Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Finding the Best Meaningful Essay Topics

Finding the Best Meaningful Essay Topics Fantastic things happen to bad men and women. Pay close attention to all things electronic, and you will be certain to find something debatable of what you see. When you're picking your topic, bear in mind that it's much simpler to write about something which you currently have interest ineven in case you don't know a great deal about it. Most people have a challenging time checking over their very own work. The Meaningful Essay Topics Pitfall Application essays about challenges reveal how you respond to difficulty to folks who are really interested in how you'll take care of the subsequent four years by yourself. Meaningful use is designed to boost quality, efficiency, and safety together with help to lower health disparities. It is also important because it maintains privacy as well as a security of patient health information. In summary, meaningful use defines standards which are important in sharing of information between healthcare provider, and insurance businesses. The main reason is since if you're incompetent in your life, then what compels you to feel that you are prepared to undertake the elaborate challenges of another individual or system. One particular meaningful experience is able to help you impress the admission officers. Neither is a great thing, since they're searching for people that are open to receiving new information from professors and not simply deciding they know everything already. For instance, you can select a topic for elementary, middle, or higher school. You might also submit another application during the graduate school, based on the program. English language classes usually take a lot of writing. Try to consider what it is good for students to date with each other. Get tips and tools to be certain that your students' Why College X essays stick out. Even though it's common, student has to acquire right to become excellent grades. A lot of students put on a uniform. Often college students get into lots of stress to get the perfect topic for the essay. Your stories aren't debatable. Additionally, you can capture reader attention with the aid of funny essay topics. If you haven't written any narration essays before, you ought to read works of different students to comprehend how to develop a structure, the way to use your private narrative ideas, and what topics it's possible to utilize. You may continue to keep your argumentative essays for your upcoming job portfolio in case they're highly graded. Persuasive essay is also called the argument essay. Informative essays are somewhat more descriptive. Researching the topic will permit you to find out more about what fascinates you, and should you pick something you really like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable. Moral argumentative essay topics are a few of the simplest to get carried away with. In truth, it would be far better shell out only a little area of the essay explaining what happened. Another good idea is to receive some totally free essay examples of different sorts and on various subjects to find a general idea of the way in which a prosperous debatable paper looks. To be certain you are on the most suitable way you require help in writing your paperwork. Regardless of what piece of writing you are assigned at your institution, the comprehensive paper has to be interesting to read. Morality has a collection of unsolved problems, the solution on which usually presents a decision. Meaningful use is separa ted into three stages. Your focus ought to be on the message as opposed to the presentation. There are 3 stages in meaningful usage, and the aims of the technology evolve in the 3 stages. Primarily, you have to create a topic. It is vital to craft a topic with which you locate a deep relation personally. You will find that several of the topics can be adapted to suit almost any type of writing assignment. It is possible to scan the topics to determine what interests you or just select a topic at random and begin. Odds are, all you have to do is relax and locate a topic you're passionate about and, needless to say, one that's debatable. Also, utilize all the scratch paper you will need. Two new essay options are added, and a number of the previous questions are revised. The Do's and Don'ts of Meaningful Essay Topics You won't ever live if you are searching for the significance of life. In the same way, finding the significance of life potentially makes people contented. Maybe you've had past life memories. Lots of people may question the significance of the significance of life and the way that it would help someone through the journey of life.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Antigone Absolute Power Corrupts Essay - 1636 Words

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, said Lord Acton generations ago. In the Greek tragedy Antigone, written by Sophocles, there was a character named Kreon, the antagonist, who was the king of Thebes. Thebes was an autocratic state where Kreon had absolute power. Throughout the course of the play, Kreon abused his privilege of absolute power; and this caused him to suffer greatly, even though he was warned by a few people of his bad deeds. What Sophocles commented on absolute power was that one should not abuse it. If it was abused, he or she had to expect bad consequences. This was indicated by what happened to Kreon when he abused his power. Kreon settled a decree that prohibited anyone from burying Polyneices†¦show more content†¦I have long believed so (217-221). To impress the senate Kreon told them that he would listen to any advice they gave him because that was what a good ruler should do. However, this was not how he reacted when Kreon heard that somebody buried Polyneices body. While he was talking to the senate, a sentry came in and told Kreon that Polyneices body had been buried. ...somebody up and buried the corpse and went off: sprinkled dust over it and did the ceremonies youre supposed to (310-312). Kreon got very angry and threatened to kill the sentry if he didnt find the culprit who had buried the body. Kreon thought that all of the sentries were bribed into not telling him who was the culprit (372-391). Koryphaios suggested that the gods might have had buried the body: My lord, we have been considering whether a god might not have done this (350-351). Just like a dictator, as if he knew the ac tions of the gods, he declared that it was impossible for the gods to honor (bury) criminals (363-364). He defied what Koryphaios had said and just declared that the gods would never bury Polyneices, and he got his way. Before, Kreon had said that a good ruler like himself would listen to people, but Kreon did not do that. He went against what he had said. This showed that Kreon was very hypocritical, and he always only declared what he thought was right. Some time passed, and the sentry came in the palaceShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Arrogance and Hubris of Oedipus and Creon724 Words   |  3 Pages In ‘Antigone†, Ismene says, â€Å"To them that walk in power; to exceed is madness, and not wisdom†. Her statement makes it clear, those who â€Å"walk in power†, allow it to corrupt them. Throughout the history of humanity there has been a correlation between those who have excessive power and corruption. Webster’s Dictionary defines corruption as, â€Å"impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle†. In the story of Antigone the tragic hero Creon, shows all of the common characteristics of corruptionRead MorePower, Hubris, And Hamartia Sophocles Antigone1627 Words   |  7 PagesHonors October 31, 2015 Power, Hubris, and Hamartia in Sophocles s Antigone Lord Acton, a well-known British historian, writer, and politician, resonated the repercussions of power and dominance by stating that All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely† (Moreell, Power Corrupts). This is just one of the themes covered in Sophocles s Antigone. Within this dramatic play, Sophocles questions the conventions of hubris, hamartia, and power. They all play a roleRead MoreAn Individual s Moral Conscience1439 Words   |  6 PagesMajority of man’s belief creates laws to govern and protect the people, but an individual’s own belief can do just as much while staying true to justice. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, shows the conflation of both an individual and majority’s moral conscience through the rightness of justice. The citizens of Thebes seek justice for their past king, but others respect the law and deny his burial. As time forwards there are changes, the law is at a standstill and can o nly change if the majorityRead MoreHow Power Can Be Corrupted Through Hubris And Invokes The Limits Of Power Of A Ruler1512 Words   |  7 Pages Sophocles shows how power can be corrupted through hubris and invokes the limits of power of a ruler. Also, Sophocles exposes how the presence of dominance can Antigone continues to argue with Creon over the justification of her harsh sentence. Within the heated debate, Antigone says to Creon that â€Å"Not a man here would say the opposite, were his tongue not locked in fear. Unfortunately, tyranny (blessed in so much else besides) can lay down the law down any way it wants† (SophoclesRead MoreAntigone, By Sophocles And Anouilh s Versions Of The Modern Version Of Power1259 Words   |  6 Pages Procession of power tends to limit one’s perception and expose its corruption. For instance, Creon’s misogynistic tendencies in Antigone substantiate the idea that abuse of power causes one’s self-immolation. Antigone is a tragedy based on Greek mythology first written by Sophocles, and was later adapted by Jean Anouilh as the modern ve rsion. In like manner, the Creon in both versions plays the same antagonist but different characterization. Creon in Sophocles’ version seeks adoptionRead More moralant Essay on the Moral Dilemma in Sophocles Antigone885 Words   |  4 Pages Antigone:nbsp; Barbaric King, Hopeful Princess and Moral Dilemma Antigone is a play that mainly deals with differences among characters that cause life long drawbacks and threatening resolutions. The drama is portrayed through Antigone and Creons characters who undoubtedly resemble each other. Although they try to be masters of their own fate and eventually succumb to grieving outcomes, they both seem to have the values of a tragic hero. Although, they have their differences, their battleRead MoreSophocles Antigone: 441-442bc1285 Words   |  6 Pagescatalyst of change and concern of the period was democracy. From here stems ideas such as the nature, role and respect of and for the gods, and the individual. The drama of Antigone reflects these concerns in the context it was written through various ways. Athens in the middle of the fifth century BC was at the peak of its power. It attracted foreigners, writers and artists through its wealth, customs and more importantly the freedom of a democracy. However, there was tension between Sparta andRead MoreAntigone : A Greek Tragic Playwright1761 Words   |  8 PagesAntigone is a Greek tragic playwright, set in a classical era of time. During this period, the city of Thebes is completely organized around strict gender roles and religion. There are also expectations that the citizens are expected to meet through abiding by the rules. In this regard, this essay will look at the playwright, on aspects touching on the issues of interest, the historical context, the insight gained among others. The situation of the two sisters: Antigone and Ismene, who are comfortingRead MoreOedipus and Antigone2785 Words   |  12 PagesTruth in the Eyes of Justice Greek theater encompassed many aspects that reflected the moral values and ideals of society. Their customs were tightly woven into the scripts of plays. Antigone and Oedipus the King, two renowned works of the Greek playwright Sophocles, explore these values through a plot thick with corruption, virtue, and determination. These plays reveal the burdens two Theban kings, Oedipus and Creon, as their lies and poor judgment corrode the integrity of their city, their

Monday, December 9, 2019

Events Management for Death and Child Mortality - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theEvents Management for Death and Child Mortality. Answer: The marathon run is an event organized by a non-profit organization called The McMillian foundations, located in New South Wales Australia. McMillian foundation was founded way back in 2000 with the aim of reducing child mortality, maternal death and generally improving maternal healthy living. Since its foundation, the organization has gained a considerable growth and expansion in its areas of operation. This is due to the fact that the pursuit of the organizational goal is put at the forefront by its stakeholders and the activists (Thomas and Bowdin, 2012, p.150). The nonprofit organization has been able to demonstrate a remarkable performance in line to its objectives i.e. several initiatives have been taken by the organization to raise funds among which include charity walks and government lobbying among other strategies With the persistent increase in the number of babies dying during birth accompanied by some circumstances of maternal death and poor health in general , the organization has taken an initiative of organizing a marathon run with the aim of raising funds to help in saving and reducing the number of mothers and children who die during birth. Although the run is specifically meant to raise funds for the reduction of mother and infant death rate during birth, campaigns will also be conducted on health living. The Health living campaign targets a wide scope of objectives among which include; illuminating people on how they can reduce disease contraction and spread with in the communities, family planning and malnutrition. The event will take place in New South Wales on 3rd of June 2018. It will be a 1o km run and is expected to last for 3hours from 9; 00 am (Lacouture et al. 2014, p.165). Massive advertisement all over the media is being conducted to increase awareness of the event among the public. The advertisement strategies include radios, televisions, newspapers, and posters among others. As a way of catching a bigger audience, the organization has invited executive members of the government as the guest runners of the event (Hargis and Watt, 2010, p.73). It is expected that the strategy will attract a large mass of people. It is also thought that, by inviting executive members of the government, a bigger contribution may be released from the government side and this will add a substantial impact in the total amount to be raised from the run (Kennell et al. 2012, p.235). Tickets have been made of varying prices that is to say, for children, adults, and corporates. Childrens tickets will go for $ 10 while the adult tickets cost $ 20. For the executive class, VIP tickets have also been organized and it costs $ 100. All tickets come with a running kit for the event (Berridge and Quick, 2010, p.85). To ensure easy access of the tickets, it has been put up for sale in all major public places within Maryland as well as the online website of the organization. Individuals are able to purchase their tickets online from anywhere and anytime with convenience (Tara-Lunga, 2012, p.759). The aims and objectives relate to the programs element in that it is a health promotional strategy. In regard to the fact that running (health jogging) a way of promoting health living, the event directly relates to its objectives and aims of improving health among the individuals of the community (Wolff, 2015, p.70). Part II of the report. The possible impacts the event will have in the community. Through mobilizing the mass to run for a social and health cause of reducing mortality rates among newly born babies and preventing maternal deaths, the public will be informed of the problems and challenges being faced by the victims and therefore, more attentions attracted to address the problem. This may come in form of new organizations joining the common cause including government bodies (Hamdan et al., 2012., p.3). It is substantial to note that the event may have a greater negative impact economically on the community. Some businesses may remain at a standstill due to the large mass of people expected to attend the event. Traffic users may be negatively affected, as the roads will be used by the participants of the event. It is also probable that it may cause security threats. This is due to the fact that there are some individuals who may be having divergent interest of causing harm to the public The event is expected to promote social living by embracing the social problems affecting the society. In other words, the event will help in promoting humility among the population. Furthermore, the fact that some government executives were invited to participate in the event, political interests may also arise as well as conveying national issues to the community (Torija et al. 2012., p.148). To assess the level of success, different evaluations are to be conducted from different perspectives. The different arenas of analysis and evaluation will include the media reports, reports from the organizing committee of McMillian foundation, and the participants who attended the event among others. Basing on the media reports, the event performance or success will be evaluated/ determined by the number of tickets sold to the public by the media houses (Fernandes et al. 2014, 600). As clearly highlighted earlier, some tickets were put up for sale through the media and this will help in the evaluation of the level of success attained. The success of the event will also be determined by the number of people/ individual who will manage to attend the event. It will be substantial to attribute the events success to the effort of the media because it is playing a big role in promoting awareness and insighting curiosity among the individuals in the society (Aggett and Busby 2011) As a alternative way of evaluating the extent to which the activity attain its intention, few individuals will be interviewed to find out why they attended the event. Having an interview with a few individuals who attended the event, asking them why they attended the event and the how experience was (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). An evaluative report will be collected from the organizers of the event determine the total cost of organizing the event and their expectation from the activity (Cavagnaro, E., Postma, A. and Neese, T., 2012, p. 200). The success will also be based on the expectation of the organizers. If they achieve what they intend to, definitely it will therefore be called a success. Regarding the campaign objective, if the event will be in position to raise over $ 200,000 to support the victims whom the event is organized for the organization/ organizers of the event will have attained success and the objectives fulfilled (De Groot et al. 2010, p.260). References Aggett, M. and Busby, G., 2011. Opting out of internship: Perceptions of hospitality, tourism and events management undergraduates at a British university.Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sports and Tourism Education (Pre-2012),10(1), p.106. Berridge, G. and Quick, L., 2010. Design management of events.Events management: a developmental and managerial approach. Claremont: Juta, pp.185-206. Cavagnaro, E., Postma, A. and Neese, T., 2012. Sustainability and the events industry.Events management: An international approach, pp.199-213. De Groot, R.S., Alkemade, R., Braat, L., Hein, L. and Willemen, L., 2010. Challenges in integrating the concept of ecosystem services and values in landscape planning, management and decision making.Ecological complexity,7(3), pp.260-272. Fernandes, F., Morais, H., Vale, Z. and Ramos, C., 2014. Dynamic load management in a smart home to participate in demand response events.Energy and Buildings,82, pp.592-606. Hamdan, I.M., Reklaitis, G.V. and Venkatasubramanian, V., 2012. Real-time exceptional events management for a partial continuous dry granulation line.Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation,7(3-4), pp.95-118. Hamdan, I.M., Reklaitis, G.V. and Venkatasubramanian, V., 2012. Real-time exceptional events management for a partial continuous dry granulation line.Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation,7(3-4), pp.95-118. Hargis, M. and Watt, J.D., 2010. Organizational perception management: A framework to overcome crisis events.Organization Development Journal,28(1), p.73. Kennell, J., Bladen, C., Abson, E. and Wilde, N., 2012. Event health, safety and risk management. InEvents Management(pp. 216-241). Routledge. Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017.Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Lacouture, M.E., Wolchok, J.D., Yosipovitch, G., Khler, K.C., Busam, K.J. and Hauschild, A., 2014. Ipilimumab in patients with cancer and the management of dermatologic adverse events.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,71(1), pp.161-169. Tara-Lunga, M.O., 2012. Major special events: an interpretative literature review.Management Marketing,7(4), p.759. Thomas, R. and Bowdin, G., 2012. Events management: state of the art. Selected papers from the Global Events Congress IV, Leeds, England, UK, 14-16 July 2010.Event Management,16(2), pp.103-187. Torija, A.J., Ruiz, D.P., Alba-Fernandez, V. and Ramos-Ridao, ., 2012. Noticed sound events management as a tool for inclusion in the action plans against noise in medium-sized cities.Landscape and Urban Planning,104(1), pp.148-156. Wolff, C.E., van den Bogert, N., Jarodzka, H. and Boshuizen, H.P., 2015. Keeping an eye on learning: differences between expert and novice teachers representations of classroom management events.Journal of Teacher Education,66(1), pp.68-85.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Key stakeholders in Next clothing Essay Example

Key stakeholders in Next clothing Paper They are required to purchase the products and in turn provide customer loyalty. They are needed to come to the store again and again to keep the flow of business high for the company. Employees It is their duty to withhold the reputation of the store as it is their actions that people will remember upon leaving the store and they are required to make people want to return. They are expected to provide the highest quality service they can and keep customer satisfaction high. Suppliers They are expected to roved high quality products that are suitable to sell. They must meet deadlines for orders and the product must be correct otherwise the business will suffer. Owners It is their day to day running of the company that keep all aspects of the business flowing. They are expected to make sure every area Of the company is running at full potential and every employee is doing the right thing. Trade unions It is the trade unions role to make sure the employees are being treated fairly. They make sure the workers are protected and safe and are in fair and suitable working conditions. They also help the unemployed find jobs in the first place. We will write a custom essay sample on Key stakeholders in Next clothing specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Key stakeholders in Next clothing specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Key stakeholders in Next clothing specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Employer associations These are very similar to trade unions and are there to protect the right of the employees. Local communities It is very important to appeal to the local communities as they are a very important interest group that require pleasing. National communities They are the ones that must be impressed as it is their opinion that can make or break the company. They are responsible for the upkeep of your company through purchase and it is them who will ultimately decide whether or not your business fits their requirements. Governments It the government who will want the business to be successful as it can boost the economy and create jobs across the country. If the business is successful they can also pay large taxes which boosts the governments funds overall. They are also considered a vital part of the community and with their survival the local economies can thrive as well. Influence on organizations This is when the business needs to take into consideration the rest of their stakeholders when making changes to the business and must make sure there is not a negative effect on the business itself or the stakeholders.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Types of Teachers Most Students Love and Hate

Types of Teachers Most Students Love and Hate Hashtag: #OdioAlProfesorQue (I hate the teacher who..) Types of Teachers Most Students Love and Hate There are different types of teachers in the college realm and some of them belong to the type that most students would love.   These are teachers who are not so strict when it comes to class discipline, crack jokes in class, just check the attendance and do not even teach. However, there are teachers who take their job seriously, too strict, give students so many requirements, and teach in a style some students hate. Teaching, according to the literature is undoubtedly not an easy job as teachers need to blend and leave a mark on students who have varying views and diverse culture. Moreover, students learn in various ways and therefore requiring an application of specific teaching style. However, since not all teachers can offer all the teaching styles, students will always love or hate a teacher. Study of the teacher’s characteristics that have positive effects on college students suggest that most students like teachers who are always coming to class prepared, creative in the way he or she teach the class, fair in both student treatment and grading, funny, have a very positive attitude about being a teacher, and have high expectations for all students. Moreover, teachers who respect and never embarrass any student in front of the class, make students feel welcome and comfortable, approachable and with a sense of humor, showing compassion and genuine concern about students problems are the most loved and memorable among college students. In contrast, teachers who let their students take responsibility for their learning; making no effort to teach or help the class understand the course material, making destructive criticism and comparisons about low and top-scoring students in front of the class are mostly despised and remembered for their misbehavior and ineffectiveness. Good and Bad Classroom Teaching Behaviors Good classroom teaching behaviors such as those mentioned earlier  can be viewed as the leading edge of teaching and most likely have a positive impact on students’ feelings and attitude towards their teacher. In contrast, classroom teaching behaviors that are based on the false notion that public disclosure and personal attacks on students would motivate and improve their performance are not only unprofessional and ineffective but make students hate the teacher and the class. Study of the benefits of good classroom teaching behavior suggests that college students often appreciate a good teacher and developed negative feelings toward the poor teacher. A good teacher in their view is the one who induces a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere in class, contribute more to their learning, confident in students’ ability to learn, genuinely care and promote students’ interest in the material and motivation to come to his or her class and learn. A poor teacher for these students, on the other hand, is one who induces mistrust and a tense classroom atmosphere contributes little to their learning, lowers their self-esteem and restrains their ability to learn. A human relation approach to teaching can help teachers avoid the negative impact of ineffective teacher-students relationship. For instance, since most students have varying learning needs and cultural preferences, a caring teacher is more likely to succeed than an irate one practicing bigotry in his or her class.   In fact, the teaching requirements in human relations-oriented teaching such as creating supportive classroom atmosphere, helping and guiding students in resolving course-related problems, encouraging participation and collaboration in class are almost similar to beneficial classroom teaching behavior discussed earlier.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Canadian Governor General Michalle Jean Biography

Canadian Governor General Michalle Jean Biography A well-known journalist and broadcaster in Quebec, Michaà «lle Jean emigrated from Haiti with her family at an early age. Fluent in five languages- French, English, Italian, Spanish and Haitian Creole- Jean became the first black governor general of Canada in 2005. A social activist for women and children at risk, Jean planned to use the office of governor general to help disadvantaged young people. Jean is married to filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond and has a young daughter. Governor General of Canada Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin chose Jean to be the governor general of Canada, and in August 2005, it was announced Queen Elizabeth II approved the choice. After Jeans appointment, some questioned her loyalty, because of reports of her and her husbands support of Quebec independence, as well as her dual French and Canadian citizenship. She repeatedly denounced reports of her separatist sentiments, as well as denounced her French citizenship. Jean was sworn into office Sept. 27, 2005 and served as the 27th governor general of Canada until Oct. 1, 2010. Birth Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1957. At the age of 11 in 1968, Jean and her family fled the Papa Doc Duvalier dictatorship and settled in Montreal. Education Jean has a BA in Italian, Hispanic languages and literature from the University of Montreal. She earned her masters degree in comparative literature from the same institution. Jean also studied languages and literature at the University of Perouse, the University of Florence and the Catholic University of Milan. Early Professions Jean worked as a university lecturer while completing her masters degree. She also worked as a social activist, as well as a journalist and broadcaster. Michaà «lle Jean as Social Activist From 1979 to 1987, Jean worked with Quebec shelters for battered women and helped establish a network of emergency shelters in Quebec. She coordinated a study on women as victims in abusive relationships, which was published in 1987, and she has also worked with aid organizations for immigrant women and families. Jean also worked at Employment and Immigration Canada and at the Conseil des Communautà ©s culturelles du Quà ©bec. Background of Michaà «lle Jean in Arts and Communications Jean joined Radio-Canada in 1988. She worked as a reporter and then host on the public affairs proframs Actuel, Montrà ©al ce soir, Virages and Le Point. In 1995, she anchored Rà ©seau de lInformation Radio-Canada (RDI) programs such as Le Monde ce soir, LÉdition quà ©bà ©coise, Horizons francophones, Les Grands reportages, Le Journal RDI, and RDI là ©coute. Beginning in 1999, Jean hosted CBC Newsworlds The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts. In 2001, Jean became an anchor for the weekend edition of Le Tà ©là ©journal, Radio-Canadas major news show. In 2003 she took over as anchor of Le Midi, the daily edition of Le Tà ©là ©journal. In 2004, she started her own show Michaà «lle, which featured in-depth interviews with experts and enthusiasts. Addtionally, Jean has participated in a number of documentary films produced by her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond including La manià ¨re nà ¨gre ou Aimà © Cà ©saire chemin faisant, Tropique Nord, Haà ¯ti dans tous nos rà ªves, and Lheure de Cuba. After the Governor General Office Jean has remained publicly active after her service as the federal representative of the Canadian monarch. She served as a special envoy of the United Nations to Haiti to work on education and poverty issues in the country, and she was also the chancellor of the University of Ottawa from 2012 to 2015. Beginning on Jan. 5, 2015, Jean began a four-year mandate as the secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie, which represents countries and regions where French language and culture has a significant presence.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Financial Health of Teaching Hospitals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Health of Teaching Hospitals - Essay Example Two key hypotheses of the study: (1) COTH hospitals because they comprise the largest part of teaching hospitals would have better financial margins and realize less impact on full-time equivalent residents, while family practice single-residency hospitals would fare worse than COTH hospitals; (2) citing little evidence of direct medical education payments from managed Medicare, which was implemented starting 1998, the authors hypothesized that there would be lower than expected actual payments. Using a sample of 713 hospitals, from among a lot of 1241 hospitals that received Medicare payments - the included samples were described to be general short-stay hospitals, to be more for profit, and had a significantly higher mean number of beds. Findings and Conclusions: Overall, the average margin of teaching hospitals in 1999 was just 2.5% and that 35% of the sample size had negative operating margins.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Source analysis assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Source analysis assignment - Essay Example The other issue is the creation of dehumanizing climate, which acts as a malarial swamp thus infecting everybody reading the content when it comes to the view of the Arab world, Islam and Middle East as a whole. The sources leave many questions like who went, where that person went and why that person went answered. The sources reveal the problems by pointing them out and solve them by addressing them in that people now start to look on the opposite side of the stories given by media regarding Middle East. It is obvious that the three sources in subject represent particular bias towards the Middle East as everything centers towards Middle East. The sources are useful in that they help people argue about the reasons behind the American media displaying Middle East negatively and at the same time give history for different issues. The sources have especially been useful to the Muslims and entire Middle East fraternity. The fact that they are internet history sources, they must be very reliable adding to it that the renowned authors write good pieces of history. Edward Said’s arguments are the main evidence supporting the sources. The evidence that the media provides however contradicts the sources and therefore bring about arguments just as Edward said

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Effect of enzymes on reactions Essay Example for Free

Effect of enzymes on reactions Essay Effect of enzymes on reactions Introduction            The function of any enzyme largely depends on the arrangement of its amino acids. The shape of an enzyme is so important such that any alteration or change in its amino acid sequence can have a huge effect on its function. An alteration to the amino acids in an enzyme does not only alter it shape but also its functionality. During a reaction, the whole enzyme does not take part but rather a small part known as the active site. The shape and appearance of the active site in any enzyme is determined by its three dimensional structure. The active site of an enzyme houses the shape of the substrate that needs to be changed during the reaction. This means that enzymes and substrates work like a lock and key. Since a specific key can only open a specific lock, this is explains why enzymes are specific in their reactions. How enzymes catalyze reactions            As noted earlier, enzymes serve as catalysts that speed up the rate at which biochemical reactions take place. They mainly work by offering a substitute pathway for reactions. Compared to other catalysts, the pathway provided by enzymes reduces activation energy. The same with all other catalysts, enzymes participate in reactions and this is the main way through which they offer a substitute reaction pathway. However, it is worthy noting that enzymes do not undergo any permanent changes during a reaction but remain intact. There main role in a reaction is to increase the rate but not the position of the reaction equilibrium (Cornish-Bowden 47). Unlike chemicals that catalyze a number of reactions, enzymes are usually very selective and can only catalyze precise reactions. This characteristic can be attributed to the shape of molecules that make up enzymes. Majority of enzymes are made up of a protein and non protein known as the cofactor. In most cases, the protein s found in the enzymes are globular. Any change in temperature and pH disrupts the inter-molecular and intra-molecular bonds that hold the proteins together in their tertiary and secondary structures. This means that catalytic ability of an enzyme is temperature and pH sensitive.            For any molecules to react, they must come into contact with one another. In other words, they must collide with enough energy and in the correct direction. Sufficient energy is important during a reaction because it helps the molecules overcome the energy barrier to the reaction. This type of energy is known as activation energy. During a reaction, the active side of an enzyme attaches itself to one of the reacting molecules known as the substrate. A reaction catalyzed by an enzyme takes a different route compared to that catalyzed by other catalysts. The coming together of an enzyme and a substrate results in a reaction intermediate. Enzyme substrate Enzyme-substrate complex            The best experiment that can be used to validate the claim that enzymes do in fact catalyze reactions is looking at how enzymes help human beings digest food. There are different types of foods that are consumed by human beings. Some of the most common foods consumed by people are the two types of sugars namely disaccharides and monosaccharaides. These two sugars are derived from foods like fruits which also contain fructose and glucose. All monosaccharides derived from the foods that we eat is absorbed directly and transported to different cells in the body (Cornish-Bowden 96). Unlike monosaccharides, disaccharides need to be broken down into their monosaccharide form before they can be absorbed into the body. In the absence of a catalyst, the rate at which the absorption of monosaccharide galactose and glucose take place is very slow. Since human bodies require a lot of energy to function properly, it is important that the absorption process is quickened through the use of an enzyme. The main enzyme that is produced by human bodies to quicken the absorption process is known as a lactase. The experiment would involve the following steps. This experiment can be represented using the following diagram. Fill a tube with 20 ml of a lactose solution. Fill another tube with 20 ml of lactose solution and 2 ml of lactase solution. Shake the tube to ensure that the two solutions mix. Give the experiment 5 minutes for the lactose to breakdown into galactose and glucose. Use a test strip to monitor the process. Originally, the strip is usually colored aqua. If it turns brown, olive or green, it is an indication that glucose is present. Compare the results from the two tubes.            If the color of the test strip turns brown, olive or green, this is an indication that glucose is present. This means that reaction in the tube with lactase was catalyzed resulting in the production of glucose. The reaction in the other tube was slow because there was no catalyst to quicken the reaction. The result from this experiment indicates that indeed enzymes can play a big role in catalyzing reactions. References Cornish-Bowden, Athel. Fundamentals of Enzyme Kinetics. (3rd edition), Portland Press, 2004. Print. Source document

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Matrix - Finding Reality In The Matrix Essay -- essays research pa

Movies are wonderful things; they can inspire, spark debate, and even make you believe in what you are seeing. Virtual Reality is a creation of a highly interactive computer-based multimedia environment in which the user becomes a participant with the computer in a "virtually real" world. Movies and virtual reality can do the same thing: make you believe what is presented to you. Although there are several movies which use virtual reality in the plot, such as The Lawnmower Man, and Hackers, the one most prevalent to me is The Matrix. Although this movie contains many aspects of virtual reality, it stands out in my mind so much because it suggests that the world in which we live, is a virtual one. The Matrix has many different aspects of virtual reality and they are incorporated throughout the movie. Virtual reality is involved in this movie in one major way: it suggests that our world is merely a virtual reality program that was created in order to â€Å"control† humans and keep them from the â€Å"real world,† which has been taken over by artificial intelligence who harvest humans for power. The main character in the movie is Gary Anderson, affectionately known to the hacker-world as Neo. He is contacted by people who have escaped the Matrix, and through a series of adventures, joins them. At one point in the movie, Neo goes to a psychic to find out if he is the one person who can save the rest of us from the Matrix. While waiting to see the psychic, Neo encounters a boy, ...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Three Changes of My Old School

I last went to the High School of Science & Technology. One of the changes they have made is the reinforcement of rules, having more safety within the students. Another change is the organization by providing counselors for specific and newly created departments. Also they are providing more time to students specially seniors who have planned to go to college. One of the changes they have made is the reinforcement of rules, they been having more safety within the students.Before I left there were rules nut they were never reinforce as much as this new year because they have had difficult situations in the past. After the past situations one of the ways they reinforce the rules is by giving out warnings to students the first time they commit an offense. If the students behavior continues they would have meetings with parents and counselors which helps a lot because they can work out any kind of problem they student is having. Because of this meeting students can get help for them, as well it helps teachers and other student s to concentrate better in their classes.Another change they made is the organization by providing counselors for specific and newly created departments. The school created a group for students who have lost family members or close friends. They used to do it once a month and every time people would go they would express themselves but there was lack of organization with the stuff they were going to be discussed during the meeting. This year they have prevented themselves with this situation when they see that students are going out of topic they stop and come back to what is supposed to be discussing during the meeting.Now meetings go in session every other week and they do two sections a day this way they divide the students in two groups and have a little more time for each one. Finally they are providing more time to students specially seniors who have planned to go to college. Many students that graduated last year had problems with coun selors because they would never have the time to meet with students and help them out with the preparation of college.Also applications to college were being sent late and some students could not get into the college they wanted. This year they are trying to keep on time applications for college and scholarships that way students won’t get frustrated and just looking to be successful in life. In summary reinforcing the rules, having better organization, and providing more time to students is a good beginning of a better school. These changes are the most important things that are outstanding in order to have a successful school.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Tokya Disneyland , Disney in Asia

Beyond Tokyo: Disney’s Expansion in Asia DISNEY IN ASIA Early in 1999, Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, voiced his opinions concerning potential markets for his firm’s entertainment products and services. A major thrust for the new millenium would be development in Asia. †¢ We could be getting close to the time for a major Disney attraction in the world’s most populous nation. † The Walt Disney Company, Annual Report, 1998. †¢ â€Å"I am completely confident that Chinese people love Mickey no less than they love a Big Mac. Statement by Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, during a trip to China in January 1999, Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News, 16 June 1999. INTERNATIONAL THEME PARKS AND RESORTS: DISNEY EXPERIENCE Tokyo Disneyland [pic] Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris) [pic] DISNEY AND CHINA IN THE 1990s Relations between the Disney Company and the government of China had not been particularly tranquil in recent yea rs. Disney held firm on its position on the movie. â€Å"Disney’s potential business in China is infinite.But Disney has to decide whether it wants to facilitate business or stand for free speech. † Not all of Disney’s relationships with China were negative however. The liberalization of China’s markets had generated benefits for the firm. ‘The Lion King’ had brought in almost $4 million in 1996 and the soundtrack had sold 1. 4 million copies. POTENTIAL OF THE ASIAN MARKET Building and investing in a multi-billion dollar theme park would represent another major, long-term commitment for The Walt Disney Company. Therefore, much research and planning were involved in this decision.In addition to the attractiveness of each of the remaining cities, Shanghai and Hong Kong, the market characteristics of the demand for theme park experiences by the Chinese people would have to be carefully evaluated. Although the success of the Tokyo Disney theme pa rk would strengthen the case for another facility in Asia, other data and experience brought up additional questions. Between 1993 and 1998, more than 2000 theme parks had been opened in China, developed and financed by both domestic and foreign investors.Disney management was convinced that a huge, child-loving populace would support a lively theme park business. Instead, many projects were swamped by excessive competition, poor market projections, high costs, and relentless interference from local officials. Cultural Factor The Chinese had a cultural disposition toward pampering children, which had been accentuated by the nation’s one-child per couple policy. Although many theme parks in China had not been successful, it was still generally believed that an exciting experience of high quality would attract visitors to a park.A mundane experience would be unlikely to spark interest in a second visit. Based on the repeat visitors at every other Disney theme park, management w as quite confident that they would be successful in attracting Chinese visitors not only the first time, but also the second, third, and fourth times. CASE Questions for Review 1. What cultural challenges are posed by Disney’s expansion into Asia? How are these different from those in Europe? There are some cultural challenges posed by Disney’s expansion into Asia.For example, Disney in Hong Kong soon realized that its attempts at cultural sensitivity had not gone far enough. For instance, the decision to serve shark fin soup, a local favorite greatly angered environmentalists. The park ultimately had to remove the dish from its menus. Furthermore, there is negative media coverage of the relatively new theme park for Hong Kong Disneyland in terms of cultural challenge. On the other hand, in order to make the park â€Å"culturally sensitive†, Hong Kong Disneyland would be trilingual with English, Cantonese and Mandarin.The park would also include a fantasy garden for taking picture with the Disney’s characters, popular among Asian tourists, as well as more covered and rainproof spaces to accommodate the â€Å"drizzly† climate. Attendance and operating income in France were less than anticipated and a major restructuring of the Euro Disney operating company was affected in 1994. Cultural challenges, as well as a European recession in the early 1990s, resulted in less than expected success of the park and its related hotels and facilities.Renamed Disneyland Paris early in 1994, and with enhanced performance, the Disney European experience finally began to pay off for this facility, which, by the late 1990s, was the largest theme park in Western Europe! With these two, quite different, experiences in operating a large theme park and resort facility outside of the continental United States, the Eisner management team was ready to move into China. Two locations were â€Å"in the running† early in 1999, representing quite dif ferent operating and financial strategies and structures.Either Hong Kong or Shanghai would likely be the site of the next Disney theme park. This was the challenge faced by the Disney management team, with a target decision date of June 1999. 2. How do cultural variables influence the location choice of theme parks around the world? Cultural obstacles influence the location of new theme parks in Asia. One is finding the right location. Often, more important than content is whether a venue is located in a metropolis, whether it is easily accessible by public transportation.However, in cultural perspective, there is an additional threat of competition, both from local attractions and those of other international corporations because of the fact that it seems that Asian travelers are loyal to their local attractions. Therefore, the stiff competition of the theme park industry in Asia will center on not only which park can create a surge of interest in its first year but also which can build a loyal base of repeat customers. In deciding on a site for a China theme park, a number of factors had to be identified, considered, and evaluated.In consultation with the Disney Board of Directors, they were looking for an â€Å"international character† for this park. A diversified visitor base would reduce the risks of problems in one country having an adverse effect on international visitor flow. Infrastructure in the area of the park and the region supporting it were also important. Visitors should be able to reach the park easily, by a variety of forms of transportation — airports, railroads, roadways, tunnels, bridges, bus lines, etc. hould be well established or enhanced while the park was being constructed. A prime area would be easily accessible and would also support a park most efficiently. The park and the region should contribute to visitors extending their time spent at the Disney facility. Management knew that convincing visitors to stay at the s ite, in a Disney hotel, was likely to generate greater cash flows from the park and its ancillary facilities. A stock of hotel rooms to upport park visitors was also important. Rooms at a variety of price points, from economy to luxury should be available when the park opened. 3. What location would you recommend for Disney’s next theme park in Asia? Why? We recommend Malaysia for Disney’s next theme park in Asia. Therefore, one of such strategic locations is the state of Johor in Malaysia due to the fact that Malaysian officials wanted to develop Johor in order to rival its neighbor Singapore, as a tourist attraction.In fact, there can be a Disneyland in Singapore; however, we don’t want to create a competitive environment between Hong Kong and Singapore. For us, there shouldn’t be two large Disney lands per region. Therefore, the best location in Asia to build a new theme park is Malaysia. We think that Malaysia Disneyland can rather bring in a new set of customers. EPILOGUE Despite its already large size, the Asian theme park industry is still developing.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How to Grow as a Content Marketer With John Rampton of Calendar

How to Grow as a Content Marketer With John Rampton of Calendar Have you heard the term, â€Å"growth-hacking†? It can be a bit of a buzzword. Today we’re going to learn about a real-life growth-hacking example. You don’t have to have a special sales and marketing gene it just takes the willingness to learn. Today’s guest is John Rampton. He’s a serial entrepreneur, the founder of several companies, and a contributor to sites like Huffington Post and Entrepreneur. Today’s episode is a case study in perseverance, so you won’t want to miss it! Some of the highlights of the show include: What John is up to as an entrepreneur and how his products help businesses, as well as how he got into the entrepreneurial world. The first steps John took to get involved in an online business, including a hack he figured out that wasn’t illegal at the time. The framework John thinks about when it comes to risk-taking. Why hyperfocusing on specific niches and problems is one way to succeed. John’s thoughts on learning: how he finds time to squeeze learning into his busy days and making time for what’s most important. How something as simple as a calendar can function as a powerful tool, as well as information about Calendar.com. How an excellent marketing strategy can even sell a crappy product that provides no value. John’s most sage wisdom and best advice for marketers just getting started. Powered by PodcastMotor Actionable Content Marketing powered by By AMP068: How To Grow (Like Crazy) As A Content Marketer With John Rampton 00:00/00:00 1x 100 > Download file Subscribe on iTunes Leave Review Share Links: Due.com Calendar.com John on Twitter JohnRampton.com UpWork Email your iTunes review to podcast@.com If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by John â€Å"Don’t limit yourself to what you’re doing. Go find new and interesting ways there are always unique things to do.† â€Å"In your life, you’ll always go up or down, learning or not learning There’s no flat line.† â€Å"You will never be a better salesperson than your customers.†

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Biography of Leonardo Da Vinci, Genius Painter, Scientist, Naturalist

Biography of Leonardo Da Vinci, Genius Painter, Scientist, Naturalist Leonardo Da Vinci (April 15, 1452–  May 2, 1519) was artist, humanist, scientist, philosopher, inventor, and naturalist during the Italian Renaissance. His genius, says his biographer Walter Isaacson, was the ability to marry observation with imagination, to apply that imagination to intellect and its universal nature. Fast Facts: Leonardo da Vinci Known For: Renaissance-era painter, inventor, naturalist, philosopher, writer.  Born: April 15, 1452, Vinci in Tuscany, Italy.Parents: Piero da Vinci and Caterina Lippi.Died:  May 2, 1519, in Cloux, France.Education: Formal training limited to abacus school in commercial math, apprenticeship at the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio; otherwise self taught.Spouse(s): None.Children: None.   Early Life Leonardo Da Vinci was born in the village of Vinci in Tuscany, Italy, on April 15, 1452, the only child of Piero da Vinci, a notary and eventually Chancellor of Florence, and Caterina Lippi, an unmarried peasant girl. He is properly known as Leonardo rather than da Vinci, although that is common form of his name today. Da Vinci means from Vinci and most people of the day who required a last name were given it based on their place of residence. Leonardo was illegitimate, which, according to biographer Isaacson, may well have assisted his skill and education. He was not required to go to formal school, and he passed his youth in experimentation and exploration, keeping careful notes in a series of journals which have survived. Piero was a well-to-do man, descended from at least two generations of important notaries, and he settled in the town of Florence, marrying Albierra, the daughter of another notary, within eight months of Leonardos birth. Leonardo was raised in the da Vinci family home by his grandfather, Antonio, and his wife, as well as Francesco, Pieros youngest brother only 15 years older than Leonardo himself. Florence (1467–1482) In 1464, Albierra died in childbirth- she had no other children, and Piero brought Leonardo to live with him in Florence. There Leonardo was exposed to the architecture and writings of the artists Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446) and Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472); and it was there that his father got him an apprenticeship to the artist and engineer Andrea del Verrocchio. Verrocchios workshop was part art studio and part art shop, and Leonardo was exposed to a rigorous training program, that included painting, sculpture, pottery, and metal working. He learned the beauty of geometry and the mathematical harmony that art can leverage; and it was here that he learned chiarroscuro, and developed the sfumato technique he would become famous for. When his apprenticeship ended in 1472, Leonardo registered in the Florentine painters confraternity, the Compagnia di San Luca. Many of the works he did in Verocchios workshop were often completed by several of the students and/or the teacher, and it is clear that by the end of his tenure, Leonardo had surpassed his master. Verocchios workshop was sponsored by the Duke of Florence, Lorenzo de Medici (1469–1492) also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent. Some of the works painted by Leonardo in his twenties include the Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi, and the portrait of Ginevra di Benci. Milan (1482–1499) When Leonardo turned 30, he was sent by Lorenzo on a diplomatic mission to bring a lute in the shape of a horses head that he himself had crafted to be given to Ludovico Sforza, the powerful Duke of Milan. With him was Atalante Migliorotti (1466–1532), the first of his long-term companions, who acted as a friend, assistant, secretary, and romantic partner. When Leonardo arrived in Milan, he sent a letter to Ludovico, a letter that was more or less a job application, laying out in detail the type of job he envisioned being useful to the Duke: military and civil engineering. Instead, Leonardo ended up an impresario, producing elaborate pageants for the royal court such as the Masque of the Planets. He designed scenery and costumes and developed fantastic mechanical elements for the plays that would fly, descend or animate for the audience. In this role, he was part court jester: he sang and played the lute, told stories and fables, played pranks. His friends described him as gentle and entertaining, handsome, precise and generous, a valued and beloved companion. The Genius in the Notebook It was also during this period that Leonardo began keeping regular notebooks. Over 7,200 single pages exist today, estimated to be one-quarter of his total output. They are filled with expressions of sheer genius: flights of fancy, precognitive sketches of impossible technologies (scuba gear, flying machines, helicopters) careful, analytical anatomical studies of dissections he performed on humans and animals; and visual puns. In his notebooks and his canvases, he played with shadow and light, perspective, motion, color. His drawings of humans at the time are fascinating: an old warrior with a nutcracker nose and an enormous chin; grotesquely old men and women; and a thin, muscular, curly-haired androgynous figure, the opposite avatar of the old warrior who would provide centuries of delight and speculation for art historians. Of course, he painted while he was in Milan: portraits included several of Ludovicos mistresses, The Lady with the Ermine and La Belle Ferronnià ¨re; and religious works such as Virgin of the Rocks and the astonishing Last Supper. He also made the famous drawing Vitruvian Man, the best of numerous attempts of the day to illustrate what the Roman architect Vitrivius (ca 80–15 BCE) meant when he said the layout of a temple should reflect the proportions of a human body. Leonardo ditched most of Vitriviuss measurements and calculated his own ideal of perfection. In 1489, Leonardo finally earned the job he had wanted in 1482: he received an official court appointment, complete with rooms (albeit not at Ludovicos castle). His first commission was to make an immense sculpture of the Duke of Milans father Francesco sitting on a horse. He made the model of clay and worked for years planning the casting, but never completed the bronze sculpture. In July of 1490, he met the second companion of his life, Gian Giacomo Caprotti  da Oreno, known as Salai (1480–1524). By 1499, the Duke of Milan was running out of money and no longer consistently paying Leonardo, and when Louis XII of France (1462–1515) invaded Milan, Ludovico fled the city. Leonardo stayed in Milan briefly- the French knew him and protected his studio from the mobs- but when he heard rumors that Ludovico was planning to return, he fled home to Florence. Italy and France (1500–1519) When Leonardo returned to Florence, he found the city still shaken from the after-effects of the brief and bloody rule of Savonarola (1452–1498), who in 1497 had led the Bonfire of the Vanities- the priest and his followers collected and burned thousands of objects such as artworks, books, cosmetics, dresses, mirrors, and musical instruments as forms of evil temptations. In 1498, Savonarola was hanged and burned in the public square. Leonardo was a different man when he returned: he dressed like a dandy, spending almost as much on clothing as he did on books. His first patron was the notorious military ruler Cesare Borgia (1475–1507), who conquered Florence in 1502: Borgia gave Leonardo a passport to travel wherever he needed, as his personal engineer and innovator. The job only lasted about eight months, but during that time Leonardo built a bridge supporting a garrison of troops out of a pile of lumber and nothing more. He also perfected the art of maps, drawing villages as they would be seen from the air, accurate, detailed birds-eye views of cities measured with a compass. He also established a friendship with Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527), who would base his classic The Prince on Borgia. By 1503, though, Borgia was running amok, requiring mass executions in the towns he occupied. At first, Leonardo seemed oblivious, but when Machiavelli left, so did Leonardo: back to Florence. In Florence, Leonardo and Machiavelli worked on an astonishing project: they planted to divert the Arno river from Pisa to Florence. The project got started, but the engineer changed the specs and it was a spectacular failure. Leonardo and Machiavelli also worked on a way to drain the Piombino Marshes: water, the movement of it, the force of it, was a fascination for Leonardo throughout his life, but the marsh project was also not completed. Michelangelo Artistically, Florence had a huge drawback: Leonardo had acquired a nemesis, Michelangelo. Twenty years younger, but although as gay as Leonardo was, unlike Leonardo, Michelangelo was a pious Christian convulsed by agony over his nature. The two artists communication devolved into a bitter feud. The two men were each commissioned to do battle scenes: hung in separate galleries, the paintings were depictions of frenzied faces, monstrous armor, and mad horses. Isaacson suggests that the upshot of the war of the battle scene was useful to both artists because they were now both luminaries, rather than interchangeable parts. From 1506–1516, Leonardo wandered back and forth between Rome and Milan; another one of his patrons was the Medici Pope Leo X (1475–1521). In 1506, Leonardo adopted Francesco Melzi, the 14-year-old son of a friend and civil engineer, as his heir. Between 1510 and 1511, Leonardo worked with anatomy professor Marcantonio della Torre, whose students dissected humans while Leonardo made 240 meticulous drawings and wrote 13,000 words of description- probably more, those are what have survived. But the professor died of the plague, ending the project before it could be published. And of course he painted: his masterpieces during this period in his life include the Mona Lisa (La Gioconda); The Virgin and Child with St. Anne, and a series of images of Salai as St. John the Baptist and Bacchus. Death In 1516, Francis I of France commissioned Leonardo for another astounding, impossible task: design a town and palace complex for the royal court at Romorantin. Francis, arguably one of the best patrons Leonardo ever had, gave him the Chateau de Cloux (now the Clos Luce). Leonardo was by now an old man, still productive- he made 16 drawings over the next three years, even if the city project was not completed- but he was visibly ill and had likely suffered a stroke. He died on May 2, 1519, at the Chateau. Sources and Recommended Reading Clark, Kenneth and Martin Kemp. Leonardo da Vinci: Revised Edition. London, Penguin Books, 1989.Isaacson, Walter. Leonardo Da Vinci. New York: Simon Schuster, 2017.  Farago, Claire. Biography and Early Art Criticism of Leonardo da Vinci. New York: Garland Publishing, 1999.Nicholl, Charles. Leonardo da Vinci: Flights of the Mind. London, Penguin Books, 2005.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Compare Scientific Models and Religious Myths Essay

Compare Scientific Models and Religious Myths - Essay Example The ideas in defense of religion, on the other hand, are argument from causation and argument from values. A myriad of scientific models have been invented and adopted in the realm of pure science and applied sciences, which gave a strong attachment of science to scientific observation and scientific methods. Objectivity, accuracy, and verifiability are of prime importance of scientific inquiry, and are the characteristics of science. These dimensions are said not to be possessed by religion, whose central configuration is faith. The locus of science being based on material objectivity through scientific methods is said to be a far cry from that of religion, which to some people, is perceived to be a locus of mythology, false and science-unaided beliefs, and fanaticism. Thus, the debate about science and religion has a history that dates back to the beginning of modern science. Naturalism, a scientific model that defends science with its stance of reality being material, and is therefore subject to scientific scrutiny, poses that any considerations that ideas not relying in scientific investigations are foolish (Baker, 2006). The search for truth is found in the material reality - in the natural world - which can be measured and analyzed according to scientific investigations. Religion, having no scientific tools to aid such investigation, is taken as a myth. Science was able to maintain such confinement to the natural world on the basis of its ability to use testable and reproducible material data that passed through scientific methods, in which explanations lie in the domains of the natural world. It goes on to say that non-natural explanations, like the realm of religion, are non-testable and non-reproducible and are therefore non-scientific. Anything non-scientific is considered a myth or an erroneous belief by some science geeks. However, the exclusio n of non-scientific explanations from understanding the natural world does not

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Business plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business plan - Assignment Example Our company therefore aims to target this area by producing electrical power that will also fulfill the demands of future consumers. Production cost of solar energy is minimal once our project is operational. Our company will aim to benefit from the shortfall that exists in the area by producing clean electrical energy by the use of solar power. The rising prices of electricity are an additional benefit in terms of earnings for the company that is likely to make the project a huge success in a very short period of time. Reduced cost of production of electricity will also provide us a competitive advantage over the traditional producers of power, thereby making it possible to offer electricity at lowered prices than the current market rates. The society is well aware of the fact that solar energy is the safest form of energy since there is almost no pollution associated with the use of this form of energy. Due to this reason a high degree of acceptability is likely to result for our proposed project. This will reduce our cost for promotional activities (e.g advertising) that are otherwise required to grab the attention of users. Elevated acceptance of our project will definitely provide us an edge over our traditional competitors which we will use to establish our customer base. The previously used solar panels for energy production were efficient in the range of less than 25%. However, with the passage of time, the technology has advanced and now it has become possible to attain an efficiency of close to 50%. Our plan is to use the latest technology for our project which will increase productivity and will continue to serve the purpose for an extended period of time. Moreover, extra production means the ability to expand our market further. Keeping in view the fact that solar energy is green (clean), there is general consensus that the promotion of

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

AMERICAN LITERATURE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

AMERICAN LITERATURE - Essay Example For this, he makes 2 rhetorical parallels: one is between some of his listeners and the wicked Israelites, and the other is between them and the narrator. The first one clarifies the Biblical metaphor of a sliding foot, that is, a state of being constantly exposed to God’s anger and protected only by His â€Å"meer Pleasure† (Edwards and Smolinski 5). The second one is a widely used public speaking technique: the indirect speech from the part of those people whom a speaker wants to influence. Edwards describes the arguments of the unconverted people the following way: Almost every natural Man that hears of Hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own Security†¦ every one lays out Matters in his own Mind how he shall avoid Damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his Schemes won’t fail. (Edwards and Smolinski 9-10) This way, the speaker identifies with the unconverted listeners or even with all of his listeners, even the converted ones, who behave not piously enough. The identification is negative: those who â€Å"are out of Christ† (Edwards and Smolinski 12) are the protagonist of this narrative, and their function as a protagonist is not to be a positive example but rather to show how awful are the consequences of the absence of certain positive actions. This type of texts is widely used in Biblical narratives (Bratcher). As for the antagonist in the plot, there is a controversy that does not permit to state plainly that this is God. As Bratcher points out, God is always present in Biblical narratives as the central character. In this story, God is impersonated and shown in action: infuriated, He is holding sinners over the pit of flames. Still, this does not mean that God is seen as an equal part on the literary playground of Edwards’ text. He is an objective power beyond human rich, the power that has unquestioned influence on the world around a nd has a superior capability of self-control (as God in this sermon keeps from wreaking His wrath). This status of the figure of God is in line with Enlightenment deism: for the thinkers like Samuel Clarke, John Toland, Anthony Collins, and even John Locke, God’s power and will is prior to ethic systems; hence, this is Him who dictates the right behavior (Bristow). From this ethical perspective, the antagonist of unconverted human beings in â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God† is their own liability to â€Å"fall by themselves† (Edwards and Smolinski 4), their â€Å"Wickedness† (Edwards and Smolinski 7). This situation is close to inescapable, as human beings are seen as naturally inclined to wickedness. They have responsibilities, while God is not responsible for anything (Edwards and Smolinski 9). The only way to influence this terrible condition, that is, to become a part of agreement with God (thereby attaining at least some promises from Him) is to accept the existence of Christ as an embodiment of â€Å"the Promises of the Covenant of Grace† (Edwards and Smolinski 11). â€Å"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God† is also a refined argument; alongside the powerful metaphoric pattern, it has a list of reasons that have to prove that non-Christians really have no alternative. Two Enlightenment trends of the sermon have already been mentioned. One is its deism: for Edwards, conversion to Christianity is a natural act, the one that is justified by the world order. He frequently uses

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Cattle breeding: Sanitary practices and perceptions

Cattle breeding: Sanitary practices and perceptions Chapter 1: Introduction Cattle are raised mainly for meat and dairy products in Mauritius. Cattle breeding are an essential component of modern agriculture. According to norms, safe food of animal origin must be free from pathogens and contaminants. There is a need to reduce the risk and if possible, eliminate it at the on the farm stage. Cattle disease compromise animal welfare, reduce productivity and can also infect human beings. Sanitary conditions and perceptions in cattle breeding farms are very important to ensure a better health of the cattle and consumers of the products. The main reason for disease prevention and management for breeders is the gain in productivity. Sanitary conditions are very crucial in the disease prevention and management. The health of the cow and its environment, improperly cleaned and sanitized milk handling equipment, and workers who milk cows and come in contact with milk due to a number of reasons could serve as sources of microbial contamination of milk (Yirsaw A.W,2004). Contaminants in the form of chemical residues are also of concern to public. Controlling the safety of food of animal origin at the primary production stage therefore involves all the measures (implemented at the farm or production unit level) necessary to ensure that these contaminants do not end up in animal products, or, if they do, that their levels do not exceed the maximum permissible levels, notably the maximum residue limits and microbiological criteria set by Codex Alimentarius Commission (OIE, 2008). Many factors influence milk composition and hence the nature and abundance of the microbial load. The conditions of raw milk production, in particular the hygienic practices of farmers (e.g washing of milking equipment an d pre and post milking udder preparation), determine the contents in useful products and spoilage microorganisms (lafarge V et al, 2004). Henceforth, this case study of dairy cattle breeders, help in meeting the following objectives of the project. The main objective of the study is to assess sanitary practices and perceptions in dairy cattle breeding farms. The specific objectives are: To assess the sanitary milking practices in dairy cattle breeding farm through pre-milking teat disinfection, foremilk rejection and post-milking teat disinfection. To investigate on sanitation practices in dairy cattle breeding farm through practices of cleaning and sanitizing milking equipment. To assess level of awareness on mastitis and sanitary conditions at farmers working place. To evaluate responses based on survey questionnaire on sanitary practices and perceptions on dairy cattle breeding farms. Chapter 2: Literature Review Evolution of dairy cattle breeding Mauritius is categorized as a net food importing country. The dairy production contributes negligibly to the countrys economy with only 2% local milk production (AREU, 2007). According to Milliken (1986), there were about 22,000 milch cattle in 1914, representing a little more than 50% of the total cattle herd at this time (Heera MK, 2008). However the number of cattle head and farmers has been steadily declining over the years, leading to the current situation of only 7150 heads for 1758 breeders (CSO, 2008). Traditionally, the dairy industry in Mauritius was dominated by backyard producers, mostly women. But many of them abandoned farming in the 1980s to take higher paid jobs in the textile and clothing manufacturing industry (Ackbarally N, 2009). Simultaneously the sanitary problems (number of complaints due to lack of sanitation) and diseases, poor management also accounts for the decline. Food crisis in relation to dairy cattle rearing The food crisis which has hit with alarming speed and force the planet over the past recent years has showed how vulnerable net importing countries, like Mauritius, are against such situation. The milk (UHT and powdered) import bill has increased from Rs 975 M in 2001 to Rs 1.8 billion in 2007, representing a 85 per cent rise, while the import volume has remained unchanged (around 17,500 tonnes) (Anon, 2009a). Since the early 1980s milk consumption has grown more than 3 percent per year in developing countries and is projected to grow even faster through 2020. Meat consumption has been growing about 5 percent per year and is expected to grow 2.7% per year through 2020 compared to a low 0.6% per year in rich countries (Zessin K.H, 2002). Hence in response to the global rising food prices and shortages, the government is implementing measures to foster local production of milk and meat to mitigate, in short and medium term, the dependency of the country on imported food commodities. To stimulate dairy production, the government has introduced a battery of grants and loans to purchase equipment, import improved genetic breeds and acquire land for grazing (Ackbarally N, 2009). Importance of Sanitation in dairy cattle breeding farm Sanitary condition is defined as the state of sanitation whereby sanitation is the formulation and application of measures designed to protect public health (wikipedia). The cattle breeding are often viewed as a lucrative opportunity. There are nevertheless a series of complications which may arise during such an event if proper hygiene and sanitation is not maintained. When it comes to sanitation at farm, it is closely linked with Food safety which is now universally recognized as a public health priority. There are a series of precaution that can be taken by farmers, right at the first stage of the food chain, to optimise the food safety control of products of animal origin (OIE, 2006). This inevitably means controlling the health status of the animals from which food products are derived. World organization for animal health (OIE) In this age of globalisation, ensuring healthy, hazard-free food is one of the key issues for international organisations working in this field. To this end, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) work closely together, each in its area of competence (OIE, 2008). Since 2002, the OIE has had responsibility for animal production food safety. The renewed importance conferred by the Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) to the OIE and to WHO/FAO has spurred the interest of countries around the globe (Zessin K.H, 2002). Preliminary Environmental report Cattle rearing do have certain direct and indirect impacts on the environment which require special attention while setting up a farm. Those impacts are mostly associated with solid and liquid waste originating from the farm such as; wastewater from cleaning activities, urine, and manure. Other problems such odour nuisance and flies nuisance are not to be omitted. In case the farm is near residential areas, consultation with neighbours and all other bodies who are likely to be affected by the farm is compulsory. According to Environmental Protection Act 2002, livestock rearing on a scale of up to 20 heads require a Preliminary Environmental Report in which all the environmental and socio-economic parameters are addressed and their impacts are identified and taken into account in the project design (Anon, 2009b). Dairy cattle breeding There are mainly three types of farms in Mauritius. These are: Small Scale farms Locally cattle breeding are more of a family business. Cattle rearing are carried out in a traditional manner in the backyard as a part time activity. The small cattle breeders also known as cowkeepers mostly live in the country side and they own on average two to three lactating cows that are kept in enclosed shed(RATES, 2004). The level of inputs and management vary greatly among the farmers and they are generally low because of limited facilities and lack of financial resources. Medium Scale farms Medium scale farm is quite similar to small scale farm. However they have slightly better management practices in terms of inputs (e.g. better feeding system) and modern techniques are applied e.g. use of milking machine ( Ackbarally N, 2009). Large Scale farms Presently there are two private farms namely Golden Cream Dairy farm ltd at Salazie and SKC Surat Co Ltd at Rose-Belle who are operating at large scale for commercial milk production. Another type of large scale farms which have almost ceased to exist is the Government Dairy farm. In the past there were three Government dairy farms that would keep around 200 head of cattle. Richelieu Livestock Breeding Station (RLPU) has been converted into a quarantine station and recently the Palmar Livestock Breeding Station has been closed. Presently there exists only the Curepipe livestock Research station where other species of livestock are also reared with the main objective to carry out research and development activities in livestock production and training for the benefit of farmers. Guiding objective for good dairy farming practice The guiding objective for good dairy farming practice is that milk should be produce on-farm from healthy animals under generally accepted conditions. This is achieved by applying good agricultural practice in the five areas. Health Management Cows that produce milk need to be healthy and an effective health care programme should be in place. Animal health care includes different veterinary treatments given to the animals for early detection of diseases, prevention of disease spread among healthy animals, prevention of transmission of zoonoses and to ensure traceability (FAO/IDF, 2004). It is important to have strict control of any animal introductions to prevent the movement of the infectious diseases onto the farm. Sick animals are liable to be a major source of disease to healthy animals and hence need to be segregated to reduce the chances of diseases spreading. In case where animals are imported or brought from other local farms, they need to be kept in isolation from the existing herd for about 30 days. This is done again to prevent contamination of existing herds by parasites and pathogens (AREU, 2004). Other activities such as vaccination and deworming schedules, hoof management and routine health assessment form p art of a good Health Management. Guidelines to be followed for effective housing of cows Dairy housing systems have a substantial impact on the overall health and longevity of dairy cattle (Barberg A.E et al, 2007). In addition to keeping animals healthy, a critical part of husbandry is also to make sure they are kept visibly clean. It is of particular importance, to reduce the possibility of contamination of the food, for milking animals and for animals destined for slaughter not to have dirty outer coats. A major influence on the cleanliness of the animals is the type of housing, the material used as bedding and the underfoot conditions if the animals are kept outside (A M Johnston, 2000). Where cows are kept indoors it is important that suitable and adequate buildings be provided if the cows are to be fully productive. Good dairy farm buildings are extremely important in considering any of the hygienic aspects of milk handling (WHO, 1962). The design of the housing system is also important so that there is adequate space and facilities to optimize feeding, collection of manure, cleaning, washing, artificial insemination. The housing system can be either loose or tied system with adequate space and facilities to optimize feeding, collection of manure, cleaning, washing, artificial insemination and milking (AREU, 2007). Layout The general layout of a dairy farm should be according to the number and category of animals to be housed. The cowhouse is a specialized building which should be carefully designed and constructed so as to provide comfortable and healthy housing for the cows and at the same time to enable them to be milked in clean conditions. Housing must be managed hygienically to avoid soiling of animal. A standing of 1.5m long has been found most suitable to enable cows to lie clean, but with the smaller breeds of cow 1.4m or less may be sufficient (WHO, 1962). Moreover it should be free of obstruction and hazards; dead ends, and steep and slippery pathways should be avoided. It should be resistant to adverse weather conditions and consequences thereof especially cyclones, unseasonal change causing cold or heat stress (FAO/IDF, 2004). The windows should be fitted with hinged shutters to be used in case of cyclonic conditions. Floor The floor should be non-slippery to minimize slipping and bruising due to rough uneven floors. Unsuitable floors may inhibit mounting or lead to injuries during mating. The floor should be preferably sloping 10 cm above surrounding ground to enable drainage of urine in a canal leading to a suitable point of disposal as required by the Sanitary Authority (AREU, 2007). Wall Plastering of the wall to a height of at least 1.5m is recommended to prevent accumulation of dirt, disease germs and to facilitate cleaning (WHO, 1962). Cowshed should be provided with at least two doors, one opening on the feeding passage and the other one on the manure cum milking passage. Ventilation and lighting The regular renewal of the air in a cowshed is essential for the maintenance of the health of the cows and prevention of contamination of milk (WHO, 1962). The cowshed should have sufficient openings to allow natural ventilation and adequate sunlight. This will enable proper supply of fresh air to remove humidity, allow heat dissipation and prevent build-up of gases such as carbon dioxide, ammonia or slurry gases (FAO/IDF, 2004). Direct sunlight helps to keep the shed dry and would act as a germ killer. Water Supply Water supply plays an imminent role in maintaining a proper sanitary balance in breeding farms. Besides being used for drinking purpose, efficient water supply helps in cleaning and other activities leading to part of proper sanitation. The cow needs a lot of water (up to 50L daily) to be able to produce saliva for rumination and milk production. It is best to allow the animal continuous access to ample fresh and clean water (AREU, 2004). Water is an obvious potential source of pathogens because it can contain nutrients from feed or manure and be contaminated with pathogens, thereby serving as a vehicle to contaminate or infect animals on consumption (CAST, 2004). E. coli 0157:H7 is found commonly in water troughs on farms and feedlots and persists in these environments for as long as four months (Lejeune J.T et al, 2001). Water supplies should be clear and free of excrement (FAO/IDF, 2004). Feed Management For healthy living and proper growth, reproduction and milk production, dairy cattle require a daily balanced diet. The feed contains nutrient namely carbohydrates, fat, proteins, minerals (e.g. calcium, phosphorus) and vitamins (A, D, E, K). Moreover, foodstuffs which are fed to animals must be free from both pathogens and undesirable residues. Since Mauritius is mainly based on a zero-grazing system, breeders have to make provision for forage based on a cut-and-carry fodder system. The source of forages varies among breeders; they are collected from Sugar Cane Estates or along roadsides, fallow lands, riverbanks, and state lands or vegetable fields (Heera M.K, 2008). Withholding periods should be applied to forage crops if they have been treated with agricultural chemical, prior to use as feed. Control storage conditions of feed The different control measures in relation to feedstuffs and its storage are as follows: Feeds intended for different species should be separated. No animal material should be included in dairy cattle feed rations. Appropriate storage conditions should be ensured to avoid feed contamination. It should be ensured that animals are not able to come into contact with contaminants in areas where these feed products are stored and mixed. Hay and dry feeds should be protected from a moist environment, silage and other fermented crops should be kept under hermetically sealed conditions(AREU,2004) Moldy feed should be rejected (FAO/IDF, 2004); feeding of any moldy stock feed to milking cows should be avoided. Particular care should be taken with wheat bran, silage, hay, bagasse, cotton seed cake as these contain poisonous fungal toxins that can be transferred to milk. Fungal mycotoxins may also be present in pasture. In New Zealand, the ingestion of saprophytic fungus containing the toxin, sporidesmin, causes the disease facial eczema with impaired liver function, photosensitivity, decreased milk production and sometimes death (Ferraud C, 1995). Although the disease is uncommon in other temperate countries, it is important to realize that increased forage use carries the risk of an increased incidence of pasture borne mycotoxicoses. Milk Milk plays an important role in our daily diet. Cows milk contains a wide array of key nutrients that help support human health. It is an excellent source of protein, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. Apart from being a nutritional food, milk has a high water activity, moderate pH of 6.4 to 6.6 and ample supply of nutrients, making for an excellent medium for microbial growth. There is wide spectrum of bacteria present in nature which can contaminate milk rendering it unsafe for human consumption or unfit for further processing. Human pathogens known or likely to contaminate raw milk Microorganisms are widely present in animals and in their environment. Disease in animals is inevitable on farms, no matter how good the husbandry (Johnston, 2000). The diseases that form the greatest threat to animals are caused by microorganisms that invade the body. Diseases could be infectious (of viral or bacterial origin), non-infectious (caused by parasites) or metabolic (caused by imbalanced diet). Specific infectious diseases are generally restricted to the large farms and metabolic diseases are more commonly seen in cattle belonging to small breeders (Sibartie D, 2001). Healthy dairy cattle are considered a reservoir for several of the most important food borne human disease pathogens (Tauxe, 1997). Nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter jejuni are considered important treats to food safety because of the enormous number of illness they cause. Cattle have been shown to carry Salmonella at rates as high as 64% (CAST, 2004). Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 are priority pathogens because of the severity of symptoms associated with infection and because of the number of deaths that occur in infected people. All of these pathogens are shed in cattle feces and can contaminate dairy farm premises including unpasteurised bulk tank milk (Ruegg P.L, 2003). Milk borne diseases Human-health threats from livestock come in two basic forms: (i) zoonotic diseases, and (ii) food-borne illnesses. Zoonotic diseases are those that arise in animals but can be transmitted to humans. Potentially pandemic viruses, such as influenza, are the most newsworthy, but many others exist, including rabies, brucellosis and anthrax (FAO 2009). A joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee (1970) on milk hygiene classified milk-borne diseases: infections of animals that can be transmitted to man: Primary importance: Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Streptoccocal infections, ;Staphyloccocal enterotoxin poisoning, Salmonellosis, Q fever. Lesser importance; cowpox, Foot and mouth disease, Anthrax, Leptospirosis and Tick-borne encephalitis infections primary to man that can be transmitted through milk: Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, Shigellosis, Cholera, Enteropathogenic Escherchia coli, Non-diarrhoeal diseases, Streptococcal infections, Staphylococcal food poisoning, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis, Enteroviruses and Viral hepatitis (Kamalam S, 2005) Outbreaks associated to milk Warnings to consumers about the risks of drinking raw milk have been stepped up over recent years because health professionals are trying to protect health and have seen a resurgence in milkborne diseases that had dropped dramatically with pasteurization, as raw milk has become trendy and its marketing has increased (Szwarc S, 2009). Mastitis Worldwide, mastitis is the most common disease in dairy cattle (Tan et al, 2009). Mastitis is defined as an infection of the udder, caused by bacteria entering the quarter through the teat end. According to the US national mastitis council(1996); mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland in response to injury for the purpose of destroying and neutralizing the infectious agents and to prepare the way for healing and return to normal function ( Fadlelmoula A.A, 2007). This results in physical, chemical and microbial changes in the milk. It can be caused by a variety of bacteria or even fungi, the most common in Mauritius being Staphylococcus epidermidis (Sibartie D, 2001). Mastitis in dairy cattle represents a disease problem which is difficult to prevent or control effectively, since so many different workers have pointed out special instances which indicate that the susceptibility to mastitis manifested by related animals might have genetic basis: various studies have given heritability estimates for mastitis resistance ranging from 0.05 to 0.38 (Warwick E J et al, 1979). Principles of mastitis control Worldwide, farmers have achieved tremendous success in reducing the incidence of contagious mastitis by adopting five basic principles of mastitis control (Ruegg P.L, 2003): Postmilking teat disinfection Universal dry cow antibiotic therapy Appropriate treatment of clinical cases Culling of chronically infected cows Regular milking machine maintenance Sources of contamination of raw milk There are several principal sources of contamination of milk. From the time the milk leaves the udder, until it is dispersed into containers, everything with which it comes into contact is a potential source of more microorganisms. Within the udder Healthy Udder For many years, it was believed that milk drawn directly from the udder of a healthy cow was a sterile fluid, that is, it contained no living microorganisms (Yirsaw A.W, 2004). In healthy cows, many microorganisms resides in the teat cistern, teat canal and teat apex. Natural flora within the udder of healthy animals is not considered to contribute significantly to the total numbers of microorganisms in the bulk milk, nor the potential increase in bacterial numbers during refrigerated storage (Murphy S.C et al, 2000). The first few streams of milk from each teat should be collected, separated, discarded. This flushes out the organisms that entered the teat through the teat opening (FSA, 2006). Unhealthy Udder In cows having mastitis, the infected udders can shed lots of microorganisms into the milk. Selim and Culor (1997) found that Streptococci and coliforms are the most dominant isolated bacteria from milk followed by Staphylococcus spp (Yagoub S.O et al, 2005 ; Murphy S.C et al, 2000). Exterior of the udder Usually the microorganisms from the skin of the animals and the microorganisms from the environment where the cow is kept and milked cause contamination to the exterior of the udder. Common organisms associated with the bedding materials are staphylococci, streptococci, coliforms, spore formers, and other gram-negative organisms (Murphy et al, 2000; Elmoslemany A.M, 2009). Surface of milk handling and storage equipment The most important factor affecting the total bulk milk bacteria count is the cleanliness of the milking system. Utensils and equipment are known to be the greatest sources of contaminants. They may account for as much as 100,000 to billion organisms per milliliter (Murphy S.C et al, 2000). Pails, strainers, milking machines, cans, pipes bottles, and other equipment used for the handling of milk are sometimes not properly washed and sanitized. Organisms survive in the cracks, corners, crevices, dents, scratches and other irregularities of the utensils. Such neglect affords ideal conditions for the growth of microorganisms before the utensils are being used again. Refrigeration is also essential to prevent or slow the growth of bacteria in raw milk. Sanitary practices The consumers are nowadays well conscious about food hygiene and they demand high standards of milk quality. Hence it is fundamental that breeders respect the quality criteria of their product to satisfy the demand and to remain in competition. Milking performed under strict hygienic conditions, with strict attention to sanitary practices, will reduce the entry of microorganisms into the milk. Naturally the fewer the organisms that get into the milk, the fewer have a chance to grow. Personal hygiene of milk handler At all stages hygiene is necessary to prevent contamination of milk. This starts from the person first handling the milk that is the milker and all throughout its handling. It is the responsibility of the milker to follow strict level of personal hygiene to prevent direct contamination of the milk. Personal hygiene of milk handler includes the following (CAC, 2004): The milker should be in good health; those with an open wound or suffering from any skin disease or any other contagious disease should not come in contact with the milk. Any injury on hands or forearms must be covered with a water-resistant bandage. He should possess a valid food handler certificate issued by Sanitary Authority Effective washing of hands and arms with proper means; adequate clean water, soap, nail brush, and thereafter drying hands and arms with a clean cloth or disposable paper towel. He should properly trim nails and must not wear ring or any other jewelry so as not to injure the udder or teats. Neat appearance; wearing clean clothes, hair cap to cover hair. Smoking is not permitted in areas for milking, and milk storage (FSA, 2006). Pre-milking practices A good milking technique is essential for the production of safe raw milk. Cleaning of teats before milking is important to remove both visible soiling (e.g. feces, bedding, mud, residual post milking disinfectant) and bacteria which could contaminate the milk. Washing with water gives the cleanest udder, teat and flank. The water should be between 200C to 400C. Long hairs from the flank and udder should be removed regularly. The wet udder should be dried with paper towel which should be used only once to prevent the spread of bacteria and other pathogens to other cows. If paper towels are not available, sterilized cloth can be used but should be replaced regularly. Thorough washing and drying may be followed by treating with disinfectant (e.g. sodium hypochlorite solution or Dipal), an approved pre-dip solution which must be effectively removed before hand milking or cluster attachment. The use of predipping using iodine has demonstrated to reduce standard plate count and coliform c ounts in raw milk by five- and six-fold respectively as compared to other methods of premilking udder preparation (Galton et al, 1986). The overall reduction of microbial loads in raw milk through the use of predipping should result in reduced numbers of zoonotic pathogens. Predipping has been shown to reduce the risk of listeria monocytogenes in milk filters by almost four-fold (Ruegg, 2003). Foremilk rejection Before the real milking can start each quarter should be inspected for physical/chemical/organoleptic abnormalities by checking the foremilk. The first milk should be spread on a dark surface, a foremilk cup or a dark tile. Abnormal milk shows discoloration, flakes, shreds, clots, blood spots and/or wateriness (Bonnier et al, 2004). If the milk shows such warning signs then the milk should be kept aside because of the risks to humans. The examination of milk must also be done before attaching milking units. Fore-milking assists early detection of mastitis removes potentially contaminated milk from the teat canal and stimulates milk let down. Cows with infected udder (mastitis) and those under treatment with antibiotics should be milked last and the contaminated milk disposed of properly (FSA, 2006). Post-milking practices After fore-milking the milker will be aware if milk quality is satisfactory or not. If milk is free from warning signs, milking of the healthy udder can carried out for human consumption. To milk the cow clean, dry hand must be used and the whole hand should be used instead of only thumb and forefinger because the latter grip is considered bad for udder health and flow rate (Bonnier et al, 2004). Equipment used during milking As soon as milk comes out from the udder it gets into contact with the surface of the recipient vessel for example bucket/pail or aluminium can. Surfaces are usually metal, stainless steel, tinned steel or plastic and they should all be kept in good hygienic conditions. Nowadays Stainless Steel is used as the material of construction for Dairy and Food processing equipments world over to achieve the most exact requirements for easy maintenance, sanitation, product preservation, corrosion resistance and to avoid health hazardous effects of aluminium and plastic (http://www.busiverse.com/dairyproducts). The design of milking equipment, where used, and cans, should ensure there are no crevices or recesses that can interfere with proper cleaning (CAC, 2004). Chapter 3: Methodology Data collection Data collection was done by carrying out a questionnaire based survey. The questionnaire assessed the various sanitary practices and perceptions on the dairy farms. Desk study of recent reports on cattle breeding sector was also conducted to get relevant information on the topic. Moreover key informants like the Agricultural Research Extension Unit situated at St Pierre and the Veterinary Service Division at Reduit were approached. An appointment was fixed through contacts by email and phone call. After interviewing the concerned party, an idea of the current situation as concerned the cattle breeding of the livestock sector was obtained. The names, contact numbers and addresses of the dairy cattle breeders around the island were obtained. Statistical data was obtained from the government website of central statistic division. Questionnaire design The study was based on questionnaire survey among the dairy cattle breeders. While designing the questionnaire, the data collected was considered. The survey covered both management practices used on the farm and it was also composed of questions regarding beliefs and opinions about selected dairy breeding farm issues. The questionnaire consisted of different parts namely the sanitary condition of the cowshed, Pre-milking practices, post milking practices, and animal health. The types of questions used were mainly close ended type and only a few open ended. Sample size The sampling population was the dairy cattle breeders in Mauritius. It is obvious that the whole population cannot be surveyed, thus a total of 26 breeders were randomly selected using random numbers from a sampling frame that included addresses of all dairy cattle breeders registered by AREU. The her