Trash Islands - the Ocean Garbage Patch

Trash Islands - the Ocean Garbage Patch As our global population expands, so does the amount of trash we produce, and a large portion of that trash then ends up in the worlds oceans. Due to oceanic currents, much of the trash is carried to areas where the currents meet. These collections of trash have recently been referred to as marine trash islands. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch The Great Pacific Garbage Patchsometimes called the Eastern Garbage Patchis an area with an intense concentration of marine trash located between Hawaii and California. The exact size of the patch is unknown, however, because it is constantly growing. The patch developed in this area because of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre- one of many oceanic gyres caused by a convergence of ocean currents and wind. As the currents meet, the earth’s Coriolis Effect (the deflection of moving objects caused by the Earth’s rotation) causes the water to slowly rotate, creating a funnel for anything in the water. Because this is a subtropical gyre in the northern hemisphere it rotates clockwise. It’s also a high-pressure zone with hot equatorial air and comprises much of the area known as the horse latitudes. Due to the tendency of items to collect in oceanic gyres, the existence of a garbage patch was predicted in 1988 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) after years of monitoring the amount of trash being dumped into the worlds oceans. The patch was not officially discovered until 1997, though, because of its remote location and harsh conditions for navigation. That year, Captain Charles Moore passed through the area after competing in a sailing race and discovered debris floating over the entire area he was crossing. Atlantic and Other Oceanic Trash Islands Though the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the most widely publicized of the so-called trash islands, the Atlantic Ocean has one as well in the Sargasso Sea. The Sargasso Sea is located in the North Atlantic Ocean between 70 and 40 degrees west longitude and 25 and 35 degrees north latitude. It is bounded by the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the North Atlantic Equatorial current. Like the currents carrying trash into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, these four currents carry a portion of the worlds trash to the middle of the Sargasso Sea where it becomes trapped. In addition to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the Sargasso Sea, there are five other major tropical oceanic gyres in the worldall with conditions similar to those found in these first two. Components of Trash Islands After studying the trash found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Moore learned that 90% of the trash found there was plastic. His research groupas well as NOAAhas studied the Sargasso Sea and other patches around the world and their studies in those locations have had the same findings. It is estimated that 80% of the plastic in the ocean comes from land sources while 20% comes from ships at sea. The plastics in the patches consist of items like water bottles, cups, bottle caps, plastic bags, and fish netting. It’s not just  large plastic items that make up the trash islands, however. In his studies, Moore found that the majority of the plastic in the worlds oceans is made up of billions of pounds of raw plastic pellets called nurdles. These pellets are a byproduct of plastics manufacturing. It is significant that most of the trash is plastic because it does not break down easilyespecially in water. When plastic is on land, it is more easily heated and breaks down faster. In the ocean, the plastic is cooled by the water and becomes coated with algae which shield it from sunlight. Because of these factors, the plastic in the world’s oceans will last well into the future. Garbage Islands Impacts on Wildlife The presence of the plastic in these patches is having a significant impact on wildlife in a number of ways. Whales, seabirds, and other animals can easily be snared in the nylon  nets and six-pack rings prevalent in the garbage patches. They are also in danger of choking on things like balloons, straws, and sandwich wrap. Additionally, fish, seabirds, jellyfish, and oceanic filter feeders easily mistake brightly colored plastic pellets for fish eggs and krill. Research has shown that over time, the plastic pellets can concentrate toxins which are passed on to sea animals when they eat them. This could poison them or cause genetic problems. Once the toxins are concentrated in the tissue of one animal, they can magnify across the food chain similar to the pesticide DDT. Finally, the floating trash can also aid in the spread of species to new habitats. Take, for instance, a type of barnacle. It can attach to a floating plastic bottle, grow, and move to an area where it is not naturally found. The arrival of the new barnacle could then possibly cause problems for the areas native species. The Future for the Trash Islands Research conducted by Moore, NOAA, and other agencies show that  trash islands are continuing to grow. Attempts have been made to clean them up but there is simply too much material over too large of an area to make any significant impact. Some of the best ways to aid in the cleanup of these islands are to suppress their growth by enacting stronger recycling and disposal policies, cleaning up the worlds beaches, and reducing the amount of trash going into the worlds oceans.

Napoleons Fascism Essays

Napoleons Fascism Essays Napoleons Fascism Essay Napoleons Fascism Essay Mussolini had a darwinistic view on life and the struggle of existence. His definition of fascism greatly represents that view and opens up new ideas of life being a duty to serve specific purposes. Mussolini describes fascism as a rule that does not give the majority the right to regulate itself, it believes in heroism and holiness, the rule of divine leaders. Also, he describes that the majority is not capable of ruling, and that nobles are elected through meeting a degree of courage. He explains that there are extreme inequalities in the general public and that political equality, indefinite progress and happiness are all myths. Mussolini viewed the Fascist party as an â€Å"ethic† state, giving it personality, viewing it as an almost divine power. Lastly, Mussolini states the importance of a strong military and dedicated peoples ready to sacrifice for their nation. He emphasizes how disciplined peoples with a strong sense of duty create a stable and orderly nation. His obsession with war lead to the expansion of mass society and leveled social classes. According to Mussolini, his creation of fascism completely rejects ideas of peace and instead to looks to war and sacrifice as the deciding factor between true nobles and cowards. He states that pacifism is an act of cowardice and that war brings forth all human strength and distinguishes between the weak and the dignified. Mussolini explains that fascism views life as a struggle and conquest, furthering his darwinistic views. Mussolini’s claims to restore regulation and use of propaganda fueled people’s hopes in his leadership and promise of order, even if that meant a war-like order. These promises led to Mussolini’s popularity in the first years of his rule due to the people of Italy who were dissatisfied with the anarchy that surrounded them and seemed to believe in any person who promised a restoration of order. In his definition, Mussolini describes that there are great inequalities in the general public as well as in politics. He states that these inequalities are a sort of necessary evil that distinguish between social classes. He also believes that the inequalities in mankind can never â€Å"be permanently leveled† through processes such as universal suffrage and that such processes shouldn’t be put into place because inequalities are beneficial to society as a whole. Mussolini also states that the war between the classes will not be the leading force behind change but should be seen as a beneficial conflict that may bring about order. Through making statements like this, Mussolini was giving the public his truths instead of fabricating his ideas. Mussolini also used traditional values and appreciation of religious beliefs to keep his people united, rich or poor, peasant or worker. In return for his strong sense of values and understanding what role the church played in education as well as in family policy that he portrayed, Mussolini gained acceptance for his fascist tactics from the church who had prior to criticized his policies. This approval from the church furthered his acceptance and popularity from the general public. Mussolini’s separation of the social classes in fact did the opposite and leveled them in society as well as on the battlefield. In the definition, fascism is described as a rule that represents solely the people of Italy, whom were gaining power and again rising after a downfall. Mussolini explains that a great nation demands discipline as well as a sense of sacrifice and duty. He states in what ways militarized politics are beneficial to a society and how total dedication to ones nation is an absolute necessary in maintaining a powerful state. This is evident in his making criticism of the state a criminal offense which in turn led to his wiping out of any parliamentary opposition. Mussolini’s attacks on newspaper offices and striking workers were brutal yet gave Italians a sense of order in their country. He explains in what ways a Fascist state leaves some freedoms to its people yet maintains a sense of organization and that an undisciplined nation is useless and harms freedom. He also states that the individual is not the deciding factor but the state is. Statements as such may have shown the people of Italy that they were being oppressed, leading to revolution. Mussolini made his militaristic approaches and authoritarian advances look appealing to his people which in turn lead to a sequence of disastrous events following the war. These events included economic downfalls and strikes throughout Europe, racism, and a surge to global imperialism. Mussolini viewed peace as an undesirable illusion and pacifism as an act of cowardice. These views gave rise to his state power and advocates both inside and out of Italy. Mussolini’s first followers were drawn in by his militaristic rule and his promise of a divine like military. His war obsession drew in veterans as well as the unemployed by promising them a sense of nobility through their sacrifice. In his definition, Mussolini explains the importance of an obedient and sacrificial nation, ready to battle for their country. His rejection of ideas like peace and pacifism gave his followers a sense of an orderly nation, which was greatly needed during that time. Mussolini’s explanation of the separation of social classes as a necessity and something that may create change in the nation. For this reason, Mussolini states that the majority is incapable of ruling itself, and that noble rulers among himself will come forth to create an orderly nation.

Small Alex Saves the Big Boys Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Small Alex Saves the Big Boys - Essay Example It was the tradition in that village that the boys had to get fruits from the forest for their families every week. However, the boys were warned never to go near the river as it was believed to be inhabited by giants. Despite his size, Alex would always go with his age mates to gather fruits, as tradition demanded. However, Alex dreaded those journeys with the big boys to the forest. Once in the forest, the big boys would easily reach for fruits on big trees and soon their baskets would be full. On the other hand, Alex always had to struggle to reach the trees and this made him much slower than the others in filling his basket. The big boys would take advantage and go to the river to swim. They would swim and play until they saw Alex coming with his basket and then they would join him in going home. Every time, the big boys would make Alex swear that he would not report them to their elders that they had swum. â€Å"Will you report us to the elders?† they would ask Alex. â₠¬Å"No, I will not! I will never report you† Alex would answer in fright. â€Å"Good, because if you do, we will feed you to the giants the next time we come to the forest! Ha! Ha! Ha!† the group leader would threaten sarcastically. â€Å"Ha! Ha! Ha!† the other boys would join in laughter. Alex really hated himself for being so small and for â€Å"looking like a girl† that he could not defend himself from the big boys. â€Å"God I really hate this body! My hands and feet are too tiny and I am too short!† Alex would always complain whenever he was alone. â€Å"Why can’t I be as big as boys my age? Why can’t I swim with them in the river? Why can’t I defend myself from them?† Alex would wonder to himself and tears would roll up in his beautiful blue eyes. One day, the boys were sent to gather fruits as was the custom. Just like they had done in the past, they quickly filled their baskets then ran to the river to swim, leavin g Alex behind. After Alex had filled his basket, he started strolling down the path leading to river, on the way home. Suddenly, there was a loud roar from behind him. â€Å"HA! HA! HA! HA! Today is my lucky day! I have one more boy to eat!† a loud voice thundered. Alex almost fainted when he turned around. The biggest giant anyone had ever seen was standing right behind him. The giant had one eye, a big mouth, four hands, and two feet. Upon looking closely, Alex saw one of the big boys in the hands of the giant. Alex dropped his basket and started running as fast as he could, calling the other boys. â€Å"I already swallowed all the others, you are next!† said the giant as it swallowed the boy it had been holding. Alex was terrified. As the giant reached out to grasp him, due to his small size, Alex was able to slip through the fingers of the giant and climb up a tree. Up on the tree, Alex remembered a story he had heard. It claimed that giants had one more eye at the back and that if someone hit that eye, the giant would drop dead. To his amazement, Alex realized that the giant had an additional eye at the back of its head. Alex reached out and grabbed a branch, pulled at it with all his strength then hit the giant’s eye. The giant fell with a thunderous sound and Alex climbed down the tree, ran home and informed the elders. Soon, the giant was slain and all the boys it had swallowed were taken out of its stomach. All the big boys thanked Alex for saving their lives and apologized for having mistreated him on previous occasions. That evening, a celebration was held in honor of Alex,

Network Architectures for Data Centers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Network Architectures for Data Centers - Essay Example On the other hand, at the present technology has changed. Additionally, there is an increase in demands for operational sustainable, efficiencies corporate processes, dynamic operational service diversification, and cost efficiency. In addition, these ever-increasing demands put the data center in the crosshairs of business analysis as its significance has increased more than ever before (LSI Corporation, 2012). This paper presents a detailed analysis of network architectures for data centers. This research will offer a comprehensive analysis of some of the major aspects required for the development and application of data center architecture application and their possible implication for better corporate management. Introduction At the present, data centers serve as the central command center for the majority of business organizations in spite of size and industry. Without a doubt, it offers an excellent support for managing huge amounts of information and data, and ensures effectiv e execution of business operations 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. In this scenario, network based data centers are designed, developed and maintained to store, process, and exchange information and data for economic services corporations, companies, transport business, administration, utilities, educational institutions, network carriers and internet service providers (ISPs). In fact, investments in the development of data centers are growing at a rate of more than 20 percent per year. In view of the fact that the business organizations completely depend on latest information technologies to take actions thus the current data centers have become less efficient along the lines of competence, effortlessness and agility of maintenance (H3C Technologies Co., Limited, 2012; Juniper Networks, Inc., 2012; Greenberg, Lahiri, Maltz, Patel, & Sengupta, 2012). In addition, in the field of data centers, several major trends are happening in parallel, with each representing a fundamental chan ge in terms of how it is managed. Data centers currently include both networking and server arrangements. However, the server part of this technology based infrastructure is at the present far down the road of technology based commoditization, in this scenario high end corporate class servers have been replaced by large amounts of low cost technology based servers. Additionally, new technology based improvement in distributed technology based computing and administration systems have supported the irregularity of individual network servers to be masked by the collective communication reliability of the data center system as a whole (H3C Technologies Co., Limited, 2012; Juniper Networks, Inc., 2012; Greenberg, Lahiri, Maltz, Patel, & Sengupta, 2012). Moreover, the quality and performance of network architectures for data

To be stated Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

To be stated - Essay Example Furthermore it will analyze nonverbal communication in the afore-mentioned media text through the lens of Charles Horton Cooley’s Looking Glass Self so as to depict how nonverbal cues, which can be either facilitative or debilitative, of fellow human beings collected by an individual actually shape his identity and subsequently determine his sense of self. The concept of the â€Å"looking glass self† promulgates that self-consciousness involves continually monitoring self from the point of view of others. Cooley stated this concept of the â€Å"looking-glass self† in his book Human Nature and The Social Order: â€Å"We live in the minds of others unknowingly. This creates the â€Å"social self† which might be called as the reflected or the â€Å"looking-glass self†:â€Å"Each to each a looking-glass/Reflects the others that doth pass† (73). This consciousness of self emanating from one’s view of oneself through the eyes of another is more a product of analysis of the nonverbal cues one gathers during interpersonal communication than the actual words one hears from the mouth of one’s fellow beings. Among the many other ways in which individuals respond to fellow individuals’ nonverbal cues touch avoidance is the most striking one. Defined as â€Å"an individual’s nonverba l predisposition to generally approach or avoid touch in interpersonal interactions† ( Anderson & Sull 82). An individual’s positive or reciprocal touch response is an indication of a mutual relation of trust and connection while the opposite reaction of reciprocal touch response betrays disconnect. Likewise the extent of touch avoidance is a manifestation of interpersonal distance. The Miracle Worker, a TV remake of William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker, released by Disney Movies in 2000, films the inspirational journey of Helen Keller with special

Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal Essay Example for Free

Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal Essay Specific Purpose:To teach my audience how to drive a stick shift car. Thesis Statement:By learning how to start a stick shift car, changing from first to fifth gear and reverse you would someday like to buy a stick shift car. Organizational Pattern:Chronological Introduction: Did you know that by knowing how to drive a Stick shift car you can save money on the initial price, maintenance, and fuel economy? How many of you guys could use an extra couple thousand. I am going to teach you how to drive a stick shift car and to do so you will need to know how to properly start the car, change the gears, and how to reverse the car. Body: 1. First, you will need to get in your car adjust your seat, so you can reach all three pedals. A. You will need to put your foot all the way down on the clutch. B. Then put your car in neutral so you can take your foot off the pedal 2. Second, you will need to put your foot on the clutch then put it in first gear with your foot on the clutch A. As you start to ease your foot off the pedal you need to start stepping on the gas your two feet must past each other at same time. B. Then you will completely take your foot off the clutch as you start to step on the gas you will no longer need your foot on the clutch. The process will repeat 3. Third, you will need to be at a full stop then you will need to put your car in neutral, A. Step on the clutch then push down on the knob till you feel a little nudge B. Then you will change the gear as you would do with your first gear C. You will need start to ease off clutch then step on gas pedal D. Finally you will need to come to a complete stop put your car in neutral and turn your car off. Step on the clutch then put your car in first gear and pull the hand break. Conclusion: Now that you all know how to start a stick shift car, change the gears and put it in reverse. Hope you guys can enjoy driving a stick shift car and also the benefits you get when you buy a stick shift car.

Polymers and plastics in biomedical applications

Polymers and plastics in biomedical applications Introduction Polymers are increasingly being used to fabricate biomedical materials for tissue engineering and wound treatment applications, as well as for drug delivery. For tissue engineering and wound treatment applications, the mechanical properties of the polymeric material have to be matched to the specific application. An example of tissue engineering is the use of bioresorbable polymeric orthopedic materials for bone regeneration applications. The degradable material supports the growth and adhesion of new bone cells (chondrocytes) and is porous so as to provide a large, continuous surface for cell proliferation throughout the matrix. The degradable material serves to maintain mechanical integrity while the bone heals itself. The materials are designed to degrade in a time suitable for the particular application, but may be on the order of six months to twenty-four months. An example of an external wound treatment application is artificial skin, where the polymeric material provides protection as new growth develops. Other materials are used internally to separate organs after surgical procedures. In tissue engineering and wound treatment applications the mechanical properties of the materials have to meet requirements specific to the application. In this experiment you will determine how the tensile properties of films of plasticized biopolymers depend on the chemical formulation of the material. Such applications are based on the polymer materials being degradable as well as biocompatible. Other applications might require materials that are biocompatible and nondegradable, such as long-term polyethylene implants. Polymers Polymers can be synthetic or biological. Synthetic polymers are almost always made from nonrenewable fossil feedstocks, mainly petroleum. Examples are polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), and polypropylene, all of which are polyolefins. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET] is a synthetic polyester. None of the above-named polymers are degradable, the main reason being that the polymer backbones contain only carbon-carbon single bonds. Examples of biodegradable polymers derived from petroleum are poly(vinyl alcohol) [a polyalcohol], poly(ethylene glycol)[a polyether], and the polyesters polycaprolactone and poly(glycolic acid). Polymers with heteroatoms in their backbones are generally biodegradable, although there are exceptions. Biological polymers (biopolymers) are found in nature; they are intrinsically biodegradable. Abundant biopolymers include plant polysaccharides such as starch (composed of amylose and amylopectin), cellulose, agarose, and carrageenan, and animal polysaccharides such as chitin and the glycosaminoglycans. Abundant proteins include gelatin(denatured/hydrolyzed collagen), casein, keratin, and fibroin. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an example of a synthetic commercial polymer in which the monomer, lactic acid, is produced in large amounts through fermentation; the polymer is then synthesized by conventional methods. PLA is biodegradable. Mechanical Properties In implant and wound healing applications, the mechanical properties of the materials are of critical importance. In this experiment you will carry out tensile tests—tests in which specimens are placed between two clamps (grips) and drawn. The instrument measures and displays the force being applied (the load) and the resulting increase in the length of the sample (elongation, also called extension). From the dimensions of the film specimen (width and thickness), the instrument software calculates and displays the tensile stress (ï  ³), equal to the load (F) per unit area of cross section (A = width x thickness). It also calculates the (tensile) strain (ï  ¥), equal to the elongation (extension) divided by the original length of that portion of the specimen being measured (called the gage length). [In our experiment, the gage length is simply the separation of the grips securing the specimen.] The instrument will display percent elongation, which is the strain multiplied by 100. As the tensile test proceeds, the instrument generates and displays a tensile stress-strain curve, which is a diagram that displays values of tensile stress (in MPa) plotted against tensile strain (%). The test continues until the specimen breaks. From the stress-strain curve, the software determines, and reports the following results in table form: (1) Tensile strength at break (or ultimate strength), which is the tensile stress at break. (2) Elongation at break, as a percentage. (3) Youngs modulus (also known as elastic modulus or modulus of elasticity or sometimes simply as modulus). It is calculated as the initial slope of the stress-strain curve, which is usually observed to be linear with plastic films. This initial region reflects the elastic deformation of the specimen, in which the stress varies linearly with strain, analogous to Hookes law for the expansion of a spring. Beyond the linear region, the behavior is termed viscous; polymers and plastics are said to be viscoelastic materials. Modulus is a measure of the stiffness of the polymer or plastic. Table 1. Typical tensile properties of materials Material t.s.(MPa) elong.(%) modulus(MPa) polyethylene, low density 10 620 166 polycaprolactone 26 600-1000 435 polypropylene 36 1380 poly(lactic acid), biaxially oriented film 110/145 160/100 3310/3860 keratin(human hair) 526 46 6700 copper, annealed 240 30 100,000-130,000 steel 380-700 200,000-250,000 glass 2160-4830 50,000-70,000 Encyclopedia of Chemistry, 4th ed.; Handbook of Physics, 2nd ed. Experimental Procedure 1. Film casting Prepare the following cast films of plasticized biopolymers. Sample 1 Place 32 mL of 2%(v/v) aqueous glycerol solution in a 200 mL beaker. Add 88 mL water and 2.40 g starch and 4.8 g agar. Heat with stirring to approximately 85-95  °C or until the polymer is in solution; do not boil. Slowly pour the solution into the big petri dish on a flat level surface. Try to remove all imperfections (bubbles) from the surface. Sample 2. Repeat using 32 mL glycerol solution, 88 mL water, and 1.20 g starch and 3.6 g agar. Sample 3. Repeat using 48 mL glycerol solution, 72 mL water, and 1.20 g starch and 3.0 g agar. Sample 4. Repeat using 48 mL glycerol solution, 72 mL water, and 2.40 g starch and 3.5 g agar. Allow the solutions to set for approximately one hour then place the petri dish in the drying oven. Label all petri dishes. 2. Film conditioning After the agar films have been in the drying oven for about 24 hours, remove the petri dishes from the oven and place them in the large relative-humidity conditioning box (maintained at approximately 50% relative humidity) for 24-48 hours. 3. Preparing test specimens After conditioning, the films are ready to have test specimens prepared from them. Working with one sample at a time, remove the petri dish from the conditioning box. Slowly and carefully remove the film from the petri dish by first peeling one corner and then applying fairly equal pressure to the entire width of the film as it comes off the petri dish lengthwise. Place the sample on a piece of cardboard. Using the 1/4 wide aluminum template as a straight edge, and the cutting knife, cut a rectangle approximately 3.5 x 3 from the center of the film, so as not to include any edges, as they are often not as uniform in thickness as the center. Align the sample on the cardboard as follows: Place the 1/4 wide aluminum template vertically near one of the edges. Using the cutting tool, cut on both sides of the template to produce a specimen 3.5 long and 1/4 wide. Cut as cleanly as possible so as not to notch or tear the specimen. Cut six or seven additional strips, but do not use the second cut of the previous specimen as the first edge of the next; make two new cuts to produce each specimen. Place the cut specimens on a piece of filter paper and transfer them into the dessicator located next to the Instron instrument. Similarly prepare specimens from the other three film samples. 4. Measuring mechanical properties of test specimens During the laboratory you will measure the mechanical properties of the fours cast films. Measure at least five specimens for each of the four film samples. As you remove each specimen from the dessicator, you will be measuring the thickness of the specimen with a digital caliper. 5. Operating the Instron Testing Instrument Refer instrument manual. 6. Laboratory Report 1. Express the compositions of the four film samples in terms of the weight percent of each component to two significant figures (excluding water); i.e. % agar, % glycerol (the density of glycerol is 1.26) and, if present, % starch. 2. Prepare a summary table of results showing the mean values of tensile strength (Mpa) (to 3 sig. figs.) and its standard deviation, elongation (%) (to 2 sig. figs.) and its standard deviation, and elastic modulus (MPa) (to 3 sig.figs.) and its standard deviation. [ASTM specifies these numbers of significant figures; a smaller number of significant figures would otherwise be justified given the observed standard deviations.] 3. For the three agar-glycerol films what correlation do you observe between the effect of glycerol on one property and its effect on the others? Prepare a graph for each of the properties showing variation with composition. In Excel you can show a standard error for each point separately by using a separate data series for each point. Do not show a trend line and do not attempt to connect the data points.