Ankle Joint Angular Kinematics Health And Social Care Essay

Kinematic information was obtained utilizing an eight camera gesture analysis system as participants ran at 4.0ms-1+5 % , angles were created utilizing the coiling method and the six available rotary motion cardan sequences. A popular method of quantifying the angular place of a stiff dynamic frame with regard to a mention frame is via the use of independent angles known normally as cardan or Euler angles ( Schache et al. , 2001 ) . Cardan/Euler rotary motions are obtained by agencies of an ordered sequence of rotary motions ( Schache et al. , 2001 ) . Rotations are considered to happen about the axis of the section co-ordniate system. For illustration during an XYZ cardan sequence of rotary motions, the section is rotated about the X axes by an angle A, so rotates about a revolved Y ‘ by an angle B and so eventually rotated about a twice rotated Z † axes by an angle C ( Schache et al. , 2001 ) . For a given gesture, different cardan sequences can act upon the angular computations ( Cole et al. , 1993 ) . The International Society of Biomechanics ( ISB ) recommends that lower appendage angular kinematics be calculated utilizing an XYZ sequence of rotary motions, where Ten is flexion/extension, Y is abduction/adduction and Z is axial ( internal/external ) rotary motion ( Cole et al. , 1993 and Wu et al. , 2002 ) . Cole et Al ( 1993 ) based their recommendations around the apprehension that the first rotary motion should be the axis with the greatest scope of gesture, their consequences led to the recommended attack to give clinically relevant informations. However, the big sum of sagittal plane gesture during pace can encroach on the representation of motions outside the sagittal plane ( transverse talk ) , ensuing in greater than expected coronal/transverse plane articulation profiles ( Thewlis et al. , 2008 ) . As such it has been proposed that the XYZ sequence when applied to rotary motions outside the sagittal plane may non be the most appropriate method. In add-on to the normally used cardanic method, coiling angles can besides be used to depict the place of one mention system with regard to another ( Woltring et al. , 1985 ) . Using this technique a place vector and an orientation vector are defined and motion from a mention place is described in footings of rotary motion along a individual projected axis. This method is considered to be stable over any imaginable joint gesture, yet it is utilised infrequently as angular gesture utilizing this technique may non match with an anatomical representation that is clinically meaningful ( Hamill and Selbie, 2004 ) . The ankle articulation plays a cardinal function in the stance stage of the pace rhythm ( Areblad et al. , 1990 and Novacheck 1998 ) . In combination with the hip and articulatio genus articulations the mortise joint facilitates motive power and transmits forces and minutes during the stance stage when the pes is regarded as the interface of the human locomotor system with the environment. Therefore, motion of the mortise joint is an of import constituent of pace mechanics and as such the right reading of its motion is indispensable in kinematic analyses. A choice figure of probes have examined the influence that the method used to cipher segmental kinematics has on the representation of segmental kinematics during pace ( Schache et al. , 2001, Kavaduna et al. , 2000, Tupling and Pierrynowski 1987, Woltring, 1991 and Thewlis et al. , 2008 ) . Areblad et al. , ( 1990 ) and Cole et al. , ( 1993 ) compared ankle articulation kinematics in the sagittal, coronal and cross planes utilizing two rotary motion sequences where the first rotary motion was flexion/extension in both instances. However, these probes did non analyze the staying four rotary motion sequences and used a two camera set-up whereby the deliberate angles are sensitive to the alliance of the camera As such the most appropriate method for the finding of ankle joint kinematics during running remains unknown. This survey investigated the influence of the coiling method every bit good as the 6 available cardan sequences on ankle joint kinematics in the sagittal, coronal and cross planes.MethodEleven male participants volunteered to take portion in this probe ( age 19 + 1 old ages ; Height 176.5 + 5.2 centimeter ; Mass 78.4 + 9.0 kilogram ) . All were injury free at the clip of informations aggregation and completed an informed consent signifier. Ethical blessing for this undertaking was obtained from the School of Psychology moralss commission, University of Central Lancashire and each participant provided written consent. A statistical power analysis of pilot informations was conducted in order to cut down the likeliness of a type II mistake and find the minimal figure participants needed for this probe. It was found that the sample size was sufficient to supply more than 80 % sta tistical power in the experimental step. An eight camera gesture analysis system ( QualisysTM Medical AB, Goteburg, Sweden ) captured kinematic informations at 350Hz from each participant running at 4.0ms-1. Calibration of the QualysisTM system was performed before each information aggregation session. Only standardizations which produced mean remainders of less than 0.85 millimeter for each camera for a 750.5mm wand length and points above 4000 were accepted prior to informations aggregation. Velocity was monitored utilizing infrared photoelectric cells Newtest 300 ( Newtest, Oy Koulukatu 31 B 11 90100 Oulu Finland ) , a maximal divergence of + 5 % from the in agreement speed was allowed. Participants ran over a force platform ( Kistler, Kistler Instruments Ltd. , Alton, Hampshire, UK ; Model 9281CA ) , stance clip was determined as the clip over which 20N or greater of perpendicular force was applied to the force platform. The marker set used for the survey was based on the CAST technique ( Cappozo et al. , ( 1995 ) . Retro-reflective markers were attached to the right pes and shank in the undermentioned locations 1st and 5th metatarsal caputs, median and sidelong maleoli, median and sidelong epicondyle of the thighbone, with a tracking bunch positioned on the right shank. The tracking bunch was comprised of four 10mm spherical brooding markers mounted to a thin sheath of lightweight C fibre with a length to width ratio of 1.5-1, in conformity with the Cappozzo et al. , ( 1997 ) recommendations. A inactive test was captured to specify the pes and tibial sections, following which markers non used for tracking the sections during gesture, were removed. Kinematic parametric quantities were quantified utilizing Ocular 3-D ( C-Motion Inc, Gaithersburg, USA ) and filtered at 10 Hz utilizing a zero-lag low base on balls Butterworth 4th order filter. Five tests of ankle joint rotary motion during stance were a veraged for each participant. Angles were created utilizing the coiling method and about XYZ, ZXY, XZY, YXZ, YZX and YXZ rotary motion cardan sequences referenced to co-ordinate systems about the proximal terminal of the section, where Ten is flexion-extension ; Y is ab-adduction and is Z is internal-external rotary motion. Descriptive statistics including agencies and standard divergences were calculated for each status. Differences in stance stage extremum angles and scope ‘s of gesture were examined utilizing perennial steps ANOVA ‘s with significance accepted at the P & A ; lt ; 0.05 degree. The Mauchly ‘s sphericalness premise was violated in all instances and as such the grades of freedom of the F statistic were adjusted via the Greenhouse Geisser rectification. The Shapiro-wilk statistic for each status confirmed that the informations were usually distributed. Appropriate post-hoc analyses were conducted utilizing a Bonferroni rectification to command for type I error. Effect sizes were calculated utilizing an Eta2. Cohen ‘s suggestion sing effects sizes was observed ( little R & A ; lt ; 0.3 ; medium R & A ; gt ; 0.3 and & A ; lt ; 0.5 ; big & A ; gt ; 0.5 ) . All statistical processs were conducted utilizing SPSS 17.0.ConsequenceFigure 1 presents the average 3-D angular kinematics of the ankle articulation during the stance stage. Tables 1 and 2 present scopes of gesture and peak angles observed in all three planes of rotary motion as a map of cardan sequence.Table1: Mean ( and standard divergence ) scope of gesture ( deg ) for each rotary motion as a map of cardan sequence ( * = important ( p & A ; lt ; 0.05 ) chief consequence ) n=11.@ @ @ Table 1 near here @ @ @Table 2: Mean ( and standard divergence extremum values ) ( deg ) for each rotary motion as a map of cardan sequence ( * = important ( p & A ; lt ; 0.05 ) chief consequence ) n=11.@ @ @ Table 2 near here @ @ @The consequences indicate that important scope of gesture chief effects were observed for the coronal F ( 1.85, 16.66 ) = 10.04, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2= 0.53 and cross plane F ( 2.04, 18.39 ) =21.91, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2=0.71. Post-hoc analyses revealed that both coronal and cross plane ROM utilizing the YXZ and ZXY sequences was significantly greater than the others. Furthermore , it was besides observed that extremum angle chief effects were found for the coronal F ( 2.28, 20.48 ) = 82.99, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2=0.90 and transverse planes F ( 2.08, 18.72 ) = 80.49, P & A ; lt ; 0.05, eta2= 0.90. Post-hoc analyses revealed that peak coronal and cross plane angles utilizing the YXZ sequence were significantly greater than the others.@ @ @ @ Figure 1 near here @ @ @ @Figure 1: Representative mortise joint articulation kinematics in the a. sagittal, b. wreath and c. transverse planes as a map of cardan sequence.DiscussionEuler/Cardan angles are used extensively within the Fieldss of clinical and sport biomechanics. To day of the month the consequence of changing the sequence of rotary motions has yet to be to the full investigated with regard to the ankle articulation composite ( Areblad et al. , 1990 ) . The intent of the current probe was to analyze the grade of sequence dependence associated with the cardanic method when depicting 3-D kinematics of the mor tise joint.The consequences indicate that changing the sequence of rotary motions when detecting kinematics in the sagittal plane has no important affect on joint scope of gesture parametric quantities. This is unsurprising given the laterality of sagittal plane gesture pace ( Novacheck, 1998 ) . This concurs with the bulk of literature with respects to sequence dependent angles as the wreath and cross plane motions are little in comparing to the sagittal plane and therefore the potency for two-dimensional cross-talk is minimum ( Areblad et al. , 1990 and Thewlis et al. , 2008 ) . Leading to the decision that choosing the appropriate sequence of rotary motions is non an issue when look intoing kinematics in the sagittal plane. However, for the coronal and cross planes a important consequence was found in footings of both the scope of gesture and peak angle observed during the stance stage. The consequences of this survey with regard to the mortise joint articulation found that the ZXY and YXZ sequences significantly affected ankle joint kinematics bring forthing highly big values for both scope of gesture and peak angles. The mistake associated with these sequences is such that the kinematic estimations are anatomically unrealistic. It is interesting to observe that the two combinations which were observed to be significantly different from the others ( YXZ and ZXY ) each had X 2nd in the order of rotary motions. This was the instance even when the principal axis under probe is placed foremost, where it could be assumed that the comparative orientation ( of the chief axis ) would be minimally affected by the grade of sagittal plane gesture holding been placed before it in the sequence. However, when the wreath and cross plane profiles are observed it is evident that peak angles occur at or around maximal dorsi-flexion. Thus it appears to back up the being of two-dimensional cross-talk, and concurs with the findings of ( Thewlis et al. , 2008, Kabada et al. , 1990 and Blankevoort et al. , 1988 ) . However when X is placed last in the order of rotary motions it has small consequence on the magnitude of the and the coronal and cross plane articulation profiles appear to be independent to motion in the sagittal plan e. These consequences appear to oppose those reported by Areblad et al. , ( 1990 ) who reported that changing the sequence of rotary motions has merely a little influence on the angular computations. However nevertheless, observation of the angular profiles and statistical informations suggests that there appears to be minimum transverse talk from the sagittal plane in informations which uses the XYZ sequence to cipher coronal and cross plane kinematics. Another, proposed method of quantifying angular kinematics is to see the principal axis under probe. Whereby the sequence of rotary motions is selected based on the plane being considered, with X placed last during coronal and cross plane rotary motions to cut down its weighting and rarefy cross-talk ( Richards et al. , 2008 ) . This method may hold virtue and could function as an option to the ISB method as the consequences suggest that cross talk is minimum utilizing this technique, but future probes are necessary to find whether it p rovides any extra benefits to the XYZ sequence. It is clear from the consequences that different computational methods can give different angular kinematic forms. Based on these consequences it appears that at the current clip the ISB recommendations are the most appropriate for the representation of ankle joint kinematics during the stance stage of running, and as such its usage is encouraged. The findings may hold wider deductions for research workers utilizing Cardan angles as portion of their kinematic informations decrease protocol. In add-on the consequences suggest that the YXZ and ZXY sequences produce the greatest mistake and therefore the use of these sequences to quantify ankle gesture outside the sagittal plane is strongly discouraged. This survey emphasizes the demand for new methods which allow angular kinematics to be measured accurately. Therefore, guaranting joint map is represented right.

Developing a Sports Export Company

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See the instruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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American Born Chinese that utilizes Scott McClouds Understanding Essay

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Learning styles Essay Example for Free

Learning styles Essay Overview 1. What are learning styles? 2. Why learning styles are important? 3. What are the different learning style classifications available? 4. What are the similarities and differences between different learning style classifications? 5. What is/are your learning style/s? 6. What is/are the most appropriate learning method/s for your learning style/s? 1. What are learning styles? ? Learning style is an approach to learning ? It is not how you learn; i. e. not the method of learning ? It is, rather, how you prefer learning; i. e. what are  the broad strategies of learning that you prefer Which of the following two statements illustrates a learning style? I like lectures – this is not a learning style, but a preference for a method I like to gain knowledge by listening to others – this is a learning style; preference for an approach 2. Why learning styles are important? ? Matching learning methods to learning styles ? Developing a learning organisation/network in which students adapt change learn ? Developing individual learning plans ? Self-development for individuals? Assessing suitability for specific training courses ? Training the trainer ? Team building, looking at team strengths weaknesses ? 360 degree appraisal 3. What are the different learning style classifications available? ? There are more than half-a-dozen learning style classifications ? This shows that there is no one-best way to learn ? Rather, based on the individual needs and the personality traits, the approach that one takes to learning differs ? Out of the many learning style classifications, there are two that are commonly used 1. VARK classification 11. Classification based on Kolb’s cycle I. VARK learning styles Visual learner Auditory learner Reading/writing Kinaesthetic learner Action-oriented Thinkers II. Kolb’s learning styles Reflector Theorist Activist Pragmatist 4. What are the similarities and differences between different learning style classifications? ? All classifications aim at a common cause/outcome – so, to this extent, there cannot be major differences ? However, there are differences related to the orientation of learning or the angle through which learning is viewed. VARK – based on the sensory input for learning / how we capture learning Kolb’s – based on the cognition/ how we understand VARK vs Kolb: an approximate comparison Theorists Reflectors Pragmatists Activists 5. What is/are your learning style/s? 1. Go to: http://www. varklearn. com/english/page. asp? p=questionnaire 2. Answer the questionnaire and get a score 3. Interpret the score to find out your dominant learning styles 6. What is/are the most appropriate learning strategies for your learning style/s? 1. Form groups that have similar dominant learning  styles. 2. Individually make a list (in priority order) of your preferred learning methods 3. Compare your list with the others in the group 4. Find out the three most preferred learning methods of the group (in priority order) Summary 1. What are learning styles? Approach to learning 2. Why learning styles are important? To know the best learning method to adopt 3. What are the different learning style classifications available? VARK / Kolb’s 4. What are the similarities and differences between different learning style classifications? VARK – sensory input based; Kolb’s – cognition based 5. What is/are your learning style/s? Usually a combination of learning styles 6. What is/are the most appropriate learning method/s for your learning style/s? Though broadly similar, methods may differ even within the same learning style References †¢ Fleming, N. D. (2001). Teaching and learning styles: VARK strategies. Christchurch , New Zealand : N. D. Fleming. †¢ Kolb, D. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs , NJ : PrenticeHall.

Application Of Molecular Genetics To Crops

Application Of Molecular Genetics To Crops The science of biotechnology is likely to be to the first half of the 21st century what the computer was to the second half of the 20th century. Its implications are profound, its potential benefits massive. Britain is well placed to keep our lead in Europe. I want to make it clear: we dont intend to let our leadership fall behind and are prepared to back that commitment with investment. are the words of Tony Blair at the European Bioscience Conference (November 2000) (cited in Francesca Tencalla, 2005), which is the best way to present my positive answer towards the question. The molecular genetics positively impacts the plant breeding paradigm. Introduction: Centuries ago, the science was unknown to the farmers but the present agricultural scenario is changing its traditional frame of conventional breeding to the most recent and modernized frame of molecular plant breeding. Today, the world agriculture is facing great challenges on four fronts visually, Production, Population, Pollution, and Politics. Also, the change in climate (global warming) is the next major challenge for the crops, as unlike animals they can not move from one place to another. The prospects for feeding humanity as we are in 21st century often are portrayed in a daunting light to keep pace with the population growth. As we are told that worlds population has been growing faster than crop production, since the early 1980s and is expected to be 8 billion in next or two decades. At this point, we need to think in-depth about the opportunities to meet these challenges and to improve the crop production at a subsequent rate. Are the agronomic practices merely going to pl ay the key role or the refined crop protection measures will be the major part of increase in crop production, at this junction of scientific development? No other than, molecular genetics and the application of molecular techniques to enhance the efficiency of plant breeding, will play the crucial role in crop improvement, is a promise to the next generations (Ben Miflin, 2000). At the turn of the 20th century, the discovery of principles of natural selection and hybridization by Darwin and the rediscovery of Mendelian genetics served as the basis for plant breeding and genetics. In the same way, tremendous increase in crop yields in the 21st century has been powered by the development of plant biotechnology, -omics era of molecular biology, and molecular genetics. The recent techniques of molecular genetics are emerging continuously to overcome the demand of growing population (Moose et al., 2008). The chief objective of molecular genetics is to enhance crop production and crop produce usefulness by genetic modification of crop plants; this is precisely what plant breeding has been doing from the day prehistoric man began to domesticate the orphan (wild) species. The molecular genetic techniques aim to give traditional breeding a technological boost, says Jorge Dubcovsky, a wheat molecular geneticist from University of California, whose group is presently working on Marker Assisted selection in wheat for 23 separate traits, conferring resistance to insect-pests, fungi and viruses. His enthusiastic claim is that this research could offer the wings for crop improvement to plant breeding what jet engine has brought to air travel. Basic Terms: Plant Breeding is an art as well as science of improving genetic makeup of plants in relation to their economic use (Paul et al., 2006; Singh B.D., 2003). Molecular genetics refers to the study of molecules, our genes, their structure and functions at molecular level. Also studies the transfer of genes from one generation to the next. It employs the principles of genetics and methods of molecular biology (NCBI, Wikipedia). Recently, Crop improvement is the science of value addition to the existing crop species by using the technique, which marries conventional plant breeding with molecular biology, to get theatrical gains in yield (Austin R.B., 1986). Hundred years of Genetics: (From domestication to transformation) Plant breeding deals with the aspect of crop production. In early days, plant breeding was mainly based on skills and the abilities of the breeder involved in the programme. But as the genetic engineering and the tools of molecular genetics were elucidated, breeding methods and programmes were designed in their light. Plant breeding began with the domestication, when primitive men cultivated the first crop for the benefit of mankind. Thereafter, the process of exploiting the crops for improvement of their commercial values has a long history in itself. As early as 700 B.C., Babylonians and Assyrians performed artificial pollination in date palm. Then, the first artificial hybrid named Fairchilds mule produced by Thomas Fairchild by crossing carnation with sweet William in 1717. These provide the clear evidence of plant breeding exist as an art before the discovery of Mendelian genetics. In 1900, the rediscovery of Gregor John Mendels paper provided the foundation for the vast knowledge of genetics for crop improvement. A noteworthy development resulted from the discoveries of G.H. Shull on inbreeding in maize (Zea mays), led to the production of hybrid varieties in maize, sorghum, cotton, rice and several other crops. Green Revolution, one of the greatest achievements in the modern plant breeding has been the introduction of dwarf gene in cereals, particularly in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa), (Borlaug, 2000). In 1960, Allozymes the first biochemical genetic markers were on hand. The next decade provided new tools to geneticists of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and Southern blotting. Taq polymerase was found in 1980 and shortly Polymerase chain reaction was developed, which is now routinely used in plant breeding research. The recently developed technology is single nucleotide polymorphic markers based on high density DNA arrays, a technique known as Gene Chips (Rodomiro Ortiz, 1998). In 1980, the era of biotechnology began with the successful production of the first transgenic plant using Agrobacterium (Moose and Mumm, 2008). The methods of crop improvement have changed dramatically through last 25 years. The continued exploitation of biotechnology and the integration of genomic tools in crop improvement widen the plant breeding research. The novel genetic approaches like next generation sequencing (NGS), high-throughput marker genotyping, advanced-backcross QTL analysis, introgression libraries (ILs), multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population, can be harnessed to recognize the genetic variations within the crop species and between cultivated and wild species (Varshney et al., 2009). The seeds of molecular genetics are immensely sprouting and sooner will grow into a self-sufficient fruitful plant to alleviate the world hunger. Application and Impact of Molecular Genetics on Crop Improvement: The Father of Green Revolution, Dr. Norman Borlaug said in an interview: Biotechnology helps farmers produce higher yields on less land. This is a very environmentally favorable benefit. He justified his statement by giving the fact that the worlds grain output in 1950 was 692 million tonnes. After forty years or so later, the worlds farmers sown the crops in about the same acreage of land but they harvested 1.9 billion tonnes that counts the 170% increase in global production. To get this increased production in 1999 using the same conventional breeding, farmers would have needed an additional land of 1.8 billion hectares, instead of using 600 million as used in 1950 (www.actionbioscience.org). Opportunely, plant breeding research is at an arena where there are remarkable advances being made at molecular levels and these endow with opportunities to augment the molecular technologies available for crop improvement as outlined below. Distant hybridization: With the advancement of molecular genetics, it is now possible to transfer genes between distantly related plants. Now genes can be transferred interspecific and intergeneric. Recombinant DNA technology can be amplified to transfer the desirable genes from lower level organisms. For example, Progenies derived from rice (Oryza sativa ssp. japonica) plants pollinated by Oenothera biennis exhibited numerous morphological and developmental traits. Results from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis showed that several rice lines contained extensive genetic variations, which included disappearance of rice parental bands and/or appearance of novel bands (Chu Xiu Chang et al., 2007). Recombinant DNA technology: There are two methods for crop improvement using r-DNA technology namely, direct and indirect methods. The direct method involves the introduction of novel gene(s) to crops by transformation outside the constraints of sexual crossing. Whereas, the indirect method involves the improving crops by the development of molecular markers (Miflin, CIHEAM). These methods have their specific significance in plant breeding so, are discussed as under. Molecular Markers for crop improvement: Molecular marker refers to the easily detectable marker linked to a desirable trait. The plant breeding analyses like, early generation selection, enrichment of complex F1 generation, choice of donor parent in backcrossing, recovery of recurrent parent genotype in backcrossing, linkage block analysis and selection, exploit molecular markers as a valuable tool. Application of molecular markers in plant breeding includes Germplasm characterization/fingerprinting, determining seed purity, systematic sampling of Germplasm, and phylogenetic analysis. Molecular markers played a key role in replacing bioassays (Varshney et al., 2008). Crop plants exhibit 20-50,000 genes, out of which only few are of our interest in crop improvement. Conventional linkage maps are based on these genes of interest which have distinct morphological effect. But there are limitations in such maps as they cannot map out the genes governing quantitative traits, are time consuming and tedious. Therefore, emphases were made to focus on molecular markers for linkage mapping. There are many types of molecular markers visually isozymes, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), cleaved amplified polymorphic sites (CAPS), simple sequence repeats (SSR), amplified length fragment polymorphism (AFLP), and the latest includes single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and single feature polymorphism (SFP), (Bertrand C. Y Collard and David J Mackill, 2008; Varshney et al., 2006). Out of these, SSR or microsatellite is the most widely used marker in major cereal crops (Bertrand C. Y Collard and David J Mackill, 2008). The SNP and DArT (diversity array technology) markers are other high-throughput markers, which can be used to prepare the whole genome map even without the availability of sequence data for the crop (Varshney et al., 2006). In recent years, noteworthy and stimulating progress has been made in marker assisted technology and the development of markers linked to the gene of interest. Some important achievements are given in table 1. Molecular Assisted Selection (MAS): MAS (figure 1) speed ups and makes conventional breeding easier as herein, linked molecular markers are used for indirect selection of desirable traits that were difficult to select earlier in seedling stage (Anushri Varshney et al., 2004). Jonathan et al., 1998, while performing their research on Musa found that due to its triploid nature, the highly relevant generation and the precise linkage maps is not usually attainable. So, to generate linkage map, they first generated traditional linkage map based on diploid relatives and extrapolation to the polyploidy crop and then did polyploidy mapping based on single dose markers in population derived from crosses between tetraploid and diploid genotypes. Thus, it became possible to generate the linkage map of current Musa, which is an allotetraploid. Bioinformatics: Bioinformatics is often overlooked side of molecular marker strategies. As we know that molecular technologies produces a large number of data, with great chances of error introduction during handling and interpretation. The correct accreditation of data is necessary for getting the precise results after a long run of experiments, so for maintaining that huge amount of data bioinformatics enabled such software that provide accurate results and are available through World Wide Web (Simmonds et al., 1999). Quantitative trait Loci (QTL): The most interesting use of molecular markers is the efficient selection of traits. They also made it possible to select polygenic traits controlled by QTLs, by the use of molecular markers like RFLPs and isozymes. Interesting work has been done on QTL by Tanksley et al., on tomatoes, Stuber et al., on maize, McCough and Doerge on rice and Bradshaw et al. on potatoes. The future research can be made in improving the disease resistance in cereal crops (Simmonds et al., 1999). Development of nodules in cereals: Leguminous plants have root nodules that contain nitrogen fixing bacteria known as Rhizobium. These bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules in the form of nitrates. If this gene can be transferred or active root nodules can be developed in cereal crops like wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, barley etc. thus, the reliability of crops on chemical fertilizers would be reduced leading to a significant reduction in cost of production as well as environmental pollution. The introduction of symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation into the major non-legume crops of the world would be one of the most significant contributions that biotechnology could make to agricultural sustainability. With this objective, Edward C. Cocking et al., studied the interaction of rhizobia with the root systems of cereals. They have already confirmed that some naturally occurring rhizobia, such as Parasponia species those isolated from root nodules of non-legume and Aeschynomene from stem nodules of tropical legume species, are able to enter the root systems of maize, rice and wheat by crack entry means the part of plant where lateral roots emerge through the root cortex, so it results to the both inter and intra cellular penetration of rhizobiain, particularly in the cortex of emerging lateral roots. In the recent study, they have interacted oxygen tolerant Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 (kindly donated by Dr J K Ladha, IRRI) isolated from stem nodules of the tropical legume Sesbania rostrata with the root systems of rice and wheat. We have found that intracellular invasion of cells of the cortex of roots of both rice (IR42 and Lemont) and wheat (Wembley) results in plants that are active in nitrogen fixation as determined using acetylene reduction assays (Edward C. Cocking et al.). The Plants for future: (Development of transgenic plants) Transgenic plant is the product of genetic engineering, with artificially inserted foreign gene (Adina Breiman and Esra Galun, 1997). The most important tool in plant biotechnology is the transgenic plant production. This technique requires the study of chromosome at molecular levels, genome sequencing and the identification, selection and then insertion of gene of interest form same species in modified form, or related wild species, unrelated species, genus, across kingdom or from microbes (bacteria, virus, fungi). The successful commercialization of first transgenic crop in 1996 is the remarkable achievement in plant breeding and biotechnology. In 2008, globally both the number of countries (25 countries are GM growers) as well as the number of farmers (13.3 million farmers) growing transgenic crops in 125 million hectares of land, has increased significantly (Table-2), (ISAAA web pages). This technology boosts yields, reduce pesticide usage, increase fertilizer efficiency, enhance disease, drought, pest, resistances to various crops. Recently, Sugarbeet RR herbicide resistant variety is grown in USA, gives significant positive results. Another milestone of transgenic breeding is GOLDEN RICE: genetically modified rice that contain bets carotene which can produce vitamin-A, once consumed (Potrykus, 2001). The production of golden rice presents a second green revolution, where certain countries will become the sole producers of major money making crop. It is believed that this would be the most dominating science in future that will play the most crucial role in the crop improvement and can satisfy the growing world hunger. Future prospects: We already have genetically modified crops for various interesting traits, which are developed so far generally involve only the addition of a single gene. Looking to the future, its unclear whether complex traits, which are thought to involve multiple genes, will be amenable to manipulation through genetic engineering (Jonathan Knight, 2003). All these techniques are costly and the research in public sectors is less due to lack of funds. There is the thrust of evolving the more precise, accelerating and cheaper molecular methods that can revolutionized the world agriculture. DNA chip technology and user friendly marker system are the evolving trends in future. For sustainable and self sufficient agriculture, we need carry out continuous efforts in positive direction. There should be the willingness to accept the research and research products globally, politically and socially as well. Then only we can expect second green revolution. Conclusion: We are at the stage of broad and rapid era of science development in all the fields. Time is ripe for the second green revolution which would not only concentrate on increased productivity but also on value added traits to reduce cost of production, pollution dangers and improved quality. Rapid development of plant biotechnology, particularly molecular genetics will serve as the basis for the second green revolution. To speed up the production process economically, to fulfill the aspirations of huge populace, to achieve diversification and adding value to the primary produce so as to make agriculture enterprise farmers as well as environmental friendly. Advanced technologies are expected to materialize many of our expectations in the 21st century. On the other hand, if we arrogantly enjoy the past but ignore the new challenges, or underestimates our capabilities and feel afraid of innovations like GM crops, it is possible that we miss the good opportunities, as said in this Chinese p roverb, Ninety miles is only the half way of a hundred-mile journey. Confucius once said: The passage of time is just like the flow of the river, which goes on day and night, forever. The past glories are the momentum for our new journey; the journey of science, journey of development, journey towards the state of self reliance, while the lessons from the past may teach us to be smarter. We need molecular genetics to make historic contributions to the rejuvenation of the plant breeding and thus the agriculture.

The Guilt of Lady Macbeth Essay example -- Macbeth essays

The Guilt of Lady Macbeth      Ã‚   Shakespeare's "Macbeth" holds many hidden themes within its already exuberant plot.   The first of these surrounds the murder of Duncan and the role that both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself played.   However, the true guilt of the murder can fall on either character.   Although Macbeth physically committed the crime, it was Lady Macbeth that pushed him to his limits of rational thought and essentially made fun of him to lower his esteem.   With Macbeth's defenses down, it was an easy task for Lady Macbeth to influence Duncan's murder and make up an excuse as to why she could not do it herself.   The guilt of Duncan's murder can be placed firmly on the head on Lady Macbeth.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lady Macbeth wants the murder of Duncan for her own gains.   Given the present situation, she is power hungry.   The wyrd sisters predicted that Macbeth would be king.   This means that the obvious result would be Lady Macbeth as queen.   Instead of waiting for Duncan to die naturally or to be killed by someone else, she ushers the task to Macbeth.   She forces it upon him, which is unfortunate, for he starts a moral character.   It is the methods she uses to convince Macbeth that murder is the answer that are extremely cruel and manipulative, sending no doubt that she is the chief culprit in the murder of Duncan, and his death may be put squarely in her hands.    Sex roles in the 1600s were very strict; women were forbidden from acting in theatrical works.   Shakespeare seems to play off this in his casting and dialect.   The masculinity of Macbeth is questionable in itself, with the provocative language used in the play.   He himself is unsure of his "abilities" as a member of the male sex.... ...tions, the use of her "womanly" features, and her attacks on the manliness of Macbeth all put more guilt on her shoulders than Macbeth by far.   She deserves no pity either.   Her eventual trip to insanity was her own fault, as well as the final battle where Macduff kills Macbeth.   Had she shown patience, fate may have eventually worked in Macbeth and her's favor.    Works Cited and Consulted:    Epstein, Norrie. The Friendly Shakepeare, New York, Viking Publishing, 1993.    Schlegel, August Wilhelm.   Criticism on Shakespeare s Tragedies . A Course of Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. London: AMS Press, Inc., 1965.   Ã‚      Shakespeare, William.   Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul  Ã‚   Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.  Ã‚  Ã‚      Wills, Gary. Lady Macbeth and Evil. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.  

The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay -- essays research papers

Art, what is Art? It is an ambiguous matter: without an exact form, an exact meaning. Does it have any rules or restrictions? However, it can be a great influence on the lives of people. In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, two lovers have fell in and out of love due to Art!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dorian Gray found Sibyl charming because of her Art!  ¡Ã‚ §She has not merely art, consummate art-instinct in her, but she has personality also; and you have often told me that it is personalities, not principles, that move the age ¡Ã‚ ¨ (63). Sibyl is an actress. She is formed by others: no self is without external influence. Therefore, Art that expresses the self is less valuable than art which expresses the influence of others. The special thing that made Dorian mad about her is that she is more than an individual.  ¡Ã‚ §I (Dorian) have seen her in every age and in every costume. Ordinary women never appeal to one ¡Ã‚ ¦s imagination. No glamour ever transfigures them ¡Ã‚ ¨ (59). By imagination that Sibyl has the power to arouse, she can be of any characteristics. Art has no set form, but the purpose of art is to give form to feeling. Now, Sibyl is a person that is able to provide all kinds of feelings that Dorian wishes to experience. Dorian finds extreme pleasure in experiencing through all the sentiments that Sibyl gives. Being a spectator to the different lives and stories amuses Dorian: one evening Sibyl is Juliet, next evening she is Imogen, another night, she is Roselind. &nbs... The Picture Of Dorian Gray Essay -- essays research papers Art, what is Art? It is an ambiguous matter: without an exact form, an exact meaning. Does it have any rules or restrictions? However, it can be a great influence on the lives of people. In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, two lovers have fell in and out of love due to Art!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dorian Gray found Sibyl charming because of her Art!  ¡Ã‚ §She has not merely art, consummate art-instinct in her, but she has personality also; and you have often told me that it is personalities, not principles, that move the age ¡Ã‚ ¨ (63). Sibyl is an actress. She is formed by others: no self is without external influence. Therefore, Art that expresses the self is less valuable than art which expresses the influence of others. The special thing that made Dorian mad about her is that she is more than an individual.  ¡Ã‚ §I (Dorian) have seen her in every age and in every costume. Ordinary women never appeal to one ¡Ã‚ ¦s imagination. No glamour ever transfigures them ¡Ã‚ ¨ (59). By imagination that Sibyl has the power to arouse, she can be of any characteristics. Art has no set form, but the purpose of art is to give form to feeling. Now, Sibyl is a person that is able to provide all kinds of feelings that Dorian wishes to experience. Dorian finds extreme pleasure in experiencing through all the sentiments that Sibyl gives. Being a spectator to the different lives and stories amuses Dorian: one evening Sibyl is Juliet, next evening she is Imogen, another night, she is Roselind. &nbs...

Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 8~10

Chapter 8 Dinner with the Vampire â€Å"Is there something wrong with your food?† â€Å"No, I'm just not very hungry.† â€Å"You're going to break my heart, aren't you?† Chapter 9 He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good, So You'd Better†¦ For the few days he had been in San Francisco, because of the newness of it all, because of the mystery of the flowers and the worries of finding a job, Tommy had completely forgotten that he was horny. He had always been horny, and had accepted that he always would be horny. So when Jody sat down across from him and the tsunami of hormones washed over him, he was quite shocked that he had ever forgotten. Through dinner he missed most of her small talk and bought all the polite lies she told about her eating habits because his mind was busy with a single obsessive thought: She must move that scarf so I can see her breasts. When Tommy finished eating, Frederick came to the table. â€Å"Was there something wrong with your food?† he asked Jody. â€Å"No, I'm just not very hungry.† Frederick winked at Tommy and took their plates. Jody sat back, unwrapped her scarf and threw it over the back of her chair. â€Å"What a nice night,† she said. Tommy ripped his gaze from the front of her blouse and pretended to look out over the street. â€Å"Yep,† he said. â€Å"You know, I've never asked a man out before.† â€Å"Me either,† Tommy said. He had decided that he would throw himself at her feet and beg. Please, please, please, take me home and have sex with me. You have no idea how badly I need it. I've only done it twice in my life and both times I was so drunk that I had to be told about it the next day. Please, for the love of God, end this suffering, fuck me now or kill me! â€Å"Would you like a cappuccino?† he asked. She shook her head. â€Å"Tommy, can I trust you? Can I be honest with you?† â€Å"Sure.† â€Å"Look, I don't want to be too forward, but I think I have to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I knew it.† He fell forward until his head hit the table, rattling the silverware. He spoke into the tablecloth. â€Å"You just broke up with a guy, and this date seemed like a good idea at the time, but you think that you're still in love with him. And I'm a really nice guy and you'll always be my friend. Right?† â€Å"No. I wasn't going to say that.† â€Å"Oh, then you've just gotten out of a bad relationship and you're not ready to get into another one. You need to be alone for a while and find out what you really want. Right?† â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Right,† Tommy said into the tablecloth. â€Å"But things are moving a little too fast and maybe we should see other people for a while. I knew it. I knew you would break my – â€Å" Jody whacked him on the back of the head with a soup spoon. â€Å"Ouch!† Tommy sat up, rubbing the rising lump. â€Å"Hey, that hurt.† â€Å"Are you okay?† she asked, holding the soup spoon at ready. â€Å"That really hurt.† â€Å"Good.† She put the spoon down. â€Å"I was going to say that I don't want to be too forward, but you and I both need a place to live, and I need some help with some things, and I like you, and I was wondering if you wanted to get a place together?† Tommy stopped rubbing his head. â€Å"Now?† â€Å"If you don't have other plans.† â€Å"But we haven't even, you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We can just be roommates if you'd like. And if you need to think it over, I'll understand, but I really need your help.† Tommy was stunned. No woman had ever said anything like that to him before. In just these few minutes she had come to trust him enough to lay herself open to total rejection. Women didn't do that, did they? Maybe she was nuts. Well, that would be okay; she could be Zelda to his F. Scott. Still, he felt as if he owed her some sort of confession that would leave him equally vulnerable. â€Å"Five Chinese guys asked me to marry them today,† he said. Jody didn't know what to say, so she said, â€Å"Congratulations.† â€Å"I didn't accept.† â€Å"Thinking it over?† â€Å"No, I wouldn't two-time you.† â€Å"That's sweet, but technically you'd be six-timing me.† Tommy smiled. â€Å"I like you, I really do.† â€Å"Then let's move in together.† Frederick appeared at the table. â€Å"Well, I can see things are going along just swimmingly between you two.† â€Å"Check, please,† Jody said. â€Å"Right away.† Frederick headed back into the cafe in a bit of a snit. Tommy said, â€Å"You're going to break my heart, aren't you?† â€Å"Irreparably. Would you like to go for a walk?† â€Å"Sure, I guess.† Frederick returned to the table with the check wallet. Jody pulled a wad of cash out of her backpack and handed him a hundred-dollar bill. As Tommy started to protest, standing to dig money out of his jeans pocket, Jody picked up her soup spoon and brandished it threateningly. â€Å"I'll get this.† Tommy sat back down. To Frederick, Jody said, â€Å"Keep the change.† â€Å"Oh, you are too generous,† Frederick gushed. He started backing away from the table in a half-bow. â€Å"And, Frederick,† Jody added, â€Å"Batman is far more over-accessorized than I am.† â€Å"I'm sorry you heard that,† Frederick said. â€Å"An overdeveloped sense of fashion will be my downfall.† He looked at Tommy. â€Å"You're right, she's going to break your heart.† â€Å"Have you seen Coit Tower?† she asked as they walked. â€Å"From a distance.† â€Å"Let's go there. It's all lit up at night.† They walked for a while without talking. Jody walked on the inside and dealt with the barkers with a shake of her head and a wave of dismissal. To one barker she said, â€Å"Thanks, but we're going to put on our own show.† Tommy coughed and tripped over a crack in the sidewalk. He looked at her as if she'd just announced the Second Coming. â€Å"I have to go to work at midnight,† he said. â€Å"You'll have to keep an eye on the time, then.† â€Å"Right. I will.† I can't believe I'm being this aggressive, Jody thought. I hear myself say these things and it's as if they're coming out of someone else's mouth. And he just agrees. I'd have become a tramp a long time ago if I'd known what a great sense of control it gives you. They passed two tall women with enormous breasts and impossibly narrow hips unloading wigs, wads of sequins, and a boa constrictor from the back of a rusted-out Toyota. Shift change at the strip joints, Jody thought. Tommy was riveted. Jody watched the heat rise in his face, just as it had when she caught him staring at her own breasts. He's so open, like a little kid, Jody thought. A cute little neurotic kid. I was lucky to find him. Lucky, considering everything that has happened. They turned on Kearny and Jody said, â€Å"So what do you think about my offer?† â€Å"It sounds okay, if you're sure. But I won't get my first pay-check for a couple of weeks.† â€Å"Money isn't a problem. I'll pay.† â€Å"No, I couldn't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Look Tommy, I meant it when I said I need your help. I'm busy all day. You will have to find the place and rent it. And I have a lot of other things that you'll have to do. For one, my car is in impound and someone has to get it out during the day. If it would make you feel better, I can pay you so you'll have the money.† â€Å"Is that why you asked me if I had my days free in the parking lot last night?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"So it could have been anyone who worked the right hours?† â€Å"Your buddy works the right hours, and I didn't ask him. No, I thought you were cute.† â€Å"I can't deal with that.† He walked along looking straight ahead, saying nothing. They had passed into a neighborhood of apartment houses with security bars on the windows and electric locks on the doors. Ahead, Jody saw waves of red heat signatures coming out of one dark doorway. They were too hot for one person and too cool to be a lightbulb. She focused and could hear men whispering. She suddenly remembered the phone call: â€Å"You're not immortal. You can still be killed.† â€Å"Let's cross the street, Tommy.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Just come on.† She grabbed his jacket and yanked him into the street. When they were on the opposite sidewalk, Tommy stopped and looked at her as if she had just hit him on the head with a spoon. â€Å"What was that all about?† She waved for him to be quiet. â€Å"Listen.† Someone behind them was laughing. Laughing loudly enough to be heard without Jody's acute hearing. They both turned and looked back. A thin man dressed in black was standing under a street lamp a block away. â€Å"What's so funny?† Tommy asked. Jody didn't answer. She was staring at something that wasn't there. There was no heat signature coming off the man in black. â€Å"Let's go,† Jody said, hurrying Tommy up the street. As they passed the doorway across the street, Jody looked over and flipped a middle finger to the three toughs that had been waiting to ambush them. You guys are nothing, she thought. Laughter from the man in black still rang in her ears. It had been a long time since the vampire had heard the sound of his own laughter, and hearing it made him laugh all the louder. So the fledgling had found herself a minion. It had been a good idea to leave her hand partially exposed to the daylight. She had learned that lesson quickly. So many of them just wandered until daylight and burned to death, and he couldn't even enjoy the show unless he wanted to join them in perdition. This one was interesting: so reluctant to give herself to the blood. They only seemed to have two instincts, the hunger and the hiding. And this one had controlled the hunger on her first feeding. She was almost too good. So many of them, if they lasted the first night, went mad trying to live with their new senses. One night and he had to send them to hell with a snap of the neck and a fare-thee-well. But not this one. She had made him laugh; afraid of a few mortals whom she could crush like insects. Perhaps she was protecting her new servant. Perhaps he should kill the boy, just to watch her reaction. Perhaps, but not yet. Some other fly in her ointment then. Just to keep the game going. It felt so good to laugh after so long. Chapter 10 Walking, Talking, and Bumping in the Night Coit Tower jutted out of Telegraph Hill like a giant phallus. Impressive as it was, all lit up and overlooking the City, it made Tommy feel nervous, inferior, and pressured to perform. She had as much as admitted that she was going to take him to bed – had even offered to solve the problem of the Wongs. She was a dream come true. It scared the hell out of him. She took his hand and looked out over the City. â€Å"It's pretty, isn't it. We're lucky it's a clear night.† â€Å"Your hand is freezing,† he said. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. God, I'm smooth, he thought, a complete stud. I'm making a move on an older woman – an older woman with money. Now what? My arm is lying on her shoulder like a dead fish. I'm a geek. If I could just turn my mind off until it's all over. Just get shit-faced and do it. No, not that. Not again. Jody stiffened. She thought: I'm not cold. I haven't been cold since I changed, nor warm, for that matter. Kurt used to say I was always cold. How strange. I can see the heat around Tommy but there's none around me. â€Å"Feel my forehead,† she said to Tommy. Tommy said, â€Å"Jody, we don't have to do this if you're not ready. I mean, maybe, like you said, we should just be roommates. I don't want to pressure you.† â€Å"No, feel my forehead and see if I have a fever.† â€Å"Oh.† He put his hand on her forehead. â€Å"You're as cold as ice. Do you feel okay?† Oh my God! How could I have been so stupid? She tore away from him and began pacing. The guy outside her apartment, the laughing man on Kearny Street, he had been cold. And so was she. How many vampires were out there that she hadn't seen? â€Å"What's the matter?† Tommy asked. â€Å"Did I say something wrong?† I've got to tell him, she thought. He's not going to trust me if I keep it from him. She took his hand again. â€Å"Tommy, I think you ought to know. I'm not exactly what I seem to be.† He stepped back. â€Å"You're a guy, aren't you? I knew it. My dad warned me that this could happen here.† Maybe not, she thought. â€Å"No, I'm not a guy.† â€Å"Are you sure?† â€Å"Are you?† â€Å"There's no need to get nasty.† â€Å"Well, how would you feel if I asked you if you were a girl?† Tommy hung his head. â€Å"You're right. Sorry. But how would you feel if five Chinese women asked you to marry them? Things like that don't happen in Indiana. I can't even go back to my room.† â€Å"I can't either,† she said. â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"Give me a minute to think, okay?† She didn't want to go back to the motel on Van Ness again. The vampire knew she had been there. But he'd probably know even if she moved. â€Å"Tommy, we need to get you a motel room.† â€Å"Jody, I'm getting mixed messages here.† â€Å"No, don't take it wrong. I don't want to send you back to that room with the Wongs. I think we should get you a room.† â€Å"I told you, I don't get paid – â€Å" â€Å"My treat. It'll be an advance on your new job as my assistant.† Tommy sat down on the sidewalk and stared up at the lighted shaft of Coit Tower. He thought, I have no idea what I am supposed to be or what I'm supposed to do. First she wants me for my body, then she wants me as an employee, then she doesn't want me at all. I don't know whether I'm supposed to kiss her or fill out an application. I feel like one of those nervous little dogs from an electroshock test. Here's a bone, Spot. Zap! You didn't really want that, did you? He said, â€Å"Whatever you want me to do, I'll do.† â€Å"Okay,† Jody said. â€Å"Thanks.† She bent and kissed him on the forehead. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, she thought. If we go to a motel and go to bed together, then he'll have to go to work, and when he comes back in the morning he'll come back to the room, open the door, and the sunlight will hit me. Bursting into flames is no way to impress someone on the first date. Separate rooms is the only way to go. He's going to get fed up and leave me like all the rest. â€Å"Tommy, can you go get your stuff tomorrow?† â€Å"Whatever you say.† â€Å"I can't explain now, but I might be in a little trouble and I have a lot of things to do. I need you to do a lot of things for me tomorrow. Can you do that after working all night?† â€Å"Whatever you say,† he said. â€Å"I'm going to get you a room at my motel. I won't be around until tomorrow night. I'll meet you at the motel office at sunset. When you come back to the room in the morning, the papers for my car will be on the bed, okay?† â€Å"Whatever you say.† Tommy looked dazed. He stared into his lap. â€Å"I'll give you money for an apartment. Try to find a place that's furnished. And no windows in the bedroom. Try to keep it under two thousand a month.† Tommy didn't look up. â€Å"Whatever you say.† I've taken over his mind, she thought. It's just like in the movies, when the vampire can control people's actions. I don't want that. I don't want to force him with my will. It's not fair. He was helpless enough, but now I've turned him into a zombie. I want help, but I don't want this. I wonder if there's enough of his mind left even to function, or if I've ruined him. â€Å"Tommy,† she said sternly, â€Å"I want you to climb to the top of the tower and jump off.† He looked up. â€Å"Are you out of your mind?† She threw her arms around him, kissed him, and said, â€Å"Oh, I'm so glad I didn't turn you into a vegetable.† â€Å"I'll give you time,† he said. Jody stood outside the four-story apartment building on Chestnut, watching and listening. There were no lights on in Kurt's apartment. Already it had become Kurt's apartment, not hers, not theirs. The moment she asked Tommy out, she had transferred whatever dreams and delusions she attached to being a couple to Tommy. It was always that way for her. She didn't like to be alone. She and Tommy had walked Telegraph Park talking about their past lives and avoiding the subject of a singular, future life until it was time for Tommy to go to work. Jody had called a cab from a pay phone and dropped Tommy off at the store with a kiss and a promise. â€Å"I'll see you tomorrow night.† It was only when she got out of the cab at the motel that she realized that the registration and pink slip for her car were still at Kurt's. Why didn't I take a damn key when I left? She toyed with the idea of ringing the bell, but the thought of looking Kurt in the eye after what she had done to him†¦ No, she'd have to get in on her own. Going through the two fire doors and the security bolts wasn't an option. The building was a pseudo-Victorian, the facade decorated with prefabricated bolt-on gingerbread. Jody tried to imagine herself climbing the front of the building and shuddered. To her relief, the side panels on the fourth-floor bay window were closed. No way in there. There was a five-foot-wide alley between Kurt's building and the one next to it. The bedroom window was on that side. No gingerbread for handholds there. She went to the alley and looked up. The bedroom window was open and the wall was as smooth as polished stone. She eyed the space between the two buildings. With her hands against one side and her feet against the other, she could spider her way up the wall. She'd seen guys climbing chimney crevices at Yosemite that way. Experienced climbers, with equipment. Not secretaries who avoided escalators for fear of breaking a heel. She focused on the open window and listened. The sound of someone breathing deeply, sleeping. No, it was the sound of two people sleeping. â€Å"You bastard.† She leaped into the air and caught herself between the two buildings, six feet off the ground, her feet against one, hands against the other. She was amazed that she could do it, but it wasn't that hard. It wasn't hard at all. She tested her weight against the tension in her limbs and it felt solid. She held herself with one hand while she pulled her skirt up over her hips with the other, then she tried a tentative step up. Hand, foot, hand, foot. When she paused to look down she was right under Kurt's window, forty feet off the ground, with only a garbage can and a stray cat to break her fall. She tried to catch her breath, then realized that she wasn't out of breath. She felt as if she could hold herself there for hours if she needed to. But the fear of falling pushed her on. You're not immortal. You can still be killed. She pushed the screen loose from the window with her left hand, got a grip on the windowsill, then loosed the tension in her legs and swung down against Kurt's building. Hanging by one hand, she removed the screen with the other and lowered it to the floor inside, then pulled herself up to the windowsill, where she crouched and looked around the room. Two people were in the bed. She could see their heat signatures rising through the covers and being dissipated by the cold breeze coming through the window. No wonder I complained about the cold. She stepped into the room and waited to see if the sleepers stirred. Nothing. She moved to the side of the bed and looked at the woman with almost scientific detachment. It was Susan Badistone. Jody had met her at Kurt's office picnic and had disliked her immediately. Her straight blond hair was spread over the pillow. Jody twisted a lock of her own curly red hair around her finger. So this is what he wanted. And that's an after-market nose if I've ever seen one. But it's all about appearances, isn't it, Kurt? Jody grabbed the covers and lifted them far enough to look under. She's got the body of a twelve-year-old boy. Oh Kurt, you should have let her finish the surgery schedule before you brought her home. She let the covers fall and Susan stirred. Jody backed away from the bed slowly. She had kept all of her papers in an expandable file under the sink in the bathroom. She went to the bathroom and palmed the cabinet open. The file was still there. She grabbed it and headed for the window. â€Å"Who's there?† Kurt said. He sat up in bed and stared into the dark. Jody ducked below the light coming in the window and watched him. â€Å"I said, who's there?† â€Å"What's a matter?† a groggy Susan said. â€Å"I heard something.† â€Å"It's nothing, honey. You're just jumpy after what that horrible woman did to you.† I could snap her scrawny blond neck, Jody thought. Then, in thinking it, in knowing that she could actually do it, she was no longer angry. I'm not â€Å"that horrible woman,† she thought. I'm a vampire, and no amount of plastic surgery, or breeding, or money will ever make you my equal. I am a god. For the first time since the transformation Jody felt calm, comfortable in her own skin. She waited there in the dark until they fell asleep again, then she climbed out the window and replaced the screen. She stood on the window ledge and threw the expandable file on the roof, then leaped up, grabbed the gutter, and pulled herself onto the roof. At the back of the building she found a steel ladder that went all the way to the ground. The climb between the two buildings had been completely unnecessary. Okay, not a particularly smart god, but at least a god who has her original nose.

Strategic Operations Issues

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS ISSUES Elizabeth Kelly ABSTRACT This paper identifies an operational issue of a national food-chain. The problem is identified with the demonstration of the functional relationships and process flow analysis. With the use of concepts of operations and process management, the problem is analyzed and methods sought to provide recommendations and an implementation plan. TABLE OF CONTENTS Background of Hi-Lo Food Stores†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 Problem Identification†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 Background of the LINX Operating System†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Analysis using Concepts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7Recommendation and Implementation Plan†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚ ¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 9 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 11 BACKGROUND OF HI-LO FOOD STORES Hi-Lo Food Stores is a supermarket chain operating in Trinidad since 1950. With 17 outlets spread throughout the length and breadth of the country, Hi-Lo Food Stores employs over 1800 employees. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION At Hi-Lo Food Stores, which is considered a mass service process type (Slack et al, pg. 114) customers are afforded the option of different payment methods. Payment methods include cash, credit cards and debit cards.In an effort to continue to provide better options for settling of payments to merchants and customers alike, the company Infolink was formed. Infolink is a joint venture company owned by the four commercial banks of Trinidad and Tobago whose focus is to provide state of the art financial transaction-switching technology by way of debit card payment. In recent times, it has been observed that on peak commercial periods, Hi-Lo Food Stores terminals have not been able to process debit card payments. The message ‘No Communication Field’ is generated when debit card transactions cannot be processed.The customer is either forced to use a credit card or use cash. The nature of the business of Hi-Lo Food Stores would in some instances cause for a large sum of money at the check-out terminal. Customers, who do not have a credit card facility available, are then forced to leave their merchandise at the store and locate an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) to withdraw cash and then return to the store to complete the transaction. Hi-Lo Food Stores is then faced with the issue of storing in a secure manner those items selected and already bagged for the prospective customer and can only be delivered until payment is tendered.This then causes a storage issue since these items are usually placed at the termina l the customer was accommodated at. Sub-issues of pilfering and bottlenecking of check-out counters have also been evident. The second issue arises when the customer does not return for reasons such as, no ABM facility within range of Hi-Lo, and then causes the customer to leave to a more convenient supermarket. This leaves Hi-Lo with spoilage and re-stocking of the items already held at the terminals. Customer dissatisfaction sets in and an erosion of brand loyalty occurs.The impact on Hi-Lo Food Stores can then be summarized to include increased check-out times at terminals, customer dissatisfaction and decreased sales. BACKGROUND OF THE LINX OPERATING SYSTEM In 1992 saw the advent of the LINX shopping experience to Trinidad and Tobago. Infolink Services Limited is the facilitator of the LINX Network where debit cards from any commercial bank in Trinidad and Tobago would be processed at all Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) regardless of the commercial bank the customer so belonge d.This system led the way for merchants to employ the LINX Network at their Point-of-Sale terminals thus allowing debit cards issued at any commercial bank in Infolink’s Accredited Partners to be accepted at these participating merchants. While the LINX system proved seamless during its pilot project phase of operations, in recent times as the service became more widely accepted by the general public, LINX seemed to be unable to manage the demand of merchants. Evidence has not been offered on the number of transactions over a structured period, in order to ascertain the workload capacity of the Infolink Services Limited’s system.As the writer has evidenced at Hi-Lo Food Stores, the debit card payment system seemed unable to handle the workload during peak periods of demand. ANALYSIS USING CONCEPTS The use of technology to supersede traditional methods of payment can be seen to deliver great advantages and benefits to Hi-Lo Food Stores. The process design of the debit c ard system in its conception can be seen to provide great advantages to the mass service process type. This payment method can be seen as an internally supportive method of increasing operations capabilities.For example, in times prior to the LINX operations, Hi-Lo Food Stores terminal processing time was generally a longer process. This could have been caused by the customer having to present a personal cheque for payment along with a cheque guarantee card, if applicable. The second step would be for the cashier to examine both card and cheque for validity. In instances where the cheque was written in excess of the card guarantee amount, a supervisor would then be referred to for authorization.A process that would guarantee a longer turnaround time than the now widely used LINX service, debit card payment option. In analysis of the process however, we must measure the impact of the unreliability of the service and how it causes delays and decreased outputs. These delays then impact on the cycle time at checkout counters. In carrying out a process analysis, it is obvious that the LINX operating system has a process capacity which has not yet been determined. In identifying the system’s capacity, resources may be input into the process for improved reliability and performance.As can be seen the debit card payment system when effective can have a positive strategic impact on operations performance objectives. By firstly, impacting on the speed by which customers is processed at check-out terminals. When you have a quick turnover time you reduce the traffic and congestion in the supermarket which can result in breakage and accidents. Secondly, the LINX system has impacted on flexibility by allowing the customer the option of choosing a more direct form of payment as opposed to credit cards.Dependability can be seen as a performance objective where the system can be relied upon. The above performance objectives, speed, flexibility and dependability have bee n negatively impacted on as the debit card system has become unreliable during peak operating times as such the issues Hi-Lo has experienced relates to its inefficiency of its customer experience, its quality of service is risked, thus losing the trust and loyalty of some customers. RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANIt is the writer’s recommendation that an immediate sourcing of an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) be allocated to all branches. This ABM facility will give the customer the ability to exact cash to the check-out terminal without leaving the premises. The ABM facility will have the effect of speeding up turnaround time at terminals for payment. The added advantage of the facility not only being available to check-out customers but the facility will encourage more traffic with customers who may need just the convenience of an ABM facility.The ABM facility will be strategically placed in an area just after the bank of check out tellers, but away from the main e ntrance point. This would force the person who came for the convenience of the ABM facility only to line up, surrounded by small convenient items that may encourage purchasing of candy, gum, magazines etc. In the hopes of a long term resolution, Hi-Lo Food Stores conduct a process design-analysis. This analysis will determine the throughput time and impact upon the flow rate of customers by measuring the number of successful or unsuccessful attempts using the debit card system.In conducting this analysis, list the customers alternate payment method used and whether immediate payment was affected. The system of process mapping can assess the processes for example, Hi-Lo Food stores must also account for those customers who are inconvenienced by having to visit an ABM to use cash as a payment method. List those persons who in fact will follow through and complete the transactions as against those persons who find it far too inconvenient to return to Hi-Lo.With the use of this data, Hi -Lo food stores will then be able to account for manpower used at the terminal for processing a void transaction, storage of items, spoilage of perishable items which may occur and hours of duty time spent re-stocking. Finally, Hi-Lo in conjunction with Infolink needs to formalize a structured plan of action to implement a larger capacity for processing of debit card transactions, and for Hi-Lo to ascertain its feasibility. ACTIVITY| TIME| OWNERSHIP/RESPONSIBILITY| 1. 1 Source a consultant | 2 weeks| IT Department| 2. 1 Identify number of transactions incomplete| 6 weeks| IT Department| 2. Identify time periods for ‘down’ time| 6 weeks| IT Department| 3. 1 Identify source of problem| 1 week| Consultant| 4. 1 Make recommendations| 2 weeks| Consultant| 5. 1 Implement changes and test| 6 weeks| IT Department| 6. 1 Gather feedback from customer| 2 weeks| Marketing Department| 7. 1 Make further recommendations| 1 week | Consultant| 8. 1 Implement and test| 3 weeks| IT Depart ment| | | | REFERENCES Slack, N & Chambers, S & Johnston, R & Betts, A 2009, Operations and Process Management, Principles and Practice for Strategic Impact, 2nd edn

Relationship Issue

Conflicts between people who express outlooks of different epochs often happen in the society and there are lots of situations when even members of the same family who are supposed to be the closest with each other, support opposite visions of the world. However, misunderstanding can always be overcome and warm relations achieved as long as people put efforts into that. Flannery O’Connor’s book ‘Everything that Rises Must Converge’ deals with the relationship of a mother and her son and represents contradictions between them which arise from their different outlooks on reality in which they are living and shows how they are unable to overcome them. Julian is a recent college graduate who lives with his solicitous widowed mother who has put her whole life to raise him well and give him good education. The conflict of Julian with his mother starts because she has a vision of life which is completely different from his. Julian’s mother ‘‘†¦lived according to the laws of her own fantasy world outside of which he had never seen her set foot. ’’ She built that little world for herself, not realizing that times have changed and she needed to adjust to them. She couldn’t keep living in her little world forever and some time crisis was going to occur. Every time Julian made some remark about their present life and that it was different from what his mother had before, she only started remembering past times and past wealthy life which she used to have: â€Å"Your great-grandfather was a former governor of this state†¦ Your grandfather was a prosperous land-owner. Your grandmother was a Godhigh. † However, it’s impossible to blame her for that- she cannot change, those ideas are too firmly fixed in her mind and Julian should have accepted them but he doesn’t even try to that. No matter how much Julian tries to convince her that reality is completely different from those memories, she never wants to listen to him. However, instead of treating his mother with respect and letting her have some weaknesses like any other person, he gets mad at her all the time. Everything what his mother says agitates Julian and he is unable to talk to his mother without a feeling of frustration. Even though he takes her to a reducing class and listens to everything what she says, the feeling of irritation doesn’t leave him and he never feels at peace. His rude attitude towards everything what his mother says shows in most of the discussions in the novel. â€Å"Will you look around you,† he said tensely, â€Å"and see where you are now? † and he swept his arm jerkily out to indicate the neighborhood, which the growing darkness at least made less dingy. ’ Julian is mad at almost everything what his mother says. It becomes clear that as long as Julian and his mother have different views on things, they will never be able to communicate peacefully and they will always have arguments. What really saves them from stopping communication at all, is calmness of Julian’s mother and her trying to neglect unkind words which her son s ays. Even though they express different outlooks and despite any bad features she has, she does show concern about her son and she sincerely hopes for his happy future. Julian’s mother is certainly naive in that because there is hardly any future ahead of Julian but she believes in that like a child and she made sacrifices for him: â€Å"The law of [her life] was to sacrifice herself for him after she had first created the necessity to do so by making a mess of things†¦ All of her life had been a struggle to act like a Chestny and to give him everything she thought a Chestny ought to have without the goods a Chestny ought to have†¦Ã¢â‚¬  One of the main points on which Julian and his mother contradict are issues of racism. In Julian’s point of view, black people have a right to do everything just like white people. However, his mother doesn’t share his point of view because she was brought up in a different society and believes they are inferior. This is again the sign of her living in the past when she had a black nurse and whom she loved but considered her much lower than herself. This attitude can be best seen in the episode when Julian and his mother get on the bus. The bus is half-filled and when mother looks around, she sees only white people and becomes happy. She even says to the lady sitting next to her: â€Å"I see we have the bus to ourselves†. Julian couldn’t stand it when his mother said that and again felt shame for her words. She does her best to show her bad attitude towards black people and doesn’t consider them to be her equal. When a black man comes into the bus and another lady changes her seat to get away from him, Julian’s mother approves of that and thinks this is the way it should be done. The attitude of his mother makes Julian get thoughts of punishing her which show to us that he extremely cruel because a son cannot treat his mother like that. Julian thought â€Å"†¦he might make friends with some distinguished Negro professor or lawyer and bring him home to spend the evening† in order to make his mother feel miserable. He points to his mother that a black lady sitting in the bus has the same hat as she does and wants to make a point that black people can do everything just like white people, they are people of the same kind- but his mother doesn’t understand that. However, the worst lesson which she gets is when she wants to give a coin to the little black boy and suffers from that because the boy â€Å"†¦don't take nobody’s pennies! † and this painful moment leads to the end of the novel. In my opinion, it was possible for Julian and his mother to find ways to understand each other if the son at least put some efforts into that. Despite of all his mother’s faults, Julian should have been more patient with her and he realizes that in the end of the novel when he understands he has lost her. He is not a saint himself and since every human has weaknesses, he should have been more loving and kind with his mother because she gave birth to him and sacrificed many things for him. When he understands he remained alone, he realizes the whole horror of his situation- that he is completely lost in the world without his mother but there is nothing what he can change about that anymore, so the extent of his self-deception is fully confirmed.