Monday, November 25, 2019

Factors Affecting Food choice The WritePass Journal

Factors Affecting Food choice 1. Introduction Factors Affecting Food choice 1. Introduction2. Literature review3. Theory4. Research analysis5. Impact of culture on the choice of food6. Current situation and how these reflect on our identity 7. Social context8. Conclusion9. ReferenceRelated 1. Introduction The study of food is an important area of contemporary and anthropological concern. It is an essential component in our daily lives. Besides providing the basic energy and sustenance necessary for life, it is a way of forging a personal connection with families and friends. While food may not seem to be an obvious marker of identity, it plays a crucial role in demarcating cultural identity. Most importantly, it is a reflection of who we are. Understanding the choice of diet is a complex endeavor discussed in various disciplines such as nutrition, economics, psychology, physiology and sociology. Food related behavior is influenced by a several variables. The three major determinants outlined by various models are the physical properties, psychological and social factors (Rozin, 2006). This paper explores on its cultural impact among individuals in different societies. Emphasis has been made on its role in social structure. Further, key factors determining the choice of food have been highlighted. The research question being answered here is â€Å"Does what we eat define who we are and where we come from?† 2. Literature review Much of existing literature has been broad based focusing on issues of health, quality and food safety.   Studies on the factors affecting the choice of food are still few. In a study on the culinary habits in Hong Kong, David, Siumi Sidney (2002) were fascinated with the findings of their research. In their title â€Å"A study of food culture, changing tastes and identity in popular discourse†, they analyzed food and cultural identity in the context of demographic and family structure in Hong Kong. Their analysis revealed a process of culinary invention which reflected the larger social and cultural trends. Madison McFarlin (2009) studies revealed that the history of Britain had played a crucial role determining their cultural foods. The Romans brought cherries, peas, cabbages and stinging nettles. The Danes and the Vikings developed techniques for smoking and drying fish (Madison McFarlin, 2009). During the 12th century, the Normans did not only invade the country, but also changed their feeding habits. They encouraged consumption of beef, mutton and drinking of wine. This greatly influenced the diet of the British. These studies have immensely contributed in the coverage of the factors determining the choice diet. Consumer perceptions and attitudes towards their diets say a lot about them. 3. Theory Food is certainly one of the most favorite obsessions in human beings. We spend most of our time physically and mentally preoccupied with it.   Human beings must procure, select, prepare and consume food so as to sustain their daily growth. However, the manner in which they do so reflect a complex interrelationship and interaction between individuals, culture and the society.   (Anderson, 2005).   Eating has implications on how we relate to the larger culture and what we think of ourselves.   It is experienced differently through cultural traditions and forms an important part of our daily lifestyle. It presents a lot about our culture and defines where we come. Human beings are believed to differ from cultural habits in most regions in the world. The importance of food in understanding the cultural background lies precisely in its infinite variability. These variables include ingredients used, ways of preservation, preference, customs and beliefs (Conner Armitage, 2002). While anthropological study may arrange these variables systematically and provide a convincing explanation as to why the go together, the research posed here uses culture in relating these variables. 4. Research analysis Studies have confirmed that particular foods can inspire vivid memories (Carole Esterik, 1999). For example, people tend to develop great affection for foods taken during their childhood. This is because it reminds them of a particular time when life was less complicated. These memories are important because they provide us with a reflection of who we are. Sometimes, it reminds us of the past struggles against traditions. For instance, immigrant children are fond of shunning their traditional dietary food, and instead embrace the mainstream eating patterns even if the food is not that good. It should be noted that while human beings grow, they begin to craft their own identities separate from that prescribed by the traditions. People change their eating habits as a symbol of differentiating themselves from the roots embedded in their culture. Consequently, what we eat reflects our broader values. How we procure, select, prepare and consume food provides a reflection on what we value. Is economy and self discipline an important value to us? Does it provide us an opportunity to demonstrate our skill? Or is it deliberately simply a rebellion of our values. A simple illustration is with the American government where the current fascination with obscure regional food traditions is a reflection of authenticity and simplicity in the lives of the Americans (Mason Singer, 2006). Different countries and nations associate themselves with certain diets. For example, Italians mainly prefer eating pizza and pasta as their main cultural diet.   Chinese foods are often associated with flavorings such as ginger root, soy sauce and rice. Similarly, wine, lime, tomato and chili pepper are attributed to the Mexican cuisine (Logue, 2004). In Britain, Curry is the most popular food. Britain’s obsession with Indian Curry can be traced back to a time when India was still under British Empire. The fusion between the British and Indian culture is inescapably intertwined. Some of diet that falls in the category of Indian food was developed by British expatriates in India. Other dishes have however resulted from Indian immigration to the UK. Most dishes are now referred to as Indian yet they are a result of the fusion between the British and American Cuisines. This shows complex interrelationship portrayed by the two cultures and hence an important reflection of their cultural historical background. British children eat according to the directives of their guardians or parents. Some parents may at times take their children to fast food restaurants like McDonalds.   However, most of the junky stuff obtained from these restaurants often leads to obesity. A situation characterized by increased mass content which affects both the adults and children. 5. Impact of culture on the choice of food Culture refers to the style of behavior or pattern that a group of people share. Generally, people within the same culture share the same assemblage of food variables while those of different cultures have different assemblage of these variables. As such we find same eating patterns and habits dominating within the same culture while people from different cultures exhibit entirely different eating habits.. It is important to note that these habits are not necessarily homogeneous within the same culture. People of different occupations or classes eat differently. Moreover, different religious sects have different eating codes. The type of occasion may at times determine what we eat. For example, the meal for a daily routine is totally different from that taken when mourning. It is a known fact that people differ in taste and preference. People in various stages of their lives eat differently.   These differences are rooted in evolutionary and genetic heritage. While some of the differences are those of preference, others are downright prescribed. Identifying these differences and relating them to facets of social life is important in understanding the cultural impact of food among individuals in different societies (Gabaccia, 2000). Cultural influences often lead to difference in habitual consumption of foods. However, these influences are amenable to change. For example, immigrants may at times adopt a different diet and eating pattern different from that of the local culture. Dietary change is however not an easy task as it requires alteration in habits built over a lifetime Over hundreds of years, diets have been shaped by the local culture. Foods have immensely contributed in defining the culture and identity of many nations. The Italian, Mexican, Chinese and French foods have evolved independently with unique characteristics. The Southern diet in America has heavily been influenced by French traditions For a long time, food has played a prominent role in the society. It permeates many facets of our daily life. More so, the choice of diet is largely shaped by the socio cultural context and our own cognitive appraisal. This portrays much about our culture and style within the societal context. Generally, our eating habits and preference are often determined by the culture. The cultural environment dictates the type of diet and how they can be eaten. For example, insects and caterpillars are often shunned by most cultures; however, these components form an integral food source in Asian and Latin American countries. 6. Current situation and how these reflect on our identity Today, people eat food with origins in culture different from their own. For instance, In the United States, most of the dishes originated elsewhere yet these dishes have been modified to suit the popularity and taste of the mainstream. In the recent past, there has been increased incorporation of ethnic Cuisines into the diet of Americans. This is a reflection of the adaptability and flexibility of the Americans. Foods from Middle East, Asia and Latin American have also been incorporated into the American diet (Warde et al, 2000). Americans flexibility and adaptability portrayed by the successive generations experimenting with their neighbors’ customary diet illuminate the market place as one of the most important arena for defining our relations and expressing our identities. Americanized foods such as the spaghetti coexist happily with ethnic dishes and creative hybrids. Americans’ multi-ethnic eating is a constant reminder of how ethnic interaction is widespread and mutually enjoyable in the United States. Amid the existing wrangles over tribal differences and immigration, this reveals that the Americans on a basic level are multicultural. 7. Social context Social influences on the type of diet and our eating pattern is not a new phenomenon. The choice of food is influenced by social factors because our eating habits and attitude develop through interaction with others. Quantifying the impact on food intake is however difficult. Social influence on customary diet manifests itself through friendship and families. Dietary traditions vary widely around the globe. Even people from the same cultural background may at time portray different eating patterns. However, it can be associated with hospitality and friendship. While the customary diets vary, being able to share portray a sense of hospitality and friendship. Sharing of customary diets has not only transformed the cuisines of the Americans and Europeans, but also the Asian and African countries. Sharing ethnic diets is a way of sharing culture and this portrays our hospitality and friendship towards other cultures. Research studies from social sciences and psychology have emphasized on a strong relationship on the choice of food, culture and lifestyle. Evaluation of ourselves is easily made basing on the choice of food and brand selection. 8. Conclusion In summary, there are intrinsically no right ways of eating. While it may seem bizarre to others to eat certain types of food, these form part of the integral diet of other cultures. Clearly, the choice of food is largely determined by our culture. How we eat and what we eat reveals a lot about our history and defines who we are. 9. Reference Anderson.E (2005), Everyone eats: understanding food and culture, NYU press Carole.C Esterik.P (1997), Food and culture, Routledge Conner. M. Armitage. C (2002), Applying social psychology: The social psychology of food, Buckingham, Open University Press David, Siumi Sidney (2002), The globalization of Chinese foods, Hawaii, University of Hawaii Press Gabaccia.D (2000), We are what we eat: Ethnic food and the making of Americans, Harvard university press Gabaccia.D Donna R. (1998). We Are What We Eat. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Logue. A.W (2004), The psychology of eating and drinking, New York, Brunner-Routledge Madison.D McFarlin.P (2009), What we eat when we eat alone, Gibbs smith Mason.J Singer.P (2006), The way we eat: why our food choices matter, Rodale books publishers Rozin. P (2006), The integration of biological, social, cultural and psychological influence on food choice, Wallingford, Oxfordshire CABI publishers. Teff. K. Engelman. K (1996), Palatability and dietary restraint: Effect on cephalic phase insulin release in women. Journal of Physiology Behavior, 60(2), 567–573 Warde, Alan, Martens, Lydia (2000), Eating Out. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

ITM501 MoD 3 SLP the internet as social media Essay

ITM501 MoD 3 SLP the internet as social media - Essay Example It is interesting to note that Twitter was never designed with the intention of being used as a social media website. It was primarily designed as an instant messaging communication platform with a client company. The company touts of having approximately 140 million active users as in 2012 and being the ninth/tenth â€Å"most visited† website (Bullas) (Webneel, 2013). Its initial success is attributed to the novelty of the platform which came as Ð ° breakthrough from others such as Facebook and Orkut. Over the period, Twitter has added features such as expandable tweets and Twitpics to enhance user experience. I found the Twitter platform relatively straightforward and simple. This is because of the company’s usage of features such as the Follow and Tweet buttons, search option and â€Å"embeddable Tweets† (Ellin, 2011, Twitter Developers, 2013). The feature of embeddable tweets is particularly useful as it allows users to convey a brief story through a â€Å" line of code† or keywords that can help others follow the story by searching for it anywhere on the web (Ellin, 2011). I was able to generate fair amount of political and general discussion regarding recent economic events in U.S by simply quoting the key words and getting connected with others to shared views on similar topics. Also, these short stories compare with Facebook’s status updates although the reference properties of the former make it easy to share the stories/updates. Twitter also offers tremendous support for bloggers including its own domain â€Å"Twitter Blogs† with RSS feeds support and easy integration of Twitter content onto blogs using the embeddable tweets. However, my use of embeddable tweets was still fairly simple considering that I am not a blogger and cannot possibly use it on platforms other than Twitter and Facebook. Furthermore, in order to counter its competitors including LinkedIn, Twitter has introduced â€Å"Twellow† which allows people to search for other people on Twitter via their expertise or occupations. I found this particularly useful for finding my colleagues and connecting with them on Twitter. It also allowed me to find old friends (with whom I hadn’t recently been in touch) and connect with them. Various categories including Recreation, Entertainment, Culture, Computers, Sports and Government are listed which allows users of similar taste to group themselves and share content (iEntry, 2013). This is a useful application of the famous phrase â€Å"birds of feather flock together†. However, the Twitter experience was a bit more complex than my experience with Facebook as it took a lot of time making sense of the features. At the very least, discovering how to actually tweet was complex as tags had to be used for creating the story. Furthermore, it was monotonous to merely tweet and not engage in other interactive content such as games. On the other hand, the ‘twit picâ₠¬â„¢ option compares with other platforms such as Instagram by offering the latest ‘trending’ pictures (Twitpic, Inc., 2013). I was able to view several personal life photographs of my favorite celebrities such as Kim Kardishan’s baby- North. With just one click, I was able to view all photographs uploaded by Kim Kardishan on her official twitter account along with the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Data Sharing between Airlines and International Airlines for Case Study

Data Sharing between Airlines and International Airlines for Scheduling Purposes - Case Study Example s like distance, choice of aircraft, operating speed, night curfews, taxi-times and prevailing winds are considered during allocation of schedule times. From the above explanations, it can be concluded that data sharing is of high significance in the planning for delays. Since factors that affect arrival time are taken into consideration, it results in the development of a realistic schedule and the final effect of this is on-time performance. The main limitation to achieving effectives from data sharing is that in many cases, flights leaving at their designated times arrive after the scheduled arrival time and this has the potential of creating reactionary delays. A limitation imposed on data sharing is on the period of time that airlines can store this data (Strauss, 2010). Passenger name record (PNR) and the codeshare agreement Apart from sharing data for purposes of scheduling, airlines can also share passenger informationlikepassenger name record (PNR). In the past, terrorists h ave used airplanes as weapons against target places or nations. It has also threatened the prosperity of this important business. The main importance of sharing PNRis the deterrence of terrorist travel because it keeps known terrorists of airplanes. However, this can intrude into the privacy of the passengers due to the exchange sensitive information and could also result in the discriminate use of the data. The limitation of this is the inability to deter unpopular or unknown terrorists. The data can only be held for 30 days (The House Committee on Homeland Security, 2011). Codeshare agreement is another important element of cooperation between airlines. Under codeshare, two airlines share the same flight. For example, a seat can be purchased on one airline but a cooperating airline... This essay stresses that the strengths of American Airlines include the size of the fleet, the number of routes, partnerships, the IT infrastructure, and government relations. These strengths can be harnessed and data sharing between the airline and the other airlines made efficient and effective. An important strength in this case is the IT infrastructure. The company can venture into strengthening and innovation of an IT infrastructure that can assist effective and efficient data sharing between the airline and international airline for the scheduling purposes. Partnership can also assist the airline and international airlines to share data effectively. Partnerships will make it easy for the airline companies to share data effectively and make the scheduling of flights easier. This paper makes a conclusion that American Airlines should engage in data sharing for the purposes of scheduling flights. The company has many unprofitable routes and data sharing will assist the company is reducing these unprofitable routes. Partnership with the Asian Airlines is a great opportunity for the company to schedule its flights internationally and in particular within the Asian region. The partnership will offer a great chance for data sharing. From the SWOT analysis of American Airlines, it is evident there are many chances for data sharing between the airline and international airlines; data sharing will assist American Airlines to schedule flights and avoid any inconveniences that may arise due to partial or full absence of data sharing.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Reasearch paper on a poet, a genre, atopic or a special aesthetic Essay

Reasearch paper on a poet, a genre, atopic or a special aesthetic problem. Chinese Classical Poetry - Essay Example Most of the poetry was often sung in teahouses as well as more theatrical venues and eventually evolved into longer stories and sagas and musical histories of the past. Refined for almost three hundred years this period produced near fifty-thousand poems and gave birth to almost three thousand poets. (Owen 21-32) It was also a time of blending philosophical schools of thought. Taoism and Confucianism were of purely Chinese origin and have had deep cultural impact on their society. Buddhism, however, was imported from India and adapted well to the previous two philosophies. All being reevaluated and merged during this dynasty and were often translated to fit more in line with the mores of the Tang period. ..there was an entire school of Tao-te-ching interpretation, known as Twofold Mystery, that took up the dialectic of the Buddhist school known as Madhyamaka (Middle Way). Flourishing in the seventh century under the Tang, it was represented mainly by Cheng Hsuan-ying and Li Jung and represents a thinking that strives for a balance between being and nonbeing, the via positiva and the via negativa in approaching the Tao, rejecting each in turn because any form of comprehension in relation to the ultimate truth of the Tao can only be a means, never an end. (Kohn and Lafargue 134) The following is an example of the subtle change to the original text of the Tao Te Ching is an illustration of this influence. Li Yuehs, a Tang commentator on the Tao Te Ching, created the following changes to the traditional text and this is certainly an example of idiosyncratic personal translation. The last lines of chapter 25 usually read: The difference embodies many of the evolutions to the poetry of the age, showing not so much an order of things but a state of being. Early influences in the Tang dynasty reflect the more natural Taoist bent as there was

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Biodiversity Impact Of Invasive Plants In Tropical Biodiversity Biology Essay

Biodiversity Impact Of Invasive Plants In Tropical Biodiversity Biology Essay Tropical zone is the biodiversity hot spot (Briggs, 1996) about three-quarters of the worlds species are confined to the tropic of the world (Wilson, 1992). Though tropical forest ecosystems are more resistant to invasion by alien plants than other biome (Edward, 2009), they are exceedingly threatening by invasive species (Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, biotropica, 2010). Invasive species are creating significant challenges to the management and conservation of the indigenous biodiversity. The distribution of invasive plant species occurred at ecosystem level, community level and at the species level (Meyer et al., 2004). At least one exotic species is present in almost all tropical areas (Usher 1991). Invasive plants alter the local environment more favourable to them but less favourable to the native species (Hoffmann et al., 2004) and thus modified local ecosystem. Biological invasion has become a considerable economic, social, and particularly ecological problem of global impact (Cavalcante and Major, 2006). The important ecological impacts identified include reduction in native plant species richness, abundance and alternation in ecological function (Vitousek Walker, 1989; Adair Groves, 1998; Levine et al., 2003; Ogle, Reiners Gerow, 2003; Vila et al., 2006; Hejda, Pysek Jarosik, 2009 cited in Martin and Murray, 2010). Invasive plant species can covert the large area tropical vegetation to an exotic monoculture and greatly reduce the biodiversity, for example, the number of birds, mammals, tree seedlings were greatly reduced in Australia after the invasion of the area by alien plant species (Braithwaite et al. 1989) and Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) forms large, monotyp ic expanses, with Asia reporting over 35 million acres affected (Garrity et al. 1997). Invasive species are posing a serious threat to biodiversity (IUCN, 2000). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) has pointed that the impacts of invasive species on the tropical ecosystems are increasing rapidly. Similarly, recognizing the increasing issue of impact of invasive species, Convention on Biological Diversity, call on contracting parties to prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate invasive species that threaten ecosystems, habitats and species Article 8 (h). This systematic review attempt to summarises, appraise and communicate the results  of the available studies to address the impact of invasive plants on tropical biodiversity. This protocol will provide a priori guide and allow scientific communities to comment on methodology and other relevant issues. Diverse studies are available related to impact of invasive plant species on tropical biodiversity. Some studies suggest that invasion of native vegetation by the non native plants does not always lead to decline in native biodiversity (e.g. Sax Gaines, 2003; Sax, Kinlan Smith, 2005). Biological invasions have been the subject of intensive ecological research during the last two decades (Fine 2001). Comprehensive studied have been done for many tropical forests e.g. the Hawaiian Islands (Fine, 2002) but some authors argues that the biological invasion research has generally ignored tropical forests ( Drake et al. 1989, Groves Burdon 1986, Williamson 1996 cited in Fine, 2002). In such contentious situation, it seems quite reasonable to syntheses these studies to improve the efficiency of the conservation efforts in preserving biodiversity of the tropics and develop a concrete evidence base on the impact of invasive species which will provide unbiased scientific evidence base to help decision-makers to decide and implement necessary policy intervention to stop further invasion of the tropical biodiversity and identify areas where evidence is lacking to direct research and funding on more crucial agendas. Objective of the review Primary question What are the effects of invasive plants on biodiversity of the tropical zone? Table 1: Definition of components of the primary systematic review question Subject Intervention Comparator Outcomes Biodiversity in the tropical zone Invasion by invasive plant species in tropical zone Biodiversity in forest, savannas or grassland before the invasion or any relevant or any relevant Any reported change in tropical biodiversity e.g. Species richness, abundance of native plant species, tree density Methods 3.1. Search Strategy Relevant published and unpublished literature and data will be collated by following strategy. Due to the resource constraints only English language literatures will be taken into consideration. 3.1.1 Scope of search I will use the following database search to retrieve the literatures and data ISI Web of Knowledge Science Direct Wiley InterScience Cambridge Journal Cab Direct CSA Biological Sciences Database (CSA/CIG)   BIOTROPICA In addition to grey literatures are searched in the website of relevant organization as listed in section 3.1.5 which helps to reveal important information about the tropical forestry and invasive species interaction. First searches are conducted on title, keyword and abstract basis and followed by full text searches. Hits are then checked for the relevance. 3.1.2 Search terms Effective and comprehensive list of related key words as described in the table -2 will be used to retrieve the literatures from the database specified above. Table 2: Search terms for review Subject term Intervention term combine with OR AND combine with OR Tropic* biodiversity Species richness Invas* plant non native plant exotic plant alien plant introduced plant Search term combinations Table: 3 Search term combinations and no of hits Key word 1 Key word 2 Total hits (Topic search) Refined hits in Web of science Tropic* biodiversity AND Invas* plant 54 Tropic* biodiversity AND Non native plant 32 Tropic* biodiversity AND exotic plant 74 Tropic* biodiversity AND alien plant 63 Tropic* biodiversity AND non-indigenous plant 07 Tropic* Species richness AND Invas* plant 38 Tropic* Species richness AND Non native plant 30 Tropic* Species richness AND exotic plant 60 Tropic* Species richness AND alien plant 34 Tropic* Species richness AND non-indigenous plant 04 tropical biodiversity AND (exotic plant) OR (invasive plant) OR(non native plant) OR (non indigenous plant) 7,109 425 No of hits and the retrieval of relevant literature varies between the data base searches, in the above table hits obtained by web of science is mentioned as an example. The same search tem combination give quite different hit in another database search, for example, for the first search term [tropic*biodiversity AND invas*plant] Cab direct retrieved 56 articles. In addition to the web of science the search databases mentioned in section 3.1.1 have been used in the preparation of this protocol and will also be used in final systematic review. 3.1.3 Specialist web sources will be conducted www.conservationevidence.com www.conserveOnline.org www.conservationevidence.org www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov 3.1.4. Internet Search The internet will be searched using the search engines. The first 70 hits for each search will be recorded and examined for relevance. www.google.com www.scholar.google.com www.scirus.com www.scientific.thomsonwebplus.com 3.1.5 Specialist agencies and organization data search At global level: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) IUCN/Invasive species specials group CABI- invasive species compendium Convention on biological diversity (CBD) International Weed Science Society (IWSS) UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) In addition to this regional level agencies and organization in tropical countries will also consulted. Asia: Association of Southeast Asian Nations , Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) Invasive Alien Flora of India Weed Science Society of Japan Weed Science Society of China Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) Australia: Invasive Species Council South America: Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network IABN Invasive Information Network 3.2. Study Inclusion criteria The relevant studies (articles, literatures, book sections) to be included in meta-analysis will be based in hierarchical judgment by first scanning the article titles followed by key words, abstracts and full text. The relevancy is determined by criteria as described below. If the data presented in the studies are not clear and needed to take more detailed description original authors and their respective organization will be contracted. Kappa analysis will be carried out for repeatability. Disputes between two reviewers will be solved by third independent reviewer. Geographical location: Study area of the relevant studies should be within the tropics (23.438 °S to 137 23.438 °N). 3.2.1. Relevant subjects: Any studies related to biodiversity changes in the tropical zone because of invasive plant species. 3.2.2. Types of intervention: Invasion of the tropical zone (forest land, agriculture land, grass land or savannas) by invasive plant species 3.2.3. Types of comparators: Any relevant studies and studies comparing the biodiversity of the tropical zone assessing before and after the effect of invasive plant species 3.2.4. Types of outcomes: Any study which shows biodiversity change (indicators like relative species richness or abundance) 3.2.5. Types of studies: Any study which describes qualitatively or quantitatively the effect of invasive plant species in the biodiversity (species richness, abundance) in forest land, grassland. Range land, agriculture land, savannas. Those studies which present comparison of before and after the invasion or the comparison of the proportion of exotic species to native species will be included. Studies can be articles in peer reviewed journals, book chapters or grey literatures 3.3. Potential effect modifier and reasons for heterogeneity Different edaphic, biotic, topographic and climatic condition which governs the vegetation type of the tropics such as soil quality, altitude, aspects, forest types and intensity of human disturbances which may respond to plant invasions in different ways affect the study outcomes. Furthermore, the biological characteristics of the invasive species also affect the study. 3.4. Study quality assessment The searched articles, grey literatures and documents will be assesses according to the previously designed study inclusion criteria. These are then checked independently for validity, reliability and applicability. A Quality assessment checklist is developed as shown below with the consultation of the review team and will be amended after stakeholders feedbacks. Internal and external validity will be checked using a set of criteria. Table 4: Quality assessment checklist for checking validity, reliability and applicability Variables Yes No 1 Target population and intervention defined 2 Sample representative 3 Experimental design/randomization 4 Base line information 5 Valid data collection 6 Description of confounding factors 7 Applicability of the research 8 Any biases Source: Adapted from class notes, 2010 and literature review 3.5. Data extraction strategy Qualitative and quantities information will be extracted from the studies included for the review. Information on invasive species, their effects on tropical biodiversity (species richness, abundance and competition) will be extracted in to a specially designed extraction form as shown in annex-1. Where data are available, data will be extracted as before and after data and other data will be extracted as appropriate. 3.6. Data synthesis and presentation Data synthesis method will be determined by the availability of the data and data type. The studies will be grouped according to the type of information available e.g. review article, original research. If sufficient quantitative information is available meta-analysis will be conducted to know the significance of the effect of invasive plant species to the tropical biodiversity. If in sufficient quantitative information is available qualitative analysis of evidence will be undertaken.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Anti-semitism And Sartre :: essays research papers

In Sartre's Anti-Semite and Jew, he makes reference to the notion that anti-Semitism arises not against individual Jews, but against the " idea of the Jew." That is to say that the Jew is recognized only as a member of a group associated with fear and disgust, not as an individual capable of being anything but the stereotype of the Jew. I agree with Sartre's theory as I have seen first hand the disgust associated with being Jewish. The Jew is judged not by his action or words but simply by the fact that he is a Jew, and the preconceived idea of what this means. As discussed in class, Jews have been used as scapegoats throughout history. They have been blamed for countless economical and social problems simply because of the predisposition towards anti-Semitism that most have. To understand this predisposition is easy. It has come from years of unwillingness to assimilate by the Jews. Because of this unwillingness, the Jews have come to be recognized as different and therefore bad, because, as discussed in class, most identify easiest with what is different with the automatic assumption that it is bad. I think another reason for this assumption is the fact that it is easier to judge people than to understand them, as we can clearly see gentiles have done continuously throughout history to the Jews.Consequently, throughout history, the anti-Semite has come to adopt an "idea of the Jew", of his nature, and of his role in society. As Sartre explains, "the Jew whom the anti-Semite wishes to lay hands upon is not a schematic being defined solely by his function, as under administrative law; or by status or acts, as under the Code. He is a Jew, the son of a Jew, recognizable by his physique, by the colour of his hair, by his clothing perhaps, and, so they say, by his character." To the anti-Semite, the Jew's character is oily, tactless, intriguing, selfish and greedy. He believes that all Jews are this way, and therefore treats them all the same, with hatred and repulsion. While a Jew might be a successful business man, a doctor, lawyer, or teacher etc. he is also a Jew, and that is all he is recognized for in the eyes of the anti-Semite.Furthermore, Sartre argues that "if the Jew did not exist, the Anti-Semite would invent him." This is self explanatory by the fact that Jews have been used as scapegoats and will continuously be used as such in the future.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Learning in the EYFS Essay

Knowledge and understanding of the world – Knowledge and Understanding of the World relates to children’s everyday lives, their homes, families, other people, the local environment and community and the wider world. Personal, social and emotional development – The social and emotional development of a child helps practitioners/parents understand the behaviors they exhibit. Though children develop and mature at different rates, social and emotional development generally occurs in predictable stages. Communication language and literacy – Children’s learning and competence in communicating, speaking and listening, being read to and beginning to read and write must be supported and extended. They must be provided with opportunity and encouragement to use their skills in a range of situations and for a range of purposes, and be supported in developing the confidence and dispositions to do so. Problem solving reasoning and numeracy – This area mostly focuses on a child’s ability to solve simple problems and builds an awareness of shapes space and measures. Practitioners do this by looking at shapes, numbers, building bricks etc. Physical Development – Children are encouraged to take part in a variety of physical activities. Children develop physically at different stages and times. This area helps practitioners to keep track of each individual child’s development. Creative development – Being creative covers a multitude of ideas including how children express and communicate ideas. They can explore all sorts of media (eg ICT, music) and materials. They will also develop their imagination through play. Although they are all different a good planned activity will cover more than one area of development. For example, playing a snakes and ladders board game will help a child with their Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy mainly but it will also help them with their Communication, language and literacy development as they are being encouraged to communicate with other children playing the game. Also the areas are interdependent if the child is struggling with one area it can affect how they develop in other areas. For example, if a child is disabled and cannot join in physical activities this can affect their physical development but it can then also affect their communication, language and literacy and Personal, social and emotional development because they aren’t joining in with the same activities as their peers. This can be avoided or at least limited by good planning and inclusive practice. 1.2 Outcomes are given to the different areas of learning within the EYFS to ensure that practitioners have something to focus on. These outcomes are outlined within the EYFS as â€Å"overarching principles† these are: Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. And three main areas of development which are; Physical Development – This is the development of a child’s physical skills. It includes the Gross motor skills, such as walking, jumping, running, catching and the fine motor skills such as the pincer grip, hand-eye-coordination, doing up laces or zips. Personal Social and Emotional Development – The social and emotional development of a child helps practitioners/parents understand the behaviors they exhibit. Though children develop and mature at different rates, social and emotional development generally occurs in predictable stages. Communication and Language Development – Language development is the process by which children come to understand and communicate language during early childhood. 1.3 The documented outcomes are assessed by practitioners in different ways. On-going assessments are carried out in settings frequently. Practitioners plan an activity, observe the child/children, record information and evaluate the outcome. If needed they then plan another activity and repeat the process until they get the information they need. These are also known as â€Å"formative assessments† and they are an integral part of the EYFS framework. It helps parents, carers and practitioners to constantly monitor a child’s progress and pick up on and solve problems if there are any. At the age of two a child has a progress check. This is when practitioners review their progress and produce a short written summary of a child’s development in the main areas of development. This helps to make sure a child is on track with their development and helps to identify any areas that a child may be developing at a slower rate than is expected. This can also pick up on any dis abilities or learning difficulties. If a practitioner does pick up on a learning difficulty they should put together a plan to support the child’s future learning and development. Practitioners must discuss with parents how the outcome of the assessments can be used to support the child’s development at home, and parents are encouraged to share the outcome with any relevant professionals i.e. a teacher or a health visitor. In the final term of the year in which the child turns five practitioners must complete the EYFS profile for each child. This profile must reflect on-going observation, all relevant records held by the setting, discussions with parents and carers, and any other adults whom the teacher, parent or carer judges can offer a useful contribution. The profile lets parents, carers and other professionals have an overview of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their progress against expected levels, and their readiness for year one. Year one teachers are given a copy of this profile and it will outline whether the child is meeting, exceeding or not yet reaching the expected levels of the early learning goals. I think assessments are important to Practitioners and other professionals like teachers because it helps them to work together to identify any problems that may arise with a child’s development and address the problems quickly and effectively also if the child is very quick at development it can be spotted and they can be given extra planned work to stop them from getting bored. I think it is also good for parents because they have guidance on how to help their child’s development at home.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Fiddler on the Roof Essay Example

Fiddler on the Roof Essay Example Fiddler on the Roof Paper Fiddler on the Roof Paper The opening scene bursting to life with its historical brilliance and explanation of Jewish tradition is an amazing opening to a musical. As soon as you see and hear Topol you know you are in for a wonderful treat. Tevye (Topol) a poor milkman has five young girls to feed. He battles with tradition and his love for his children. His three eldest all fall in love with men who are traditionally not acceptable, an underprivileged man, a revolutionary and a man who is not Jewish. They are eventually allowed to marry the men whom they love, with a few hiccups on the way, without the use of a matchmaker. He and all the Jewish people of Russia are forced to leave their lands and leave the country in exile. A great story of how Tevyes love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of the turn-of-the century tsarist Russia. : Norman Jewisons adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof has many great screen shots and is a visual marvel. Jewisons Fiddler on the Roof is bright, both in appearance and in mood. Jewisons vision of tsarist Russia is brilliant, bright, wonderful and yet extremely dangerous especially for the Jews. This is portrayed through costume, a great set and a brilliantly hilarious script. As aforementioned the script is brilliant and has a lot of speech for a musical. The language is perhaps more modern than it would have been in tsarist Russia however with it being written in English it is hard to tell how a Russian would have spoke. The accents that they have chosen for Fiddler on the Roof are perfect for the type of musical it is. Joseph Steins script is extremely funny and tremendously emotional. The lyrics of the songs are wonderful and proof of this is how well known and notorious the songs have become. The songs that come to mind are Matchmaker, If I Were a Rich Man and Sunrise, Sunset, even modern artists have attempted to use these songs in their profession. The signing is radiant and breathtaking which would be excellent on stage and film. Topols singing, acting and dancing combination is without a doubt the highlight of the film. Every actor even the extras are good singers, dancers and actors without a single performer lowering the brilliance of the musical. Topol is a comic genius; he has compassion for acting which is evident in Fiddler on the Roof. Leonard Frey is a fantastic supporting actor and deserves as much credit for his role in Fiddler on the Roof as any other actor. All aspects of this film are brilliant the acting, directing, lyrics, singing and dancing are all equally great. Fiddler on the Roof is stunning, elated and jubilant a musical masterpiece. Due to the great original ideas that this musical holds and the qualities that it possesses Fiddler on the Roof is without a doubt one to see. Rating: five out of five.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free Essays on Spouse Abuse

â€Å"Spouse Abuse† Though we live in this amazing country of the United States of America, there will always be problems that must be worked on. Conflicts between family members in America are a growing problem, namely spousal abuse. Spouse abuse is a complicated issue and controversial concerning the question whether or not it is a large problem in our society. First it is crucial to define what exactly is spouse abuse. According to the Survey of Social Science it is the â€Å"Physical, psychological or sexual mistreatment that occurs in a relationship between married couples or among individuals in a sustaining partnership†(Harpaz). This mistreatment is often hiding, the spouse that’s being beat is very commonly afraid to let their situation be known to others. The woman being beat feels that it is her fault. From constant verbal and mental abuse, she is convinced that she must have done something wrong. With this feeling that she is the one which has done something wrong, she is ashamed of what is going on. Women come to think it was their fault. They feel guilty for not doing a good enough job as a mom because they are unable to protect themselves, or their children. A major obstacle to leaving is â€Å"women are in more danger when they are leaving- though everyone always asks why they stay.†(Marano) Another major obstacle to leaving is battered women’s fear of losing their children or of being unable to protect them. â€Å"A Massachusetts study documented that in 70 percent of cases where fathers attempted to get custody of their children, they did so successfully. So when the abuser says to her, Sure, you can leave, but I’ve got the money to hire a good lawyer and I’ll get the kids, he might be ri ght.†(Marano) It is only when shame is gone, those abused women can ask for help. But who can help these women so they can get out of an abusive relationship? Unfortunately, the clinics that are there to he... Free Essays on Spouse Abuse Free Essays on Spouse Abuse â€Å"Spouse Abuse† Though we live in this amazing country of the United States of America, there will always be problems that must be worked on. Conflicts between family members in America are a growing problem, namely spousal abuse. Spouse abuse is a complicated issue and controversial concerning the question whether or not it is a large problem in our society. First it is crucial to define what exactly is spouse abuse. According to the Survey of Social Science it is the â€Å"Physical, psychological or sexual mistreatment that occurs in a relationship between married couples or among individuals in a sustaining partnership†(Harpaz). This mistreatment is often hiding, the spouse that’s being beat is very commonly afraid to let their situation be known to others. The woman being beat feels that it is her fault. From constant verbal and mental abuse, she is convinced that she must have done something wrong. With this feeling that she is the one which has done something wrong, she is ashamed of what is going on. Women come to think it was their fault. They feel guilty for not doing a good enough job as a mom because they are unable to protect themselves, or their children. A major obstacle to leaving is â€Å"women are in more danger when they are leaving- though everyone always asks why they stay.†(Marano) Another major obstacle to leaving is battered women’s fear of losing their children or of being unable to protect them. â€Å"A Massachusetts study documented that in 70 percent of cases where fathers attempted to get custody of their children, they did so successfully. So when the abuser says to her, Sure, you can leave, but I’ve got the money to hire a good lawyer and I’ll get the kids, he might be ri ght.†(Marano) It is only when shame is gone, those abused women can ask for help. But who can help these women so they can get out of an abusive relationship? Unfortunately, the clinics that are there to he...

Monday, November 4, 2019

A Reflection on the Qur'an, Heritage and Education Essay

A Reflection on the Qur'an, Heritage and Education - Essay Example This essay reflects on his ideas on the subjects of the Qur’an, laws, and education. It agrees with the foundations that the Qur’an laid for a comprehensive viewpoint on lawmaking and legal interpretation, as well as on a modern educational system that balances religious and rational sciences. The Qur’an is the foundation of Islam, which supports it as a way of life. The Qur’an is different from other religious texts, because it focuses on the moral development of humanity in a tangible and communal way (Rahman 2). It is different from Buddhist and Taoist texts that tend to be metaphysical or individualist in orientation. The Holy Bible of Christianity also attempts to morally guide Christians as individuals and as a community, but it does not attempt to affect the legal and political dimensions of human living. The Qur’an, on the other hand, is a blueprint not only for individual living, but how individuals should live together. It is a practical a nd moral guide for numerous issues, including peace, war, and various other public and private affairs (Rahman 2). This paper believes then that the basis of saying that Islam is a way of living is because the Qur’an provides for the direction of that way of living. In Christian societies, the Church and the law are separate, and so are the Church and legislative and executive functions of society. Muslim jurists, on the contrary, use the Qur’an to find answers to both historical and present-day legal questions and cases (Rahman 2). The idea is that God lives through the words of the Qur’an and to follow it completely entails that Muslims should believe in and depend on the Qur’an completely. This way, they truly fully surrender to Allah through living the Qur’an in every aspect of their existence. This essay agrees with Rahman that one of the main problems with present Islamic jurisprudence is the failure of jurists to have a unified reading of th e Qur’an, which leads to an atomistic and insufficient understanding of the verses and the entire Qur’an itself. Rahman criticizes the deductive reasoning used on the Qur’an, such as using qiyas, or analogical reasoning, because it reduces it to its parts, instead of using the parts to appreciate it as a whole (Rahman 2). Like Rahman, this essay believes that to properly read the Qur’an, people must go beyond literally reading the verses, and instead, they must read it in relation to the whole of the text too. In other words, the process starts from the specific and then goes to the general goals and values of the text. Rahman is concerned that by diving the text into verses, they will have unintended legal and religious interpretations (Rahman 2-3). In order to properly read the Qur’an, this paper believes too that the thought systems must come from it, and not from external sources, like what the Sufis did (Rahman 3). This way, fundamental ideas and thought structures will be derived from the Qur’an itself and not from the outside, which are forced on the Qur’an instead (Rahman 3). Rahman calls his process as a new hermeneutical method that highlights the cognitive aspect of the Qur’an (4). It consists of studying the Qur’an using its text, instead of relying on external resources to make sense of it. For me, it means that interpreting the Qur’an does not require outside sources, but an analysis of what the text means in its parts and then as a whole. The idea is to go inside the

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The driving forces in the changing role of accountants Literature review

The driving forces in the changing role of accountants - Literature review Example new business models and shifts in business-oriented demographics.In total, these forces of change are pushing or driving new societal values, expectations and needs and is entrusting more accountabilities on accountants to respond to these changes. In short, these changes are changing every feature of our globe in general and thrusting new duties on accountants in particular. Due to changes in the business sector due to various factors as enumerated below, there is an increasing recognition in business community for the need to develop a thorough understanding of these changes and other upcoming drivers of change and to equip themselves for a wide scale of probable future scenarios. Hence, it is significant and vital for the accounting profession to recognise the major factors and forces that are likely to shape the future. This will facilitate them to face sprouting shocks and to capitalise by acquiring new talents and skills. The study of drivers of change is important to the accountaning profession and for business executives so as to make them to prepare for the challenges from an indecisive tomorrow. This research study will investigate the promising drivers of change that could have the severe effect on accountancy profession and for the business over the ensuing decades. This study has referred various previous empirical studies on the subject to prove its research hypothesis, i.e. the important drivers for change in the role of accountants in the ensuing decade. This research study makes an attempt to offer a balanced picture on the effect of changing roles of the accounting professionals in the ensuing 5 to 10 years. The main research question will be â€Å"what are the driving forces in the changing roles of the accounting professionals in the coming decade and what the opportunity and confronts will it foster for the accounting professionals? This research study will mainly use secondary data like books, peer view journal articles, previous