Pizza dominos Essay Example for Free

Pizza dominos Essay 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally? Case Questions – Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza. 1. What obstacles Pizza Hut faces when contemplating its entry to the delivery market? Do these obstacles differ across franchised and corporate outlets? Should Pizza Hut enter the home delivery market? 2. Compare performance measures and the strategies and of Pizza Hut and Domino’s? How does the structure of each chain reflect its strategy? 3. Does Domino’s supply chain support its brand and its overall strategy? Does it provide a competitive advantage? How? 4. Should Domino’s attempt to expand its supply chain internationally?

Estimation of Northern Bobwhite Densities in South Texas

Estimation of Northern Bobwhite Densities in South Texas Principal Investigators Bart M. Ballard, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas AM University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas 78363. Fidel Hernà ¡ndez, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas AM University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas 78363 Leonard A. Brennan, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas AM University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas 78363 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) are a wide-ranging species and are commonly hunted throughout Texas. Their population has been declining since about 1880 and are decreasing in abundance in over 75% of their range in the United States (Leopold 1931, Errington and Hammerstrom 1936, Lehmann 1937, Guthery 2002). Texas has been seen as one of the remaining strong holds in North America (Rollins 2002) but recent evidence shows that populations are also declining within Texas (DeMaso et al. 2002). These declines have spurred an increase in research and management of the species and an improved understanding of the species (Guthery 2002). Declining numbers however can be difficult to understand because of their natural boom-bust population cycles and influence of weather on the population (Lehmann 1953, Keil 1976, Guthery et al. 1988, Bridges et al. 2001, Lusk et al. 2002). In order to properly manage quail within south Texas where there is large annual variation in precipitation an d temperatures local population trends are needed. Current hunting regulations are set at the state level where a liberal hunting framework (15 birds/day over 120 season; Brennan 2014) is assumed to have is little to no impact on the population (Guthery et al. 2004b). However, these state-wide regulations are not appropriate when managing at the fine scale where such a liberal harvest quota could negatively affect local populations (Roseberry and Klimstra 1984, Peterson 1999, Brennan et al. 2014). Bobwhites variable population cycles make it necessary for local land managers to set harvest limits based on local population trends (Brennan 2014). By setting sustainable harvest limits based on local population densities the likelihood of population crashes goes down and there is quicker recovery following drought conditions and natural population declines (Brennan 2014). Recent recommendations for harvest values were made by Brennan in 2014 for south Texas where there is extreme variability in precipitation and temperatures compared to other regions of their range. These recommendations are based on the assumption of good environmental conditions, a 20% harvest rate, and are density depended. It is also recommended to conduct fall surveys in late November-mid December when detection is highest and basing the harvest on pre-hunt population numbers to minimize the probability of local extinction (Guthery et al. 2000, Sands 2010). Estimating yearly and seasonal population densities can be difficult for many reasons including observer variability, local habitat variability and change between years, environmental factors such as weather, and species characteristics (Rusk et al 2007). Common methods include estimating abundance using indices or using distance sampling (Rusk et al. 2007). However, the accuracy of indices is sensitive to changes in detection (Anderson 2001, 2003, Rosenstock et al. 2002; Thompson 2002). During bobwhite population lows it becomes even more difficult to estimate population density due extremely low encounter rates (1 covey/7km; Kuvlesky et al. 1989). Distance sampling allows for varying detection probabilities while estimating densities and is a popular method that has been used successfully for bobwhites in many studies in south Texas (Brennan and Block 1986, Shupe et al 1987, Guthery 1988, Guthery and Shupe 1989, DeMaso et. al. 1992, Rusk et al 2007). Unlike census techniques that are based on the assumption that all individuals within the survey area are counted, distance sampling works under the assumption that more animals are missed the farther you get from a transect (Brennan and Block 1986). To calculate density within a survey area, the perpendicular distance from a transect to an animal is recorded and then used to calculate a probability density function (Burnham et al. 1980, Buckland 2004) from which the density throughout the study area can be estimated using Program Distance (Thomas et al. 2010). Assumptions of distance sampling which must be met include: 1) all animals on the transect are detected, 2) animals are detected at their original locations prior to any movement in response to the observer, and 3) distances are measured accurately (Buckland 1992). These assumptions can be difficult to meet in field condition but most issues with these assumptions can be addressed using proper survey design, post processing of the data, and statistical analysis. Assumption one can be relaxed if needed by incorporating a double observer design in which two counts are occurring simultaneously (Laake and Borchers 2004) or by applying an adjustment term. Assumption two can be violated if animals have the chance to respond to the surveyors by running, coming closer, or learning to hide (Buckland et al. 2001). Careful analysis of data can help determine if and how this assumption is violated and certain techniques can be implemented to account for animal responses such as truncation of data close to the line in cases were animals run (Fewster et al. 2008). Assumption three can be violated by untrained observers, lack of proper technology, or inaccurate estimates of cluster sizes if animals are clustered (Buckland et al 2001). Another assumption which can be violated includes independence between animal observations which can be an issue if surveys are done on roads or too close together (Thomas et al 2009). Careful survey design is crucial to accurately estimating population densities and local knowledge of habitat, densities, and environmental gradients help when designing surveys. Once densities are estimated for a region careful consideration and local knowledge is needed to make the proper recommendations for hunting regulations and habitat management. Given accurate densities, harvest can be optimized at the ranch or pasture levels while also decreasing the likelihood of local population extinction. OBJECTIVES The purpose of our study is to design a repeatable helicopter line transect survey for the King ranch study location which will be implemented over a three-year period from Sept 2018-December 2021. From this data fall bobwhite quail densities will be estimated using Program Distance from which management recommendations can be made. Specifically, our goals are; Develop a repeatable helicopter line-transect survey protocol for bobwhite quail Implement survey over three fall survey seasons Use Distance software to develop detection probability functions and estimate fall densities which can be used to aid in management and conservation decisions. METHODS Study Area The study area includes a 25,000 acre section of the King Ranch (King Ranch, Kingsville TX) located south west of Kingsville (Figure1). The study area is located in the South Texas Plains ecoregion and may include parts of the Gulf Prairie and Marshes ecoregion (Gould 1975) Within this region there is high variability in rainfall (Correl and Johnsonston 1979; Omernik 1987) causing local populations to exhibit strong boom-bust population cycles. Major plant communities present on the King Ranch include blue stem prairie (Schizachyrium scoparium), mesquite-granjeno thornbrush (Prosopis glandulosa- Celtis pallida), mesquite-bluestem savannah, oak-bluestem (Quercus virginiana, Quercus stellata) (McLendon 1991, Fulbright and Bryant 2002). Major land uses on the King Ranch include commercial hunting and cattle production (Schnupp et al 2013). Annual rainfall is on average 65.4 cm with monthly values ranging from 1.4-13cm (Williamson 1983). Figure 1. Divisions of the King Ranch (green), located in south Texas. Habitat includes but are not limited to shrub land, grasslands, mesquite-woodlands, oaklands, freshwater wetlands, and saltmarsh. Habitat is managed for cattle, white tail deer, and quail. Experimental Approach:       Transect design To estimate fall densities within the survey area we will first develop a three-year helicopter based, line-transect count survey. We will develop the transects in such a way that if desired, the surveys can continue past three years. Spatial layers will be made for the study area boundary and line transects in ArcGIS 10.3 (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, CA). Sample transects were placed parallel to each other leading north to south (Figure 2) and further stratification will be done using post processing techniques if desired. Transects were places at a distance of 400 meters from each other with a random starting location and giving a survey coverage of 50 percent. Given this design we have 30 transects of 8 km in length and a total survey length of 240 km (Figure 2). Figure 2. Sample study area with transects (n=30) with survey zones of 100m to each side of the transect. Landcover includes woodland/shrublands (dark green), grasslands (light green), agriculture (light brown), wetlands (blue) and urban (red). Given previous encounter rates of 1 covey/0.95km observed during a comparable study on another section of the King Ranch (Rusk et al. 2007), this design would yield an estimated 250 observations. However, encounter rates have been reported to be much lower during population lows; Rusk 2007 documented as low as 1 covey/7.38 km while walking transects in a low year verses 1 covey/ 1.96 km in an abundant year. Given flying transects gives roughly twice the number of detections per km, we will assume a helicopter flight on a low population year would give an encounter rate of  ¼ km and 60 observations. To make sure that this transect design will provide a 25% or less Coefficient of Variation for population density estimates we can plug use the equation (Buckland 1993): L= Where L= total line length needed, = the coefficient of variation for population density estimate, and L0/n0 = encounter rate, or the number of quail detected per km of transect. The value b is typically between 1.5-3 (Burnham 1980) and it is most frequently assumed that b=3 (Buckland 1993). Given this equation, under an assumed encounter rate of 1 covey/.95 km and a 25% CV the minimum total transect length is: L= However, when the encounter rate is dropped to 1 covey/4 km during a population low, the needed length becomes: L= By conducting more surveys than is needed to achieve a 25% CV there is less of a chance that during a dry year we will not be able to estimate density because of lack of encounters. After year one we will re-evaluate transect design by incorporating the first years encounter rate to help determine transect lengths for years two and three (Buckland 1993). Field Surveys Surveys will take place in the first week of October to give enough time to provide updated recommendation for harvest quotas before the onset of quail regular season on October 29th (TPWD, Outdoor Annual). October 1st of each year a mock survey will be done in which tools are calibrated and extra surveyor training done if need following protocols similar to Schnupp et al. (2013). This test flight will occur along a 3 km transect with 16 targets (Otto and Pollock 1990, Shnupp et al. 2013). Each side of the transect will have 8 targets (dove decoys suspended at 1.2m) distributed randomly between 10-70m at 10m intervals from the line and spaced 300m apart along the transect (Schnupp et al.). This will help reduce potential errors counts due to equipment malfunction and surveyor error. The full survey will begin the day after the mock survey and all transects will be surveyed once per year. If detections for an entire survey are below 80 then a second survey will be done. Surveys will take place in the first 3 and last three hours of day light when possible and the start location will vary each survey. From the start location, every other transect will be sampled to reduce the probability of over counting and then returning to skipped transmitters as soon as possible. We will use a four person helicopter such as the Robinson R-44 (Robinson Helicopter Company, Torrance, California) or similar models equipped with a parallel swathing lightbar for navigation (2005; Raven RGL 600, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, South Dakota). Surveys will be conducted at approximately 48 km/hour and at a height of 18 m (Shupe et al. 1987, Rusk 2007) One observer will be facing forward counting coveys directly on the line and two rear-facing observers counting quail which flush on the s ides or behind the helicopter. When a covey is spotted, the helicopter will hover briefly to allow observer to use the range finder and count the number of quail in the covey. The forward facing technician in addition to counting coveys will help navigate to the transects, and will start and stop the survey recordings (Schnupp 2013). The two rear observers will collect data as well as enter data for all surveyors. Covey counts and covey size will be recorded for 100 meters to each side of the helicopter using laser electronic range finders, differential global positioning systems, personal tablet computers, and keypads (Schnupp et al. 2013). Tablets will be installed with ArcPad (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, CA), and connected to the laser range finders with sub meter accuracy. The differential global positioning system will collect 5 points/second to track the flight path. Electronic range finders will be synced to tablets using blue tooth and will measure distance to covey, compass bearing, angle of inclination and horizontal offset of covey from the helicopter for each covey. Key pads were also used to record sizes of coveys. Raw survey information is then imported into ArcMap 10.3 for data processing and then imported to Program Distance. Distance Analysis Using distance survey data collected over three years we will calculate densities and variance estimates in Program Distance 7.0 similar to Rusk et al 2007. Program Distance calculates estimated densities and variances as s) Where is density, n is the number of coveys detected, is the effective half-band width, cv is the coefficient of variation, L is the length of transects, and E(s) is average covey size. Effective half widths with be calculated in distance by fitting detection functions to histograms of distances and covey counts. To improve model fit, 5% of the right hand data will be truncated (Buckland et al. 2001; Shnupp 2013) and data will be evaluated visually for any signs of violation of the basic assumptions. We will consider a variety of detection functions (uniform, half-normal, and hazard-rate with several series adjustments) and choose the best fitting model using Akaikes Information Criterion values (AICc) and chi-square analysis (Buckland 2001; Shnupp 2013). We will then develop a global detection function for each year to estimate fall densities and use confidence intervals and coefficient of variation reported from distance. If stratification by pasture is desired and there are enough observations to do so, then detection functions will be built at the pasture level otherwise a global detection function will be applied to each pasture. A coefficient of variation of less than 20% is recommended for bobwhite density estimates (Guthery 1988) but we will consider a coefficient of variation of 25% acceptable. EXPECTED RESULTS AND BENEFITS From these three fall bobwhite quail surveys, we will be able to report yearly bobwhite density estimates and begin to understand local population trends. Once funding is approved, exact methods will be refined using actual ranch and pasture boundaries and habitat gradients. Survey design will be reviewed by quail researchers at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute to ensure proper design. Yearly encounter rates, detection functions, estimated population density, and recommendations for harvest rates will be provided in annual reports. A final report will be submitted in the form of a dissertation chapter within one year after the completion of the last fall survey. This chapter will summarize yearly results as well as trends observed throughout the study region and will include recommendations for sustainable harvest limits. Research results may be presented at professional meetings and will include one or more King ranch employees as authors and King Ranch will be acknowledged as the primary funding contributor. Project deliverables include: P.h.D dissertation chapter and corresponding scientific publication Scientific presentations Spreadsheets of density estimates and recommended harvest rates ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSIDERATIONS Not applicable to the proposed project. ETHICAL USE OF ANIMALS Animal and Care Use form is not required PERSONNEL This study will be a cooperative project between the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute (CKWRI) and the King Ranch. Drs. Bart M. Ballard, Fidel Hernandez, and Leonard A. Brennan will be primary investigators. This project will include one P.h.D. student who will act as project coordinator and field supervisor. The graduate student hired will also be responsible for hiring part-time student technicians to aid in surveys. The student hired will conduct fall densities surveys on the King Ranch as a partial fulfillment of P.h.D contract and will also be conducting other quail research in assistance of other projects. SCHEDULE 2018-2019 Activity Jan-April: Await funding April-May: Search for P.h.D candidate June-Sept:Hire student, coordinate field surveys and hire part-time surveyors for Survey week October: Fly surveys and estimate fall densities November: Further data analysis and reporting 2019-2020 Activity Aug-Sept: Refine transects/protocol if needed, hire technicians for Survey week October:Fly surveys and estimate fall densities November: Further data analysis and reporting 2020-2021 Activity Aug-Nov:Same schedule as above December: Provide final analysis and Report BUDGET Equipment Estimates: 2 Electronic distance estimators ($18,000 each) =36,000 2 Tablets w/accessories: = $1,600 2 Keypads: $100 1Raven Cruiser: $2,000 Rounded Estimate: $40,000 Annual Expenses: -P.h.D student stipend: $1500 with fringe benefits at .7% of salary and medical (up to 250$/month) = $22,260/year -2 Short term technicians: 100$/day during fall surveys. Total=2 technicians*$100*7 days a year= 1400/year -Helicopter time: 500$/hr *estimated 10 hrs per year= $5,000/year -Driving costs: $0.50/mi+ gas. Exact distance to site in unknown, preliminary estimate= $10,000/year Summary of Annual Cost: 2018-2019: $78,660 2019-2020: $38,660 2020-2021: $38,660 LITERATURE CITED Anderson, D. R. 2001. The need to get the basics right in wildlife à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ eld studies. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:1294-1297. Anderson, D. R. 2003. Response to Engeman: index values rarely constitute reliable information. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:288-291. Brennan, L. A., and W. M. Block. 1986. Line transect estimates of mountain quail density. Journal of Wildlife Management 50:373 Brennan, L.A., F. Hernandez, E.D. Grahmann, F. C. Bryant, M.J. Schnupp, D.S. Delaney, and R. Howard. 2014. Quail Harvest Guidelines for South Texas: Concepts, Philosophy, and Applications; Wildife Technical Publication No. 3 of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas AM University-Kingsville. Bridges, A. S., M. J. Peterson, N. J. Silvy, F. E. Smeins, and X. B. Wu. 2001. Differential influence of weather on regional quail abundance in Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 65:10-18. Buckland, S. T. 1992. Fitting density functions using polynomials. Applied Statistics. 41:63. Buckland, S. T., D. R. Anderson, K. P. Burnham, J. L. Laake, D. L. Borchers, and L. Thomas. 2001. Introduction to distance sampling estimating abundance of biological populations. Oxford University Press, New York, USA. Buckland, S. T., D. R. Anderson, K. P. Burnham, J. L. Laake, D. L. Borchers, and L. Thomas. 2004. Advanced distance sampling: estimating abundance of biological populations. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA. Burnham, K. P., D. R. Anderson, and J. L. Laake. 1980. Estimation of density from line transect sampling of biological populations. Wildlife Monographs 72. Correll, D. S., and M. C. Johnston. 1979. Manual of vascular plants of Texas. The University of Texas Printing Division, Austin, Texas, USA. DeMaso, S. J., F. S. Guthery, G. S. Spears, and S. M. Rice. 1992. Morning covey calls as an index of northern bobwhite density. Wildlife Society Bulletin 20:94-101. DeMaso, S. J., M. J. Peterson, J. R. Purvis, N. J. Silvy, and J. L. Cooke. 2002. A comparison of two quail abundance indices and their relationship to quail harvest in Texas. Proceedings of the National Quail Symposium 5:206-212. Errington, P. L., and F. N. Hammerstrom, Jr. 1936. The northern bob-whites winter territory. Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts Research Bulletin 201:305-443. Fewster, R.M., Southwell, C., Borchers, D.L., Buckland, S.T. Pople, A.R. 2008. The influence of animal mobility on the assumption of uniform distance in aerial line transect surveys. Wildlife Research 35:275-288. Fulbright, T. E., and F. C. Bryant. 2002. The last great habitat. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Special Publication No. 1, Kingsville, Texas, USA Guthery, F. S. 1988. Line transect sampling of bobwhite density of rangeland: evaluation and recommendations. Wildlife Society Bulletin 16:193-203. Guthery, F. S., N. E. Koerth, and D. S. Smith. 1988. Reproduction of northern bobwhites in semiarid environments. Journal of Wildlife Management 52:144-149. Guthery, F. S., and T. E. Shupe. 1989. Line transect vs. capture-removal estimates of bobwhite density. Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Guthery, F. S., M. J. Peterson, and R. R. George. 2000. Viability of northern bobwhite populations. Journal of Wildlife Management 64:646à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢662. Sands 2010 Guthery, F. S. 2002. The technology of bobwhite management: the theory behind the practice. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, USA Guthery, F. S. 2002. The technology of bobwhite management: the theory behind the practice. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, USA. Guthery et al. 2004b Guthery, F. S., M. J. Peterson, J. J. Lusk, M. J. Rabe, S. J. DeMaso, M. Sams, R. D. Applegate, and T. V. Dailey. 2004. Multi-state analysis of fixed, liberal regulations in quail harvest management. Journal of Wildlife Management 68:1104-1113 Hernà ¡ndez, F., F. S. Guthery, and W. P. Kuvlesky. 2002a. The legacy of bobwhite research in south Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 66:1-18. Kiel, W. H. 1976. Bobwhite quail population characteristics and management implications in south Texas. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference 41:407-20. Kuvlesky, W.P., B.H. Koerth,andN.J.Silvy.1989.Problemsofestimating northern bobwhite populations at low density. Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeast Association of FishandWildlifeAgencies43:260-267. Laake, J.L. and Borchers, D.L. 2004. Methods for incomplete detection at distance zero. Advanced Distance Sampling (eds S.T. Buckland, D.R. Anderson, K.P. Burnham, J.L. Laake, D.L. Borchers and L.Thomas). pp. 108-189. Oxford University Press Oxford. Lehmann, V. W. 1937. Increase quail by improving their habitat. Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, Austin, Texas, USA. Lehmann, V. W. 1953. Bobwhite population fluctuations with vitamin a. Transactions of the North American Wildlife Conference. 18:199-246 Leopold, A. 1931. Report on a game survey of the north central states. Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Lusk, J. J., F. S. Guthery, R. R. George, M. J. Peterson, and S. J. DeMaso. 2002. Relative abundance of bobwhites in relation to weather and landuse. Journal of Wildlife Management 66:1040-1051. McLendon, T. 1991. Preliminary description of the vegetation of south Texas exclusive of coastal saline zones. Texas Journal of Science 43: 13-32. Otto, M. C., and K. H. Pollock. 1990. Size bias in line transect sampling: a à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ eld test. Biometrics 46:239-245. Peterson, M. J. 1999. Quail harvest management in Texas: a rational approach. Pages 124-133 in K. A. Cearly, editor. Preserving Texas Quail Hunting Heritage into the 21st Century. Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas AM University, College Station, USA. Rollins, D. 2002. Sustaining the quail wave in the southern great plains. Proceedings of the National Quail Symposium 5:48-56. Roseberry, J. L., and W. D. Klimstra. 1984. Population Ecology of the Bobwhite. Southern Illinois University Press. Rosenstock, S. S., D. R. Anderson, K. M. Giesen, T. Leukering, and M. F. Carter. 2002. Landbird counting techniques: current practices and an alternative. Auk 119:46-53. Rusk, J.P., F. Hernandez, J.A. Arredondo, F. Hernandez, F.C. Bryant, D.G.Hewitt, E.J. Redeker, L.A Brennan, R.L. Bingham. 2007. The Journal of Wildlife Management 71:4(1336-1343). Shupe, T. E., F. S. Guthery, and S. L. Beasom. 1987. Use of helicopters to survey northern bobwhite populations on rangeland. Wildlife Society Bulletin 15:458-462. Thomas, L., S. T. Buckland, E. A. Rexstad, J. L. Laake, S. Strindberg, S. L. Hedley, J. R. B. Bishop, T. A. Marques, and K. P. Burnham. 2010. Distance software: design and analysis of distance sampling surveys for estimating population size. Journal of Applied Ecology 47:5-14. Thompson, W. L. 2002. Towards reliable bird surveys: accounting for individuals present but not detected. The Auk 119:18-25. Williamson, D. L. 1983. Soil survey of Brooks County, Texas. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D.C., USA.   Ã‚  

Drug And Alcohol Impact On Child Development

Drug And Alcohol Impact On Child Development The impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse seriously effects child development. The negative effects of substance abuse begin during the pregnancy and continue through childhood. Groundbreaking research on this subject was published in the Hidden Harm Report. Estimates show that in the United Kingdom today there are almost 1.3 million children living with an alcoholic parent. That is one is every eleven children. Furthermore up to 350,000 children in the United Kingdom have at least one parent who suffers from a serious drug addiction. Many of these children are hiding their problems, living in fear and without support. The dangers of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure are widely publicised due to the particularly damaging effects that heavy drinking and substance abuse can cause to a childs cognitive development. When a woman becomes pregnant, it is very important for her to lead a healthy life. It is essential for her own health and the health of her unborn baby that she eats plenty of nourishing food, gets plenty of rest, and exercises regularly. It is vitally important that she avoids anything that might harm her or her baby. Therefore, it is especially important to give up alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. For a pregnant woman, drug abuse is dangerous in two ways. Firstly, drugs may harm her own health and interfere with her ability to support the pregnancy. Secondly, some drugs can directly impair prenatal development. Drugs can cause an increased chance of early delivery or miscarriage, sudden bleeding and the inability to recognise or cope with normal changes throughout the pregnancy. When the baby is born withdrawal symptoms may result in a longer hospital stay and the involvement of social services. Drugs can affect babies in many ways. The most common are; low birth weight and slower growth and development. However, the affects of drugs on the baby during the pregnancy can also cause heart problems and defects of the face and body. Another fact to consider is that; when a pregnant woman drinks, so does her baby. Alcohol can cause serious problems for an unborn baby that can affect their entire life. The baby can be born with foetal alcohol syndrome which can cause it to be underweight, grow slower and have birth defects. The baby may have a smaller brain and suffer with a lower I.Q. Alcohol can also be passed along to a baby through breast milk. A study published in the March 2004 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research explained how light to moderate drinking during pregnancy may interfere with learning and memory during adolescence. Assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburghs School of Medicine, Jennifer Willford explains that; We have known for a long time that drinking heavily during pregnancy could lead to major impairments in growth, behaviour, and cognitive function in children. This paper clearly shows that even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can have a significant impact on child development. The damaging effects of tobacco on an unborn child cannot be underestimated. Smoking during pregnancy causes the risk of miscarriage or premature labour to dramatically increase. The primary danger is delayed foetal growth. Nicotine depresses the appetite at a time when a woman should be gaining weight. Smoking reduces the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen. Therefore the foetus is deprived of sufficient nourishment and oxygen. As a result the baby may not grow as fast or as much as it should. The NHS acknowledges the risks of smoking to the unborn baby and has recently set up the NHS Pregnancy and Smoking Helpline. It offers advice on how to quit and a free DVD to highlight the damaging effects. On average, babies born to women who smoked during pregnancy are significantly smaller than those born to women who did not smoke. Low birth weight is one of the main effects of smoking when pregnant. This can cause increased chance of infant illness, disability and stillbirth. Smoking in pregnancy also greatly increases the risk of cot death in babies. Statistics from the award winning Baby Centre Newsletter suggested that; This risk is four times higher if you smoke between 1 and 9 cigarettes a day during pregnancy, rising to eight times higher if you smoke 20 cigarettes or more daily. Therefore it is clear that it is especially important for a pregnant woman to give up alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Using alcohol and other drugs carry major risks. Alcohol and drugs impair your judgement, making you more likely to hurt yourself or others. Familial alcoholism can affect all areas of a childs life, from school life through to behavioural problems and compulsive disorders. Some children go through life without support because they may not experience obvious forms of abuse. However, they do suffer from neglect or a chronic lack of the little things, which are so crucial to the wellbeing of us all. This is a result of their parents drinking and the effects it has on their state of mind and body. From moment you take your first sip, alcohol starts affecting your body and mind. After one or two drinks you may start feeling more sociable and outgoing. In contrast by drinking too much basic human functions, such as walking and talking become much harder. Effects can also include behaving out of character and saying things you do not mean. This uncertainty will frighten and unsettle the ch ildren of parents who suffer from alcohol misuse. Children will fear the way their parents speak and act when they have been drinking or using drugs. With little control over what they say parents may verbalize things which they normally would not. This can be hurtful and cruel to children or even embarrassing when outside of the home environment. The uncertainty can cause upset in the young persons life, which can affect their schooling. Children can be distracted from their lessons as they think of what might be happening or waiting for them at home. At home many of these children are left to care for themselves while others are forced to look after their parents and siblings. Consequently, it may become the childs role and responsibility to look after the family, cook dinner and get their younger brothers or sisters ready for school. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs conducted a survey which discovered that many of these children out of shame or fear, or simply because they are too young, rarely speak out about their experiences and can become isolated and excluded. Dr Laurence Gruer, chairman of the ACMD Prevention Working Group, said: From birth onwards their parents drug problems can endanger their health in many ways and cause a great deal of emotional and psychological damage that often goes unnoticed. Today in Scotland there is a range of government drug strategies and initiatives for helping these vulnerable children. Parents with serious drug and alcohol problems should not be frightened away by these services. They should feel that they can come forward and get help without encountering more trouble. The aim of many services is to keep children with their parents wherever it is safe to do so by combining treatment for the parents and support for the child. The risk of harm to children can be reduced by effective treatment and support for the addicted parents. Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said the Government had already invested  £1.2 billion to tackle the drug culture and would be spending  £1.5 billion by 2006. Ainsworth said; We agree it is essential for adult drug services, childrens services, indeed all local providers to approach the problem holistically. Only by reducing their numbers can we reduce the amount of children that have to suffer the consequences of growing up in an environment wrecked by drugs. Parental drug and alcohol misuse has been identified as a serious problem in the United Kingdom. The impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse on a childs life in immeasurable. Therefore, it is the governments responsibility to reduce the negative impact on the childs life and offer as much support as possible. In addition users often experience trouble with the law, poor performance at work or school and relationship troubles. As a result, many children are exposed to rage, violence and abuse on a daily basis. This becomes part of the unpredictable and inconsistent environment in which they live. Police statists show that between 60% and 80% of all violent crime is alcohol related. Interestingly, a recent survey conducted by Alcohol Concern and Police Review showed that 70% of police officers viewed alcohol as causing them greater problems than drug misuse. Research which supports this view reveals that, domestic violence is six times more common when parents suffer from alcoholism. As a result, children of drug and alcohol users often express feelings of hurt, rejection, shame and anger. More worryingly they are forced to live with the anxiety that these feelings create, often without any support. Lord Victor Adebowale, chief executive of social care charity Turning Point, said: Its time that we started listening to the silent survivors of drug misuse. We cannot afford to continue to ignore the 350,000 children in the UK who are harmed by their parents drug problems. In violent situations such as these the child often feels a sense of guilt. They may see themselves as the main cause of their parents drink or drug abuse. The child may feel constantly anxious about the situation at home. They often fear the parent will become sick or injured or that the substance abuse will cause an increased level of fights and violence between the parents. Embarrassment is often another common feeling of children living with parents who suffer from alcohol or drug misuse. Parents may give the message that there is a terrible secret at home. The child may feel ashamed by their parents and the lifestyle they live. If the parents experience trouble with the law for the ways in which they fund their habit the child may feel lonely. This is due to the childs inability to have close relationships. As a result of the child being disappointed by the parent they are often unable to trust others. The ashamed child does not invite friends home and is afraid to ask anyone fo r help. The alcoholic parent will change suddenly from being affectionate to angry, regardless of the childs behaviour. A daily routine, which is very important for a child, does not exist because bedtimes and mealtimes are constantly changing. This creates uncertainty in the childs life and can be the cause of misbehaviour as the child acts out for attention. Alcohol and drugs also have specific health risks: they can damage major organs, increase your risk of cancers, and even cause death. This is a constant worry for children as they fear for the welfare of their parents. This can cause children to suffer from Psychologist John Bowlby Theory of Attachment. Bowlby believed that the earliest bonds formed by children with their parents have a tremendous impact that continues throughout life. One of the characteristics of The Theory of Attachment is Separation Distress. This is when a child is separated from the caregiver and becomes upset and distressed. They fear for the security and safety of their parents when they are not around to provide care. In addition children can suffer from Avoidant Attachment. This is when children will avoid going home or seeing their parents. These children will show no preference between a caregiver and a complete stranger. Research shows that this attachment style might be a result of abusive or neglectful parents. The effects of parental drug and alcohol misuse can seriously affect a childs life. The impact of living in such an environment lasts right through childhood and affects all areas of their life. Whilst harm from parental substance use is not inevitable, the number of children living with substance misusing parents has increased in recent years. The only way to decrease the figure is to lower the number of people abusing drugs and alcohol in society. The widespread pattern of binge drinking and recreational drug use exposes children to sub-optimal care and substance-using role models. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics in later life. Therefore, the effects of parental drug and alcohol misuse last throughout the childs life and into adulthood. Preventative efforts have been introduced to discourage children from following in the same footsteps as their parents. Education is provided at school, for all children and adolescents, on the damaging effects of drugs and alcohol. Children should be given direct access to support services so that they are not facing the problems of a chaotic and unstable home alone. The education of those who work with children is also vital. Teachers and other service providers should be trained to spot signs of children living with alcohol or drug addicted parents. This would allow extra support to be provided in the education of the child and their emotional wellbeing. Due to impairment caused by being intoxicated, alcohol and drug abuse frequently lead to child neglect and an increase in Domestic violence. Witnessing domestic violence in the home, as well as living in the chaos and instability caused by intoxication, is emotional abuse to a child. Frequently domestic violence will make the child fear that the situation could escalate into physical violence against them. Many physically abusive parents insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline or ways to make childr en learn to behave. However, there is a big difference between giving an unruly child a tap on the wrist and twisting the childs arm until it breaks. Physical abuse can include striking, burning, shaking or pushing a child. Another form of child abuse which involves babies is known as shaken baby syndrome. This is when a parent shakes a baby roughly to make the baby stop crying, causing brain damage or in extreme cases even death. Warning signs for teacher can be unexplained bruises or cuts. Other signs can be more subtle such as fearful and shy child who does not want to go home. If people outside of the home environment fail to spot and report these signs, many children go through life dealing with these problems alone. However, it is important for people from outside agencies to realise that not every child who lives with a drug or alcohol dependent parent will suffer physical or emotional abuse. In many cases the impact will be constant lack of the little things, which are so cr ucial to the wellbeing of us all. The impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse seriously effects child development. The negative effects of substance abuse begin during the pregnancy and continue through childhood. The impact of living in an environment with drug or alcohol dependant parents can impact a childs life from birth straight through to adulthood. Groundbreaking research on this subject has been published in many reports. The most recent has been the Hidden Harm Report. Estimates show that in the United Kingdom today there are almost 1.3 million children living with an alcoholic parent. That is one is every eleven children. Furthermore the report shows that up to 350,000 children in the United Kingdom have at least one parent who suffers from a serious drug addiction. Many of these children are hiding their problems, living in fear and without support. This shows that parental drugs and alcohol misuse is a serious problem in the United Kingdom. Parental drug and alcohol misuse impacts on a childs growth, education, health and development.

Technological Advancements :: essays papers

Technological Advancements On November 7, 1940 the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was hit by winds of up to 40mph. The bridge began to twist and flutter. Some cables snapped and a six-hundred foot section of the bridge fell into Puget Sound. ^Wind is but one disaster, earthquakes are another^ (Jay Stuller 36). Disasters like this one and others could have been avoided if the proper precautions had been taken. Due to the disasters in the world the structures of today and tomorrow are much safer. Today most of these catastrophes are avoided because of the up to date technology, like architecture, predicting the disasters before hand and new techniques used by emergency rescue teams. Some major advances in today^s buildings include such things like the material used. For instance products like steel-reinforced concrete (refer to diagram 3-1), steel framing, and properly braced wood frames for houses are a few examples of how buildings are being retrofitted and new buildings are being built towards protection from disasters. As well, the foundations of the buildings can be built on shock absorbing ^base isolators^ containing springs or alternating layers of steel plates and rubber, to counteract the effects of earthquakes. In Japan architectures have been keeping mind earthquakes while designing and building structures. Unfortunately the buildings were mainly designed to withstand a vertical force. The Japanese buildings were designed to withstand a certain acceleration force, but in January 1995, an earthquake hit the city Kobe devastating the buildings, which were thought to be safe. It just shows, ^that building design criteria are crucial to withstanding effects of earthquakes^ (Gerad Baker 12). The normal Japanese wooden houses that had heavy roofs collapsed, and also newer homes were demolished, as seen on diagram 3-2. This could have been avoided by building the houses with lighter plywood frames with crossbars that distribute force evenly rather than houses with heavy timber walls that collapse under force. As well the materials used to build the structures has a great deal to do with the survival rate of buildings. The use of reinforced concrete is thought to be a major reason why buildings stay intact. It is possible to reinforce older buildings with extra concrete simply and effectively, which has been done in California since 1989. Bridges, a totally different aspect of building, but a very similar method for creating sound structures. During the Kobe earthquake the Hanshin expressway collapsed on its side for a stretch of 600m (pictures seen on page 5). This type of roadway is built upon reinforced concrete pillars. There is steel inside the pillars to increase its ability to bend and flex with the

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Versus Unipolar Depress

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Versus Unipolar Depression Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder, but unfortunately our collective knowledge of this mental illness is not extensive. Unlike depression, where patients are strictly sullen and deeply blue, the bipolar patient experiences that same depression only flanked by extreme highs—a hyperactivity and increase in serotonin. It is this inconsistency in mood—a clinical mood swinging, that makes bipolar disorder so difficult to diagnose. Difficulty, as will be discussed in the paper, comes from patients inability to recognize these highs as potentially troublesome, and instead opt to focus only on the depressed moods that follow. Conventional thought, after all, is not to worry or see a doctor should one suddenly have increased energy and enthusiasm. The result is a overwhelming understanding of other illnesses, but significantly less of bipolar, especially of these highs, or hypomanic episodes patients feel. This paper will first discuss bipolar disorder, its symptoms a nd prognosis. The errors in diagnosing bipolar disorder and how this leads to confusion surrounding treatments will also be discussed. An investigation in to the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder will reveal a strong inconsistency in treatment stemming from lack of conclusive knowledge about the disorder. While many doctors suggest antidepressant use, while others will utilize lithium, and mood stabilizers, and in fact this range of treatments is in fact responsible for the lack of holistic understanding of the disorder as a chemo-physiological disease, but also as a separate entity from traditional, or what is often referred to as unipolar depression. According to the Americ... ... 11-20 Nemeroff CB, Evans DL et. al. (2001). Double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of imipramine and paroxetine in the treatment of bipolar depression. American Journal of Psychiatry 158(6), 906-912 Post RM, Altshuler LL, Frye MA et al. (2001). Rate of switch in bipolar patients prospectively treated with second-generation antidepressants as augmentation to mood stabilizers. Bipolar Disorders, 3(5), 259-265. Post RM and Denicoff KD. (2003). Morbidity in 258 bipolar outpatients followed for 1 year with daily prospective ratings on the NIMH life chart method. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64, 680-690 Rihmer Z. and Pestality P. (1999). Psychiatric Clinician of North America, 22, 667-673. Silverstone T (2001). Moclobemide vs. imipramine in bipolar depression: a multicentre double-blind clinical trial. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 104(2), 104-109.

Genres Of Literature Essay

Genres of literature are important to learn about. The two main categories separating the different genres of literature are fiction and nonfiction. There are several genres of literature that fall under the nonfiction category. Nonfiction sits in direct opposition to fiction. Examples from both the fiction and nonfiction genres of literature are explained in detail below. This detailed genres of literature list is a great resource to share with any scholars. Types of Nonfiction: Narrative Nonfiction is information based on fact that is presented in a format which tells a story. Essays are a short literary composition that reflects the author’s outlook or point. A short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative. A Biography is a written account of another person’s life. An Autobiography gives the history of a person’s life, written or told by that person. Often written in Narrative form of their person’s life. Speech is the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express one’s thoughts and emotions by speech, sounds, and gesture. Read more:  How to write a reflection essay. Generally delivered in the form of an address or discourse. Finally there is the general genre of Nonfiction. This is Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject. This genre of literature offers opinions or conjectures on facts and reality. This includes biographies, history, essays, speech, and narrative nonfiction. Nonfiction opposes fiction and is distinguished from those fiction genres of literature like poetry and drama which is the next section we will discuss. Genres of Fiction: Drama is the genre of literature that’s subject for compositions is dramatic art in the way it is represented. This genre is stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action. Poetry is verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that evokes an emotional response from the reader. The art of poetry is rhythmical in composition, written or spoken. This genre of literature is for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts. Fantasy is the forming of mental images with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality. Humor is the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical. Fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement which meant to entertain. This genre of literature can actually be seen and contained within all genres. A Fable is a story about supernatural or extraordinary people Usually in the form of narration that demonstrates a useful truth. In Fables, animals often speak as humans that are legendary and supernatural tales. Fairy Tales or wonder tales are a kind of folktale or fable. Sometimes the stories are about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children. Science Fiction is a story based on impact of potential science, either actual or  imagined. Science fiction is one of the genres of literature that is set in the future or on other planets. Short Story is fiction of such briefness that is not able to support any subplots. Realistic Fiction is a story that can actually happen and is true to real life. Folklore are songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a person of â€Å"folk† that was handed down by word of mouth. Folklore is a genre of literature that is widely held, but false and based on unsubstantiated beliefs. Historical Fiction is a story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting. Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by literature that is frightfully shocking, terrifying, or revolting. Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both the characters and the reader. A Tall Tale is a humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with an here of nonchalance. Legend is a story that sometimes of a national or folk hero. Legend is based on fact but also includes imaginative material. Mystery is a genre of fiction that deals with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown. Mythology is a type of legend or traditional narrative. This is often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. A body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person. Fiction in Verse is full-length novels with plot, subplots, themes, with major and minor characters. Fiction of verse is one of the genres of literature in which the narrative is usually presented in blank verse form. The genre of Fiction can be defined as narrative literary works whose content is  produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. In fiction something is feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story. Basic Parts of Essay Introductory Paragraph The introductory paragraph accomplishes three purposes: it captures the reader’s interest, it suggests the importance of the essay’s topic, and it ends with a thesis sentence. Often, the thesis sentence states a claim that consists of two or more related points. For example, a thesis might read: A college essay has an introductory paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a concluding  paragraph. You are telling the reader what you think are the most important points which need to be addressed in your essay. For this reason, you need to relate the introduction directly to the question or topic. A strong thesis is essential to a good essay, as each paragraph of your essay should be related back to your thesis or else deleted. Thus, the thesis establishes the key foundation for your essay. A strong thesis not only states an idea, but also uses solid examples to back it up. A weak thesis might be: Wikipedia is a powerful resource in many ways. As an alternative, a strong thesis for the same topic would be: Wikipedia is a powerful resource because it allows users with knowledge in a specific area toshare their knowledge, because it allows users to quickly find information about a vast array of topics, and because studies have confirmed that it is as accurate as any other encyclopedia. Then, you could separate your body paragraphs into three sections: one explaining the open-source nature of the project, one explaining the variety and depth of information, and a final one using studies to confirm that Wikipedia is indeed as accurate as other encyclopedias. Tips  Often, writing an introductory paragraph is the most difficult part of writing an essay. Facing a blank page can be daunting. Here are some suggestions for getting started. First, determine the context in which you want to place your topic. In other words, identify an overarching category in which you would place your topic, and then introduce your topic as a case-in-point. For example, if you are writing about dogs, you may begin by speaking about friends, dogs being an example of a very good friend. Alternatively, you can begin with a sentence on selective breeding, dogs being an example of extensive selective breeding. You can also begin with a sentence on means of protection, dogs being an example of a good way to stay safe. The context is the starting point for your introductory paragraph. The topic or thesis sentence is the ending point. Once the starting point and ending point are determined, it will be much easier to connect these points with the narrative of the opening paragraph. A good thesis statement, for example, if you are writing about dogs being very good friends, you could put: A dog is an example of a very good friend because X, Y, and Z. Here, X, Y, and Z would be the topics explained in your body paragraphs. In the format of one such instance, X would be the topic of the second paragraph, Y would be the topic of the third paragraph, and Z would be the topic of the fourth paragraph, followed by a conclusion, in which you would summarize the thesis statement. Example As we travel through our lives, we will identify many people as friends. In truth, most of these individuals are simply acquaintances. They will enter and depart from our existences as matters of mutual convenience. True friends will be there for you always. There is no friend truer than a dog. Identifying a context can help shape the topic or thesis. Here, the writer decided to write about dogs. Then, the writer selected friends as the context, dogs being good examples of friends. This shaped the topic and narrowed the focus to dogs as friends. This would make writing the remainder of the essay much easier because it allows the writer to focus on aspects of dogs that make them good friends. Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence. If the thesis contains multiple points or assertions, each body paragraph should support or justify them, preferably in the order the assertions originally stated in the thesis. Thus, the topic sentence for the first body paragraph will refer to the first point in the thesis sentence and the topic sentence for the second body paragraph will refer to the second point in the thesis sentence. Generally, if the thesis sentence contains three related points, there should be three body paragraphs, though you should base the number of paragraphs on the number of supporting points needed. If the core topic of the essay is the format of college essays, the thesis sentence might read: A college essay has an introductory paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. The topic sentence for the first body paragraph might read: The first paragraph of an essay is the introductory paragraph. Sequentially, the topic sentence for the second body paragraph might read: The introductory paragraph is followed by several body paragraphs. And the topic sentence for the third body paragraph might read: The college essay’s final paragraph is its concluding paragraph. Everybody paragraphs uses specific details, such as anecdotes, comparisons and contrasts, definitions, examples, expert opinions, explanations, facts, and statistics to support and develop the claim that its topic sentence makes. Tips When writing an essay for a class assignment, make sure to follow your teacher or professor’s suggestions. Most teachers will reward creativity and thoughtful organization over dogmatic adherence to a prescribed structure. Many will not. If you are not sure how your teacher will respond to a specific structure, ask. Organizing your essay around the thesis sentence should begin with arranging the supporting elements to justify the assertion put forth in the thesis sentence. Not all thesis sentences will, or should, lay out each of the points you will cover in your essay. In the example introductory paragraph on dogs, the thesis sentence reads, â€Å"There is no friend truer than a dog. † Here, it is the task of the body paragraphs to justify or prove the truth of this assertion, as the writer did not specify what points they would cover. The writer may next ask what characteristics dogs have that make them true friends. Each characteristic may be the topic of a body paragraph. Loyalty, companionship, protection, and assistance are all terms that the writer could apply to dogs as friends. Note that if the writer puts dogs in a different context, for example, working dogs, the thesis might be different, and they would be focusing on other aspects of dogs. It is often effective to end a body paragraph with a sentence that rationalizes its presence in the essay. Ending a body paragraph without some sense of closure may cause the thought to sound incomplete. Each body paragraph is something like a miniature essay in that they each need an introductory sentence that sounds important and interesting, and that they each need a good closing sentence in order to produce a smooth transition between one point and the next. Body paragraphs can be long or short. It depends on the idea you want to develop in your paragraph. Depending on the specific  style of the essay, you may be able use very short paragraphs to signal a change of subject or to explain how the rest of the essay is organized. Do not spend too long on any one point. Providing extensive background may interest some readers, but others would find it tiresome. Keep in mind that the main importance of an essay is to provide basic background on a subject and, hopefully, to spark enough interest to induce further reading. Example A true friend will be there for you whenever you need them. Any dog owner will say that there is nobody that will stick with you through thick and thin as much as a dog. My own dog can barely contain her joy when I come home from a hard day. Regardless of my mood, and my attitude towards her, she is always happy when I am home, and that is usually enough to make me feel better about everything. True friends will help you when you are in need. Whether it is to protect their owner against some sort of threat or to help a blind person walk across the street, dogs are the most reliable companion a person could have. Few villains would attack a person walking a dog at night, and statistics show that homes with dogs are among the least likely to be broken into. The above example is a bit free-flowing and the writer intended it to be persuasive. The second paragraph combines various attributes of dogs including protection and companionship. Here is when doing a little research can also help. Imagine how much more effective the last statement would be if the writer cited some specific statistics and backed them up with a reliable reference. Concluding Paragraph The concluding paragraph usually restates the thesis and leaves the reader something about the topic to think about. If appropriate, it may also issue a call to act, inviting the reader to take a specific  course of action with regard to the points that the essay presented. Aristotle suggested that speakers and, by extension, writers should tell their audience what they are going to say, say it, and then tell them what they have said. The three-part essay model, consisting of an introductory paragraph, several body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph, follows this strategy. Tips As with all writing, it is important to know your audience. All writing is persuasive, and if you write with your audience in mind, it will make your argument much more persuasive to that particular audience. When writing for a class assignment, the audience is your teacher. Depending on the assignment, the point of the essay may have nothing to do with the assigned topic. In most class assignments, the purpose is to persuade your teacher that you have a good grasp of grammar and spelling, that you can organize your thoughts in a comprehensive manner, and, perhaps, that you are capable of following instructions and adhering to some dogmatic formula the teacher regards as an essay. It is much easier to persuade your teacher that you have these capabilities if you can make your essay interesting to read at the same time. Place yourself in your teacher’s position and try to imagine reading one formulaic essay after another. If you want yours to stand out, capture your teacher’s attention and make your essay interesting, funny, or compelling. Example It is no accident that many people consider their dogs as part of their family. Just like every other member, dogs contribute to the happiness and well-being of the home, making the burdens of caring for them well worth the effort. Dogs deserve love and respect every bit as much as they love and respect us. After all, what more can a friend be? In the above example, focus shifted slightly and talked about dogs as members of the family. Many would suggest it departs from the logical organization of the rest of the essay, and some teachers may consider it unrelated and take points away. However, contrary to the common wisdom of â€Å"tell them what you are going to say, say it, and then tell them what you have said,† you may find it more interesting and persuasive to shift away from it as the writer did here, and then in the end, return to the core point of the essay. This gives additional effect to what an audience would otherwise  consider a very boring conclusion.

Mitosis and Meiosis Essay

Abstract: There are two types of nuclear division, mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is usually used for the growth and replacement of somotaic cells, while meiosis produces the gametes or spores used in an organism’s reproduction. Hypothesis: Mitosis occurs in whitefish blastula and onion root tip, and it is easily observable. Meiosis and crossing over occurs in the production of gametes and spores. Materials: This lab required prepared slides of whitefish blastula, onion root tips, ovary, and testis, a microscope, and chromosome kit. The prepared slides of whitefish blastula and onion root tips, ovary, and testis were observed under the 10x and 40x objectives. Mitosis is easily observed in cells that are growing at a rapid pace such as whitefish blastula or onion root tips, which was used in this lab experiment. The root tips contain and area called the apical meristem that has the highest percentage of cells undergoing mitosis. The whitefish blastula is formed directly after the egg is fertilized. This is a period of rapid growth and numerous cellular divisions where mitosis can be observed. In mitosis the cell is in interphase, and have a distinct nucleus and nucleoli where the thin threads of chromatin thicken into distinct chromosomes and the nuclear evvelope breaks open releasing them into the cytoplasm. The firs signs of the spindle begin to appear, next the cell begins metaphase, where the spindle attaches to the Centromere of each chromosome and moves them to the same level in the middle of the cell. This level position is called the metaphase plate. Anaphase begins when the chromatids are separated and pulled to opposite poles, th en the final stage is telophase. The nuclear envelope is reformed and the chromosomes gradually uncoil. Cytokinesis may occur, in which, a cleavage furrow will form and the two daughter cells will separate. Meiosis is more complex and involves two nuclear divisions. The two divisions are called Meiosis I and Meiosis II and they result in the production of four haploid gametes. This  process allows increased genetic variation due to crossing over where genes can be exchanged. This process allows increased genetic variation due to crossing over where genes can be exchanged. The process , like mitosis, depends on interphase to replicate the DNA. Meiosis begins with Prophase I. In this stage, homologous chromosomes move together to form a tetrad and and synapsis begins. This is where crossing over occurs resulting in the recombination of genes. Metaphase I moves the tetrads to the metaphase plate in the middle of the cell, and Anaphase I reduces the tetrads to their original two stranded form and moves them to opposite poles. Telophase I then prepares the cell for its econd division. Meiosis II generally resembles mitosis except that the daughter cells are haploid instead of diploid. DNA replication does not occur in Interphase II, and prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase occur as usual. The only change is the number of chromosomes. Reference: LabPaq, Englewood Co, 2008 Raven, Johnson, Mason, Losos, and Singer. Biology 10th Ed., McGraw-Hill., New York, NY., 2014 http://faculty.clintoncc.suny.edu/faculty/michael.gregory/files/bio%20101/bio%