Captain James Cook Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Captain James Cook - Research Paper Example According to the "Captain James Cook" findings, born in 1728 and killed at the age of 50 during his third voyage to the island of Hawaii, Cook is a symbol of bravery and is a part of the heritage in those countries to which he discovered the ways of contact. He was not the one who intended to rule everywhere he went, either by hook or crook; rather, he left a legacy of wisdom and knowledge. He traveled in the vast Pacific ocean, developing routes for trade and to explore a new world and new people. His mapping was full of skill and exact up to the extent no one of those times could reach. The greatest contribution from him that was never done is that he noticed and recorded the geographical features of the places he visited (Beales 2006). Cook contributed to the world in many ways. He used astrology and its effects on oceans and making of tides for his own purposes of sailing. In the year 1776, he was assigned his first voyage to record the transit of Venus across the Pacific Ocean. He arrived at Tahiti in the year of 1769, where he observed the transitional period of Venus and completed his first task. Then he sailed towards the south to the coast of Australia and used his powerful mapping techniques to draw the coastline of New Zealand prior to his voyage. He was as good in describing the entire voyage and the places as in mapping. Thus, he recorded the culture and skin of the people living in certain areas along with the geographical features of the land. It is from his experience that chronograph is now used worldwide.... Cook definitely exerted extreme influence upon perceiving and understanding the modern world. His contributions towards geography, astronomy, mapping and navigation are a mild stone for explorers of all times. He played his part in discovering all those parts of the world which constitute a total of about one-third of it. His navigation skills were so perfect that even in the 20th century his maps were used as a guidance tool. Also his charts of coastlines were used to understand the geography of the places which can be of extreme help in order to study anthropology of a certain area. Several design and tactics used by the people of other places were introduced to the rest of the world, like tattoos from New Zealand that came into favor after Cook had set foot on the island. Also, it is from his experience that chronograph is now used worldwide as a device for measuring the speed with respect to distance. During his second voyage, he was about to reach the Antarctica from the south, but he has to provide his crew with new supply, therefore, he moved towards Tahiti again. But this journey opened queries regarding the end of the world or more land masses in the Pacific Ocean (James Cook 2011). Indeed, all of his voyages were a great contribution in knowledge of localities. He discovered many small islands; his contribution in calculating the longitude of an area helped a lot to the navigators of all times. It is because he was a good navigator and he measured the distance between two point areas and the lunar distance too, he became able to gather such techniques for finding the longitude. His most promising accomplishment was of circumnavigating the world, which was never done before. On the

Dynamic of Machines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dynamic of Machines - Essay Example Racing car drivers require as quick a shift as possible. Not only is there a change in characteristics of the modern race engine, there is also an increasing awareness of the importance of transmission in a racing car. In order to make Formula 1 Racing more environmental friendly, transmission firms Torotrak and Xtrac are developing a highly efficient transmission system capable of capturing, storing and reusing kinetic energy from racing cars. The new technology with the help of a flywheel, will recover and store kinetic energy during deceleration that can then be used for acceleration; thus providing highly efficient kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) for motorsport. â€Å"Torotrak’s patented Toroidal Traction Drive Variator provides a continuous and variable ratio connection between the flywheel and the vehicle driveline via the gearbox† (PE 2007, p.14). Mechanical efficiency greater than 90% is obtained by advanced construction of the flywheel. The system not only optimizes performance, but also cuts carbon-dioxide emissions. According to Griffo & Lauria (2005), increasing stability-related aspects is essential for achieving improved generation and transmission structures. For improving the dynamic behaviour of electrical power systems, transmission-line reclosure is an efficient structural action. The new technique for computing the optimal reclosure time of a transmission line is based on optimal control strategies for switched dynamic systems. This method allows the use of high-order modelling, including control-system and relay action. Numerical simulations substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy which increases system stability and improves damping oscillations. In applications where elevated transmission ratios are required, especially in the automobile field, continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) have developed significantly. Their advantages are high in terms of car handling and

Chemistry of antiscalants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chemistry of antiscalants - Essay Example Conversely, Phosphonates, polyphosphates and polycarboxylates react with minimal quantities (Singh et. al., 2008). Threshold inhibitors are the name that refers to the chemical agents that inhibit scale and work at quantities below the stoichiometric level. These inhibitors foil the whole process of precipitation. Various mechanisms take place when interfering with the process of precipitation. The first manner is the modifying of the crystals into shapes that make it impossible for attachment with other crystals. Secondly, the inhibitors attack the forces that bind the particles into precipitation to break the bond necessary for the precipitation. The third mechanism is through impeding the growth of the particles to bring a non-precipitation zone. Despite the effectiveness of the antiscalants, other indispensable factors determine the whole process. These factors comprise of presence of other ions in the solution, the temperature, the PH and the ratio of super saturation. Moreover, the heaviness of a polymer matters a lot when the antiscalant is polymer (Singh et. al., 2008). CACO3 crystallization is a process that is intricate and requires great understanding to know the reaction that takes place with the antiscalant. The various mechanisms with which the antiscalant inhibits the precipitation are under one method of â€Å"charges attraction†. The antiscalant is always negatively charged and it gets attracted to the area with the crystals, which is positively charged. The definition of threshold inhibition is assumed from this description. Threshold inhibition thus refers to the fusing of the particles of the inhibitor to the crystal-filled arena that is rich with ions. The surface of the crystallization zone tends to be loose and hence creates a space for absorption of the inhibitor’s particles. Once the inhibitors have penetrated to the inside of the crystals, the formation of crystals is in interference. It delays the beginning of crystalliz ation since the walls that would bind the crystals are filled with the inhibitors particles. The first crystals cannot be detected since the inhibitors particles impose a derailment between the period of super saturation state and crystallization (Singh et. al., 2008). Consequently, the crystals form but the inhibitors attack to tamper the growth sites. It thus obstructs the normal reaction that would have to happen. The inhibitors modify and alter the growth of the crystals. Results from the modification of the crystals, is retarded crystals that do not have the strength to stick on metal materials. These crystals are then electrostatic charged and thus posses repulsion with particles with the same side charges. It makes the crystals not to converge and clot (Singh et. al., 2008). There is a common fact that phosphonates are better threshold inhibitors than polycarboxylates. Contrarily, polycarboxylates are better dispersants than phosphonates. Both chemical agents show their react ion when in a solution in inhibiting scale threshold. In a condition where the level of super saturation is low, the phosphonates can be the ultimate solution. Conversely, where the level of super saturation is high, polycarboxylates can salvage the reaction (Singh et. al., 2008). Polycarboxylates have properties that can help in dispersing of particles that are useful in a condition of high super saturation. It is a

Concepts of Social Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Concepts of Social Responsibility Essay Business organizations today are socially and ethically responsible for doing the right thing, exercising good judgment in their business activities with employees, stakeholders, customers and the community. Business organizations emphasis should not only be on profits, but also on how business decisions impact society. Company Q is a small grocery store chain located in a major metropolitan area. This company will be evaluated on its attitude towards social responsibility. Also, recommendations will be given in three areas indicating how the company could improve its position regarding social responsibility. First of all, Company Q’s decision to close stores in high crime areas will have an adverse effect on the communities where they conduct business, leading to disruption and hardship in the lives of many. This definitely demonstrates an irresponsible attitude toward social responsibility. In terms of social responsibility, Company Q could help enrich the lives of families in need by supporting local community centers. Community centers play an important role in addressing the comprehensive needs of individuals and families by providing a wide range of resources that are most needed. Moreover, a responsible business could initiate programs to help disadvantaged youths and adults in the community, build employable works skills and connect them to career opportunities. Without question, the more job opportunities and employability of the citizens in that community the lower the crime rate would be. Finally, if Company Q is to be socially responsible, it must not only be committed to making a profit, but also to the economic development of the community where it does business (Ravindran, N. 2008). Secondarily, Company Q’s reluctance to offer health conscience customers a wide range of organic and healthy foods because the products are considered high margin items, is socially irresponsible and bad for business. A growing number of consumers favor organic foods, claiming that it tastes better and is healthier. Why organic? Organic foods grown naturally in well-balanced soils, ripened by the sun are healthier and tastier than products with synthetic chemicals and growth hormones. Moreover, the growing number of conscience consumers was highlighted in a recent Bursen-Marsteller report; â€Å"people will more likely choose a product that supports a social cause when choosing between otherwise similar products† (Penn, Schoen Berland, 2010). These average consumers daily decisions are slowly but surely being influenced by social concern and responsibility. Finally, the critical issue for Company Q is the social responsibility to its customers, who looks to business to provide them with satisfying, safe products and respect their rights as customer. Lastly, Company Q decides to throw away food products, instead of donating it to the local food bank. Sadly, this behavior demonstrates a concern for profits before people attitude, which is socially irresponsible. Businesses can no longer ignore social issues because a business is a part of our society. For Company Q to become more socially responsible its sole objective must not only be to make a profit. But include concerns and responsibilities to the general welfare of the communities and societies in which they operate. Moreover, businesses should simply want to make their communities better places for everyone to live and work. The most common way that businesses exercise their community responsibility is through donations to local and national charitable organizations. Doing simple things like contributing to local food banks, may not be enough to change the world for everyone, but does alleviate some of social ills that abound in local communities.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Cow Milk

Determination of Heavy Metals in Cow Milk The cow milk feeding concept of infants, in the larger parts of Lake Victoria basin of Kenya, for about the first six months after birth, has immensely invigorated the interest in investigating the presence and levels of some heavy metals in cows milk. Toxicity of a heavy metal depends on its fractional bioavailability and concentration in the environment, therefore its speciation is of great importance. The knowledge of concentrations of toxic heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in cows milk is hence very necessary. Fresh milk samples from lactating cows will be obtained by self milking into sterilized polyethene bottles and labeled according to time, date, location and replicate. Other parameters that will be collected from the three locations on the basis of 7-day interval and thereafter investigated include: grass feeds, sediments, water, soil, and lactating cows faecal drops and urine. This information therefore gives a suitable background for assessing and determining the concentrations of heavy metal contaminants on cows and their subsequent intake by human. Few drops of 0.1 M trichloroacetic acid will be added to the sample for coagulation and the aqueous layer heated at 500 °C for one hour. Digestion will be done with 0.5 M nitric acid as presence and concentration of heavy metals analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, AAS. Statistical analysis will be conducted using MSTATC two factor complete randomized block design, with the heavy metal concentration as the main factor with the locations as the sub treatment. The package will perform analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P †°Ã‚ ¤ 0.05 with two factor experiment and students T-test at P †°Ã‚ ¤ 0.05. The mean, standard deviation, range and linear correlation co-efficient on the measured parameters will be determined. The study is expected to give an indication of the exposure of mothers and infants in the region to the heavy metals and also ascertain the safety of absolute milk feeding of infants. This study will be conducted in Kisumu city, at the shore of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Key words: Heavy metals, infants, cows milk and contamination. 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 Background Human and animals have been exposed to heavy metal toxicity for an immeasurable time. The industries have dramatically increased the overall environmental load of the toxins to levels that they are present in every area of modern consumerism. Therefore, it is necessary to know the environmental fate of all xenobiotics so as to predict their persistence and possible effects on non-target organisms (Kengara F.O: 2004). Anthropogenic activities appear to play an important role in this study since, in the past, solid wastes have been dumped by residents in their respective localities. In an apparent attempt to keep the environment clean, in Kisumu city, the local authorities, in the past four years have collected and dumped the solid wastes at a new site, Nyalenda Kachok, Kisumu. Similarly lorry-loads from all over the citys supermarkets, industrial set-ups, petrol stations, residences and markets dump theirs solid wastes at the site. Cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead and zinc are among the most common heavy metals known as contaminants in the environment and therefore come affront as hazardous substances to both human and animal health (Roberts J.R, 1999). This is due to wide spread environmental pollution by materials containing them: like batteries, paints, pipes, soldering rods, pesticides, fungicides, gasoline, engine oils, chemical fertilizers or when they occur in high amounts in air, soil, water, plants and other compounded animal feeds. They therefore increase concentrations of heavy metals in air, water, soil and subsequently taken by plants and animals into their food chain (Ahmad, W.M.S, 2002). The presence of heavy metals in cows milk may be attributed to contamination of the original one, which may be due to exposure of lactating cow to environmental pollution or consumption of contaminated feeding stuffs and water (Carl M, 1991). This occurrence can lead to considerable concentrations in human body since they are not metabolized therefore poses a serious risk to human health when consumed even in small amounts (Selinger B, 1979). Most of them, like cadmium, lead and mercury persist in the body and exert their toxic effect by combining with one or more reactive groups essential for normal physiological functions of the cells thus causing cellular disturbances or clinical manifestation. The adverse toxic effects caused by lead, cadmium mercury are widely recognized (Friberg, L. and Elinder, C.G, 1988). The major clinical signs in animals and man for lead and copper poisoning include, among others, deviations of the hematological parameters due to their direct effects on hematopoiesis, reduced integrity of red blood cells membrane leading to intravascular haemolysis, anemia and dehydration (Radostits O. M. et al., 1994). Therefore hematological parameters have diagnostic value in animals suspected of heavy metal toxicity (Mlay P.S and Migumia Y.O, 2008). Man becomes at risk by eating food and drinking fluids contaminated with heavy metals,  through air, direct contact with the metals like in people working in car wash or body spraying industries or factories dealing with heavy metals and their derivatives (Farr G, 2001). Kisumu city is endowed with relatively many but small enterprises dealing with metal works, car maintenance and repair (Jua Kali Sheds), construction works that pose a risk of contamination to the environment with hazardous substances including heavy metals. Subsistence farming and husbandry are quite enhanced in its neighborhoods. The foregone information prompts the desire to investigate the presence of some heavy metals in cows milk. The data generated will assist the concerned city planners, institutions and bodies charged with environmental control and surveillance to formulate measures and policies that would firmly govern the dumping of solid wastes, re-locate the site and authoritatively bar animals from feeding on the wastes. 2.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The presence and concentration of heavy metals in water, sediments, soil and cows milk urine and faecal drops are unknown. This means that both man and animals likely assimilate the heavy metal contaminants unabated, thus endangering their lives. 2.3 JUSTIFICATION OF THE RESEARCH The toxic heavy metals from the possible sources as stated above continue to get into the environment and the biota. This phenomenon is a real threat to the human life therefore it is an urgent issue that the study needs to address. It is important to note that with the known concept of milk feeding of infants for the first six months after birth, either through mothers breasts or other sources like cow milk, more so in the rural set-ups, presents a possible lethal exposure route of heavy metal poisoning. The clinical manifestations that un-permissible levels of the heavy metals cause to both man and animals are fatal and expensive to treat thus jeopardize the economic progress of the affected community. The dumping point at the present site has continued to pollute the air due to organics releasing poisonous gases when they decompose and burnt. The constant burning of the wastes has hindered visibility, caused breathing difficulty and eye-aches to the road users as the site is at the high way and the entrance to the city. It is therefore a rude welcome to the tourists visiting the city. Therefore, the study will give an indication of the exposure of mothers and infants in the region to the heavy metals and also ascertain the safety of absolute milk feeding of infants. 2.4 HYPOTHESIS (i) The solid wastes dumped at the dumping site at Kachok, Kisumu city, contain toxic heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) . (ii) The animals that feed on the wastes take-up the heavy metals into their body systems. 3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW Heavy metals are elements with specific density of 5gcm3, at least five times as the specific gravity of water (Florea T et al., 2006) and (Steven, D, 2003). They have been found in human breast milk and shown to affect health in infants. This may be due to mothers being susceptible to chemicals mostly in foods. Inhalation and dermal routes are possible though they are insignificant. Heavy metals, mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, bismuth, antimony most often disrupt immune function, neurological and endocrine functions. Some common effects of heavy metal toxicity include brain fogginess. Insomnia in children, memory loss, dementia tremors delay development (Molin J, 2000). Due to their toxic nature, the human body upon assimilation begins to get rid of them through the organs such as the skin, liver, kidney and through urine and sweat. However, this process is quite strenuous thus burdens and damages the organs (Bentum J.K, et al., 2010). Unfortunately human milk is one of the routes of elimination this burden, and therefore a source of exposure to infants (Oskarsson A, 1998). Some of these metals are stored in the mothers bones and are extracted from her to provide calcium for the development of the childs bones. As a result, they enter the maternal blood and breast milk during pregnancy and lactation, thus exposing the fetus and infants to risk (Sonawane R.B, 1994). However, at permissible levels, some of them are essential for normal physiological functions in animal tissues (Ahmed, E.E.K, et al., 1999). Dietary deficiencies of copper, zinc, calcium, iron, protein and excess fats cause an increase in the absorption and toxicity of lead (Goldfrank, L.R. et al., 1990). While copper is a trace element in various metabolic functions in the body, lead and other heavy metals have no function in the body and can be highly toxic due to interference directly in metabolic pathways or indirectly by causing deficiencies of other trace metals (Farr G, 2004). Excessively higher levels of the metals in milk and tissues of animals suggest an exposure either from the air, soil, water or feeds or all of these sources (Farr G, 2001) and (Dupler D, 2001). Animals can tolerate elevated levels of these metals though at certain levels clinical signs of toxicity manifest which can be acute or chronic when there is low exposure for a long time since these metals bio-accumulate in the body (IARC, 1997) and (Allcroft R, 1951). Heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury have been detected in breast milk in many parts of the world and have different means and ranges (Appendix 6.1). In many parts of the world, they exceed the recommended limits (Oskarson A et al., 1995) while in others lead has been found in breast milk between 5-20 ppb (Rabinowitz M et al., 1985). This may be attributed to the fact that sources of lead exposure are numerous ranging from ceramic and pottery glazed with lead, electronic works, welding and solders, jewelry making and repairing, certain hair dyes, automobile repairs (ATSDR, 1990). The presence of cadmium has been detected in breast milk as 0.28 ÃŽÂ ¼g/litre. It is found in many components of vehicles and in electrical and electronic equipment (Honda R et al., 2003). Cadmiums levels in breast milk have also been associated with cigarette smoking. Arsenic has not been thoroughly studied in breast milk but is however known to cause cancer in humans (Radisch B and Luck W, 1987). METHODOLOGY 4.1 Sampling and Sampling Design A Two factor completely randomized block design will be employed in sampling where one of the locations will be considered as a block. They will be spread out within 8 km apart. The samples will be taken within an interval of seven days. Table2 shows the experimental design detailing the number of samples per location and the sampling intervals of 7 days, 14 days and 21 days (Table 2): Key: D= Days; Re= Replicates; Lo= Locations: 4.2 Study Area The study area will be at the shore of Lake Victoria, Kisumu city and its environs within the area limits of 00 51 South and Longitude 0041 North and longitudes 330 20- 35020 East and an altitude of 528m above the sea level. The following locations will be picked for the study: Location 1: Nyalenda-Kachok: whose animals feed and graze at the dumping site- suspected to be polluted with the metals. Location 2: Mamboleo: 8 km north eastern outskirts of the city with relative high animal husbandry. Location 3: Chiga: 8 km- eastern outskirts of the city with subsistence and light animal husbandry. The choice of the sampling areas 2 and 3 is based on the fact that the cows graze freely in their areas but can not reach the dumping site where only those from location 1 access for herbage. All samples will be collected from 5 (hence five replicates) randomly selected points from each of the three locations; 1, 2 and 3 and immediately taken to the laboratory for preparation, digestion and analysis at Chemistry Laboratory, Maseno University, Kenya. 4.3 SAMPLES COLLECTION 4.3.1 Cow Milk Sample By self milking into sterilized polyethylene bottles, about 50ml fresh milk samples will be collected from five lactating cows from randomly selected homes in each location on a three day milking interval in the morning (i.e 50ml x 5cows x3 locations x 3 milking intervals = 2,250 ml will be collected in total. The samples will then be packed into ice-bags and labeling will be done with respect to time, date, location and replicate. 4.3.2 Urine Sample 50ml urine sample will be randomly collected from each lactating cow (whose milk is sampled) from its shed. The samples will then be wrapped and tied with sterilized polythene papers, packed into ice-bags and labeled according to time, date, location and replicate. 4.3.3 Faecal Drops Sample In each location, approximately 100g of faecal drops will be randomly collected from each of the five lactating cows (whose milk is sampled) from their sheds, wrapped and tied with sterilized polythene paper, packed into ice-bags and labeled according to time, date, location and replicate. 4.3.4 Water Sample About 50ml of water samples from five different points in each location will be placed in clean unused 100ml plastic bottles with screw caps: The points are across the swamp and dam for locations 1 and 3 while five equidistant spots along the stream that passes through the grazing area of location 2. All the samples will then be packed into ice-bags and labeling will be done with respect to time, date, location and replicate. 4.3.5 Grass Feeds and Soil Sample Grass feeds will be cut at approximately1 cm height from the ground in an area of 1x1m2, (within five randomly selected cattle grazing ground per location), bundled, labeled and packed in clean polythene bags. At the centre of the 1x1m2 area where grass feeds are taken, the topsoil will be dug to 12 cm depth at an area of 24x24cm2. The soil will then be put in clean polythene bags and labeled according time, date, location and replicate. 4.3.6 Sediment Sample Five sediment sub-samples will be randomly taken in each location. Approximately top 2 cm surface layer will be collected with a strainer and the samples packed and labeled with respect to time, date, location and replicate. 4.4 PREPARATION, DIGESTION, ANALYSIS AND QUANTITATION 4.4.1 Cow Milk Samples Five drops of 0.1 M trichloroacetic acid will be added to the cow- milk sample to precipitate the proteins, and the aqueous layer of the milk separated by centrifugation. 5 ml of the aqueous layer will be placed in porcelain crucible and heated in a furnace at a temperature of 500 0C for about 45 minutes. Thereafter, 3 ml of 0.5M nitric will be added and then filtered through Whatman filter paper (No 40) into a 10ml measuring cylinder. Further 0.5M nitric acid will be added to the 10 ml mark of the measuring cylinder. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn in blank and the milk samples will be analyzed with an AAS. 4.4.2 Urine and Water Samples 100ml of each sample will be boiled till complete dryness. 10ml of conc. nitric acid will be added to the sample and boiled close to dryness then diluted to 20 ml with de-ionized water. The solution will be filtered and the filtrate taken for AAS analysis for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn. 4.4.3 Quantitation of heavy metals in milk, urine and water samples: Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Se and Zn in examined samples will be calculated according to the following equation:- Mg/kg in examined samples = AxB/W A= mg/kg of metal in prepared samples (obtained by calibration). B= final volume of prepared sample in ml. W= weight of samples in grams. 4.4.4. Quantitation of Heavy Metals in Faecal Drops, Grass, Sediments Soil Samples The samples will be rinsed with de-ionized water several times and separately air-dried on open plastic bags for 24 hours, ground in a mortar to obtain small particles of uniform size, thus large surface area. Conventional aqua regia digestion will be performed in 250ml glass beakers covered with watch glasses. A well-mixed sample of 0.50 g each of the samples will be digested in 12ml of aqua regia on a hot plate for 3 h at 110 °C. After evaporation to near dryness, the sample will be diluted with 20 ml of 2% (v/v with H2O) nitric acid and transferred into a 100-ml volumetric flask after filtering through Whatman ® filter paper grade 40 and diluted to 100 ml with de-ionized distilled water thereafter analyzed for levels of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Se and Zn using AAS. 5.0 REFERENCES 1. Ahmad, W.M.S. (2002): Studies on heavy metal pollution in poultry farms in relation to production performance; Ph.D. Thesis-Faculty of Vet. Medicine. Zag. University. 2. Ahmed, E.E.K, Haleem, H.H. and Aly, A.A. (1999): Effect of copper and ascorbic acid in restriction of cadmium toxicity. J. Egypt. Vet. Med. Ass., 59 (5): 1549-1573. 3. Allcroft R. 1951: Lead poisoning in cattle and sheep. Veterinary Record 63:583-593. 4. ATSDR Case study in environmental medicine: Cadmium toxicity: U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Atlanta G.A, 1990. 5. Roberts J R, 1999: Metal toxicity in children. In Training Manual on Pediatric Environmental Health: Putting It into Practice 1999 Jun. Emeryville, CA: Childrens Environmental Health Network. 6. Bentum J.K, Sackitey O.J, Tuffuor J.K., Essumang D.K, Koranteng-Addo E. J, and Owusu-Ansah E., 2010: Cadmium and Arsenic in breast milk of lactating mothers in Odumanse-Atua community in Manya Krobo district of eastern region of Ghana. 7. Carl, M. (1991): Heavy metals and other trace elements. Monograph on residues and contaminants in milk and milk products. Special Issue 9101, pp. 112-119. International Dairy Federation IDF, Belgium. 8. Dupler D. 2001: Heavy metal poisoning Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. 9. Farr G 2001: The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. 10. Farr G 2004: Why Heavy Metals are a Hazard to Your Health. 11. Florea T, Sarolta O.B and Gheorghe C, 2006: Heavy metals in fresh cow-milk and cheese. 12. Friberg, L. and Elinder, C.G. 1988: Cadmium toxicity in humans. Essential and toxic trace elements in human health and disease, edited by A.S. Prasad (New York: A.R.Liss), pp. 559-587. 13. Goldfrank, L.R.; Osborn, H. and Hartnett, L, 1990: Lead. In: Goldfrank, L.R.; Flomentbaum, N.E.; Lewin, N.A.; Weisman, R.S. and Howland, M.A. (Eds.): Goldfranks Toxicological Emergencies. 4th edition. pp. 627-637. Prentice-Hall International Inc. New Jersey, USA. 14. Honda R; Tawara K; Nishyo M; Nakagawa H; Tanebe K; Saito S, Toxicology 2003;186(3) 255-259. 15. IARC (International Agency for Research on cancer) 1997: Monograph of carcinogenic risk to human. Lyon. Supplement. 7:230-231. 16. Kengara F.O, 2004: Analysis of organo-chlorine pesticides in Nyando catchments of Lake Victoria and fate studies of atrazine and glyphosate in soil using the radioisotope tracer technique: MSc Thesis-Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Maseno University, Kenya. 17. Mactaggart D.L and Farewell S.O: Analytical use of regression. Part 1: Regression procedures for calibration and quantitation, 1992, Journal of AOA International, 75 594-606. 18. Mlay P.S and Mgumia Y.O, 2008: Levels of lead and copper in plasma of dairy cows, pastures, soil and water from selected areas of Morogoro suburbs. (Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tanzania). 19. Molin J: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine; 2000; 42(11) 1070-1075. 20. Ongeri, D.M.K, 2008: Physicochemical parameters, heavy metal residue levels and their speciation studies in Lake Victoria basin; Ph.D. Thesis-Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry. Maseno University, Kenya. 21. Oskarson A., Palminger H.I, and Sundberg: J. Analyst: 1995; 120(3) 765-770. 22. Oskarsson, A, Analyst 1998 123(1); 19-23. 23. Osweiler D. G, 1996: Toxicology. Williams and Wilkins USA 491pp. 24. Rabinowitz, M., Leviton A., and Needleman H., Archives of environmental health 1985; 40 (5) 283-286. 25. Radisch B and Luck W: Nav H Toxicology letters 1987; 36 147-152. 26. Radostits O. M, Blood D. C and Gay C. C, 1994: Veterinary Medicine A Textbook of the Disease of Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Horses 8th Edition. Paston press ltd, London, Norfolk, UK 1469-1499p. 27. Roberts J R, 1999: Metal toxicity in Children. In Training Manual on Pediatric Environmental Health: Putting It into Practice 1999 Jun. Emeryville, CA: Childrens Environmental Health Network. 28. Selinger B, 1979: Chemistry in the market place. 29. Sonawane R.B: Envronmental Health Perspective, 1994; 196. 30. Tsoumbaris, P. and Papadopoulou, T.H. 1994: Heavy metals in common food stuffs: Quantitative analysis. Bulletin Environ. Contamination Toxicology, 53: 61-66. 31. Stevens, D. 2003. CSIRO Land and waters Methods Manual. Impact of Heavy Metals on Sustainability of Fertilization and Waste Recycling in Peri-Urban and Intensive Agriculture in South-East Asia. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). 29. World Health Organization, (WHO, 1993). 6.0 APPENDICES 6.1: Table 1- WHO: Selected Concentration Mean Ranges of Heavy Metals, 1993. Heavy Metal Concentration, ppb Concentration Range, ppb Arsenic 0.3 0.10 -0.80 Cadmium 0.1 0.10 3.80 Lead 5.0 0.00 41.10 Mercury 2.7 0.64 257.10 Manganese 18.0 7.00 102.00 6.2: Table 2: Experimental Design and Sampling Record Table Key: D= Days; Re= Replicates; Lo= Locations and F/D- Faecal Drops Re. Lo Milk Urine F/Drops Water Soil Grass Sediments 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 5 1 2 3 6.3: Table 3- TIME SCHEDULE ACTIVITY PERIOD DURATION Proposal Writing and Presentation Jan March 2011 12 weeks Research Site Survey and Preparation April 2011 4 weeks Acquisition of Chemical Reagents May 2011 4 weeks 1st Sample Collection and Extraction June 2011 1 week 1st Experimentations and Analysis AAS June 2011 3 weeks 2nd Sample Collection and Extraction July 2011 1 week 2nd Experimentations and Analysis AAS July 2011 3 weeks 3rd Sample Collection and Extraction August 2011 1 week 3rd Experimentations and Analysis AAS August 2011 3 weeks Discussion and Statistical Interpretation September, 2011 4 weeks Thesis Writing and Submission Oct-Nov, 2011 8 weeks Total 1 year 44 weeks 6.4: Table 4 BUDGET Item Quantity Unit Price (KSh) Total Cost (KSh) Chemicals Universal Indicator 1 litre 1,350.00 1,350.00 Distilled Water 40 litres 1,200.00 48,000.00 Aqua Regia 5 litres 3,500.00 17,500.00 Nitric Acid 2.5 litres 3,500.00 8,750.00 Sulphuric Acid 2.5 litres 3,500.00 8,750.00 Hydrochloric Acid 2.5 litres 3,500.00 8,750.00 Ammonium Nitrate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Ferrous Nitrate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Lead (II) Nitrate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Unhydrous Sodium Sulphate 500g 2,850.00 2,850.00 Copper (II) Nitrate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Zinc Nitrate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Trichloricacetic acid 2.5 litres 4,500.00 11,250.00 Chromium (II) sulphate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Cadmium Nitrate 500g 3,500.00 3,500.00 Sub Total 131,200.00 Apparatus, Equipment and Others AAS Analysis Lamps 12 7,500.00 90,000.00 Polythene Bags 6 1,000.00 6,000.00 Brown PVC Bottles 180 100.00 18,000.00 Whatman Filter Papers grade 40 6 1,000.00 6,000.00 Thesis Preparation and Binding 20,500.00 Goggles 2 1,000.00 2,000.00 Disposable Gloves 4 Boxes 3,500.00 14,000.00 Ice Box 1 9,000.00 9,000.00 Labels 1 Packet 750.00 750.00 Spade 1 1,200.00 1,200.00 Sickle 1 600.00 600.00 Sub Total 168,050.00 Travels and Subsistence Subsistence during Sampling 5 3,500.00 17,500.00 Analysis 20 Days 500.00 10,000.00 Site Visits and Sampling 10 Trips 3,000.00 30,000.00 Enumerators,3loc.x5Repsx3Intervals 3x3x5 1,000.00 45,000.00 Sub Total 102,500.00 Grand Total 401,750.00

Sci-fI Films Essay -- essays research papers

In this essay I am going to discuss about the topic: â€Å"Science fiction often plays off the real against the artificial, either in the form of humans versus non-human (androids, cyborgs, synthetics), or the world versus the non-world (cyberspace, inner-space, intentional space)†. I have chosen the films â€Å"The Matrix† and â€Å"Bicentennial Man† An explosion in information access and exchange is fueling the Information Superhighway that was created as a result of the computer revolution. If technology has truly become a god, then cyberspace is definitely its bible. Its scope is endless; its breadth enormous. Although the foundation of cyberspace, the computer, definitely serves to dehumanize culture, the Information Superhighway itself does not. If anything, cyberspace is re-humanizing the computer revolution. The World Wide Web, through pictures and graphics, has added personality and more personal contact to a technology that for years was ‘just the facts.’ Although the statement might be made that this is a pseudo-rehumanization that masks true human characteristics with digital ones, this is at least a step in the right direction. Something that removes the human qualities or attributes from culture can be said to dehumanize it. This technology destroys our view of truth and meaning. The basic presupposition of the Information Superhighway is that it contains information on any subject and can answer any question. It causes people to search places other than God for direction, truth, and meaning. Involvement with the technology serves to replace our involvement with reality. There is a tendency for people to start thinking of themselves and others in terms of their online personalities. Many people develop a whole other life on-line and some even end up being unable to separate their on-line identity from their real one. Recent movies such as The Matrix and Bicentennial Man serve to further blur this already fuzzy line. Bicentennial Man, directed by Chris Columbus (US, 1999), is based on a story Isaac Asimov wrote in 1975 and like many of his stories, it deals with the enigma of a machine with the intelligence of a man, but without the rights or the feelings. As we might expect the film presents Asimov's concept of the intelligent robot, a concept that, like Asimov himself, pre-dates the modern world of personal computers, video games, the Internet, 'e... ...housand years ago. If the portrayal of intelligent machines in films teaches us anything, it is that it is fortunate that such machines do not yet exist. It is fortunate that is, for the machines, because all the evidence would indicate that we are not yet ready to treat them as fellow persons. Fortunate too for us perhaps, because when they became smart enough to mount a successful rebellion they might make us pay for their oppression (Mitchell 2003). Reference: 1. Edwards, D A, ‘The Matrix’, The Matrix: An Ideological Analysis, viewed 5 June 2005, http://fiffdimension.tripod.com/matrix.htm1. 2. Menor F 2000, The Matrix(1999), viewed 7 June 2005, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/ 3. Mitchell, D 2003, What s it like to be a Robot?, viewed 7 June 2005, http://www.zenonic.demon.co.uk/zenorobot.htm 4. Setzer V W 2002, AI - Artificial Intelligence or Automated Imbecility, viewed 7 June 2005, http://www.transintelligence.org/articles/Artificial%20Intelligence.htm 5. The Matrix 1999, motion picture, Prod. Joel Silver. Dir. The Wachowski Brothers. Perf. Laurence Fishburne, and Keanu Reeves 6. www.duke.edu/~djs12/Lit%20Theory/ Lit%20Theory%20-%20The%20Matrix.doc

Is the Survival of a society dependent on Fate or Human Choice?

There is no doubt that some societies are more fragile than others. The subjective observation of a societies ability to succeed or fail can sometimes be misleading when not all possible factors leading toward a societies outcome, are considered. When an observer does not scrutinize a societies success or lack there of, chances are, the observer will endlessly grapple over whether the outcome of a society was a result of fate, or human choice. Needless to say, through resources such as, Jared Diamonds book Collapse, and his movie Guns, Germs, and Steel as well as, Jeffery Sachs' book The End of Poverty, it is inevitable that both authors are confident in their revolutionary theories on a society's ability to succeed or fail. There is no question that the environment is the foundation for a societies future; however, it is the human choices of how and what should be built on that foundation, which determine whether it will be stable and succeed or not. Jeffrey Sachs and Jared Diamond have contrasting ideas on the significance of the environment and how it affects societies. While Jeffery Sachs seems to underestimate its significance, Diamond gives it too much credit. Jeffery Sachs gives six reasons in his book, The End of Poverty as to why societies â€Å"takeoff† and develop, or, lag on and remain in their poorly developed state. Some of the reasons mentioned by Sachs include: social mobility, political factors and fertility rates. Sachs did include physical geography as one of the factors as well; although, wouldn't one say that geography is at the root of all six of those revelations? At least, Diamond might agree. When faced with harsh environmental conditions solely based on where you live in globe, poses a question. Does ones survival purely depend on where they are born in the world? Sachs does address geography as an important factor in a societies success; however, he states that you can still have societal changes even if the geography does not allow for it. This is evident in chapter three of Sachs book as he discusses eight points that determine whether a society will thrive or not, and the role that humans are playing in failing societies. Some of these points include technology, trade, natural resource decline and population growth. When people die from extreme poverty, it is because they literally had nothing. They don't need a lot to survive, but they do need a lot to start a process of economic development; and that's where Sachs and I would differ. There's a reason societies who are under extreme poverty, have not been able to rise and be successful; environmental barriers. The environment can easily wipe out humans basic needs, which is the first step to survival in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It is evident that environmental determinism does play an important role in a societies ability to thrive or not based on where you are on the globe? However, does is it location and the environment that comes with it purely determine whether a society will last? Easter Island is a society that virtually collapsed in isolation due to environmental damage. A perfect example of whether the success of a society depends on lack of human choices or environmental barriers. Jared captures his insight of the phenomenon in his book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed with concrete evidence. Jared mostly recognizes the geographical and environmental barriers that support the analogy that Easter was doomed from the beginning. From his reading, it seems that even if the people of Easter Island had made the most suitable and sensible human choices as far as working with the environment to obtain their basic needs, they soon would have been doomed to failure. Jared gives an example of how something so vital for survival such as water, would immediately seep into the island when their only water resource, rainfall, would come. Although I strongly believe that the environment plays a large role in a societies ability to thrive or not, Jared overlooked and underestimated the severity of human choices, (culture) and its impact on Easter Islands failure. Deforestation was unfortunately one of the main contributing factors in Easter Islands failure. Jared states that Easter Island is covered with an abundance of substantial statues due to an aggressive competition between chiefs of the island that were built to honor them. This way of culture proved to work against its society because many trees were deforested in order to transport the massive statues. The history of Easter Island helps to reconfirm my opinion that a society is destined to failure or success through mostly geographical and environmental state and a pinch of a societies ability to make wise decisions. Jared Diamond believes that there are three things that determine the outcome of a society: Guns, Germs and Steel. The main conclusion I gathered from watching this film was that societies developed in different parts of the world because of differences in environments. Jared struggles to answer a provocative question to a Papua New Guinean, â€Å"why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own? Jared sets geography as the dominant factor, emphasizing, that, it is not the biological aspect of people that determine human history but rather the environmental context, which we have no control over. Diamond discusses his opinion on whether he believes in the old presumption that the reason European civilizations were able develop and come up with advanced economies so fast, was because of their innate superiority. Jared believes we all moderately have the same intelligence in every society, and that it is not based on genes or race. He was unable to accept the possibility that New Guineans are inferior intellectually to Europeans. I agree with Jared. I believe that the reason European society became more technologically and politically advanced was the fertile environment that these people were born into to. This environment would allow them to have food production, tamed animals, and all other advantages that the New Guinea people did not have. Once basic needs are met in a society, it is easier for a society to climb up the ladder of success. It is therefore evident that the survival of a person is pure luck, based on whether you were born in an area where the environment works for you, and some human choices that are made to work with tte environment effectively. In conclusion, I wonder if developing counties in the world are doomed to failure and whether it is hopeless trying to make a sustainable society in those regions, and whether they should just be abandoned. The only advantage of having a co-operative environment is that it allows you to have all your basic needs, but will not necessarily help a society to advance further. Once the foundation of a good environment is laid out, only then can human choice help a society climb up the ladder towards success.