Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Balance Of A Person s Energy - 889 Words

The balance of a person’s energy affects their overall health. If the body does not receive enough energy, the person’s health dissipates into dysfunctional daily life functions. Body weight tends to stay the same because the energy intake is about the same about of energy used for the body to function. As time progresses and people start to ingest more energy than the body needs or uses, that energy becomes transformed into weight gain, obesity and overweightness. Genes, eating habits, residency, attitude, finances and habits are some potential contributors to energy imbalancement. Dariush Mozaffarian found out that the price of healthy foods are more expensive than unhealthy food which is an enormous factor to the increasing obesity†¦show more content†¦The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that a unit, family, spends $53,495 according to 2014 records (BLS). This family will be in debt by $9,213.48, on accordance of trying to eat healthy. Stanford Health Car e department has statistically proven the percentiles of obese men and women. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared â€Å"that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Approximately: 35 percent of women and 31 percent of men are considered seriously overweight and 15 percent of children between the ages of six and 19 are overweight.† obesity has reached horrible percentiles (Stanford Health Care). To prevent these percentiles from rising, Stanford has also made a list of ways to prevent obesity in family households. Some of these healthful actions includes, â€Å"Gradually work to change family eating habits and activity levels rather than focusing on weight. Change the habits and the weight will take care of itself. Parents who eat healthy foods and are physically activity set an example that increases the likelihood their children will do the same. Keep the refrigerator stocked with fat-free or low-fat milk and fresh fruit and vegetables instead of soft drinks and snacks high in sugar and fat. Serve at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Encourage children to drink water rather than beverages with added sugar, such as soft drinks, sports drinks and fruit juice drinks. â€Å"

Monday, May 18, 2020

Harvard Business Simulation Free Essay Example, 1000 words

The proposed project should not exceed the proposed budget allocated. In this light, SNC will create a fixed budget that will accommodate intense product development that is in tune with the customer tastes and preferences. Since this is just a proposal, the time value of money should be calculated in order to ascertain whether by the time of its launch the project will have a return on initial investment. The purpose of capital budgeting is to analyze the proposed cash flow attributable to the new project and to decide whether adopting it (increasing client base) will add value to the firm. To achieve that, the management should transfigure the cash inflows expected in future to current-value equivalent. The simulator shows substantial increments in cash flows in SNC’s financial statements over the three-year phase. The historical sales figures for instance in the periods 2010-2012 remain stagnant and dismal. However, with the decision to expand and tap into the company’s wide clientele, the sales seem to increase as projected by the simulator in the present (2013-2016) and future periods (2016-2022). We will write a custom essay sample on Harvard Business Simulation or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The increase in sales directly influenced the earnings before interest and tax (EBIT). The decision to take on new customers has led to fundamental increases in EBIT consistently in the three-phase period. As expected, the net income increased due to increased sales in the phase one of the launch and subsequent phases. Moreover, there was a considerable increment in the free cash flow available to the company. Capitalizing on Supplier Discount An effective supply chain adopted by the organization is vital in maximizing profits of the firm. An effective supply chain would mean that good relations exist between the firm and the suppliers in question. Discounts on inventory from suppliers would mean that the company is able to purchase more at a lower cost. That is, lower opportunity costs in the sense that the saved cash will be redirected to other investment opportunities to draw additional revenue. The decision made is to undertake bulk purchasing in order to get discounts from the suppliers. It is however, imperative to note that the discounts will be ineffective if the level of stock turnover is lower. The rate of stock turnover should be high enough so that SNC can leverage on the discounts accorded to them by the suppliers. The simulator projects increases in the sales margins in the present and future phases as opposed to historical trading phases of the organization.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Animal Testing And The Medical Field - 1957 Words

Animal testing began after consumer products caused harm to the buyer. In 1930, a mascara called Lash Lure, blinded many women who used it. In 1937, one hundred people died from a new cough syrup called Elixir (Why do companies test cosmetics or other products on animals? 2013). These are two occurrences that pushed people to use animals for testing product safety. Today, the use of animals has expanded into experiments benefiting the medical field. These experimental animal studies are beneficial to the safety of humans, but animals are sacrificed in the process. Animals are usually killed and dissected at the end of the tests to determine the safety or efficacy of a product or drug. Although animal testing has increased the understanding of medical and consumer issues, the ways these discoveries were made are fatal. As a utilitarian, one needs to consider the benefits and harms of animal testing and discover if they find it ethical. A utilitarian usually would not support animal te sting because not everyone included is experiencing the best balance of happiness over unhappiness. The issue of animal testing brings up the question of what animal’s rights are. When evaluating animal’s rights, common questions that come up are: Do animals have instrumental value only? Do they have rights? Do we owe them any moral respect or concern at all? Is it morally permissible to experiment on animals, to raise and kill them for food, to cause them unnecessary pain and suffering? DoShow MoreRelatedAnimal Testing And The Medical Field Essay1789 Words   |  8 PagesINTRODUCTION: When people hear the phrase â€Å"animal testing† they tend to have many reactions. Some think that it should not be allowed, while others think that science could not survive without it. Many advances have been made in the medical field because of animal testing, and the process of eliminating it from existence will be extremely difficult (Ericson, 2014; Daston, et al., 2015). Due to the controversy surrounding the subject people might not know all of the facts. Through our research weRead MoreThe Ethics Of Animal Experimentation927 Words   |  4 PagesFor centuries, the ethics of animal experimentation in the biomedical field have been questioned. The primary concern is whether the animals used in research outweigh the pain the animals endure. Animal rights activists will argue that there are new alternatives, which are more accurate than animal testing. The success of animal trials has continued the use by scientists within the medical field. Additionally, testing on anim als eliminate harm to humans. The first Animal Cruelty Act was created inRead MoreAnimal Testing : Is It Ethical?994 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Testing, is it Ethical? For centuries, the ethics of animal experimentation in the biomedical field have been questioned. Do the benefits of animals used in research outweigh the pain the animals endure? Animal rights activists will argue there are new alternatives that there are more accurate than animal testing. The success of trials on animals, has led to the continued use by scientists within the medical field. Additionally, testing on animals instead of humans puts humans out of harmsRead MoreArguments Against Animal Testing1157 Words   |  5 PagesWhat comes to mind when thinking about animal experimentation? Thoughts of innocent, lovable animals being stabbed with sharp needles? Well, that is not exactly the case, as animal experimentation plays a very important role in human health today. However, the idea of animals testing has become quite a controversial topic. Over the past few decades, there has been an extensive debate over the use of animals in medical and product testing. The majority of people seem to think that it is an unnecessaryRead More Animal Testing Essay815 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Testing Animal testing is the running of tests and the research done in a laboratory on animals. Some of the tests are done to benefit human lives and other tests are done to determine side effects of a certain household or cosmetic products. It is a topic that has been up for debate for many years not only in the United States, but all around the world. While some support the advances that come from the research others oppose the cruelty that the media projects to societyRead MoreMore than 205,000 new drugs are introduced in markets worldwide every year after undergoing various900 Words   |  4 Pageslarge number of animals have been utilized for testing new drugs on them, so as to spare human life. This can be proved from the fact that early physician, scientists, such as Aristotle and Erasistratus performed experiments on living animals. Similarly, Galen who was a giant in the history of medicine conducted animal experiments to advance the understanding of Anatomy and the Pathology physiology. Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar) introduced animal testing as an experimental method for testing surgical proceduresRead MoreThe Facts And Benefits Of Animal Testing1533 Words   |  7 PagesLife revolves around animals When thinking of animal testing the first thing that pops into our mind may be animal cruelty, and unfair treatment. We all must set aside our personal beliefs and morals and, for a brief moment, think of the logical facts and advantages animal testing provides. When thinking of rabbits, mice, dogs, cats and other animals, the last thing that comes to mind is that they save lives. Animal research allows every day, common animals to save human lives. Vaccines, over-the-counterRead MoreAnimal Experimentation : The End Of Animal Testing1118 Words   |  5 PagesThe experimentation of animals has been used for a multitude of years for research to advance a scientific understanding of a living organism. To this day animals are being tested on for the use of human products. In 3D-printing human skin: The end of animal testing? by Jessica Mendoza, Speculative Philosophy, the Troubled Middle, and the Ethics of Animal Experimentation by Strachan Donnelley, â€Å"Animals and Medical S cience: A Vision of a New Era† by David O. Wiebers, Cruelty-free cosmetics benefitRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Not Be Banned Essay1369 Words   |  6 Pagesheartbreaking, miserable animals: that is what comes to mind when animal testing is mentioned. While some of it may be true, testing animals for medical reasons is necessary. Animal testing has led to the advancement of medical research and has help device many medicines, it is the reason animal testing is still being used. The fact that experimenting on animals has led to great medical discoveries, does not mean that animal testing is not morally ambiguous. Animal testing has many flaws and reasonsRead MoreThe Ethics Of Animal Testing1299 Words   |  6 PagesMrs. ------ English 11 11 June 2017 Animal Testing Animal testing dates back all the way to Greek physician scientists like Aristotle and Erasistratus. Greek scientist conducted experiments to understand the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology just like our scientists do today. The moral ethics of animal testing has always been questioned, but many cures and treatments have been found due to animal testing discoveries. Animal testing is necessary for humankind s overall well

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Descent to the Underworld in the Aeneid by Virgil and the...

Descent to the Underworld in the Aeneid and the Odyssey I chose to compare the Odyssey written by the Greek poet Homer and the Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil. I will focus my interest on Book 11 of the Odyssey and Book 6 of the Aeneid, since that is when both of the main characters make an educational visit to the underworld. The description of the underworld created by Homers wild imagination, inspired Virgil eight centuries later. Virgils masterpiece was planned as an imitation of Homers poems, so one automatically starts comparing the creations of the two authors. They were separated by eight centuries and by the cultural differences of their people. These differences are reflected on the†¦show more content†¦He travels around the world for ten years but still comes back to Ithaca. He goes into the kingdom of the dead and returns safely. It is his death and his resurrection. After a person goes through so much, he finds out everything about his inner self. He knows exactly what his fears are and how much his body can handl e physically and emotionally. Odysseuss self-knowledge becomes greater and greater through out the story. In my opinion Odysseus is simply driven by his curiosity when going to Hades, he wants to know, see and feel everything himself. But there is a formal reason for the descent - to meet the famous Theban prophet Tiresias. A sweet smooth journey home, renowned Odysseus, that is what you seek but a god will make it hard for youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[2] And even if you escape, youll come home late and come a broken man - all shipmates lost, alone in a strangers shipà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[3] And at last your own death will steal upon youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ a gentle, painless death, far from the sea it comes to take you down, borne down with the years in ripe old ageà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[4] Everything that Odysseus asked Tiresias about was concerning his personal destiny only - the possibility of his returning home, seeing his beautiful wife and his only son. The prophecy made by Anchises, on the other hand, is of a political character. Greeks believed in life after death, but it was the life ofShow MoreRelatedThe Underworld and How It Reflects the Goals and Realities of Virgil and Homer1588 Words   |  7 PagesThe Underworld and How it Reflects the Goals and Realities of Virgil and Homer Two epic poems from two great civilizations depict their authors varying views of the Underworld: The Odyssey and The Aeneid. The Greek poet Homer describes the hardships of Odysseus and his struggle to return home to his beloved wife and family after the Trojan War in The Odyssey. The Roman poet Virgil composed The Aeneid for the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, in order to rebuild Rome afterRead MoreInfluence Of The Classical World Upon Dante s The Inferno1320 Words   |  6 Pagesthe burning of Troy. Dante is very familiar with the epic poem The Aeneid and immediately recognizes that he is in the presence of the Roman poet, Virgil, who lived during the reign of Emperor Augustus; Dante has Virgil refer to that as â€Å"the noon of false and lying gods† (70-71), which supports Dante’s belief that persons who lived during that time before Christ could not be saved by their beliefs in mythology and false gods. Virgil is overcome with joy and Huston 2 amazement. â€Å"Glory and light ofRead More A Comparison of Leadership Abilities of Odysseus in Odyssey and Aeneas in Aeneid3512 Words   |  15 PagesComparing the Leadership Abilities of Odysseus in Odyssey and Aeneas in Aeneid      Ã‚   These two heroes have embarked from the same destination but on very different journeys. Whilst they are both Iliadic heroes at the start of their stories, they develop and adapt their manner towards the characteristics required of them to succeed. Before we judge them, it is necessary to determine our definition of a successful leader. A hero from the Iliad must be a speaker of words and one who is accomplishedRead MoreGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pages  who  lived  during  the  2nd   century  BC.   A1   The  Creation  of  the  Gods According  to  Greek  myths  about  creation,  the  god  Chaos  (Greek  for  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Gaping  Void†)  was  the  foundation   of  all  things.  From  Chaos  came  Gaea  (â€Å"Earth†);  the  bottomless  depth  of  the  underworld,  known  as   Tartarus;  and  Eros  (â€Å"Love†).  Eros,  the  god  of  love,  was  needed  to  draw  divinities  together  so  they   might  produce  offspring.  Chaos  produced  Night,  while  Gaea  first  bore  Uranus,  the  god  of  the  heavens,   and  after  him  produced  the  mountainsRead MoreAnglo-Saxon Heroic Poetry5673 Words   |  23 Pageselders with eloquence and confidence. 3.The hero, often a demi-god, possesses distinctive weapons of great size and power, often heirlooms or presents from the gods. 4.The hero must undertake a long, perilous journey, often involving a descent into the Underworld, testing his endurance, courage, and cunning. 5.Although his fellows may be great warriors (he may have a commitatus, or group of noble followers with whom he grew up), he undertakes a task that no one else dare attempt. 6.Whatever virtues

Barack Obama’s $ 350 Billion Request in Relation to Fiscal Policy Free Essays

The declaration of recession by the United States of America has been the official indicator that the country is indeed very much affected by the global financial crisis. The country is facing difficulties in many areas especially when it comes to the situation of their economy. This is clearly exemplified by an article that features President-elect Barack Obama urging the Congress to allow his administration to use the other $ 350 billion of the $ 700 billion rescue package. We will write a custom essay sample on Barack Obama’s $ 350 Billion Request in Relation to Fiscal Policy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main objective of the Obama administration is to use the $ 350 billion of financial bailout funds to help the Main Street more rather than the Wall Street. This amount of money will become available to the Treasury Department within the span of 15 days unless the Congress will pass a law to prevent it (Kelley and Fritze). However, some Republicans clearly oppose the plan to spend more. They justified such position with their perspective that such plan will not be effective. These Republicans asserted that they will only support the spending if there are assurances that the money will not be misspent. There are also some American citizens who are also skeptical about Obama’s plan because of the mismanagement of the first $ 350 billion during the Bush Administration. On the other hand, those who support Obama’s request understand the weariness of the people but they encourage them not to prevent the Obama Administration to use the funds because of their disappointment with the previous administration. President Obama sought to reassure the Congress by promising them that there will be transparency to the process and more money will be directed to address the foreclosure crisis. This is in support with the letter sent by Obama’s economic adviser Lawrence Summers to the Congressional leaders that the country’s fragile economy entails them to act â€Å"both quickly and wisely† (Kelley and Fritze). The economic principle applicable to this article is fiscal policy. Fiscal policy pertains to the â€Å"deliberate changes in government spending and tax collections designed to achieve full employment, control inflation, and encourage economic growth† (McConnell and Brue 214). In relation with this, the request of President Obama for $ 350 billion exemplifies fiscal policy. The situation of the country under which the President made this request is in time of recession. It is said that fiscal policy is most applicable in such kind of economic condition. During time of recession, an expansionary fiscal policy is a possible way to address the problem. A possible reason behind the occurrence of recession is that the profit expectations on investment project have dimmed which curtailed investment spending and decreased aggregate demand. In this case, the federal government has three main options that it can use in order to stimulate the economy. These options are: (1) Increase government spending, (2) reduce taxes, or (3) use some combination of the two (McConnell and Brue 215). It is quite observable that President Obama opted to choose the first option, which is increased in government spending. A sufficient increase in the spending of the government can aid in pushing the economy out of recession. This will address one of the problems in times of recession because increased government spending will also increase aggregate demand. Nevertheless, the initial increase in aggregate demand is not the end because the multiplier effect will increase the original money spent by the government. The greater shift in the aggregate demand curve due to the multiplier process that magnifies the initial variation in spending into more successive rounds of new consumption spending (McConnell and Brue 215-216). Lastly, the political considerations that are observable in the article are also a part of implementing fiscal policy. This is due to the fact that fiscal policy is conducted in the political environment. As a result, economic considerations might be taken aside because of political concerns. It is also a common practice for politicians to rationalize actions and policies that are beneficial to one’s interest (McConnell and Brue 223). This is clearly proven by the opposite poles that the Republicans and Democrats have with regards to this issue. How to cite Barack Obama’s $ 350 Billion Request in Relation to Fiscal Policy, Papers

Environmental Degradation Land Utilization â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Environmental Degradation Land Utilization? Answer: Introduction The transportation system has had a rapid growth over the past decade primarily because of the commercial production of vehicles. Prior to that, the major over-land transportation mechanism was the use cart powered by of beasts of burden (donkeys, asses and horses) and rail. Rail transportation system was however not extensive as the railway cost too much to construct. The animal carts however, could be used in between the railway nodes. However, with the growth of the transportation system carts and animal driven carriages have become extinct save for recreational purposes and motor-vehicles have become the major over-land transportation units putting the road system at the very top of the list of transportation networks. Needs Definition With the growth of the road networks, many manufacturers have been able to come up with more affordable makes and brands. This has been important as, with the increase in population growth and the rising prices of renting and owning homes near big cities, many people have been forced to endure a long commute to work and school. The affordability has led to an increase in vehicle ownership and with this rate of ownership steadily increasing over the years, transport management has been a nightmare for both transport system oversight authorities and the users of this road network. Traffic congestion can be attributed to the transport system being overwhelmed by the number of vehicles which makes them relatively redundant and this necessitates the development of other complementary or supplementary systems. The increase of vehicles on the roads has also led to safety concerns as currently, road accidents are the fourth highest causes of death as indexed by the mortality rate graphs in demographic analysis. While the safety issue may not be directly attributed to the oversaturation of the road network capacity, it does owe it some credit. This is because, while not many road accidents occur as a result of too many vehicles on the road, reducing the number of vehicles on the road could indeed increase security. Conceptual Analysis Environmental degradation can also be largely attributed to congestion of the roads as vehicles usually release greenhouse gases which work towards depleting the O-zone layer and trapping hot gases. While new hybrid vehicles have been introduced into the road network system, their environmentally friendly efforts have gone unnoticed due to their insignificant volumes in comparison to the volumes of vehicles still using fossil fuels on the road. The vehicle manufacturing industry has also had a slow technological growth rate as production of environmentally friendly vehicles is too expensive in relation to the profit margins. The railway system on the other hand is not extensive as building more rail that traverses major transportation routes as opposed to road is also very expensive. All these factors have necessitated the implementation of new transport system networks, one of which is the mass light rail system. Mass rapid transport is a system of ferrying large volumes people and goods over short distances at a relatively fast speed. Some of the most prominent mass rapid transportation systems include the light rail system and bus rapid transit. Bus rapid transport involves the introduction of buses within a city that have special lanes and operate on a given time schedule in relation to the route they traverse. The light rail system is an environmentally approach to transportation where a relatively smaller railway carriage in introduced into the heart of a city to aid in the mass rapid transport of individuals. Their electrical power dependency ensures that, while they do not pollute the environment through greenhouse gases release from the exhaust, they have enough power to move large volumes and remain in operation without needing to stop except for regular maintenance. With, light rail transport, modelling is a bit different from that of road transport system design which primarily uses origin-destination models and travel demand models. Light rail systems, while incorporating some principles of travel-demand model, primarily use its more evolved relation, the activity-based model. These supply user demand information by utilizing deterministic and stochastic methods of analysis. Other evolved methods are the assignment-models that give a prediction of traffic information based on congestion and agent-based models. This system has different operation requirements when compared to existent rail network. This is because the methods of operations are fairly different and this necessitates different approaches to implementation and operation. As it stands, very few countries in the world have long distance electric railway transportation systems. The operation life cycle of such a project is usually between 10 15 years because human population growth rates necessitate new transportation systems after such a time when the population will have exceeded the capacity of the network system. The high electricity costs leave these 2 systems out of the reach of most governments. As light rail systems usually operate within the confines of a city, they require regular surveillance and control to ensure that they do not stop or interfere with other transportation networks. They also require high levels of expertise to operate compared to other transport systems and this expertise is required in design, moni toring, operation, maintenance and repair. The system has so far enjoyed technical and operational support from various industries. These include manufacturing engineering industry, electrical, control and instrumentation, civil, geospatial and environmental engineering industries as well as ICT, legal and corporate support from both the government and the private sector. This means that, every component of this transportation system can be operated, maintained and repaired or replaced as there are mechanisms of doing that. It also enjoys the support of having complementary and supplementary network systems in case a failure causing downtime occurs while it is in operation. This system also enjoys human support from the large volumes of members of the public who use this light rail system on a regular basis. This support is usually in the form fares charged or taxes paid to the local government. To evaluate the results of this transportation system, various technical performance measures can be put in place to analyze the effectiveness of the design, manufacture and implementation of this system and its supporting infrastructure. These values are based on design specifications, client feedback, theoretical and simulation models and practical tests conducted in referenced researches. They are suggestive and should not be taken as design considerations in any component of the design of this system. Table 1: Technical Performance Measure No. Technical Performance Measure Quantitative Value Relative Priority Value 1. Speed 30 kph 12% 2. User appeal (high/moderate/low) High 10% 3. Maintainability Relatively cheap 8% 4. Total operating costs 70% - 100% more than BRT 9% 5. Personnel skill levels Moderate to High expertise 6% 6. Environmental friendliness Electrically powered so very green 10% 7. Connectivity Low as it is very expensive 11% 8. Economic Productivity Highest when demand is high 6% 9. Durability 10 - 15 years 8% 10. Utilization Has highest ridership 11% 11. Interchangeability Highly possible 9% Total 100% Functional Analysis The functional analysis diagram below illustrates process of design based on the need requirements identified earlier in the system. It also shows how the various elements of the design and implementation phases interact with each other in the overall lifecycle of the project. As illustrated earlier, the transport system could to a large extent benefit from the expansion of the existent light rail systems, introduction of new ones and introduction of complementary and supplementary networks. The overall system requirements detailed provide a deeper understanding into the implementation cost of the most suitable alternative when looking at light rails. The overall design, acquisition and application of resources into the network system in order to provide for a maximum design life are also included. Figure 1: Functional Flow Block Diagram of Light Rail Transportation System Tradeoff Analysis: The proposed mass rapid transportation network is not only one of the most efficient at present but one of the most advanced. It is however prone to its own challenges which could be addressed by other similar systems. As such, it is important to compare this transport network with relevant alternatives that would probably provide a better value for the services. The best system is usually chosen. This report analyses the two major mass rapid transportation networks. Light rail system: light rail system enjoys greater demand due to its comfort therefore giving it more public support. For this reason, most individuals would prefer leaving their cars at home if the transport system was accessible or near their home or work/school destination. The comfort ensured by the seat arrangements also lead to some level of productivity as individuals can afford to have some work done on the way. This system also has a higher capacity than bus rapid transport while occupying a much smaller land area. This makes it much more economical to manage especially where demand is high. The systems speed is also improved where it is grade separated as it can attain peak velocities and consequently providing better service than the alternatives. It is also very environmentally friendly as it runs on electricity and keeps noise levels at a minimum. They, however, have their own challenges of which the most obstructive are the high initial cost of infrastructure investment. Light rail system requires an extensive lay-down of rail routes and where the infrastructure investment fails to cover more than half a city, it becomes uneconomical. Where the rail system has more stops, the trip duration is also increased prompting users of such a route to prefer the road network. Bus rapid transport: the main advantage of this system is the low initial costs. The various phases of complete infrastructural development can also be used without necessitating the whole system to be complete first. It requires no infrastructural specifications and can work very well on the existent roads. In doing so, they become very flexible because of the large number of routes available and are even able to drop people as close to their destination as the doorstep. For this reason, they require little to no transfers and a passenger can take only one bus in order to get to a destination even when it is far or not along the main avenues and highways. They also have lower operating costs even when the rider volumes are low proving to be economical. Their challenges include the bad image they have because of individual biases. They do not seem as classy as the light rail and they also are not as comfortable. They are not environmentally friendly as most still use fossil fuels for power. They also contribute to traffic congestion especially where they have signal priority modules to help change the traffic lights. Conclusion It is apparent from the analysis that light rail system would be a preferred system of operation. The only hindrance that does not have a direct or indirect solution is the high initial costs of infrastructure construction. Their economical aspect provides them with an edge as there are systems in place to promote accountability. This include automation of rider fare payment and also the easy surveillance due the low number of transport routes. Recommendation The light rail transportation system would be ideal for a city where public transport user volumes are high. While bus rapid transport has more network connectivity, it is possible to interchange the units when dealing with light rail systems and the overall system can in itself be intermodal. An example of such is when a light rail train station close to a suburb has adequate parking facilities to allow riders to use the road system to get to it conveniently. References Antiplanner, 2014. The Alternative to Light Rail. Retrieved 24 Aug 2014, from https://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=9737 Boarnet, Marlon Wang, Xize Houston, Douglas., (2016). Can new light rail reduce personal vehicle carbon emissions? A before-after, experimental-control evaluation in Los Angeles: light rail and CO2 emissions. Journal of Regional Science. Brown, Barbara Werner, Carol. (2009). Before and After a New Light Rail Stop: Resident Attitudes, Travel Behavior, and Obesity. Journal of the American Planning Association. (75), 5-12. Cassidy, E., 2015. LRT versus BRT: which is the better option? Retrieved 24 Aug 2017, from https://www.steerdaviesgleave.com/news-and-insights/LRT-versus-BRT Engebretsen, ystein Christiansen, Petter Strand, Arvid., (2017). Bergen light rail Effects on travel behaviour. Journal of Transport Geography. (62), 111-121. Ferbrache, Fiona Knowles, Richard. (2017). City boosterism and place-making with light rail transit: A critical review of light rail impacts on city image and quality. Geoforum. (80), 103-113. Freemark, Yonah, 2011. The Silly Argument over BRT and Rail. Retrieved 24 Aug 2016, from https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2011/05/25/the-silly-argument-over-brt-and-rail/ Shapiro, Robert Hassett, Kevin Arnold, Frank., 2017. Conserving Energy and Preserving the Environment: The Role of Public Transportation. Legara, Erika Fille Kee Khoon, Lee Gih Guang, Hung Monterola, Christopher. (2015). Mechanism-based model of a mass rapid transit system: A perspective. International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series. (36). Legara, Erika Fille Monterola, Christopher Lee, Kee Guang Hung, Gih. (2014). Critical capacity, travel time delays and travel time distribution of rapid mass transit systems. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. (406), 100106. Lund, Hollie. (2006). Reasons for living in a transit-oriented development, and associated transit use. Journal of the American Planning Association (72), 357-366. MRT LRT Trains, Singapore Land Transport Authority Website, Retrieved 24 Aug 2017, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/public-transport/mrt-and-lrt-trains.html Othman, N. B., Legara, E. F., Selvam, V., and Monterola, C., 2014. Simulating congestion dynamics of train rapid transit using smart card data, Procedia Computer Science (29), 16101620. Pang, Z. F., Othman, N., Ng, K. M., and Monterola, C., 2014. Efficiency and robustness of different network designs, Intl Journal of Modern Physics. Roth, Camille Kang, Soong Batty, Michael Barthelemy, Marc. (2012). A long-time limit of world subway networks. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface / the Royal Society. (9), 2540-50. Wattrick, J. T., 2011. Bus Rapid Transit: A real alternative to light rail, or just a lovely parting gift? Retrieved 24 Aug 2017, from https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/12/bus_rapid_transit_a_real_alter.html

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Dinosaurs And Birds Essay Example For Students

Dinosaurs And Birds Essay Dinosaurs and BirdsNat 305Christopher Meadows11-2-00Are birds really dinosaurs or are they simply related? That is a question that has gained new life in recent years due to the overwhelming facts the are pouring in from newly found fossils and studies from fossils that have been found in the past. Two groups have formed in the study of this question: those who believe birds are a direct result of dinosaurs and those who feel dinosaurs and birds must have had a common ancestor. Determining which view is correct is a matter of opinion based on fact. The main problem involves the use of cladistics or phylogenetic systematics to group organisms according to characteristics they share. When one looks at dinosaur fossils, he or she may feel that certain characteristics are used for something entirely different than someone else who has looked at the same fossil. One cannot talk about dinosaur and bird lineage without mentioning Archaeopteryx. Most paleontologists agree that Archaeopteryx was the first bird. Archaeopteryx thus represents what paleontologists would call a transitional form between two major groups of animals, the reptiles (dinosaurs) and birds. The main difference between the theropods and Archaeopteryx were the long arms of the Archaeopteryx, adapted as wings, the feathers, and the presence of a wishbone that the theropods did not have. All of these features tie it to birds and its other characteristics tie it to theropods. One might say it was the missing link between the two. Opponents of this idea say that the similarities between Archaeopteryx and theropods were due to convergence, with the birdlike dinosaurs appearing in the Cretaceous some 75 million years after Archaeopteryx. Also, support is gaining that Archaeopteryx was not in fact the first bird, but instead a descendent of an earlier bird ancestor that had developed along a different pathway and actually represents an evolutionary dead end. Two opponents of the birds are dinosaurs theory are Alan Feduccia of the University of North Carolina and Larry Martin of the University of Kansas. They believe that birds evolved from some unknown reptile from a time before dinosaurs came to be. One point they make is that flight must have begun from tree climbing or an arboreal ancestor but that all the proposed dinosaurian ancestors were ground dwellers or cursorial On the other side, supporters for the birds are dinosaurs theory feel there is an unknown dinosaur bird that was arboreal, or simply that birds evolved flight from the ground by chasing after insects. In recent years other fossil finds have stirred the argument even more. One of these is the fossil named Sinosauroptyrex found in China. It appears to be an important link between birds and dinosaurs. Sinosauropteryx appears to be a feathered dinosaur having a mane of feathers along its neck, back, and taila feature until then seen only in birds.Sinosauroptyrex appears before Archaeopteryx and gives a substantial link between the theropods and birds. One opponent of this find is Martin who feels the structures that are considered to be feathers are simply frayed collagenous fibers beneath the skinhaving nothing to do with birds. Another find involves a fossil that was found in Madagascar in 1995. The fossil was identified as a bird because its arm bones contained knobs where feathers would have been attached. It also has a reversed first toe, a characteristic of birds unknown in any other type of theropod dinosaur, according to Catherine Foster of the State University of New York at Stony Brook and discoverer of the fossil. The real link between the Madagascan bird and dinosaurs is the retractable claw on its second toe, which does not appear on any other birds. This is, according to some, direct proof showing a link between birds and theropods. Opponents like Martin feel the creature is actually a dinosaur and not a bird at all. One of the main problems in deciding this argument is the time scale in which the fossils are found. Feduccia feels that one of the biggest problems is the time paradox, meaning that the so-called birdlike dinosaurs came too late to address avian evolution. Supporters of the theory feel they will eventually find the fossils they need to