchers look for ultimate explanations. Current behaviours may be maladaptive and dysfunctional but can be understood as having been adaptive and functional in some way.To undertake this type of analysis they draw on the theory of natural selection and suggest that all species including humans, evolve through a process of natural selection and that only those characteristics that confer advantage or at least do not confer disadvantage survive as the species evolve. This is an interactionist approach, as an individual’s genetic predisposition is assumed to interact with their environment. In terms of eating behaviour, an evolutionary psychologist is interested in th e following questions: â€Å"Are there innate preferences for certain foods? †, â€Å"How would these preferences have been adaptive in the past? and â€Å"How do these preferences function now? † Early research by Davis investigated the eating behaviour of infants and young children. Davis observed the kinds of choice children living in a paediatric unit made in relation to their diet. Based on her data, Davis concluded that young children have an innate, regulatory mechanism and are able to select a healthy diet. However she emphasized that they could only do this if healthy food was available and suggested that the children’s food preferences changed over time and ere modified by experience. Subsequent research has provided further support for some form of innate regulatory mechanisms.For example, there is consistent evidence that newborn babies demonstrate innate food preferences. Using facial expressions and sucking behaviour as an index of preference, bab ies have been shown to prefer sweet tasting substances and to reject bitter tastes. There is also some evidence for an innate preference for salt, based on animal research, although this has been controversial together, these studies suggest that some food preferences are innate. Beauchamp and Moran (1982) reported however that six month old babies who were accustomed to drinking sweetened water drank more sweetened water than those babies who were not.So although innate food preferences may exist, these may be modified very quickly by learning and familiarity. Our early human ancestors lived in hunter-gatherer communities in which the men were responsible for hunting and the women were responsible for gathering. Their diets consisted mainly of fruits, berries, vegetables and some meat. Our innate food preferences can be explained in different forms. An innate preference for sweet foods would have encouraged people to eat fruit with its natural fructose content. Sweet foods in natur e provide important calories which are needed for energy.Natural avoidance of bitter foods would have helped to protect people from eating food that was poisonous. This would also have been helped by neophobia. A preference for salt is less easy to explain, although we do know that salt is essential for the sodium balance in our bodies. Sheep manage their sodium levels by licking naturally occurring minerals that contain salt because grass has very low sodium content. Human beings on the other hand have very little need for additional salt, particularly if they eat meat.The innate preference for salt may therefore have originally functioned by encouraging people to eat meat. In our ancestral past the main challenge facing people would have been avoiding malnutrition by eating enough food to support a physically active lifestyle. Our innate food preferences may have helped us to survive. However for much of the modern world, food is no longer scarce and our lives are no longer as phy sically active. Nowadays a preference for sweet foods may no longer encourage a person to eat berries, but rather to eat highly calorific, energy-dense foods, such as chocolate bars.Furthermore a preference for salty foods may facilitate the consumption of high-fat foods flavoured with salt, such as chips and processed foods. An evolutionary explanation for obesity has been put forward based on biological preferences for foods which cause overeating and problems with weight in our modern world, which has been called an â€Å"obesongenic environment†. There are many factors in our environment, such as fast food outlets and cars, which encourage an unhealthy lifestyle and may contribute to higher levels of obesity.Like biological explanations, evolutionary explanations of eating might be regarded as an oversimplification by suggesting that adaptiveness is the single, guiding principle. Such explanations are also determinists as they propose that eating behaviour is determined b y past environments, thereby overlooking the notion of free will and the fact that human behaviour is affected by many other factors such as thought, emotions and social factors. Evolutionary drives are moderated and modified by social drives. Evolutionary approaches can explain innate food preferences that were important for our ancestor’s survival.An innate preference for sweet foods may lead us to consume energy-dense foods, such as chocolate bars, which are longer needed in the current obesogenic environment of the Western world, and can help to explain the recent upsurge in obesity. Innate preferences for food can be used to demonstrate the wisdom of the body, the existence of biological drives and also the importance of the environment. It is also difficult to measure eating behaviour accurately in a research context. The central concept of adaptiveness can be applied to many behaviours, including eating and is difficult to demonstrate empirically or disapprove.This mea ns that we have no means of establishing the validity of the explanation. A strength of evolutionary explanations is that they consider ultimate causes and so may lead to more valid ways of treating seemingly maladaptive behaviours by taking account of their adaptive significance and not merely focusing on the proximate problem. Evolutionary explanations appear to suggest that we are no longer adapting to changing environmental conditions. Some scientists believe that humans are continuing to evolve both physically and psychological and are doing so at a faster rate that any other close species.

Tsunami essays

Tsunami essays In the early hours of Boxing Day (0058 GMT) an earthquake six miles deep and measuring 9.8 on the richer scale (the largest for forty years) occurred under the Indian Ocean. This caused a huge Tsunami which The earthquake occurred when the Eurasian plate (continental crust) moved against the Australian plate (oceanic crust) (compacting it) on the destructive plate boundary. The Tsunami was travelling 500 mph over water and when it reached land it slowed but increased in height making it more dangerous still. In some places the Tsunami reached as far as one km inland. The tsunami destroyed countryside, housing, hotels and infrastructure but the highest costing was the loss of lies. Over 150 00 are dead and hundreds of thousands are still missing. The secondary effects are no less devastating. Water born diseases such as cholera, dysentery and malaria are spreading fast and there is a lack of clean water as wells are contaminated, there is also a lack in food getting to the survivors causing famine and in the abandoned houses criminals are looting the areas. Another grim effect of the tsunami is the abduction of children by criminal gangs to be used as slaves, sold for adoption or even, used for sex. The tsunami caused so much destruction as the countries hit had absolutely no tsunami warning system, the only sign they had was the sudden retreat of the water although people believed were told (whoever you believe) that they were quite safe and this was totally normal. They were totally unprepared for such n occurrence so had no evacuation system or emergency rations. The death toll could have been reduced if the earthquake had not occurred during the festive season, as inevitably there was a great The UK generated 60 million in one week although did not respond ...

American Black Bear Facts

American Black Bear Facts The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large omnivore that inhabits the forests, swamps, and tundra throughout the more northerly reaches of North America. In some areas such as the Pacific Northwest, it commonly lives at the edges of towns and suburbs where it has been known to break into storage buildings or cars in search of food. Fast Facts: American Black Bear Scientific Name: Ursus americanusCommon Name: American black bearBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 4.25–6.25 feet longWeight: 120–660 poundsLifespan: 10–30 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Forested areas in Alaska, Canada, the United States, MexicoPopulation: 600,000Conservation Status:  Least Concern Description Black bears vary considerably in color throughout their range. In the east, bears are usually black with a brown snout. But in the west, their color is more variable and can be black, brown, cinnamon, or even a light buff color. Along the coast of British Columbia and Alaska, there are two color morphs of black bears that are distinct enough to earn them nicknames: the whitish Kermode bear or spirit bear and the blue-gray glacier bear. Although some black bears may be colored like brown bears, the two species can be distinguished by the fact that the smaller black bears lack the dorsal hump characteristic of the larger brown bears. Black bears also have larger ears that stand more erect than brown bears. Black bears have powerful limbs and are equipped with short claws that enable them to break apart logs, climb trees, and collect grubs and worms. They also claw apart beehives and feed on the honey and bee larvae they contain. Habitat and Range The American black bear lives in forested areas throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico and in at least 40 states in the U.S. They used to live in almost all forested areas of North American, but now they are restricted to areas that are less densely populated by  humans. In Canada, the American black bear still lives in most of its historic range, other than the central plains. These bears also once inhabited the mountainous regions of northern Mexico, but their numbers have dwindled in this region. Black bears are one of three bear species that live in North America; the other two are the brown bear and the polar bear. Of these bear species, black bears are the smallest and most timid. When encountered by humans, black bears often flee rather than attack. Diet Black bears are omnivores. Their diet includes grasses, berries, nuts, fruit, seeds, insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. In northern regions, they eat spawning salmon. American black bears will also occasionally kill young deer or moose calves. In the colder parts of their range, black bears seek refuge in their den for the winter where they enter a winter sleep. Their dormancy is not true hibernation, but during their winter sleep, they refrain from eating, drinking, or excreting waste for as long as seven months. During this time, their metabolism slows and heart rate falls. Reproduction and Offspring Black bears reproduce sexually. They reach reproductive maturity at 3 years of age. Their breeding season occurs in spring but the embryo does not implant in the mothers womb until late fall. Two or three cubs are born in January or February. The cubs are very small and spend the next several months nursing in the safety of the den. Cubs emerge from the den with their mother in spring. They remain under the care of their mother until they are about 1 ½ years old at which time they disperse to seek out their own territory. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the American Black Bears conservation status as least concern.  And, the black bear is the most common bear in North America. However, all large mammals who eat meat- big cats, wolves, and bears- face threats stemming from the loss of prey and habitat. This includes black bears, though they are less affected because 95 percent of their diet is plant-based. American Black Bears and Humans American black bears across North America are also facing a decline in forest areas where they once lived due to the rapid expansion of urban areas. Indeed, most of the challenges black bears face in North America come from humans. American black bears are intelligent and learn quickly where they can find garbage left by people as well as where human food is easily accessible. This makes for the perfect conditions for human-bear conflict, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. The problem is particularly pronounced in backcountry areas where humans hike and camp as well as populated forest areas, leading to dangerous conditions for black bears and humans alike. Sources â€Å"Black Bears.†Ã‚  WCS.org.â€Å"Basic Facts About Black Bears.†Ã‚  Defenders of Wildlife, 10 Jan. 2019.â€Å"Carnivore Collapse.†Ã‚  Defenders of Wildlife, 10 Jan. 2019.

Computer security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computer security - Essay Example Once an individual clicks on the link, it directs to a website where a malware software and virus is downloaded into the individual computer, in addition to downloading and installing a spyware that captures sensitive information from the computer (US CERT, 2012). Thus, blended threat is fatal than other forms of threat, since it entails the damage of an individual’s computer, while at the same time allowing for the track of sensitive information by the attackers, who can later use it for their benefit. Additionally, blended threats are more difficult to combat, since any activity on the link sent by the attacker will definitely cause harm to the computer in one way or the other (Trend Micro, 2008). Mobile threats With the increase in technology advancement, mobile technology has not been left out. Sophisticated mobile devices are being produced each day, allowing the users to access information from the internet at the click of their phone button. This has motivated the cyber criminals to venture into targeting mobile devices, where they have developed files that are easily transferrable through email, MMS, Bluetooth and even text messages (Trend Micro, 2008). ... They are eventually transferred to other mobile devices through texts, MMS and Bluetooth and cause the same harm to the other devices. Phishing scam This refers to major malware campaigns that have been launched to target individual computers, which occur in the form of the attackers sending electronic greeting cards that contain malware (Trend Micro, 2008). The attacker have also developed attack files inform of attractive and enticing free screensavers, which contains malware files. Once an individual downloads and installs the screensaver, the malware in transferred to the individual’s computer, where they cause its malfunction (US CERT, 2012). Additionally, phishing scams have been developed inform of credit card information applications or online shopping advertisements that seek to capture individual’s credit card information, for theft purposes (Trend Micro, 2008). Measures to protect individual’s computer from these attacks Maintaining update anti-virus a nd anti-malware Computer security calls for the vigilance of the individual using the computer. Therefore, notwithstanding that anti-viruses and anti-malware do not fully protect the computer from external threats, it essential to maintain them updated and activated at all times. This is because; they play a great role in protecting the computer from certain external threats, leaving the computer owner with few threats to tackle (US CERT, 2012). Therefore, the computer owner should consistently upgrade their anti-virus and anti-malware to the recent versions, which include more protective features (Vacca, 2009). Use of firewall Configuring and maintaining firewall in place is essential. Firewall is the most recognized form of protection of a computer from external software attacks, since

Political science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Political science - Essay Example Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the reader should come to a full and complete understanding and appreciation for the fact that poaching in and of itself should not be held as the highest representation of the Democratic process. For instance, there are many highly undemocratic nations around the world to participate in the voting. For instance, history is replete with examples of nations that it held fraudulent elections as a means of seeking to convince the respective stakeholders within their societies that their governments is ultimately legitimate. Within such a function, the voting process in and of itself cannot and should not be understood to be defined as the true lifeblood of a democracy (Lever 225). Rather, voting is merely an exhibition of the good faith that the stakeholders within society understand their role with relation to the governing authority. For instance, although the United States might wish to believe that it exhibits the highest level of democracy wit hin the world, the fact of the matter is quite the contrary. Ultimately, only two choices are given with regards to the political party affiliation that the candidates have to offer. Naturally, there is also the political affiliation of independent; however this is rarely used. Whereas compared to the other nations in the world, a litany of political parties help to define the way in which key interests of the populace are illustrated, the United States system only allows for choice between two political parties. In such a way, the level and extent to which voting within such a two-party/limited system serves to be the lifeblood of democracy ultimately comes under a high level of scrutiny (Coley 6). Naturally, voting within such a context is necessarily cheapened as compared to voting within a context where greater level of choice exists. Ultimately, the point that should most be understood within the preceding analysis is with regards to the fact the process of voting in and of its elf does not guarantee democracy anymore than evidence of political opposition disproves the evidence of a dictatorship. More importantly, with respect to the American system of governance, the main objective that this author has is with regards to the level and extent of the knowledge base that the voters are bringing to the election cycles. Although it is oftentimes been the case that scholars have looked down upon the average voter as misinformed and ultimately provincial, statistics in recent years have underscored the fact that the American voting populace is becoming increasingly clueless with regards to both the domestic political situation and the global realities that define the world in which we live. Within such an understanding, the process of voting itself must be understood to be of secondary or even tertiary importance as compared to the level of information and for knowledge that the voter himself/herself is able to exhibit with regards to the many issues that inform different elections that take place within a democracy. Whereas it is not the purpose of this analysis to advocate any type of a poll tax or regression into many of the previously practiced